Cairns's best Inclusive Great Barrier Reef Tours Visits two spectacular outer Barrier Reef locations and includes FREE scuba diving for certified divers and beginners, snorkelling, breakfast and BBQ Lunch.
This Great Barrier Reef tour departs daily from Finger A Cairns Marlin Marina.
Boarding at 7:30 am
Departure time: 8:00 am
Return: 4:30 pm (approx.)
Adults cost $245
Children $165 ( 4 -11 years )
Family 2 adults and two children (4-11 years) $655
Experience the Best of the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns
Welcome aboard our high-speed catamaran, “Reef Experience,” for an unforgettable journey to two pristine locations in the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking wonder of this World Heritage environment.
Why Choose Reef Experience?
Reef Experience is not just a tour; it’s an all-inclusive adventure. We provide a FREE Scuba Dive, ensuring every guest can maximise their Great Barrier Reef experience, regardless of their swimming, snorkelling, or scuba diving skills.
Your Day Begins
We start by picking you up from your Cairns accommodation and kickstart your day with our renowned BBQ bacon and egg burgers, complemented by tropical fruits. As we make our way to the Outer Barrier Reef, we’ll give you an overview of what to expect throughout the day.
Educational and Informative
Our Marine Biologists will give you an informative marine presentation during the journey. Learn about the diverse marine life that thrives in this remarkable ecosystem.
Exploring the Reef
Once we arrive at the Reef, you’ll have the chance to snorkel and scuba dive, even if you’re not a seasoned swimmer. For experienced swimmers and snorkelers, our crew will guide you to the best coral patches and reveal where to find the extraordinary marine creatures that call the Great Barrier Reef home.
No Swimming Skills Required
If you’ve never snorkelled before or can’t swim, don’t worry. Our friendly and professional crew is always ready to assist. The water is ideal for introducing you to our vibrant tropical fish, ensuring everyone enjoys this incredible experience.
Your Unforgettable Day
We are dedicated to ensuring that our guests have the best day possible while experiencing the magic of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. A day with us promises to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life.
Extend Your Stay
If you wish to prolong your stay on the Great Barrier Reef, please click here to learn more about our floating hotel, Reef Encounter.
Discover the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with us. Book your adventure today!
Please contact us for more information or to make a reservation. We look forward to sharing this incredible journey with you.
A. Our Great Barrier Reef tour includes transportation from your Cairns accommodation, BBQ breakfast, a FREE Scuba Dive, and snorkelling opportunities for all levels of swimmers.
Q. Do I need to know how to swim to join the tour?
A. No swimming skills are required. Our professional crew is available to assist and ensure everyone can enjoy the experience, even if you’ve never snorkelled before.
Q. Are there options for experienced swimmers and snorkelers?
A. Absolutely! Our crew will guide experienced swimmers and snorkelers to the best coral patches and areas to spot the incredible marine life.
Q. Can I extend my stay on the Great Barrier Reef?
A. Yes, you can! We offer options to stay longer on the Great Barrier Reef. Please click here, Reef Encounter, to learn more about our floating hotel.
Q. What can I expect during the marine presentation?
A. Our Marine Biologists will provide an informative presentation during the journey to educate you about the unique marine life of the Great Barrier Reef.
Q. Is the tour suitable for families with children?
A. Yes, our tour is family-friendly. We ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for guests of all ages. Kids love to have a drive of the boat and our onboard activities.
Q. What should I bring for the tour?
A. Please bring swimwear, a hat, a towel, and a change of clothes. We provide snorkelling equipment, but you’re welcome to bring your own. Reef Experience has free reef-friendly sunscreen for all guests.
Q. How can I make a reservation?
A. You can easily make a reservation by clicking here and following the prompts. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Q. Is there a vegetarian or vegan meal option available?
A. Yes, we can accommodate dietary preferences. Please let us know in advance, and we’ll ensure you have suitable meal options.
If you have any other questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to make your Great Barrier Reef adventure a memorable one.
Up to 6 hours at two pristine Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour locations
2 spectacular outer Barrier reef locations
the best crew on the reef
Cairns Deluxe Itinerary for Great Barrier Reef tour Snorkeling and Diving
07:30 – First Board Reef Experience boat at the Cairns Marina ‘A-Finger’ for check-in
08:00 – Approximate departure and Safety Talk with snorkel briefing
08:30 – Marine Biology presentation, followed by a detailed scuba dive briefing.
09:30 – Arrive at our first spectacular reef site, snorkel and dive with thousands of vivid tropical fish, giant clams, plus more.
12:30 – Then enjoy a delicious Lunch
13:00 – Cruise to our second location to explore forests of coral, large sea fans and black coral trees in its shallow lagoons
15:00 – Depart the Great Barrier Reef.
15:30 – Glass of wine, tropical fruits, cheese and biscuits.
16:30 – Arrive back in Cairns.
Reef Experience has more inclusions and the best price.
Marine Biologist Presentation
Free certification or introductory dives are available.
Cairns hotel transportation
a bbq breakfast
an excellent lunch (Please advise any dietary requirements when you book)
a glass of wine and a small snack to enjoy on the way back home
All fees and taxes related to the Great Barrier Reef
Snorkelling gear and instruction are included in your day.
Flotation aids, including life rings and life jackets, as well as swimming noodles
Water, tea and coffee all day long (while the boat is stationary)
Underwater Digital Camera Hire
Snack Bar Purchases: Soft drinks, chocolate, chips, alcohol etc.
Marine Biologist Guided Snorkel Tour of the reef: Snorkel with an experienced Marine Biologist and learn about the marine life you see on an educational and interactive tour.
Great Barrier Reef souvenirs – T-shirts, hats etc.
Dive Guides for already qualified ‘Certified’ scuba divers (dive guides included for beginner divers)
Prescription Mask Hire our clients who wear contact lenses. Normally, you will be able to use them on the day.
Bus transfers from accommodation outside of the Cairns Business Area.
Second Scuba Dive at our beautiful afternoon Great Barrier reef location.
Cash and/or credit card for purchases
Swimming Clothes, Towel, Hat and Sunglasses,
Proof of qualification if you’re a Certified Diver
Cairns Great Barrier Reef Tour, Reef Experience departs from
Boarding commences at7:30 a.m. for check-in. The Reef Experience vessel arrived directly at Cairns Marina at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Where Can I Park?
Several parking stations throughout Cairns are within walking distance of the Marina. Click here to see where
Important Information for Scuba Diving
We are passionate about showing you Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, so please ensure you understand the scuba diving laws.
Queensland, Australia, has the strictest scuba diving rules globally and the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all regulations, including medical, as is the law.
We recommend that all of our passengers complete our dive medical questionnaire. Some medical conditions, age and medications may prevent you from scuba diving.
Our mission is always to provide our passengers with the best Great Barrier Reef experience.
Scuba Diving Medical Questionnaire
We are happy to help you with any questions you may have. Please contact our office on 07 4037 2700 or email us.
After scuba diving, you must not fly for at least 18 hours.
You should not fly for 24 hours after your last dive for multiple dives.
If you are Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning, you must wait 24 hours after your dive.
We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible.
A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required to re-schedule or alter all or part of a reservation.
Any changes to the booking (date, names, etc) incur a $20 administration fee.
We must notify the operator of any cancellations within the specified cancellation period. It is your responsibility to ensure you submit your cancellation request with adequate time, and during our standard business hours (9 am-5 pm), to allow us to contact the tour provider. All cancellation requests must be in writing and sent via email to [email protected]. Any emails received outside of these hours will be considered received the following day.
Cancellation fees are as follows:
20% cancellation fee 30 days or more prior to departure
50% cancellation fee if within 30 days prior to departure
100% cancellation fee within 14 days prior to departure
There will be no refund of any part of your tour costs should you fail to arrive at a scheduled tour departure time. Tour departures may not be delayed due to passenger circumstances - including events beyond your control, medical problems, airline delays, weather etc.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation insurance, evacuation and medical cover. Please read the wording of your insurance policy carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. No refund or compensation will be issued for unused equipment, prepaid/pre-booked courses and/or Scuba dives, or guides if you cannot complete the entire tour. Please see Scuba Diving – Important Information below.
Terms And Conditions
This website acts as a booking agent only for the tours advertised herein. Although we endeavor to provide accurate information, we are not liable for inaccurate information concerning services.
Check-in: If you are Making your own way (no return transfers booked), please check-in and board at 7.30 am. Reef Experience is located on A Finger, at Cairns Marlin Marina.
Terms and Conditions:
Children’s prices are from 4 to 11 years of age. If booking as a certified diver, adult rates apply. Children 3 years of age and under can travel for free.
Open-Dated Ticket: In certain cases, Open-Dated tickets may be issued. These tickets are valid indefinitely but are non-refundable. Any fare increase must be paid at the time of rebooking. Once a customer accepts an Open-Dated ticket, the cancellation policy applicable to the original booking date will remain in effect.
Schedules, vessels, dive locations, and itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances, with full consideration for your safety and enjoyment. We reserve the right to adjust tours, schedules, prices, and itineraries at any time without notice. We are not liable for any changes, cancellations, or delays, and we accept no responsibility for any loss, additional expenses, or out-of-pocket costs incurred as a result, whether caused directly or indirectly.
Neither this site nor any associated company or agent advertised through this site is responsible for your costs or losses resulting from alterations, cancellations, any loss, any damage, delays, deaths or personal injury.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance that covers personal injury and the events, including but not limited to your cancellation for any reason and the cancellation or alteration to the scheduled itinerary for reasons involving weather or passenger, crew or vessel safety. Please read your insurance policy's wording carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. Please be aware that all travel insurance companies do not cover scuba diving and other in-water activities. In a medical emergency, any evacuation, vessel relocation, medical expenses, or other expenses are the passenger's financial responsibility.
The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Experience taking photographs or video recordings during the course of this activity/tour. The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Encounter receiving and using images of the passenger from third parties and using these images for marketing and promoting its services.
Please inform us of any special requirements 48 hours before your travel date, such as dietary requirements, allergies, mobility and disability issues. This can be done in the ‘Booking Message’ section of your online reservation or by contacting our friendly reservations team.Scuba Diving – Important Information:
All Certified Divers must present a valid Certification Card. Failure to present a Certification Card may result in the customer being unable to participate in scuba diving. They can enjoy snorkelling activities instead. No refunds would be offered.
Minimum age for Introductory Diving is 12 years old. Minimum age for certified diving and Open Water Course is 10 years old. All junior divers must either be accompanied by a certified parent or guardian or must dive with a dive professional at an additional charge. If the diver is under the age of 18 years, parental or guardian consent is required for that diver to undertake a dive. The parent or guardian should sign the medical declaration as witness.
Upon arriving at our vessel and before commencing any dive activities, all passengers must complete our liability forms. All information provided must be strictly accurate. If during the tour, it becomes apparent that a form has been incorrectly completed, either by omission or false statement, we reserve the right to prevent any customer from undertaking any scuba diving or snorkelling activities while on board our vessel. Any decision made in this regard will be at the absolute discretion of the Dive Crew aboard the vessel.
The dangers and risks associated with scuba diving in an open ocean environment under variable conditions apply to our tours. We reserve the right to prevent any customer from participating in scuba diving if we determine that they are physically or medically unsuitable to do so or if it is in the best interests of our crew or other scuba divers. Our crew are trained professionals, and it is up to their sole discretion who they take diving and/or snorkelling. No refunds would apply.
Please remember you must allow 24 hours from your last dive before flying.
Medical Conditions & Medications:
Queensland, Australia has some of the strictest scuba diving rules in the world but also the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules including medical as is the law.
All passengers participating in any Scuba activities must complete a Medical Questionnaire. If you’ve answered yes to any questions or take any prescribed medication, you will need further medical clearance. This must be arranged prior to your day of departure.
Medication: DO NOT presume that by taking medication is controlling your medical conditions, and you should be fine to scuba dive, as it is the medication that can be the problem when scuba diving. Particularly prescribed medication may require a medical clearance.
The medical certification should be provided in English, preferably by a medical practitioner with experience in diving medicine, within 90 days prior to the scuba dive. The certificate must state that the person is medically fit to dive.
No refunds on uncompleted dives due to medical conditions and/or prescribed medications or change of mind.
If you do have any pre-existing/existing medical conditions or are taking any medication whatsoever and are not sure whether you will be deemed medically fit to Scuba Dive, please get in touch with our Office at 07 4037 2700 or email us at [email protected], we will be only too happy to help you if we can. Alternatively, the best thing to do is to consult your own Doctor for a medical clearance to scuba dive.
Peak Season Surcharge - To be paid onboard on the day of travel:
➢ A Surcharge of $100 per person applies to 25 December 2024 & 2025 – Christmas Day
➢ A Surcharge of $50 per person applies to the following days:
• 26 December 2024 – Boxing Day
• 18, 19, 20 & 21 April 2025 – Easter weekend
• 26 December 2025 – Boxing Day