Cairns & the Tropical North

Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

Cairns & the Tropical North, Australia
Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise from Cairns

From $170.02

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 9 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Spend a day on the Great Barrier Reef at two different snorkel and dive sites on this luxury catamaran cruise from Cairns. Travel in style aboard a fast, comfortable catamaran to the outer edge of Upolu Reef, "Wonder Wall," and the Upolu Cay reef area where you can choose to snorkel or dive (additional cost) and observe the coral that's teeming with colorful fish. Take an Adventure Snorkel & Glass Bottom Boat Tour through the highly protected no-fishing zone sites and refuel with a buffet lunch on board the catamaran.
  • Choose to snorkel or dive at two locations in highly protected zones
  • Learn about the reef on a glass-bottom boat coral-viewing tour
  • Take a snorkeling tour led by a marine naturalist or master reef guide
  • Delicious buffet lunch, snacks and beverages included

What's Included

  • Luxury fast stylish catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef
  • Six full hours on the Great Barrier Reef with stops at two uniquely different reef locations
  • Environment Management Charge (EMC) and port fees
  • Tea and coffee throughout the day
  • Large smorgasbord lunch with seafood
  • Platters of tropical fruit, cheese and crackers
  • Snorkeling instruction and in-water crew assistance if required
  • Snorkeling equipment (snorkel, marks, flippers, and buoyancy vests)
  • Wetsuits or lycra suits (depending on season)
  • Snorkeling tour with a marine naturalist
  • Freshwater showers
  • Informative Glass Bottom Boat Tour
  • Guided interpretative Adventure Drift Snorkel Tour
  • Confectionery, Soft Drinks and Alcoholic Beverages
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Only Pre-book diving if no medical conditions/taking medication - some may preclude you from diving
  • OPTIONAL Diving : x1 or x2 cert dives / x1 or x2 Intro dives

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia

    Starting point is at the Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom desk inside the Reef Fleet Terminal (RFT) located 1,Spence Str Cairns .

Start time

07:15 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your own way to the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal where you board your deluxe 65-foot (20-meter) catamaran.

Enjoy coffee, tea, and light snacks prior to departure, then relax on the outdoor sundeck or air-conditioned interior as your vessel cruises to Upolu Cay. Receive a safety briefing from the expert crew to prepare for the day ahead.

Explore Upolu Cay and take a glass-bottom boat from the catamaran to Upolu Cay, located on the Great Barrier Reef. Hop in the sheltered turquoise water to snorkel or scuba dive (additional cost) among an astounding array of coral, colorful fish, and other sea creatures.

Cruise to the next destination while enjoying a delicious buffet lunch with dishes such as smoked salmon, chilled prawns, cold chicken and other meats, accompanied by salad and fresh bread.

Arrive at the outer edge of Upolu Reef at a site known as the Wonder Wall. From the ocean floor, the Wonder Wall extends 46 feet (14 meters) high, reaching just below the water's surface. Both snorkelers and divers can explore and marvel at the variety of marine life, including hard and soft corals, reef fish, giant clams, and turtles. With an expert guide, take an informative tour and drift snorkel around the site.

Cruise back to Cairns snacking on a selection of tropical fruit, cheese, crackers, and cakes.

Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom

9 hours Admission Ticket Free

Great Barrier Reef

6 hours Admission Ticket Free

Upolu Cay

2 hours Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • A maximum of 75 people ensures a unique and personalized experience
  • The order in which the snorkeling and dive sites are visited may changes as it is dependent on the conditions on the day
  • Please note: All DIVERS will be required to complete a medical questionnaire on board prior to diving. Please only book the diving options if you have no medical conditions or taking medication as some conditions/medication preclude you from diving
  • If intending to take part in diving all divers (whether certified or introductory diver) will be required to fill out a diving medical questionnaire on board. If diving is an important option for you, please advise if you have any medical issues (past or present) or taking any medications so we can advise if any QLD diving medical clearance is required. Some medical conditions and medication may preclude you from diving. It is imperative for your safety that you answer the questions on the form truthfully.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
Felix_V
It was amazing! Thanks crew for everything! You have to do that trip it's the best in Cairns for sure! I highly recommend it!

Reviews

5.0
1,270 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 1,270 reviews
Exceptional!
Lynne_S, May 2024
We had a fantastic day. The crew were exceptional, very knowledgeable and fun. Food was lovely and plentiful. We saw so much marine life, it made our day. Thank you to all the crew.
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you for this awesome review Lynne, we love hearing such amazing feedback. We are so glad that all the marine life came out to play with you. We will be sure to pass your compliments onto our crew!
Very disappointing experience
Kira_T, May 2024
We got pretty unlucky yesterday, the ocean was very choppy and visibility under the water was very poor for snorkeling. The first morning stop at the “great wall” was not too bad though there is no wall there at all. The second stop horrible, very little of corals spread over sandy ocean floor, with murky waters it was impossible to see them at all. The crew was wonderful and was throng to do their best to help us navigate thru the waves but snorkeling in groups (for safety) around the group leader was a nonsense and very disappointing experience.
Amazing day
Felix_V, May 2024
It was amazing! Thanks crew for everything! You have to do that trip it's the best in Cairns for sure! I highly recommend it!
Response from Host, May 2024
Hi Felix, thank you for your lovely review! We are so delighted to hear that you had an amazing trip with us. Also, we truly appreciate your recommendation and hope you enjoy the rest of your travels! 😊
Thanks for the memory
terrilei_S, Apr 2024
The crew are awesome I got to dive with Rene and Charlotte they are encouraging and supportive. Amber was funny and the rest of the crew were awesome.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thanks for this awesome review, Terri-lei! We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with our crew. We will be sure to pass your delightful compliments onto our crew. We hope that you have safe travels home and we hope to see you again soon!!
A remarkable wonderful experience
Lina_B, Apr 2024
The tour was worth the price! The crew was very friendly and caring and gave a lot of effort to create the best experience for everyone. The boat was really nice too, we got a breakfast, free drinks, lunch and snacks. We had a lot of time to dive or snorkel at the two spots we stayed and the crew showed us the best places where to snorkel and told us about what we could see. The amount of people that fit in the boat is really good because there are not to many people swimming and diving around and the crew was able to take care of everyone individually. In all they did the most to give us a wonderful experience and they did a great job!:)
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review, Lina! We are so thrilled to hear that our crew were able to give you a wonderful experience on board our Ocean Freedom Cruise. Our crew are very passionate about the beautiful Great Barrier Reef and are very knowledgeable in what they do. They enjoy sharing this with all of our guests that choose to travel with us 😊 The Ocean Freedom Family wishes you all the very best for the remainder of your trip!
The BEST crew!
Richard_L, Apr 2024
The crew was absolutely the BEST! They seemed genuinely happy about doing their jobs and helping us to have a wonderful time. There was lots of fresh fruit, crackers and cheese, fantastic lunch and desert cakes. Their attention to our group whole snorkeling was commendable. When proving help they never make anyone feel like they were weak or incapable in the water but uniquely made assisting us fun. I can’t imagine finding a better outfitter for the reef snorkel or dive for the day. Thank You
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Richard, thank you for your review! We are so delighted to hear that you had a wonderful time on board our Ocean Freedom Cruise with our crew. They truly love what they do and are very passionate about the Great Barrier Reef. Our crew enjoy sharing their knowledge with all of our guests in a fun and informative way 😊 We hope you enjoy the rest of your travels, and we hope to see you sometime in the future!
MUST DO
tengland94, Apr 2024
This trip was amazing. The staff made you feel welcome, safe and built your confidence to scuba dive if that’s your intention. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to take us out to see this magnificent thing.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review! We are so pleased to hear that you had an amazing trip with our crew, while visiting the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. We wish you all the very best for the remainder of your travels and hope to see you sometime in the future!
Unforgettable experience!
Kyleigh_O, Apr 2024
We had the most incredible experience scuba diving with Ocean Freedom in the GBR! It was my first time scuba diving and we did two introductory dives. We were also able to snorkel as well and went to two different locations. It was a rainy and choppy day, which led to seeing the most amazing sea life. We saw black tip and white tip reef sharks, blue-spotted, lagoonrays, cowtail stingrays, sea turtles and many fish. We made the best memories. Thank you so much to the team!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Kyleigh, thank you for your review! We are so thrilled to hear that you had the most incredible experience with Ocean Freedom, making the best memories. It’s always wonderful when the marine life put on a great show. Also, thank you for choosing us for your first diving adventure. We hope to see you in the future!
Amazing
Jessica_S, Apr 2024
The staff was so nice and I had so much fun! It was so beautiful and I would definitely do it again!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Jessica, thank you for your review! We are glad to hear that you had so much fun on our vessel. Hopefully we see you again in the future!
1st Time Scuba Diving - Safe/Fun
Shanon_S, Apr 2024
This was a great first experience scuba diving! The crew created a safe/fun environment. I felt comfortable learning how to scuba dive with my instructor. They give you a tutorial, guided quiz, and a 2/1 instructor ratio. We saw all of the Finding Nemo sealife! Ample opportunities to snorkel as well. FYI: Bring a towel and extra $ to purchase beverages besides coffee/water. Follow your motion sickness medicine instructions and take your Dramamine BEFORE you board the boat to successfully prevent motion sickness. Overall 9/10 :)
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, Shanon! We are glad to hear that you had a great first experience scuba diving with us, being able to spot Nemo and all the other marine life that the beautiful Great Barrier Reef has to offer. Our crew do try their best to give all of our guests a safe and fun day on board our vessel, as safety is of utmost priority to us. We do advise guests to bring things they’d usually bring to the beach (hat, towel, sunscreen, water bottle, towel, swimwear, and a change of clothes) as well as cash or a card on board the vessel, as we do have nibbles, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages that can be purchased. Also, we do provide sea sickness tablets on board the vessel, and we recommend taking them at least 30 minutes prior to departure. Once again, thank you for your review and we wish you all the very best!
Fabulous
Rosemary_B, Apr 2024
From the moment we arrived the staff were welcoming and fun. Lovely boat, great catering all day, safe and interesting information from all staff. I highly recommend this company
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Rosemary, thank you for your review! Our crew will always try to ensure that our guests have a wonderful day, from the initial hello to the final goodbye. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the catering and all the interesting information our crew had to offer. Also, we highly appreciate your recommendation. Have a lovely day! 😊
Great Day!
Nancy_A, Apr 2024
Perfect day! Great staff - helpful, friendly and supportive. Food was super. Boat and gear were clean and well maintained. Much better than the bigger boats/Green Island!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Nancy, thank you for your review! It’s so fantastic to hear that you had a perfect day, enjoying all that we have to offer on board our Ocean Freedom vessel.
Amazing!
Synne_O, Apr 2024
We had an amazing day at the reef! The staff was great. Everything about this day was 10/10! Would recommend
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review and 10/10 rating, Synne! It’s so lovely to hear that you had an amazing day visiting the beautiful Great Barrier Reef on board our vessel with our wonderful staff. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we truly appreciate it 😊
Awesome day out 😀
Michael_L, Apr 2024
It was an awesome day. The first location we got to see a white tip reef shark and a green turtle. The second location were really nice, we got to stand on the sand and the coral and fish were very close to our feet. There an amazing selection of buffet that includes fresh prawns and lots of snacks in between.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Michael, thank you for your delightful review! We are so glad to hear that you had an awesome day on board our Ocean Freedom Cruise that travels to Upolu Reef and Cay. It’s always great when the marine life tags along the way 😊
Great price, great crew
ra_g, Apr 2024
Phenomenal day ! Great price ! Great service by divemasters and rest of crew. Food was excellent and plentiful. Dive/ snorkeling sites were top notch.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review! We are so pleased to hear that you had a phenomenal day on our vessel, enjoying all that we have to offer, from the activities to our reef sites to our crew members on board our vessel 😊 We hope to see you again in the future!
Great
David_K, Apr 2024
It was a wonderful operation. Definitely recommend it. They were all professional and upbeat. Unfortunately, it's pricy.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi David, thank you for your review and recommendation! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour. Although our tour may appear to be pricey, we are, in fact, one of the most cost-effective reef tours. We include in the tour price all food (morning and afternoon tea / full smorgasbord lunch), all top-quality snorkel equipment including in-water snorkel tuition and prescription masks (if required), complimentary Glass Bottom Boat and Adventure Drift snorkel Tour, which many other reef tours charge on top of their tour price. We also carry less guests on board our vessels and have a very high crew to guest ratio to ensure top service and care 😊. We are delighted that you found the operation to be wonderful and when you work out all the inclusions, we offer in the pricing, we are actually very cost-effective and extremely comparable to all reef tours. We hope that you now also see that understanding all the extras, low guest number and high crew presence we offer 😊
Fantastic experience
Sharmila_C, Apr 2024
Excellent crew with exceptional service. The crew really cared. Corals were amazing. Great options with snorkeling, scuba diving and glass bottom boat. The skipper was fantastic. All in all a wonderful experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Sharmila, thank you for your review! We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience and enjoyed the various activities we offer. Our crew strive to provide exceptional service and they will be delighted to know that they made your trip a wonderful experience 😊
Come and live the dream
Luis_S, Apr 2024
We have fulfilled the dream of visiting the Great Barrier Reef! Thank you Ocean Freedom team for helping us with that! We could feel that our safety and comfort came first. The crew was absolutely professional and having everything under control, always with cordiality and kindness.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, Luis! We’re thrilled to hear that you fulfilled your dream of visiting the beautiful Great Barrier Reef with us! Your safety and comfort are our topmost priorities, and we’re glad that our crew was able to provide a professional, cordial, and kind experience. Thank you for choosing Ocean Freedom, and we wish you all the best with your travels 😊
Great day!
Abbe_K, Apr 2024
Excellent staff, great experience. They even had large selection of prescription masks so I could actually see!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review, Abbe! It’s great to hear that you had a great experience with our staff. Yes, we do have a variety of prescription masks ranging from -3 to -7. This ensures that we are able to cater to the needs of all our guests, and we are glad that we were able to cater to yours 😊
Fun sea activity
Hilary_W, Apr 2024
Nice and helpful stuff team, plenty of food, fruit, snacks etc.will recommend it to friends.Thanks...
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us, Hilary! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our food selection and found our team to be helpful. Your recommendation to friends means a lot to us. We appreciate your feedback and wish you all the best with your travels!
...

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