Updated on: Thursday May 08, 2008

One thing that you can't miss out on doing while you are in Cairns is visiting the world famous Great Barrier Reef.

For a map of the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, see Maps

For trips to the islands off Cairns click here

To Learn to Scuba Dive and become certified click here

Paradise Reef

If you are looking for a reef trip that is unique - look no further. This Great Barrier Reef snorkelling and diving cruise, sails daily from Cairns to an exclusive mooring site  at Paradise Reef and Michaelmas Cay with it's stunning white beach. Escape from the crowds on a magnificent, sophisticated, state of the art 25 metre maxi yacht and enjoy snorkelling and diving in pristine tropical waters.  The crew are very inter-active and have a reputation as the friendliest around encouraging all of the passengers to get involved in all of the days activities. 

Great sumptuous lunch provided including prawns and several hot dishes..  

Michaelmas Cay is world famous for its migratory birds and the cay provides one of the few rare opportunities to snorkel and dive in protected calm waters. No matter what the weather, the sandy lagoon is wind protected and the coral is immediately adjacent to the beach. Turtles are extremely common and you are also likely to see giant trevally, small black tip reef sharks, bat fish, and hundreds of varieties of colourful reef fish.

• Calm, protected waters. Ideal for snorkeling off the beach.
• Excellent for those new to the art of snorkeling, have small kids, poor swimming ability or suffer from sea sickness. There is a staff member who helps teach snorkeling in the shallow water of the cay.
• The coral is immediately adjacent to the cay, so no long swims!
• The cay is a great place to soak up the tropical sunshine!

Paradise Reef is a hard coral reef where fractured coral form a ribbon of small reefs. With depths of up to 25 meters along the edge, water clarity is good and the area is host to many exciting fish species.

Located on the Outer Barrier Reef, Paradise Reef forms part of Breaking Patches, a system of reefs about 1 to 2 nautical miles north of Michaelmas Cay. It provides:-

• Excellent wall diving for certified divers.
• Safe, easy and exciting snorkeling due to fish congregations along the wall. The coral is located within meters of the boat and does not require strenuous swimming.
• A completely different reef system. Paradise Reef has predominately hard corals, and many of the fish are different from those that inhabit the lagoon at Michaelmas cay.
• An opportunity to do a second introductory dive or certified dive on a different and deeper reef.
• A guided snorkel tour.

So... take the helm and guide the vessel home under full sail or simply lie on the trampoline across the bow of the boat as it cuts through the waves. We welcome you to an unforgettable adventure!

Scuba diving is available.

Road Test

Winner Year 2000 Tourism Awards

Departs Daily @ 0800 hrs

Reef Q

Anybody travelling to the reef aboard this vessel will come away suitably impressed.  There is quite a large dive deck area downstairs with easy access to the water and plenty of room to gear up.

The vessel  is surveyed to carry up to 120 people, but numbers are kept down to a max of 80 to maximise passenger space and comfort.  Inside the cabins could rival any of the more expensive boats running out of Cairns.  Plush is the only way you could describe the interior decorating and there is a great bar set up for all of your drinks throughout the day.

Upstairs has a large back deck area that is roomy and comfortable and looks like a fantastic place to kick back and catch a bit of sun on the way out and on the way back from the reef.  Inside is a skippers dream.  As a passenger you will be able to see everything the skipper does as it is all very open and all the gadgets for the captain will make you want to become one yourself!

So if you just want to get out to the reef  fast and do some great diving or snorkelling - but don't want to spend a fortune - then this trip could be the one for you. This tour is aimed at those confident in the water. 

Scuba Diving is available

Departs Daily 8.30 am and returns 4.30 pm

• Transfers To/From Accommodation $9 p.p. Cairns city / $14 p.p. Cairns Outer suburbs & Northern Beaches

 Osprey     

This is one of the fastest boat out of Cairns and can travel at speeds up to 30 knots (and that's pretty fast!) but normally cruises at around 25 knots.  

It visits two reefs daily - chosen from either Norman, Saxon and Hastings reefs.  The inside cabin is air-conditioned, and there is a large amount of space for sunbaking.  There is a semi-submersible available to use (additional cost) and dive and snorkel equipment.  There is approx 5 hours available to dive and snorkel.

Lunch is an Aussie BBQ with fish available, and there is wine and cheese served on the way home, while you sit back and enjoy a bit of onboard entertainment.  The staff are a lot of fun.

• Maximum passenger number 100

• Travelling to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef

•  Large air-conditioned modern lounges to relax in comfort

• Full length sundecks for sunbathing

• Delicious Aussie BBQ lunch - (inc fish) vegetarians catered for / Afternoon Tea

• Live Musical Entertainment on return journey

• Semi-submersible coral viewer tours available

• Visiting two spectacular reefs

• Five hours of snorkelling and introductory diving

• Up to 3 certified dives available

•  Free guided snorkelling tour

• Free scuba diving demonstration

•  Fully equipped with snorkel and dive equipment

• Friendly and attentive staff

Scuba diving is available
Departs Daily @ 8.30am - Returns 4.30pm

Moore Reef Cruise

Discover the real reef as you join this luxury day cruise to a large platform that is permanently moored on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef.  Departing daily from the Reef Fleet Terminal in the heart of Cairns. This fast, air-conditioned catamaran cruise offers the highest quality experience in discovering the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.

This full day cruise offers genuine value for money by providing complimentary inclusions such as:

• · Between 4 to 5 hours at the reef

• · Delicious hot and cold buffet lunch with seafood

• · Glass bottom boat cruise

• · Semi-submersible coral viewing

• · Marine Touch Tank, where you can touch some of the reef’s unique marine creatures

• · Onboard reef ecology presentation by Marine Naturalist

• · Children’s wading pool

• · All day snorkeling, including equipment

• ·  Underwater observatory

• · Afternoon tea

Introductory and certified scuba diving, the world famous Seawalker® Platform Helmet Diving*, guided snorkel tours and deluxe helicopter scenic flights are optional tours available too.

Whether you want to get wet or stay dry, there are numerous activities available for you to enjoy. Or simply just relax, sit back and marvel at the serenity of this wonderful underwater world!.

Departs Reef Fleet Terminal Daily, Cairns 10.00 am, Returns Cairns 5.30 pm

Lightening Fast To The Outer Great Barrier Reef!!

IT'S INSANE and there's NOTHING like it !!!! - The Thunderbolt  is the fastest commercial vessel on the Great Barrier Reef and has access to 3 different reef sites (Moore Reef, Flynn Reef and Thetford Reef) located on the Outer Edge of the Great Barrier Reef, providing flexibility in varying weather conditions. This craft is the first of its kind on the Great Barrier Reef and travels at 80 km an hour and will have your from Fitzroy Island to the Outer Reef in just 24 minutes!! Snorkel for 2 hours at 2 outer reef locations.

What you get - Return ferry transfers to Fitzroy Island / 3 hour round trip from Fitzroy to the Outer Barrier Reef / 2 hours of snorkelling visiting up to 2 different reef sites including /All snorkelling gear and instruction included / Maximum 42 passengers / Time to explore Fitzroy Island