Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

Staff were great and well organised tour. Snorkelling was an awesome experience and highly recommend.

The day started by checking in at the Reef Fleet Terminal which was very quick and staff were very polite. Upon entry to the boat we were given our own designated seating area. All guests were checked in and had their snorkelling equipment impressively quickly and the boat set off by 08:30. The safety briefing was done with good humour and it was easy to feel safe and supported by the crew. Tea, coffee, water and some cakes, scones were available. We stopped for 5-10 minutes on the way to reef location 1 due to the captain spotting some humpback whales which was a stunning added bonus. The journey itself was quite smooth but there are sickness tablets and bags available if you were to feel unwell. Lunch was absolutely superb with freshly cooked steak, fish, salad and other items. Buffet style, very delicious. Water is available throughout as well as tea and coffee whenever the boat is stopped. You feel very safe in the water with a lookout on duty and multiple team members helping you out. There is also optional snorkel guides or towes back to the boat if you’re tired. Reef friendly sun cream is free and available, as well as floatations and life jackets if needed. All equipment is clean and in great condition. A few other groups did scuba dives or helicopter tours as well which looked great but we just did the two snorkelling sessions, which was enough to see so much of the coral reef and soo many different fish. The crew regularly checked numbers and made sure everyone was safe and ok. There was a complimentary glass of red or white wine, as well as cheese and crackers on the way back. All of that is without mentioning what everyone is actually there for which is the Great Barrier Reef. The two locations are stunning and genuinely absolute magic to see. I couldn’t recommend this tour company more. The crew are organised, supportive, funny and clearly know what it takes to make a great day out.

The crew was very organized, friendly and helpful. Safety and comfort of the passengers was their top concern. I would highly suggest to take sea sickness medication as myself and family members got sea sick. The crew was very kind and helpful as we muscled through it. Despite getting sea sick, we had a great trip on the Great Barrier Reef. They assigned seating which was great, we could keep our stuff at our assigned table. They also provided sunscreen which was nice. The snorkel gear was in great condition, they provide float noodles and life jackets if you want to snorkel with less effort. The food was good and they had plenty of it. Don’t forget a towel. We brought a change of dry clothes but didn’t need it. Highly recommend this excursion.

The platform boat was so nice and they had all the gear we needed for our comfort. The team was very friendly and knowledgeable. The meal was excellent too. Plus the opportunity for 2 different locations for snorkeling!!!

This was a well organised trip, great crew who were friendly and helpful. It was quite rainy and windy on the way out to the reef, resulting in a bumpy ride. Sea sickness tablets were available and necessary. Not being an experienced snorkeller I found the choppy conditions made it quite difficult to swim around and my time in the water was short. However the sun came out, lunch was great and the bar open. I would recommend this trip but I wish the weather had been better.

We went out to the reef on Down Under on July 30, 2026 on the Evolution. We have been going our with Down Under for over 25 years, and is our favorite operator in Cairns, I have been a long-time Intro-diver, but in 2025 I completed my Open-Water certification with Down Under. we had a great day on the reef - weather - crew - food and the denizens of the reef themselves. I did two dives with Indi, who has a wonderful disposition and is a very good diver to have join you for a guided dive. She knows the sites, and has a slow and relaxing style that is very relaxing. the crew and the ship, as usual, were excellent. Familiar faces like Phil, Eddie, Aaron, John, Indi, etc. just make the experience feel more personable and familiar. Thanks again for a great day, and looking forward to our next visit!

An absolutely fantastic day from start to finish. I really appreciated the safety on the boat from the second you stepped aboard. We got snorkels and flippers straight away and then were able to enjoy the boat ride to the reef, which was about an hour and a half. Do take care! The water was very choppy so, for three $ I bought the anti sickness meds aboard and was really glad I did- others didn’t and definitely suffered . We had a short safety and instructional briefing before getting out onto the reef and what an incredible experience. The lunch aboard was absolutely fantastic and more than enough for everyone. Just such a good experience from start to end and absolutely something I would recommend for anyone travelling to Cairns

This was a really great time getting to explore the Great Barrier Reef. We visited two different reef locations and it took about an hour and a half to get out and back. They strongly recommend taking seasickness medication as the ship rocks quite a bit. They run a tight ship and everyone was super knowledgeable!

Very organized, staff are friendly and helpful, safe environment, two snorkelling locations and awesome lunch.

From the moment we got our tickets checked at the counter we were greeted with warm and friendly crew. As we embarked early and headed out to our first location we received a thorough safety briefing and throughout the journey the staff were friendly and attentive. They made the experience memorable with the marine biologists onboard answering any questions about the reefs and marine life. The crew were absolutely amazing catering to everyone’s needs with lunch being delicious and plentiful. With very minor grazing on the coral the staff were prompt and attentive with offering care and assistance. In the end, all the crew lined up as we disembarked which was a nice touch to end an amazing day. I highly recommend and will be booking again!!