Tours/Cairns and the Tropical North/SeaQuest Day Trips to Outer Barrier Reef
Viator · group up to 60 pax

SeaQuest Day Trips to Outer Barrier Reef

4.7(145)Cairns and the Tropical North1 hour
VIATOR5.0(5)TRIPADVISOR4.6(140)

Description

Experience an unforgettable snorkelling or diving adventure on a day trip from Cairns, with four magical hours aboard SeaQuest before meeting our liveaboard vessel OceanQuest for seamless transfers. An introductory diver explores the reef under close supervision, no prior certification required. A certified diver is trained and licensed to explore the underwater world independently and safely to set depths.

Tour Options

Snorkelling
  • The reef being just a few meters away from the waters surface, you will be able to explore all these wonders just by floating at the surface.
2 Certified Dives (Accredited)
  • Certified scuba diving: A certified diver is trained and licensed to explore the underwater world independently and safely to set depths.
1 Introductory Dive (Beginner)
  • Introductory/first time divers: An Introductory diver explores the reef under close supervision, no prior certification required.

Highlights

Free use of Wetsuits and Stinger suits
Hot fresh water showers
Visit two dive locations
Lunch
Coffee and/or Tea
Free use of Snorkel equipment. Masks, snorkel, fins and flotation devices
Guided snorkel tour
4 hours on the outer reef
Free prescription mask (deposit required)
Morning and afternoon tea

What's included

Included
Free use of Wetsuits and Stinger suits
Hot fresh water showers
Visit two dive locations
Lunch
Coffee and/or Tea
Free use of Snorkel equipment. Masks, snorkel, fins and flotation devices
Guided snorkel tour
4 hours on the outer reef
Free prescription mask (deposit required)
Morning and afternoon tea
Not included
Snacks (choc, chips etc)
Alcoholic beverages
Due to significant volatility in supply and operational costs, we reserve the right to collect a fuel surcharge prior to travel. This will be collected via emailed payment link.

Traveller Ratings

4.7
145 reviews
5
127
4
6
3
0
2
4
1
8

Important Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • No minimum age / Children 4-14 years
  • Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed by customer for any reason
  • Diving within 24 hours of flying is not recommended. All participants will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to diving. Some pre-existing medical conditions (eg asthma, heart conditions, etc) may prevent you from diving, please consult your doctor

Reviews(145)

A
Albina_M
June 14, 2026
Best experience....

Best experience. Very good staff and good planning. Went smooth and good services povided. Very happy with experience

Operator response

Hi there, Thank you for your kind words! We’re so pleased to hear that the crew made such a lasting impression and that you had such a wonderful day with us! Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team

A
agbosham
May 3, 2026
Great trip

We spent one night 2 days aboard with Divers Den. Both the boat you travel on and the one you stay on with great. We had a huge room with lovely views and a decent bathroom. The food was good and the staff were so helpful. We did loads of dives including a fantastic Floro night dive where we saw sharks and loads of amazing coral. Highly recommend!

Operator response

Hi There! Thanks so much for your fantastic feedback! It is great to hear you enjoyed your time on board across both vessels and were comfortable in your cabin. We are also pleased you enjoyed the food and found the crew helpful throughout your stay! It is fantastic to hear you made the most of the diving, especially the fluoro night dive, which is always a highlight with some incredible marine life and coral to see. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!

M
mcalex22
March 3, 2026
Divers Den liveaboard Oceanquest (4D3N)

I went in late Feb 2026. The first night was very quiet and only 23 guests so we had a very relaxed atmosphere. Viz wasn't great due to the rains in Cairns and at night but the waters were very calm and overall it was fun diving and lots to see. Crew worked hard with efficient dive briefings and managing the tasks. Always felt safe and looked after, the crew also have good humour and were always keen to tell us what was around in the ocean. Big shoutout to: Anna G (dive deck supervisor), Captain Josh and Engineer Sam plus chef Taylor and the whole hospitality (unpaid) team led by Zach then Kelly. Shoutout to my buddies and guides (I usually pay for a bunch of dives and also do some unguided buddy dives): Connor (lots of nudis), Felix (scorpion fish and lots of nudis), Luuc (night dive) and Thom (we saw the eagle ray) and Thea (night dive). Also shoutout to all the others I didn't dive with but chatted to and also found interesting things to show us: Sol, Dom, Mika, Brigitte, Gautam, Gonzalo. Finally shoutout to the transfer crew on Seaquest led by Neah and Capt Sarah (all ladies in the team!) and then the transfer crew on Aquaquest led by Mario and Capt Angus plus Sandi, Philippos etc. Special thanks to Thom and Brigitte who spent one night making freshly baked cinnamon scrolls with cream cheese sauce for brekkie the next morning. Recomendation: please consider Shark Mountain as a site to visit. I've been there with buddies often and it's amazing.

Operator response

Hi There! WOW! Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your experience with us! It is fantastic to hear you enjoyed a relaxed trip with calm conditions, and that you still had plenty to see despite the reduced visibility following the seasonal rains. We are especially pleased to hear how safe and well looked after you felt throughout your dives. Our crew work to deliver clear briefings, maintain strong safety procedures and create an enjoyable atmosphere on board, so it is great to see this reflected in your experience. Your recognition of so many team members across OceanQuest, SeaQuest and AquaQuest has been shared with them, it means a great deal. It is also great to hear you made the most of both guided and buddy diving, and that the team helped you spot a variety of marine life, from nudibranchs to eagle rays, along with some memorable night dives. We appreciate your recommendation regarding Shark Mountain. Site selection is always based on prevailing weather, sea conditions and safety considerations on the day, however feedback like this is valuable and will be passed on to our operations team. Thank you again for choosing Divers Den. We hope to welcome you back on board for another liveaboard experience soon!

J
jennymM7234NO
January 1, 2026
Intentionally Chosen High-Quality Crew

I participated in this through the 4-day Open Water Diver Certification course. Scuba-diving has been one of my top goals for a long time, but, it was also something that I held a lot of anxiety and fear around. I eventually chose to do it with Devils Den and I cannot recommend Catalina, Laura, & Jacob enough. Due to schedule changes, I had these 3 Scuba Instructors throughout the experience. Catalina is professional and inspiringly-strong in her demeanor and instruction. Laura is remarkably compassionate, warm, and thoughtful in her approach - seeing the best in people and being a light. Jacob has a relaxed, truly fair-dinkum, and comfortable way to his care. Collectively, they made the scuba diving come together for me to be successful in earning my certification. I am really appreciative of their authentically good energy and time, especially during busy holiday season. They stood out incredibly well. It’s clear how much training and intention goes into selecting the crew and ensuring such a meaningful and organized process is followed. Thank you again for the opportunity to be on board!

4
409joeyl
November 27, 2025
LAURA IS THE BEST!!

I booked the open water PADI course with an overnight on SeaQuest, and I cannot recommend it enough. For the course I was so lucky to have Laura as my instructor. I'm sure all the instructors are great but Laura is NEXT LEVEL. She is so experienced, calm and cool in the water and incredible at giving instructions and directions on how to do all the skills. She is also just an insanely rad person and you'll have so much fun with her in the pool and on the dives. You will never be nervous getting in the water for the first time with Laura as your instructor. Her enthusiasm and level of stoke for her students shines through from the beginning and you are so prepared for the final dive to become certified. I also cannot say better things about Laura or the overnight experience. The food was fantastic & delicious, the crew is awesome and the dive sites are beautiful. And the people onboard are so friendly.

E
Eloanda
November 11, 2025
Recommendation for PADI Open Water Course

Five Day, Two Night PADI Open Water Course I completed my PADI Open Water Certificate with Divers Den in Cairns and had an absolutely amazing experience! Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. Each day, we were conveniently picked up on time from our hostel or hotel (no private accommodations). The first two days were spent in the pool learning all the theory and practicing essential diving skills. I was lucky to be in a small group, which meant everyone got plenty of attention and support. As a first-time diver, I always felt safe and confident throughout the training. A special highlight was my instructor, Laura. She’s an absolute sunshine — patient, calm, and incredibly supportive. She explained everything clearly, encouraged questions, and took her time to demonstrate and practice each skill until everyone felt comfortable. Even later in the open water dives, she always made sure we were all good and progressing well. I’m so grateful to have had her as my instructor! Thanks again Laura x The liveaboard experience was just as impressive. Three days and two nights on the Great Barrier Reef! The crew was super friendly, the food was delicious, and the twin cabins were clean and comfortable. Waking up surrounded by the ocean and diving right into the reef was unforgettable. Overall, this was an outstanding experience that I’ll never forget. I can 100% recommend Divers Den to anyone wanting to get certified or simply explore the Great Barrier Reef safely and with lots of fun!

L
liliancG6340CF
November 1, 2025
Highly recommended!!!!

My partner and I just got our padi open water certificate with Divers Den, and the over all experience was amazing. All the staff were super nice. It is definitely a 5 stars experience. Our instructor, Laura from Denmark, was an insanely great teacher:) You can really feel her strong passion for diving and for the great barrier reef. She made the whole journey enjoyable. No matter your comfort level in water, she'll make you feel safe and encourage you:) I Can only give her the highest recommendation.

I
I9163QWrubys
September 30, 2025
diving on the great barrier reef

i did my open water course recently and it was amazing! My instructor Laura was so friendly and supportive. it was such an incredible experience.

A
arrauhaylera
September 24, 2025
Very good learning

With my brothers we did the Open Water Dive course at Divers Den and it was a super safe and fascinating experience. Our instructor Audrey facilitated and helped us in everything we needed and it was a pleasure. We couldn't have been with a better instructor or company.

Operator response

Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are delighted to hear that you and your brothers enjoyed your Open Water Dive course and felt safe and supported throughout. Audrey will be so pleased to know she made such a positive impact on your experience. At Divers Den we take pride in creating a safe and enjoyable learning environment, and it is wonderful to know you felt so well looked after. We hope to welcome you back soon for more incredible diving adventures on the Great Barrier Reef.

T
TinGuitarJeffrey
May 10, 2025
Disappointing

Disappointing. Trip out to the Reef was awful. Conditions at the Reef were unsuitable for snorkeling due to the wind. (Ok for Divers ss they are below the surface). Stopped at 1 reef, not 2, due to the weather (not that it affected me as I didn't enter the water). Trip back to Cairns was awful. Should have been told about conditions beforehand, with option to cancel. Waste of money...

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