A day on the reef Your choice of boat and experience
A reef trip takes you beyond the harbour for a day of snorkelling, diving or watching the underwater world from a pontoon. The boats in our selection offer different ways to spend that day, so start with what you would most like to do.
Compare pontoons such as Reef Magic and Sunlover with boats that visit several reef sites, including Silverswift. Some trips combine an island stop with time on the outer reef. Check the time at the reef, activities included and any diving extras on each tour page, then choose your dates and book online.
Choose your Cairns reef tour
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Reef tour questions
Which Cairns reef tours suit non-swimmers?
Look for ways to see the reef without entering the water. Reef Magic offers glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible tours plus an underwater observatory. Great Adventures' outer reef pontoon also has a semi-submersible and observatory. Boats focused on open-water snorkelling can have very different swimming requirements, even when flotation equipment is supplied.
Is a half-day reef trip enough, or should I allow a full day?
A half-day trip can suit confident swimmers who mainly want time snorkelling and have other plans in Cairns. Pure Snorkelling is one option in this selection. A full-day pontoon or dive-and-snorkel cruise generally gives you more time for activities and includes lunch. Compare the actual time at the reef, as boat travel takes up part of both options.
How do I choose the best-value reef tour for children of different ages?
Compare the total for your children’s exact ages, not just the advertised adult fare. Child fare bands, family packages, included activities and optional extras differ between boats. A lower ticket price may be less useful if the activities your family wants cost extra. Check swimming confidence too: a pontoon with dry viewing activities gives a mixed-ability family more choices.
Can some of us snorkel while others scuba dive?
Yes, several tours in this selection carry both snorkellers and divers, including AquaQuest and Silverswift. Choose the appropriate option for each guest when booking. A first-time diver needs an introductory dive rather than a certified-diver package. Diving is subject to the operator’s age, health and participation requirements, and may cost extra.