Guided Tours

Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Cruise with Lunch and Guided Snorkeling

Tourists snorkeling in clear blue waters during Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise with Buffet Lunch in Cairns, Australia

Tourists snorkelling in clear blue waters of Great Barrier Reef on a sunny day during a full-day cruise from Cairns

Tourists snorkeling in the clear waters of the Outer Great Barrier Reef during a cruise, with a buffet lunch awaiting on the boat

Set sail on a full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise with a local guide, snorkeling or diving through vibrant marine life and savoring onboard meals.

Highlights

Cruise from Port Douglas for a full day at the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, exploring this largest living structure on Earth visible from space.
Snorkel at Opal and Agincourt Reefs, exploring three sites packed with colorful marine life and coral formations with a guide. All gear is provided!
Experience the journey, not just the destination, on your luxury catamaran as you enjoy complimentary teas, lunch, and a reef talk to enrich your understanding of the region.
Take your adventure up a notch with an optional introductory diving experience and dive into the deep blue at one of the three sites, led by PADI instructors.
Fun fact: The Great Barrier Reef is greater in size than the United Kingdom, Holland, and Switzerland combined!

Inclusions

Full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise from Cairns
Professional local guide
Luxury large catamaran
Morning and afternoon tea
Buffet lunch
Guided snorkel tour
Snorkeling equipment including lycra suits
Interpretive reef talk
Introductory diving course with PADI dive masters (as per option selected)
Diving equipment (as per option selected)
Small groups of up to 4 divers (as per option selected)
Environmental management charge

Exclusions

Transfers

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Your experience

As the sun rises over Port Douglas, prepare to dive into a day filled with underwater exploration on the Calypso Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise.

Sail & snorkel

You'll board a large catamaran greeted by local guides ready to enrich your journey with their knowledge. After a safety briefing, set sail towards the first dive site at either Opal or Agincourt Reef. Snorkel amidst marine life, followed by morning tea. Before noon, you'll head to the second site, offering a guided snorkel tour and a buffet lunch, featuring a selection of meats, salads, Mediterranean vegetables, bread, and condiments. Post-lunch, sit back for an interpretive talk on the Great Barrier Reef that introduces you to the wonders of this living marvel. The final site of the day offers another chance to snorkel or simply relax on deck soaking in the turquoise waters with afternoon tea.

Diving deep

For those seeking an adrenaline rush, the cruise offers an optional introductory diving experience. Diving groups are small and managed by a PADI Dive Instructor to ensure maximum safety. This add-on lets you explore the reef up close, in all its unique nooks and crannies. And the best part? All gear, including lycra suits, is provided for worry-free snorkeling or diving–or both. The cruise ends as the sun sets, returning you to Port Douglas with memories of a lifetime, and perhaps, stories for an underwater postcard from the reef's very own post office!

Itinerary

7am-8:20am: Check-in
8:20am-8:45am: Boarding commences
8:45am-10:10am: Cruising to the first site
10:20am-11:15am: Reach the first snorkeling/diving site, safety briefing, & morning tea
11:50am-1:30pm: Reach the second snorkeling/diving site, lunch buffet, & reef interpretative talk
1:45pm-2:45pm: Reach the third snorkeling/diving site & afternoon tea
2:45pm-4:15pm: Cruising back to the port

Know before you go

What to bring

Bring along your swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and a change of clothes for this experience.
Pack your seasickness meds – better to be prepared, just in case they’re not available onsite.
Bring a credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or EFTPOS) for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.

What's not allowed

Safety is a priority so scuba diving is restricted for guests under the age of 12 years.

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.
Your safety comes first so visitors with back issues, asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure, and certain medications are restricted from participating in scuba diving.

Additional Information

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Guests under the age of 18 years require parental or guardian permission, and those over 70 must provide a doctor's clearance to dive.
Scuba diving requires completing an onboard medical questionnaire. It can be downloaded here.
You should allow a minimum interval of 12 hours prior to flying if completing a single dive and 24 hours if doing multiple dives.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.