Cairns Snorkelling Tours
Looking for snorkelling tours from Cairns? Cairns Discovery Tours offers half day and full day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, with options ranging from quick afternoon snorkels to all-inclusive full day reef adventures. Choose a fast half day trip if you’re short on time, or a full day cruise for the most time in the water.
Adult $195.00 Child 4-14yrs $165.00
Departs Cairns 9.00am – 2.00pm
Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun
Experience the Outer Great Barrier Reef on this small-group half-day snorkel and dive tour. With a maximum of 60 guests, enjoy personalised attention from expert marine guides and spend up to 2 hours exploring the reef’s vibrant coral and marine life. First-timers can try a Scuba Introductory Dive — no experience needed, all equipment provided.
Adult $195.00 | Child $165.00 4-14yts | Family 2A+2C $660.00 2A+2C | $10.00 Fuel levy payable on the day
Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tour
Adult $209 |Child 6-14yrs $159
Family 2A+2C $670
Depart Cairns Daily 12 noon – 5.00pm
Cairns newest & fastest purpose built vessel to the Outer Barrier Reef. Only 40 snorkelers per trip. Join our expert snorkel team, made up of Master Reef Guides and Marine naturalists, on a crowd-free adventure with over 2 hours of snorkelling time. Get ready to discover the Great Barrier Reef.
Adult $209.00 | Child 6-14yrs $159.00 | Family 2A+2C $670.00
Departs daily 8.30am – 5.30pm
Fuel Levy $10.00 Adult $5.00 Child payable day of travel
2 iconic destinations in 1 day. Fast catamaran to Green Island for a 2-hour coral cay stopover, then out to Great Adventures’ Moore Reef platform for 3 hours on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel gear, semi-sub, underwater observatory and buffet lunch all included.
Adult $312.00 | Child $172.00 (4-14yrs) | Family 2A+2C $805.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child. Fuel Levy payable at check-in on the day of travel.
Adult $275.00| Child 4-14yrs $175
Family 2A+2C $795
Departs Cairns daily 8.00 am – 5.00 pm
This Great Barrier Reef Tour is another of my favourites as a local. Why? You will visit 2 stunning outer reef locations discovering the vibrant underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel or dive among turtles, tropical fish, and an incredible variety of corals. This is a very popular Cairns reef tour and often books out in advance!
Adult $275.00 | Child 4-14yrs $175.00 | Family 2A+2C $795.00
$275 Adult|Child $170 4-16 yrs|
Family 2A+2C $800
Departs daily 8.00am – 4.30pm
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with our Cairns Great Barrier Reef tour aboard the spacious and modern yacht, Evolution. This 35-meter vessel departs from Cairns and takes you to two exclusive, breathtaking locations on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Perfect for families with children aged 4-16, this tour offers an action-packed day of snorkelling or diving in one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders. Optional extras are available to enhance your experience. Join us for a day filled with excitement and wonder!
Adult $275.00 Adult | Child $170.00 4-16 yrs | Family 2A+2C $800.00
Adult $455| Child 4-16 yrs $310|
Family 2A+2C 4-16yrs $1380
Excellent Value SAVE $59 adult $33.00 child & $130.00 Family
Departs daily
Experience the very best value Cairns Reef and Daintree Rainforest Tours. The 2 day reef and rainforest package offers great value to visit our two amazing World Heritage National Parks during your stay in Cairns, making it one of the best Cairns tour packages available
Adult $455.00 | Child 4-16 yrs $310.00 | Family 2A+2C 4-16yrs $1380.00
Adult from $255| Child $160 4-14yrs Family 2A+2C $670
Seasonal dates and prices apply
Departs daily 9.00am – 5.00pm
Step back into the Great Barrier Reef’s Dreamtime with Indigenous Sea Rangers as they recount the Dreamtime stories of the local people and help you gain a deeper cultural understanding of the diverse ecosystems that make up the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy up to 5 hours of fun with unlimited snorkelling with 2 Reef locations in air-conditioned lounges and a licensed bar.
Adult from $255.00 | Child $160.00 4-14yrs | Family 2A+2C $670.00 2A+2C
Departs Cairns 8.00am – 4.30pm
Kids 50% off – valid to 30th September 2026
Adult $10 Child $5 Fuel Levy
Experience the ultimate Great Barrier Reef adventure combining 2.5 hours at Moore Reef Pontoon + 2.5 hours Fitzroy Island stop over in a day! Moore Reef Pontoon includes coral viewing with semi-submersible, glass bottom boat, underwater observatory, snorkelling & kids waterslide. Then a leisurely time at Fitzroy Island to relax & unwind including lunch.
Adult $337.00 | Child ( 4 - 16yrs ) $169.00 | Kids 50% OFF $92.50 valid to 30 Sept 26 | Family 2A+2C $859.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child Fuel Levy
Departs daily 7am – 5pm
Fuel Levy of $10.00 per person payable direct
Enjoy an all-inclusive River, Reef, and Island Cruise with the sole commercial operator permitted on the pristine uninhabited Frankland Islands. Snorkel off the Island’s National Park white sand beach, swim with sea turtles, and have a quick and convenient journey with the shortest open water crossing.
Adult $260.00 | Child $160.00 4-16yrs | Family 2A+2C $680.00 | $10.00 + Fuel Levy per person payable on the day of travel
Adult $308 | Child $228
Departs daily Cairns 8:30 – 4.30 pm
Fuel Levy Adult $10 Child $5 payable on checkin day of travel
Dive & Snorkel from Cairns with Silverswift, the only Cairns-based vessel to visit 3 spectacular outer reef locations in one day – It is also the fastest! Exclusive Outer Barrier Reef sites at Flynn, Pellowe, Milln and/or Thetford Reefs. Enjoy 5 hours of fun snorkelling and diving
Adult $308.00 | Child $228.00 | $10.00 Fuel Levy - Adult Child $5 payable at checkin on day of travel
This half-day tour offers the magic of the reef in a timeframe that works perfectly for cruise ship visitors with 3 departures from Cairns Marina daily at 8am, 10am or 1pm.
The tour takes place in open water, confident swimming is recommended to get the most enjoyment and comfort.
Tour runs for 4 hours duration with 1.5 hours of snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef
Adult $179.00 | 6-14yrs $119.00 | 2AD+2CH $535.00 | Prescription Masks $15.00
Michaelmas Cay
Adult $288|Child $149|Family $734
Departs daily 8.30am – 5pm
Sail to Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef aboard Ocean Spirit Cruises spacious catamaran. Snorkel or dive the pristine reef in the shallow waters of the cay or view the reef from a glass bottom boat. Michaelmas Cay is a National Park and a protected sanctuary for hundreds of migratory seabirds.
Adult $280 |Child 4-11 years $195
Family 2A+2C $755
Departs Daily 8.00am – 4.30 pm
Join us onboard the high-speed Catamaran ‘Reef Experience’ for a great value day on the Outer Barrier Reef. Your day includes Cairns CBD hotel transfers, breakfast, One FREE Scuba Dive, lunch, Snorkelling, and a light snack on the journey home. Great value! Cairns only all inclusive Great Barrier Reef day tour.
Adult $280.00 | Child 4-11 years $195.00 | Family 2A+2C $755.00 | Fuel levy $10 per person payable direct $0.00
Adult $289| Child $207| Family $893
Departs Cairns daily 8.00 am – 4.30 pm
Cruise to 2 unique Great Barrier Reef sites, as you travel in style and speed on a 20-metre motor catamaran. Ocean Freedom is the only boat in Cairns offering a total of 6 hours on the reef, meaning there’s absolutely no rush in the day. Swim, snorkel and dive – with the highest ratio of 2 divers to one instructor. You get to enjoy all the complimentary water activities whilst still having time to relax and enjoy a lazy sumptuous lunch on the Great Barrier Reef
Adult $289.00 | Child $207.00 | Family $893.00
Adult $312.00 | Child $172 (4-14yrs)
Family 2A+2C $805
Fuel Levy payable direct on the day of travel $10 Adult $5 Child
Departs Cairns Daily 10.30am – 5.20pm
Discover the Great Barrier Reef and spend 3 unforgettable hours at the Outer Reef activity platform where both swimmers and non-swimmers can immerse in the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. Explore a range of activities from snorkelling to underwater observatories to guided tours for a closer look. Relax as you enjoy the sundeck taking in the views of the reef with a delicious buffet lunch.
Adult $312.00 | Child $172.00 (4-14yrs) | Family 2A+2C $805.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child | Fuel levy payable on the day of travel
From Adult $325| Child $160| Family $810
Seasonal prices apply
Departs daily 9am – 5pm
Experience the magic of the Great Barrier Reef at the all-weather Pontoon which is the newest and most technologically advanced pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. A 90-minute cruise takes you to Moore Reef for snorkelling, scuba diving, helicopter flights, and more. Stay dry with a sundeck, and view the coral from the underwater observatory, glass-bottom boat, or semi-submersible tour.
Adult $325.00 | Child $160.00 | Family $810.00
Adult $307|Child 4-15 yrs $172
Family 2A2C $786
Fuel Levy $10.00 Adult $5.00 Child $30.00 Family
Departs Daily 10.15am – 5.30pm
Join Sunlover Reef Cruises for a day of discovery on the Great Barrier Reef. Travel in comfort aboard their fast, air-conditioned catamaran to a spacious pontoon at pristine Moore Reef on the outer reef. The newly refurbished platform caters for swimmers and non-swimmers alike, with an upper-level sun deck and the popular Sunlover Waterslide — a 30-metre spiral splash into tropical blue water.
Adult $307.00 | Child 4-15 yrs $172.00 | Family $786.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child Fuel Levy
Agincourt Reef is regarded as one of the most significant sites of this natural wonder. Here you’ll find rich, diverse coral gardens that help form these protective ocean walls, filled with hard and soft corals as well as the reef’s most iconic species such as sharks, stingrays, turtles, groupers and cods, maori wrasse and parrotfish.
Adult $338|Child $179|Family $864
Fuel Levy Adult $10 Child $5.00
Departs Port Douglas 10am – 4.30pm
Return transfers from Cairns
Adult $45|Child $25|Family $115
For your experience of a lifetime, Quicksilver’s friendly crew will take you to the renowned Agincourt Reef off Port Douglas, a jewel-like ribbon reef on the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef. From the spacious activity platform, discover an underwater world filled with a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour and brilliance. Enjoy the reef at your pace with options for all ages, swimmers and non swimmers or passengers with limited mobility.
Adult $338.00 | Child $179.00 | Family $864.00 | Fuel levy $10.00 Adult 10.00 $5.00 Child
Adult $315|Child $228
Fuel Levy Adult $10 Child $5 payable on the day of travel
Departs Port Douglas 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Silversonic from Port Douglas takes you to explore three stunning and exclusive outer edge locations at the renowned Agincourt ribbon reefs in superb style and comfort. Spend 5 hours at the reef enjoying unlimited snorkelling and some of the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Includes Port Douglas hotel transfers, hot and cold Tropical Buffet Lunch & all snorkelling and dive equipment included.
Adult $328.00 | Child $238.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child Fuel levy payable on the day of travel
Adult $240 |Child 4-14 yrs $142
Departs Mon to Sat 9am – 6pm
Green Island and Cairns City Sights Tour is an exciting day tour that takes you on a journey to explore the natural beauty and cultural highlights of two unique destinations. Morning begins with a visit to the beautiful Green Island, where you have the opportunity to snorkel or do a glass-bottom boat tour to discover the Great Barrier Reef. Return to Cairns where you’ll explore the sights and sounds of this vibrant tropical city.
Adult $240.00 | Child 4-14 yrs $142.00
Half Day Snorkelling Tours from Cairns
If you only have a morning or afternoon free, a half day trip such as the Half Day Snorkelling Reef Adventure, Half Day GBR Tour or Half Day Outer Reef Snorkel & Dive gets you snorkelling at the outer reef in a few hours, with multiple departures most days.
Full Day Outer Reef Snorkelling
For a longer day with more reef time, full day options like Silverswift Dive & Snorkel, the Reef Experience, Frankland Islands Reef Cruise and the Great Barrier Reef Tour (Reef Magic, Sunlover Cruises or Great Adventures) spend five or more hours across one or more reef sites and usually include breakfast, lunch and hotel transfers.
Island Snorkelling Tours (Green Island, Fitzroy Island, Frankland Islands)
For calmer, more sheltered water, island trips to Green Island, Fitzroy Island and the Frankland Islands combine a beach snorkel with an outer reef platform or pontoon visit in the same day – a good option for less confident swimmers or anyone who’d like beach time as well as reef time.
Snorkelling for Beginners and Non-Swimmers
Most snorkelling tours include all gear (mask, snorkel and fins), a safety briefing, and crew supervision in the water. Several trips also offer glass bottom boats or semi-submersibles, so non-swimmers can travel in the same group as snorkellers.
Snorkelling Tours for Cruise Ship Passengers
If you’re in port for the day on a cruise ship, several half day options are timed to get you back to the ship comfortably before final boarding, making them a straightforward way to fit a reef snorkel into a single port day.
Here’s why thousands of customers trustCairns Discovery Tours.
🗓️ Flexible Cancellations
Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. (Helicopter tours are 48 hours) We make exploring Cairns stress free, so you can book with confidence.
💳 Book Now, Pay Later
Reserve your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option, or just give us a call or send us an email to secure your booking. We will be in touch to arrange payment 7 days before your departure. Perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.
🌴 Local Since 1995
For over 30 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Far North Queensland travellers from around the world. Based in Cairns, we offer authentic tour experiences backed by genuine local knowledge and long standing connections to the region.
👩🏫 Expert Local Guides
Our passionate Cairns tour guides are storytellers, historians, and nature enthusiasts. With deep local knowledge, they bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, ensuring an unforgettable and educational experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a strong swimmer to go snorkelling in Cairns?
No. Most tours provide flotation aids and have crew supervising swimmers in the water, and several trips also offer glass bottom boat or semi-submersible options for non-swimmers travelling in the same group.
What's the difference between a half day and full day snorkelling tour?
A half day trip gets you to the outer reef and back in around four to five hours, while a full day trip usually visits two or more reef sites and gives you significantly more time in the water.
Is snorkelling gear included?
Yes, mask, snorkel and fins are included on all of the tours listed here.
Can I dive and snorkel on the same trip?
Several of these tours, including Silverswift Dive & Snorkel and Reef Experience, offer an introductory or certified dive alongside snorkelling.
Which tour is best if I'm short on time?
The Half Day Snorkelling Reef Adventure runs three departures a day and is built specifically for visitors who only have a few hours free.
I'm on a cruise ship docked in Cairns for the day - can I still do a snorkelling tour?
Yes, our half day options are well suited to a single port day – check sailing times against your ship’s final boarding time when booking.