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Half-Day Outer Reef Snorkel & Dive Tour
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.
Your journey to the outer reef is up to a 90-minute voyage. Along the way, you’ll receive a full briefing on the day’s activities and snorkelling conditions.
With up to two hours snorkelling on the reef, your captain will select the most favourable sites for the day chosen for the best visibility and conditions within the Outer Great Barrier Reef.
Whether you’re a seasoned snorkeller or a first-timer, our Master Reef Guides will support you every step of the way. They’ll point out the best places to explore and help you identify the vibrant marine life that surrounds you.
Want to try a Scuba Introductory Dive, no experience necessary however please read the below before booking to avoid any disappointment.
After your snorkel, relax on the deck as you cruise back to Cairns.
Itinerary
8.40 am – Check-in at A Finger, Cairns Marina.
9.00 am – Set sail to the Outer Reef, during which you’ll be given a full briefing by our experienced crew on the activities and options for the day.
10.30 am – Once we arrive at the Outer Reef, the real adventure begins! Join our guided snorkelling session and enjoy up to two hours snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.
12.30 am – If pre-booked, you’ll then receive your delicious picnic lunch box, which you can enjoy in the main deck area, or take advantage of one of the many open deck areas and enjoy your meal al fresco as we return to Cairns.
2.00 pm – Return to the Cairns Marina, with memories that will last a lifetime!
Inclusions & Optional Extras
All snorkel equipment provided
Up to 2 hours snorkelling on the reef
Guided snorkel tour (snorkelling included for all guests)
Complimentary prescription masks
Wetsuits or lycra suits available
Morning tea and coffee
Shared fruit platter
Fresh hot showers onboard
Option Extras
Lunch Box $30.00 per person – Vegan and Vegetarian options available
Introductory Dive $100.00 per person
Some of the best dives on the Great Barrier Reef can be done in less than 15m of water, where stronger light can result in an even better view of the abundant marine life.
The maximum depth for an introductory dive is 12m (40 feet).
Important information -As a general guide, wait at least 12 hours after diving before flying or travelling to altitude.
Reef Locations
Explore some of the most captivating dive sites and snorkel locations in the Outer Reef. With both Tusa Reef Tours’ Our team will carefully select a reef location each day to make sure you see the best vibrant marine life, mesmerising coral formations, and diverse underwater environments based on the day’s weather conditions.
Get ready to be amazed by the best snorkel and dive experiences the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.
Reef locations are Pretty Patches, Michaelmas Reef, Hastings Reef, Saxon Reef
Can I Dive - Dive medical questionnaire
Before booking any Introductory or certified dives please read the following, if you say yes to any of the below you will be unable to dive. You will be required to complete the form on board the day of travel.
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from Asthma or wheezing
Have you suffered from, or do you suffer from: fainting, seizures or blackouts?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from” Chronic Bronchitis or persistent chest complaints?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Chronic sinus conditions?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Recurrent ear problems when flying?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Chest surgery?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Epilepsy?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Diabetes Mellitus (sugar diabetes)?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Tuberculosis or other long-term lung disease?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Brain, spinal cord or nervous disorder?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Heart disease of any kind?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Ear surgery?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Chronic Ear Discharge or infection?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: High Blood Pressure?
Have you suffered from, or do you now suffer from: Perforated Eardrum?
Are you currently suffering from: another illness or have had an operation within the last month?
Are you currently taking any medicines or drugs (excluding oral contraceptives)?
Do you understand that you should not go to altitude (fly) within 12 hours of completing a single dive or 24 hours when doing multiple dives?
Could you be pregnant?
Do you understand that any concealment of any condition incompatible with safe diving might put your health or life at risk?
Explore related tours
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Return Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at 2.30pm or 3.30pm
Not bookable online ☎️07 40283567
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Available Tues to Sat 3pm – 6:15pm
Experience available up until 28th June 2026
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Short on time or want to experience the Great Barrier Reef on a return scenic flight. Takes in the highlights of the inner reef. There is simply no better way to appreciate the sheer size and scale of the Great Barrier Reef than from the air. Expect picture-postcard views of the reef and an abundance of wildlife – sharks, turtles, rays and even whales (July to Nov).
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Kuranda Scenic Train departs Cairns at 8.30am or 9.30am
Return Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at 2.30pm or 3.30pm
Not bookable online ☎️07 40283567
Experience the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns or Freshwater Station, choose from 8:30 am or 9:30 am train (Gold Class upgrade available). Explore the Kuranda markets and the many attractions in Kuranda. Return on the Skyrail Rainforest Cablewayas you guide over the rainforest canopy. Includes return transfers from Skyrail to Cairns/Freshwater Railway Stations.
Adult $155.50 | Child $85.00 | Family 2A+2C 4-14yrs $399.00 | Gold class option 9.30 train only $60.00 per person
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45 minutes $676 per person includes Fuel Levy
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30 minutes $487.00 | 45 minutes $676.00 Per Person
Adult from $249 Child (7-14yrs) $225
not suitable for under 7yrs
Depart daily from Port Douglas only at 7.30am – 4.30pm
Discover the ancient Daintree Rainforest in style. Enjoy guided interpretive walks, a gourmet lunch and a wildlife cruise on Cooper Creek to spot crocodiles and birdlife. Friendly local guides who will share the stories, culture and ecology that make this World Heritage-listed rainforest so extraordinary.
This unique Daintree Rainforest experience will have you discovering Mossman Gorge in depth. Start the day with a secret location to commence your ‘River drift’ tour,. Enjoy lunch and a traditional smoking ceremony ending the day with a 1.5 hour guided rainforest walk in the Gorge…..
Adult $270.00 | Child $225.00 5 - 15 yrs | Family 2A+2C $910.00 2A+2C
Adult $179| Child $79
Available Tues to Sat 3pm – 6:15pm
Experience available up until 28th June 2026
Aquarium by twilight gives you an insight into the unique changes of the region’s nocturnal sea creatures as they move about in the shadows. Witness the predators in the Oceanarium with appetiser and drink in hand, before completing your evening at Dundee’s Restaurant with a perfectly matched 3 course dining experience while enjoying a stunning marine life backdrop.
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
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Adult $328.00 | Child $238.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child Fuel levy payable on the day of travel
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
We book you with trusted local operators whose guides are storytellers, historians and nature enthusiasts. They bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, so you get an unforgettable and educational experience.
