Cairns reef diving tours

Cairns is the main launch point for diving the outer Great Barrier Reef, and you do not need a certification to get in the water. Most day boats run guided introductory dives with an instructor at your side the whole time, while certified divers can usually add extra dives at each stop. Depending on how much time you have, you can fit in a half day taster dive, spend a full day diving and snorkelling two or three reef sites, or sleep out on the reef for a night or two aboard a liveaboard.

Half day taster dives

The Great Barrier Reef Moore Reef Introductory Dive packs a guided first time dive, snorkelling and lunch into a half day, ideal around a flight or another activity later on. The Upolu Cay Reef Adventure half day trip heads to the calmer, shallower waters around Upolu Cay, a good option if you want a quieter reef site without the bigger pontoon crowds.

Full day dive and snorkel cruises

The Osprey V Outer Reef Cruise is a full day, great value trip to two outer reef sites, open to both snorkellers and certified divers with all gear included. The Cairns Outer Barrier Reef Luxury Dive and Snorkel Cruise runs aboard a premium catamaran across 3 reef locations, built specifically around diving and snorkelling rather than sightseeing. For a quieter stretch of reef, the Upolu Cay Reef Snorkel and Dive Day Cruise visits Upolu Cay and the Wonder Wall on the outer edge of Upolu Reef.

Pontoon based diving

The Great Barrier Reef Cruise to Reef Magic Pontoon anchors at an all weather activity platform with dive add-ons, buffet lunch and glass bottom boat tours. The Great Barrier Reef Cruise to Sunlover Reef Cruises Pontoon gives around 4 hours at Moore Reef from a fixed platform, useful if you would rather dive and surface close to a stable base than move reef sites by boat.

Dive with a cultural experience

The Great Barrier Reef Dreamtime Cruise with Indigenous Sea Rangers visits 2 outer reef sites with diving and snorkelling on offer, alongside Dreamtime stories, traditional dance and didgeridoo, the only Cairns reef tour built around a cultural experience on the water.

Multi day liveaboards

For divers who want more than a day trip, the 2 Day Cairns Liveaboard on OceanQuest spends a night moored on the reef aboard the purpose built dive vessel OceanQuest, with a dive deck, sundecks and meals prepared on board. The 3 Day Cairns Liveaboard on OceanQuest stretches that out to 2 nights, fitting in more dives across more sites than a single day trip ever could.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a diving certification to dive the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns?

No. Most day cruises offer guided introductory dives with an instructor, no certification or prior experience required. Certified divers can usually book extra dives on the same trip.

What is the difference between a half day and full day dive cruise?

Half day trips fit in one guided dive plus some snorkelling and suit a shorter stay or a day already split with another activity. Full day cruises usually cover 2 or 3 reef sites with more time in the water at each.

What is a liveaboard and how is it different from a day trip?

A liveaboard is a multi day trip where you sleep aboard a dive vessel moored on the reef overnight, allowing early morning and after dark dives that day boats cannot offer, across 2 or 3 days rather than a single day.

Is Upolu Cay quieter than the main pontoon sites?

Yes. Upolu Cay tours generally carry smaller groups to shallower, calmer water than the larger Moore Reef and outer pontoon sites.

Can beginners and certified divers dive on the same cruise?

Yes. Most Cairns dive cruises run introductory dives for beginners and separate dives for certified divers on the same trip, with instructors and dive masters for each group.

Compare the Cairns diving tours above and choose the reef site, dive style and length that suits your experience level.