Reef Experience – All-Inclusive Great Barrier Reef Tour from Cairns
One Amazing Day. One Unforgettable Reef Adventure.
Looking for a high-quality, fun, and affordable reef trip from Cairns? Reef Experience ticks all the boxes. This locally owned, family-operated tour offers a full day on the Great Barrier Reef with everything included snorkelling, meals, gear, and even the option to try scuba diving. Whether you’re travelling solo, with family, or in a group, this award-winning tour makes reef exploration easy and exciting.
What’s Included
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- Full-day tour to two Outer Great Barrier Reef locations
- All snorkelling gear, wetsuits and flotation aids
- Breakfast, gourmet BBQ lunch and afternoon tea
- Tea, coffee, and fresh fruit all day
- Free guided snorkel tour with a marine biologist
- Introductory and certified scuba diving options available
- Marine naturalist presentation
- Air-conditioned interior cabins
- Sundeck
- Meet directly at Cairns Marlin Marina, A-Finger, No. 8 — check-in 7:30am, depart 8:00am (no transfers offered)
Try Scuba Diving – No Experience Needed!
Curious about scuba diving? Reef Experience offers introductory dives with expert instructors in calm, shallow reef areas, perfect for first-timers. For certified divers, professional dive guides lead you to spectacular bommies, coral walls, and marine life encounters. All gear is included and all dives are optional, so you can choose to snorkel, dive, or do both!
Two Stunning Reef Locations
Reef Experience visits two unique Outer Reef sites chosen on the day for the best visibility and marine life. Locations include Hastings Reef, Saxon Reef and Norman Reef, Breaking Patches known for vibrant coral gardens, giant clams, colourful reef fish, and even turtles if you’re lucky!
VIP Upgrade: Top Deck Club
Upgrade to the Top Deck Club for a premium experience that includes a personal valet, reserved seating, exclusive meal service, fluffy towels, reef-friendly sunscreen, and your own in-water snorkel or dive guide. It’s ideal for couples, families wanting extra support, or anyone who loves VIP treatment on the reef.
Good to Know
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- Tour departs daily from Cairns Marlin Marina at 8:00 am
- Returns around 4:30 pm
- Suitable for all ages and swimming abilities
- Family rates and group bookings available
- Reef levy included in the tour price no hidden fees
Photo Package Add-On
Professional underwater photos are available to purchase on board. Capture your snorkel or dive with Nemo, coral bommies, or even a sea turtle and take home reef memories that last forever.
Why Choose Reef Experience?
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- Locally owned and operated – supports Cairns tourism
- Friendly, passionate crew and expert marine guides
- All-inclusive pricing – snorkelling, meals and gear included
- One of the few Great Barrier Reef tours offering a Top Deck Club VIP upgrade
- Perfect mix of value, quality and personal service
Book Your Reef Experience Today
Make the most of your time in Tropical North Queensland with this top-rated reef tour from Cairns.
Highlights
Tour highlights include snorkelling at two pristine Outer Reef sites, a FREE scuba dive (beginner or certified), all-inclusive meals and refreshments, Cairns City pick-ups, and engaging marine biologist presentations—making it Cairns’ best-value, all-inclusive reef adventure.
Itinerary
Reef Experience Sample itinerary
- 7:30 Check-in at Reef Experience vessel (hotel shuttle available for CBD—conditions apply).
- Tea/coffee & light breakfast on board.
- 8:00am Depart Cairns. Safety brief and marine biologist talk. Gear fitting.
- Morning reef stop: Snorkel vibrant coral gardens; certified or intro divers take their included dive with professional guides.
- BBQ lunch on board while cruising to site two (weather-dependant).
- Afternoon reef stop: Guided snorkel tour available; relax on the sundeck or jump in for more reef time.
- Return cruise: Afternoon refresher served; back to Cairns ~4:30pm.
Included
What’s Included – Everything You Need for the Perfect Day
- Breakfast on boarding – enjoy a delicious bacon & egg roll freshly made.
- All snorkelling equipment – mask, fins, snorkel, and flotation aids included for all guests.
- 1 x FREE scuba dive – choose between an introductory dive or a certified dive, with all gear and supervision provided.
- Guided snorkel tours with friendly crew to help you discover the best reef spots.
- Marine biologist presentation – learn about reef life, coral ecosystems, and conservation in a fun, interactive talk.
- Tropical BBQ buffet lunch with fresh salads, meats, and vegetarian options served on board.
- Afternoon refreshments – cheese, crackers and glass of wine for the return journey to Cairns.
- Wetsuits or lycra suits (seasonal) provided for your comfort and sun protection.
- Friendly, experienced crew offering personal assistance and safety supervision throughout the day.
- All marine park fees included in your fare
Optional Extras
➕ Optional Extras on Reef Experience
- Introductory Scuba Dive
- Certified Scuba Diving
- Underwater photography
- Soft drinks / snacks onboard
What to bring
What to Bring
A little preparation helps you make the most of your day on the Great Barrier Reef. Here’s what we recommend bringing along:
- Swimwear – wear it under your clothes for an easy start to the day.
- Towel – for drying off between snorkels or dives.
- Hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen – protect yourself from the tropical sun.
- Change of clothes – something comfortable for the return cruise to Cairns.
- Camera or GoPro – capture the incredible underwater colours and coral life.
- Reusable water bottle – refill throughout the day and help us reduce waste.
- Credit or debit card – for any onboard purchases or optional extras.
- Dive certification card – required for certified divers.
- Sense of adventure – you’re about to explore one of the world’s greatest natural wonders!
How to get there
Cairns Great Barrier Reef Tour, Reef Experience departs from
Cairns Marina: ‘A-Finger’ Number 8 View map to Cairns Marlin Marina
Boarding commences at 7:30 a.m. for check-in. The Reef Experience vessel arrived directly at Cairns Marina at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Where Can I Park?
Several parking stations throughout Cairns are within walking distance of the Marina. Click here to see where
Important Information
⚠️ Important Information
- Children under 12 may not be able to dive
- Weather and sea conditions may affect itinerary
- Medical conditions can restrict scuba diving
- Stinger suits required during stinger season.
Add your review for Reef Experience
Kate Erith Davies
5Attentive, friendly, and very professional crew. Snorkelling with Georgia (marine biologist) was the best part of my day. The food was great and overall it was a very well explained trip.
Cody
5Amazing day! Did both intro scubas and had 2 separate instructors who were both incredible! Food was great! Loved seeing FRANK!
James
5Everyone was a legend, all very chilled. Swimming with turtles was the best. Definitely would recommend.
Koorin
5I have the biggest love for the ocean, and this tour offered a lovely day out. The crew were so good! Thanks for helping out - thanks "Mac" for being my last minute dive buddy! :) Great opportunity to sneak in a quick dive! Thank you. The food was great, staff attitude was great. Super lovely day out seeing the reef! :) Thank you!
Shika
5Amazing, really friendly & nice. Snorkeling was amazing (& lunch). Great value for money, would definitely recommend!
Lucie
5Fantastic! Thanks to everyone. Shark sighting, introduction to diving, marine biology snorkel - absolutely loved the day. Food was great as well. Thank you!
Vipin
5Excellent. Crew are great. You guys are doing a great job. Very professional and well balanced. Quite interactive tour. Staff were great. Chef doing a great job. Food was excellent and well presented in a great way. Terrific experience.
Beth
5Super friendly. Felt very comfortable as I was a little nervous about getting in the water. They weren't pushy and were very knowledgeable - snorkeling/the hospo on the boat was great! Great crew, great food beverages, awesome day on the reef.
Katherine
5Phenomenal - helpful, kind, patient, funny, attractive, knowledgeable, passionate, safety-conscious crew. Intro dives and an overall great ambience set by the crew were a the best part of the day. And ok the food! Way better than expected! Thank you! Also, wine & cheese?! What a lovely finish to the day. Bravo.
Elizabeth
5Fantastic - helpful, knowledgeable, super friendly, patient, fun-loving. The crew love their job! (And it can be tough dealing with tourists) What a fantastic time! Thank you so so much! Oh! And the food was amazing. Thank you chef Aaron!
Mark
5A wonderful day will remember for a long time
Ximena
5We booked Reef Experience because it was attractive to us, moderate on price, and had great reviews. The crew were amazing, very cordial, great attitude. The whole experience was just fabulous and exceeded our expectations. We'll come back some day and will refer you to our friends & family.
Ebba
5Booked for the good diving/snorkeling locations. Very good value for the money!! Very nice! Helpful, social and overall very nice. Seeing a shark and scuba diving were the best. Delicious food! Would recommend this boat to others! Thanks for a lovely day! <3 :)
Kate
5Marine biology tour with Harry was excellent. Really great food, service experience. Whole day flowed really well
Samantha (USA)
5AMAZING crew!!! Greg was awesome:) This was the best part of my trip to Australia!
Kevin
5Incredible, engaging, funny, good laugh, educational, welcoming, great team =) The VIP tour with Harry was educational fun passionate about the reef. Special kudos to Harry, 5 stars!! Thank you for an amazing experience. Experience to remember for a lifetime.
Sarah
5Knowledgeable, friendly fun crew. Snorkelling twice in one day was amazing! Marine biologist snorkel trip was great. I didn't know what to expect. I have never previously snorkeled. The reef coral fish etc. were beyond what I would have ever expected. Brilliant experience.
Leah A
5I booked Reef Experience to see the Great Barrier Reef for a good price with food included. The crew were very friendly and helpful! Snorkelling and seeing all the amazing marine life was the best part of the day. Thank you for an amazing day, would do it again in a heartbeat! :)
Martine
5Awesome! Crew were young people, dynamic, customer service oriented, good information. The first snorkeling in the morning was the best. Good organisation, great meals, good schedule from 7:20 to 16:30! White wine at the end: great idea! Thanks for having motion sickness pills aboard! Appreciated!
Olivia
5Very accommodating and welcoming. Lovely team, lovely boat. Scott was very chatty and really made us feel welcomed. Thank you for a lovely day. :)
Chris
5The diving was the best! But lunch was also good! Thanks so much to the whole crew, this was an awesome adventure. :)
Angela
5Thank you everyone, we had an amazing time. The crew were excellent! informative, great energy and welcoming! the 2nd reef we visited was huge and full of unique fish! Absolutely beautiful. We will definitely book with you again in the future! <3
Lisa
5Awesome! Best part was scuba diving 2nd snorkel. Food was great. Than you for an amazing experience and memories!
Nehal
5Booked because of the great reviews. It was excellent - 5 star. Loved snorkelling. Fantastic helpful crew. Good on board facilities. Excellent food drinks. Nothing is too much trouble for the excellent/hardworking crew members!! They're very knowledgeable. Felt very safe.
Morgan
5Wanted to visit the reef and this was the cheapest option. It was amazing! Very helpful crew throughout the whole day. Second dive in the afternoon and the food were the best. Thank you for a fabulous trip! :)
Antonio
5Fantastic crew. Great snorkelling. Way to go guys, keep rocking! You gave me a great life experience. I'll be forever thankful!
Jess P
5Thanks so much for everything team! Despite being ill a lot of the day, I still had a great time seeing the Great Barrier Reef and scuba diving. Absolutely loved it :)
Belinda K
5We loved the glass bottom boat. Scuba diving wasn't really for us, but the whole experience - including the captains deck was perfect! Mike looked after us like we were royalty. Thank you so much, we will always remember this trip!
Phill S
5Friendly happy staff makes for a fun relaxing day for the tourist! Thank you for a great day, we had a ball diving at Saxon Reef and seeing so many fish :)
Kim
5I booked my day reef trip with Reef Experience. It is a very good package. Crew was all super professional, well-organised, very patient, Aisah was particular helpful and patient and encouraging. The whole experience was the highlight of the day. Super experience, happy to recommend to others. Food was great and well thoughtful.
Bradley
5Friendly, professional, helpful and always catering to our needs. The snorkelling on the reef was amazing. Jade was great, really helpful and chill, she got us everything we needed and led us around the reef on snorkel tours.