diving tour great barrier reef

Great Barrier Reef Snorkel & Dive Tours

• Day trips and overnight trips
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Great Barrier Reef Day Trip from Cairns

Whether you’re a snorkeller, first-time diver or certified diver, you'll spend a magical day exploring the reef with us

OceanQuest Overnight Liveaboard Experience

Spend the night on the Great Barrier Reef! Snorkel, intro dive and cert dive options available

PADI Eco Open Water Courses

Learn to dive on the Great Barrier Reef with our range of course options

Scuba Kids (8 Years +)

Try scuba diving for the first time in our pool and enjoy fun underwater games!

PADI Rescue Diver Course

Gain confidence in your dive skills and become a better buddy with this fun and extremely handy course

Instructor Training Program

Kick-start your career in the dive industry with on-the-job training and real life experience

5 STAR DIVE CENTRE

Learn to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef! Our conveniently located Cairns Dive Centre has PADI 5 Star Instructor Development and PADI 5 Star Career Development status. Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’re thinking of making diving your career, we have a dive course to suit you. Our friendly, expert instructors will ensure you have a safe and fun experience.

Dive Courses

• PADI Open Water Diver courses
• PADI Advanced Open Water course
• Scuba Kids children’s program
• PADI Nitrox Specialty course
• PADI Rescue Diver course
• PADI Divemaster course & Divemaster Training Program
• PADI Instructor Training Program
• PADI Instructor Development Course & I.E.
• PADI Staff Instructor Course

Special Deals

Take advantage of our latest special deals and save!

Popular Great Barrier Reef liveaboards Explore all liveaboards

• from ₽ 30,661 / day
• 9.3   Superb
• 171   Reviews

• Spirit of Freedom
• from ₽ 29,363 / day
• 236   Reviews

• from ₽ 20,074 / day
• 9.2   Superb
• 278   Reviews

Liveaboard Diving in Great Barrier Reef

What to expect on a great barrier reef liveaboard.

Take a liveaboard in the Great Barrier Reef , Australia and you will be diving one of the ultimate bucket list destinations for not just every diver, but most of the world's population. Great Barrier Reef  liveaboards visit this world-famous and stunning marine area which has earned its name as a 'must visit area' in this spectacular part of the world. Delving a little deeper into people's ambitions, they'll likely cite diving on the Great Barrier Reef - popularly abbreviated to GBR - as one of their life goals. This is for good reason too, as the reef is a 2300 kilometre stretch of unrivalled natural beauty, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, a World Heritage Site , and is THE place to dive on our planet. A liveaboard dive trip is the best way to explore this region as it consists of more than 900 islands and 2900 individual reefs, forming a spectacular turquoise chain from Lizard Island in the north of Queensland, all the way down to close to Heron Island in the south of Australia's 'Sunshine' state.

A Great Barrier Reef liveaboard will take you to the crystal clear tropical waters of the Coral Sea , which is comprised of billions of coral polyps, making it the largest living organism on the planet. It is so large and vast that it is visible from outer space - even if you spent a lifetime exploring the reef, it would be impossible to view it all. Day trips are possible but will only allow you to witness the crowded inner reef for a few hours, and will leave you wishing for more time to explore what is on offer. The best way to truly experience the underwater marvels of this iconic structure is by setting sail on a diving liveaboard cruise lasting a number of days, meaning you will be able to witness a wide variety of the incredible biodiversity that the reef supports. Even aboard a liveaboard cruise, you'll still only touch the surface (pardon the pun!), and no doubt by the end you'll be thinking of planning another similar trip in the near future!

The Great Barrier Reef Underwater

Being the World's largest reef system , you can expect to see pretty much everything you could imagine on a GBR liveaboard tour. You'll see the full complement of reef fish, including Clownfish, Fusiliers, Butterfly Fish, Angelfish, Trout and Batfish, all swimming amongst a backdrop of stunningly colourful hard and soft corals.

If you look hard enough (or more likely your expert Divemaster who'll know where to look!), there's some incredible macro life to be seen as well, such as brightly patterned Nudibranchs and tiny but graceful Shrimp. You won't need to rely on your guide to spot the tons of circling Reef Sharks, elegant Turtles (green and loggerhead), and huge Manta Rays that are present at many sites frequented by liveaboard operators - you'll have to make sure you have your camera handy though as you won't want to miss these creatures in their natural habitat! Other animals that divers report sightings of frequently include Sea Snakes, Cuttlefish, and Leopard Moray Eels.

Some dive sites have their own unique attractions, none more famous than Cod Hole in the northern Ribbon Reefs , home to a friendly and docile family of giant Potato Cod (Grouper), and Maori Wrasse.

All of this life is present all year round, and if you are visiting between June and December, you may have the added bonus of viewing dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Dolphins and the annual spectacular coral spawning .

It's also not just beautiful reefs and their associated coral gardens that are on the diving radar here either - the SS Yongala wreck is widely recognised as one the finest dive sites on the planet, situated towards the southern end of the reef.

Dive Sites & Areas On The Great Barrier Reef

It would be naive to write about every single dive site on the Great Barrier Reef, as it's likely you'd be here for a lifetime if so! The few 'best of', and on many liveaboard itineraries, are described below:

OSPREY REEF is famous for its 40m+ visibility and almost guaranteed sitings of large numbers of sharks at North Horn. Located in the Coral Sea, and accessible via liveaboard from Cairns, the reef features many small caverns and swim-throughs, making the dive sites here fun for everyone.

RIBBON REEFS Lie to the north of Cairns. Isolated they are only reachable via a few liveaboards. They are a chain of ten individual reefs offering sheltered warm waters, and due to their remoteness are in pristine condition.

MILLN REEF is a spot perfect for snorkelling and diving and is also a great place to do a night dive (sleeping turtles and crabs are common) if you wish. It consists of 3 large coral pillars, located around 60 kilometres from Cairns.

FLYNN REEF Features arguably Australia's best coral garden, is a place where you can see the full array of hard and soft coral that the GBR has on show.

COD HOLE has a resident family of giant Potato Cod which will let you take some fabulous close up photos - there are not many places you can take a selfie with a fish that is likely larger than you! Don't worry though, they're ever so friendly and curious, and love interacting with divers. Here it's common to see the sometimes even larger Maori Wrasse aswell. This site is part of the Ribbon Reefs.

LIZARD ISLAND is a national park on an island of the same name, situated to the very north of the GBR. It's a tropical paradise, ideal for unwinding after a few days of diving or honing your diving skills prior to a trip in the calm, sheltered waters that surround it.

NORTH HORN is one of the more well-known parts of Osprey Reef and is renowned for its famous shark feed, where divers are almost guaranteed to see a wide range of these predators, including Grey Reefs, Silkys, Silvertips and Hammerheads.

BOUGAINVILLE REEF benefits from an exposed position on the outer reef, which does mean it can only be visited by liveaboard and when conditions permit. As a result, it offers some of the most unspoilt and pristine diving in all of Australia, regularly frequented by Manta Rays and Turtles.

SS YONGALA WRECK is a wreck that has long been recognised as one of the finest dive sites in the world. Sunk in 1911, the ship is relatively intact, having developed a mesmerising variety of corals and boasting some of the most diverse marine life on the whole of the GBR.

Tips For Divers

There is diving to suit every level of diver on the Great Barrier Reef , from calm, gentle, warm waters for newbies, to challenging swim-throughs and caves for the more experienced. Some trips will require evidence of dive experience, but there are many that request no minimum logged dives. Most of the time full equipment is available to rent (please check this!), but remember to bring your certification. You'll also want your logbook as recording what you've seen is all part of the fun! Visibility is always great - often well in excess of 25 metres, and sometimes over 40. Water temperatures range from 22 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The native language of Australia is English, although commonly dive crews will speak a variety of others. Currency is the Australian Dollar, and ATMs are easily found onshore (not onboard though!). Internet access, healthcare, and transport in Australia are of high quality, although as always please ensure that appropriate travel insurance has been purchased.

Getting To The Great Barrier Reef

Undoubtedly the best method of exploring the GBR is sailing through the Coral Sea amongst the reef on an Australian liveaboard dive cruise.

LiveAboard.com has several cruises to choose from to suit every budget, with the vast majority departing for the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns' port in Queensland. There are a few small regional airports (for example Townsville, Rockhampton, Lizard Island) where it is possible to fly into from other areas of Australia, but by far the easiest, cheapest and convenient way to visit the reef is to fly directly into Cairns. Its airport has good international connections, allowing most visitors to fly directly from many overseas locations, although many daily flights also arrive here from the major hubs of Sydney and Melbourne, in case one of your first Australian destinations is there.

Great Barrier Reef Diving Reviews

• 315 Verified Reviews
• 9.6 Exceptional

Very relaxed and well organized, very safety concious. The dive sites were carefully selected and differed a lot. In my opinion 'Coral Gardens' was the most beautiful.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Ocean Quest

Wonderful! Beautiful car of colored coral

Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Spirit of Freedom

Overall great. Tons of fish and soft coral

Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Spoilsport

• 10.0 Exceptional

Most sites were great. A few lacked fish and live coral. But, that's part of the adventure.

Awesome experience, some sites are like beautiful gardens.

An incredible experience overall.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in January on the Pro Dive Cairns

• 8.4 Very good

Definitely one of the best diving spots on the planet.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in January on the Ocean Quest

• 8.8 Fabulous

The diving was fantastic. It was great that we were able to see so many different parts of the reef with the boat moving twice a day.

Such a wonderful variation of fish and all the beautiful colours of coral were unreal!

Beautiful and full of life

The diving was beautiful, I loved changing sites daily. Incredible sharks after dark experience

Worthwhile.....lived up to expectations

• Marco-Bruno P

Better than expected but the bleaching is really bad...

Very exciting. I had always wanted to see it

Good, did see some dead coral.

Outstanding views of species of fish and wildlife. Beautiful coral.

Superb visibility, awesome reefs and fish, not to much current

Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Spoilsport

Perhaps better condition of coral and marine life compared to diving the same sites 10 years ago

Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Pro Dive Cairns

Fantastic, the reefs are healthy - covered in endless hard and soft corals. Healthy marine life population at all levels of the food chain.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Spirit of Freedom

Picture perfect with 20- 30 meter visibility. The reef looked very healthy with incredible amounts of sea life living on and around it.

• 8.0 Very good

Variable - a lot of damage.

Great dive sites. Lots of versatility.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in March on the Rum Runner

A dream trip—shallow dives mean more time in water enjoying nature, less time consumed with deco time, etc...

Diving Great Barrier Reef in March on the Ocean Quest

amazing very well preserved and lots of marine fauna

Great. Lot of fun and my confidence grew with each dive.

Amazing locations - the skipper knew exactly the best sites

Excellent! Exceeded my expectations

Diving Great Barrier Reef in August on the Pro Dive Cairns

Due to the weather it was only OK, not the best vis on most dives

Ok, vis was about 15 mtrs for most dives, fish life was awesome!

Diving Great Barrier Reef in November on the Pro Dive Cairns

It was lovely, there were no other boats so not invaded by a million other divers.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in April on the Pro Dive Cairns

Even though the visibility was bad for windy weather, still coral was spectacular and there were many kinds of fish

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Ocean Quest

• FRANCESCO G

Some beautiful bommies and healthy reef

Diving Great Barrier Reef in July on the Spoilsport

Disappointing snorkelling, more suited for diving

Diving Great Barrier Reef in September on the Pro Dive Cairns

Beautiful. We went to different sites every day and they were all unique. Some with deep diving, some more shallow with endless flat reefs, some with walls of coral, we saw sharks, rays, eels, turtles, and fish of all kinds. We were also lucky enough to be onboard during the coral spawning.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in November on the Ocean Quest

• Iman Daniel J

Great. No current, good visibility

Visibility wasn't great, due to poor weather, but the Great Barrier Reef is great for diving.

Really beautiful, great visibility and diversity of species.

Water was 30* and visibility was excellent. Reef areas were beautiful.

Reasonable variety of fish, some coral but no sponges at all. Night dive was devoid of any life other than the divers, even the corals looked drab. Needed good navigation skills. Much of the coral has been damaged... presumably back mixture if leaching, but also years of intensive dive activity.

The GBR is definitely impressive in terms of its size and huge variety of life that is available to explore.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in April on the Ocean Quest

About 8 degrees warmer and about 10m better visibility than the south coast of NSW.

Excellent weather and 26C water temperature with exceptional visibility. We were particularly lucky that it was calm in the more exposed Coral Sea locations.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Spoilsport

Outstanding. Clear waters with visibility between 10 and 25m. Great water temp. Obviously the marine park is exceptional and one of the best in the world.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in June on the Ocean Quest

Amazing! Coral was as colorful, diverse and healthy as i could have expected.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in June on the Pro Dive Cairns

Some beautiful things to see out on the reef. So much sea life and so many turtles! It's sad to see the effects of the warmer climate on the reef but hopefully things will improve.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in July on the Ocean Quest

It was bit sad to see white dead corals at first. 😔 Enjoyed beautiful and awesome corals and variety of fishes around them. I'll come again and again

Diving Great Barrier Reef in September on the Ocean Quest

I don't dive, but I did snorkle all but 1 on of the sessions and it never got old. Each site, even if we returned to one over that time span, was unique. The reef is stunning, has of course suffered from climate change in some places more than others. The guides were informative about what we were seeing, and each shared their special interests. The conditions were generally excellent, with one day that was a bit choppy. The "Sharks in the Dark", chumming off the back end of the boat for chark was very interesting, and to my taste, best experienced from the upper deck!

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Ocean Quest

Perfect. Healthy colourful corals and abundant marine life.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Pro Dive Cairns

Really good, especially at night. The viz was only moderate at times, and some areas of coral are broken or stressed, but I’d go back

Good but reef not as good condition as 5 years ago

We snorkel and the sight was superior to other reefs

Fine. The coral at the end of the Busselton Jetty was more colourful.

We had very good conditions and saw a great variety of animals. It was great

You could see some bleached spots, but also new corals coming trough. But it was still the best diving spot I have seen in Australia and we’ve seen many animals big and small. The coral reef was dense, huge and divers. I loved it!

Diving the Great Barrier Reef was the best dive experience I have had yet. The coral was so vibrant and the sea life was teaming with life. The night dives were the most exhilarating.

Incredible diving. Some of the healthiest and most varied coral I have seen.

Clear visibility, healthy coralles

Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Pro Dive Cairns

• 6.8 Review score

Great! Not really big wall dives, more of a slope and lots of healthy coral gardens.

Amazing! We lucked out with 2 sunny days and clear skies, so the coral and biodiversity were colorful and abundant.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in January on the Rum Runner

Encounters with various tropical fish species. In particular, I could feel the friendliness of the Napoleon fish and could easily see the sea turtle eating. There were also damaged coral reefs, but I liked the brilliance of many fish swimming in a clean underwater environment.

Unfortunately the visibility was very poor due to a recent major storm.

Great diving, tons of fish, turtles, corals

I heard we went at the worst time of year but it was still amazing.

Underwhelming. It was not as colorful or full of sea life as I expected. The visibility was limited.

wonderful. Not much current and shallow beautiful dives.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in March on the Pro Dive Cairns

I not as unique I thought it would be. I do not think it is far better or far different than some other reefs I have dove in the Caribbean. Reefs can be hit or miss. The giant clams were different. Also I think there is more live coral on the GBR than Caribbean reefs.

Amazing - the different coral structures and variety of marine life was really incredible.

The reef is a mind blowing experience! The coral is so vibrant it looks like a blooming garden of underwater flowers.

Don't expect too much! Water is not crystal clear and species are not as good as south east asia. But the coral landscape is great!

Lots of hard corals, several bigger parrot fish, less fry than expected. Less fish then expected some dives, others had lots.

Visibility was not great. Otherwise, wonderful.

A few great days of sunshine in Clearwater followed by some rain and chop that made it a bit foggy on the last day. Can’t stop mother nature.

Ok, not so good vis about 5 meters....windy weather 30 knot winds stirred up the sand.

Saw a turtle lots of sharks unforgettable

Great visibility even though the weather has been quite windy and choppy

• lene feltmann E

The visibily was poor, but most dives gave new discoveries. The night dives were fantastic.

The GBR was gorgeous and the coral was stunning. The most amount of love coral I have seen on a reef and the greatest fish diversity!

I would give 6 out of 10. I was expecting to see more things and big stuff but that wasn't achieved. Did not spot that many sharks either. Not even school of fishes.

• Christopher C

Lived up to all expectations, and we saw a wide range of large and small critters.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Spirit of Freedom

The reef is spectacular, lots of fish and lots of places to dive.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Pro Dive Cairns

It was my first time driving but I had a blast. I loved exploring the reef and being surprised by all the sea creatures.

Very good when far away from Cairns in unspoilt reef.

Its one of the best place for the fresh hand to accumulate experience and a lot of things to see

Diving overall was good, although the visibility at times was not optimal.

It was incredible clarity was amazing

More marine lives, especially the stone fish is my favorite

Great visibility and interesting things to see

Diving Great Barrier Reef in August on the Ocean Quest

All good and pretty cool memory

Easy diving, lots of marine life… not the best visibility

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Spirit of Freedom

Colorful coral and a wide variety of sealife on display

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Rum Runner

Amazing. Heaps of life, amazing coral. Lots of variety of life.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Spoilsport

Amazing coral and marine life

The coral reef was the best I’ve ever seen not a lot of big fish probably due to fishing in the area visibility was great lots of small fish

The coral colors and structures were fantastic.

Nice visibility, super corals, a lot of life. Not a place for big stuff

An excellent and highly recommended experience!

The reef was beautiful. Even without the sun shining for most of the trip, one could see the spectacular array of colors throughout the dive.

Very good even though rainy daily

Great, came in after the cyclone so visibility was altered but was able to see all the marine life I wanted to. Amazing dive experience.

wonderful, we saw tiny stuff, vibrant reefs and many pelagics.

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SCUBA DIVING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA

  GREAT BARRIER REEF DIVING HIGHLIGHTS

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, this spectacular reef system stretches 1,400 miles down the east coast of Australia , from Cape York Peninsula in northeastern Queensland, to Bundaberg in the south. Comprising 600 islands and close to 2,900 individual reefs, choosing where to dive and what to see can be overwhelming. But don’t let this worry you. There are so many amazing facts about The Great Barrier Reef such as how it and the  Coral Sea boast over 600 types of coral, which in turn provide a home to 1,625 fish species and 133 species of sharks and rays. Wherever you choose to dive, this huge and glorious reef system won’t fail to disappoint, and could likely be one of the best scuba diving trips you’ll ever make. 

Interested in diving the Great Barrier Reef?  View the live availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Great Barrier Reef and book online at the best price or check out our sidebar for specials and workshops! 

Our thanks to Mike Ball Dive Expeditions for images on this page.

Marine Life - Best Dive Sites - Best Time to Dive

Diving Conditions - How to Get There - How to Dive Galapagos

Practical Information - Book a Trip - Underwater Images 

GREAT BARRIER REEF DIVE RESORTS AND LIVEABOARDS

Shore diving the Great Barrier Reef is concentrated around the town of Cairns , where day boats take divers and snorkelers out to the nearby reefs. This world-famous spot is popular with tourists and backpackers so it can get quite busy during peak season. For those willing to venture further north, Port Douglas offers some upmarket resort options as an alternative to the Cairns hostel scene.

The quality of diving improves as you venture further from the mainland, and some of the best sites are only accessible via liveaboard. They offer a range of trips to the outer reefs and into the Coral Sea to dive some breathtaking spots.

Find the best Great Barrier Reef liveaboard for your next dive vacation.

INtro to the Great Barrier Reef

As the largest living structure on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world, offering a variety and abundance of marine life seldom found elsewhere. Much of the reef falls within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park , and so many of the dive sites enjoy protected status. Beyond the barrier reef itself, the Coral Sea is a hidden gem of scattered reefs and atolls boasting rarely visited dive sites and some of the best diving in Australia. 

Chromodoris annae Nudibranch (LEFT) & Pink Anemonefish (RIGHT)

View Location on Google Map

The diving season in the Great Barrier Reef is year-round, but the best time to go would highly depend on  what you want to see.

More on the  best time to dive the Great Barrier Reef .

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Great barrier reef diving information.

great barrier reef MARINE LIFE & PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIES

The Great Barrier Reef is teeming with life, and while some notable macro can be found, it’s the big stuff that really stands out here. The best of the pelagic species tend to gather at the northernmost reefs and atolls where, in the winter months of June and July, large numbers of migratory dwarf minke whales gather. Beaked whales, sperm whales, and bottlenose dolphins also congregate here to feed along the edge of the deep ocean shelf. 

Many shark species reside in the outer reefs, and you may find silky, silvertip, whitetip, and grey reef sharks joining you on your dive. The occasional whale shark or hammerhead passes through, and eagle rays, mantas, loggerheads, and green turtles are all common sights.

All along the Great Barrier Reef, an abundance of smaller reef species can be found in the healthy corals. Clownfish darting in and out of their anemones, electric purple anthias, schools of yellow snapper, parrotfish, the list is endless. Larger species such as grouper, cod, and bream share the reef with schooling pelagics, making for a breathtaking array of color and motion.

Read  Christine Shepard’s Bluewater trip report  from her wonderful experience with dwarf minke whales on the Coral Sea reefs.

  If you love the idea of reef diving but don't want to travel too far, check out scuba diving in the Red Sea .

BEST TIME TO DIVE

Queensland’s tropical climate makes the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea superb for diving year-round, but conditions and species do vary between the seasons. The summer months from December through to February enjoy warmer water and great visibility, while the cooler winter months of March to November are the best time to spot large marine mammals such as humpback and minke whales.

Interested in diving with whales? Check out our list of the Best Places to Dive with Whales .

Dwarf Minke Whale

DIVING CONDITIONS

Water temperature: Ranges from 73 to 84 o F (23 to 29 o C)

Visibility: Inshore day trip dives between 50ft and 100ft, while liveaboard sites in the Coral Sea can reach 150ft.

Depth Range: Mostly between 30ft and 100ft.

Diving Difficulty: Many people learn to dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and there are hundreds of sites suitable for beginners. More remote reefs such as Osprey require some experience, and the Ribbon Reefs are best for advanced divers.

BEST DIVE SITES in the great barrier reef

Based on our numerous visits to the area, we've rounded up some of the best dive sites in the Great Barrier Reef:

Osprey Reef: One of the best locations in the Coral Sea, Osprey Reef sits in the very north of the system and has a range of sites including drift diving at North Horn Wall, and the shark feeding amphitheater at North Horn. Large pelagics gather here to feed throughout the year, and whale sharks , rays, and turtles will often make an appearance. 

Ribbon Reefs: This 75-mile chain of ten individual reefs is home to a fantastic array of coral and fish life, and boasts some really special dive sites. The world-famous Cod Hole is home to dozens of huge potato cod and some very friendly giant Napoleon wrasse, known locally as Maori wrasse. Steve’s Bommie , an extraordinary isolated pinnacle, is bursting with colorful life, and Lighthouse Bommie is known for its population of golden sea snakes.

Heron Island: Further south, Heron Island is a notable nesting site for green and loggerhead turtles, so divers are likely to enjoy the company of several of these creatures on each dive. The reefs also feature various cleaning stations, such as the one at North Bommie, which attracts manta rays and turtles in to shallower waters. Heron Bommie, the island’s signature dive site, is home to manta and eagle rays, reef sharks, and flowery cod.

Lady Elliot Island: This world-class dive destination is a coral cay surrounded by pristine fringing reef, home to a large and diverse fish population. Like Heron Reef, it is well known as a hotspot for turtles and manta rays, and the island’s location next to the continental shelf drop-off means there is a chance to swim with visiting humpback whales between May and October.

SS Yongala: Probably the best-known wreck in Australia , the Yongala lies in open water, its deepest point at 100ft. This 360ft wreck is largely intact, and provides an isolated artificial reef sanctuary for all number of species including barracuda, rays, trevally, and even bull sharks.

great barrier reef TRAVEL INFORMATION

HOW TO GET TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

There are direct international flights from the US to several Australian airports such as Sydney Airport (SYD) , or from Europe via most major Asia hubs. Then transfer on to Cairns Airport (CNS)  where most of the liveaboards depart from. Local flights are also available out to the reef islands. 

Check out our list of the Best Liveaboard Destinations, here .

HOW TO DIVE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

By far the best way to experience the Great Barrier Reef is by liveaboard, most of which depart from Cairns for 3-night, 4-night, or 7-night trips. For keen divers we would suggest arranging a minimum of 3 nights at sea. This will allow you to reach some lovely unspoiled spots that the day boats can't get to.

For day trips, the Great Barrier Reef is easiest accessed from Cairns. Dozens of boats of all sizes depart daily out to the local reefs, and the journey normally takes between 30 and 90 minutes. Although there is plenty to see, and it provides an affordable introduction for new divers, the sheer number of visitors to this popular spot has had an impact on the health of the reef. Cairns has a huge number of hotels and hostels to suit all budgets, as well as a busy downtown full of restaurants and bars.

Day trips to the reef are also available from Port Douglas, and boats from here tend to travel further out to the more remote reefs such as Agincourt and Opel. This provides a far better experience for qualified divers, where the reefs are in great health and full of life. Despite the additional travel time, we would definitley reccomend a trip that takes you several hours offshore and away from the busiest reefs. Port Douglas itself is much quieter than Cairns, with mostly resort-style hotels. 

OTHER THINGS TO DO

Queensland has a vibrant tourism industry and there is all manner of attractions and activities available top-side. Popular trips include hiking through the Tropical Rainforests of Daintree and Cape Tribulation, or to the spectacular waterfalls at Atherton Tablelands . Visiting one of the many wildlife parks that specialize in indigenous species is a great day out, or for the more adventurous travelers, enjoy white water rafting on the Barron River, or take part in a cultural tour to visit Aboriginal rock art  deep in the outback.

liveaboards in the great barrier reef 

See the availability of liveaboards in the great barrier reef and book online. best price guaranteed. no credit card fees., the rates shown below are per person in usd. some operators may quote in a different currency and the final pricing may vary depending on the latest exchange rates., other useful information.

Practical Information

• Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
• Language: English
• Time Zone: Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT+10)
• Electricity: 230V 

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Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel

A unique outer great barrier reef tour.

Eco Certified – committed to sustainability

Australian Owned and operated

Incorporating Indigenous Culture

Activities for all ages & experience levels

Experience two premium outer reef sites

Enjoy one of Cairns’ most unique & exclusive Great Barrier Reef tours. Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel invites you to explore some of the best diving and snorkelling sites on the Great Barrier Reef with our experienced Marine Biologists and Indigenous Cultural Guides. We choose our reef sites based on the best conditions for the day, so you’re truly getting the highest quality snorkelling and diving experience. Our sites include Milln, Flynn, Hastings, Saxon, Norman or Thetford Reef.

Once at the Reef, you will have the opportunity to explore the underwater world with included snorkelling experiences.

Come and jump on board, what are you waiting for?

guided with purpose

Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel pride our-self on our commitment to sustainability. The ECO Certification logo is a globally recognized brand which assists travellers to choose and experience a genuine and authentic tour, attraction, cruise or accommodation that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land and Sea on which our business operates on throughout Australia. At Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel we acknowledge the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji , Mandingalbay Yidinji, Yirrganydji & Gunggandji people, Traditional Owners of the Sea Country on which our business operates. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and to Elders past and present.

Customer Reviews

We had the best day on the reef with our 4 and 7 year old kids. The staff was fantastic. Highly recommend the whole experience.

We had a great time snorkeling the outer reef, nearly 1/2 price of other diving companies. Didgeridoo and Dance demonstrations were an added bonus thank you to the captain and crew.

A wonderful personal experience from beginning to end. The crew were lovely and worked hard all day for everyone on board.

I picked Dreamtime because I thought the indigenous touch would be a bit different and more interesting than other tours. There was nothing that I could complain about. I am so pleased I chose this trip, do yourself a favour and book it!

From the stories, history lessons, interactive staff to the stunning reef, i couldn’t have had a better day out on the reef.

This tour was the most relaxed and the most friendliest we have been on in the 10 days we stayed in Cairns. We absolutely loved it. The food was great and plenty of it.

Absolutely amazing! This brand new reef experience is the best one we’ve had in cairns – comfortable, modern, new boat and an energetic, happy, informative crew.

This was a wonderful experience. The staff were so friendly and knowledgable and the reef locations were excellent.

The whole operation was very professional and equally laid back. We felt like we had very personalised service and the crew was outstanding. This was the highlight of my trip to Australia.

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Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Trying to work out where to stay at the Great Barrier Reef? Discover a great selection of accommodation, the length and breadth of the Great Barrier Reef and beyond. Search for hotel rooms and book online.

• Great Barrier Reef Hotels
• Airlie Beach Hotels
• Cairns Hotels
• Cape Tribulation Hotels
• Gladstone Hotels
• Mackay Hotels
• Magnetic Island Hotels
• Mission Beach Hotels
• Port Douglas Hotels
• Rockhampton Hotels
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• Luxury Reef Hotels
• The Best 5 Star Reef Hotels
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• Hotels Beyond The Reef
• Alice Springs Hotels
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• Byron Bay Hotels
• Kangaroo Island Hotels
• Port Stephens Hotels

Great Barrier Reef's islands are simply enchanting, with the choice of over 100 islands from unique and exotic islands to the world famous Whitsundays.

• Best Islands Near Cairns
• Bedarra Island
• Brampton Island
• Daydream Island
• Dunk Island
• Fitzroy Island
• Great Keppel Island
• Green Island
• Haggerstone Island
• Hamilton Island
• Hayman Island
• Heron Island
• Hinchinbrook Island
• Langford Island
• Lindeman Island
• Lizard Island
• Long Island
• Orpheus Island
• South Molle Island
• Whitsunday Island

Queensland is unique amongst the Australian states in that it has a number of genuine coastal capitals.

• Airlie Beach
• Charters Towers
• Daintree Rainforest
• Mission Beach
• Port Douglas
• Rockhampton
• Shute Harbour
• Whitehaven Beach

Discover a diverse range of experiences in the Great Barrier Reef.

• Reef Experiences
• Diving the Reef
• The reef from the air
• Sky diving at Airlie Beach
• Sky diving at Cairns
• Sky diving at Mission Beach
• Adventure Activities
• Cairns Reef Tours
• Glass Bottom Boat Tours
• Sail the Reef
• Snorkelling The Reef
• Submarine Reef Tours
• Liveaboard Reef Tours

The Great Barrier Reef is a gathering of brilliant, vivid coral providing divers with the most spectacular underwater experience imaginable.

• About The Reef
• Northern Great Barrier Reef
• Central Great Barrier Reef
• Southern Great Barrier Reef
• Great Barrier Reef Facts
• How big is the reef?
• History of the region
• Reef Insights

Scuba Diving Snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef.

If you are a certified Scuba diver or a snorkeller, the Great Barrier Reef has some of the best ocean life in the world. If you have never done a Scuba dive before, the Great Barrier Reef offers some great places to learn to Scuba dive.

The Great Barrier Reef is world renowned for it’s amazing scuba diving locations. Bommies, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life stretch for the entire 2,300km length of the reef.

There are a wide range of dive sites along the Great Barrier Reef, there are calm, protected, shallow spots around the islands, perfect for first-timers, there are gentle reef sites, rich in fish life and corals and the deeper sites on the outer reefs for those with some experience. All sites are best reached by boat ranging from luxury cruisers to spectacular sail boats. For those visitors who have never put their head under the water, but want to see if they can enjoy snorkelling or scuba diving, there are excellent one-day, first-time dive trips.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef offers a range of scuba dive experiences for both the beginner and the experienced diving expert. Diving expeditions depart daily from all the major cities and towns along the coast and from most island resorts. No matter where you stay on the reef, you are always within a 20 – 60 minute boat ride of an excellent diving spot.

The late, great Jacques Cousteau famously named the Heron Bommie off Heron Island as one of his top ten favourite diving sites in the world.

Douglas Adams, the author of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy wrote an amusing anecdote about his experience diving at Hayman Island on the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef offers all manner of accommodation for singles, couples and families. The keen diver will be able to fine a suitable location to stay regardless of budget.

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia is one of the natural wonders of the world and a superb place to indulge in the best scuba diving in the world.

Cairns Diving Tour Operators

Diving from Cairns offers a truly unique reef experience for the traveller who seeks a more personalised and relaxed approach to exploring the Great Barrier Reef by mask, snorkel and fins.

Diving Day Tours

Great Adventures – Great Barrier Reef Adventure Destination: Outer Barrier Reef (Norman Reef)

Great Adventures – Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Adventure Destination: Outer Barrier Reef plus 2 hour stopover on Green Island

Reef Magic Marine World – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: Outer Great Barrier Reef, Moore Reef

Sunlover Cruises – Outer Barrier Reef Scuba Dive Tour Destination: Moore Reef Pontoon

Quicksilver – Great Barrier Reef Tour Destination: Outer Barrier Reef, Agincourt Reef

Ocean Freedom – Upolu Cay Tour Destination: Upolu Cay & Upolu Reef

M/V Osprey – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: 2 Outer Barrier Reef Locations

Reef Experience – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: Norman, Saxon, Hastings and Michaelmas Reef Locations

Reef Quest – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: 2 Reef Locations on the Outer Barrier Reef – (17 private exclusive dive sites)

Seastar – Michaelmas Cay & Hastings Reef Tour Destination: Michaelmas Cay & Hastings Reef

Great Barrier Reef Experiences

There are plenty of things to experience on Great Barrier Reef.

Townsville Townsville, a thriving metropolis, is the unofficial capital of North Queensland and one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.

Rockhampton Rockhampton is set under Mount Archer, posing an impressive backdrop for the vibrant City centre, coast and the outback beyond.

Charters Towers Charters Towers is one of the most beautiful inland cities in Queensland, with unrivalled architecture and a unique history.

Australia's great natural wonder

More great australian travel destinations.

• Uluru Australia
• Blue Mountains
• Kangaroo Island
• Fraser Island
• Lord Howe Island
• Hunter Valley
• Port Stephens
• Moreton Island
• Great Ocean Road
• Australia's Best Beaches
• Wiki Australia
• Kimberley Australia
• Aussie Hotel Bookings

About 'greatbarrierreef.org'

greatbarrierreef.org is a 'Web Magazine' website that is dedicated to all things related to the Great Barrier Reef. We are passionate about Australia's great natural wonder, its vast marine life, its golden sun-kissed beaches, its warm turquiose waters and the unforgetable experiences that are waiting for all who visit. Our aim is to discuss the Great Barrier Reef, its history, its environment, its marine life and its spectacular destinations. We hope that this website will inspire all who visit, just as much as the Great Barrier reef has inspired us.

Custom website design , development and speed optimisation by Jimmyweb

CAIRNS & PORT DOUGLAS' BEST SCUBA DIVING

OUTER REEF DIVING

INTRO DIVING

LEARN TO DIVE

PRIVATE CHARTERS

Scuba Dive In Affordable Luxury With The Premier Five Star Padi Dive Resort

Blue Dive Port Douglas offers the best Great Barrier Reef scuba diving trips, courses, guides and outer reef sites. Our team are dive professionals. Our destinations are the best reef locations for visibility, corals, abundance and diversity of underwater life. Our service is outstanding, providing privately guided dives and dive courses on the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. At Blue Dive, we don’t dive with strangers – we dive with new friends…

YOU WANT THE BEST GREAT BARRIER REEF EXPERIENCE YOU WANT BLUE DIVE

We’re the original Port Douglas scuba company, offering privately guided dives and private PADI Open Water courses since 2008. We are 100% locally owned and operated and are the Port Douglas dive specialists. Our experienced dive team are passionate about ensuring your Great Barrier Reef experience, is the best it can be. Whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, family or group of friends – and whether it’s on a day trip, multi-day dive course or private charter – Blue Dive will show you the best of the Great Barrier Reef.

GREAT BARRIER REEF LUXURY PRIVATE CHARTERS FOR DIVERS AND SNORKELERS

If this is the trip to tick the Great Barrier Reef off your bucket list, then the ultimate way to do this is on a Blue Dive Port Douglas luxury private charter. The trip will be completely tailored to your needs, be it snorkeling, diving or both. Your vessel will be a top of the range luxury boat, perfect for families, groups and corporate events. For day trips and overnight trips, a Blue Dive luxury private charter is the ultimate way to experience the Great Barrier Reef.

Why Book With Blue Dive Port Douglas

Private guided diving, amazing reef sites, engaging reef info, professional dive masters, freedom from crowds.

© Blue Dive Port Douglas 2024

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Family Owned

Ocean Freedom

Cairns premier great barrier reef & island tours operating two exclusive reef tours "ocean free" & "ocean freedom".

Perry has been in the dive industry in Cairns and managing dive operations on 4 vessels since 1988, including Ocean Free since 1992, when he met Taryn. Since 1992 they both worked the boats and purchased Ocean Free (a 16.5m schooner) in 1996. Having many years of experience in the industry, Ocean Free quickly became a well-established and respected company amongst local agents and the marine industry.

They then bought their second vessel Ocean Freedom in 2005 and after a year’s total refurbishment, the luxury 20m cruiser was launched in mid 2006. Ocean Freedom underwent another million-dollar refurbishment in February 2008, changing from the previous jet engines to props, re-spraying, extending the teak snorkel and dive deck by 3m, making it the most spacious snorkel back deck in Cairns. The new look, faster Ocean Freedom receives great reviews in the industry. Ocean Freedom now cruises at 23 knots and arrives at the reef in an hour, giving guests 6 hours on the reef.

With the operation of two vessels it was necessary to re-brand the products to encompass the two vessels under one trading name. This, plus the company’s commitment to running very personalised, low guest number tours with excellent customer service, lead to their new company name Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours.

In 2014 both boats underwent major, million-dollar refurbishments, with new engines, decking, seating, bulkheads and on Ocean Free new mast rigging and sails. In mid 2023 Ocean Free was fitted with a new propeller and Ocean Freedom had another  major refurbishment with 2 new engines, new electrics, new ladder, cushions, and carpet.

Both boats undergo annual cosmetic refits to ensure they look their best at all times.

Today, Perry and Taryn continue to have a great love for the sea and reef and are passionate about ensuring all their guests have an unforgettable reef experience and all round “feel good” day! They look forward to welcoming you aboard one of their Cairns’ Premier Reef & Island Tours and becoming part of the ever-growing “Ocean Free” and  “Ocean Freedom”  Family !

Why Travel with Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours Sail Ocean Free Cruise Ocean Freedom

Personalised tours.

We value our guests and are committed to providing very personalised, caring tours on both boats, where you’re a name not a number.

Exclusive Sailing Trip

Ocean Free has an exclusive mooring 1km off Green Island offering international visitors and locals a sail, reef and island experience.

More Reef Time

Ocean Freedom gives guests 6 unrushed hours to explore 2 stunning reef destinations, Upolu Cay Reef and Outer Edge Upolu Reef.

The Best Crew

Crew members are hand-picked to provide unsurpassed service, professionalism, reef knowledge and a high respect for safety.

Fantastic Snorkelling

Step straight off our boats to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, no deep, dark water!  The coral outcrops come up to just 1M under the surface for easy viewing. We provide guided tours, and our crew share their knowledge and passion  for the reef.

Scuba Diving

We have the highest ratio of dive instructors to divers (2:1) for our Non-Certified (intro) diving and small group Certified diving with complimentary guide to ensure you see the best parts of the reef. We take your safety very seriously.

Environment

Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours are proud to announce that both their personal Great Barrier Reef Tours have been  Advanced Eco Certified tours for over 10 years, earning the Ecotourism  title of Green Travel Leader

Value for Money

Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom are both priced the same and offer great value for money, with lots of inclusions including all snorkel equipment and tuition, snorkel tours, food served throughout the day  and plenty of time at your reef destinations.

Testimonials

© Ocean Freedom 2024

Website created by RJ New Designs

Great Barrier Reef Tours - Snorkelling & Diving

If your coming to Australia you are coming to the Great Barrier Reef and there are several locations to see this World Heritage Listed icon. The Whitsundays are famous for it's sailing holidays, its island escapes, luxury yacht charters and annual events on Hamilton Island. The Whitsundays are a series of 74 islands that are surrounded by lagoons and beaches with a mixture of hard and soft coral reefs that support a variety of marine life. Liveaboard snorkel & dive boats are very popular with all age groups and guests can choose from shared tours or private luxury yacht charters along with half day tours and full day tours. Going north, Townsville and Magnetic Island are another awesome spot for snorkel and dive tours and provides a simply beautiful untouched reef that offers the Underwater Museum and fascinating wreck dives. Heading further north to Tropical North Queensland, the destination of Cairns & Port Douglas are known as the gateways to the Great Barrier Reef due to the close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef icons. Easier, faster access to this natural attraction is appealing to those who are not good seafarers. Take a scenic helicopter flight to an interactive pontoon for your snorkel and dive tour or a fast stable catamaran cruise. This section of the Great Barrier Reef is also famous for its swim with the Minke Whales and dive with sharks liveaboard dive and snorkel tours. It is also popular with luxury yacht charters and its luxurious island holiday spots. The coral reefs here are mostly hard corals and thus provide a more dramatic adventure for those dedicated scuba divers and keen snorkellers with cave dives, ledge drop offs and more. The marine life is also more vibrant as marine life migrate thru this section annually creating quite a stir among divers and snorkellers. No matter where you go on the Great Barrier Reef you are sure to be enthralled with your under water adventures.

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Great barrier reef tours.

• Snorkelling and Diving

If your coming to Australia you are coming to the Great Barrier Reef and there are several locations to see this World Heritage Listed icon. The Whitsundays are famous for it's sailing holidays, its island escapes, luxury yacht charters and annual events on Hamilton Island. The Whitsundays are a series of 74 islands that are surrounded by lagoons and beaches with a mixture of hard and soft coral reefs that support a variety of marine life. Liveaboard snorkel & dive boats are very popular with all age groups and guests can choose from shared tours or private luxury yacht charters along with half day tours and full day tours. Going north, Townsville and Magnetic Island are another awesome spot for snorkel and dive tours and provides a simply beautiful untouched reef that offers the Underwater Museum and fascinating wreck dives. Heading further north to Tropical North Queensland, the destination of Cairns & Port Douglas are known as the gateways to the Great Barrier Reef due to the close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef icons. Easier, faster access to this natural attraction is appealing to those who are not good seafarers. Take a scenic helicopter flight to an interactive pontoon for your snorkel and dive tour or a fast stable catamaran cruise. This section of the Great Barrier Reef is also famous for its swim with the Minke Whales and dive with sharks liveaboard dive and snorkel tours. It is also popular with luxury yacht charters and its luxurious island holiday spots. The coral reefs here are mostly hard corals and thus provide a more dramatic adventure for those dedicated scuba divers and keen snorkellers with cave dives, ledge drop offs and more. The marine life is also more vibrant as marine life migrate thru this section annually creating quite a stir among divers and snorkellers. No matter where you go on the Great Barrier Reef you are sure to be enthralled with your under water adventures.

Showing Results 1 - 77 of 77

Great Barrier Reef Tours Cairns - Only 40 Guests - 2 Reef Sites | Snorkel & Dive | T6

All-inclusive luxury Great Barrier Reef trip departing from Cairns. Includes certified dives, introductory dives and snorkel. Enjoy up to 3 dives on 2 amazing reef locations.

Departing: Cairns

Pickup: Cairns

Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Tour Pontoon Experience

Departing Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island daily to spend the day on an interactive floating pontoon, on the Great Barrier Reef!

Departing: Airlie Beach

Pickup: Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island

Whitsunday Reef Sleep 2-Day, 1-Night Sleep On The Reef

A unique experience Sleep On The Reef! 2 Day 1 Night One of a kind Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef experience, snorkel, dive, scenic helicopter flights and more.

Whitsundays Underwater Accommodation - Underwater Luxury Sleep On The Reef

Luxury Sleep On The Great Barrier Reef Underwater Suites a first for the Whitsunday Islands and Australia.

Pickup: Airlie Beach, Daydream Island, Hamilton Island

Museum Of Underwater Art - Reef Tour - Snorkel & Dive - AD

Museum of Underwater ART tours now accessible to scuba divers while snorkelers experience the reef from Townsville Far North Queensland.

Departing: Townsville city

Scuba Dive Townsville - 3 D-3 Night - SS Yongala Wreck Dive - AD-S

3 Day 3 Night liveaboard trip from Townsville, including the SS Yongala wreck dive site and middle reef dive tour.

Yongala Dive Tours – Certified Divers – S.S. Yongala AD

Yongala Dive Tours for Certified Open Water Divers, join our Townsville S.S. Yongala Day Tours.

Cairns Snorkelling Tour - Aboriginal Experience

UNIQUE! Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef with Indigenous Rangers who share their creation stories from the Aboriginal Dreamtime.

Cairns Island Tours – Frankland Islands

Cairns Great Barrier Reef Island tour & River Cruise. Travel with small numbers to snorkel or dive the reef and explore an uninhabited tropical island.

Fitzroy Island - Half Day Tour

Half day boat trip to Fitzroy Island for an exhilarating day exploring this World Heritage-listed gem.

Mission Beach Reef Dive & Snorkel Trip

From the stunning coastal town of Mission Beach, you’ll be spirited across the waves to the dazzling shores of Dunk Island. Journeying on to the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll spend your day snorkelling through coral gardens and reef fish.

Departing: Mission Beach

Cairns Dive Trips | 2 Day 1 Night | Cairns Liveaboard Dive & Snorkel

Cairns dive trips, Great Barrier Reef tours, 2-day, 1-night liveaboard dive tour, dive or indulge in limitless snorkeling and sleep under the stars on the Great Barrier Reef.

Snorkelling & Diving Port Douglas | Calypso

Port Douglas Reef Tour - Full Day Snorkel & Diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Departing: Port Douglas

Cairns Reef Tours | Best Value Snorkel & Dive | DD-AQ

Enjoy a Cairns reef tour aboard one of the nicest boats in Cairns to dive and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. Cruise to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns in luxury. Enjoy two snorkel or dive sites, meet 'Nemo’, turtles and stingrays.

Green Island Tour & Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour on Pontoon by Great Adventures

A Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Combo Package Tour Deal. Visit tropical Green Island for 2 hours followed by 3 Hours on the outer reef pontoon.

Pickup: Cairns, Cairns Northern Beaches, Palm Cove

Cairns Reef Tour | Outer Reef Pontoon | Great Adventures

The stable reef activity platform offers a perfect tour for individuals of all swimming abilities. From snorkelling, diving to an underwater observatory, enjoying the semi-submarine, or simply relaxing on the sundeck there is something for everyone.

Pickup: Cairns, Palm Cove

Cairns Reef Tours | Sailing to Michaelmas Cay

Michaelmas Cay day tour from Cairns, sail aboard a luxury catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling, diving and fun-filled island activities.

Green Island FULL DAY Tour by Great Adventures

Family-friendly Reef and island activities at Green Island. Snorkel right off the beach, take an island rainforest walk. Glass Bottom Boat tours available.

Cairns Dive & Snorkelling Tour | Great Barrier Reef Tour | 3 Reefs

Travel by luxury catamaran to 3 reef sites located on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Snorkel and dive, laze on the deck, explore underwater on an introductory dive, guided tours for certified divers are also offered on this tour.

Cairns Reef Tours | Helicopter Rides |Dive-Snorkel | Waterslide | Glass Bottom Boat | by Sunlover

Snorkel, dive, unique waterslide, kids pool, glass bottom boat, helicopert flights plus loads more on the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns Reef Tour by Reef Magic | Pontoon | Glass Bottom Boat | Semi Submarine | Heli Ride

Hop aboard from Cairns on a fast catamaran and head for 5 hours of fun & adventure on the Great Barrier Reef. Our activity platform offers Scuba Diving, Helmet Diving, Guided Snorkelling Tours, and Scenic Helicopter flights.

Small Group Reef Tours | Cairns | Snorkelling & Diving | 2 Reef Sites

Your snorkeling, diving and sailing adventure starts when you set sail from Cairns. Visit two Outer Barrier Reef coral reefs on this award-winning reef trip.

Snorkelling & Diving Port Douglas | Silversonic

Visit 3 stunning dive & snorkel sites on the famous Agincourt Ribbon Reefs. Swim with Whales.

Pickup: Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas

Cairns Liveaboard Dive Trips | 3 Day 2 Night Dive Luxury Dive Expeditions | PROD

3 amazing days diving and snorkelling the magnificent Great Barrier Reef from Cairns on our 3 Day 2 Night Tour. Scuba Dive 11 times (including two night dives).

Snorkelling & Diving Tours Port Douglas | Quicksilver Pontoon

Our Great Barrier Reef tours are ideal for divers, snorkellers, and non-swimmers, with everything on offer for an amazing day on the reef.

Pickup: Cairns, Cairns Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas

Cairns Reef Tour | HALF DAY Green Island Snorkelling Tour | By Big Cat

Discover Green Island and explore the Great Barrier Reef on this family-friendly half-day tour.

Snorkelling Green Island Tour | By Big Cat

Come on a Great Barrier Reef tour and visit stunning Green Island. Snorkel in lagoons amongst tropical fish and sea turtles.

Scuba Dive Whitsundays - Snorkelling Whitsundays

Small group scuba diving tours Whitsundays. Departs Airlie Beach, maximum 8 guests on board, catering for experienced divers as well as beginners and snorkellers.

Scuba Diving Whitsundays - Charter Boat

Charter boat Airlie Beach. Snorkelling & scuba diving tours. No experience required. Small group maximum 6 introductory divers or 8 certified divers.

Charter Boat Whitsundays - Snorkelling Tours - Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach on one of our most popular private charter boats. Perfect for small group, maximum 10 guests.

Fitzroy Island & Sunlover Great Barrier Reef Pontoon in a Day

Can you believe it? Fitzroy Island and the Sunlover pontoon on the one day! Amazing snorkelling and diving deals.

Port Douglas Diving & Snorkelling Tour - 3 Reefs

Spend your day on the Great Barrier Reef at the Agincourt Reef system. Snorkelling with diverse marine life and in this amazing World Heritage area.

Cairns Dive Trips | Luxury 3-4-7 Day Great Barrier Reef Tours

Premier liveaboard scuba diving tour on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, exploring the Ribbon Reefs, Osprey Reef and the famous Cod Hole.

Whitsunday Snorkel & Dive Liveaboard | Whitehaven & Outer Reef | 3 Day 3 Nights

Experience the perfect blend of excitement and relaxation onboard a recently renovated maxi yacht that provides 3-day tours amidst the unspoiled Whitsunday Islands & Outer Reef!

Scuba Diving Whitsundays - Airlie Beach

A dedicated scuba diving day trip operating out of Airlie Beach. Fast boat for more dive time and reef time in the Whitsundays.

Cairns Boat Charter - Luxury Dive & Snorkel Extended Charters - Allure

Cairns boat charters. Book a few luxury days and nights exploring the waters of the Great Barrier Reef on a 47 ft Riviera that accommodates up to 6 passengers.

Cairns Charter Boat - Luxury 1 Day Dive & Snorkel Trip - Allure

Book a luxury one day Cairns boat charter for your family and friends to dive and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. Up to 8 guests

Dive Tours Great Barrier Reef | 5 Night Coral Sea & Cod Hole | MB

A new Cod Hole dive tour has been created for our 5 night liveaboard dive trips exploring the brilliant corals and marine life in this world re-known Coral Sea dive spot in Australia on the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns Helicopter Flight & Great Barrier Reef Tour To Pontoon | by Nautilus & Great Adventures

Flying over the Great Barrier Reef at a low level of only 500 feet in a helicopter from Cairns is the ultimate way to experience the magnitude of our Natural Wonder of the World, Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Charter Boats Townsville - Magnetic Island - AD

Townsville charter boat available for dive and snorkel tours or just a day our cruising with the family or a sunset cruise on the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns Dive Trips – Luxury Dive Tours – VIP Accommodation

Cairns most luxurious liveaboard dive trip. Book a dive tour on our Captains Club Deck itinerary and see the reef in style.

Pickup: Cairns, Cairns Northern Beaches

Yongala Wreck Dive & Coral Sea Expedition | 7 Nights 29 Dives | Townsville to Townsville | MB

Dive the world famous Yongala wreck off Townsville on the Great Barrier Reef on our new Yongala Wreck & Coral Sea Expedition over 6 nights

Charter Boat Townsville – Yongala Dive Boat - 2 - 4 Days - AD-S

Private charter dive boat tours from Townsville, from 2 days to 4 days Yongala.

Airlie Beach Helicopter Flights - Hamilton Island - Heart Reef - Reefworld

Airlie Beach tour boat cruise to Hamilton Island, Whitsundays Helicopter Flight, Great Barrier Reef snorkel tour all in 1 day.

Whitsundays Helicopter Flights - Great Barrier Reef Tour - Hamilton Island - Cruise Fly

Airlie Beach tour with Whitsundays Helicopter Flight, Great Barrier Reef Tour & Hamilton Island tour in 1 day.

Hamilton Island Dive & Snorkel and Airlie Beach Tour – Outer Barrier Reef | EXP

Hamilton Island dive and snorkel tour to the outer Great Barrier Reef daily on a high speed catamaran with only 60 guests.

Departing: Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island Helicopter Flights Whitsundays – 2 in 1 Deal

Experience the ultimate 2 in 1 Great Barrier Reef tour deal. Helicopter flights, snorkeling and coral viewing, Whitehaven Beach.

Pickup: Hamilton Island

Helicopter Flight Whitsundays | Hamilton Island Cruise & Fly Great Barrier Reef Tour

Whitsunday Cruise & Fly Great Barrier Reef Tour & Helicopter Flight Package to Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon Platform called Reefworld.

Hamilton Island Helicopter Flight - Whitsunday Fly-Cruise Great Barrier Reef Tour

Whitsunday Fly & Cruise, Helicopter Flight Package & Great Barrier Reef Tour to Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon Platform called Reef world.

Swim With Minke Whales Expedition – 7 Nights | MB

Swim With Minke Whale Tours on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns June – July each year, Book early!

Minke Whale Dive Trips | Great Barrier Reef | 3 Night Liveaboard | Fly/Dive | MB

3 Night swim with Dwarf Minke Whales, liveaboard snorkel and dive tours from Cairns, Great Barrier Reef.

Luxury Great Barrier Reef Tours Cairns – VIP Admirals Club Lounge

New luxury Great Barrier Reef tour in Cairns. Travel as a VIP on our Great Barrier Reef Tour, book the Admirals Club Gold Class Lounge for a luxury day on the reef

Cairns Private Charter Dive Boat Up to 16 guests - Dive With Sharks

Shark Diving expeditions from Cairns on a Private Charter boat for groups of up to 16 divers and snorkelers keen to dive with sharks.

Cairns Helicopter Flight & Great Barrier Reef Tour | DUCD | Cruise Fly

Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Fly Package from Cairns. 5 hours exploring 2 reefs, return to Cairns on a low level helicopter flight

Cairns Helicopter Ride & Great Barrier Reef Tour with Slide | by Nautilus & Sunlover

Helicopter & pontoon combo. Fly above the Great Barrier Reef, enjoy time on activity pontoon and cruise. Departs Cairns.

Helicopter Ride & Reef Tour | Nautilus & Quicksilver

Fly Cruise - Cruise Fly or Fly Fly to the Great Barrier Reef, Scenic Helicopter flight coupled with a day trip to Ribbon Reef platform.

Cairns Helicopter Flight & Reef Tour | Nautilus & Reef Magic Cruises

Great Barrier Reef fly cruise scenic helicopter flight, boat cruise to Marine World, a two story pontoon Moore Reef, outer Great Barrier Reef

Cairns Helicopter Flight | Green Island & Pontoon | Nautilus & Great Adventures

Great $$$ value Great Barrier Reef Combo Package Deal. Scenic helicopter flight, Green Island & Outer Reef pontoon.

Seawalker & Green Island Snorkel Tour

Cruise to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef to explore coral gardens and colourful fish up close while walking on the ocean floor with Seawalker.

Great Barrier Reef Tours - Cairns – VIP Captains Club - Unique Reef Trip

Cairns only VIP Dive & Snorkel Tour, Captains Club with personal Valet, Free scuba dive, personal services all day whilst on our Great Barrier Reef tours.

Pickup: Cairns, Cairns Northern Beaches, Port Douglas

Great Barrier Reef Tours Cairns - All Inclusive - No More To Pay

Cairns only all inclusive reef tour. Free diving, Free glass bottom boat, Free breakfast, lunch, Wine, cheese and more.

Cairns Snorkel & Dive Tours | Incl 10 Min Heli Flight

Cairns snorkel tour includes a scenic helicopter flight, optional semi-submersible submarine boat tour - discover the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns Snorkel & Dive Outer Reef Tour - EVO

Outer Great Barrier Reef dive and snorkel tour from Cairns. Snorkel 2 outer reef sites, Upgrade to semi submersible submarine and diving.

Sunlover Pontoon & Fitzroy Island - 2-Day Reef & Fitzroy Island

Amazing Cairns 2 Day Reef and Fitzroy Island tour. Snorkel the Outer Reef from Sunlover pontoon, explore Fitzroy Island, and much more. Save with this great value combo deal.

Great Barrier Reef Diving | Cairns Liveaboard Dive & Snorkel Tours

Book your dream liveaboard dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Gain your SSI Diver Certifications onboard.

Minke Whale Dive Expedition | 4 Day 4 Night | June-July 2024

Cairns Dwarf Minke Whale 4 Day – 4 Night Liveaboard dive and snorkel tours June and July each year

Port Douglas Charter Boat | Up to 10 Guests | Dive & Snorkel | 54 ft | Monsoon

Port Douglas 54 foot flybridge motor cruiser. Up to 10 guests. Bespoke private charter cruise, Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns Reef Tours | Great Barrier Reef Tours | Cairns Snorkel & Dive Tours

Cruise in style to Upolu Cay on the Great Barrier Reef. Sunbathe or snorkel and dive.

Reef Trips in Cairns | Snorkel & Dive Tour| 20 Guests |Reef Daytripper

Small Group Sailing, avoid the crowds, snorkelling and diving. Great value Reef trip to Upolu Reef. A fun relaxed day, 3 crew per 20 guests

Cairns Dive Tours | Coral Sea Safari | 7 Nights/26 Dives | Shark Dives | MB

Diving with Sharks. This is one liveaboard dive trip that truly will be one week of your life that you will never forget.

Cairns Dive Trips | Fly Dive Cod Hole | 3 Nights/12 Dives | Shark Dives | MB

Spend 3 spectacular nights on board our dive boat out in the Coral Sea at the famous Cod Hole diving with man sized fish

Cairns Liveaboard Dive Tours | Fly Dive Coral Sea | 4 Nights/14 Dives | Shark Dives | MB

Cairns premier liveaboard dive trip, 4 nights on the Coral Sea, Dive with packs of Sharks

Cairns Charter Boat | Day/Overnight Charter | Snorkel - Fishing | MOA

Luxury private charter boat. Max of 12 guests (snorkel only) and 8 guests (scuba diving). Perfect for families.

Departing: Yorkeys Knob

Cairns Dive Tours | Liveaboard Dive Tours | Learn To Dive

Cairns dive trips. Wake up on the Great Barrier Reef! Multi-day luxury liveaboard from Cairns. Dive or snorkel before breakfast, try a Fluoro Night Dive

Cairns Reef Tours | 25 Guests | Snorkelling & Diving Tour

Sail to Green Island. Snorkel or dive the Reef and enjoy fun-filled activities on Green Island.

Airlie Beach Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour | EXP

Snorkel the outer Barrier Reef departing from Airlie Beach.

Scuba Dive Whitsundays, Liveaboard - 3 Days 2 Nights

Sailing and dedicated scuba diving on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Only 14 guests makes it personal and memorable.

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Great Barrier Reef Diving, Snorkeling & Sailing Tours with Small, Fun Groups

The Outer Great Barrier Reef - Cairns, Australia. Since 1995. The Reef is Yours!

Wally Says - Now is the time to have some fun and experience one of the most unique Natural Wonders of the World: The Great Barrier Reef - Join the Fun - Book Now!

Coral Sea Dreaming - 2 Days Sailing ketch with beautiful wooden interior. Our experienced and friendly crew will help to make your trip an adventure of a lifetime

Small Fun Groups of 12 Travelling to the reef with only twelve guests lets you experience the best reefs and fish in more personally.

Fun Times with Friends It's your break from work so it's time to relax. No rigid schedules so you can enjoy your time on the reef

Personal Reef Experiences Our reef sites are carefully chosen to make sure you get to see the best the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.

Relax with Friends Travel should be enjoying, so throw out the schedules, relax and enjoy the reef, fish and friends around you

Reef & Fish Education Learn about the reef ecosystem and our monitoring efforts to assist in its' sustainability and preservation.

 A ustralia Diving, Snorkeling & Sailing Tours

Do something different for your tropical vacation and make your Great Barrier Reef adventure truly unique. Experience scuba diving and snorkeling on the beautiful outer edge of Australia's Great Barrier Reef in small intimate groups.

Locally owned and operated, New Horizon Sail & Dive Adventures has been operating adventure tours to the Cairns reefs , Australia since 1995 and are consistently rated one of the best trips on the Great Barrier Reef. Our charter yachts take a maximum of only 12 guests, so you’ll receive the personal attention not possible on the larger tour vessels.  No hectic schedules allows you to have a stress free vacation.  You just snorkel, dive, & relax on the Great Barrier Reef.

Relax and enjoy Great Barrier Reef Diving, Snorkeling and Sailing Charters from Cairns, Australia. The smallest number of divers and snorkelers are taken on our Great Barrier Reef Tours , 12, yes that's right only twelve people for that more personal experience. The scuba diving and snorkeling sites we sail to are not frequented by the large boats, so you get to experience something different. These outer reefs are chosen for their unique coral formations & abundant marine life. We want you to have the holiday you have been looking forward to. So it’s up to you how you want to spend your reef liveaboard adventure. You can explore the Cairns reefs and enjoy activities including snorkelling, introductory & certified scuba diving. If you’re looking for a little more relaxing trip , simply come aboard with a great book and enjoy the serenity and the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef . If you wish you can join in and help sail the boat or just ‘supervise’ from the deck. Our objective is to allow you to experience the reef at your own pace. Our knowledgeable, environmentally aware and friendly crew will pay every attention to your comfort and well being.  Our company is focused and actively participates in assisting researchers and environmental protection and awareness projects for coral reefs and marine life globally.

All done to ensure that you return from your Australian scuba dive and sail adventure with fantastic memories to last a lifetime. Private yacht charters around the Cairns reefs and islands are available on all our sailing yachts for every occasion. This includes scuba diving clubs, managerial off-sites, team building events, or intimate affairs such as family vacations, small groups, engagements, weddings, reunions, team building exercises and friends just travelling together on their Australia vacation. Come and join us the the tropical vacation you deserve!

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Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef: 17+ Things you need to know

The Great Barrier Reef needs no introduction. It’s the most extensive coral reef system on Earth and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

I spent 3 days diving the Great Barrier Reef, and it was an epic adventure.

After 11 dives, which included night dives and unguided dives, I’m sharing all my tips for scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. I’ve included when and where to go, how many days you need, costs, and more.

1. There are so many places to go diving in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is massive!

It stretches more than 2,300 km along Australia’s northeast coast of Queensland, starting in Bundaberg on the south and ending at the tip of Cape York on the north.

While Cairns is arguably the most popular base, there are a few major access points where you can visit the reef.

2. where to dive the Great Barrier Reef

Here are the best places to go diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns is a great starting point for diving the Great Barrier Reef. I followed this Cairns itinerary , which includes all the best things to do (including scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef).

Cape Tribulation: Located in the Daintree Rainforest (the oldest rainforest in the world), Cape Tribulation is a few hours north of Cairns. It’s the only place on earth where two natural wonders meet up

Townsville is the gateway to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef. You can dive from Magnetic Island and explore the SS Yongala (regarded as the world’s best wreck dive).

Airlie Beach is home to the Whitsundays, a cluster of spectacular islands famous for their white sand and turquoise blue waters.

Bundaberg lies on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. From here, you can visit Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Island, and Heron Island.

3. Diving the Great Barrier Reef during dry season (winter)

Every Great Barrier Reef travel blog you read will tell you that the best time to go diving is from May to October.

This is the dry season with little to no rain and no stingers. You’ll also have the best underwater visibility.

It’s winter in Australia, but not too cold. The temperatures hover around 26 degrees during the day, but the evenings can get chilly, reaching 17 degrees at its lowest.

4. Diving the Great Barrier Reef during wet season (summer)

November to April is the wet season in northern Queensland. Tropical showers are common, and this can impact the water’s visibility.

But it’s also summer in Australia! Expect hot and humid conditions – but luckily, you’ll have the rain to cool you down.

There are a few benefits of diving in the Great Barrier Reef during the wet season.

• The water temperatures peak at 29 degrees, which is ideal. That’s a whole 7 degrees warmer than during winter!
• It’s also quieter with fewer tourists.
• Coral Spawning takes place in November and December.

5. The best months are September and October

After speaking to a few dive instructors, the best months to go diving at the Great Barrier Reef are September and October.

This is the end of the winter season, so the water and outdoor temperatures are slightly warmer than in June and July.

It’s also outside the trade wind times and stinger season, so you can expect optimal conditional all around.

6. How to dive the Great Barrier Reef

You can explore the Great Barrier Reef on a day trip like this . But it will be a very busy day. This is because the boat ride to the reef takes 1.5 to 3 hours. Then, it takes another 1.5 to 3 hours to return to the mainland.

If you plan on diving the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, I highly recommend joining a scuba diving liveaboard tour. This means you spend a night on the reef!

By doing a liveaboard, you also get the chance to do a night dive. This is a phenomenal experience, and you’ll see all those creatures that come out after dark.

7. The best Great Barrier Reef liveaboard tour

Unfortunately, there aren’t many liveaboard options to choose from. And they get booked out quickly as liveaboard diving is in high demand.

I had initially booked an overnight liveaboard from Cairns with Coral Sea Dreaming. It’s a much smaller boat and can accommodate up to 8 guests. I like that it was a small group tour that came with fantastic online reviews.

But I eventually decided to go with Pro Dive as they offer a longer liveaboard option of 3 days (not 2) . But on the downside, Pro Dive has a much bigger boat, and you’re diving with 30+ people on every dive!

I paid just over 1000 AUD for 3 days on the Great Barrier Reef, which was all-inclusive.

8. What it’s like to dive at the Great Barrier Reef

It’s safe to say that everyone planning on diving the Great Barrier Reef has high expectations. It’s pretty hyped up!

I was expecting to see more vibrant coral and bigger schools of fish (or even Grey Nurse and Leopard Sharks like you find when diving in Byron Bay ). Despite this, I still had incredible encounters.

My first night dive was mind-blowing as there were reef sharks everywhere! They’re harmless, but they did come close to us, which was a surreal experience.

We also swam past a massive school of parrot fish, saw the biggest clams ever, and navigated through amazing swim-throughs.

But you must remember that the reef is so big, and every dive site offers a different experience. If you’re an advanced diver, you might prefer the sites closer to the reef’s northern tip or the S.S. Yongala wreck dive.

9. Be prepared for unguided dives

Most Great Barrier Reef scuba diving is unguided. This means it’s only you, your dive buddy, and your trusted compass, deep below the surface.

Before diving in Australia, I had only ever done guided dives. With no clue how to navigate underwater, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous!

The reality is that most people will be in the same shoes as you. But the Great Barrier Reef is a shallow reef with no current.

Generally, your first dive is guided. This allows you to get familiar with the gear and the water conditions.

Before your unguided dive, your instructor will give a thorough briefing about the site and show you how to use a compass. If you’re feeling unsure, you can always request a guide for every dive, but you may need to pay extra for this.

Our first unguided dive was a night dive! I was out of my comfort zone, but it was one of the most incredible experiences.

10. The Great Barrier Reef dive sites are uncrowded

This is a massive pro of diving the Great Barrier Reef – no crowds.

During my 3-day scuba diving liveaboard, I only saw one other boat, and they were diving at a different site to us.

Diving unguided, with only your buddy and no one else around you, is quite something and will make your experience more memorable!

11. Be careful of the stingers

You might be planning your Great Barrier Reef diving trip based on water visibility and weather conditions, but you must also be aware of stingers.

The most popular type of stingers in this area are box jellyfish. Their venom can be fatal to humans, and you’ll find them in the waters from November to April each year.

You can still go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef during stinger season but will have to wear a stinger suit. The diving operators provide these.

12. Whales on the Great Barrier Reef

Here are a few key attractions:

• June to July: Dwarf Minke Whales
• July to September: Humpback Whales

I was keen to dive with dwarf minke whales, so I booked my 3-day diving liveaboard for July. I didn’t realize these whales don’t actually hang out on the reefs that are closer to the mainland, which I was visiting.

To dive with them, you need to join a specific Minke Whale Liveaboard that goes further north to Ribbon Reef.

We also didn’t see any humpback whales, even though we were there during the annual migration. This is not to say you won’t experience these whale encounters, but the chances aren’t likely unless you book a specific whale liveaboard dive trip.

13. The trade wind pick-up in June and July

June and July are the windiest months on the reef. While this won’t affect your underwater experience of diving the Great Barrier Reef, it can cause rough, windy conditions above the water.

During our diving trip in July, it was super windy. The 3-hour boat ride from Cairns to the reef (and back) was pretty hectic and extremely bumpy! Most people on our trip took sickness tablets.

The rough conditions died down when we got to the reef, but it was still windy throughout the three days.

But don’t avoid July just because of the winds. A friend joined the same liveaboard a week after I did. Her experience was perfect – little to no wind. So, it really is the luck of the draw!

14. You will Dive, sleep, eat, repeat on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard tour

If you’re doing a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard, be prepared to dive, sleep, eat, and repeat.

It’s full on!

And while you may be tempted to skip a dive in favor of chilling on the sundeck, try to get to all the dives on your itinerary. You never know what sightings you’ll miss out on.

15. Do a dive certification

The Great Barrier Reef is a great place to get your diving certification. You’ll do two days of theory and skills training in Cairns before completing your open-water dives on the Great Barrier Reef.

The conditions are perfect for beginner divers as there are no strong currents, the visibility is excellent, and it’s a shallow reef.

I did my Padi Advanced Course plus Nitrox certification during my liveaboard trip.

16. Don’t spend much time in Cairns before your Great Barrier Reef diving trip

Cairns is the most popular starting point for most Great Barrier Reef dives. There are plenty of dive shops here, and the prices are competitive.

But you really don’t need to spend much time in the city itself.

Book your flights to Cairns so that you arrive the afternoon before your liveaboard departure. This will give you enough time to wander through town and explore the harbor. There’s not much more to see besides that!

17. You can’t fly for 24 hours after your last dive

Remember that if you’re diving the Great Barrier Reef, you can’t fly within 24 hours of your last dive. It’s best to pair your dive trip with one of the below local attractions.

• Cairns and Port Douglas: Spend two more days exploring the lush walking tracks and epic swimming holes in Daintree National Park.
• Townsville: After diving the SS Yongala wreck, visit nearby Magnetic Island. It’s a tropical island paradise with palm-fringed beaches and abundant wildlife.
• Southern Great Barrier Reef: After diving Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Island, or Heron Island, head to Fraser Island . It’s the largest sand island in the world with epic 4WD tracks.

Great Barrier Reef FAQS

Here are a few things that I often get asked about the Great Barrier Reef. If you have any other questions, drop me a message in the comments section below.

Is it worth diving the Great Barrier Reef?

Yes! The Great Barrier Reef is a world heritage site and a bucket list destination. There are so many incredible places to go diving along the reef, including Cod Hole, Ribbon Reef, and Osprey Reef.

And better yet, Northern Queensland has so much more to offer. Visit the Daintree Rainforest, go 4WD’ing on Fraser Island, live the island life of Magnetic Island, or go sailing through the Whitsundays.

What is the best time of year to dive the Great Barrier Reef?

The dry season from May to October offers the best conditions for diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Looking for the overall best months to plan your trip? September and October!

This is because you won’t have the trade winds during this time, the temperature starts heating up, and the days are sunny. And it’s just before the stinger season, so you won’t need to worry about that either.

Where is the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef?

It depends on what you’re after. If you’re visiting the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, I’d recommend doing a scuba diving liveaboard from Cairns. After three days out at sea, spend another three days exploring the nearby Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation.

But if you’re looking for the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef, the S.S. Yongala is an incredible wreck dive. You should have your advanced certification for this as you’ll be diving as deep as 30m, where the base of Yongala rests.

Are there Great White Sharks in the Great Barrier Reef?

It’s highly unlikely that you will find Great White Sharks in the Great Barrier Reef. This is because the water temperatures in north Queensland are too warm for them. They prefer temperatures between 12-24 degrees.

But there was a sighting of a Great White Shark on the southernmost part of the reef, near Lady Elliot Island. This was in 2020, but it’s only the second time one has been seen near the reef in 25 years.

How many days do you need in the Great Barrier Reef?

If you’re diving the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, it’s best to do a 3-day liveaboard. This gives you more time in the water as there is so much to explore.

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Are you planning your Great Barrier Reef scuba diving trip? Do you have any questions? Drop me a message in the comments section below.

Looking for more Australian travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!

• 12+ Best Things to do in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
• The Perfect Blue Mountains Itinerary
• Guide to Palm Beach Lighthouse Walk in Sydney
• The Best Mossman Gorge Walks

Hi, I'm Carryn. I’m an adventure travel blogger trying to figure out my way through life by traveling and exploring. Join me as I share my travel guides and tips for life abroad. Find out more about me here .

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• Tour Details

Welcome to Seawalker Green Island

Walk on the sea floor of a Great Barrier Reef island!

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The unique and exciting Seawalker Helmet Dive Tour

Seawalker Green Island offers an amazing underwater helmet diving experience on the Great Barrier Reef. It’s unique in that you walk on the seafloor surrounded by colourful tropical fish and corals at beautiful Green Island, a 6000 year old coral cay. There is no equipment to operate and non-swimmers are welcome; Seawalker is accessible to almost everyone and you don’t even have to get you hair wet!

Immerse yourself in the marine wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef and discover the underwater world from a different perspective. It’s a fun and engaging adventure you can share with your family and friends.

Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Learn about safety.

Listen to a 5 minutes simple and informative safety briefing about this unique experience.

Don the helmet

We will lower the Seawalker helmet onto your shoulders and send you into the water with our experienced and qualified guide.

Walk on the seafloor

Walk and enjoy the beautiful coral and colourful fish that surround you in the Great Barrier Reef.

Where the fun starts

You’re just a few steps away from an amazing underwater adventure!

After boarding the vessel, simply make your way to see our friendly staff. They will assist you to complete the next steps such as completing necessary paperwork and arranging the most suitable time based on your Green Island schedule.

Meet us at the Green Island dive shop before your allocated time so that our staff may assist you with preparing your Seawalking gear. The wetsuit and dive boots will give you full protection from the underwater elements.  

Safety briefing

Before going underwater, you will need to know a few pieces of information, such as how to communicate. The safety briefing will take approximately 5 minutes and our staff will be available to answer any questions that you may have.

Head to dive platform

Our staff will lead you to the beach where you will board the transfer tender. The transfer to the dive support vessel will take approximately 5 minutes, so keep an eye around the boat for a good chance to see sea turtles and other wonderful marine creatures.

When it’s your turn, we will lower the Seawalker helmet onto your shoulders while a professionally trained instructor will assist you for your 5 meter descent to the white sandy seafloor. You are now ready for seawalking.  

Walk on the Seafloor

Your experienced guide will show you the beautiful coral and schools of fish. At our underwater location, you have an excellent chance at having a photo taken with ‘Gavin’ the famous photobombing parrotfish.  

Getting to Green Island

Seawalker is an optional activity with Great Adventures’ Green Island cruises. Your transfer ticket to Green Island is at an additional cost.

Green Island is 27 km from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Departing from Cairns, your transfer will take approximately 45 minutes aboard one of Great Adventures fast catamarans. You can choose any combination of the following departure times from Cairns and Green Island:

Check-in at Great Adventures counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street Cairns . Check-in is 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time.

SEAWALKER PRICE: $198 per person Price is in addition to your cruise fare to Green Island.

Package & save  save $41 save $39 per an adult ($34 for a child) when you package seawalker with great adventures’ green island eco adventure. in addition to your seawalker experience, your green island eco adventure also includes the choice of snorkelling or a glass bottom boat tour..

Read: Scuba & Helmet Diving Safety and Medical Information

Prices are in Australian dollars and valid to 31 March 2025. Credit card surcharge may apply.

We recommend pre-booking Seawalker to avoid disappointment as daily spaces are limited. You can however book onboard your Great Adventures cruise or at the Island Dive Shop, dependent on availability.

Commonly asked questions about Seawalker

Are all seasons suitable for seawalker.

The warm waters of Tropical North Queensland make for year round comfort for water activities. In cooler months however, the complimentary wet suits will keep your body warm.

Will the water pressure make me uncomfortable?

You will descend down the ladder slowly, so it’s easy to equalize the pressure.

Is there a minimum or maximum age limit to do Seawalker?

The minimum age is 12 years old, but there is no upper age limit providing you pass the medical questionnaire.

How deep will we go?

Your instructor will guide you down to around 5 metres deep, an ideal and comfortable depth to experience the reef in a stress free environment.

What if the weather is rainy or cloudy?

You will be walking alongside the coral and fish underneath our platform. Even during poor weather, you will still be able to have a great viewing experience close to the reef and marine life.

Can I take my camera or GoPro underwater?

No. Due to safety procedures you will be unable to take a camera underwater with you however a professional photographer will take your photos and these will be available to purchase.

Send us a message

Can't find the information your looking for? Please fill in below form or give us a call and we'll get back to you as soon as we can, thank you!

Seawalker Green Island

Green Island, Great Barrier Reef Australia

Phone: +61 7 4044 9944

Book online now

Seawalker Green Island Conditions

• The minimum age for Seawalker is 12 years.
• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from participating. Some children with extremely narrow shoulders may not be able to take part.
• All participants are required to complete a medical questionnaire. For advice, contact our office.
• After a single helmet dive a wait of 12 hours is recommended before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater. If doing multiple dives an interval of 24 hours is suggested.
• All operations are weather dependant to ensure safety and comfort.

This is the best time for a dive at the Great Barrier Reef

E ver wanted to visit the largest coral reef system in the world? Most experienced scuba divers will agree that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most jaw-dropping places to dive on the planet.

But when should you visit?

Peak season gets crowded, but if you leave it too late, the weather starts to turn, and the visibility isn't great – not to mention the risk of box jellyfish!

If you're planning to visit Australia, this post will show you the best time to dive in the Great Barrier Reef and what you can expect on your trip.

If you're looking for world-class scuba diving without the crowds, you should check out the different diving sites in Tulum, Mexico . 

Best Time Of Year To Dive Great Barrier Reef

The best time to dive in the Great Barrier Reef is between June and October. This is peak season when the weather is warm, rain is uncommon, and the waters are calm and clear.

The downside is that diving tours fill up quickly, and there are a lot of crowds on the beaches and in local restaurants.

If you want to avoid the crowds, the low season is between November and May. However, there is a high chance of rain, the water visibility isn't as good, and deadly box jellyfish will be floating around – not great conditions for diving!

What To Expect When Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef

The great thing about visiting the Great Barrier Reef is that you can take an intro diving tour without any experience. The crew onboard will give you all the gear you need and show you the basics of diving safely.

If you do decide to go on a scuba dive tour, an instructor will be with you the entire time to show you the route and keep you as safe as possible.

Most tours also have an underwater photographer to snap pictures of you and the wildlife while you're diving, so you won't have to worry about investing in an underwater camera.

If you're an experienced diver with a certification, you can also go diving without an instructor, but you'll need to have all your own gear and rent a boat to take you out.

Where to go Scuba Diving in Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is about 1,429 miles long , stretching across 133,000 square miles, so there are a lot of opportunities to go diving.

If you've never been before, here are some of the top dive sites you should consider visiting.

Agincourt Reef

This reef is on the northern end near Cairns. It's a great spot for beginners and has plenty of options for snorkeling and diving on the edge of the continental shelf.

At Agincourt Reef, you'll see tropical fish, sea turtles, and even the odd reef shark. This is also the spot where you can visit the Blue Wonder Wall, where the coral garden drops vertically for over 40 meters.

Most tours to Agincourt Reef depart from Port Douglas, but a few tours will pick you up directly from any Cairns accommodation.

SS Yongala Shipwreck

Travel about an hour south of Cairns, and you'll find Magnetic Island, home to the SS Yongala shipwreck that sank in 1911. This is Australia's largest and most intact shipwreck and is now protected by legislation.

The only way to visit the shipwreck is with a licensed operator, but it's well worth the trip. You'll get to see eagle rays, manta rays, turtles, and even sharks that live around the wreck.

Yongala Dive is the most well-known licensed operator that organizes tours to the shipwreck if you're interested in going.

Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsundays is a group of 74 mostly uninhabited tropical islands. You can take day cruises from Airlie Beach to take on this incredible scuba dive tour.

Manta ray and batfish call the waters around the islands home, but you'll also see underwater cliffs, submerged offshore reefs (bommies), and flat-topped coral pinnacles.

Museum of Underwater Art

Yes, the Great Barrier Reef has its very own underwater museum for divers to peruse. This is where you'll get to see the world-renowned Coral Greenhouse Structure, a 30-foot stainless steel structure that helps dissipate the underwater currents.

The Underwater Museum is just off the coast of Townsville in John Brewer Reef, and many local tour guides have trips out to the dive site. Although you can see the museum by snorkeling, you can't beat the experience of diving down to explore every beautiful detail.

Capricorn and Bunker Reefs

Toward the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, you'll get to meet whales, nesting turtles, and rare birds at the Capricorn and Bunker Reefs.

The water is shallow, so it's perfect for beginner divers, and it's teeming with marine life. If you're not up for diving, you can snorkel without a guide to see the tropical fish, turtles, and manta rays swimming nearby.

But diving near Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island is the best place to see huge fish, coral canyons, and marine turtles that nest on land.

What You'll See When Scuba Diving In Great Barrier Reef

It's hard to picture the sheer amount of marine life surrounding the Great Barrier Reef. If you're a lover of ocean creatures, you won't be disappointed!

• Between June and July is the best time to see a dwarf minke whale gathering.
• Also, through the summer, you'll see beaked whales, sperm whales, and bottlenose dolphins.
• Grouper, cod, and beam fish are also common – and they get pretty big in this part of the world!
• If you love sharks, you might be lucky enough to spot a silky, silvertip, grey reef, or whitetip shark – all of which call the Reef home.

Tips For Scuba Diving In Great Barrier Reef

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is a unique experience, so if this is your first trip, here are some helpful tips to make it a great one.

• Get your scuba diving certification before you go so you can take full advantage of all the trips on offer.
• When you choose a dive company, make sure they have permits for multiple scuba dive sites. There could be an issue with overcrowding at the one you planned on visiting, so you want to make sure they can switch to a different one if they need to.
• Cairns is the most popular area, so it's usually the most crowded. Some less popular (but equally incredible) places to visit are Townsville, Port Douglas, and Cape York.
• If you have family members who don't want to dive, many tour operators allow people to join you on the boat and go snorkeling at the dive sites.
• If you want to try out underwater photography, most of the bigger boats have cameras for rent for around 80 AUD.
• If you're an experienced diver, plan a multi-day trip. This gives you more time to explore, and you'll get to visit multiple sites.
• Never touch the coral – it's a living organism, and the oils and creams on human skin can kill it.
• Make sure your travel insurance covers scuba diving – not all policies cover water sports.
• If you're a non-swimmer who wants to try scuba diving, be honest about your abilities with your instructor. They'll have flotation devices to get you started.

Best Dive Shops in Great Barrier Reef

You'll find multiple dive shops in each area of the Great Barrier Reef, all offering different excursions. Here are a couple of the best ones if you're looking to book in advance.

Pro Dive Cairns 

This one covers the Cairns area and is known for trips exploring the most vibrant reefs. If you're an experienced diver, this is the team for you. However, non-divers and snorkelers are also welcome.

They have over 35 excursions on offer, including day trips from Cairns and Port Douglas, which are perfect for exploring as much of the Outer Great Barrier Reef as possible.

Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive

This dive shop is perfect for scuba divers of all levels (as well as snorkelers). They're based in Townsville and offer day trips to the Queensland coast and the Central Great Barrier Reef.

The sites visited range in depth from one to twenty meters, and they aim to help you spot as much marine life as possible on your reef experience.

Lady Musgrave Experience

This team is situated in Bundaberg and takes divers out on day trips aboard a high-speed catamaran. Once you're at the site, you'll get a full day of Great Barrier Reef diving in a protected coral lagoon that covers around 8km.

There's also a chance to sunbathe and relax on Lady Musgrave Island and go snorkeling around the shores. The Great Barrier Reef tour guides also offer a guided island walk where you can spot the turtles nesting during the hatching season.

Ready to Go Scuba Diving?

Most scuba divers will agree that Australia is one of the most incredible places to go diving in the world. And the best time of year to dive in the Great Barrier Reef is during the warmer months.

But if you're looking for a great place to go scuba diving a little closer to home, Florida is a great choice.

Check out our next post for the best time to go scuba diving in the Florida Keys .

This article originally appeared on The Roam Wild and was syndicated by MediaFeed.

‘Tourists ask a lot of questions’: Great Barrier Reef guides face up to bleaching tragedy

Tour boat divers have long borne witness to mass bleaching events. Once reluctant to wade into discussions about global heating, they are now opening up

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“You can see it on their faces,” says scuba diving instructor Elliot Peters. “There’s definitely some remorse and sadness.”

Peters works at a resort on Heron Island in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef and, in recent weeks, he’s had to tell curious guests why so many of the corals around the island are turning bone white.

The reef is in the middle of its fifth mass bleaching event in only eight years – an alarming trend driven by global heating in a year that has seen record global ocean temperatures.

Peters has never seen a mass coral bleaching event up close before, but this summer he’s seen ancient boulder corals that can live for hundreds of years bleaching and showing signs of death.

“If anything it’s motivating me,” he says. “It’s opening the doors to get people talking about climate change and the health of the reef. People are thanking us for telling the truth about what’s going on here.”

The Great Barrier Reef is a major export industry for Australia, with one 2017 report estimating the reef supports 64,000 jobs and contributes $6.4bn to the national economy.

But as the impact of global heating on the reef made global headlines in 2016 and 2017, tensions in the tourism industry started to emerge. One tourism head called stories of catastrophic bleaching a “great white lie”.

“The reef is the most significant natural attraction that this country has to offer,” says Daniel Gschwind, a professor at Griffith University’s tourism institute and the chair of the committee that represents reef tourism to the government’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

“It’s a challenge because as a phenomenon, [global heating] is affecting what we ultimately sell.”

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‘If the reef dies, we die’

Gschwind says for many years, tourism operators were reluctant to talk to guests about the threat of climate breakdown.

The reef has experienced mass bleaching in 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and now again in 2024. But for an ecosystem the size of Italy, the effects are not uniform.

What is coral bleaching?

Coral bleaching describes a process where the coral animal expels the algae that live in their tissues and give them their colour and much of their nutrients.

Without their algae, a coral’s white skeleton can be seen through their translucent flesh, giving a bleached appearance.

Mass coral bleaching over large areas, first noticed in the 1980s around the Caribbean, is caused by rising ocean temperatures.

Some corals also display fluorescent colours under stress when they release a pigment that filters light. Sunlight also plays a role in triggering bleaching.

Corals can survive bleaching if temperatures are not too extreme or prolonged.  But extreme marine heatwaves can kill corals outright.

Coral bleaching can also have sub-lethal effects, including increased susceptibility to disease and reduced rates of growth and reproduction.

Scientists say the gaps between bleaching events are becoming too short to allow reefs to recover.

Coral reefs are considered one of the planet’s ecosystems most at risk from global heating. Reefs support fisheries that feed hundreds of millions of people, as well as supporting major tourism industries.

The world’s biggest coral reef system – Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – has suffered seven mass bleaching events since 1998, of which five were in the past decade. 

In any given year, some reefs escape the heat stress, some turn white but then regain their colour, while some corals will die. Bleaching can make corals more susceptible to disease, slow their growth and impede their reproduction.

Government scientists were this week carrying out in-water and aerial surveys to assess the bleaching across the whole reef, but it could be weeks, or even months, before there’s a clear picture of how severe this year has been.

The long-term prognosis for the reef is not good. As global heating continues, the chances of ever more intense heat stress events is rising.

“It’s difficult to communicate a bleaching event accurately,” says Gschwind. “With an event like this one, by the time it’s communicated to a consumer in London or Shanghai the message received could be ‘the reef is not worth visiting any more’. That’s the challenge to the tourism industry and it’s why many operators struggle with this.”

Divers on tourism boats are often the first to raise the alarm, and this year operators have sent more than 5,000 observations to the marine park authority.

“That’s where the industry and operators see their social role. They’re the communicators of this story – operators are the sentinels,” says Gschwind.

“They see what global warming is doing to the natural environment that we all depend on. If the reef dies, then we die. We’re the early warning system for what’s going on on the planet.”

The emotional toll of a bleached reef

Since back-to-back mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017, the park authority has worked with the tourism industry to establish Master Reef Guides, a growing cohort of more than 120 dive professionals trained by scientists and traditional owners on how to communicate the health of the reef and its threats.

Fiona Merida, a marine biologist and director of reef education and engagement at the park authority, says giving tourism operators detailed information on what was happening at the sites they visited “takes the emotion out of it” and gives them confidence to talk to visitors about bleaching.

But she says some reef guides are themselves suffering “ecological grief” this year at seeing the places they love suffer. Reef guides have established a “buddy check” system where guides can check in on each other’s mental health.

Yolanda Waters is founder of advocacy group Divers for Climate and has been diving in the southern section of the reef in recent weeks.

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“It was bleached coral as far as the eye could see,” she says. “I didn’t want to get back into the water. It’s a restorative place for me and to not want to go back in is awful.”

Waters is a former dive instructor and as part of research at the University of Queensland , she has interviewed more than 650 reef visitors in recent years.

“I noticed how difficult these conversations were,” she says. “Tourists ask a lot of questions and it can feel confronting if people have paid $300 to go on to the reef. A big question tourism gets asked is: ‘Is the reef dying? Tell me.’

“The reality is far more complicated, but they want to know from the people who see the reef every day.

“We found [tourists] are actually open to hearing about climate change. In fact the majority weren’t only open to the information, but wanted more. And they wanted to know what they could do.”

“It’s a tricky line: how do we do this in a way that motivates action and does not turn people off? But you have to face the reality – there is still so much to save, and that gets left out a lot.”

‘The time is now’

Tahn Miller has been working as a dive instructor and guide at Wavelength Reef Cruises in Port Douglas in far north Queensland for 15 years.

Miller remembers hearing stories from a decade ago of how some dive guides in other parts of the reef would be told not to mention climate change to guests for fear of perpetuating ideas the natural treasure was either dying or not worth visiting.

But he says there’s been an evolution in the industry, and now far more divers are feeling empowered to talk to visitors about the climate crisis – but only if the visitors want to hear it.

“You have climate sceptics in every group, but I find that’s becoming less and less,” he says. “I tell them I’m not there to change anyone’s minds, but this is what I have witnessed. I try and be honest with them.”

Miller says after the 2016 bleaching, he saw reefs recovering. But his optimism has been eroded in recent years.

There are several tour operators that are also running small reef restoration projections in the areas they visit, including replanting corals.

“Some of the corals I’ve planted – hundreds of them – have already died [this summer],” he says.

“The time is now … we have to make change because if we don’t, we lose massive expanses of reef.”

Back on Heron Island, Peters says he gets stopped by tourists asking him what they can do to help the reef.

“I start by getting them to acknowledge their appreciation for the reef and that we have to do more. I leave them with one or two tips,” he says.

“I say they should ‘use their voice’ and find out about the policies of the people they might vote for. And I ask them to think about where their money is being held – is it in a bank that invests in fossil fuels?”

• Great Barrier Reef
• Climate crisis
• Marine life

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