Skip to main content

Cairns Tusa Great Barrier Reef Tour

Cairns, Australia
Cairns Outer Reef Snorkelling Day Trip – Great Barrier Reef
Cairns, Australia

Snorkel, dive or swim on a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns – choose how you want to explore one of seven wonders of the natural world in North Queensland

Cairns Tusa Great Barrier Reef Tour Highlights

  • Get up to 10% cash back per person when you book with us
  • Up to 2 hours of snorkelling on the reef 
  • All snorkelling equipment provided, including complimentary prescription masks and wetsuits/lycra suits
  • Professional dive instructors and qualified guides 
  • Spot marine life including fish, turtles and coral reefs 
  • Morning tea and coffee provided
  • Shared fresh fruit platter
  •  Fresh hot-water showers onboard
  • Guests check in from 8:40am at the A Finger, Cairns Marlin Marina.
  • Departure is at 9:00am

What to Expect

Tour Options

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Before the dive, you will receive a briefing from the dive instructor on the dive site, safety procedures, and the equipment you will be using.
  • You will then suit up in a wetsuit, fins, mask, and regulator (the device that allows you to breathe underwater).
  • Once you are in the water, the instructor will give you a demonstration of the basic dive skills, proper breathing techniques and hand signals to communicate underwater.
  • You will then begin the dive, moving with the instructor you explore the coral and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef. Expect to see beautiful fish, turtles, and possibly even sharks or rays.
  • During the dive, you will also practice safety procedures such as clearing your ears and regulator and using your buoyancy control device.
  • The dive will last around 20 minutes and will take place at a maximum depth of around 12 meters (40 feet).
  • After the dive, you will return to the surface, be helped out of your gear and do a debrief with the instructor, discussing your experience and what you saw.
  • Remember to pace yourself and always follow the instructions of the instructor to ensure a safe and enjoyable dive experience.

As long as you’re comfortable in the water, you should be able to snorkel or even do an intro dive. Before you enter the water you will fill out a form that includes information on your level of competence in the water and any medical conditions. Depending on your response, you may be required to use a flotation device while snorkelling.

All our day trips visit the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The outer reefs are the sections furthest from the coast. These reefs have fewer crowds and benefit from flowing nutrients distributed by the vast Coral Sea. Here, good climate conditions and clear water bring out the best in the coral colours and the incredibly diverse marine life.

With more than 17 sites to choose from, Tusa Reef Tours offers the largest selection of outer reef locations among local operators. On our half-day trips, we visit one site per day, selected based on weather and visibility conditions to ensure the best possible dive or snorkel experience.

The vessel is a large catamaran, which offers greater stability and a smoother ride than monohull vessels.

If you are prone to motion sickness, it's recommended to take advantage of the natural ginger tablets available onboard for no extra cost. There is also Travacalm travel sickness tablets available for purchase on board.

There is no minimum or maximum age for guests joining Tusa Reef Tours, and everyone is welcome onboard. For guests aged 65 and over, we request a current dive medical for your safety and as part of our duty of care.

All guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, including while snorkelling or diving. Please note that our crew are unable to provide supervision for children during the tour.

It is strongly recommend to have travel insurance to cover you if your snorkel or dive trip is cancelled due to illness, poor weather, travel delays, lost luggage and legal costs. Travel insurance may not cover diving accidents and/or treatment/evacuation. For that we recommend separate Dive insurance. 

Reviews for Cairns Tusa Great Barrier Reef Tour

We’d love to hear about your experience! Share your feedback with us, and get rewarded!

Photo gallery placeholder

Policies

Terms & Conditions:
Cancellation Policy:

A Refundable Booking is available at checkout. This will provide 100% refund for one of the many reasons included via our terms - including adverse weather, sickness or delays with transport.

All customer cancellation & refund requests are also subject to our website’s ownΒ refund conditions.


We recommend travel insurance for all domestic and international travel for peace of mind. Take out our recommended insuranceΒ here.

Pickup Locations

    Tour Option Tusa - Introductory Dive Option

    • 08:40 - Check-in directly on Tusa Reef Tours Vessel on "A Finger" in Cairns Marina @ 8:40 AM

    Tour Option Tusa - Snorkelling Option

    • 08:40 - Check-in directly on Tusa Reef Tours Vessel on "A Finger" in Cairns Marina @ 8:40 AM

Tour Operator

Tusa Dive
A Finger Cairns Marina, 4870 Queensland
from
AUD $195.00
Check Tour Options