Guided Tours

Port Douglas to Great Barrier Reef Cruise with Guided Snorkel and Lunch

Spend a day on a catamaran visiting three outer reef sites, with a local team leading water time so families and mixed-age groups feel at ease.

Start your day at sea by stepping aboard a luxury catamaran, meeting your professional local guide, and enjoying morning tea as you head to the reef.

Follow your guide on a snorkel tour over the reef with equipment and lycra suits included, then learn more during an interpretive reef talk onboard.

Enjoy morning and afternoon tea plus a buffet lunch onboard, with relaxed breaks between snorkels and your environmental management charge included.

Upgrade your day by adding a scuba dive to your reef visit, with options that cater to first-time and certified divers when you select tickets.

Full-day reef cruise, luxury catamaran

Professional local guide

Guided snorkel tour

Interpretive reef talk

Snorkeling equipment including lycra suits

Morning and afternoon tea

Buffet lunch

Environmental management charge

One introductory or certified scuba dive included [as per option selected]

TOTAL DURATION9 hours
Timeline
Map
Start point
Port Douglas
Get direction
1. Opal Reef
1 activity
Immerse yourself in a vibrant underwater world at Opal Reef, where crystal-clear waters reveal stunning coral gardens and an abundance of reef fish. This site is perfect for both casual snorkellers and dive enthusiasts. Look for the small clouds of purple anthias fish that hover above certain coral heads - these locations often indicate cleaning stations where larger fish gather to have parasites removed, creating perfect photography opportunities.
Things to do
Snorkeling
Included in price
Onboard Buffet Lunch
2. Tongue Reef
End point
Cairns
Get direction

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Cruise from Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef for a full-day catamaran trip with guided snorkel, reef talk, lunch, and optional scuba dive.

Getting started

Begin your day by boarding the luxury large catamaran for your full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise from Cairns, with hotel transfers from Port Douglas available if you select this option. Once on board, meet your professional local guide and crew who outline the day's schedule and safety procedures. Settle in with morning tea as you cruise toward the reef and prepare for snorkeling or your included introductory or certified scuba dive, depending on your chosen option.

What to expect

Great Barrier Reef Cruises

Spend the day at the Great Barrier Reef with guided water activities, onboard talks, and relaxed time on a spacious catamaran.

Features

Join a guided snorkel tour on the reef, with your guide pointing out coral formations and marine life while you explore the underwater world.

Use the provided snorkeling equipment, including lycra suits, so you can be comfortable in the water without needing to bring your own gear.

Learn more during an interpretive reef talk led by your professional local guide, who explains reef ecology and what you are seeing in the water.

Enjoy morning and afternoon tea along with a buffet lunch served on board, giving you breaks between time in the water.

If you select a dive option, complete one introductory or certified scuba dive, subject to medical and safety requirements, to experience the reef below snorkel depth.

Relax on the luxury large catamaran during the journey to and from the reef, with the environmental management charge included in your ticket so the operator can support reef protection efforts.

Wrapping up

After your final snorkel session or scuba dive, rinse off, change into dry clothes, and enjoy afternoon tea as the catamaran returns to Cairns. Guests with hotel transfers from Port Douglas, if you select this option, are taken back by coach at the end of the cruise.

What to bring

Swim essentials: Bring your swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and a change of clothes for this experience.

Seasickness medication: Pack your seasickness medication, in case it is not available onboard.

Payment method: Bring a credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or EFTPOS) for meals, souvenirs, and extras not covered by the ticket.

Accessibility

Wheelchairs and strollers: This experience is not accessible by wheelchair or prams/strollers.

Diving health restrictions: Guests with back issues, asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure, or on certain medications cannot participate in scuba diving.

What’s not allowed

Scuba age limit: Scuba diving is restricted for guests under the age of 12 years.

Additional information

Dietary needs: Please advise any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Diving age and clearance: Guests under 18 need parental or guardian permission, and guests over 70 must provide a doctor's clearance to dive.

Dive medical form: Scuba diving requires an onboard medical questionnaire, which you can download in advance from the official form link provided in your voucher.

Flying after diving: Allow at least 12 hours before flying after a single dive and 24 hours after multiple dives.

Child supervision: Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.