Cairns Dive Adventures

18 April 2012

Cairns Dive Centre offers Cairns’ cheapest Great Barrier Reef dive trips on their day tour boat, MV ReefKist.  At less than $200, these tours are great value for money and include two (2) certified dives, all equipment, lunch and snacks on the way home.  Enjoy up to 4 hours on the reef and diving and snorkelling at 2 different reef sites, pending conditions.

9 April 2012

Reef Magic Cruises provides full day tours to their Marine World activity platform on Moore Reef, Cairns’ Outer Great Barrier Reef.  These tours are perfect for families, snorkelers and divers travelling with non-diving companions.  Inclusions are the reef trip, glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible tours, morning and afternoon tea, snorkelling equipment, marine biologist presentation, underwater observatory and fish feeding.  Highlights are seeing Wally, the giant, blue Maori Wrasse.

23 March 2012

Ocean Free is the only Cairns Great Barrier Reef day trip to combine sailing with snorkeling, diving, Great Barrier Reef and Green Island.  This complete day tour is limited to a maximum of just 35 passengers per trip and is delivered on the 16m sailing schooner Ocean Free. Guests enjoy up to 4.5 hours exploring Pinnacle Reef and Green Island, morning and afternoon tea and a delicious buffet lunch.  Very friendly crew, guaranteed sailing and reef and island time, make this a memorable day, perfect for divers and snorkelers.

12 – 16 January 2012

If you want adventure diving, with 1,000m wall drop offs, shark feeds and amazing visibility, this is the trip for you!  Spirit of Freedom’s 4-Day Coral Sea liveaboard trip combines all of these things with amazing service, a luxurious boat, a scenic flight and some life changing experiences.  We always thought a shark feed dive would be scary, but trust me, it will be more ‘WOW’ than anything else.  Read on for the full review, with over 100 pictures and videos.

6 January 2012

Cairns Sunset Cruises offer Cairns’ only sunset cruise, combining calm water cruising with glorious views, drinks and nibbles.  A glorious way to end the day, you can also choose to combine this 90-minute cruise with a three-course dinner package at Dundee’s restaurant for a fabulous night out. The cruise departs at 5.30pm from Cairns Marlin Marina, aboard the Crocodile Explorer vessel, and is run by Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises.

28 – 29 December 2011

Deep Sea Diver’s Den offers overnight dive trips from Cairns, aboard its OceanQuest vessel.  There are daily departures, with transfers on ReefQuest, and passengers can enjoy up to seven (7) certified dives on this 2 day / 1 night trip, including a night dive on the Great Barrier Reef.  Accommodation is comfortable and pending conditions; you’ll enjoy exploring up to three (3) different reef sites. This is an affordable dive adventure from Cairns, which is also suitable for snorkelers and delivers many highlights.

11 December 2011

This is the only Cairns day tour that combines Green Island and the Outer Great Barrier Reef, in one day tour option.  Departing Cairns at 8.30am, Great Adventures takes you first to Green Island, where you have two hours to explore, before continuing on to their activity pontoon at Norman Reef.  Arrive at 12.30pm and spend three hours snorkeling, diving and exploring before heading back to Cairns. It’s a big day which has something for everyone.

17 November 2011

Once a year, the over 400 different types of Great Barrier Reef corals reproduce en masse, in an event known as Coral Spawning.  Coral Spawning always occurs at night, with the release of the corals’ eggs and sperm tied to the moon’s presence, light and lunar cycles.  In 2011, we witnessed the magic of Coral Spawning for the first time, with Cairns operator Tusa Dive.  It was amazing!  Diving amongst the thousands of pink eggs which floated through the water, like bubbles rising in a flute of champagne.

5 November 2011

Deep Sea Divers Den offers day trips and liveaboard Great Barrier Reef trips departing Cairns daily.  Day trips are aboard SeaQuest a well maintained, comfortable catamaran, which provides snorkelers and divers with approximately four (4) hours to explore two different reef sites.  This is an excellent value for money day tour with first class reef sites, which can be equally enjoyed by snorkelers and divers. The crew is friendly and helpful, the equipment well maintained: a great day out for all.

8 October 2011

Wavedancer provides cruise and sail tours to Low Isles, departing from Port Douglas’ Marina Mirage daily.  Suitable for families, couples and people of all ages and abilities, these tours include a return trip to Low Isles, glass bottom boat tour, Marine Biologist reef presentation and guided snorkel and island tours, equipment and meals.  Wavedancer is a spacious, comfortable boat with a friendly, professional crew.

15 – 19 September 2011

Spirit of Freedom’s liveaboard trips to the Great Barrier Reef’s northern Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea, offer the ultimate in luxury diving.  The 4 day / 4 night trip from Cairns departs on Thursday and returns Monday.  It includes a scenic aerial flight along Queensland’s north-eastern coastline and allows for up to 15 dives, including night dives. Cabins are serviced daily and the diving and food is both frequent and excellent. This operator provides outstanding customer service and we highly recommend the trip.

20 August 2011

Tusa Dive has a proud 25 year history of providing first class day tours to Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef. Since our last Tusa trip six months ago, the Cairns company has invested $3 million on a brand new, custom-built, 24m catamaran.  Keen to take a trip on Cairns’ newest reef day tour boat, we boarded T6 and were excited to hear the captain announce that ‘the forecast for today is WICKED’.  Tusa Dive delivers in spades to divers and snorkelers wanting a first class trip to the reef.  The crew is friendly, the boat comfortable, the equipment new and the reef sites – excellent. A great day tour.

14 August 2011

Frankland Islands Cruise and Dive provide daily tours to the Frankland Islands group, 45km south of Cairns in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.  Coach transfers are available from Cairns and the northern beaches, or you can self-drive to the small township of Deeral, which is where the tour departs at 8.45am.  Adults cost $139, children $69 or family packages from $347, which includes a river cruise, snorkeling, morning and afternoon tea, lunch and a semi-submersible tour. With a maximum of just 100 guests, this tour to a deserted island marine park, is memorable for adults, families and the young at heart.

1 August 2011

Reef Magic Cruises are the only Cairns company to provide dedicated whale watching tours.  During a limited season [July to September], these half day tours depart Marlin Marina twice daily, providing visitors the chance to witness majestic Humpback Whales breaching in the waters of the Coral Sea.  Tours cost $99 for adults and $79 for children with a whale watching guarantee (if there aren’t any there on your day, come back on the next available tour, for free).  This is a great way to get close to the whales, when you don’t have your own boat or means of transport.

23 July 2011

Raging Thunder provides full day reef tours to Fitzroy Island, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, daily.  The full day tour departs Cairns at 8.30am and provides you with approximately five (5) hours to explore this offshore continental island with its fringing coral reefs.  Day tours start at $58 adults ($31.50 for children) and can be booked with a range of package options (lunch, snorkeling, sea kayaking etc) to suit your budget and preferences.  This is a great day tour for solo, couples, groups and families with plenty of activities to keep you entertained throughout the day.

12 – 14 June 2011

Pro Dive Cairns’ 3 Day Liveaboard Trip to the Great Barrier Reef provides the chance to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and up to 11 scuba dives, including two night dives, on Cairns’ southern reefs.  Dive locations vary and are chosen to maximize your dive experience, pending the conditions and weather on your trip. The reefs we visited on this trip were Milln and Flynn, which offered an excellent variety of diving experiences, including drift diving, deep diving and swim throughs.  Internationally recognised as a PADI 5 Star Training and Instructor Development Centre, Pro Dive Cairns allow you to combine your liveaboard trip to the Great Barrier Reef with a Learn to Dive Open Water Course, Adventure Course or Advanced Course.  On this trip, my dive buddy completed a PADI Advanced Dive Course, which means he is now licensed to dive to depths of 30m.  The course also covered peak performance buoyancy, underwater navigation, night diving and underwater photography.

5 June 2011

Passions of Paradise offers guests an award winning, Adventure Tourism experience on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef and at Michaelmas Cay National Park.  Combining these two elements allows Passions’ guests to explore the open waters of the Great Barrier Reef and swim in the shallow, protected waters surrounding the cay, which are bursting with marine life and some of the largest and most impressive giant clams you will ever see. Passions of Paradise’s 25m sailing catamaran has an air-conditioned interior and exterior sun deck on the bow, complete with trampolines, for relaxing comfort and enjoyment. Locally owned and operated the friendly crew ensures a great day out.

29 May 2011

Ocean Freedom is Cairns Premier Reef and Island Tours’ luxury 20m cruiser, providing day tours to Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef and Upolu Cay.  This fast, comfortable vessel provides guests with up to six (6) hours to explore the reef and cay.  There is ample time to enjoy two scuba dives, snorkeling, and a glass bottom boat tour, and still have time to relax on the spacious sun decks and bow. The equipment is well maintained, crew very friendly and reef destinations offer excellent conditions for swimmers, snorkelers and introductory and certified divers.  A great day out on the Great Barrier Reef!

28 May 2011

Crocodile Explorer Wilderness Cruise and Crocodile Farm is an ideal way to spend half a day in Cairns, once you have visited, dived and snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef.  Trinity Inlet is a stunning tidal estuary, providing an important breeding and nursery habitat for many Great Barrier Reef fish species, including the Bat fish. The tour departs at 9.30am or 1.30pm and includes a river cruise and crocodile farm tour, accompanied by an informative commentary.

17 May 2011

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises provides a choice of half and full day tours to Green Island, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, daily.  The full day tour provides up to five hours to explore Green Island and can be booked with a range of options, allowing you to tailor your day to suit your budget and requirements.  Priced from just $77 for adults and $38.50 for children (Family Price $192.50) this is Cairns’ cheapest snorkeling trip and is a great day out for families, especially those with children aged between four (4) and twelve (12).

7 May 2011

Down Under Dive offers Cairns’ most affordable diving day tour to the Great Barrier Reef, priced at just $204 including two certified dives. There are a lot of inclusions, such as free guided snorkeling tours, free scuba diving lesson, five hours on the Great Barrier Reef, Aussie BBQ lunch and a cheese and fruit platter on the homeward journey, with a glass of complimentary wine and live, musical entertainment by the crew. The split level Osprey 5 has a spacious forward deck for those wanting to sun bathe and air-conditioned interiors, providing a cool retreat during the day.

16 April 2011

Silverswift is the only Cairns day tour boat to visit three different Great Barrier Reef sites, each and every day.  This fast, modern catamaran motors out of Cairns at 8.30am providing its guests with up to five hours to swim, snorkel, dive and explore the reef.  The air-conditioned interiors are spacious and comfortable, while exterior sundecks provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy views over the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef. Briefings are thorough and professional, ensuring maximum passenger comfort throughout the day. Silverswift is a brilliant day out on the Great Barrier Reef, providing memories to last a lifetime.

9 April 2011

Cairns is home to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders.  Did you know it was also home to the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforests on earth?  These ancient forests are home to the world’s first flowering plants, 65% of Australia’s fern species and an amazing range of animals.  When you’re not in the water, take advantage of Cairns’ excellent range of touring options, with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at the top of the list.

2 April 2011

Sunlover Cruises provides daily Cairns snorkel and dive tours to the Great Barrier Reef. Its high speed catamaran transfers you to their pontoon, which is permanently moored at Moore Reef, approx 40km offshore from Cairns.  Here you have four (4) hours to swim, snorkel and dive.  Activities included in the ticket price are: glass bottom boat and semi-submersible tours, an underwater observatory and all snorkel equipment, including floatation devices.  Optional extras are: introductory and certified diving, helmet sea walking and helicopter tours.

28 February – 3 March 2011

Spirit of Freedom’s 4 Day Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs Cairns Dive Adventure combines the very best of the Great Barrier Reef, scuba diving and Tropical North Queensland.  Enjoy up to 11 dives on numerous sites across the pristine northern ribbon reefs, before flying back to Cairns on a stunning, low level scenic coastal flight.  Modern equipment, a luxurious boat and a friendly, professional crew of 10 ensure this will definitely be the trip of a lifetime.

20 February 2011

Everything about Tusa Dive is professional and its speedy, comfortable T5 catamaran is a fantastic way to spend the day on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef.  With a cruising speed of 21 knots, you enjoy less travel time and more time on the reef, exploring two different reef locations over five hours.  T5 seats 120 guests but limits day trip numbers to 60, ensuring maximum passenger comfort in the air-conditioned interiors and on the exterior sundecks and well appointed dive deck. Catering to swimmers, snorkelers, introductory and certified divers, Tusa Dive is excellent value for money and a great day out!

Snorkelling conditions at the Reef Magic Cruises Marine World pontoon are excellent.  Permanently moored about 60km offshore at Moore Reef, the pontoon is adjacent to some fabulous coral gardens that plateau literally just metres under the surface.  Its distance from Cairns means that visibility is rarely affected by coastal conditions.  A lowered platform provides comfortable access to and from the water and all equipment is included. The highlight, you are almost guaranteed to see ‘Wally’ the Giant Maori Wrasse!

16 January 2011

An outer reef pontoon is a great way to visit Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef, especially for families.  Reef Magic’s Marine World activity platform offers guided cairns snorkeling tours, introductory and certified scuba diving, semi-submersible and glass bottom boat tours, an underwater observatory, scenic helicopter flights, an enclosed swimming area for children, massage station, sundeck and freshwater showers and change rooms.  The pontoon is stable and calm, even in rough weather, providing a great base to explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

16 January 2011

Photographs of the Great Barrier Reef, offer a glimpse into this amazing underwater world.  You will have seen many yourself, they are what draws hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to visit and swim amongst its many fish and corals.  Wet Rez Underwater Camera Hire in Cairns, will allow you to get your own personal mementos of your visit and is a ‘must do’ on any trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

With our classroom and pool training completed it was time to head out to the Great Barrier Reef.

DAY 3: Open Ocean Diving

Day 3 started with a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns Dive Centre’s liveaboard scuba boat, MV Kangaroo Explorer. Our trip on MV Sunkist took around two hours; the weather was fantastic and with no wind the ocean was almost completely flat.

Arriving at Thetford Reef we boarded the MV Kangaroo Explorer we were greeted by Ned, the Trip Director, who gave us a tour of the vessel and showed us our cabins. Our cabin was a comfortable, air-conditioned double, which provided cool relief from the heat of the day.