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Tusa Cairns Reef Tours run half day snorkel tours, with the option for guests to try an introductory dive. It takes up to 60 guests each day with a memorable half day at the reef. The Tusa boat is very well laid out and provides a stable and comfortable ride to the reef. It visits 1 outer reef site each day, providing guests with up to 2 hours at the reef. Snorkelling equipment is provided and included, as is a guided snorkel tour.
Tusa Cairns Reef Tours also provides introductory diving, for those who want to try scuba diving for the first time. There’s no experience necessary, but this an additional cost to the tour price ($100). This is an excellent half day tour with the option to purchase lunch at additional cost.
What We Love About Tusa’s Half Day Snorkel Tour. Tusa is an excellent reef boat, purpose designed and built for Great Barrier Reef touring, prioritising speed and passenger comfort. Air conditioned interiors with exterior sundecks, the boat provides easy water access thanks to lowered platforms. Guided snorkel tours. Amazing outer reef sites. This tour is great for people who want to snorkel the outer Great Barrier Reef in comfort and away from the crowds. Read Our Tusa Trip Review.
Get a free underwater camera rental when you book tours through us valued at over $750, we’ll lend you a GoPro underwater camera to use for the duration of your tours. Numbers are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Get in touch with us to claim this deal today.
Tusa Cairns Reef Tours run half day snorkel tours to and from Cairns to the outer Great Barrier Reef. It provides you with up to 2 hours at the reef and visits 1 reef site. They have 7 different sites to choose from and will pick the best one on your day of travel, to maximise your reef experience (pending weather and tides). Tusa Cairns Reef Tours provide unlimited snorkelling and the option to include an introductory dive in your day (at extra cost). This tour is best suited for those who are comfortable and confident at swimming in the open ocean, as there is no glass bottom boat or semi-submersible options on Tusa Cairns Reef Tours.
Tusa Cairns Reef Tours guests enjoy unlimited snorkeling, during their 2 hours at the Great Barrier Reef. All equipment and snorkelling instruction is included in the tour price, including mask, snorkel, fins and a lycra suit for sun protection. The friendly crew provide snorkel briefings and run guided snorkel tours throughout your time at the reef.
Please note all snorkelling on Tusa Cairns Reef Tours is conducted in an open water environment and as such, you should have a good level of swimming ability and fitness. Water entry and exit is via a set of stairs and platform, which is lowered into the water for your comfort and convenience. There is life guard supervision throughout the day, for your peace of mind and flotation devices and buoyancy vests are available if needed.
If you want to try scuba diving for the first time, the Great Barrier Reef is the place to do it. Tusa Cairns Reef Tours provides guests with the opportunity to have 1 introductory dive, during your time at the reef. The dive is an additional cost to the tour price, but includes all equipment, instruction and a dive guide. The maximum depth you will go to is 10m. All introductory diving is guided, with the dive guide in the water with you the whole time.
Please note certain health conditions can prevent you from scuba diving, this includes but is not limited to: asthma, epilepsy, chronic sinus conditions and ear problems, heart disease and sugar diabetes. It is not advised to try scuba diving if you are pregnant.
Tusa Cairns Reef Tours is located at the Marlin Marina. Check-in is at the boat from 8.40am, which is moored on A Finger, just look for the branding – and departure is at 9am. You arrive back into Cairns at 2pm. Tusa is the only half day Cairns reef snorkel tour to also offer introductory scuba diving (extra cost, no prior experience needed). Your price covers return transfers from Cairns to the reef, snorkelling equipment and guided snorkel tours. You should take a towel, sunglasses, hat, change of clothes and sunblock for the day
Check in at the Tusa Cairns Reef Tours catamaran, which is moored at A Finger at Marlin Marina. On board the boat, a friendly crew and tea and coffee await.
Tusa Cairns Reef Tours catamaran departs and commences its cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. During the 90 minute trip to the reef, the crew will provide all snorkel and safety briefings, as well as information on the reef.
Arrive at the Outer Great Barrier Reef and commence the in-water activities. You have 2 hours to explore the reef on guided or unguided snorkel tours, with the option to try 1 introductory dive. You can come and go from the boat as often as you like during the time at the reef.
Back to the boat as Tusa Cairns Reef Tours prepares its departure. If you have purchased their lunch box (additional cost) this will now be available to you. The lunch box includes a chicken and salad roll, muffin, piece of fruit, cheese and crackers and a muesli bar. You can eat in the air conditioned interiors, or head to the sundecks.
Tusa Cairns Reef Tours arrives back to Cairns.
Tusa Cairns Reef Tours visit Cairns’ Outer Great Barrier Reef. They have access to 7 different reef sites, at Saxon and Hastings Reefs. They visit 1 reef site each day and will pick the best one to maximise your experience, pending weather and tide conditions on your day of travel. It provides up to 2 hours at the reef.
The snorkelling on Tusa Cairns Reef Tours is good. They visit sites where the coral gardens rise up to within a few meters of the surface. They provide guided snorkel tours throughout your time at the reef, where you can learn more about the reef and fish you are seeing. Please note that all of the Tusa reef sites are in open ocean, and as such, it is recommended that you have reasonable swimming ability and fitness. There are flotation devices available for your use, including life jackets and noodles.
Yes, you can try an introductory scuba dive on Tusa’s half day snorkel tours. Introductory dives go to a maximum depth of 10m. Introductory diving is an additional cost to the tour, but the price includes all equipment, instruction and an experienced dive guide.
Introductory divers can do 1 guided dive each day.
The diving on Tusa Cairns Reef Tours is good. Their reef sites are all on the outer Great Barrier Reef with good coral cover and an abundance of marine life. The Tusa crew provide exceptional scuba diving service and the dive equipment is well maintained.
No, Tusa Cairns Reef Tours is not suitable for non-swimmers. They do not have a glass bottom boat or semi submersible, as such in order to ‘see the reef’ you will need to get in the water to swim / snorkel / dive. If you are a non-swimmer, then we recommend a reef pontoon or island trip would provide you with a better reef experience.
No, Tusa Cairns Reef Tours does not have a glass bottom boat.
This all depends on the age and abilities of your children. If your child is confident at swimming in the open ocean, where waves and current may be present, then ‘yes’ this tour is suitable for families. However, if you child is not comfortable with this then perhaps a pontoon or island tour would be more suited to your family. A reef tour is a big investment; you want the whole family to enjoy the day and experience.
Guests can pre-order a lunch box for $30, which includes a chicken and salad roll, muffin, fruit, cheese and crackers and a muesli bar. Snacks and beverages are also available for purchase on the return journey to Cairns.
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