Cairns Free Underwater Camera Rentals

When you book your Cairns reef tours with us, we don’t just send a confirmation email, we hand-deliver a professional underwater camera rig directly to your hotel*. Why? We know the best way to see the Great Barrier Reef is through your mask, but to be able to share your experience with the world, you need the right camera. We’ve been snorkeling and diving Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef for over 15 years, we know what gear works best in these waters, to get amazing results. We’ve built these rigs specifically for you. It’s our way of saying thank you for supporting a local expert.

The I Love Cairns Difference – If your Cairns tour bookings with us exceeds $750, we’ll give you a professional GoPro camera kit for FREE, for the duration of those tours.

Our Equipment: Pro-grade GoPro HERO 12 or 13 rigs featuring color-correction filters and professional dive lights.
Your Convenience: We hand-deliver the gear to your Cairns hotel and provide a 10-minute training session to ensure you get the best shots.
I Love Cairns Bonus: Liveaboard guests receive FREE professional video editing to create a 1-2 minute reel for your social media.
Your Local Experts: We aren’t just booking agents, we’re local experts. In thanks for you supporting us, we’ll loan you the right gear to capture your awesome memories. Check out our packages below to find out what you get, what you need to do to qualify and how you get your hands on the gear.

Please note there’s LIMITED AVAILABILITY for these, so BOOK NOW to secure your Cairns Free Underwater Camera Rentals with I Love Cairns.

The GoPro Hero 12 Rig - For Day Reef Tours

To get the best reef photography you need more than just a camera. Our HERO 12 rigs include a colour correction filter to ensure your photos look vibrant and blue, rather than washed-out and grey.

Best for Scuba Diving: Aqua Quest. Offers exceptional clarity and allows unguided diving, perfect for photographers who want to take their time.
Best for Snorkeling: Ocean Freedom. They visit Upolu Cay, where the shallow water is usually crystal-clear, perfect for bright, colourful photos.

How to Qualify: This rig is free when you spend $750 or more booking your Cairns Reef (and Rainforest) day tours with us. Here are some recommendations.

Friends & Couples: Book your Cairns Diving Tours for 2 people with at least 2 dives each.
Families: Most family reef packages, such as Sunlover Reef Cruises, automatically qualify.
Adventure Packages: Combine your Cairns Reef Tour with a Cairns Rainforest Tour for 2 people.

The Package Bonus: If you book a package of 2 or more tours with us, you can keep the GoPro for the duration of those tours (up to 7 days) to capture the reef, rainforest and waterfalls.

The Cinema Pro Rig - Available For Liveaboard Tours

The Equipment: Deep diving requires artificial light to see the reef’s true colors. Our flagship setup is valued at over $1,600 and includes:

Advanced Lighting: A professional dive light brings out the bright reds and yellows that disappear at depth.
Macro Optics: A specialised lens enables sharp close-ups of small marine creatures, including Nemo, Nudibranchs, Christmas Tree Worms and Feather Stars.

How to Qualify: All Liveaboard Bookings made through us qualify for this flagship rig special offer. This includes any multi-day trip with Ocean Quest, ProDive or Reef Encounter, and the luxury expeditions aboard Spirit of Freedom.

Liveaboard Exclusive: We Edit, You Post! Editing hours of footage can be a chore. For our Liveaboard guests, we do the work for you:

Cinematic Highlights: We turn your best clips into a 1–2 minute professional “Best of the Reef” movie. As an example, please see the below video we prepared after a Reef Encounter liveaboard trip.
Dual Formats: You receive a Vertical version (for TikTok/Reels) and a Horizontal version (for YouTube/TV).

How It Works: 3 Simple Steps

Book Your Tour With Us: Select any tour or package on our site totaling $750+.
Hotel Delivery & Training: We meet you at your Cairns hotel the night before your trip for a 10-minute “crash course” on how to get the best shots.
Return & Share: We collect the gear from your hotel and will edit a package for your own personal highlights video!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I qualify for you Cairns Free Underwater Camera Rental?

If the Cairns reef day tour you book through us has a total value of $750 or more, we will loan you a free GoPro Day Rig to use on your tour. All Liveaboard bookings automatically qualify for our Cinema Pro Rig, including free video editing.

What if I've never used a GoPro before?

Don’t worry! Our 10-minute training session is designed for absolute beginners. We set the camera to “Auto-Mode”, so you only have to point and shoot to get professional results.

Do I need to bring my own SD card?

You have two options:

Bring your own high-speed Micro SD card (Class 10/U3).
Purchase a brand-new card from us for $20, which you keep at the end of the trip.

Is a GoPro better than using my phone in a waterproof bag?

Where to start with this one! Phone bags often leak, fog up or create “blurry” footage. Our GoPro rigs use optical glass lenses and HyperSmooth stabilisation. Most importantly, the X-Adventurer M4500 lights restore the vibrant reds and oranges that are “lost” underwater, which a phone simply cannot do at depth.

Is there a security deposit?

Yes. At the time of delivery, we perform a simple credit card pre-authorisation (a temporary hold) to cover the value of the professional equipment. This is released as soon as the gear is returned safely.

Can I keep the gear for multiple days?

If you have booked multiple tours through I Love Cairns, you can keep the gear for the duration of your tours (up to a maximum of 7 days).

Free Camera Hire - Terms and Conditions

Please note, the following terms and conditions apply to all camera bookings:

Eligibility: One (1) camera kit per booking. Offer applies to bookings totaling $750+ (Day Rigs) or any Liveaboard booking (Cinema Rigs).
Price Match & Discounts: This free camera hire offer is not available for bookings where the price has been discounted or reduced to match a competitor’s quote or a customers request.
Subject to Availability: Camera hire is strictly subject to equipment availability and our delivery schedule. Inclusion must be confirmed and arranged at the time of booking; we cannot add camera hire to existing bookings at a later date. We strongly encourage you to book early to secure your camera.
Delivery & Collection Only: As an online travel agency, we do not have a physical storefront. Under no circumstances can cameras be picked up from or dropped off to our office. Delivery and pickup are available only at Cairns and Northern Beaches accommodation locations, we cannot deliver the camera to Port Douglas or Mission Beach.
Mandatory Presence: The person who made the booking must be present for both the 10-minute training/delivery and the scheduled collection. Gear cannot be left at reception or with third parties.
Liability & Bond: While the rental is free, the hirer is 100% responsible for the equipment. A valid credit card is required for a security bond upon delivery. In the event of loss, theft, or physical damage, the hirer will be charged for the replacement cost.
Cancellations: If your reef tour is canceled by the operator (e.g., due to weather), the camera hire is also canceled.
Data: We recommend guests provide their own MicroSD card. If using our cards, we take no responsibility for data loss. All footage must be transferred before collection.

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About the Author

Richard's early years were spent in Southern Africa, where he grew up. During his childhood, he frequently explored game parks and enjoyed caravan adventures. Now residing in Australia, Richard replicates these family experiences with Julie and Ethan. Passionate about outdoor adventures, he eagerly abandons his desk job to either hook up the caravan for a journey or strap on a scuba tank. His explorations are primarily focused on the diverse wonders of North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef.