Passions of Paradise Review 2025 Scuba Insights for Cairns Diving Tours

The Boat: Passions III - Speed vs. Comfort

Passions of Paradise is a modern 25m sailing catamaran, but it is important to manage expectations regarding the “sailing” aspect.

• The Reality: We’ve been on Passions of Paradise 7 times and it has only unfurled the sails once. As such the boat functions primarily as a motor yacht.
• Current Status: On this trip the sails were under repair, which is a common occurrence and something to keep in mind if you’re specifically looking for a wind-powered experience.
• Transit Time: The 4 hour return travel time to and from the reef from Cairns is conducted at a stable pace, but means the schedule only allows for 2 dives rather than the 3 offered by high-speed catamarans such as AquaQuest or Silversonic.
• Reef Selection: Passions of Paradise has moorings at a range of Cairns Great Barrier Reef sites, including Milln, Flynn and Hastings Reefs. They pick the best site on the day to suit conditions and guests. In our opinion they go to Milln and Flynn Reefs on flat days. Our favourite reef site – 3 Sisters – is located on Milln Reef and in our 7 trips, Passions of Paradise has only visited this site once.
• Skipper’s Choice: Where you go depends entirely on the skipper; there is no way to guarantee a visit to Flynn or Milln.
• Site Quality: In our experience, Hastings Reef does not always provide the clarity found at smaller reefs like Norman or Saxon Reefs.
• Preparation: Divers are asked to gear up early, often sitting ready on deck for 15–20 minutes before water entry on the first dive.
• Dive Style: All certified diving on Passions of Paradise is guided. They do not allow unguided diving.

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Detailed Dive Log: Hastings Reef

As scuba divers and underwater photographers, our preferred dive style is to take our time and observe the motion of the animals in their underwater homes; for us, it’s about soaking it in, not swimming madly around to see ‘as much as we can’. Both sites visited today were “Coral Garden” style dives with a water temperature of 28°C and 10m visibility. Our Passions of Paradise dive guide was Lilly. Her preferred style of descent and ascent, including the 5m for 3 minutes safety stop, was to follow and use the mooring lines.

Dive 1: Site – 1770 (Lagoon/Coral Gardens)

Our first site was 1770 on Hastings Reef. Water entry was giant-stride, from the side of the boat. This site itself is an easy to navigate coral lagoon, with a diverse array of hard and soft corals. It’s also a propagation site for the Coral Nurture Program, a science and tourism lead initiative to investigate heat resistant corals and to ‘grow’ broken corals with a priority of reattachment to the reef.

• Dive Stats: 45 mins | Max Depth: 10m.
• Marine Life: We saw Blue Chromis (Chromis atripectoralis), a Humphead Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), Great Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos), Banded Humbugs (Dascyllus aruanus), Sea Fans (Annella reticulata) and more.
• Inhabitants: We also spotted a true Great Barrier Reef Clownfish (Amphiprion percula).
• Highlight: Swimming past the Coral Nurture Program restoration frames, a must-see for those interested in active reef stewardship.

Dive 2: Site – Split Bommie

Split Bommie felt even more vibrant than 1770 and had better visibility. Unfortunately, one of our strobes failed during the first dive, so we don’t have photos of Split Bommie. However, we took our GoPro and captured some amazing content which features on the video with this review.

• Dive Stats: 40 mins | Max Depth: 14.5m (including a 3-minute safety stop).
• Marine Life: We saw a Moray Eel (Muraenidae), a Cuttlefish (Sepia spp.), a very large Pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) and much more.
• The Usual Suspects: We were surrounded by Lemon Damselfish (Pomacentrus moluccensis), Blacktail Humbugs (Dascyllus melanurus), Blackspotted Wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris), and Clark’s Anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii).
• Highlight: Spotted a Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus)! These guys are so camouflaged and hard to see, so that was exciting. We even saw it ‘walking’ on the corals.

Video Highlights: See it for Yourself

Check out our trip video to see the marine life and the 1770 site layout. Here are the “can’t-miss” timestamps:

• [0:11] – Arriving at 1770 Site: A look at the dive site map and lagoon layout.
• [0:16] – The Descent: Going down the line to start our dive.
• [0:22] – A beautiful Moray Eel (Muraenidae) peeking out from the reef.
• [0:29] – Watching a curious Cuttlefish hovering in the blue.
• [0:34] – The incredible camouflage of the Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus).
• [0:59] – The Coral Nurture Program frames—see reef science in action.

Logistics for Underwater Photographers

For those traveling with expensive camera rigs, Passions offers “pro” touches we really appreciated:

• Dedicated Gear Tub: There is a specific tub on board just for cameras to prevent damage.
• Back-of-Boat Handover: I did not have to jump from the side gate (1.5m drop) while holding my camera; the crew handed my rig to me from the transom once I was in the water.
• The Guide Factor: Having a guide allows you to enjoy the dive, without worrying about navigation. The Passions of Paradise guide Lilly, was very specific about following mooring lines for descents/ascents.
• Pro Tip: Keep this in mind if you prefer a “free descend” to prep your settings.

Lunch and Amenities

The catering on Passions of Paradise has a focus on freshness and flavour, it features hot and cold dishes and is served buffet style in the boat’s saloon area.

• The Spread: A buffet of cold meats, fresh salads and hot Lamb or Vegetarian curry.

Team Johnston Recommend: Don’t miss the sesame rice salad, this is something different to other boats and brings a bang of freshness to your plate.