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Great Adventures’ Great Barrier Reef day tour leaves later than most, but still gives you 3 hours at their outer reef pontoon. So it’s perfect for those who want a more leisurely start to their day, without compromising on experience. This Cairns Great Barrier Reef day tour leaves at 10.30am and returns at 5.30pm. While at their outer reef pontoon you can enjoy unlimited snorkelling, with the equipment provided and included, semi submersible tours, a reef presentation including fish feeding and visit the underwater observatory. This Cairns reef tour also includes morning tea and coffee, a hot and cold buffet lunch and afternoon tea, including cake, cheese and crackers.
There’s also the option to take advantage of some options extras, including scuba diving at the outer reef, for certified and introductory (no prior experience necessary) divers, a guided snorkel tour, scenic helicopter flight and the Scuba Doo underwater scooter.
What We Love About This Tour. This tour is great for people of all ages and abilities and has lots of inclusions. Non-swimmers can see the reef on a semi submersible tour, at the underwater observatory and also from above, on the pontoon (or book a scenic heli ride, which is an optional extra). The lowered platform makes water access easy and the sun lounges on the top deck are great for relaxing. Snorkeling is great, with scuba diving as an optional extra.
Get a free underwater camera rental, if you book a tour valued over $750 with us you receive a GoPro underwater camera to use on your tour, get in touch with us today to claim this deal.
You have 3 hours to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, from the Great Adventures pontoon. The ticket price includes unlimited snorkelling, semi submersible tours, the underwater observatory, reef presentation and fish feeding. Lots of optional extras available too.
Snorkelling is done from the outer reef pontoon. Water access is via a platform with bench seat, which is lowered into the water. This allows you to easily put on your mask, snorkel and fins, before swimming over to the adjacent reef to explore and see more. The water here is generally sheltered, but there are flotation devices and buoyancy vests available if you need them. You can expect to see hard and soft corals, clams and an array of marine life. Snorkelling equipment and instruction is provided and is included in the tour price.
There is also the option to book a guided snorkel tour during your time at the reef. This is in addition to the tour price, but allows you to gain a greater understanding of what you are seeing and the chance to ask questions.
Introductory diving is an optional extra on the Great Adventures’ Great Barrier Reef day tour, and this is the perfect place to try scuba diving for the first time. There is no prior experience necessary, but you must be aged 12 years old or more. All instruction, equipment and your dive guide is included. Introductory dives generally last around 20-30 minutes and do not go deeper than 12m. Introductory dive spaces are limited, so it’s best to pre-book this to avoid disappointment.
Please note certain health conditions can prevent you from trying 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.
Certified scuba divers can go diving from the Great Adventures Great Barrier Reef pontoon. This is an optional extra and is in addition to the tour price. The dive price includes all dive equipment and dive site briefings, as well as a dive guide. Most of the scuba diving is done from the dive deck, on the pontoon. Water access is down a set of stairs, which take you waist deep in water. Once everyone is ready, you descend down the lines and follow your guide around the reef. There is no unguided diving available. Scuba dives generally last around 40 minutes and dive depth varies, but is generally no deeper than 18m. Boat diving may sometimes be available, on a tender from the pontoon, but it depends on conditions on the day of travel and other divers.
Certified divers will be required to show evidence of your certification to the Dive Crew. You are also required to complete a safety waiver, prior to dive (and snorkel) activities.
For non-swimmers, families and those wanting to learn more about what they seeing at the reef, the guided semi submersible tours are for you. They operate at scheduled times throughout the day, departing to and from the pontoon. The interior of the semi submersible is air conditioned and their glass windows on either side, so everyone can enjoy the views. There is a guide providing commentary throughout the semi submersible tour, pointing out key fish and points of interest. You can also ask questions.
The semi submersible tours are included in your Great Adventures Great Barrier Reef day tour. You do not need to pre-book them.
A scenic helicopter ride is one way to elevate your Cairns Great Barrier Reef day tour! You can choose to book a 10 minute scenic heli ride, which takes off from a heli pontoon, adjacent to the reef pontoon. They provide a birds-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef and give you an appreciation of its size and scale. The helicopter flights are run by Nautilus Aviation, a respected Cairns aviation company.
Scenic helicopter trips are not included in the tour price and require a minimum of 2 passengers to operate.
The underwater observatory provides the opportunity to admire the reef and its many fish, while staying dry. The observatory is located on the pontoon and you are welcome to visit it, at any time during your Great Adventures day tour. To enhance your understanding of the reef and identification of the fish you are seeing, there is a range of interpretive posters inside the underwater observatory. Great Adventures also provide a Marine Naturalist Eco Reef Talk in the observatory, which is included in the tour price.
Scuba Doo is a unique underwater scooter experience – think helmet diving, but on a scooter – on the Great Barrier Reef. Again, this is not operated by Great Adventures, but is run from their outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon. The minimum age to participate in Scuba Doo is 12 years old.
The Great Adventures Great Barrier Reef Adventure tour departs from Cairns every day. Prior to boarding the catamaran, which is moored at Cairns’ Marlin Marina, you will need to collect your tickets from the Great Adventures desk, which is located inside the Reef Fleet Terminal. Boarding commences at 10am. The boat departs Cairns at 10.30am and returns at 5.30pm. Snorkelling equipment, a hot and cold buffet lunch and afternoon tea is provided and included in the tour price. You should take a towel, sunglasses, hat, change of clothes and sunblock for the day, as well as cash or credit cards to make any beverage purchases. Tea, coffee and cold water is supplied and included.
Check in at the Great Adventures Desk, inside the Reef Fleet Terminal. Boarding commences at the Great Adventures catamaran, which is moored at the Cairns Marlin Marina. Tea and coffee is available and provided for your enjoyment.
Depart Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef. During the transfer from Cairns to the reef, you will complete any necessary snorkelling and/or scuba diving paperwork and be advised of the timing of these activities. You will also be provided with a schedule for the day and map of the Outer Reef Pontoon. The catamaran will stop at Green Island on the way to the reef, to collect additional guests, but you remain on the boat during this time.
Arrive at the Great Adventures’ Reef Pontoon. Activities commence, including snorkelling and the semi submersible tours. If you have booked scuba diving, Scuba Doo or the scenic helicopter flight, times will be advised for these activities.
Be at the Green Island jetty, ready to board the catamaran and continue your trip on to Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef. Certified and introductory divers will complete briefings with the dive crew, on the way to the reef pontoon.
A hot and cold buffet lunch is served on the pontoon. Chairs and tables are located on the pontoon, and you can choose to sit in the shade or on the sundeck. Drinks are available to purchase on the boat, which is moored to the pontoon for the duration of your time here
The boat will blast its horn, which is a sign for all guests to return to the catamaran.
The boat will blast its horn, which is a sign for all of the guests to return to the catamaran.
When all guests are aboard, a passenger headcount is completed and then the boat commences its return to Cairns, with a stopover at Green Island on the way, to collect island guests. Afternoon tea is served, which is a selection of cakes, cheese and crackers.
Arrive back into Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal.
There are lots of inclusions in the Great Adventures Great Barrier Reef day tour.
You can do lots on your visit to the Great Barrier Reef with Great Adventures. Unlimited snorkelling from the pontoon, semi submersible tours, visit the underwater observatory, attend the reef presentations and relax on the sundeck. These are all included in the ticket price. Optional extras are a guided snorkel tour, scuba diving, scenic heli flights and Scuba Doo.
Yes, you can snorkel at the Great Adventures reef pontoon. Water access is on a lowered platform with bench seating and the reef is a short swim away. The water is relatively protected and you can use flotation devices and buoyancy vests, if they make you feel more comfortable.
The snorkelling from the pontoon is excellent. Depending on the tide, the coral gardens rise up close to the surface of the water. There’s a diverse array of fish, from the small wrasse to colourful parrotfish, angelfish and more. Unlimited snorkelling is included in the ticket price. If you want to learn more about what you are seeing, there is the option to join a guided snorkel tour. This cost is in addition to the tour price.
Yes, you can scuba dive at and from the Great Adventures reef pontoon. Please note all diving is guided with Great Adventures and is in addition to the ticket price. The diving price includes all equipment, dive site briefings and dive guide. Water entry is via the dive deck on the pontoon, walking down some stairs which take you into the sea. The dive time is usually 40 minutes and you do not go deeper than 16m.
Yes, the Great Adventures Great Barrier Reef day tour is suitable for non-swimmers. Non-swimmers will enjoy the boat ride to and from Cairns and the reef, with views over the ocean and reef from the pontoon. The semi submersible tours and underwater observatory are included in the tour price. You can also sit on the bench seat on the snorkel platform, to get a closer view of some Great Barrier Reef fish. Optional extras include the scenic heli flight over the Great Barrier Reef.
Yes – this tour provides non-swimmers with lots of ways to experience and enjoy the Great Barrier Reef. See it from above, from the Green Island jetty. Sit in its waters at the Green Island beach and/or on the lowered steps at the Outer Reef pontoon. Admire it from behind glass on a semi submersible tour or on a visit to the underwater observatory. You can even enjoy a scenic heli flight over it – this is an additional cost the tour price.
Yes, the Great Adventures Great Barrier Reef day tour is suitable for families. The catamaran can accommodate prams. Infants and young children can take a semi submersible tour and visit the underwater observatory. Older children can snorkel over the reef and children aged 12 years and up, might like to try scuba diving.
Lunch on the Great Adventures reef pontoon features an array of hot and cold dishes, including fresh prawns. There are breads and salads, deli meats and cold chicken. Rice, curry, stir fry and vegetarian options.
Lunch on the Great Adventures, Green Island and Great Barrier Reef adventure tour is good. It’s a hot and cold buffet, which is served on the outer reef pontoon. It includes breads and a selection of salads and deli meats, chilled prawns and cold chicken and a range of hot dishes, which usually include a curry and a stir fry vegetarian dish.
If you have any question regarding this tour, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can help you find the perfect tour for you, we understand it can be overwhelming trying to decide. Our advice and booking service is free.
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