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Passions of Paradise is one of the very few locally owned and operated Cairns reef day tours, and they’ve been ‘making waves since 1987’. Their sailing catamaran is one of the fastest and largest of its kind in Australia, with comfortable indoor seating and large nets at the bow and top rear deck for relaxing. They have access to 24 private moorings on Hastings, Milne, Flynn, Norman, Thetford, Breaking Patches and Upolu Cay Reefs, so their range of outer Great Barrier Reef sites is excellent and includes one of our favourites, the 3 Sisters at Milne Reef. On their Cairns reef day tours, they visit 2 different sites and provide up to 5 hours at the reef. There’s unlimited snorkeling and the opportunity to do 2 scuba dives. Morning and afternoon tea is included, as is a hot and cold buffet lunch.
Scuba divers can do 1 or 2 dives on a Passions of Paradise Cairns reef day tour. All diving is in addition to the tour price. All dives are guided. Certified divers will need to show proof of certification. Those wanting to try diving for the first time can opt for an introductory dive. More details below.
What We Love About Passions Of Paradise. Their crew is amazing. Super passionate about the Great Barrier Reef, always on-hand and available to assist with any reef questions and to help you identify fish you might have seen. Their reef sites are excellent – moorings at some of the best sites on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef. Also love the fact that they are locally owned and committed to investing back into the reef and our community. Read Our Passions Of Paradise Trip Review.
We’ve been on all the tours we book. As a couple, as a family with a baby, then with a young child and now pre-teen. We’ve taken non-swimming friends and older relatives to the reef. So, we have first-hand experience and can help you make the right choice for your Cairns Reef Tour. Chat with us or send us an enquiry and we’ll get back to you.
Get In Touch Chat With UsPassions of Paradise run snorkel and dives tours to the Great Barrier Reef, from Cairns. They provide up to 5 hours at the reef and visit 2 different reef sites. As you are on the outer Great Barrier Reef, underwater visibility is usually great. Exact locations for your Cairns reef tour will be chosen on the day, to maximise your reef experience pending weather, such as tides and currents. Please note that as all of Passions of Paradise’s reef sites are located in open water, waves and current is sometimes present. As such, you should be a confident swimmer with reasonable fitness. Flotation devices are available, if required.
Passions of Paradise has great snorkelling, with all equipment and instruction provided and included in the tour price, as is a free guided snorkel tour, that provides a great opportunity for you to learn more about the reef, its corals and the fish you are seeing. Passions of Paradise really focus on engaging all guests with the reef and teaching you about it, in a fun and interesting way. You can enjoy unlimited snorkeling throughout the day and should you require it, they have flotation devices available on the catamaran. Water access is via two sets of stairs that are lowered to the water.
Introductory diving is available to guests aged 12 years old and older and is a great way to see the Great Barrier Reef. Richard actually did his first ever introductory dive on Passions of Paradise, over 13 years ago. Introductory diving is in addition to the tour price and includes your equipment, instruction and dive guide, who is with you in the water for the entire experience. Introductory dive groups have a maximum of 4 guests per instructor and go no deeper than 12m.
Please note certain health conditions can prevent you from participating in introductory 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 do up to 2 dives on Passions of Paradise, 1 at each site. Where you will dive is dependent on the conditions on your day of travel, but Passions of Paradise have private moorings at some of Cairns’ best dive sites. All diving on Passions of Paradise is guided and in addition to the tour price. The dive price covers your equipment, instruction and dive guide. The dives generally last around 45 minutes.
Please note you will be required to provide proof of your dive certification and you will be required to complete a safety waiver, prior to dive (and snorkel) activities.
Passions of Paradise’s sailing catamaran is moored at Cairns’ Marlin Marina. Prior to boarding, you must check in at their tour desk, which is located inside the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal. Check in and boarding is from 7am and the catamaran departs Cairns at 8am. Morning and afternoon tea is provided, as is a hot and cold buffet lunch. 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 Passions of Paradise tour desk, which is located inside Cairns’ Reef Fleet Terminal. Once you have your tickets, make your way to their sailing catamaran, which is moored at the Marlin Marina. The crew will provide you with all relevant paperwork for snorkelling and diving on arrival and tea, coffee and mini muffins are provided.
Passions of Paradise departs Cairns and commences its journey to the Great Barrier Reef. All safety, dive and snorkel equipment briefings are conducted on the catamaran, on the way to the reef.
Arrive at the first Great Barrier Reef site. Scuba divers enter the water. Followed by snorkelers.
Enjoy the hot and cold buffet lunch, while Passions of Paradise moves to its second reef site. You can choose to sit inside, or relax in the sunshine on the outside decks and net.
Arrive at your second Great Barrier Reef site for the day, with more snorkelling and scuba diving.
Once in-water activities are concluded, the crew complete a final headcount, before Passions of Paradise heads back to Cairns. During the return trip to Cairns the marine naturalist provides an interesting presentation on the Great Barrier Reef, covering its size, scale and some of its interesting creatures. You can purchase beverages from the bar, at your own expense.
Passions of Paradise arrives back to Cairns. The return time might vary 10-15 minutes as Passions of Paradise will sail part of the way, weather permitting.
Passions of Paradise has access to 24 private moorings, located on some of the best dive and snorkel sites on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef. Their sites are at Hastings, Milne, Flynn, Norman, Thetford, Breaking Patches and Upolu Cay. Where they go each day is determined by the weather. They will pick the best sites to maximise your time in the water, pending tides and currents. It visits 2 different sites, each day and provides up to 5 hours at the reef.
Passions of Paradise is great for snorkelers. All of their reef sites have good coral cover and an abundance of marine life. The snorkeling equipment is well maintained and you can join a marine naturalist guided snorkel tour, which is included in the tour price. You can enjoy unlimited snorkelling at the 2 reef sites they visit. Please note you will be snorkelling in the open ocean, so for your comfort, it is recommended that you have reasonable swimming ability and fitness. There are flotation devices available for your use.
Yes, you can scuba dive on the Passions of Paradise Cairns reef day tours. They visit 2 reef sites and provide guests with the opportunity to do 2 dives. All scuba diving is an additional cost, to the main tour price. The dive cost includes all of your dive equipment, site briefings and dive guide. All diving is guided on Passions of Paradise. You will be required to show proof of certification. All introductory diving is guided by a professional dive instructor. The minimum age to participate in an introductory dive is 12 years old. The maximum depth you will go on an introductory dive is 12m. It is a maximum of 4 students per dive instructor, for introductory dives. Certain health conditions will preclude you from diving, such as asthma, epilepsy, heart conditions, sinus and ear infections and more.
Certified scuba divers and introductory scuba divers can do up to 2 dives each day. Introductory divers may be limited to less dives, pending demand on the day. Dive time is around 45 minutes for certified divers.
The scuba diving with Passions of Paradise is good. They have access to some excellent outer Great Barrier Reef sites. Water entry is generally giant stride, off the lowered staircase at the back of the catamaran.
No, we would not recommend a Passions of Paradise Cairns reef tour for non-swimmers. The only way you can experience the reef with Passions of Paradise, other than gazing down it from above, is by being in the water snorkelling or scuba diving. If you are non-swimmer, we suggest a pontoon or island day tour would be more suited to you.
No, Passions of Paradise does not have a glass bottom boat.
Yes, Passions of Paradise is suitable for kids, who can swim with confidence. We took our son on Passions of Paradise and he loved it (he is also a certified Junior Open Water Diver – so very comfortable in the open ocean). If you have younger children, or children who are not comfortable swimming at sea – where there may be waves and/or current, pending conditions at the time of travel – then a reef pontoon or island trip might be better for you.
Yes, Passions of Paradise is family friendly – especially for families with older children, who are confident at swimming in open ocean.
Lunch on Passions of Paradise is good. It’s a hot and cold buffet with a focus on freshness. Items include deli meats and a range of salads and breads. There’s 2 hot dishes and 1 is always vegetarian. Morning and afternoon tea is provided and included, as is cold water. You have the option to purchase additional drinks (soft drinks etc) at the bar, at additional cost.
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.
Passions of Paradise visit some amazing Cairns Great Barrier Reef sites, perfect for divers of all experience levels and snorkelers. The crew are great. The boat is comfortable and the vibe is high. Let's dive right in.
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