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Pure Snorkelling Cairns is the newest Cairns reef tour and 1 of only 2 half day snorkel tours available, from our tropical port city. Launched in December 2024, Pure Snorkelling delivers just that – dedicated snorkel tours to the outer Great Barrier Reef, departing Cairns at 12.30pm. Everything about this venture is brand new, the custom-built boat, the equipment and the itinerary, but it’s the brainchild of 2 local reef operators who have more than 60 years combined reef tourism experience behind them. So you can expect a well-planned half day Cairns snorkel tour, visiting stunning reef locations, and being hosted by experienced reef crew, including Master Reef Guides and Marine Naturalists. Pure Snorkelling can choose from 15 different reef destinations and will pick the best 1 to maximise your experience on the day. Their high speed vessel gets you to the outer reef in around 1 hour and you have over 2 hours of snorkel time. Maximum passenger numbers each day are capped at 40 guests.
All your snorkelling equipment and instruction is provided and included in the tour price. This epic half day Cairns snorkel tour departs at 12.30pm and returns at 5.30pm. It operates Tuesday to Saturday.
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 UsPure Snorkelling Cairns is the passion project and brain child of 2 very experienced Cairns reef operators – Perry & Taryn of Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom, and Alan Wallish of Passions of Paradise – who bring decades of experience to the table with this one. They have over 15 exclusive outer reef locations to choose from at several different reefs, including Briggs, Sudbury, Moore and Thetford Reef. These half day Cairns snorkel tours are reef adventures, designed to provide people who are comfortable and confident in the water with an outstanding time exploring the Great Barrier Reef, while learning more about it from skilled reef guides. Please note that all of the Pure Snorkelling reef sites are in open water, with waves and current sometimes present. As such, you should be a confident swimmer with reasonable fitness. Flotation devices are available, if required. This tour is not suitable for children aged under 6 years of age and/or non-swimmers.
This is the newest Cairns’ reef tour. All snorkelling equipment is provided and included in the tour price, including mask, snorkel and fins – prescription masks are also available. Snorkelling instruction and briefings are provided on the way to the reef and guided snorkelling is available during your time at the reef. Water access is nice and easy from steps at the back of the boat and floatation devices are available if needed. You have over 2 hours to swim, snorkel and explore the reef with Pure Snorkeling and by participating in a guided tour, you will learn more about the corals and marine life you are seeing, which will enhance your experience with and understanding of the reef. These are outer reef sites so the visibility is usually excellent. As above, waves and current are sometimes present, so you should be comfortable and confident in these conditions – these tours are not suitable for children 6 years old and under.
Pure Snorkelling Cairns runs its half day snorkel tours, Tuesday to Saturday, departing Cairns at 12.30pm and returning around 5.30pm. Check in is at the boat, which is moored on D Finger at Cairns Marlin Marina – you can easily spot it thanks to the distinctive pink and blue wrap on the boat. Transfers are not available. Self drive guests can park underneath the Pier Shopping Centre Complex or at any of the local car parks (at cost to self). Light snacks are included in the tour price. Drinks are available for purchase on the boat, at additional cost. You should take a towel, sunglasses, hat and sunblock for the day, as well as cash or credit cards to make any beverage purchases.
Check in is at the Pure Snorkelling boat, which is moored on D Finger in the Cairns Marlin Marina. Here you will meet the crew and be greeted aboard. Check-in is from 11.45am until 12.15pm, for a 12.30pm departure.
Let’s Go – Pure Snorkelling fires up the engines to commence its 1 hour transfer from Cairns to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. During the trip out a safety briefing will be provided, as well as snorkel equipment and instruction briefings. The boat has a very open plan layout and you can sit undercover or on the top sundeck.
Arrive at the Great Barrier Reef – Jump straight in for your snorkel adventure. Please note you can choose to join a guided snorkel tour, which is provided and included in the tour price, but there is also the option to explore at your own pace and leisure. These are open water sites, so you should be comfortable in the open ocean, but buoyancy devices are also available. All of the sites are chosen to maximise the experience for snorkelers, so pending the tides, the coral gardens will come up to within metres from the surface, giving you a front row seat.
Now you’ve been in the water and seen some of the reef, it’s time for a quick break and mini Marine Biology presentation. During this time one of their Master Reef Guides and/or Marine Naturalists will provide some further information on the Great Barrier Reef, explaining its values and identifying some of the fish and corals you might have seen. A light snack is provided and included. Cold drinks are available for purchase, at additional price to the tour.
Back into the water for some more snorkelling! You have over 2 hours to enjoy swimming and exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Although this is only a half day tour, you are not rushed or compromising on the time available in the water. This is thanks to the fast boat and carefully crafted itinerary and destinations.
All aboard Pure Snorkelling, your time at the reef has come to an end and it’s time to head back to Cairns. Alcoholic beverages are available for sale from the bar and are in addition to the tour price.
Pure Snorkelling arrives back to Cairns.
Pure Snorkelling’s Cairns half day snorkel tours have access to 15 exclusive outer reef sites, they will choose the best 1 on the day of travel, to maximise guest experience and snorkeling conditions in the water. They have sites at Sudbury Cay and Reefs, Brigg’s Reef, Moore Reef, Thetford Reef, Oyster Reef, Breaking Patches, Pretty Patches and Upolu Reef. All of these are outer reef sites and the visibility is usually excellent.
The snorkelling on Pure Snorkelling’s half day Cairns snorkel tours is excellent. The sites they can access are all outer reef sites with brilliant coral cover and life. The experienced crew includes Master Reef Guides and Marine Naturalists and you can opt in to join a guided snorkel tour, or explore the waters on your own. You have over 2 hours of snorkelling time on this half day tour. Water entry is easy via a submerged staircase at the back of the boat. All snorkelling equipment is provided and included, including flotation devices if required. Please note this tour is suitable for people who are confident and comfortable swimmers in an open ocean environment. It is not suitable for non-swimmers and children aged 5 years old and under.
No, you cannot scuba dive on the Pure Snorkelling Cairns reef tours. This is a snorkel only boat.
No, Pure Snorkelling’s Cairns half day tours are not suitable for non-swimmers. They do not have a glass bottom boat, or a semi-submersible, and they do not visit a pontoon, island or sand cay. As such, the only way to see the reef is to get into the water and snorkel / swim. If you are non-swimmer looking for a Cairns reef tour, we suggest a pontoon or island tour would be more suited to you.
No, Pure Snorkelling Cairns does not operate every day. They provide half day Cairns snorkel tours to the outer Great Barrier Reef 5 days a week, from Tuesday to Saturday (excluding Christmas Day and New Years Day). However bookings can be made 7 days a week through our site 😊
No, Pure Snorkelling Cairns does not have a glass bottom boat.
Yes, Pure Snorkelling Cairns is suitable for kids aged 6 years old and over, as long as they are comfortable swimming in the open ocean. Floatation devices are available. Please note all children are under parental supervision at all times: Pure Snorkelling does not provide child minding services.
Yes, Pure Snorkelling Cairns is family friendly – it’s family owned and operated and the crew are attentive and helpful to all members of the family.
Pure Snorkelling is pretty unique in the Cairns reef tours market, being 1 of only 2 half day reef tours available from Cairns. In addition, it’s 1 of only a handful to be dedicated snorkel only tours which means the destinations have been chosen specifically to meet the needs of snorkelers, regarding coral gardens rising up to within meters of the surface. The boat is brand new, custom designed and built to provide superior speed and passenger comfort. The snorkel equipment is new too, with this tour commencing operations in December 2024. But the crew are all experienced Master Reef Guides and Marine Naturalists and the owners have over 6 decades of Cairns reef tourism experience between them, so it’s tour by reef experts, crafted specifically for snorkelers. Guest numbers are limited to just 40 each tour, for maximum passenger comfort and crew to guest engagement.
Pure Snorkelling Cairns snacks are light and healthy. Dietary requirements can be accommodated. Beverages are not included but can be purchased at additional cost to the tour. It’s only a half day tour, so you do not need a ‘meal’ as such.
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.
The Great Barrier Reef. This Port Douglas reef trip stands out for all the right reasons! Small numbers - max 12 guests. Awesome boat. Great crew. Fantastic snorkelling. 100% the best bit is having your own in-water guide. Bucket List.
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