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Reef Magic Cruises provides daily Cairns reef tours, to their activity pontoon which is located on Moore Reef, the Great Barrier Reef. Pontoon day tours have lots of inclusions, such as unlimited snorkelling, glass bottom boat tours, semi submersible tours, underwater observatory, fish feeding and marine presentations. Reef Magic Cruises gives you up to 5 hours on the reef and their tour price includes morning and afternoon tea, and a hot and cold buffet lunch.
There is also a range of optional extra activities you can choose from. This includes guided snorkel tours, scuba diving – both certified and introductory – scenic helicopter flights and SeaTREK helmet diving. Reef Magic Cruises departs Cairns at 9am and returns at 5pm.
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 UsYou have 5 hours to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, from Reef Magic’s Moore Reef pontoon. The ticket price includes unlimited snorkelling, semi submersible tours, glass bottom boat tours, the underwater observatory, reef presentation and fish feeding and marine naturalist presentation. Family friendly tour, suitable for all ages. Lots of optional extras available too.
You can enjoy unlimited snorkelling during the 5 hours you are at Reef Magic’s outer reef pontoon. All snorkelling equipment – mask, snorkel and fins – are provided and included in the tour price. Water access from the pontoon 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 reef surrounding the Reef Magic pontoon has good coral cover and is home to a diverse array of Great Barrier Reef fish and marine life. The water is generally protected from waves and currents, but flotation devices and buoyancy vests are available if you need them.
Reef Magic also provides 2 guided snorkel tours. These are in addition to the tour price and provide a great opportunity to learn more about the corals and fish. The first guided snorkel experience, is from the pontoon. The second is a drift snorkel along the outer reef wall, with tender transfer from the pontoon.
Reef Magic also provides introductory scuba diving, at its Great Barrier Reef pontoon. The minimum age to participate is 12 years old, and you do not need to have had any previous experience. Introductory diving is an additional cost to the tour, and includes your dive equipment, tuition and dive guide. The group size is limited to 4 students per dive guide. The maximum dive depth is 10m and the dive usually lasts between 20-30 minutes. The dive is from the pontoon. Pending demand on the day, there may be the opportunity to do 2 introductory dives.
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.
Reef Magic Cruises provides certified divers with the opportunity to book 3 dives. All dives are guided and are in addition to the tour price. The dive price includes equipment, dive site briefings and dive guides. Please note that Reef Magic takes its certified divers on a tender away from the pontoon, providing the opportunity for drift dives, channel dives and swim throughs. Scuba dives generally last around 40 minutes each and dive depth varies, but is generally no deeper than 18m.
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.
Glass bottom boat tours run throughout the day, from the Reef Magic ponton and are included in the tour price. The glass bottom boat tours are guided by one of our crew, who will provide information on the Great Barrier Reef and point out key features and creatures of interest. You do not need to pre-book the glass bottom boat tours. Tour times will be shown on screens during the day.
Reef Magic also provides semi submersible tours for their guests. These tours are included in the ticket price and run at various times throughout the day. The semi submersible is air conditioned with glass windows on all sides, for maximum views. These tours are guided by one of our crew who will provide information on the Great Barrier Reef and its corals. They will also point out fish you might see during the trip and provide information on these. You do not need to pre-book Reef Magic’s semi submersible tours. Tour times are displayed on screens during the day.
Scenic helicopter flights are another optional extra activity on Reef Magic’s Great Barrier Reef pontoon tour. Take off for a 10 minute flight, providing panoramic views over the reef. From above, you get a sense of the size and scale of the reef. The scenic heli flights are run by GBR Helicopters, a respected Cairns aviation company. The price for the scenic helicopter flight is in addition to the tour price.
Please note there is also limited availability each day for guests to either take a one-way scenic heli transfer to and/or from Cairns to Reef Magic’s Moore Reef pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef, or a round trip. A brilliant option for those who suffer sea sickness.
Reef Magic’s outer reef pontoon has an underwater observatory with floor to ceiling windows, providing uninterrupted views to the Great Barrier Reef beyond. The underwater observatory is air conditioned for your comfort and an interpretive talk is provided during the day, covering aspects of the reef and some of the marine life. It’s also the place to be during the fish feeding presentation, with hundreds of fish swimming past the observatories windows.
SeaTREK helmet diving is another optional extra on the Reef Magic Great Barrier Reef pontoon day tour. There is no experience necessary to participate in SeaTREK helmet diving, but you must be aged at least 12 years old. What can you expect? Imagine putting on a modern version of the old pearl diving helmet, a full head cover connected to a constant air supply, and then walking down to an underwater platform where you’ll be surrounded by Great Barrier Reef fish.
There’s no previous experience necessary – and you can enjoy this tour, even if you can’t swim – you won’t even get your hair wet.
The Reef Magic Great Barrier Reef pontoon tours, give you 5 hours at the reef, which is more time than any of the other Cairns pontoon tours. Boarding commences at 8.15am for a 9am departure. Snorkelling equipment, a hot and cold buffet lunch and tea and coffee are provided and included in the tour price. As are all of the activities outlined above. 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.
Check in at the Reef Magic desk, inside the Reef Fleet Terminal. Once you have your tickets, proceed to the Reef Magic catamaran for boarding. The catamaran is located in the Marlin Marina. Tea and coffee are provided on arrival, on the boat.
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. The transfer time between Cairns and the Reef Magic Great Barrier Reef pontoon is around 90 minutes. You can sit in the air conditioned interiors or on the sundeck.
Arrive at the Reef Magic Pontoon, at Moore Reef on the Great Barrier Reef. Activities commence, including snorkelling, semi submersible tours, glass bottom boat tours and access to the underwater observatory. If you have booked scuba diving, seaTREK helmet diving, a guided snorkel tour or scenic helicopter flight, times will be advised for these activities.
A hot and cold buffet lunch is served on the pontoon. It includes chilled prawns, extensive selection of cold deli meats, range of fresh salads and breads, plus a range of hot dishes (vegetarian and non-vegetarian). 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.
When all guests are aboard, a passenger headcount is completed and then the boat commences its return to Cairns. Ice creams and beverages are available to purchase on the boat, in addition to the tour price.
Arrive back into the Cairns Marlin Marina.
There are lots of inclusions in the Reef Magic Cruises’ Moore Reef pontoon day tour.
There’s lots you can do, during your visit to the Great Barrier Reef with Reef Magic. Activities included in the ticket price are snorkelling, glass bottom boat tours, semi submersible tours and the underwater observatory. Optional extras include scuba diving – certified and introductory – seaTREK helmet diving, guided snorkel tours and scenic helicopter flights.
Yes, you can snorkel at Reef Magic’s Great Barrier Reef pontoon. Water access is on a lowered platform with bench seating, making it easy to put on fins. The reef is a short swim away from the pontoon, in a sheltered coral lagoon. The water is usually flat with little to no current, but flotation devices are available, if they make you feel more comfortable.
The snorkelling from the pontoon is excellent. The coral gardens have excellent coral cover, featuring hard and soft corals, anemones and giant clams. 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, which is in addition to the tour price. There are 2 guided snorkel tours, 1 from the pontoon and 1 on the outer edge of the reef.
Yes, Reef Magic provides both certified and introductory scuba diving. The introductory diving is provided from the pontoon itself. While certified divers will take a tender transfer to the outer reef wall, beyond the pontoon, for a drift dive and more. All diving is in addition to the Reef Magic tour price. All diving with Reef Magic is guided diving. The price includes all equipment, dive site briefings and instruction, and your dive guide. Please note the minimum age to participate in an introductory dive is 12 years old. There’s no previous experience needed. Some health conditions will preclude you from diving, this includes but is not limited to asthma, epilepsy, chronic ear and sinus conditions and more. Diving is not recommended during pregnancy.
Yes, Reef Magic’s Great Barrier Reef pontoon tour is suitable for non-swimmers and people of all ages. Non-swimmers can enjoy a range of activities that are included in the tour price, such as glass bottom boat tours, semi submersible tours and the underwater observatory. You can also join the fish feeding and marine naturalist presentations. There are optional extras as well, including the seaTREK helmet experience and scenic helicopter flights.
Yes, Reef Magic’s Great Barrier Reef pontoon tour is suitable for families. The catamaran can accommodate prams. Infants and young children can take a semi submersible tour, glass bottom boat tours 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 or seaTREK helmet diving. No prior experience necessary.
Lunch on Reef Magic’s Great Barrier Reef tour features an array of hot and cold dishes, including fresh prawns, ham and chicken nibbles, potato salad, garden salad and coleslaw. Plus curry, pasta and vegetarian dishes. Bread rolls and condiments.
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