Back Highly recommendedVerified as Loop's Top 10Last reviewed October 2026

Passions of Paradise Full Day Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour

from A$275

9 hours

Cairns

All Ages (0+)

Free Cancellation (24 hours prior)

Sail from Cairns on a fast, stable catamaran to two outer Great Barrier Reef sites picked daily from 24 private moorings. Snorkel with a free guided tour, tuck into a chef prepared buffet lunch and catch the marine naturalist talk on the sail home. Keen to go deeper? Add an intro dive or certified dives when you book.

Quick read before you book.

Two outer reef sites picked fresh each day from 24 private moorings
Open reef and quiet moorings, not a crowded pontoon
Snorkel with turtles, colourful reef fish and a huge variety of coral
Stretch out on the netted bow trampoline as you sail
Try your first scuba dive or log certified dives on the same day
Award winning Cairns crew known for reef stewardship

What people say about this operator.

Google Reviews

4.9 Stars|1,317 reviews

What they like?

Crew who genuinely love the reef, a relaxed sail out to quiet outer reef sites, patient intro dive instructors and a lunch spread guests rave about.

What could be better?

Honestly, not much. It is a full day on open water, so pop a seasickness tablet before you board if you are prone to it.

Summarised by AI, verify on Google Business Profile before booking

Included in this tour.

Return sailing from Cairns to two outer Great Barrier Reef sites on a 25 metre catamaran
All snorkelling equipment and flotation belts
Complimentary guided snorkel tour
Free prescription masks
Free wetsuits in the winter months
Morning tea
Chef prepared tropical buffet lunch
Afternoon tea
Marine naturalist presentation on the return sail
Tap water
Environmental Management Charge and port levies

Commonly asked questions.

Check in from 7:00am at the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns. Boarding starts at 7:30am and the boat leaves at 8:00am sharp, getting back around 5:00pm.

The crew often sails in the rain and checks the wind, tide and swell before every trip. If the tour is cancelled for weather or mechanical reasons you get a full refund, but if the skipper visits only one reef site for safety, no refund applies.

You can cancel or change your booking up to 24 hours before departure, subject to availability. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours incur a 100% cancellation fee.

Yes. Child prices apply to ages 4 to 14, and everyone under 18 must travel with an adult. Infants aged 3 and under need one adult each, and each adult can bring a maximum of two children aged 4 to 12.

Yes. Non swimmers can head in with a flotation device and follow a guide around an easy area, and flotation belts are available for everyone. Crew keep watch from the boat the whole time you are in the water.

No. Pick the Intro Dive option for your first dive with an instructor, no certification needed. Licensed divers can book one dive or two certified dives with all gear included, and everyone diving completes a medical questionnaire first.

Yes. Morning tea, a chef prepared tropical buffet lunch and afternoon tea are all included, with hot and cold vegetarian options. The menu changes daily, and drinks other than tap water are available to buy on board.

Pack swimwear, a towel, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, plus your certification if you are diving. Reef safe sunscreen is the way to go, and our reef safe sunscreen guide explains what to look for.

The terminal sits at Marlin Marina in central Cairns. Return transfers cost $25 per person from Cairns city and $45 per person from the Northern Beaches, and our guide to getting around Cairns without a car covers your other options.

The catamaran is more stable than a single hull boat, and its sails help steady it in rougher water. If you are prone to seasickness, take a tablet before you leave, as the crew also sells them on board.

More about this tour.

Most reef boats out of Cairns head to the same busy pontoon every day. Passions of Paradise plays it differently. Each morning the skipper picks two outer reef sites from 24 private moorings, based on the wind, tide and swell, so you end up wherever the reef is looking its best that day, with open water around you instead of a pontoon crowd.You check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal from 7am and you are sailing by 8. Morning tea comes out as the 25 metre catamaran cuts across to the outer reef, and the netted bow trampoline is the best seat on the boat. At each site you can join the free guided snorkel tour or explore with your buddy in the marked area, with flotation belts on hand and crew keeping watch. Not a confident swimmer? A guide can take you in with a flotation device, and our guide to the Great Barrier Reef for non swimmers covers what to expect.Lunch is a chef prepared tropical buffet with hot and cold dishes and vegetarian options, and afternoon tea follows at the second site. On the sail back, a marine naturalist talks you through the turtles, fish and corals you just swam over, so it all clicks into place. You are back at the marina around 5pm.This tour has multiple options;

Snorkel: two outer reef sites, the guided snorkel tour and all snorkel gear
Snorkel + Intro Dive: your first scuba dive with an instructor, no certification needed
Snorkel + 1 Certified Dive: a guided dive for licensed divers, with gear, dive computer and wetsuit included
Snorkel + 2 Certified Dives: two guided dives for licensed divers, with all gear included

Still weighing up your reef day? Our guide to choosing a reef tour lays out what matters. Explore the options above, then check availability for your date.

Additional info.

Check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns from 7:00am. Boarding starts at 7:30am for a strict 8:00am departure, and you are usually back between 4:45pm and 5:00pm depending on conditions.Bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Certified divers need proof of certification. Soft drinks, snacks, beer, wine and cider can be bought on board by cash or card.Everyone doing in water activities must complete a Queensland Government medical questionnaire. Some medical conditions and medications may stop you diving, the dive instructors have the final say, and there are no refunds for dives not completed.Return transfers are available from Cairns city ($25 per person) and the Northern Beaches ($45 per person) through a separate transfer provider. Transfers do not cover South Cairns or Port Douglas.Passions III is not fully wheelchair accessible, so get in touch with the operator before booking to talk through your needs.