Split view of the Poseidon reef cruise boat above a coral bommie
Back Highly recommendedVerified as Loop's Top 10Last reviewed October 2026

Poseidon Outer Reef cruises with Intro Dives

from A$426
7 hours 45 mins
Port Douglas

Cruise from Port Douglas to the Agincourt ribbon reefs aboard Poseidon, a 24 metre dive and snorkel catamaran, and make your first scuba dive with an instructor. The day takes in three reef sites, marine biologist briefings, a tropical buffet lunch and coach transfers from Port Douglas accommodation, with one or two intro dive options available.

  • Split view of the Poseidon reef cruise boat above a coral bommie
  • Snorkeller swimming alongside a sea turtle on the Great Barrier Reef
  • Aerial view of the outer Great Barrier Reef with a reef cruise boat at anchor
  • Two divers posing beside a sea anemone on an introductory reef dive
  • Colourful soft and hard corals on the outer Great Barrier Reef near Port Douglas
  • Scuba diver beside vivid soft corals on the outer Great Barrier Reef
  • Split view of the Poseidon reef cruise boat above a coral bommie
  • Snorkeller swimming alongside a sea turtle on the Great Barrier Reef
  • Aerial view of the outer Great Barrier Reef with a reef cruise boat at anchor
  • Two divers posing beside a sea anemone on an introductory reef dive
  • Colourful soft and hard corals on the outer Great Barrier Reef near Port Douglas
  • Scuba diver beside vivid soft corals on the outer Great Barrier Reef

Quick read before you book.

  • Your first scuba dive on the outer Great Barrier Reef
  • Three sites on the Agincourt ribbon reefs, picked for the day's conditions
  • Purpose built dive and snorkel catamaran with an undercover dive deck
  • Permit to swim with dwarf minke whales in season, when encountered
  • Lowering transom for easy entry into the water

What people say about this operator.

Google Reviews
4.7 Stars|114 reviews

What could be better?

Honestly, not much. It's a fair run to the Outer Reef, so take a seasickness pill before you board if you're prone.

Summarised by AI, verify on Google Business Profile before booking

Included in this tour.

  • Return cruise from Port Douglas to the outer Great Barrier Reef, visiting three sites
  • Return coach transfers from Port Douglas accommodation
  • One or two introductory dives with an instructor, depending on your option, with full dive gear
  • Dive briefing, tuition and practice on the dive platform
  • Morning tea and coffee, tropical buffet lunch with prawns, and afternoon tea
  • Mask, snorkel, fins and snorkelling instruction
  • Lycra suits and flotation devices
  • Guided snorkel tours with marine interpretation
  • Reef Biosearch marine biologist briefings at each site
  • Hot freshwater showers
  • Optional citizen science reef monitoring survey
  • Environmental Management Charge

Commonly asked questions.

Check in at the Poseidon reservations counter inside Port Douglas Marina between 7:30am and 8am, ready for the 8:30am departure. Coach transfers from Port Douglas accommodation are included, and if you are staying in Cairns or the Northern Beaches you can add a return coach, which our guide to getting around Cairns without a car puts in context.

Both include the same cruise, three reef sites, lunch and guided snorkelling. The one dive option gives you a first taste of scuba with more snorkelling time, while the two dive option adds a second descent once you are more relaxed underwater.

Intro divers must be at least 12, and younger children can snorkel with an adult, with child fares from 4 to 14 and infants aged 0 to 3 free. Pregnancy is on the dive medical questionnaire and needs a doctor's assessment before diving, so speak to your doctor before choosing a dive option.

A yes answer on the medical questionnaire, for example for asthma, epilepsy, heart trouble or a current cold, means you need a physician's assessment to Australian Standard AS4005.1 before diving. Poseidon has a lowering transom for easier water entry, but if you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, contact the team before booking.

If a cruise cannot operate because of weather or unforeseen circumstances, you are offered another day or a refund. You can call (07) 4087 2100 from 7am on the day for an update.

Cancel before 12pm the day before travel with no fee; between 12pm and 6pm the day before a 50% fee applies, and after 6pm the full fare is charged. Date changes are free with at least 24 hours' notice.

Morning tea, a tropical buffet lunch with prawns and afternoon tea are included, with a licensed bar on board. Lycra suits and all snorkel and dive gear are provided, so just bring swimwear, a towel, a hat and reef safe sunscreen.
Wait at least 12 hours after one dive, and ideally 24 hours after two, before flying or going above 300 metres, which includes the Kuranda range and a Cairns tandem skydive. Plan your reef day for the end of your trip or leave a clear day before any flights.

More about this tour.

Poseidon is a 24 metre catamaran built for diving and snorkelling, and it runs from Port Douglas out to the Agincourt ribbon reefs on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, with Escape Reef also in the rotation. The crew chooses three sites each day from more than 35 locations to suit the conditions, so every stop is a fresh stretch of reef.This version of the day is built around your first scuba dive. Your instructor gives you a briefing and tuition on board, you practise on the dive platform, then you descend together onto the reef. Between dives you can join a guided snorkel tour, and a Reef Biosearch marine biologist briefs the group at each site on what to look out for.Morning tea is served on the way out, lunch is a tropical buffet with prawns, and afternoon tea and hot freshwater showers round off the run home. Between May and September dwarf minke and humpback whales may be sighted, and Poseidon holds a permit that lets guests swim with dwarf minkes when they are encountered, though sightings are never guaranteed.This tour has multiple options;
  • Cruise with one introductory dive, a first taste of scuba with plenty of time left for snorkelling
  • Cruise with two introductory dives, for a second descent once you have found your feet underwater
Still weighing up your reef day? Our guide on how to choose a reef tour walks through the trade offs, and Port Douglas or Cairns helps if you are still deciding where to base yourself.Explore the options below, check availability for your date, then book the one that suits your day.

Additional info.

Check in at the Poseidon reservations counter inside Port Douglas Marina between 7:30am and 8am. The boat departs at 8:30am, leaves the reef around 2:45pm to 3pm and is back at the marina around 4:15pm to 4:30pm; times can change with weather or site changes. Return coach transfers from Port Douglas accommodation are included, and coach transfers from Cairns and the Northern Beaches can be added for $41 per adult and $36 per child return.
  • Child fares apply from 4 to 14 years and infants aged 0 to 3 travel free. Children of any age are welcome with an adult but should be confident in the water, and under 15s must travel with a parent or legal guardian.
  • The minimum age for introductory diving is 12.
  • Every intro diver completes a medical questionnaire before the briefing. A yes answer, for conditions such as heart trouble, asthma, epilepsy, a current cold or pregnancy, means you need a physician's assessment to Australian Standard AS4005.1 before you can dive.
  • Do not drink alcohol before diving or snorkelling. After one dive, wait at least 12 hours before flying or going above 300 metres, and ideally 24 hours after two dives; that includes skydiving, hot air ballooning and trips up to Kuranda.
  • Marine stingers are generally present from November to April, and Lycra suits are provided free on board.
  • Motion sickness tablets are sold on board and free ginger tablets are available.
  • Bring swimwear, a towel, a hat and reef safe sunscreen.
  • If a cruise cannot operate because of weather or unforeseen circumstances, you are offered another day or a refund. Weather updates are available by phone from 7am on (07) 4087 2100.
  • Cancel before 12pm the day before travel with no fee; between 12pm and 6pm the day before a 50% fee applies, and after 6pm the full fare is charged. Date changes are free with at least 24 hours' notice.