Great Barrier Reef Diving Day Trip Packages

We offer the best value diving and snorkelling on one-day trips to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. See spectacular coral gardens, great drop-offs, exciting swim-throughs, all teaming with a vast array of marine life. Day tours are available from Cairns, all year around as follows:

Option 1. Outer Barrier Reef

1 dive – AUD 190 per person, 2nd dive AUD 40 payable onboard (for certified divers)
1 introductory dive and snorkel – AUD 230 per person
Snorkelling only – AUD 170 per person
[minimum age: 10 years old]

How your day unfolds:

Cairns Outer Barrier Reef diving tours run every day, meet at 'E' or 'D' Finger/Gate, Marlin Marina at 7:30 am. Departing at 8 am, the MV Sun-Kist boat travels via Fitzroy Island on the way to the true Outer Great Barrier Reef. Each day it visits a reef from a choice of Milln, Briggs, Moore and Thetford reefs, about 2 hours, (approximately 40 nautical miles (70 kilometres)) off the coast of Cairns. The first dive takes place at 10:15 am, whilst a lunch of cold meats, salad and rolls, is served at noon. The second dive starts at 1 pm, then the boat departs for Cairns at 3:15 pm, via Fitzroy Island, returning to the marina at 5 pm. An afternoon tea is also provided, and a stocked bar for the way home.

What makes this day trip unique?

Your day trip is aboard the MV Sun-Kist, a 17 metre aluminium mono hull vessel with a maximum cruise speed of 15 knots. The maximum carrying capacity is 48 day trip passengers, but for your comfort the day guests are limited to 30 per tour to allow extra space for the passengers transferring to Fitzroy Island. You’ll dive 2 Outer Barrier Reef sites daily and see a variety of marine animals, such as clownfish, surgeonfish, stingrays, reef sharks and turtles. The vessel also meets Australian maritime safety standards.

Option 2. Sudbury and Briggs Reefs

1 dive – AUD 230 per person, 2nd dive AUD 60 payable onboard (for certified divers)
1 introductory dive and snorkel – AUD 190 per person
2 introductory dives – AUD 250 per person
Snorkelling only – AUD 140 per person
[minimum age: 18 years old]

How your day unfolds:

Sudbury and Briggs Reefs dive trips run every day, meet at 'E' or 'D' Finger/Gate, Marlin Marina at 9 am. Departing at 9:30 am, the Island Diver boat travels first to Briggs Reef, about 2 hours, (approximately 40 nautical miles (70 kilometres)) off the coast of Cairns. The first dive takes place at 11 am, whilst a buffet lunch is served at 1 pm. The second dive at Sudbury Reef starts at 1:30 pm, then the boat leaves the reef at 3 pm, returning back to the marina at 5 pm. An afternoon tea is also provided, and a stocked bar for the way home.

What makes this day tour unique?

Your day trip is onboard the Island Diver, an 18 metre catamaran with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers, and that complies with the stringent Australian nautical safety standards. Their experienced Reef Team - selected for their local knowledge and love of the Cairns region and the ocean - will help you discover the best snorkel and dive sites available from Cairns. You’ll spend a full 5 hours on the Great Barrier Reef. The boat is the only vessel permitted to visit the amazing Sudbury Cay. Island Diver also visits Briggs Reef, to the famous "Fish Bowl", a small cove within the reef system. The reef is amazing with large swim throughs, giant clams and amazing clownfish families, including Nemo. It is perfect for snorkelling and SCUBA diving.

Both options:

Daytrip prices normally include: dives, use of all required scuba equipment (including dive computer), lunch, afternoon tea, coffee/tea, drinking water, and taxes.
Prices exclude (mandatory, unless customer provides own): None.
Optional extras: dive guide (AUD 15 per person per dive) , dive insurance, drinks from the bar.

You might enjoy viewing our video library which shows some of the marine life you will encounter when diving on tours of the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

Your Additional Needs: through our partners we can also help you with hotel bookings and travel packages & diving insurance.

Why is Dive The World the best way for you to book your holiday?

• We are the best price you will find. Dive The World's Lowest Price Guarantee - If you can book the same package elsewhere online, at the same time, then we will beat that price.
• Free dive insurance for first time customers - you are covered for diving accidents on your trip.
• Book now, pay later - You book, we hold the spaces and you confirm with a payment later.
• Only pay when you are ready - We won't demand your credit card right away. You pay only when you are comfortable.
• 24 hour cancellation window - After confirmation you have 24 hours to book flights. Any problems you can cancel.
• Loyalty Bonuses:
  - Once you complete a simple QA form, as a returning guest, you are entitled to a 5% discount in any of our worldwide destinations!
  - Make 5 dive bookings with us and receive 10% off the price of your 5th booking from Dive The World's Gold Range.
  - Free booking amendments.
• Refer a friend - recommend us to your friends and claim a discount voucher of up to US$ 100.
• Quick personal communications with our independent agents - we will get back to you right away with full details of our recommendations based on our experience.
• Charitable donations - By booking with Dive The World you are helping us to contribute to our chosen charities that help protect the marine environment.
• You have a bigger choice - we match your requirements against hundreds of options before making the recommendations that suit you.
• You're not being used to fill our boats - Your satisfaction is our priority. We want you to get what you expect at the best price. Also if things go wrong with the operator they will want to keep us happy more than a customer they will never see again. So we will represent you.
• See our Terms & Conditions including Cancellation Policy page for more details on these benefits.