There are literally dozens of companies to choose for your cruise to the reef. Prices range from $60 to $230 and passenger numbers range from 20 to 400…! Bear in mind, you do get what you pay for, cheap is not always cheerful! Generally speaking, all the reef trips available from Cairns are good – but there are definitely different levels of good!

When considering which reef cruise is going to best for your needs and expectations, it is important to note that a lot of marketing done by various reef companies advertise that they go to the “outer reef”. Technically, there is no such thing. Of the 2,900 individual reefs that comprise the Great Barrier Reef, some are a little closer to the coast, while others are a little further away. Generally, the further out you go, the better the underwater visibility, which is probably an important consideration for those certified scuba divers wanting to get good visibility on their deeper dives. For snorkelling or introductory scuba diving in the shallower waters however, it is not such an issue.

There is a daily Environmental Management Charge (Government Reef Tax) applicable to each passenger wishing to visit the reef. The charge varies according to the operator, $5 - $20 depending on whether a fuel levy has also been added. All companies include Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, snorkelling equipment hire and tuition (if required) and at least 4 hours on the reef. Introductory or Certified Scuba Diving is available at an optional extra cost on every day cruise company.

One or two reef companies include a pick-up in their price, however, the majority of companies do charge extra for this service. Njoy! offers a free shuttle transfer each morning that will take you directly to the Marina, which will save you even more money! Because the reef trips all return at different times, we cannot provide a transfer from the Marina back to the hostel. However, a short walk to our bus stop in the city centre will reward you with a free transfer back to the hostel in the evening – check at reception for the bus times.

We have listed some of the companies below which we consider to offer good value for money, and quality cruises: Ocean Free, Tusa Dive, Down Under Dive's Osprey IV and Rum Runner Cape Tribulation as well as Down Under Heli for those interested in experiencing a magical scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef.

There are various quality live-aboard operators available from Cairns. Live-aboard cruises allow more time to experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, and at multiple reef sites. These cruises also offer amazing night diving opportunities! Two notable companies mentioned below are Cairns Dive Centre and Vagabond Dive and Sail. Both companies offer very different live-aboard experiences, and each will leave you with fantastic memories of your visit to the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns is widely regarded as being home to the safest dive industry in the world, and completing a scuba diving course during your visit to Cairns will ensure you receive the best tuition, with first class training facilities and equipment as well diving in one of the most beautiful environments on Earth!

There are two associations you can choose from: PADI (Pacific Asia Dive Industry) and SSI (Scuba Schools International). Most visitors to Cairns intending to conduct a dive course have heard of PADI because of PADI’s extensive marketing in the Northern Hemisphere. This tends to scare people away from considering SSI as a dive course provider, as it is not as widely known. PADI and SSI are equivalent qualifications in every way. Both are equally recognised dive qualifications with every dive operator in the world. The course structures vary slightly, but both offer first class training facilities and the same number of training dives to complete your dive course. You can even change between the two as you advance your dive skill training. For example, you can complete a PADI Open Water course, and later decide to complete an SSI Advanced dive course. Both associations qualify divers from Open Water to Instructor.

Dive courses come in many forms: 4 day Budget Open Water, 4 day Open Water live-aboard, 5 day Budget Open Water, 5 day Open Water live-aboard, 6 day Open Water Advanced, Adventure Diving, 3 day Advanced, Rescue Diver, Dive Master Training and Instructor.

An Open Water course will consist of 2 days in the training centre, completing your pool and theory training before heading out to the reef and completing the 4 required training dives. The number of days, and dives in your course vary according to the kind of course you decide is best for you. One thing to keep in mind when considering which course is going to be right for you: yes, the budget Open Water courses are cheaper, and yes, you do gain your Open Water qualification after your 4 training dives. But, how long will it be before you dive again after this course?

Getting your scuba diving licence is like getting your car driving licence. Imagine getting your driving licence, and then not driving your car for another year. Picture how nervous you would be when you finally got behind the wheel again. Would you remember what to do? How safe would you feel, or would your driving be? If you have the budget, and some extra days available in Cairns, you should definitely consider extending your dive course to add a few dives to your repertoire…that way, everything you have just learned is much easier to remember, even if you don’t dive again for 12 months.

Certain physical and medical conditions will prevent you from commencing a dive course. Asthma, Epilepsy, chest or ear infections, pregnancy, a history of serious concussion or major surgical operations are some of the conditions preventing you from scuba diving. You also need to have basic swimming ability (which is tested during the course), and be able to demonstrate an ability to stay afloat for at leat 10 minutes.

There are a few additional costs involved in your Open Water dive course. A Dive Medical is compulsory, and these are conducted in the training centres on the first day of your dive course, price varies from $44 - $50. Some companies also charge approximately $40 for your dive manual – which is yours to keep on completion of your course, while others allow you to borrow a dive manual for the duration of the course only. You will also be subject to a daily EMC (Environmental Management Charge) or Government Reef Tax. This is between $10 to $20 per day; depending on whether the operator has added a fuel levy. Lastly, you will need two passport sized photographs – one for your shiny new dive card; while the second photo is kept on record in case you ever lose your card and need to apply for a replacement.

Below we show you Open Water dive course options only. For all other course enquiries, please contact us for more information. Remember, we will discount any dive course!

Two excellent companies offering dive training in Cairns are Down Under Dive (PADI) and Cairns Dive Centre (SSI).

Approximately 150km to the north of Cairns, you will find some of the most exquisite dive sites on earth. A narrow of chain of ribbon reefs stretch 100km along the eastern continental shelf of Australia to Lizard Island, and an amazing dive site affectionately known as the Cod Hole. The 10 Ribbon Reefs are the tops of an ancient mountain range, and contain picturesque coral gardens, deep drop offs, crystal clear waters and a stunning array of tropical marine life. The Cod Hole is home to a large family of Potato Cod (Groper), some of which are the size of motorcycles! You’ll be in awe of these huge diver friendly fish as they seemingly pose for your cameras!

Beyond Australia’s eastern continental shelf lies the Coral Sea. An approximate 150km cruise out into the Coral Sea from the Cod Hole and you’ll arrive at an isolated Coral Reef called Osprey. This is home territory for huge schools of pelagic fish and sharks in an undersea world of mountains, pinnacles and sheer walls laced with gorgonian fans and rising from thousands of feet below. Here 3,000 ft walls emerge from the ocean depths and the water is so astoundingly clear that divers appear suspended in air. You will see massive red and yellow soft corals, Reef Sharks, Grey Whaler Sharks, schooling Hammerheads, Mantas, plus schools of Barracuda, Big Eye Trevally, and Mackeral. During calm weather, it is not uncommon to get underwater visibility of 50 – 60 metres! For raw natural beauty, this is an unsurpassed diving experience!

There are several quality operators who can take you on this cruise of a lifetime, Spirit of Freedom and Taka Dive are two companies we highly recommend. During low season these companies have been known to offer “stand-by” specials, which offer unbelievable discounted pricing. These stand-by specials are usually released within 7 days of departure, however waiting for the possibility of these specials being released could mean you miss the opportunity to cruise with either company altogether!!!

For those who like the sound of experiencing the majesty of cruising, and chilling on an island in the tropical paradise that is Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, then maybe a cruise to Green Island or Fitzroy Island is your thing.

Along the East Coast of Australia, generally the islands can be divided into two groups: Continental or Coral Sand Cay. Fraser Island at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef doesn’t count, as it is an anomaly in its own right – being the largest sand island in the world, but not a coral sand cay! A Continental (or High) Island was once connected to the mainland millions of years ago, when sea levels were lower. A Coral Sand Cay a is small sand island built up on the Great Barrier reef over millions of years of dead coral breaking down to sand.

There are 3 ferry companies operating island cruises from Cairns. Great Adventures and Big Cat Green Island Cruises operate several cruises daily from Cairns to Green Island, while Fitzroy Island Ferries operates daily cruises to Fitzroy Island.