Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise from Cairns

Great value with great service

On an ocean quest tour for 3 days and 2 nights with my friend in Australia, we experienced some of the best days of our lives. Venturing out to the Great Barrier Reef with Divers Den was a decision I'll never regret. The team at Divers Den was not only friendly but also incredibly approachable. Even if English isn't your strongest language, they go above and beyond to ensure you have the best diving or snorkelling experience possible. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Taylor, one of the diving staff, for her genuine attentiveness and empathy towards us. She assisted us with everything from gear to hand signals and breathing techniques and even communicated our needs to other staff members when necessary. Thanks to her guidance, our introductory dives went well and smoothly. Overall, I highly recommend booking a tour with Divers Den to everyone.

No drama!

The whole day just flowed. Totally professional happy staff resulted in a chilled enjoyable diving experience. I just booked again!

Unforgettable experience 🙂👌

Wow, that was unforgettable in the most positive way possible! Did the introductionary dive (originally planned "just" snorkeling but an upgrade was offered and I thought 'why not?') and was really glad about it for several reasons. The main reason was: I briefly tried snorkeling as well but the sea was a but rough and it would have been difficult to snorkel for a longer time without swallowing a lot of water I assume, whereas the water felt perfectly calm underneath the surface. Great job by the crew in preparing and assisting us newbies, thanks!!

Safety is terrible with this comany. Newer Divers Beware

This place is terrible for new divers. ZERO safety plan gone over before dives. Rushed in the water both dives. Half the boat was puking over the side by the time we got there (Why couldnt they tell us before departure it would be such rough seas when they immediately told us after it took off?) To top it off I paid extra to have a 1:1 person with me for the dive and low and behold they went up with out me. Second dive they put me with an INTERN as the dive master with AGAIN no safety plan gone over and no safety stop going up. I neded up getting the bends . I have no idea how such a lack of ssafety hasnt led to more people being injured. Find ANY company other than this and one who takes safety serious. Also why at the bottom when taking pictures do they have people grab the coral? That cant be good for it right?

What an adventure with Divers Den!

We had so much fun on the 2D1N diving trip with Divers Den from Cairns! The team did an awesome job keeping everything on track, the beds and room were super comfy plus there was so much food. It's obvious the crew are seasoned pros and its clear safety and fun are at the top of the dive teams priorities. We're looking forward to returning and would definitely recommend this trip. We were a group of 2 x newly certified OW divers and 1 x AOW diver. Massive thanks to Anna for being so patient, helpful, and encouraging when I needed it most. You're amazing and I'll never forget you <3. Shoutout to Danny and Roig for showing us some truly unforgettable underwater sights, and to Alfa for being so kind and reassuring on the dive deck. You all helped make our trip exceptional.

Great Time Learning to Dive at the Great Barrier Reef

My partner and I did the 4 day PADI Open Water diving course with Divers Den and it was the best experience ever. We had a great time in the pool, in a safe and friendly environment to learn all the skills. Lewis was a great teacher - very supportive and calm! Then we spent 2 days on Ocean Quest Liveaboard completing our open water dives on the Great Barrier Reef. Despite the conditions being less than ideal, we had a great time practicing diving under the supervision of Hannie. She was super enthusiastic and motivating, making sure we were safe and doing a good job! Best experience so far and can’t wait to come back for more time diving on the liveaboard!! Thank you very much Divers Den!!

Unforgettable Experience!

Wow! What a super-slick operation. Difficult to find fault. From the second perfect punctuality to the food, onboard accomodation, friendliness of the staff and location, it was simply unforgettable. I would also say this package (we did 4 days/3 nights) was absolutely value for money. My friend of forty years came over from the UK, and seeing the marine life created a life long memory. Thank you to all of staff for their hard work and willingness to stop and chat. Nothing was ever too much trouble. Audrey for keeping the onboard logistics running perfectly, the chef for the great food and the engineer and skipper who always shared a laugh and their experience. Finally to our dive guides, always patient, professional and knowledgeable. We ordered what creatures we wanted to see and Taylor and Michael delivered! Short version. Highly recommended.

"What an experience" Thank you Divers Den Team!!

One of my bucket list goals was to dive the Great Barrier Reef. How glad I was to have chosen Divers Den to delivery the experience for me. After visiting the Cairns 24 Hr Medical centre to have a Dive medical, due to life long Asthma, which is under control and passing "Fit" (they checked everything sight,ears,breath test and pee in the pot) I booked us in with Divers Den for snorkelling (3 or us). We got to the boat at 08:00 and set off around 08:45 as there were quite a number of guests to process which was completed very efficiently and we were all given a safety number (mine was 55) on registration which tagged us throughout the trip to make sure we all got in and out of the boat safely and all guests were counted on and off board each time we went snorkelling or diving, it was also tagged on my diving equipment to make sure I used the same kit for each dive i.e. tank, flippers, goggles e.t.c. I chose, as my last dive was around 6 years ago to go with a group dive (dive instructor) rather than a buddy dive, as I needed to get up to speed with the process again of setup and checking the equipment. Our dive instructor on both dives was Pedro who took us literally under his wing and I felt completely safe with him for both dives which were incredible. We dived at two sites along the reef. Thank you so much Pedro!! Shout out also to all the crew members of the boat team they were very organised and helpful to all that I could see. The lunch was great and there was plenty of water onboard to drink and bits of food to buy outside of lunch and when dives and snorkelling were over wine and beer on the way back. I would thoroughly recommend this trip with Divers Den! Thank you all again for an amazing day/time. Ps My Partner and her son both had great snorkelling sessions as well and concur with me re the trip.

Really goo dexperience.

Great experience, wonderful staff, 3.5/10 food, snorkelling was worth it, most of the participants were seasick.

First time diving

Wonderful trips, staff very helpful and friendly, food was alright with nice fresh fruits and good service.

Great experience

Divers Den is a great experience. I have a great time doing scuba diving and getting some of the underwater photos from the photographer in the team. I tired second time scuba diving after my first introductory. The team was patient teaching the basic skills for scuba diving and I had a great time.

Outstanding GBR Snorkelling Trip with Diver Den

An excellent day snorkelling on the majestic GBR. The boat was very clean, comfortable, and spacious for the 60 guests on our trip. The check-in / reception process was welcoming, smooth, and efficient, with many staff on hand to ease the process. We were provided with a stinger suit, mask snorkel, and fins with the option of a buoyancy vest. Detailed safety briefing and marine ecosystem description were well done. Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea were plentiful and tasty. Crew were outstanding, onboard, and in the water. Of course, the star of the day was the vast array of amazing marine life on display at both sites we visited. In all, an excellent day and Diver Den is highly recommended.

Amazing Scuba diving

It was our first time for scuba diving. The instructor(Seokwoo) was so kind and professional. He showed us many beautiful coral reefs, fish and shark! We have so much fun :) Thank you!

Nice experience

The diving tour staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, enhancing the overall experience. The salad served was exceptionally delicious, adding a pleasant culinary touch to the adventure. Witnessing a baby shark was undoubtedly a highlight, offering a rare and thrilling encounter with marine life.

Friendly crew , barrier reef amazing

Amazing experience, crew were friendly and very helpful throughout the day. Great Barrier Reef was simply an incredible site. Would recommend.

Great from beginning to end

Great experience from beginning to end. Staff were organized and friendly, food was great, boat and snorkeling/scuba diving locations were amazing! Brought our 8 year old daughter and everyone had a wonderful time. There were probably less than 50 people on this trip which made it feel like a more intimate experience. Highly recommend.

A great day snorkelling on the reef!

Overall a good trip. Boat was very full, but there is space for everyone, although a lot of folks were leaving bags etc to hold seats inside and outside the vessel. Crew was very friendly, and very well organized, and equipment was all OK. Lots of divers on the boat, which are given priority, and only a handful of snorkelers. Food and drinks were great, and despite some big waves and strong current, the reef was amazing. Two beautiful sites visited. A lot of folks doing the overnight on the Oceanquest, if you are going out with Divers Den, that’s definitely the best way to go. Crew worked hard to ensure it was a good day, boat and gear were great and the reef was simply amazing. Divers Den had the best price around as well. We would have no trouble recommending them to anyone looking to dive or snorkel the reef.

Awesome!

Thanks team, really well looked after from start to finish.. food was great and ample. Dive guides were excellent and of course the reef brought the magic!

Great Barrier Reef

Absolutely stunning trip. Great crew and brilliant diving and snorkelling… All equipment and the boat were amazing…Highly recommended!!!

Great Excursion

Very well organized. Snorkeling gear and "sting suit" provided. Over three hours on the reef. buffet lunch was decent. crew/staff were helpful and friendly. Recommended.

Diving on the Reef Experience

The crew was so amazing! I felt so safe and thoroughly enjoyed the entire trip from start to finish. They were so efficient and knowledgeable, and made our trip so incredible! Thanks for everything!

Its not called the great barrier reef for nothing

This experience was epic! We did snorkling and I've never seen such vast reef. How magical it felt seeing all the colorful corals and all the other sea creatures. We were lucky to see a turtle and a shark too and it just felt surreal. The staff were amazing and friendly! The lunch served was filling as well. It was a lovely experience and hopefuly as a tourist, we should learn to take care of the great barrier reef.

Amazing day out! Would 100% recommend, thanks guys!

Such an amazing day, felt so safe in the hands of the instructors and was just an all round light hearted and fun day, the instructors do their jobs fantastically and add a few jokes in during briefings and talks so its not so serious. We had 2 dives and both felt so calm and relaxed as the instructors kept on checking the welfare of the introductory divers whilst in the water and saw the amazing world below the surface at the GBR! 100% would recommend, so worth your money, enjoyed every second!

A Memorable Day

As a pair of oldies we were unsure if the snorkelling would be for us but we shouldn’t have worried it was perfect. The crew are professional, competent and well organised. They gave plenty of advice. We knew we were in good hands right from the start. The whole day was wonderful and definitely another tick off the bucket list!

Great experience, would recommend to anyone.

Amazing experience, reefs and wildlife were beautiful. Crew were very helpful. Plus in water photographer who isn’t very expensive. Only downside is blisters on my feet from the flippers due to my feet not being use to them.

Feeling at home in the Great Barrier Reef.

1. The trip - amazing. 2. Crew - excellent 3. Snorkl Guide Fiona - very thorough, experienced, patient and kind. 4. Best company.

Quick summary

Well organised tour boat, friendly and efficient staff with fun and safety in equal measure. We had non swimmer with us who stayed aboard and was looked after by on board team too. Food was solid (although coffee limited to when stationary for safety reasons 😞) good communication throughout . Equipment in good condition. Thanks folks.

Amazing Experience with Divers Den

Great staff! Sandra was very detailed on the instructions given on the Intro Scuba Diving! She was also very patience with the first timers divers. The food served was also very good! Drinking water was provided throughout the day; sunscreen was also provided. The only thing I would recommend is for them to get a sound system (microphone with amps), so the instructions are given more clearly by the instructor to the students while the boat is in movement.

Ocean Quest Live Aboard

This was honestly the trip of a lifetime. I spent 4 days and 3 nights on Ocean Quest out at Norman and Saxon Reef. The staff were amazing and they all worked hard to make sure everyone had a wonderful experience. A big shout out to Taylah my Advanced Open-water instructor. She did an amazing job and made sure that we had fun as well. All of the staff on the boat were positive, energetic, and very helpful. I would like to give a special thanks to Momo, Simon, and Sandy. These three were so positive and worked extra hard to make sure every dove safely, had fun, and stuck to the schedule. Food The food was great I am dairy-free and I did not have to worry about anything. The main dishes were always dairy-free and the staff made sure that there was a dairy free desert option for me each night. One thing I will note is that the dinner is not that big, I assume this is because people are still diving after dinner and they don’t want you to overeat. I am a big eater so I brought some snack bars with me and that was more than enough if I was still a bit hungry after dinner. Diving The crew does a great job of fitting 4 dives in a day. If you’re staying on the boat that night you have plenty of time to nap before your afternoon dive while the staff moves people on and off the boat. The staff are also very familiar with the dive sites and can give you suggestions on where to go. I did my first dive with a guide and it really helped me get familiar with the reef. Accommodations The beds are very comfortable and the boat's AC kept everything nice and cool. The showers and bathroom are adequate and there is plenty of hot water for showers. The only toilette trees the supply are soap so bring your own shampoo etc if you need it. There are also plenty of spaces to lounge and relax at the end of the day and in between dives. Overall it was a 5-star experience even if the boat is not a 5-star hotel, at the end of the day you are there for the experience. My only complaint is that there was no Wifi on the boat even though they advertised that there would be. That being said it was nice to disconnect a bit, relax, chat with new people on the boat and be present. I went on this trip alone and it was easy to meet people and find groups to dive with.

Don't let the rain stop you

Oceanquest is an experience locals and tourists must do. Even if the weather isnt perfect the reef is still a beautiful place to explore, the whole day was a combination of relaxing and exciting. I signed up to do my advanced open water course and it was one of the greatest diving experiences ive had. Day 1 we went out on Aquaquest and geared up for 1 fun dive before the course started. Shout out to my guide Thea who taught me a new skill creating bubble rings with my hands and Carlos the photographer who followed us on the fun dive and snapped some amazing shots. Anna then briefed me for my first dive of the course and made the whole experience fun and easy. She even spotted a couple of nudibranch's lounging on the boulder coral. After a delicious feed of perfectly cooked chicken we then transferred over to Ocean Quest. The supervisor Sandy took over from there and was a delightful host. Full of energy and very caring for the staff and customers. Liam jumped in and checked everybody's deitary requirements and took great care of everyone at the bar. The rooms are cosy and you get an ensuite with a warm shower. Jonathan would be my instructor for the next 4 dives, he came to introduce himself and brief me on what we would be doing. Jonathan was very professional, friendly, and his communication in and out of the water was perfect. His demonstrations underwater helped me smash through all the skills in no time, leaving enough time to enjoy some exploring on each dive. The highlight of the trip by far was the night dive. The giant trevaly followed us to the sea floor while we prowled around the reef like a pack of wolves hunting prey in the woods. Nothing better than spotting sharks roaming in the dark. Day 2 the weather had settled overnight. After a full English breakfast, fruit, cereal coffee, tea, juice and toast on offer the guest were briefed and back in the water for 2 more dives before lunch and pick up. Not only am I now Advanced open water certified, I am happy with my experience, relaxed, and loaded with more adventure stories.

Great experience

Great experience under water, it's a wonderful trip, a lifetime memory especially seeing the beautiful creatures in the sea.

Great day at the reef and an unforgettable experience!

The snorkeling and diving was exceptional and it was very smoothly organised..good equipment and very comfortable boat

Amazing day - made better by Matt!

Myself and a group of friends booked an introductory dive session and our diving guide Matt was absolutely incredible from the safety briefing to the dive itself. Thank you Matt - you made the day and gave us an experience we will never forget. Everything was very professional, well organised throughout the day. Carlos the photographer was amazing too.

Disaster

Divers den had canceled the dive trip tomorrow last minute and is refusing to offer a refund. This for me is not acceptable. The shop is responsible for last minute cancellations. This should not fall on the consumer.

Great snorkeling tour - and returned in time for a 6:30 PM flight!

The full-day snorkeling cruise from Cairns on Aqua Quest was great. There were more than enough crew members to handle those participating that day. They did safety broken down by scuba vs. snorkeling, which was helpful. We snorkeled in two different locations and got numerous underwater pictures. The lunch was okay but the variety wasn't nearly what I expected. Sodas cost quite a bit extra, so I recommend taking your own. They did have a photographer who took pictures of everyone and the pricing for the images was actually quite good. We had a great time and easily made it to the airport for a dinner-time departure!

Too many people

We were on a boat with 80 PEOPLE. Yes thats right, EIGHTY. They take you to bad spots in the reef where the water isnt as clear. Also the boat is disgusting. There is 80 people walking around with WET FEET on a wet carpet. Shoes are not allowed to be worn on the boat itself so everyone is barefoot.

Great dives with Great people at the Great Barrier Reef

Did the 3 day/2 night liveaboard on Ocean Quest in November 2023 and it was amazing! I had already done about 25 dives and my sister just got her open water at the beginning of the month, and this was a great way to dive a ton with lots of cool people from around the world. The guides and crew were all super friendly, knowledgeable, and really went the extra mile to make it a fun and memorable experience - THANK YOU! The dive sites were great, and we got to see a lot of life and beautiful coral. The night dive and "sharks in the dark" were both really unique experiences, too. I would definitely do this again and highly recommend it!

100/10 - do recommend

I travelled to Cairns from Brisbane specifically to do a Great Barrier Reef snorkel trip and I am stoked that we chose Divers Den. The stuff on board were all engaging in the delivery of their important information and were very efficient at getting a large group of tourists out on the water. The guides were all so knowledgeable about the reef and the species living there and were more than happy to take photos for us and help out in every way they could. 100/10 would recommend Divers Den for Great Barrier Reef snorkelling.

Magnificent

Overall a wonderful experience! The staff was lovely and engaging, the provided equipment in very good condition, food was plenty and good. The reef speaks for itself - just extraordinarily beautiful and stunning!!! Just note: Drinks are extra and photos are fairly expensive

Great Trip

It was a great trip - lots of fish and corals, a nice crew, nice lunch...just good. We went to two reefs both stunning.

Lovey day out on the Great Barrier Reef!

The crew were excellent. We had a great time snorkelling. We were disappointed to realise we hadn’t read the medical requirements correctly and couldn’t do the intro scuba dive experience (our fault and only mention to make sure you do before you book), but honestly it was still fantastic to snorkel and see the incredible coral and fish life at the two sites we visited! We’re already excited to do this again when our kids are older and show them one of the Seven Wonders of the World!

An awesome scuba day

I had an awesome scuba diving experience at the Great Barrier Reef! All the staff were extremely helpful and planned a great day for everyone. I had Anton as my scuba guide and he was so helpful. Would definitely recommend this experience if you’re in Cairns!

Exceptional

My partner and I did a lot of research before choosing a company for our Great Barrier Reef diving experience, and we are very happy with our experience with Divers Den and would highly recommend them. We did the 3d/2n Ocean Quest cruise from Cairns. The dive sites were Plate top, Turtle Bay, Norman Reef Playground (x2), Troppos (x2), Saxon Reef Coral Garden, and Saxon Reef Twin Peaks. Every single dive site was great, more than lived up to the hype of GBR diving. From our very first moment aboard the ship, we were so impressed by the organization and professionalism of the company. They did an exceptional job managing a large group of people, and despite it being a large group, made it feel personalized and friendly (remembering names, divvying up into smaller groups, being so attentive to everyone). The staff even went above and beyond, I was quite sea sick in the first few hours on the smaller Aqua Quest boat and they immediately came to help me and were so kind (special shoutout to fellow Canadian Sandi who ran the Ocean Quest while we were there and she did an amazing job!). We had a number of different dive instructors/guides and they were all excellent and instilled a lot of confidence. The accommodations were way better than we were expecting (actually comfortable and cute and fairly spacious!). Expectations were low for food aboard the boat, but it was actually so delicious! Different, high quality fruit/veg/protein options at every meal and DELICIOUS. Overall we really felt the value was exceptional and would highly recommend.

Awesome diving trip

Originally booked to do 3 dives.. and ended up booking extra nights it was that good, honestly didn't want to leave! The Diving and organisation of it is very slick, all of the staff are just fantastic! And every single meal is great. Can't wait to get back. 10/10 very impressed. 😃

Confusing description

The most memorable part was the realization that the boat was not going to the destination we thought we had signed up for. The Viator website was too confusing to make the options clear.

Average Dive! Meh Good! Underwhelming Experience

Honestly extremely average dive session for the price charged. The instructor was decent but we hardly explored the Reef and came up really quickly. Most of the time was spent teaching people how to Scuba and then the actual Scuba was cut short. The food served on board were not up to the mark. No Seafood as promised. And the rest of the food was nothing to write home about. Genuinely disappointment because the crew was really nice and helpful Also they charge $20 for 1 photo. What the actual F#%@. 50 bucks if you want the entire set and some random Reef pictures . Daylight robbery for digital photos. I would understand if they printed it out and have it to you. Underwhelming. I've had better Scuba experiences for way less money and would only recommend this if it's something you wanted to check off your bucket list. I wish I could go back in time and book another cruise

Diving on the GBR

Great experience to dive on the GBR .Proffesional procedures by Divers Den, and my personal thankful to Sharon and Patrick !!! Best buddy that day .

A dive of a lifetime!

We did this excursion for our sons bday and it was a day we will always remember. Definitely a core memory was made. Matt was our guide and he was fabulous!

a great day at sea

Great diving on a fast boat. the crew is really engaging and helps you out if you have a problem. We were able to see the great barrier reef in all its glory and even spotted a turtle! I would recommend a day trip to everyone!

Superb

It was one if the best experiences in my life. The crew was amazing. Definitely wanna do it again. Thank you !!