Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

Amazing!!

We had a great time. Visiting the Great Barrier Reef was something that I wanted to do specially after seeing the movie Finding Nemo :) Took a guided tour with Sammy, the marine biologist, and saw things I wouldn't have seen otherwise. Saw the resident big fish Wally swimming along with a diver like a pet dog :) We took the glass bottom tour and again learnt a lot from Sammy. Overall an amazing day that lived upto all expectations. If you are vegetarian you need to inform them early enough - the veggie burger was good. Toilets were clean. You don't need to bring sunscreen as they provide reef safe sunscreen. Highly recommend this trip.

Crocodile hunting on the Daintree.

The tour guide was full of facts but fun too. Took us as close as possible to any crocodile without disturbing them or putting us in danger. Told us about the crocodile as well as the Daintree river and all that had happened there in the last twelve months.

Bloody Amazing

Friendly staff, great conditions and beautiful weather.. We absolutely loved our day we weren’t rushed and didn’t feel like we were left out it was amazing. The food was so much better then we anticipated.. Highly recommend it

Thank you for the experience

This was a last minute find for us as our prebooked trip with another operator got cancelled. I must say that probably was the best thing happened to us in this trip . From the moment walking to the starting point, they took great care of us . We were the only family with young children but they did everything possible to make sure we had an amazing experience. The kids were allowed to go to water with life jackets and they had instructors taking us on a guided tour within the water . Lots of photo opportunities. Stopped at 2 places for snorkelling. I can recommend this to any families looking for a safe and fun activity. Thank you

Wonderful experience

The safety in the water, the opportunity to swim in two different corals and the lunch were the most memorable of the experience.

Once In a Lifetime

I really can't imagine the experience getting any better. The Down Under Dive crew were amazing, all of them...so friendly and cheerful. Aaron did the initial presentation and had us laughing so hard I was crying. Plus the snorkeling. OMG...words can't describe the underwater beauty. We were also served loads of good food and there was time for drinks and sunbathing on the boat for those interested. I stayed in the water the entire time and ended up seeing everything from sharks to turtles to puffer fish, sting ray, etc. Safety was a priority so I felt I was in good hands. Obviously there are many companies at the harbor to choose from but I would definitely recommend Down Under Dive because I can't imagine it gets better than them.

10/10

Today was such a spiritually healing experience. From the moment we stepped on board, to the moment we got off. Those who looked after us were so so so friendly. Travelling from sydney and randomly picking “Down Under Cruise & Dive” as my tour was something out of a hat. I am so happy with my full day experience of The Great Barrier Reef. The photos taken of me was something that could only be captured in the moment, the photographer was super generous when capturing me glide through the water, truly in my element. I saw rainbow fish, turtles & nemo! What a spectacular day.

Amazing

Amazing experience, we enjoyed everything, client and delicious food, friendly crew. Definitely, worthy, we recommend

Great crew, well organized and good food.

Friendly crew was very knowledgeable and well organized. The morning started with yummy muffins and scones. The dive timing and instructions are well planned out. We went two reefs. The lunch was good with lots of options.

Not for Beginners: Rushed Diving Experience with Down Under

We booked a diving trip with Down Under for our first-time experience and were disappointed. The ship was overcrowded, and we had only a few minutes to learn the necessary skills before a 20-minute dive. Failing to master the skills in that short time meant we missed the dive entirely. With 50 others waiting, the staff rushed us, making it stressful and unsuitable for beginners. While the staff were friendly and we enjoyed the snorkeling, I wouldn't recommend this company for first-time divers.

Fun Packed day

This was a good trip for my first experience and my boyfriend second of the barrier reef, the crew were friendly and nice, food was good, and they were very open and honest as what we were to expect. Sea sickness what a factor within the tour we was on but this was mention and warned at the start and they offer sickness tables for $3 for two tablets which I brought. There are plenty of payable extras on board, some you can expect to pay for such as photos, helicopters rides and private tours the only one I thought didn’t need to be charged was the wet suit hire lucky the water was 27 degrees so we didn’t need them at all. They gave out comp glass of wine and cheese and crackers at the end of the day which was a nice touch, if your happy to go in a large group and want to vibist two parts of the reef this is your tour! Would recommend

Great day at the reef

Am amazing day at the Great Barrier Reef !! A wonderful excursion from a great vessel and knowledgeable and well trained crew. Strongly recommend if you’re looking for a day out to the reef.

Great snorkeling experience

Easy access to boarding and getting equipment. Great snorkeling amidst colorful coral and tropical fish. Good care by friendly staff throughout. Many extras at extra cost. You get what you pay for.

Best day ever

This was the most amazing experience, I don't have words! The staff were super professional, friendly, and made me feel safe and seen while snorkeling. I will always remember this fantastic day

An Unforgettable Day on the Great Barrier Reef

The Evolution is a fantastic boat, very clean and spacious & well organised for snorkeling & diving. The crew are excellent , with a shout out to Sandi, the deckhand who was very helpful & friendly in getting us organised for snorkeling. Also Eddie was a fantastic deckhand- we watched him engage in friendly banter with many of the passengers. The captain guided the boat to 2 beautiful sections of the reef. The underwater magical world of the Great Barrier Reef captivated us. Next time we’re in Cairns, we’ll book to go to the outer reef on the Evolution. Thank you for an unforgettable day on the Great Barrier Reef.

Wonderful Crew

Amazing at the Great Barrier Reef Wonderful crew made my experience fantastic The weather was sunny and the water warm Tim B

Best Reef Trip ever

Fantastic food. The staff were great. Loved the snorkelling. Meet some great people. Fantastic views from the boats. There were 3 levels. Plenty of room to sit inside or on a deck with the sea breeze.

AMAZING!!! Don’t be nervous, these people will show you an incredible time

What an amazing trip! Easily the most memorable time we had in cairns. The crew was outstanding, everything was extremely organized, the views were awesome, and even though we got some rain that didn’t take away from our scuba diving adventure in the great barrier reef. My Husband and I had an incredible time, laughed a lot, felt Saif the entire time, and were truly blown away by this excursion and crew. We would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in crossing this off their bucket list! Shoutout to Nic, you rock!!

Great experience

Had an excellent time although I could only snorkel on one reef because they didn't time my scenic flight properly to snorkel at the second reef totally missed the tiny sharks very sad. Also didn't give me second dive altho it says pay extra and do second dive on the ad.

Amazing dive with the fishy

It was an excellent experience non words can describe how beautiful is the barrier reef! Although my helicopter ride got canceled the rest of the journey was amazing. The crew is so nice and good vibes and the instructor (Phil) is such a nice guy, he was there to answer our questions but most importantly for the deep diving he gave us loads of time to explain the introduction to first dive and all the security mesures which felts much easier and secure. I just loved it.

Great Experience

Best ever experience ! To add to that i got to take a picture with beautiful fish. Staff was courteous and helpful. Overall experience was good. Make sure you take your sea sickness tablets half and hour before the journey even if you are not sure. If safe to do so as well.

Once in a lifetime experience

This was a once in a lifetime experience. I can’t imagine going to Cairns & not doing this. Incredible!

The best crew

Amazing trip, the wole day wss increíble thanks for the always friendly and smiling crew. We dived two times and all of them were wonderful. The shop was big and comfortable(maybe the conditioned air was too cold haha), all mentioned in the brochure was done. We just loved it, great company for our first dive.

Book a smaller boat, less people!

Amazing boat and facilities but it was jam packed with 150 people swimming on top of one another. Not enjoyable. Food was also pretty horrible

Perfect tour

Amazing crew, amazing diving, everything was perfect. Thank you so much I loved the experience and the food as well!!!!!

If you want a bigger boat, book it. If what’s important to you is the snorkeling experience, book a smaller operator

The boat is stunning, the crew were all friendly and lovely. The photographer is amazing. Unfortunately they Jam Pack it - there were 150 people in our trip, and this is the off season. Everyone is swimming on top of each other and it’s an absolute mess. The food is basics and average at best. Some cold salads, prawns, fish, and overcooked steak. Plenty of bread and butter to make up for it though! I wouldn’t book with them again. I’ve done this trip before with a smaller operator and it was way better.

Disappointed

Unfortunately there was and incident with a passenger and half of the trip was cancelled. Instead of going to two reefs, we only went to one. A short stay there and straight back. I can’t blame the tour operator but P’ssed that my one day, on my one holiday was F’cked up.

Excellent crew and boat

The crew made the whole day enjoyable. From the enthusiastic ‘good morning’ from Eddie at checkin, comprehensive briefings, safety checks, good quality mask and fins, in water support from crew. The lunch was a nice mix of salad, fish and meat. Hot tea and coffee service. All the crew were smiling, happy and created and great atmosphere. Enjoyed the whole day.

Friendly staff; awesome locations; great food.

We had plenty of time at both snorkeling locations, but simultaneously we did not waste any time either. The captain choose beautiful locations. The staff was very friendly; their marine biologist gave lot of interesting info about corals. The food was way above our expectations.

Great Barrier Reef experience

Great experience of the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. The crew were wonderful, very friendly and compassionate. Highly recommend this tour.

Must see the Reef with Viator

A rough trip out but the reef has been on the bucket list for years. Great to see and experience the reef and I highly recommend Viator. The staff are gorgeous and constantly checking in on everyone ensuring they are okay and enjoying the experience, the food was delicious and the boat was clean. Thanks for a wonderful experience.

Great Cruise and Snorkeling Expedition

My family and I took this trip, and we got to see Clown Fish, giant clams, Sea Turtles, and various other reef species. The food onboard was amazing as well. The only warning I have is that it’s a rough ride 90 minutes each way, and either bring your own or take the seasickness medicine they provide. I didn’t get sick since I took the medicine.

Exceptional customer service and hospitality, and a knowledgeable crew.

The customer service of the crew was exceptional. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and good humoured. We had a wonderful trip which included a snorkelling tour with Phil who was very informative and looked after us. Hats off to Eddie and the crew for their wonderful hospitality and professionalism. I will be back!

fun day!

kind, friendly staff made for a wonderful experience exploring two reef locations. the underwater photographer, and complimentary use of reef safe sunscreen & stinger suits were added bonuses. highly recommend & would use down under dives again!

Excellent Trip

The reef was beautiful and all of the staff were helpful, knowledgeable and very friendly. I did snorkeling but also heard that the helicopter excursion was great.

We had lots of fun

Great experience! The staff is very friendly and supportive. I wish they had a photographer to take some photos and videos of us while scuba diving. It would be great to have a record of this amazing experience.

Great day out!

Nice boat, nice crew, nice lunch! Great reefs to snorkel at and an overall great experience. We swam behind a turtle at Saxon reef which was the highlight of our trip!

Very nice time

Wonderful experience. Beautiful snorkel and dives. Equipment was all in good shape. Very experienced and polite staff that were there to make sure you had a good time no matter your comfort level Take the sea sickness 💊 Don't forget a towel. Food was average, but better than I expected.

Awesome first time scuba diving and friendly staff

Great experience! The crew was friendly and explained things in an easy to understand way. I did the intro scuba diving and felt very safe during the entire process. I am confident under their supervision anyone could do it. I thought the ship was nice and well maintained. The bathrooms weren’t gross. It was a bit choppy when we went so I got a little sea sick but they offer tablets on board to help with that. Definitely recommend taking the tablets if you’re unsure if you get sea sick as they don’t help after you’re already sick. Overall, great experience.

Diving on the GBR

Amazing diving - beautiful fish and coral. Ruth was an excellent guide. Great boat, smooth ride and lovely lunch. Highly recommend the day

Good day out

Well organised tour. A very good day, and great way of seeing the reef. And very helpful and friendly crew . Nice food, and a free glass of wine.

Definitely recommend!

Cant recommend this company enough! Awesome experience and crew! Saw two different reefs and still had a blast even though it was rainy.

La creme de la creme 💯

10 out of 10! Best experience ever! There was nothing, but I mean nothing that this crew didn't do without excellence. The crew was very kind and polite. The food delicious and the scuba diving with professional instructors one of the best experiences I had in my life. I definitely recommend this guy's, they are "la crem de la crem"

Amazing day diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Very easy to book this adventure locally in Cairns. Very slick check-in and boarding of a fantastic boat. Captain and crew were fantastic throughout; safety conscious, funny and available to answer endless questions. They were totally invested in your safety and adventure and to create memories to take home. Captain chose 2 reef locations, Saxon and Hastings, for our snorkelling/dive/swimming experience - with lots of time and opportunity to re-enter the water if you wanted. Long, busy day and fun-filled day - overall very good value for money. Food/lunch was incredible, very delicious and generous. Definitely recommend this trip and provider.

Great day out

Large quality boat, food was good. Staff were really enthusiastic and explained everything clearly. Overall great day out

Amazing dive tour!

Our dive guide, Ruth, was attentive, fun, sweet, and helpful during the whole experience. She welcomed us on the boat, explained where everything was, and gave us a thorough debriefing of the day’s activities, as well as answered any questions. She was also good about checking in on all of us through the dive, and took time to help my fiance when he had some trouble with his gear under water. Bonus, their gear is top notch and they set it all up for you before the dive 👏🏻

We had a wonderful day....

We had a wonderful day. All the staff on the boat were very warm and friendly. Jack, the diving instructor, was very professional, patient and responsible. I highly recommend them for snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. We love snorkeling!!! Please do not use sunscreen, it will kill the beautiful corals.

Crew of the Evolution & Down Under Cruise and Dive pulled it out of the bag...

This was a Red Letter Day selection for an adventure and only booked about 7 days beforehand. Lots of pre-departure contact from DUCD to advise correct location to be at etc. On arrival the booking and check-in process was very slick and professional, with photos taken before you finally baord. Our boat today was the Evolution, large, beautiful and very clean and very well maintained. When all passengers had boarded it looked like it was going to be a bit cramped etc, but as soon as the safety brief was over, people dispersed over the 3 decks and sun deck and it was very spacious. The Captain and the Crew were one of the highlights of the day. The entire crew were professional, courteous, polite and totally focused on delivering a great day out, but with safety at the forefront of everything they did. The thorough safety/admin briefing was factual, necessarily focused and delivered in true Aussie fashion with humour, passion and most (there's always one or two morons) of the passengers were left entirely confident in what they could and couldn't do. We set off and anchored in 2 reefs, Saxon and Hastings. I was not disappointed at all. The crew deftly instructed passengers where to go and what to do to enter the water to either swim, snorkel or dive. The whole operation was very safe, slick and professional. The reefs chosen were calm and clear and once in the water there was plenty to see. Wally, the Mauri Rump Headed Rass (think very large fish) made an appearance and provided lots of photo opportunities. Lunch was outstanding. Generous, tasty and a great selection of steak, fish and prawns, with sides. So in total we spent about 3 hours (+) getting to the various reefs and returning and about 4 hours on the reefs swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Would I recommend this trip, crew and Down Under Cruise & Dive - absolutely. I felt entirely safe and confident in their hands and they provided some amazing memories and photos (extra reasonable cost). I personally thought the whole day far exceeded anything I could have wished for. Well done Evolution and DUCD - keep it up!

Average tour

This was a large group tour. 150 people is just to many to really enjoy the GBR. The food was average and equipment didn't work very well. Pushing a 3 star rating.

Best tour ever!

Book this tour! Not only were the two reefs locations amazing for snorkeling, but the staff went above and beyond to help you enjoy the day. Absolutely recommend the tour on the Down Under.