Ocean Freedom

4.9 (31 Reviews)
FROM
$279
1
75
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Select Date and Passengers

Adult (15+)
0
Child (4-14 years)
0
Family (2 adults + 2 children)
0
Infant (0-3 years)
0
General + 1 Cert Dive (12+)
0
General + 1 Intro Dive (12+)
0
General + 2 Cert Dives (12+)
0
General + 2 Intro Dives (12+)
0
Inclusions Icon | East Coast Tours Australia

Inclusions

Snorkel + Dive Gear Included

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Drinks

Drinks For Purchase

Cairns Icon | East Coast Tours Australia

Cairns

Epic Cairns Day Trip

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Snorkelling

Guided Snorkel Tours

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Marine Life

Great Barrier Reef

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Scuba Dive

Intro + Certified Dives

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Locations

Visit Two Reef Sites

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Meals

Lunch + Snacks

Overview

Ocean Freedom is the ultimate way to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel, scuba dive and swim amongst the fish in the underwater paradise. Accompanied by a team of well-trained and friendly staff, your day on the reef will be unforgettable! Try out an intro dive if you're not already certified, take a tour on a glass bottom boat and learn more about the reef's rich history or try and spot clown fish on a personalised snorkelling tour! Visit the pristine Upolu Cay and step foot on the white sand wonderland. Have the time of your life, knowing you're in safe hands on your day out with Ocean Freedom!

  • An action-packed full day on the reef in a smaller group environment
  • Visit a coral cay, try out scuba diving or take a tour on a glass bottom boat
  • Enjoy a gourmet-style buffet lunch (plus morning and afternoon tea)
  • Explore all that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer 

Your Sample Itinerary

Three girls in swimwear wearing snorkels and masks on a boat

Head to Upolu Cay Reef 

Check-in to Ocean Freedom at the Reef Fleet Terminal at the Cairns Marina from 7:15am in preparation for a 7:30am boarding and an 8:00am departure. Settle in onboard as you meet the friendly crew who will take you through an introductory safety briefing followed by a delicious morning tea spread. Enjoy the speedy one hour cruise to Upolu Reef and Upolu Cay on the Great Barrier Reef as you prepare for an exciting day on and in the water!

Great Barrier Reef woman snorkelling

Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef

Explore a kaleidoscope of fringing reefs, unique coral gardens and tropical marine life as you dive into the clear blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef. With Ocean Freedom, you'll have 6 hours on Upolu reef in two different locations so take your time to see it all! Come face to face with green sea turtles, clown fish and giant clams. Join a guided tour and reef talk by an experienced and knowledgable marine enthusiast or cruise around at your own pace - and don't worry, the crew will always be keeping a look-out for you to ensure you are as safe as possible!

People sitting on a glass bottom boat on the reef

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Experience the reef from above! Take a tour on the glass bottom boat with an experienced guide and learn all about the fascinating marine life below. Spot giant clams, eels, colourful fish and even green sea turtles as you tour around the Upolu reef gaining a deeper understanding of its ecosystem and importance. Don't forget your camera so you can snap away at what wonders you might come across! The glass bottom boat is suitable for all ages. 

Two girls in scuba diving gear sitting on a boat

Scuba Diving

If you haven't tried out scuba diving, now is your time. Ocean Freedom offers both introductory dives as well as certified dives. Tick scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef off that bucket list and see what the world-famous reef has on offer deep below the surface. If you're opting for an intro dive, a qualified diving instructor will run you through a 'how-to' session and will then take you underwater, holding onto you at all times and checking you are doing okay. If you're certified you'll be able to dive right in but a qualified diver will be nearby in case you need them. Just keep in mind a dive is an extra cost. If you haven't already booked it in and paid for it, you can pay on board. 

People standing on golden sand with blue sky above

Upolu Cay

Visit a coral cay, a large sand island in the middle of the ocean! When the tide is low, Upolu Cay can be stood on and explored. You can choose to swim to the cay from Ocean Freedom's boat or you could request that the crew drive you over in the tender. Regardless of what you choose, exploring a sand island in the middle of the ocean is definitely a cool experience!

Two young women holding plates of food in swimwear

Gourmet Buffet Lunch

Ocean Freedom have a delicious gourmet-style buffet spread for you to enjoy. Choose from freshly made salads, seafood, meats, pastas, bread and more. Be sure to indulge in your scrumptious lunch outside and soak in the beauty of Uplou reef. Just be sure to let the team know of any dietary requirements when you book to ensure food for you will be there on the day!

What's Included?

  • Snorkelling tour with a Marine naturalist
  • Snorkelling equipment including masks, flippers, and snorkel
  • Buoyancy snorkel vests if needed
  • Stinger suits/wet suits (depending on the season)
  • Informative reef talk by a marine interpreter
  • Visit two reef destinations including Upolu Cay and "Wonder Wall" (on the outer edge Upolu Reef)
  • 6 hours of reef time
  • Tea and coffee throughout the day
  • Smorgasbord lunch with fresh seafood
  • Glass bottom boat tour
  • Platters of seasonal fruit, cheese and crackers and cake on the way home
  • Fresh hot water showers
  • Prescription masks

What's Extra?

  • $20pp Reef Levy collected on arrival (included in advertised price)
  • Coach transfers - $18 inner city return per person
  • $25 Northern Beaches, as far as Palm Cove, return per person
  • Underwater cameras
  • Hire of wet/stinger suits
  • Merchandise
  • Divers may be subject to a medical questionnaire before they are able to dive. Please click here for more diving information and to read the questionnaire.

Important Information

  • All tickets MUST reconfirm 48 hours in advance
  • Ocean Free contact details: Phone: +61 7 4052 1111. Email: info@oceanfree.com.au
  • Please note that reconfirmation cannot be done through East Coast Tours, and must be actioned directly through the contact details as above.

Terms and Conditions

Please read through our Terms and Conditions before booking your tour. 

FAQs

Where does the boat depart from and what time?
Check in starts at 7:15 am at the Ocean Free/Ocean Freedom desk inside the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St Cairns. The Ocean Freedom boat is located at A Finger, Cairns Marlin Marina. Boarding begins at 7:30am for an 8am departure.
How long does it take to get out to the reef?
It takes about 1 hour to get to Upolu Reef.
When do we return back to Cairns?
You will arrive back into Cairns Marina around 4pm - 4:15pm
Are special dietary requirements catered for?
Ocean Freedom offers three different types of salads and breads, but can also order a vegetarian meal for you on request. If you have any other dietary needs, please let the reservations team know when you book.
Should I be worried about sharks?
There are black and white tipped reef sharks on the reef, but they are very shy. They pose no threat to humans and we count ourselves very lucky if we see them! Seeing reef sharks is considered a good sign of a healthy underwater ecosystem.
Are transfers included?
Transfers are available for an additional cost. Return transfers from Cairns City are $18 p/p, and return transfers from the Outer Suburbs and Northern Beaches are $24 p/p. This needs to be pre-booked at least 24 hours prior to your date of travel.
What if I’m prone to sea sickness?
If you are prone to seasickness, please take a preventative medication 20 mins before you board the boat. The crew are there to look after you at all times. The boat is also mainly open with lots of fresh air, so can be a better option than some closed style boats.
How many hours do we spend out on the reef?
You will have 6 glorious hours to experience the Upolu Reef and Cay area, so there is absolutely no rush in the day. Ocean Freedom is the only Great Barrier Reef tour that offers this amount of reef time!
What if I’m not a good swimmer, can I still snorkel?
Yes, you can! Ocean Freedom has a range of buoyancy vests and aids available for you to use. There are also snorkel stations in the water for you to hold on to when you need to. If you are still in need of assistance, a member of staff can come in the water with you until you feel more confident. Ocean Freedom will have a crew member on watch at all times, keeping an eye on all snorkelers, swimmers and divers ready to offer help if necessary.
Can I scuba dive without any prior experience?
Yes! Anyone who is in general good health can experience an introductory scuba dive. In fact, diving is easier than snorkelling when taken by Ocean Freedom’s experienced instructors. There are certain medical conditions that may prevent you from diving, such as asthma, epilepsy and heart conditions. All divers must complete a dive medical questionnaire onboard the boat. Please speak to your doctor if you have any concerns. Ocean Freedom also offers a guaranteed 1:2 dive instructor to diver ratio. Most other boats offer 1:4.

Customer Reviews

Kel Sheather

Nov, 14 2024

An amazing catamaran with speculator location on the Great Barrier Reef! loved visiting the Sand cay. Highly recommend

Anne Kempke

Nov, 13 2024

Loved this trip. We saw a turtle and a stingray! Really good staff.

Dave

Nov, 13 2024

Super colourful reef, really enjoyed the snorkelling and the diving!

Taylor

Nov, 04 2024

These guys have a lot of crew on board which I love! Really great for new divers - only two students per instructor, which is so good, as diving can be quite a dangerous activity if you aren't careful. They made sure to let everyone know that they were more than willing to give some extra attention to less confident swimmers as well - guided snorkelling was offered at no additional cost, as well as the glass bottom boat! Highly recommend :)

Gabby W.

Nov, 01 2024

I can't believe I got to see the Great Barrier Reef! What an amazing day snorkelling for hours. I didn't want to leave the water.

Nanda van der Graaf

Oct, 28 2024

I had a really nice time on the Ocean Freedom boat, there was so much fish and coral where we went. I did my first scuba dive and it was really good only having one other person and the teacher because I was nervous.

Mariann

Oct, 28 2024

Would highly recommend! Had m first scuba dive and loved it. Nice food too

Liza Hancocks

Oct, 22 2024

I loved my trip out to the reef and the sand cay. It was a little choppy with the windy weather but it was a really good trip and we could still see loads of fish. My highlight was a big puffer fish.

Jorge

Oct, 04 2024

Next time I will try scuba diving!

Gabrielle

Aug, 04 2022

So much fun! Did my first dive and loved it! The team on board were super helpful and kind, will definitely do this trip again one day.

Calum Burgess-Wylie

Jul, 31 2022

A perfect boat for snorkelling and intro-diving. Though not as much aimed at certified divers the diving was still great. In 2 dives we saw 3 turtles, a puffer fish, a group of glass shrimp, loads of clownfish and a few trevally. There was good diversity of sponges and both soft and hard corals, and despite being quite a choppy day the visibility was still good. The food was really nice, the staff friendly and helpful, and the sand cay was well worth a stop.

Josh

Jul, 31 2022

Did an intro dive, was just 2 of us with the instructor was really enjoyable!

Sally

Jul, 30 2022

First time taking the whole family out to the reef, it was such a success!! The little ones loved the snorkelling and seeing all the fish, they didn't want to get out of the water. Such a fun day. The staff were lovely as well.

Di Symes and Dwight Dagg

Jul, 29 2022

Our trip to the reef on Ocean Freedom was excellent... Except for the rough sea. Which no one is responsible for!! The boat and staff are excellent. Kind Regards.

Todd Prior

Jul, 27 2022

Really stoked we decided to go with ocean freedom. Comfortable boat, the team were awesome, and the food was amazing. We didn't want to get out of the water

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