Passions of Paradise
Select Date and Passengers
Inclusions
Snorkel Gear Included
Drinks
Drinks For Purchase
Cairns
Explore The Great Barrier Reef
Snorkelling
Free Snorkel Lesson
Marine Life
Meet Marine Creatures
Scuba Dive
Intro + Certified Dives
Locations
Beautiful Reef Sites
Meals
Lunch + Snacks
Overview
Get ready for a gorgeous day of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef with Passions of Paradise! Jump aboard the modern, fast catamaran that departs for the reef daily from Cairns. You’ll get to visit two exclusive outer reef locations where you can snorkel or scuba dive to your heart’s content!
With knowledgeable local instructors and staff onboard and high-quality underwater gear, you’ll have everything you need for a day of adventuring through the underwater ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef!
- High-performance catamaran with air conditioning
- Visit two spectacular Great Barrier Reef locations for snorkeling and diving
- Well-trained and experienced staff onboard to assist you with your water activities
- Morning tea, buffet lunch, and afternoon snacks included
Your Sample Itinerary
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Check-in and Board Passions of Paradise7:00am - 7:50am: Check in at Reef Fleet Terminal and hop on board the Passions of Paradise! This fast, luxurious catamaran has full amenities so you can spend the day out on the water in comfort. With an air-conditioned inside area, spacious decks, and easy access to the water, you'll have the time of your life relaxing in the sunshine and soaking in the sights of the Coral Sea! 8:00am - Depart from Cairns and head to your first reef location in the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef! |
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Diving/Snorkeling Lessons and Briefings8:30am - Diving briefings will begin for those who wish to scuba dive! Certified divers can get a refresher on their knowledge, and introductory divers can gain some tips for their first time. The experienced local instructors are here to help you have a seamless, safe, and fun day diving to the depths of the reef! 9:30am - There will be a snorkeling lesson for those who would prefer to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef! High-quality snorkel and scuba diving equipment is included. |
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Exploring the Great Barrier Reef10:00am - Arrive at your first reef location and take to the water! Your unique reef site will be chosen by knowledgeable staff on the day to ensure optimal conditions. New divers have the option to test their diving equipment for 5 minutes. Then you can continue to dive or opt for a snorkel instead! Whether you are diving or snorkeling, you’ll get to spend a couple of hours here exploring colorful coral gardens and seeing rich marine life. |
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Lunch and Travel to Second Reef Site12:00pm - Enjoy a freshly prepared buffet lunch onboard the boat. Passions of Paradise have their own onboard chef who will whip up hot and cold dishes for guests to enjoy. Be sure to give advance notice if you have any dietary requirements! Beer, wine, and soft drinks are also available for purchase. 12:45pm - The boat will begin traveling to the second exclusive reef location! |
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More Water Activities1:00pm (approximately) - Arrive at your second unique reef spot for another round of water activities! Dive, snorkel, or just drift around peacefully on a flotation device. Really appreciate every second of exploring this world-famous underwater ecosystem! You may be able to spot some sea turtles, reef sharks, and schools of colorful, tropical fish. 2:30pm - Begin sailing back to Cairns and arrive at the marina around 5:00pm. |
What's Included?
- All snorkeling equipment, including wetsuit or stinger suit, mask, fins, and snorkel
- Prescription masks are also available upon request
- Free guided snorkel tour and snorkel lesson
- Freshly prepared buffet lunch
- Morning tea and afternoon snack
- Complimentary tea, coffee, and chilled water are available throughout the day
- Certified marine naturalist presentation on the marine life of the reef
- Hot showers
- All marine park taxes
What's Extra?
Optional extras are available on board (cash and credit card both accepted):
- 1st intro scuba dive $90
- 2nd intro scuba dive $60
- 1st certified scuba dive $75*
- 2nd certified scuba dive $55
- Underwater camera hire: prices start from $60
- Snacks and souvenirs priced individually on board
Transfers also available for extra cost. Please organise with the tour operator in advance.
- $20 per person for Cairns City
- $30 per person for Northern Beaches
Important Information
- From April 1st 2023, 1st Dive MUST BE PRE-BOOKED.
- Certified divers must bring their certification card.
- All scuba diving is subject to the completion of a medical questionnaire on board. Some medical conditions and/or prescription medication may preclude you from diving. Please call us in advance to discuss any concerns you might have. Please click here for more diving information and to read the medical questionnaire.
Terms and Conditions
Please read our terms and cancellations policy before booking your tour.
FAQs
Where does the boat depart from and what time?
Check in starts from 7:00 am at the Passions of Paradise counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal at Cairns Marlin Marina, end of Spence Street. The boat is located at the end of Finger A Jetty and departs at 8:00 am.
When will it return?
You’ll arrive back into Cairns around 5pm give or take 10-15 minutes depending on if the weather is suitable for some genuine sailing on the way home.
Are transfers included?
Return transfers are available for an additional fee. Return transfers from Cairns City is $20p/p, and Return transfers from Northern Beaches is $30p/p. Unfortunately transfers are not available from Port Douglas.
Can I scuba dive without prior experience?
Yes you can! If you are in general good health you can participate in an intro dive with a guided dive instructor. Please note you will need to complete a dive medical questionnaire onboard. Some conditions such as asthma, may prevent you from diving. Please check with your doctor if you have any concerns.
Will there be sharks or crocodiles?
If you’re lucky, you may see a little white or black tip reef shark cruising on by, but rest assured they are super shy and will swim away if you get near. Crocodiles prefer to hang around the murky waters of rivers, lakes and swamps. So the water is too clear for them out on the reef and is a long distance for them to swim from the mainland, making it extremely rare to see them out on the Great Barrier Reef.
Is snorkelling and scuba diving equipment included?
Yes! Everything is included. Masks, fins and stinger suits, as well as all dive equipment for scuba. Even dive computers are included for certified scuba divers!
Are special dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. Passions has an onboard chef who freshly prepares five different vegetarian salads, plus one of the two hot dishes is always vegetarian. Other special requests are sometimes possible with adequate notice prior to the day of your trip.
What if I can’t swim very well?
The crew on Passions are there to look out for you. They can supply you with a range of flotation devices to assist you while snorkelling. Some of the crew are also in the water with a flotation station if you need to rest.
Does the tour operate everyday?
Yes, the tour operates every day except for New Years Day. Finding passengers and crew at 8am first day of the new year is a bit hard!
What if I get seasick?
If you are prone to seasickness, it is advisable to take something before you board the boat. As Passions is a catamaran, the boat is a lot more stable than a monohull and the sails act as a stabiliser. Sea sickness tablets are available for purchase onboard, but please note that they are a preventative measure only, and will not help if you are already feeling nauseous.
Customer Reviews
SAKI JONAI
Feb, 03 2024
Jess
Mar, 04 2023
Had the BEST day out on Passions of Paradise! From the the weather, to the crew to the reef and the food it was a 10/10 experience! First Reef stop was Flynn at Point Break. Did an Intro dive with Julia, got to see Nemo's, Dory's and the highlight was a white tip reef shark! Lunch was served during cruise over to the second reef; Milln at Three Sisters. Vinny the amazing onboard chef, prepares everything fresh. The Mushroom Risotto was to die for! And 6 x types of salads were soo delicious, had to go back for seconds! Kicking myself for forgetting my GoPro because Three Sisters snorkel spot is one of the best I've ever experienced! So many vibrant corals, fish and marine life! some people saw a turtle, too. Make sure to wear stinger suits though! There were lots of little jellyfish/stingers. If you're suited up you'll be right. On the cruise back to Cairns, fresh fruit, tea, coffee and biscuits were served while Lea gave a really interesting marine biology talk. So fascinating about the biology of Nemo fish! Special note to Simon - Legend, and Sota the underwater photographer! Would defs do again!
Taylor
Feb, 11 2023
Easily my favourite day trip from Cairns so far! Super comfy boat and plenty of deck space, AMAZING food, lots of crew on board. We lucked out with some great weather and were able to get out to Milln reef, which is one of the best! Turtles, rays, reef sharks, SO MANY anemone fish (nemos!), and a really cool little Orangutan Crab! Our instructor, Corinda was fab! She knew exactly where to look for these little guys. BEAUTIFUL day.
Sarah Happel
Dec, 15 2022
Loved, loved Passions of Paradise. Couldn't fault a thing. I think my son is hooked on SCUBA diving after this trip!
Roma
Oct, 25 2022
An incredible intro dive. This was my first time diving and the staff were amazing at easing my nerves and ensuring an unforgettable experience. An absolute must-do when in Cairns!
Felipa Roque
Aug, 12 2022
What a good time! Such a good boat with friendly staff. We saw so much in the water. Saw my first eel!
Ben Williams
Aug, 07 2022
Such a good snorkeling trip, so much better than the islands! Can't believe how much there was out there: fish, beautiful coral, a turtle, a couple of stingrays, so good.
Ruby
Aug, 03 2022
WOW. This boat was spectacular. Lots of nice places to relax after snorkelling, very spacious. The crew were super informed and happy to answer any questions. The reef was beautiful. The food was delicious. We had so much fun!
Dennis Wilks
Aug, 02 2022
Came to Cairns to see the reef and wasn't dissapointed since I finally got a turtle! 2 of them: one called a green and one called a hawksbill! Loved it!
Jordan Bailey
Jul, 30 2022
What a DAY! Unreal scenes out on the water, crew were super friendly and there was heaps of food for lunch, will definitely be coming back
Laura
Jul, 30 2022
This was a trip of a lifetime! The boat was so nice and comfortable, the food was divine and the staff were so friendly and happy to help. Highly recommend!
Ben
Jul, 30 2022
If you are interested in the conservation of the reef and want to learn more about the marine life, this is your trip. Amazing experience. The crew were incredible, so happy we decided to go on passions.
Camilla Muller
Jul, 21 2022
Absolutely loved our trip out on the reef, saw so many cute fish and the team on board were incredible. So happy we decided to go with this boat. Will be recommending to family and friends!
Atlanta Melendo
Jul, 15 2022
Beautiful trip, great boat, water was surprisingly very warm. highly reccommend
Joseph
Jul, 14 2022
awesome trip with the boys, loved it, crew were awesome
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Very impressing Great Barrier Tour!! I did two scuba diving. My instructor explained me everything about where we were going. Everything was clear and very smooths. You need no hassle. We went to 2 different reefs. They took us to the best locations for the day. the food is absolutely amazing. If you are vegetarian, no worries. They have delicious vegetarian option. I would love to come back to this tour again!!