Outer Reef and Coral Cay Snorkel and Dive Cruise Cairns

Cairns and the Reef Fleet Terminal

Cairns is the tropical city in far north Queensland that serves as the main gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Its waterfront Esplanade, with a large public swimming lagoon and boardwalks along the mangroves of Trinity Inlet, leads to the Reef Fleet Terminal, from where most reef boats depart each morning. The terminal is a short walk from the city centre hotels, so there is no need for transport to reach the boat.

Your Cairns snorkelling tour begins with check-in at least 45 minutes before the 8:00 departure. On board you are welcomed with tea, coffee, fresh fruit and pastries while the crew gives a briefing on the day, the sites and safety. The catamaran then crosses the reef lagoon for about 75 minutes, passing the green hills of the coast and, on clear days, the low sand islands of the inner reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system on Earth, stretching more than 2,000 kilometres along the Queensland coast and visible from space. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and is managed as a marine park divided into zones. Both sites on this trip lie in Green Zones, the most protected areas, where no fishing or collecting is allowed, which means healthier coral and more fish.

The reef is built by tiny coral animals that live in partnership with algae, and its colours come from that relationship. On a good day the water around Upolu Reef is clear for many metres. The best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is from June to October, the dry season, with pleasant temperatures; from November to May the water is warmest but lycra suits are needed for protection from marine stingers.

The Wonder Wall on Upolu Reef

The first site is the Wonder Wall, on the outer edge of Upolu Reef, north-east of Cairns. Here the top of the reef rises to within a metre of the surface, so snorkellers can float above the coral and look straight down the side of the wall, where it drops into deeper blue water. Hard and soft corals, sea fans, giant clams and a wide variety of tropical fish gather along the edge, and turtles and barracuda are often seen.

The crew leads a guided drift snorkel with a marine naturalist, letting the gentle current carry the group along the wall while the guide points out creatures and explains how they live together. For non-swimmers or anyone who prefers to stay dry, the glass-bottom boat tour shows the same coral from above. Certified and introductory divers on the dive options descend along the face of the wall.

Upolu Cay: the coral garden known as the Aquarium

After lunch the boat moves to Upolu Cay, a small island of white coral sand that appears in the middle of the sea. The shallow, sheltered reef around it is called the Aquarium for good reason: the water is clear and turquoise, and the sandy patches between the coral heads attract blue-spotted stingrays, green sea turtles, damselfish, parrotfish and clownfish. It is an excellent site for beginners and children because it is calm and easy.

On some low-tide days you can even stand on the cay, surrounded by open water in every direction, one of the most unusual moments of an Upolu Cay tour. When the tide or conditions do not allow it, you still snorkel the coral garden around the cay. A second glass-bottom boat or guided snorkel session is often run here, depending on the sea.

Life on board, lunch and the dive options

Between the two sites the crew serves a generous buffet lunch with prawns, smoked salmon, cold cuts, chicken, three salads and fresh breads, and on the way back to Cairns there are platters of tropical fruit, cheese, crackers and cakes. Tea, coffee and chilled water are available when the boat is moored, and fresh-water showers are on board. Soft drinks, snacks and underwater camera hire can be bought separately.

The default option is snorkelling only, but you can choose an option with one or two certified dives, or one or two introductory dives with an instructor for first-time divers, from 12 years old. All divers fill in a medical questionnaire on board, and certified divers bring their certification card. The Cairns dive trip options use the same boat and sites, so groups and families can mix snorkellers and divers.