11 Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef, From Cheapest Up

1.Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,714 reviews · from $190Our pick

Board Evolution in Cairns for a full day at two outer Great Barrier Reef sites. Snorkel with crew support, add an introductory or certified scuba session, or book a 10-minute helicopter flight. Marine biologists such as Indy and Phil may help explain the reef, while lunch, wetsuits, gear, afternoon snacks, and a glass of wine are included.

“Waves were pretty bad, but the entertainment and snorkeling were great. If big waves and strong wind skip and rebook. Great experience.”

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2.Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,895 reviews · from $181Top rated

Board the 65-foot Ocean Freedom catamaran at Cairns for a full day at Upolu Cay and Wonder Wall. You can snorkel, join marine naturalist tours, take a glass-bottom boat ride, or add certified or introductory scuba. Expect breakfast snacks, a seafood buffet, afternoon treats, and close crew support in a group capped at 75.

“Fantastic tour with a small family company. Pastries and coffee and tea on arrival. Great instructions for snorkelling at the snorkelling sights - saw so much including sting rays and turtles. Really enjoyed the drift snorkel with our guide explaining what we could see. Tasty lunch with fruit platters, cheese and biscuits and cake on the journey home. Great day!”

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3.Great Barrier Reef Premium Diving Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 792 reviews · 9 hours · from $127Best value

From Cairns Marlin Marina, spend about nine hours aboard Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, with five hours split between two outer reef sites. Snorkel coral gardens, hear creation stories from Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Gunggandji, Mandingalbay, and Yirrganydji guides, and add an introductory or certified scuba session if selected.

“We really enjoyed our GBR experience! We stopped at 2 great reefs and saw many fish and a couple turtles. There was a marine biologist onboard to share and answer any questions. And the teaching about indigenous culture was great too! The boat and crew made the day wonderful!”

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4.Outer Barrier Reef Snorkel and Dive Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 438 reviews · 7h 30m · from $174

From Port Douglas, cruise to Opal or Agincourt Reefs for three snorkel stops, optional scuba, reef talks, meals, and plenty of deck space. The English-speaking crew includes guides such as Ruth, Reenie, Delphine, Dave, and marine biologist Freya, though staff vary by departure.

“Amazing trip. The staff are outstanding and made the day special from beginning to end. We were very lucky to dive with Reenie who was the absolute best! She made my partner feel calm on her first dive and checked on us the whole trip. Can’t recommend the team highly enough!”

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5.Silverswift Dive and Snorkel Great Barrier Reef Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 432 reviews · from $212

Spend about 10 hours aboard Silverswift, a 29-meter catamaran sailing from Cairns to three outer reef sites. Snorkel all day, try one or two introductory scuba sessions, or complete up to three certified descents. Guides such as Matilda, Paul, Vanessa, and Dave help first-timers feel at ease, while lunch, tea, equipment, showers, and reef guides are included.

“The crew was professional, friendly, and always very helpful! We did scuba diving and totally enjoyed the experience.”

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6.Silversonic Great Barrier Reef Dive & Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 311 reviews · from $208

Spend about eight hours aboard the 29-meter Silversonic catamaran, cruising from Port Douglas to three Agincourt Ribbon Reef sites. Snorkel with supplied gear, join one guided snorkel tour, or add scuba sessions if available. Expect reef briefings, buffet lunch, hot showers, and a licensed bar. Dwarf Minke whale encounters are possible from July to September.

“The staff aboard are fun-loving and very helpful. They really made it such a treat. The food was really good and more than enough, with lots of extra treats, like hot tea and coffee and cake slices.”

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7.Ocean Spirit Sail to Michaelmas Cay Snorkel or Dive, from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 170 reviews · from $197

Sail from Cairns to Michaelmas Cay aboard Ocean Spirit, a large catamaran with four hours at a protected seabird cay. Snorkel from the sand, join a marine biologist, take a semi-submersible tour, or book an introductory scuba session. The day includes morning and afternoon tea, a hot and cold seafood buffet, and reef talks from staff such as Luiza, Jayden, and Kevin.

“The grandkids loved the snorkelling and seeing all the fish, followed a turtle and saw the jumbo clam shells! Great boat ! Staff were very pleasant.”

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8.Great Barrier Reef with Cultural Guides-Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 156 reviews · from $165

Spend about nine hours traveling from Cairns to Moore Reef and Milln or Flynn Reef. Indigenous guides share Creation Stories, tools, music, and reef culture, while you snorkel with marine guides at two outer reef sites. Equipment, instruction, morning tea, buffet lunch, and afternoon tea are included.

“Great Experience for Scuba Diving! Sofia, Jeff, Drew and Jacob were very helpful and great! Definitely make sure you’re paying attention during instruction as this is your life and the instructors have tons of others to worry about as well! They were very kind and knowledgeable, very helpful and friendly! Great experience!”

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9.2-Day Great Barrier Reef Dive and Snorkel Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 86 reviews · 2 days · from $466

Join Coral Sea Dreaming from Cairns for two days aboard a 16-meter yacht with only 12 people. Snorkel across nine reefs, sleep onboard, and add guided scuba sessions, including an after-dark session for certified participants. Captain Justin and guides such as Chad help keep the trip friendly, personal, and safe.

“Great option for snorkeling, can pay extra for diving. See a lot either way. Make sure you get any medical checks / certificates done beforehand if you plan to dive.”

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10.All Inclusive Great Barrier Reef Cruise w optional Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 36 reviews · from $190

Cruise from Cairns to two outer Great Barrier Reef sites, with snorkeling, a 20-minute introductory or 40-minute certified scuba session, breakfast, BBQ lunch, snacks, and reef talks. Gabriel is praised for calm, small-group instruction. The boat carries up to 75 people, and conditions can affect the route.

“We had best diving and snorkelling experience, i don’t know how to swim but the crew was so friendly and the female instructor was so good, as i was feeling so scared and she assured me so many times and made it a memorable experieRead more”

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11.4-Day PADI Open Water Dive Course – Learn to Dive on the Great Barrier Reef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $677

Learn scuba skills with instructor Frankie and a maximum group of eight, then take two Evolution catamaran trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef. The four-day course includes classroom work, pool practice, four guided reef sessions, one free fun session, equipment, transfers, and PADI certification.

“Excellent!!!If I can give 50 starts review,I would.The best thing I did to myself was booking this course.I always have fear of deep water and just in four days I was able to dive down to 16 meters.I still can’t believe I did that.All this thanks to FraRead more”

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