Cairns & Far North Queensland Australia

Diving and snorkeling

A number of Cairns operators run day and liveaboard scuba diving trips from Cairns. For seeing the Great Barrier Reef, the smaller dive boats provide the best experience, both for diving and for snorkeling. The larger operations have more amenities--better food, larger and faster boats, more activities, but sometimes provide a poorer underwater experience, as the underwater areas that the larger boats visit are heavily overused, and somewhat barren of coral and fishes. Your mileage may vary.

Tusa Dive Australia. Tusa Dive Australia are a particularly good small operator. Tusa Dive offer 2 dive day trips to the Outer Reef

Pro Dive Cairns. Pro Dive Cairns specialises in 11 dive/3 day/2 night liveaboard trips to the Outer Reef, departing every day except Tuesdays. Their dive sites are suitable for inexperienced divers: most trips will include one or more groups of students doing their checkout dives.

New Horizon Sail and Dive. New Horizon Sail and Dive operates two classic sailing boats, Santa Maria and Coral Sea Dreaming, to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They allow you to experience the reef in a smaller more intimate affair with a maximum of ten (10) passengers on each trip.

Taka Dive Adventures. Taka Dive offer two liveaboard trips: a 5 day/4 night tour of Cod Hole and the Coral Sea.

Dive Directory. Destinations including the Great Barrier Reef, Cod Hole and the Coral Sea. Also offering PADI scuba diving courses from beginner to professional.

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions are Australian divers favourite luxury dive operator, famous for little touches like fresh towels every day, as well as excellent dive sites suited to serious divers.