Evolution Outer Reef Snorkel & Dive

from A$275

8 hours 30 mins

Great Barrier Reef

All Ages

Cruise from Cairns aboard the Evolution superyacht to two Outer Great Barrier Reef sites, with five hours for snorkelling, optional diving, a BBQ lunch, and relaxing on deck.

Key Highlights

Cruise onboard the 35-metre luxury superyacht Evolution from Cairns
Visit two exclusive Outer Great Barrier Reef sites such as Norman, Saxon, and Hastings reefs
Enjoy five hours exploring the reef, with snorkelling and optional scuba diving
Optional 10-minute scenic helicopter flight or Semi-Submersible Tour for non-swimmers (extra cost)
Freshly prepared BBQ lunch onboard with a selection of fish, steak, salads, and prawns
Relax with afternoon tea and a glass of wine on the return cruise

What’s included

Luxury cruise onboard Evolution
All snorkelling equipment
Instruction and assistance from professional dive crew
BBQ lunch with fresh fish, steak, salads, and prawns
Five hours at Outer Great Barrier Reef at two sites
Afternoon tea and a glass of wine on return journey
Catering for special dietary requirements

Overview

Experience the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns on a full-day cruise aboard the Evolution superyacht. Enjoy the ultimate reef adventure as you cruise to two outer reef locations, selected for exceptional coral and abundant marine life. Expect five hours on the water with plenty of time to snorkel, swim, or relax on deck.

Visit exclusive sites such as Norman, Saxon, or Hastings reefs, with instruction and assistance for snorkellers and divers. Upgrade your adventure with an optional scuba dive or take in the scenery from above with a scenic helicopter flight, or stay dry and explore below the surface on a Semi-Submersible Tour (additional costs apply).

Your day includes a freshly prepared BBQ lunch featuring fish, steak, salads, and prawns, with special diets catered for. The experienced crew ensures a comfortable and safe experience throughout the day, whether you are a first-time snorkeller or a seasoned diver.

The itinerary includes check-in at the Reef Fleet Terminal from 07:15-07:45, departure at 08:00, arrival at the first reef at 09:45, BBQ buffet lunch at 11:30, second reef visit at 13:00, and the return cruise departing at 15:00, arriving back in Cairns by 16:30.

Commonly asked questions.

We have 12 exclusive moorings at six reef locations. Locations are chosen each day based on weather conditions and water clarity to ensure the best experience for all activities. Generally, we travel to one of our two outer reef locations in the morning (Norman Reef or Saxon Reef) then make our way to North Hastings Reef in the afternoon to conduct Helicopter Flights and our Semi-Submersible tour.

Evolution is surveyed to take 300 passengers but we limit our numbers to a maximum of 150-180 passengers. We are fortunate to have one of the largest reef vessels in Cairns. Evolution has three floors and is considerably spacious with multiple outdoor deck spaces as well.

Yes, upon boarding you will meet crew who will assign you a seat for the day. You are required to sit in your allocated seating for the safety briefings upon departure. But once you have your seating location, you are free to move about the vessel and sit anywhere!

Minimum age for Introductory divers and dive courses: 12+ years and Certified divers: 10+ years. Please keep in mind that all divers are required to complete a Medical Questionnaire.

All introductory divers will be accompanied by a PADI qualified dive instructor for the entire duration of the dive. Your instructor will provide you with ongoing instructions for your safety and point out marine life. If you are a certified diver, you will not be accompanied in the water by a dive instructor. If you would like a guided dive, we have these available for $20 per dive. You can pre-book this or purchase onboard on the day. During busy periods, we recommend pre-booking with our reservations team before travel.

Our crew are English speaking. We also have German, Japanese and Chinese (Mandarin) on some days.

For lunch, we provide a delicious Aussie BBQ lunch including prawns, fish, steak, vegetarian options, vegan options and tropical salads. View the lunch menu here. Special dietary requirements: We can cater to guests with vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free diets - you must advise reservations of your special dietary requirement at least 48 hours before travel. We do not specifically cater for Halal meals. We do have vegetarian and vegan food onboard. If you are halal, you are more than welcome to bring food with you if we are unable to accommodate your food requirements. If you are vegan, we also recommend you bring some of your personal snacks for the morning and afternoon tea so that you feel full and satisfied.

Passengers are required to check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns. Check-in: from 7.15am - 7.45am Evolution departs: 8.00am Evolution returns: 4.30pm approximately

Additional info by the operator.

Itinerary:

07:15-07:45: Check-in at Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns
08:00: Evolution departs Cairns
09:45: Arrive at first reef location (Saxon or Norman Reef)
11:30: BBQ buffet lunch served onboard
13:00: Arrive at second reef location (North Hastings Reef)
15:00: Evolution departs reef for Cairns
16:30: Evolution arrives back in Cairns