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Passions of Paradise Reef Tour

Passions of Paradise Reef Tour

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Passions of Paradise Reef Tour
5
#2 of 106 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Cairns
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About
Dive, Snorkel, Sail the Great Barrier Reef aboard Passions of Paradise, Cairns newest and most luxurious catamaran. Sailing daily, let our friendly, dedicated staff introduce you to another world teeming with exotic fish life, coral gardens, and spectacular views. Visiting two sites daily we have a selection of over 24 Outer Great Barrier Reef destinations to choose from offering you the best location tailored the days conditions! Dive or snorkel with Cairns's friendliest crew! Every afternoon, our bar opens, and guests relax in comfort as we raise the sails and cruise back to Cairns.
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles3,409 reviews
Excellent
3,025
Very good
244
Average
78
Poor
29
Terrible
34
MelbourneSeeTheWorld
Melbourne, Australia428 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Great experience
Feb 2021 • Couples
When you visit this area, particularly if it is your first experience of going to the reef I would highly recommend this tour. The staff all ensured you enjoyed the experience and provided an all round enjoyable trip. Snorkelling was what we undertook though many others on the boat went scuba diving. The boat is magnificent with sails up on the return journey to add something different. Extremely safe and the crew provided real confidence for those who were a little hesitant in swimming in the ocean. The lunch provided was for me very average. Refreshments available on board. Saw heaps of colourful fish. Underwater cameras are available to hire on board though there is a hire shop attached to the cruise terminal that can supply the equipment slightly cheaper. Certainly recommend.
Written 1 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carly P
Townsville, Australia2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
First class Great Barrier Reef tour!
Sept 2020 • Family
Where do I start!!. What an amazing day my daughters (7,12) and I had experiencing one of the wonders of the world, The Great Barrier Reef! The crew aboard the Passions of Paradise Catamaran were first class in their professionalism, friendliness, knowledge and overall creating the best snorkelling/diving experience ever!
Russell was hilarious and highly knowledgeable on anything to do with the reef, great dude! Simon was amazing as our snorkelling guide and incredibly patient with the struggling swimmers, especially my youngest daughter. Phoebe and Erin were total sweethearts and made my girls feel so comfortable, even inducting them into the mermaid club ;) The food was delicious!! Hats off to Ginni the chef, He provided us with an array of different salads, pastas, vegetarian options, freshly baked bread, homemade chocolate fudge, it was seriously so tasty and lots of it! Fresh fruit platters throughout the day, freshly baked savoury scones for afternoon tea, coffee, tea, a bar on board! We were made to feel so welcome by the entire crew. I would do this over and over again and recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing experience snorkelling/diving the Great Barrier Reef.
We had a transfer from our accomodation and at the end of the day Russell made sure we made it back to our transfer bus. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Passions of Paradise for once again making it an unforgettable experience!! Carly, Bronte and Mia 😊
Written 8 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheyCallMeMrT
Toowoomba, Australia396 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
So friendly, great family owned local option and 100% recommended
July 2020 • Friends
We went for a couple dives with passions. It was during the covid phase of our lives so the boat only had 60 odd people when the boat capacity was over 100 so wasn’t too crowded. There was only a handful of cert divers so it was a pretty personal touch. We had Russel as our dive master and he was great. Full of knowledge and plenty of sarcasm and enough jokes to keep a smile on your face. We were lucky on our first dive the water had 20+m visibility. He kept a pretty good slow pace so the varying skill levelled divers could all keep up and still see plenty. The second dive on Hastings reef the vis was back to 6-8m and it wasn’t half as good but the big 10m high coral walls were interesting. We went with ocean freedom the day before and they did 2 dives before lunch which if you get a bit refluxy is good, where passions do one dive before lunch and the other after. They were good so kept a plate aside for us til after the second dive. Russel also gave a pretty interesting talk on the way back to cairns that covered lots of interesting stuff about the reef and coral bleaching (which doesn’t mean the coral dies FYI). Passions also sounds like a great option from all the operators as they seem to put a lot of money into being carbon neutral and also lots of other initiatives that help to keep the reef healthy. The boat is tidy and didn’t smell (which is a risk on a boat that wet people inhabit), the toilets all seemed to be clean and smelling ok. The staff obviously love their job and employers and it showed with their level of enthusiasm and effort.
Written 17 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eri
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Amazing reef tour!
Feb 2021
Very clean boat with tea and coffee upon arrival. It is more expensive than some tours, however, from looking at the competing company’s boats, Passions of Paradise is one of the most well kept. I paid $185 for the trip with an additional $70 for around 30 mins of scuba diving (and another $40 if you want one more round) and $25 for a professional underwater picture. So be prepared to pay for add ons. Found some staff slightly pressuring the non-English speakers to do additional scuba diving, so do your research on what you want beforehand so you don’t get confused.

That being said, scuba diving and snorkelling with Passions of Paradise was an absolutely amazing experience that I recommend to everyone! Thank you to my scuba diving guide Griffan for being very patient!

The tour group was moderately sized at 50-70 people and comprised mainly of couples and a sprinkle of solo and family travellers with older children. No unhappy young ones, which was nice.
Written 17 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
christopher B
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Amazing Great Barrier Reef Tour experience with the Passions of Paradise Crew !!
Mar 2021 • Friends
Had an absolutely amazing time on the Passions of Paradise Reef Tour yesterday! All the staff were very friendly and professional. Special shout out to reef dive experience instructor Ada who we were lucky enough to have as our dive experience instructor. Our group had nil previous diving experience and Ada managed to lead and instruct us in such a way that instilled confidence. We all had such a great time with Ada that we decided to go ahead with the second dive experience at reef stop no. 2! The reef locations are amazing and Ada made sure to communicate with us while Underwater and pointed out all the special coral and fish species etc. Ada - thank you! Food was great, staff were pleasant and The Great Barrier Reef knowledge session on the trip back was enlightening! The Captain/Skipper was more than happy to have a chat and answer our questions about the reef. Reef photographer Sota is magic with the underwater camera so I would recommend buying the pics, we certainly did! Dive instructor Phoebe was really warm and welcoming and gave a great dive experience instruction session on the way to the reef! Cannot speak anymore highly of this tour company for the reef and all staff involved! 100% would recommend !! Plus there is a bar for a few sneaky beverages on the way back in! Thank you Passions of paradise for an experience I will not forget !
Written 30 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John Magee
Palm Cove, Australia1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I have to tell you about the best two days diving.
Apr 2021
I have to tell you about the best two days diving I’ve had for a long time out on the Great Barrier Reef. We went to Hastings Reef, one of the best known reefs in the area, with Passions of Paradise. I have done 175 trips over the past few years alone, and the Passions crew always like to help and make you feel at home. I am very lucky to have a solo diving ticket which means I can get the most out of my photography dives. On the 16th of April I was extremely luck to to find a Hairy Ghost pipefish, the first one I have seen in two years, and then not even a hundred metres away I found a Harlequin ghost pipe fish. To find these to little guys to an underwater photographer is like winning the grand final, so I would like to say a very special thanks to Passions of Paradise, the crew and Captain Craig for making it day to remember. I come out with this company because they go to the best sites, have the best crew, the food is cooked fresh on board and delicious… there are so many reasons. In addition, their commitment to conservation and the long-term sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef really showcases what an eco-tour to this amazing natural wonder should be. I highly recommend that if you’re looking for an amazing experience at the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, go with Passions of Paradise; you will not be disappointed. Many Thanks John Magee.
Written 14 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mickdent44
Waterlooville, UK114 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Snorkelling and diving experience
Jan 2020 • Family
Has been on my bucket list for years to do diving at the Great Barrier Reef so myself and my son booked this company and we defiantly picked a great company to go with . We found all the staff very professional and helpful and the safety and explaining the diving was very good which made our experience fantastic . Our instructor Simon from New Zealand made us feel very safe in the water and had amazing patience and kept checking we where ok so made it a great trip. I would recommend this company to my friends if ever they wanted to do diving in cairns and thank you to all the staff on board
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessey F
Paris, France27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
All round 10/10 experience!
Dec 2020 • Friends
100% recommend booking your reef snorkling tour with this company!
It started out a rainy day and rocky seas but the staff were all very accommodating & knew what to say before we even knew we needed it. Even though it started out rough (which is of course the weather is out of everyone’s control) the staff could not have been more helpful and cheerful even though they were experiencing the same rough seas. They had a great playlist going with land down under, bright sunshiney day, here comes the sun etc. which was a bit of a laugh as the sun was most definitely not shining at that point😂Thankfully it cleared up once we were out to the reef which was bloody unreal!!! Special shout out to Erin, Phoebe & Russell.

The snorkel guide Erin appeared just when I needed it & showed me where to find Nemo as well as helping me fix my snorkel mask & taking my floaty device as I was just thinking I wish I didn’t have it on so I could dive deeper! But it is great for easy floating. She was always there at the perfect time to help with exactly what I needed! Thank you Erin!!
Phoebe also did an entertaining introductory speech as well and was always around if you needed anything!
It was a great buffet lunch with a plate full of different kinds of food, something for everyone & you can even come back for more so you won’t go hungry!
You can hire cameras on board & they also had a photographer who took some really cool pictures of you snorkling in the reef. Definitely recommend buying those!
And I absolutely loved the marine talk with Russell as well. It was great to learn a lot more about the reef and how climate change is affecting it & how Covid has affected their industry and family owned business. Everyone was so lovely and full of the banter which made our holiday such a happy time! Thanks for the best day. If you’re considering a snorkling tour, this is the one you should choose!!!
Written 14 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ramadama
New Providence, NJ2,919 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Great staff
Feb 2020 • Couples
The staff on this trip is fantastic and very concerned about everyones' safety. They are very knowledgable, experienced, caring and hard working. It took us about 2.75 hours to get to the first dive spot and unfortunately the water was a little choppy. But we were still able to some big fish since we were in a deeper area. Many people felt a little sick after that dive from the waves. The second dive was in a calmer spot and shallower so we saw tons of various fish, many different types of coral, etc. I enjoyed this snorkel experience better. For lunch they had a tomato chicken entree or a vegetarian entree served with rice. They also had a green salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, pasta salad, coleslaw, beet salad with spinach, potato salad, cold cuts, tortilla flats, rolls, guacamole, shredded cheese. The salads had too much mayonase for me. They had beverages for sale. At the start of the trip they have coffee, tea, mini muffins and fresh fruit. At the end of the trip they serve cookies, fruit, cheese and crackers.

They also had a photographer taking pictures underwater of each participant and those photos were available for purchase. The price was $45 which included the photos he took and 60 photos of the various fish etc.

The staff makes this a really positive experience and is available to help those with questions and this whole experience.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ℓєαн
Brisbane, Australia29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
BEST SNORKELING TOUR EVER !!
Nov 2020 • Friends
Yesterday some friends and I went out to Hastings Reef on a snorkeling trip with Passions of Paradise. These guys are amazing! They are so professional and the entire trip from start to finish was seamless. Every single crew member was extremely friendly and lovely to chat to.

Due to safety measures for COVID19 they had limited number of persons on board, which as a customer made for a very special & unique experience as there was so much room on board the boat.

I thought it was great how they start your morning off with fresh fruit, tea and coffee as soon as you get settled on the boat. The crew gave exceptional service, and even the morning briefing was hilarious.

The weather was a little choppy, but thankfully the travel sickness tablets they sold stopped us from getting sick. The snorkelling experience itself was amazing, and by far the best snorkeling I’ve done. It’s a really great location and we saw so many beautiful fish and coral. After we got back on board the boat we even saw a turtle.

I loved how much freedom & space we had to snorkel, and that if we went to far out they would just kindly let us know. I didn’t think I would, but I ended up using the floatation device they offer just because it gave me the ability to float on top of the water and relax while watching the fish.

On the way back to Cairns the crew did a mock safety drill, pretending there was a man overboard. Apart from the fact it was fun to watch, we all thought it was really great they do this because it shows they obviously take safety seriously and are well trained and prepared.

I couldn’t fault Passions of Paradise, and for anyone looking at doing a snorkeling or scuba diving trip, I would VERY HIGHLY recommended this group :-)

Well done guys and girls on providing such an exception service!
Written 9 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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