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6+ hours
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Recommended by 96% of travellers
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per adult
Passions of Paradise Reef Tour
Passions of Paradise Reef Tour
Passions of Paradise Reef Tour
5
Scuba & SnorkellingBoat ToursSightseeing ToursDay Trips
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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
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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5.0
3,235 reviews
Excellent
2,860
Very good
238
Average
76
Poor
29
Terrible
32
Daisy Robinson
2 contributions
Dec. 2023 • Couples
The boat is lovely and I was very pleasantly surprised how stable it was (as I did worry about sea sickness but I was absolutely fine). You have a nice amount of time travelling on it until the first location to have a sunbath and chill on it. Some refreshments and fruit are also provided when you get on the boat.
We spent a good 30/40 minutes snorkelling until it was our turn to dive.. sadly we didn’t see anything other than fish.
This was the first time that I had ever dived and I didn’t realise how nervous I would feel going under the water for the first time. Corinda was our instructor and I honestly couldn’t fault her. She was so patient with me when I was clearly a bit panicked at the start and motivated me to continue and do the dive when I tried to insist I was too scared - I am so grateful for this as I can now say I have dived in the Great Barrier Reef. I held onto her arm for dear life under water but she kept checking in with me very frequently so I soon was able to remain calm and enjoy the dive as I knew I was in such safe hands.. so thank you Corinda!
We only ended doing our intro dive for 20-30 mins and then if you want a second dive it’s an additional $60 on top of what you have already paid (so quite expensive) but you can just snorkel instead.
I would say that the photos you buy are very expensive (and you can easily get away with one person paying as you just air drop yourself from an iPad and then airdropping to your friends etc). The photos in the ‘package’ of the coral and wildlife are all from 2022, when I thought they would be from our dive so you could get them off Google for free.
Other than that it was a lovely day. All the staff were amazing - friendly and accommodating from start to finish so would highly recommend!
We spent a good 30/40 minutes snorkelling until it was our turn to dive.. sadly we didn’t see anything other than fish.
This was the first time that I had ever dived and I didn’t realise how nervous I would feel going under the water for the first time. Corinda was our instructor and I honestly couldn’t fault her. She was so patient with me when I was clearly a bit panicked at the start and motivated me to continue and do the dive when I tried to insist I was too scared - I am so grateful for this as I can now say I have dived in the Great Barrier Reef. I held onto her arm for dear life under water but she kept checking in with me very frequently so I soon was able to remain calm and enjoy the dive as I knew I was in such safe hands.. so thank you Corinda!
We only ended doing our intro dive for 20-30 mins and then if you want a second dive it’s an additional $60 on top of what you have already paid (so quite expensive) but you can just snorkel instead.
I would say that the photos you buy are very expensive (and you can easily get away with one person paying as you just air drop yourself from an iPad and then airdropping to your friends etc). The photos in the ‘package’ of the coral and wildlife are all from 2022, when I thought they would be from our dive so you could get them off Google for free.
Other than that it was a lovely day. All the staff were amazing - friendly and accommodating from start to finish so would highly recommend!
Written 4 December 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
HI Daisy! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear you had such a wonderful review, and we will pass along your comments to the crew, especially Corinda.
Written 4 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stuart D
2 contributions
Dec. 2023 • Solo
Great crew who were fun and knowledgeable. The trip to the reef was easy a comfortable boat. I did snorkeling and it was my first time so real beginner. First location saw a huge amount of marine life on the reef. In the second location there was a bit less in terms of marine life on the day I visited but I did see a shark there which was great. One of the best experiences I’ve had travelling. Take a GoPro if you can. Thoroughly recommend.
Written 3 December 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Stuart! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear you had such a great time out with us!
Written 4 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cindy C
Hayward, CA9 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Solo
This experience was awesome. The crew was great and I appreciated the guide Jazz who helped me around the reef. She took the time to explain what we were seeing. I also enjoyed getting to know her better on the way back. I would definitely recommend this experience.
Written 2 December 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Cindy! Thank you so much for taking the time to write us such a lovely review!
Written 3 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
C Brereton B
Nantwich, UK2 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Third time out on the reef with 3 different boats, the previous two were good but not in the same league as Passions . Everything was superb, crew ,food ,organisation of the diving and snorkelling.
Big shout out to Lilly who helped my wife and took her out snorkelling who has a fear of the sea .👏👏
We will definitely use them again 👍👍
Big shout out to Lilly who helped my wife and took her out snorkelling who has a fear of the sea .👏👏
We will definitely use them again 👍👍
Written 2 December 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Colin! Thank you so much for your great review! We will be sure and tell Lilly and the crew what an amazing day you had.
Written 3 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FunBoyOne
London, UK199 contributions
There are three things that stood out for us on this day out to the barrier reef. Firstly, the numbers on board are considerably lower than many of the other operators - 86 on the large catamaran on the day we went, so you have space to sit down, eat the very good lunch (seconds available if you’re so inclined).
Secondly, all the crew are genuinely friendly and frequently stop by to check on you or chat.
Finally (and most importantly) is their attitude to safety and ensuring the range of swimming abilities and medical conditions are surfaced and mitigated. There are headcounts before you set off and after each dive. There is a brief but effective medical questionnaire to complete and they go through each one, following up individually if necessary. They don’t stop anyone swimming on the reef (regardless of health condition or ability) - the aim is to ensure you do it safely.
If you’re nervous, there will be crew members with life rings who will effectively tow you over the reef. The kit (stinger suit and mask and snorkel) is good and they have prescription goggles if you want them. In my case, with some managed medical conditions, they just put red tape around the snorkel so they can check how you’re doing. There are spotters and a boat constantly checking on you.
The views of the reef are great. There are two dive points, chosen depending on the wind and weather. We preferred the first one, but views of the coral and the stunning range of fish are great. If you want you can hire an underwater camera for Aus$60 or buy a pic of yourself from their scuba cameraman.
Drinks and food are not expensive - beer $8 - and the food is very good. There’s coffee and tea on arrival and a snack in the afternoon. We were back on the harbour at 4.30 so had to wait a few minutes to 5pm in order to benefit from the $15 ‘reef deal’ at the shopping centre underground car park that’s 5 mins from the Reef Terminal. All in all a great day, made by the crew with a helping hand from the reef itself.
Secondly, all the crew are genuinely friendly and frequently stop by to check on you or chat.
Finally (and most importantly) is their attitude to safety and ensuring the range of swimming abilities and medical conditions are surfaced and mitigated. There are headcounts before you set off and after each dive. There is a brief but effective medical questionnaire to complete and they go through each one, following up individually if necessary. They don’t stop anyone swimming on the reef (regardless of health condition or ability) - the aim is to ensure you do it safely.
If you’re nervous, there will be crew members with life rings who will effectively tow you over the reef. The kit (stinger suit and mask and snorkel) is good and they have prescription goggles if you want them. In my case, with some managed medical conditions, they just put red tape around the snorkel so they can check how you’re doing. There are spotters and a boat constantly checking on you.
The views of the reef are great. There are two dive points, chosen depending on the wind and weather. We preferred the first one, but views of the coral and the stunning range of fish are great. If you want you can hire an underwater camera for Aus$60 or buy a pic of yourself from their scuba cameraman.
Drinks and food are not expensive - beer $8 - and the food is very good. There’s coffee and tea on arrival and a snack in the afternoon. We were back on the harbour at 4.30 so had to wait a few minutes to 5pm in order to benefit from the $15 ‘reef deal’ at the shopping centre underground car park that’s 5 mins from the Reef Terminal. All in all a great day, made by the crew with a helping hand from the reef itself.
Written 1 December 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi There! Thank you so much for taking the time to write us such a great review! We're glad to hear that your trip was exceptional and that you enjoyed everything.
Written 3 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J M
Bakersfield2 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
Very pleasant trip, well organized and with plenty of time at each dive site. The crew looked after your every need. Plus, the food was great and the accommodations clean.
Written 30 November 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Team! Thanks for the great review! We will definitely pass along your comments to the crew!
Written 3 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vicki H
1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Couples
The crew was amazing and took us to the best reef spots and gave us a great experience whether snorkeling or diving. They love the reef and love showing it to visitors. Gave me an appreciation for the beauty and importance of the Great Barrier Reef.
Written 30 November 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Vicki! Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are glad to hear you had such a great time on your trip out with us!
Written 3 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JH
11 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
This tour took us to Little Tracey at Flynn Reef and The Edge at Milne Reef with plenty of fish and coral diversity. The weather was perfect and visibility was amazing. The Passions crew was knowledgeable and made the full day adventure so fun. Bonus points for partnering with conservation groups and efforts. Highly recommend Passions of Paradise!
Written 27 November 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Team! Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are glad to hear that you had such a wonderful experience on your trip with us!
Written 3 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Asma M
24 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Family
We had the most amazing, forever-to-remember experience of snorkeling in the GBR with Passions! Everything was top notch. They picked us up from Trinity Beach right on time, and transported us to Cairns from we were to board the catamaran. Checkin was a breeze. The vessel and the snorkeling equipment were in great condition and the food was good as well. We had a couple of vegetarians in our group who had ample choice of items.
The staff were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. In fact there were two marine biologists onboard and one of them gave an informative talk about the GBR and the marine animals there. We enjoyed it very much.
The captain, Craig, was great and explained to us how he decides on which reef to go to on a particular date. We visited two reefs - Milln and Flynn and they were both extraordinarily beautiful to snorkel in, and they were teeming with marine animals. We opted to snorkel with a staff member at both the reefs (Kennedy at Milln and Gonzalo at Flynn), who both went out of their way to explain to us what we were seeing. When it was hard to point to a fish, they would dive down, holding their breath, and point to it from up close. We saw so many different species of fish and corals.
I would highly recommend this experience and this company if you are in Australia
The staff were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. In fact there were two marine biologists onboard and one of them gave an informative talk about the GBR and the marine animals there. We enjoyed it very much.
The captain, Craig, was great and explained to us how he decides on which reef to go to on a particular date. We visited two reefs - Milln and Flynn and they were both extraordinarily beautiful to snorkel in, and they were teeming with marine animals. We opted to snorkel with a staff member at both the reefs (Kennedy at Milln and Gonzalo at Flynn), who both went out of their way to explain to us what we were seeing. When it was hard to point to a fish, they would dive down, holding their breath, and point to it from up close. We saw so many different species of fish and corals.
I would highly recommend this experience and this company if you are in Australia
Written 27 November 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Asma! We wanted to take a moment and thank you for your wonderful review! We are glad to hear you had such a great day with us, and we will definitely pass along your comments to our crew, especially Kenadee and Gonzalo. Thanks again and we hope you enjoy the rest of your travels!
Written 27 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hilde
1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Amazing! The boat was fully booked, but it didnt feel crowded. More than enough space. The snorkling gear was of very high quality, much better than my other expiriences with hiring snorkling gear. Amazing Staff and Good food. Highly recommend!
Written 26 November 2023
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.
PassionsofParadise
Hi Hilde! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear you had such an amazing day with us!
Written 26 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jimmy X
Promised Land, Australia2 contributions
2 questions - (1) Does the the 2 hour travel time back and forth Cairns feel "too long", particularly if you were travelling with kids; and (2) How much actual time in the water (snorkelling, swimming) do you get in total?
Thanks and appreciate your feedback.
Alfonso R
1 contribution
Hi!
It's been 1 year since I traveled with Passions of paradise, and I still remember the magnificent music of the trip, is there any playlist of the music you play on the boat in spotify or some similar platform?
Thanks and greetings from Spain!
Laura D
Cairns, Australia7 contributions
Hi Alfonso, Laura here from Passions of Paradise. Great to hear we are still in your memory! :) Unfortunately we do not have specific playlists. Our crew use their individual Spotify playlists through our sound system so the music on the day is random! Sorry!
I hope you are keeping well and safe in Spain!
SammyCalifornia
Grand Terrace, CA148 contributions
Do they allow you to take your own gopro camera?
Drz400
5 contributions
Yes they do allowed us our own camera and GoPro for both snorkeling and diving. There’s also a diver from the crew where you can buy any pictures there’s been taken of you, if for instance your own gear runs out of power. The crew will have I slide show on their iPad to choose your pictures from.
Cruiser40637074975
1 contribution
are the Lycras suit included? If not how much? Also at the dock it will cost 20.00. Do you take credit card?
Colin
Melbourne, Australia19 contributions
The wetsuits are not thin Lycra, they’re neoprene. Also all levies were included in the ticket price so there shouldn’t be additional charges that need to be cash paid at the dock.
patti d
erin13 contributions
Are there problems this year with the jellyfish? Due to all the rain I understand that stirs them up? Did you wear stinger suits?
marianneo925
2 contributions
You wear a suit provides which helps with that plus jellyfish we never saw any. The crew sort the suit it’s super easy u should just go and enjoy have fun
Milandro1975
Melbourne, Australia5 contributions
Hi, stupid question maybe but my wife has a really high prescription - will my glasses fit under the goggles??
Cheers, Milo
Imag5566
52 contributions
Hi there, some of the boats have prescription goggles. But you can also use full face masks with your own glasses. You would have to buy them though. They are atoungg $40 aus
How many people on the boat?
Passions Team
Cairns Region, Australia1 contribution
Hi Vicky, We take 100 passengers plus our crew :) The boat was originally built for 140 so there is tons of space!
Gottagocit
Tennessee1,816 contributions
How long is the boat ride to/from the reef snorkeling sites?
They don’t use the platforms which are shared by many different companies, correct?
AndyLynxo
Cairns, Australia44 contributions
Around 45 mins - 1 hour depending on any whale, dolphin sightings etc. No platforms, just the reef.
Tygger18
Melbourne, Australia200 contributions
Hi, could anyone please advise what the glass bottom boat ride is like? Is it worth it as in you can actually see through the glass clearly or is it just all murky? Thanks in advance
Magdalena S
Oslo, Norway11 contributions
All I know is that for now it's not working/in use, so if you're planning a trip the next few days I don't think it'll be possible...
Jennifer J
1 contribution
Hi, Jennifer. What would you like to know about this attraction?
I would like to know about the size of the boat and seasickness? Does the boat have showers? and do they have a coffee machine (not just hot tap water)