Cairns: Best Value All-inclusive Reef Trip With Scuba Dive

I had a bad experience with the administrative side of Reef Experience specifically Cecillia and great experience on the boat. I bought my ticket on August 27, 2026 through Viator website for an October 19, 2026 introductory scuba dive at The Great Barrier Reef. I haven’t scuba dived before and thought what better way to see The Great Barrier Reef than up close and to do a scuba dive for the first time! I made arrangements to go and was counted down the days until my trip. I left USA for Australia on October 10th. I arrived in Cairns October 18th. I received an email October 18 at 12:25 p.m. saying a note in English form my Doctor saying I’m OK to scuba dive was needed. This is not on the Viator website. I would have gotten the medical certificate before I bought the ticket if I knew. I called their office asking if they could do the medical assessment themselves because this is a last minute request, waiting until the day before the dive, and don’t know if I can get medical clearance to scuba dive certificate. Cecelia had an accent that made it hard for me to understand her at times. The answer I got was no, they can’t do the assessment, but certificate is required for safety. If this was so important I asked Cecillia why did they wait until the day before to ask for a medical certificate? The response I got was “I’m sorry. You need the certificate to scuba dive.” So I frantically tried to get medical certificate from Doctor. I signed up for teleconferences and video chats to get assessed for scuba diving. I was having reception issues with my phone so I stayed in lodge to stay connected to their Wi-Fi network. The answer I finally received from my HMO is their medical license does not extend past US borders(I’m a US citizen that live in USA) so they could not help me. I planned almost 2 months in advance to travel to the other side of the globe to scuba dive at The Great Barrier Reef. Instead of enjoying my holiday checking out nearby Esplande lagoon and Esplande beach I spent next 3 hours waiting in the queue for medical teleconference which ultimately was futile. Once I boarded my flight, it was no longer possible for me to obtain medical clearance for scuba diving. Very disappointing. I agree in principle with what Reef Experience was trying to do. Safety first, always. I agree. I respect the power of the ocean and appreciate Reef Experience trying to keep everyone safe. However, they executed notifying customers of safety protocols horribly! If it was that important for medical clearance: 1) I should have been notified as soon as I purchased ticket almost 2 months or better yet 2) THIS SHOULD INCLUDED IN THE BOOKING DETAILS. “YOU NEED A DOCTORS NOTE IN ENGLISH TO SCUBA DIVE IF YOU TAKE ANY PRESECRIPTION MEDICATION.” Simple fix. I did notify Viator in chat message and they said they will forward me complaint then will email me status. Been almost 2 weeks since my complaint and no update yet. Once I got on the boat, I had a good time! Boat crew worked well together. The cook was also the lifeguard who also helped the captain steer to drop some sort of border net. The marine biologist took turn of being a lifeguard and was helping the cook wash the dishes. The expert scuba divers helped captain steer and put down then take up border nets. The Captain was swimming taking us on tours of the reef of with some of us holding on life buoy. All of the crew members were friendly, knowledgeable and professional. I couldn’t ask for a better crew. While my heart was set on scuba diving it was beautiful and enjoyable to look at The Great Barrier Reef via snorkel. If I were rating just the boat crew, 5 out of 5 stars! Reef Experience Admin did give me a courtesy call to help me with check in. It was emailed to me. For some reason most time I was in Cairns I had horrible reception (Thanks Vodafone) so was having hard time accessing information once I got to the dock so that phone call was helpful. If I had received earlier notification or seen medical requirement of scuba when I bought ticket I would have been able to manage my expectations based off my Doctor evaluation in the USA and enjoy my holiday more. If the Doctor did not clear me for scuba diving I would have been fine with snorkeling still went anyway then had 3 more hours of enjoying my holiday in Cairns.

Good experience despite the rain. Staff were very warm and friendly and they provided food that met everyone’s requirements.

The best Great Barrier Reef tour! The quality and value for money will not be found with another tour. The dive instructors Henry and Dylan made it a fun and comfortable scuba experience. The whole staff was incredible- truly an unforgettable experience! Excellent food as well.

It was an absolutely fantastic tour! All the staff were very friendly and kind. They really cared about everyone and kept checking on us throughout the tour. Safety was always their first priority. They also explained everything about scuba diving very clearly and kindly, so even a complete beginner like me could enjoy it without any problems. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I would definitely recommend this tour!

Great value , first dive included complete with all the gear . Staff was really friendly and professional . Took safety seriously , food was good with generous portions . I would recommend this tour for anyone wanting to dive or snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.

With the reef experience tour, this was the best time i had snorkelling around. Connie and Dylan were the best ones to help me around with the sessions. Best of the persons to assist the ones who is a non swimmer. I am very confident and happy after my experience. Harry gave the best of scuba trip to my husband. Surely the whole crew made the experience safe and enjoyable. Cheers to the team.❤️❤️❤️❤️

SUCH A GOOD TIME!!! Shoutouts to Harry for making my first scuba dive experience epic, Paulo for being a great decky and Connie for her awesome Marine Biology facts. Would recommend these people to tour with it was a great day!!

Thanks crew for the great experience!

Amazing trip to discover the wonderful Great Barrier Reef. Super value for a full day all inclusive! The crew is lovely, always happy to help. Shoutout to the snorkeling tour with a certified marine biologist.

It’s really amazing trip to go with reef experience. I really dream to go for snorkelling and dive in Great Barrier Reef 1 of the seven wonder with them is one of the best trip i have done. The food, the dive, the crew is amazing shout out to the marine bio is amazing

Any visit to the Great Barrier Reef is a huge experience and on top of this the Reef Experience team added cream to the cake, they were superbly interactive and responsive in every respect, constantly making sure we had the best possible experience. Of particular note was when the photographer ( Nic?) took our 10 year old granddaughter on a specific snorkel trip around a part of the reef, awesome. Also due mentions are Dylan, Pat and the Marine Biologist.

BEWARE OF SCAM! Our tour was cancelled by Reef Experience due to weather on 9 May 2026, and we were immediately advised that our refund would be processed. More than 3 months later, we are still waiting for our money. Despite multiple emails and phone calls, we have repeatedly been told the refund is being followed up with their accounts team. The company has acknowledged the refund is owed, yet it remains unpaid. Three months to process a refund that has already been approved is completely unacceptable. Customers should not have to repeatedly chase a company to receive money they are owed. We have now had to escalate the matter to the Queensland Office of Fair Trading. The weather cancellation itself wasn't the issue — these things happen. The issue is the extraordinary delay and lack of accountability in handling the refund. Based on this experience, I would think very carefully before booking with Reef Experience.

I feel like the money spent on this trip for my son and I with Reef Experience would have been better flushed down the toilet. It felt incredibly unsafe, even more so with a child. The water was so rough that everyone who attempted to dive was getting knocked over just sitting on the platform and smashed against the boat when in the water. I left covered in bruises and I became aware that someone dislocated their shoulder. A conversation with the dive master later would allude to the fact that in her 4 years with this company this was one of the worst days she had been out on and we were brave for even attempting the intro dive. The food was mediocre, just chicken and 2 salads and the cheese was a cut up $10 block of colby. I never saw our photos, as the photopaper quickly moved on after ascertaining we did not have an iPhone which appeared to be the only way to get photos before we left. I provided an email address, as requested, but despite following up a couple of times never received anything and it has now become apparent that I am just being ignored. And your excuse will be you can’t control the weather blah blah, but you knew it was going to be that bad. I believe a reputable company, knowing how unpleasant that trip was going to be, should have been contacting passengers, especially those with kids and giving them the opportunity to rebook instead of having them feel unsafe and ripped off having to suffer through such a horrid day.

This was a great reef trip with scuba diving (mum and 2 teens). We were really impressed with the length of the free scuba dive and did heaps more than I expected to. There was a theoretical intro on the drive over (as well as a great talk by marine biologist, and the usual safety briefings and breakfast!) for those doing scuba, and we were allocated into groups of around 4 for the diving. We were in the second group so went out snorkelling for 30 mins or so before they called us back to dive (whistle from the top of the boat, easy to hear). The dive they took each of us down for a 1:1 skills check then the checked people held onto rails under the boat whilst the others were checked. They I feel like we did at least 15 mins of proper diving/looking at the reef - it felt like a long time. My son and I paid an extra $70 to do an extra afternoon dive (30 - 40 mins) also. My daughter didn't want to dive again so I booked her (For about $60) on a guided snorkel with the marine biologist which she really enjoyed and which worked well for us as a family so she didn't have to snorkel alone. We also really enjoyed out second dive which was along a big drop off. There was a reasonable amount of time for snorkelling around the dive also. Lunch was great and the trip there and back didn't feel long (about 1.5 hours but kept busy with food and talks). All gear was good and the coral was lovely. Less fish than I've seen at some other reefs but better coral. We did see a Maori Wrass and I saw a good size Epaulette Shark hiding in a hole in the reef as well as a turtle. Food was great and wine and cheese on the way back were nice.

Do not risk booking this company, it has been over 6 weeks since they cancelled two days in a row, one for bad weather, the next for ‘mechanical work’. This was done at 5pm the night before leaving very little time to sort out another option last minute. The main issue is I’m waiting on a $690 refund and only get robot like responses when I have emailed asking for any updates after almost two months. They also mentioned they were selling the company itself and relying on more people booking to boost ‘cash flow’ so they can process people’s refunds. I rarely leave reviews but this is outrageous and no one should risk their money and holiday.

I cannot comment on the actual tour itself because it was cancelled due to bad weather, which I completely understand and accept. However, what is completely unacceptable is the way my refund has been handled. My trip was cancelled on 6 March 2026, and despite being told multiple times that my refund would be processed, I am still waiting months later. Every time I contact the company, I receive the same vague response with no actual timeframe. They even asked me to fill out a form with my full credit card details, including the security code, which I was not comfortable providing. I paid AUD 640, and after all this time I still have not received my money back. Delays can happen, but keeping customers waiting for months without any clear communication or solution is simply not acceptable. I hope the company improves the way it handles refunds, as this experience has been extremely disappointing.

I booked a tour for 2, boking reference is 160791. The tour was cancelled and they have been feeding me with promises of a refund for more than two weeks now. Keep this in mind if you decide to book a tour here - you may lose your money.

Great food, courteous staff, very well coordinated reef diving experience. Just all around great day for the family.

I got a call at 4pm on the day before the boat was supposed to go out saying its cancelled and to go another day. for people who are touring. this is pathetic. 4pm on the day before is insufficient time - Very pissed off with this operator - who could of done the curiosity of calling earlier in the day to organise something else. Go to another operator -

Our trip was amazing from start to finish, with a great breakfast and a very educational talk from a marine biologist which sets up the trip perfectly. We opted to do the intro dive which I was very nervous for which Harry from the team picked up on and made me feel more at ease and assisted me the whole of the dive. We enjoyed it so much we extended the introductory dive and did an extra one which was amazing! The food on board was also delicious but not too much as you’re straight back in the water! Couldn’t recommend this trip enough and if we’re ever in Cairns again I would definitely do it again !

New experience, learned a lot about the great reef barrier. Nice swimming with scuba diving Good food

The most incredible experience with such lovely staff, I spoke to many of them about their jobs and they were all very enthusiastic. A shout out to my guide Nadav, one of the many tentative and friendly people on board. I can’t wait to go back!

Great staff and nice boat. The reef location was very good. We saw a ton of coral and fish. Great day

Last minute cancellation due to mechanical failure No issues with getting refunded but was a bummer to find out last minute.

We booked a package trip from Sweden with flight-hotel-excursions to Australia where this excursion was included. When we boarded, we were immediately asked to pay 150 AUD for a weekend supplement. We had no money with us because it was "all inclusive" and information about this was given to us. The fault also lies with the travel agency but why doesn't Reef... charge the full cost? There were problems and we had to visit their office afterwards and pay. Bad Experience! In addition, the concept of "All inclusive" took on a new meaning. Breakfast sandwich was served but with it only tap water. Had expected, for example, juice. There was nescafe but could only be picked up when the boat was stationary. Would have been nice otherwise for breakfast. Lunch was served and had expected a beer or soft drink but no, only tap water. The food was not enough for everyone - cole slaw and regular salad ran out. A glass of wine from the bag-in-box was included on the way home - completely ok. if you wanted another glass it cost 7 AUD. When we asked the bar staff about a drink for our 15 year old, the answer was "we only have wine but maybe there is milk". The wife got angry and asked another staff member who brought out a coke. There were soft drinks to buy for 4 AUD and there would have been good information on the website so we would have known the conditions. There is much more to complain about unfortunately - the briefing that was done by security etc. on the way out was impossible to hear depending on weak voices and engine noise. Having said that, the snorkeling was great but we leave the trip with a bad aftertaste.

Organized, efficient, pleasant, professional + helpful staff . Great experience snorkelling with incredible views of reef fish + brilliant coloured coral . The trip was everything I had hoped it would be. 🙏

A bit disappointing. Only stopped at one spot, not two, with no explanation as to why. A person in our group took the scuba dive, but was in the last group in the afternoon and photographer only took photos in the morning. Price of photos was over the top - $35 for one digital photo. Boat was overcrowded with no space to put belongings - snorkels, stinger suits, flippers all got mixed up as everything was piled on top of one another. Not enough space to sit outside. Food was average.

Had a fantastic day, 2x adults 1x 3yo. We both got a chance to scuba, while the other looked after our little girl, which was great. Thank you so much to the crew for making this possible. Everything about the dive was great, from the friendly comms with the staff in office, to the crew on the boat. Food was delicious. Honestly couldn't fault the whole day. Thank you so much. Especially dive leader Jasmine and Team captain Cisco.

Don’t go out on rough days, not a pleasant boat ride on rough seas, many people were vomiting and unwell Staff not overly friendly, looked tired and like they didn’t want to be there

The snorkelling was really cool, the boat itself was nice, and the food on board was tasty. Unfortunately, the day as a whole felt very unorganised. Staff seemed flustered, often arguing with each other about roles and responsibilities, and weren’t particularly friendly or welcoming towards customers. A big disappointment was the introductory scuba diving. Many people, including my boyfriend, were sent back after not passing the quick skills test. When he asked what he was doing wrong, he wasn’t given any explanation — just told he couldn’t do it. For something advertised as beginner-friendly, it felt frustrating and unclear. Overall, while the reef itself was beautiful, the lack of organisation and customer care really let the experience down.

Amazing experience and very comfortable first dive. The team was really supportive and took care of my safety at all times!!! Special thanks go to Santi and Rodrigo for the super nice instructions 😊💪🏻

The single greatest experience i have ever been on. I whish i could rate it higher that a 5/5 I would rate it a 100/5. There is no better trip worth the price other than this on. Such amazing staff and crew, super respectful and knowledgeable. I would 100% go there again with them.

Went on this with my uni-friends for midsemester break. Had the best time will definetly do it again if i come back to Cairns. Super helpful, good food, great people😊

It was a wonderful experience, the food was good, and the staff very friendly. The trip to the reef was very beautiful, and the reef hosta some amazing wildlife.

whole day was awesome. complimentary breakfast before we even left the marina. entertaining and enjoyable briefings on the way to the reef which made the time pass quickly, fernando’s marine biology run through was very good. straight into the water as soon as we got to the reef and for a first time scuba diver it was easy and enjoyable with only 2 minutes of in water safety and 15-20 minutes of fun exploring diving. lunch was served by the time we were out of the water and was awesome. after lunch we moved spots so another deeper bomi on the reef and had the opportunity to go for another longer dive (40-45 mins) through deeper coral and with bigger fish and turtles coming right up close and personal. they had a camera crew also that was taking photos all day and we had to chance to look at and gey the photos taken on the way back to the marina. all the crew were lovely but Juan and Stevie were both standouts and very welcoming. juan actually spent the time with the beginners to help them learn and make them enjoy the experience. 10/10 would recommend to anyone considering.

Fantastic!!! The reef locations were the best out of the other tour companies I also tried. The food (lunch) was also very good, breakfast and snacks were also offered. The boat was full, but Gabriel, our guide, took us diving in a small group of 3. Gabriel was awesome!! Highly recommend this for SCUBA.

After a lot of researching about who to go with and reading many reviews, we settled on Reef Experience and had a wonderful time. The staff were really helpful, and allowed us to both scuba dive at different times so that the other one could look after our 2 y.o. Location was brilliant, colourful reef, brimming with life, saw a shark, some rays, Nemo, a turtle, all the big hitters. Lunch was freshly made and delicious. We went on a cloudy and choppy day and still had a blast. There are quite a lot of add ons which can be purchased on board such as a guided snorkel, an additional scuba dive, photos, sea sickness tablets, but no hard sell, just asked if you want it and left at that. Re sea sickness, any Brits who have gone across the Channel on a slightly choppy day without getting sick shouldn't need the tablets. There are many warnings about it. We all had a great day and can't recommend this tour enough, even with a small one.

Awesome day out. Snorkeling was amazing Very well organised. Lots of good information about what we would see and well explained about the scuba diving. Your introductory dive is for about 20 mins.

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 experience for me. My friend was gone with the male instructor and she mentioned that he showed her all the fishes and reef. But we are bit disappointed by the bus driver who came to pick us up. He saw us standing and still moved away and left us without even communicating and we had to call the customer service at-least 4 times to make sure if anyone is coming to pick up. We had to wait an hour during pick up time and whole time we were standing outside our resort as they mentioned that we have to be outside five minutes before our pickup, and same thing happened during drop off time, bus driver left us and other lady, and he picked up people from other cruises and didn’t even text or call as our cruise was bit late.

Me and my partner had an amazing day with Reef experiences. We were lucky to have great weather and the reef was just extraordinary. The staff were also extremely friendly and helpful. At the beginning of the day, everyone was provided with a snorkel, fins and a wetsuit if they wanted one. We then began the long trip towards the reef. They used this time to brief people about the day and give the safety instructions for scuba and snorkelling. Unfortunately, we were put on a table near the back of the boat so we couldn't really hear what they were saying. We were also being told we had to listen to the briefings but another member of staff was asking us questions at the same time. The whole thing would be a lot better if they had microphones. What was also a let down is that they did not feed us until about 9am and we boarded at 7:30 ish. The food was ready for at least half an hour before they served it so of course it was cold and not the nicest. My vegetarian option was a vegetable burger and not a breakfast type thing like everyone else. There were no hot drinks available whilst the boat was moving, so get a coffee before you board! There was a marine biologist who spoke for a bit on the way, but again couldn't really hear her and I just wish I had some food first. That being said, once we got to the reef the day really turned around. The introductory dive experience was absolutely amazing, and I would like to thank my instructor for helping me calm down after having an initial panic underwater (I can't remember her name- sorry!) I am so glad I braved it because it was amazing. I really enjoyed the snorkelling afterwards too. No turtles or sharks but some amazing fish and coral. The lunch was much better and good vegetarian options available. The second location was just as beautiful as the first, and there was plenty of time to explore and you could choose to pay for another dive if you wanted to. It was nice that we could relax on the sundeck for most of the day and the glass of wine at the end of the day was a nice touch. We purchased some photos however I didn't realised that they were digital, not physical photos- I think they need to make that more clear. I also purchased a waterproof phone case which was good, but it would be much cheaper if you bought them in advance! Overall, it was a brilliant day. I would definitely recommend booking :)

It was great trip with great team! I have completed my first scuba diving. Instructors have taught the necessary skills. After it there was around 3h of snorkeling in two different reef spots. I recommend Reef Experience!

We were unlucky and happened to book on a day where the wind was strong and waters were choppy due to rain. Unfortunately, everyone from our family succumbed to sea sickness and couldn't snorkel out in the reef for very long as our energy was drained. Nonetheless, the experience was made bearable and enjoyable thanks to the incredible staff on board who went above and beyond to take care of our needs on the boat and offered guided snorkelling so we did not miss out.

We were a family of 5 - 3 adults and 2 kids - with ages ranging from 77 y/o to 5 y/o. We booked this tour via Sightseeing Tours. We were picked up from our hotel on time. We had a short 10 minute ride to the jetty where the boat that would take us to the GBR was ready for us. My 77 y/o father got a bit sea sick despite taking meds for it - but the entire crew was very nice, helpful and accommodating about his sea sickness till he recovered. Two of us had snorkeled and scuba dived before. Three had not. Also, one of us has, in recent years developed claustrophobia including on wearing masks. But the entire team on the boat was incredible. They ensured all of us got in the water and took us on guided snorkeling trips around the GBR at each snorkeling site. They were very helpful, enthusiastic, understanding and patient - making the whole experience a memorable one for each one of us. We got ample time at each site. We saw an incredible amount of vibrant sea life. The introductory scuba dives were included in the trip price and were very well managed. Even those with zero scuba diving experience from our group had an enjoyable and memorable time on the dive. The complimentary breakfast, lunch and wine with cheese were very good. And we also got dropped off at our hotel at the end of the tour. Overall a very enjoyable experience made better by Jiordano, Daniella and Illiana. Would 100% recommend!

The tour was amazing and the crew even better. It was our first time diving and they made it extremely easy for us. They also provided vegetarian options for us. Thanks again to the whole team

I'm not someone who usually writes many reviews, but I truly feel compelled to share the incredible experience I had today, thanks to the entire crew, and especially my diving instructor, Juan. We shared a deep passion for diving, and together we explored a whole new world beneath the surface. I highly recommend Reef Experience. They made this an unforgettable day. From the outstanding service and excellent food to the warm and welcoming attitude of everyone on board, it was exceptional. A special thank you to the general manager of the boat and the team. We also had the opportunity to attend a fascinating and informative session about marine life and the reef, led by a marine biologist. It added so much value to the trip and deepened my appreciation for the underwater world. Last but not least, I want to thank Chels, who helped me with the booking process. Her patience and kindness were truly remarkable, something you don't often come across. Thank you all so much. I’ll very likely be back soon to enjoy an overnight stay aboard!

We had an amazing day doing a Famil with Reef Experience. Unfortunately I had to deal with the passing of a kidney stone/s and was in severe pain all through the day so could not dive. The team were incredibly helpful and supportive providing me with privacy and assistance to manage the pain. Particularly Alice and Janelle I'd like to note made our experience great with constant care and checking in through the day. I would love to reorganise our famil so that we can dive and see the sites together, apparently they were stunning and the instructors were very comfortable to dive with.

Really had such an amazing time, my boyfriend and I went and have never done scuba diving before, the instructors make it very comfortable and easy for us, the location where they brought us out to was beautiful, we got to see baby sharks, the colourful reef and much more , would highly recommend to anyone that would like to try scuba diving for the first time and will definitely be going back!!

The best value for money tour that offers some of the most amazing quality reef locations in Cairns! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful with everything, the lunch was satisfying and the reefs and marine life was the most colourful I've ever seen! Special thanks to the scuba diving instructors Rodrigo and Ellis who were awesome!

I can’t recommend Reef Experience enough for a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef! The crew was absolutely fantastic-professional,friendly,genuinely passionate about what they do. They made everyone feel like part of a big welcoming family from the moment we stepped on board. The reef sites we visited were stunning with vibrant coral and marine life. We were lucky enough to spot anemone fish, a sea turtle and even a reef shark! If you’ve ever wanted to try scuba diving, this is the trip for you. The crew go above and beyond to make you feel safe and at ease, even if it’s your first time in the water. Thank you team for making the day so memorable! I’ll definitely be back!!!