Passions Of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise By Catamaran

I had a great time. The staff was amazing, the food was awesome and it was such a great experience snorkeling at the Reef! I would totally recommend this tour!

Rosie is the star !. We did the Passion of Paradise cruise to the Great Barrier Reef today and it exceeded every expectation. The scuba diving was breathtaking — crystal-clear water and marine life everywhere you looked. What really made the day special was the crew: incredibly friendly, professional, and genuinely passionate about the reef. A huge shout-out to my dive master, Rosie, who was absolutely amazing — patient, reassuring, and made the whole dive feel safe and magical. If you're in the area, don't miss this. Five stars, hands down!

A big thank you to Rosie and Sofi for making our Passion of Paradise snorkeling tour such a wonderful experience! You both did an amazing job, and your friendliness, professionalism, and enthusiasm made the trip even more enjoyable. We had a fantastic time snorkeling and creating wonderful memories. We truly appreciate everything you did to make our day so special. Highly recommended! Thank you both!

Great day on the outer reef. All the crew were fantastic and everything was well-organized! Passions of Paradise was a great catamaran to be on! Everything worked like a well-oiled machine. Lunch was delicious! I dived and snorkeled and everything was well-organized! The boat had lots of space and was smooth as we motored around. I would have loved to be sailing on it though! It was a wonderful time! I really enjoyed it!!

Every staff member was so friendly and lovely! The schedule was perfect throughout the entire tour. If you’re thinking about joining a tour, I highly recommend choosing this one! I had such a great experience. Thanks a lotはーと Highly recommended🔥

A fabulous trip. An extraordinary team dedicated to ensure you enjoy snorkeling or diving in the safest most caring personal way.

Excellent day out with an amazing crew. This company has many moorings so they can go to the best one for the daily conditions. The crew are very friendly and very helpful making sure that everyone has a great day. Food is good and plentiful and caters for all tastes and food preferences.

I travelled more than ten hours by plane to Australia, excited to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately, what should have been a wonderful day turned into one of the most humiliating experiences I have ever had on a tour. During boarding this morning, the crew were conducting a passenger headcount and had instructed everyone to remain in place. I urgently needed to use the bathroom and genuinely did not hear the instruction. Instead of politely explaining the situation, a female crew member suddenly shouted at me in front of the other passengers: “DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND ENGLISH? I TOLD YOU TO STAND THERE AND NOT MOVE!” She then stared at me with an incredibly hostile expression, as though I had deliberately done something wrong. I was absolutely shocked. I completely understand that passenger headcounts are important for safety, and I would have happily followed her instructions if I had heard them. But does urgently needing the bathroom and accidentally missing an instruction justify being publicly shouted at and humiliated? A simple, polite reminder would have resolved the entire situation in seconds. Instead, she chose to embarrass a paying guest in front of everyone. What upset me most was not the instruction itself, but the complete lack of basic respect and professionalism. I was visiting a foreign country as a tourist, looking forward to enjoying one of Australia’s most famous natural wonders. I never imagined that a staff member working in the tourism industry would treat a visitor with such hostility. The other crew members I encountered later were genuinely friendly and professional, and I appreciate their efforts. Unfortunately, their kindness could not undo how uncomfortable and humiliated I felt after that incident. One unpleasant interaction can overshadow an entire day, especially when it happens at the very beginning of an experience you have travelled so far to enjoy. I sincerely hope the management takes this complaint seriously and provides appropriate customer-service training. Someone working in hospitality should understand that guests sometimes misunderstand or fail to hear instructions. That is not an invitation to intimidate or humiliate them. I did not expect special treatment. I did not expect anyone to bend the rules for me. I simply expected to be treated with the basic dignity and respect that every human being deserves. I came to Australia hoping to leave with beautiful memories of the Great Barrier Reef. It is deeply disappointing that one of my strongest memories of this experience will instead be a crew member publicly shouting at me for trying to use the bathroom. Beautiful scenery may attract visitors, but it is the way people are treated that determines whether they ever want to return.

This was a fabulous day, but a full day crew was excellent as was the gear & food. You won’t be disappointed.

We had a blast. Staff was very helpful and food was good. Was a full day experience.

A good way to see the Great Barrier Reef. The ride was very smooth; they recommended taking pills for motion sickness, I did not and was fine. We snorkeled at 2 spots. The first was excellent, great variety of fish and coral, and most impressive of all were the giant clams. The second stop had more waves and perhaps because of that a little less fish. The food was decent. The staff, including Lea and Julia, were outstanding, providing lots of useful information. I also appreciated that they were respectful of the aboriginal heritage of the area and also provided an account of the impact of climate change on the reef and surrounding environment.

Great experience and everything we were hoping for. All crew members did an amazing job. Would recommend every chance I get.

Am a non swimmer, for first time tried snorkling. The crew memberswere very cooperative and my supervisorJT was excellent in his job with loads of patience. An excellent experience. Thanks

As a non-swimmer and someone afraid of the ocean, I didn’t think I would ever experience the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. But Passions of Paradise made it happen. Our guide, Rosie, and Sofia (another friendly crew member) made it such a wonderful experience. They were so good that I was comfortable even before I entered the water. The Great Barrier Reef was nothing short of amazement. Thank you Rosie and Sofia and to all the friendly crew at Passions of Paradise.

It was fun but there were 95 people on the boat so the experience was not very personal but the crew was super friendly!! #parkerslastday

This is my third time snorkelling at the GBR over the 25 years and it was the best. Staff were helpful and made the people who couldn’t swim feel at ease and confident. We saw a so many different corals and fish. The best was we swam with a turtle.

Fun day snorkeling on the reef and Passions handled everything smoothly! Huge shoutout to Robbie for spending time specifically with us and being a fantastic guide. Crowd was the expected ~100 people, but they managed it well and in an organized way. Got to see a shark, sea turtle, and lots of different fish as well

We had a fantastic trip exploring the great reefs and snorkeling around it, saw a lot of fishes. Their service and safety are excellent. My husband and I just turned 60, and we haven’t snorkeling for a while, but the people there made me feel safe and easy. They provided suite, gears and a floater for me. When we were in the water, they have guards in the water to help if needed and people on the boat to monitor. Also coffee/tea snacks and lunch were served. I would recommend the trip to anyone, young or not so young :)

Wow what an amazing day! The experience was fantastic start to finish. Check in and being allocated equipment was a breeze… pre-snorkel briefings were clear… the snorkel itself was amazing, with the crew watching over us both in the water and from the boat - felt safe and looked after at all times. The boat was at full capacity but at no point felt a squeeze. To top it off, the lunch was delicious and return reef talk very educational. A big shout out to Mavelly whom guided a nervous member of my party through the entire snorkel, explaining what they were seeing below and trying to make sure they got the best from the experience. Also a shout out to Simon, who provided some light entertainment in the form of some magic tricks. My one recommendation would be to have some of the reef talk before snorkelling so that we knew what we were looking at and what to look out for.

The Passion of Paradise crew under Captain Darcy are consummate professionals. Our day trip to the GBR was faultless from start to finish. Check in, directions and entrance to the boat were so warm and clear. Coffee & fruit upon boarding was such a nice welcome. The snorkelling equipment was clean and instructions great condition and instructions to be safe in the water were very clear, with the team watching out to keep us safe. The team got straight in with us to help guide any unsure swimmers and point out marine life we may have otherwise missed! Their commitment to customer service was evident when the swimming team got straight out and straight onto serving lunch, we were super grateful. The food at lunch time was impeccable and of super high restaurant standard- a stunning range of salads and hot food. On the journey back to land we had a 30 minute marine talk from one of the team, which was so so educational, concise and beautifully presented. The captains, skippers, chefs and stews have such an evident passion for hospitality and genuine care for their passengers. We have had an incredible day on board Paradise III, thank you to the incredible crew for such an unforgettable day! I cannot recommend this company, crew and day enough.

Everything was great. Experience, crew, food

We had a great time. The staff were super friendly and very professional. They made every effort to support all the different levels of experience of the snorkelers. We couldn’t have had a more helpful team. Thanks Simon.

Great tour. Lots to see. The introductory scuba dive was about 20-30 minutes. Do also note that you are not allowed to free dive after scuba diving. Except that the scuba diving time was quite short, it was really worth the money as you more or less get to be in finding nemo.

Parker 1 (the dive instructor) is great. See at 120. Listen to Peter Fedichev. Love, Parker 2

This is by far the best boat snorkeling experience I ever had. The crew was genuinely helpful, professional, knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommended.

Really well organised- despite being busy had room to sit out on the boat. I’m not a confident swimmer so was helped in the water by the lovely Sofia- she really put the effort in to show us as much as possible and pointed out everything of interest- she was constantly checking everyone was ok and was extremely pleasant. The lunch was tasty and the information talk extremely interesting and succinct. All the crew were helpful and everyone seemed happy on the day.

Beautiful boat, nice crew, there was a problem with the steering of the ship and wasn't able to do the second dive. My heart was sad but my brain knows its for the best and wasn't safe to continue. The staff was very sympathetic and offered free drinks and snacks and did a presentation of the reef on the way back... what do u do its out of their control, and still was a nice day and experience.

Review from a scuba diver passenger ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an absolute blast with Passions of Paradise! I originally found PoP through Instagram while researching dive companies in Cairns, and after seeing how friendly and knowledgeable the crew seemed, learning that they are still family owned, and reading about their eco-certified approach and commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef, I knew they were the company I wanted to book with. They absolutely lived up to those expectations! Everything about the day was incredibly smooth, organized, and stress free. Every staff member we interacted with was amazing, but my husband and I especially enjoyed getting to chat with Joss and Monica (thanks for letting us talk your ears off! 😂) The crew was genuinely friendly and made the experience feel personal rather than just another day trip. Lunch also completely exceeded our expectations. It was a full meal with fresh fruit, salad, chicken and rice, and everything tasted amazing. We definitely weren’t expecting the food on a dive boat to be that good! One of the things we especially loved about Passions of Paradise is that they are still family owned and eco certified. Supporting a company that genuinely cares about protecting the GBR was really important to us when choosing who to dive with. There were around 95 passengers on board the day we went, but surprisingly, it never felt like we were on a boat with that many people. The crew still managed to create personal connections and make the experience feel welcoming rather than crowded or impersonal. We would highly recommend Passions of Paradise and will 100% book with them again the next time we’re in Cairns. Thank you for such an amazing day on the Great Barrier Reef! 🤿🐠🪸

Everything was great. I enjoy all the cruise. Food was exellent and very tasty. Crew was very polite and helpful.

This was a great experience. Everyone of the crew were so friendly, helpful and fun. They took us to 2 snorkeling spots. We snorkeled about 1.5 hours in the morning and then an hour in the afternoon. Both spots were great. In between they served a very good buffet lunch. After the 2nd snorkeling session they gave a presentation about the reef. Very informative. Also on the way back they spotted some whales and slowed so that everyone on the boat could see them. Top notch tour!

Great day on the reef. The crew were friendly and knowledgable. Food was great too. I highly recommend!

I cannot begin to explain in words how amazing this crew was. Marco was the best dive master I have ever had! Shout out to Andie, Joss, Parker, and JT for being so awesome! Truly such a wonderful day. Incredible diving incredible food, I love it all.

Beautiful day! Great crew! Amazing gourmet meal! Rosie was a fabulous guide. Reef & lots of colorful fish! Thanks!!

We had a fabulous time. The crew was wonderful. You are able to snorkel before and after lunch so you may want to bring two towels. The lunch was fresh with six different salads.

This was an excellent adventure. The crew was amazing, especially Corinda, who is very responsive to all the guests needs. I would highly recommend this trip out to the great barrier reef. Best day I spent in all of Australia.

Thoroughly enjoyable experience. Great knowledge from the staff. Extremely supportive of all skills levels. Simon was extremely supportive and so was the young lady the supported the no buddy or limited experience swimmers (blondish hair), sorry I have forgotten your name). The snacks, food and drink available was amazing and very filling. Thank you for a great reef experience.

What an incredible team! The food, vibes, knowledge, and service were outstanding! It was my our first time diving and the instructors helped us easily learn the ropes and ease our nerves! They have a phenomenal underwater photographer and the pictures are SO WORTH IT!! There are two diving spots and the tour only includes one. The second one is $60 additional so keep that in mind. There is unlimited snorkeling at both sites! Definitely do your research on what conditions won’t allow for a safe dive!

An amazing experience for our family. From check in you are so well looked after, as soon as we boarded we were referred to by our family name and shown to a reserved seating space on the boat- this was great as it meant we were sitting together and had a space for our belongings all day. My son (12yo) and I signed up for the introductory scuba when we boarded and I felt so well looked after and safe. Our daughters (10,7yo) loved their snorkel experiences. The food was delicious and plentiful and we also really loved that the boat was big enough but not too big! I can't rate the staff on board highly enough- they really made the trip. Thank you! If you are looking to book a reef experience don't hesistate booking with Passions.

Fabulous from start to finish Checked in by a member of the team, Lovely and welcoming the directions to the boat were spot on. Welcomed on board by more Lovely crew members and allowed to sit where we wanted. Swift check in, head counts and safety briefings, wetsuits, fins and snokles issues. Very professional Drinks and snacks provided....but not sure how but we missed it! Must have been the excitement. 2hr chilled out trip to the reef. First dive on the reef, felt safe at all times. Back on the boat whenever you'd had enough and then a fantastic lunch and a bar if you wanted to purchase drinks. Anchor up and off to another reef site for the 2nd snorkel. Again no pressure to go in if you didn't want to or if you wanted to come out before your max time. Chance to purchase your photos from the lovely Andi. (Enjoyed meeting your mum) Back on board and a snooze on the boat back, plenty of room to stretch out. Snack of cheese, crackers and salami on the way back and then teas, coffee's and biscuits just before we docked back at the port. Oh! and Simons magic show (and his wonderful scissor holding assistant) still baffled!! Unfortunately we didn't see any turtles, thankfully we didn't see any sharks....but thats nature for you. But loads of pretty fish and some lovely blue starfish. Great day out with my boys, definitely one for the memory bank 😍

I was impressed with Passions, the team was thorough in safety instructions, very friendly and helpful. Lunch onboard was great. Special thanks to David who took care of us and guide us in our snorkeling sessions, it was a great trip.

It was once in a lifetime experience. I took the guided tour as I am not a strong swimmer and it was excellent. Seeing a reef shark was the highlight of the day.

Couldn’t believe how great the staff were. Really took care of us. Has the best time. Genuine, fun and informative service.. Enough room to feel comfortable and taken care of. Food great. Thanks for such an amazing time!

The most AMAZING reef tour and intro scuba dives. One of the few locally owned reef tours still operating in Cairns, the guides and crew are all passionate locals/divers. Parker was an amazing dive guide and took me and my husband on our first two scuba dives at the reef. Incredible experience all around, can’t recommend it enough!

Great day on the reef, Passions are super-friendly and organised

We looked at so many options for Great Barrier Reef trips..we are so pleased we went with Passions of Paradise. All the staff were friendly, approachable and professional. The crew have a good rapport which makes for a great atmosphere on the boat. The boat has (I think) a max number of 93. At no point did the boat feel crowded. Divers and snorkellers are split on entry into water meaning it doesn’t feel too busy at this point either. 2 water sessions at different reef locations. The experience is simply breathtaking. I have never managed to snorkel successfully because I panic but it was so calming I spent the maximum time in the water. All equipment needed was provided even for our 7year old. Some prescription masks available too. Instructions provided. They have thought of everything- Photographs and sickness tablets are at extra cost. Food was excellent quality and good portions. On the way home the marine biology presentation was really good. Along with Simon’s magic trick (my daughter still has her knot!) This tour is worth every penny!

Wonderful trip! Enjoyed everything. There are two swims, one before lunch and one after, so bring a hoodie to wear during lunch and two smaller towels instead of one. Robbie is a fantastic dive coach. He was very personable and attentive. The food was amazing!

I don't write many review usually but really want to acknowledge this team - wonderful experience! For starters, everyone is super friendly and chill - crew members will come and talk to you, explain and teach you as much as wanted - I have to mention Simon who told us so much, truly great. Next - I was worried about snorkeling in open sea - and with the kids - but I have not felt unsafe for a second! They do double counting / double check after each water session, and while in there, one person on board checking the water and one person on a tiny motor boat cruising close enough that you know they will come and fetch you should you be tired or panic. They provide everything you need, even rings and floaters for the kids. Major pro! Finally - the food served for lunch was truly great - we had a green chicken curry with rice that tasted better than most I had before in my life - don't know how they do that on a boat, but bravo. In summary - amazing experience and would recommend +++! Thanks team from passions of paradise - you can tell your moms you are doing a great job! ;-)

This is a great full day activity for the GBR. The boat had plenty of seating onboard, and provided food and beverages. There was ample snorkeling time. We originally signed up for snorkeling but wanted to try diving and were so glad we did. The instructors that we went diving with (Roberto and Simon) made sure we were safe and taught everything we needed to know. Phoebe was also so kind and helpful with getting us ready to dive. The staff overall were so friendly and made sure we were comfortable, even providing two wetsuits since it was cold. They were also very funny! We had a great time seeing the reef and some whales with this cruise and we were so glad we did this.

We had a great day out the crew were friendly and knew their stuff. The two spots were amazing. On the way there we got to see whales and dolphins from a distance. Apparently we got such clear water which was not normal. I would recommend this cruise especially hearing they are one of the few family owned business left.