Choose your day trip
Snorkel, intro dive and certified diver options on both boats. Choose yours when you book.-
Silverswift
Silverswift outer reef day trip
Departs Cairns daily at 8:30 am, back about 4:30 pm
$308*
- A 29 m catamaran, about 60 minutes to the outer reef
- Up to 3 outer reef sites in a day
- Certified divers: up to 3 guided dives with all gear
- Snorkellers: guided by a reef guide, with up to 2 Discover Scuba dives available
- Smorgasbord lunch, plus morning and afternoon tea
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Aqua Quest
Aqua Quest outer reef day trip
Check in daily at 8:00 am, back about 4:30 pm
$275*
- Purpose-built for diving and snorkelling, about 90 minutes to the outer reef
- Five hours at two sites chosen from Norman, Saxon and Hastings reefs
- Up to three dives or snorkel sessions
- Certified divers: options with or without gear and guides. Intro dives: 1 or 2
- Hot and cold tropical buffet lunch, plus morning and afternoon tea
* Prices are per person in Australian dollars (AUD) and can change by date. Your booking shows the price for the date you choose.
Dates
Choose a date to see prices and spots left, then book.- Mon, 5 OctFrom $308Check availability
- Mon, 5 OctFrom $275Check availability
- Tue, 6 OctFrom $308Check availability
- Tue, 6 OctFrom $275Check availability
- Wed, 7 OctFrom $308Check availability
- Wed, 7 OctFrom $275Check availability
- Thu, 8 OctFrom $308Check availability
- Thu, 8 OctFrom $275Check availability
- Fri, 9 OctFrom $308Check availability
- Fri, 9 OctFrom $275Check availability
- Sat, 10 OctFrom $308Check availability
- Sat, 10 OctFrom $275Check availability
Prices are per person and can vary by date and option.
Who it’s for
- SnorkellersNo experience needed. Snorkel gear, wetsuits or lycra suits, pool noodles and flotation devices are supplied, and guided snorkel tours show you around the reef.
- Never dived?Try an introductory (Discover Scuba) dive with full pre-dive tuition and all the gear. You can do a second dive on both boats.
- Certified diversUp to three dives, with a full briefing before each one. Open Water certification is the minimum.
- Mixed groupsSnorkellers and divers go to the same sites, so friends and family at any level can spend the day together.
Where the boats leave from
Both trips leave from the Cairns waterfront. You need to be in Cairns the night before.
- Silverswift — Reef Fleet TerminalCheck in from 7:30 am at the Silverswift counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal. You board at 8:15 am and depart at 8:30 am. A digital boarding pass is sent by SMS or email 24 hours before, so you can skip the queue.
- Aqua Quest — Cairns MarinaCheck in at 8:00 am at Cairns Marina.
What’s included
- Outer reef cruiseReturn from Cairns
- Food and drinkHot and cold lunch, morning and afternoon tea, tea, coffee and water. Silverswift serves tea, coffee and biscuits before departure.
- SnorkellingMask, snorkel and fins, wetsuits or lycra suits, and guided snorkel tours
- DivingAll scuba equipment and air for intro divers and all-gear certified options, with briefings before every dive
- Prescription masksFree on both boats
- ShowersFresh-water showers on board
Not included
- Hotel transfersNot included, and we don’t offer them as an extra.
- Drinks and snacksBoth boats have a bar. Snacks, soft drinks and alcohol are extra.
- Fuel surchargeSilverswift currently charges a fuel surcharge, payable at the end of the trip. Aqua Quest doesn’t currently charge one.
- Photos, camera hire and souvenirsThere’s no camera hire on Aqua Quest.
- Dive medicalIf you need one.
A day on Silverswift
- 8:30 amDepart Cairns
Certified and introductory dive briefings on the way out.
- 9:50 amFirst reef site
Divers gear up while snorkellers get a site briefing from the snorkelling guide.
- 11:15 amSecond reef site
A second dive for certified and introductory divers. Snorkellers are briefed on the best areas.
- 12:30 pmLunch
A tropical hot and cold lunch in the air-conditioned cabin.
- 1:40 pmThird reef site
A third dive for certified divers, and more snorkelling. Afternoon tea at 2:15 pm.
- 3:00 pmBack to Cairns
Arrive about 4:30 pm.
A day on Aqua Quest
- 8:00 amCheck in
At Cairns Marina.
- MorningTo the reef
About 90 minutes to the outer reef.
- At the reefFive hours
Two sites chosen from Norman, Saxon and Hastings reefs, picked for the day’s conditions. Up to three dives or snorkel sessions, with lunch.
- 4:30 pmBack in Cairns
Approximately.
Under normal circumstances you’re out of the water from your last dive of the day by 2:30 pm.
What you’ll see
Turtles, reef sharks and schooling fish year-round — and in winter, the chance to swim with dwarf minke whales.
Requirements
Snorkellers
- No experience needed.
Introductory divers
- No experience needed. Full tuition and all gear are included.
- You must meet the medical questionnaire requirements.
Certified divers
- Open Water certification or higher. Silverswift’s diving suits all levels of certified diver.
- Bring your certification card; it must be shown at check-in.
Age
- Silverswift has a child snorkeller fare for ages 4 to 14.
- Under 18s on Silverswift need a signed parental consent form.
- The minimum age for diving is 10.
Each trip operator’s own medical and waiver requirements are emailed with your booking confirmation. About dive medicals.
Frequently asked questions
Do snorkellers and divers go to the same places?
Yes. On these trips snorkellers and divers visit the same sites, so a mixed group can spend the day together. See snorkelling the reef.
Are the dives guided?
On Silverswift, all dives are guided by the crew. On Aqua Quest you can choose an option with guides, with up to 8 divers per guide.
Can I use nitrox?
No. Nitrox isn’t offered on the day trips.
Can I hire a camera?
There’s no camera hire on board Aqua Quest.
How many people are on board?
Silverswift carries up to 85 people.
Terms and conditions
- Silverswift outer reef day tripRead the terms and conditions
- Aqua Quest outer reef day tripRead the terms and conditions
