Ocean Free

Family Owned

Ocean Freedom

CAIRNS PREMIER GREAT BARRIER REEF & ISLAND TOURSOperating Two Exclusive Reef Tours "Ocean Free" & "Ocean Freedom"

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Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef and Island Tours represent “Ocean Freedom” and “Ocean Free”, two highly guest-focussed, small group, eco-accredited snorkel and SCUBA dive reef tours locally owned and passionately operated by Perry Jones and Taryn Agius and their wonderful team. For domestic or international travellers we are only 10 minutes from the Cairns airport! We would sincerely  love the opportunity to give you a great day on the Great Barrier Reef!

Perry has been in the dive industry in Cairns and managing dive operations on 4 vessels since 1988, including Ocean Free since 1992, when he met Taryn. Since 1992 they both worked the boats and purchased Ocean Free (a 16.5m schooner) in 1996. Having many years of experience in the industry, Ocean Free quickly became a well-established and respected company amongst local agents and the marine industry.

They then bought their second vessel Ocean Freedom in 2005 and after a year’s total refurbishment, the luxury 20m cruiser was launched in mid 2006. Ocean Freedom underwent another million-dollar refurbishment in February 2008, changing from the previous jet engines to props, re-spraying, extending the teak snorkel and dive deck by 3m, making it the most spacious snorkel back deck in Cairns. The new look, faster Ocean Freedom receives great reviews in the industry. Ocean Freedom now cruises at 23 knots and arrives at the reef in an hour, giving guests 6 hours on the reef.

With the operation of two vessels it was necessary to re-brand the products to encompass the two vessels under one trading name. This, plus the company’s commitment to running very personalised, low guest number tours with excellent customer service, lead to their new company name Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours.

In 2014 both boats underwent major, million-dollar refurbishments, with new engines, decking, seating, bulkheads and on Ocean Free new mast rigging and sails. In mid 2023 Ocean Free was fitted with a new propeller and Ocean Freedom had another  major refurbishment with 2 new engines, new electrics, new ladder, cushions, and carpet.

Both boats undergo annual cosmetic refits to ensure they look their best at all times.

Today, Perry and Taryn continue to have a great love for the sea and reef and are passionate about ensuring all their guests have an unforgettable reef experience and all round “feel good” day! They look forward to welcoming you aboard one of their Cairns’ Premier Reef & Island Tours and becoming part of the ever-growing “Ocean Free” and  “Ocean Freedom”  Family !

Dear all, we are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to have you visit our beautiful Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region! Once you visit the Great Barrier Reef - it casts a spell on you and the more you visit and learn about this amazing World Heritage Icon the more you want to return....and we also love to have you back! Both Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom follow all legislative and WPH&S requirements for recreational snorkelling and diving, are ATEC accredited for travel safety, and follow all Industry State and Federal requirements of the present time. If you have any queries please let us know on info@oceanfree.com.au or phone +61 7 40521111 – we are here to help! We would sincerely love the opportunity to give you all a great day on the Great Barrier Reef. Much love Taryn, Perry, Jazz and the Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom family.

Why Travel with Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours
Sail Ocean Free Cruise Ocean Freedom

Personalised Tours

We value our guests and are committed to providing very personalised, caring tours on both boats, where you’re a name not a number.

Exclusive Sailing Trip

Ocean Free has an exclusive mooring 1km off Green Island offering international visitors and locals a sail, reef and island experience.

More Reef Time

Ocean Freedom gives guests 6 unrushed hours to explore 2 stunning reef destinations, Upolu Cay Reef and Outer Edge Upolu Reef.

The Best Crew

Crew members are hand-picked to provide unsurpassed service, professionalism, reef knowledge and a high respect for safety.

Fantastic Snorkelling

Step straight off our boats to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, no deep, dark water!  The coral outcrops come up to just 1M under the surface for easy viewing. We provide guided tours, and our crew share their knowledge and passion  for the reef.

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Scuba Diving

We have the highest ratio of dive instructors to divers (2:1) for our Non-Certified (intro) diving and small group Certified diving with complimentary guide to ensure you see the best parts of the reef. We take your safety very seriously.

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Environment

Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours are proud to announce that both their personal Great Barrier Reef Tours have been  Advanced Eco Certified tours for over 10 years, earning the Ecotourism  title of Green Travel Leader

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Value for Money

Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom are both priced the same and offer great value for money, with lots of inclusions including all snorkel equipment and tuition, snorkel tours, food served throughout the day  and plenty of time at your reef destinations.

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Testimonials

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours
Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours
4.9
Based on 1360 reviews
See all reviewsWrite a review
10/10 staff. Even in the less than ideal weather conditions they did an excellent job taking care of us.The boat was great too. Well kept and offers a nice mix of fully enclosed spaces, covered and fully exposed.My biggest recommendation (not specific to this boat or operator): Take a seasickness pill. Even if you think you’ll be fine… Take it.
MegaMatthew1001
MegaMatthew1001
1767855815
Such a wonderful experience. The crew are highly skilled and passionate. They were also very empathetic to the needs of different passengers. It is a must do experience with this company.
Levinia M.
Levinia M.
1767776627
Great experience the condition weren’t that great but that didn’t stop up. They made you feel safe and looked after a very well oiled operating, professional crew and skipper can’t speak highly enough for there knowledge of the ocean and onboard vessel experience. Will do again.
Orion K.
Orion K.
1767755924
The crew were amazing and very accommodating. We had a very windy day on the ocean but the crew handled everything extremely well, I was very impressed!
Carolyn W.
Carolyn W.
1767696538
We did the Ocean Free Sail to Green Island & the Great Barrier Reef and booked two introductory dives and two certified dives. It was a great day, and the staff were very attentive to everyone on board. The number of people is quite limited because it’s a sailboat, which is really nice. There is a shaded area on the boat where you can relax. Lunch was good. The vibe was great, and the dives were very enjoyable as well, it felt much more intimate than on bigger boats.A big thank you to our divemaster Anna, who found my partner’s dive watch in the ocean and sent it back to us by post (to France). That was incredibly kind, thank you so much.You can book this company and this trip without hesitation. Thank you again!
Solène
Solène
1767627691
The best boat trip I've ever been on! Highly recommend!We opted for the 2 scubadives.Boarding 7:30 for 8am departure. Pastries, fruit and hot drinks were available on board.Lovely boat, clean and decent space for everyone.We had an intro talk for the scuba while we were making our way out to the first reef.The first dive lasted around 25 minutes. We had one instructor to 2 people and they linked arms and guided us around the reef. We saw a shark and various other fish.Then there was time for snorkeling and a glass bottom boat trip.Whilst snorkeling we saw a turtle and jellyfish.Lunch was a selection of prawns, salmon, meat, pasta, salad etc. it was delicious.We then headed to the 2nd dive site. Usually on the 2nd dive you may get chance to swim independently with instructor supervision but the current was so strong we stayed together same as the first dive. There wasn't as much to see here but we did see a stingray. Again lasted about 20 mins.There was more time for snorkeling before heading back.On the way back there was fruit, cheese and crackers and cake!The crew were all friendly, professional, organised and clearly take safety seriously.The sea did get a bit choppy but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, for most of the day it was fairly flat but after lunch the waves picked up.This trip was the highlight of my holiday! Would highly recommend and would do again!
Suzie G
Suzie G
1767610348
Me an my partner did the trip to the reef with snorkeling and introductory diving sessions and we had such an unbelievable time. From start to finish everything was amazingly well organized, nothing was too much trouble for the staff! The food was a great addition and there was more than enough to keep you going, actually more than expected!We would like to say a special thank you to Tori who took us diving, she was the best teacher we could've wished for. She made us both feel extra comfortable and explained everything and looked after us whilst keeping the whole thing fun, so thank you Tori for making our trip!The glass bottom boat was also really well done and the lady who took us (sorry we've forgotten your name) explained how the reef works and talked us through the fish, the coral and everything else we spotted on our trip out in the the glass bottom boat.We would recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to try this experience it genuinely was one of the best trips of our travels to Australia.John & Jess
john W.
john W.
1767425093
Had a great day out. The kiwi trio crew kept us well fed and looked after. The sail boat is a bit rough on the edges, I guess you have to expect that with a boat of that age. Highly recommend.
Brett S
Brett S
1767415631
Amazing experience, we got to see turtles, sharks and so many fishies! The staff are amazing, so friendly and helpful. 10/10 day out would highly recommend these guys!
Molly
Molly
1767160503
Had a great day out with the team. Thanks for the amazing diving experience.
Matthew J.
Matthew J.
1767160310
Every crew members are very patience and thoughtful. The best cruise I’ve had in my life. We will definitely come back again. Thank you Ryan and his team!
Sarah
Sarah
1766904718
Amazing day with Ocean Free. The crew were top tier - from diving the GBR to onboard service, Blair, Kelly, Marie and Ryan were awesome! When the motor decided to take a break on the way back in the afternoon, they were cool and calm while they worked diligently to sort out the issue.Highly recommend this small, personalized experience for anyone visiting Cairns - especially for diving. The dive groups were small (max 4) so we didn’t feel like we were diving on top of each other. Must do for your trip to Cairns!
Amy E.
Amy E.
1766877396
We had a fantastic day. The crew were all amazing, knowledgeable and so much fun. They were great with our kids and were able to work with all different abilities and levels of passengers. They went out of their way to ensure we had a great time and saw some amazing things. Fantastic!
Sam C.
Sam C.
1766789179
Superb excursion and friendly staff!
D S.
D S.
1766747600
Sensational day out at the reef with these guys. Staff are awesome, such great vibes and positivity. Would highly recommend.3rd time going to the reef with these guys.
Harris
Harris
1766564156
Super zuvorkommendes & junges Team, tolle, klare & einfach Anweisungen, sehr leckeres Essen + Snacks, zwei tolle Spots zum Schnorcheln und eine die Herzlichkeit gegenüber den „Kunden“ an erster Stelle…
Markus B.
Markus B.
1766485857
wir hatten einen wunderschönen Tag und waren am Great Barrier Reef schnorcheln. Die Crew hat sich perfekt um jeden gekümmert und auch sehr stark auf die Sicherheit geachtet. Wir haben sogar einen Hammerhai gesehen - es war unglaublich!!!
S F
S F
1766485641
I had the most fantastic day! This crew went above and beyond today! They are so friendly and personable, because of them I fell in love with diving and felt extremely safe in the waters! 10/10 recommend for anyone solo traveling, or traveling in groups! All around best vibes and will be coming back from Canada just for this incredible team!
Taylor M.
Taylor M.
1766478779
I'm absolutely thrilled with my experience on the Ocean Freedom snorkeling tour in the Great Barrier Reef. From start to finish, the team went above and beyond to ensure an unforgettable adventure.The groups are well-managed and not too large, allowing for a personalized experience. Throughout the journey, the crew provided snacks and refreshments.What really stood out was the abundance of time allocated for snorkeling in the coral reef. The crew were attentive and knowledgeable, providing insights into the marine life and ensuring our safety at all times.Highly recommended!
Xavier B.
Xavier B.
1766365016
Everyone was so super nice and it was a really good experience for me and my family. They were all super efficient and knowledgeable and we had a really good time exploring the reef. 12/10 recommend
Ava C.
Ava C.
1766303344
Highly recommended! I had an unforgettable experience on the sailing tour to Green Island and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef was fantastic. A huge thank you to the crew – they were extremely professional and lovely. When I started to panic a bit to much because of a reef shark, they calmed me down immediately so that I could fully enjoy the underwater world. One of the best experiences of my life! thank you so much ♡
Lisa F.
Lisa F.
1766301158
A perfect day on the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Freedom. Crystal water, vibrant coral, and endless smiles. 💙🤿I have been scuba diving in many locations before but today was truly special. Of course, the Great Barrier Reef is always remarkable on its own, but what made this experience exceptional were the two fantastic dive instructors I had—Archie in the morning and Amber in the afternoon.The entire crew was outstanding as well. With Ryan as the skipper and Storu, Reece, Marie, and Shea as part of the team, everything ran like clockwork. They made sure everyone on board was well taken care of, always with genuine warmth and a smile.Thank you for an unforgettable day. I look forward to enjoying another wonderful experience with you on my next visit.Dr. Anil Henry
anil H.
anil H.
1766131682
Ocean Freedom was an absolute highlight of our trip to Cairns. The crew was well organised and the onboard food was fresh and delicious. Shoutout to Anna for helping my parents (non swimmers) snorkel in the reef.
Rohan V.
Rohan V.
1765969366
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Google Rating
4.9
Based on 1360 reviews
Facebook Rating
5.0
Based on 438 reviews
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Google Rating
4.9
Based on 1360 reviews
Facebook Rating
5.0
Based on 438 reviews
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