<span class="g">Ocean Free</span>

Ocean Free

Family Owned

Family Owned

<span class="o">Ocean Freedom</span>

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” – small, personally guided Great Barrier Reef eco snorkel and dive experiences — designed for comfort, care and connection.

Not a crowded tour. Not a rushed experience. A carefully guided day on the reef — refined over 30 years.

Locally owned and passionately operated by Perry Jones and Taryn Agius and their wonderful team. 

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.
What this Video
What this Video

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.

More Info about Fantastic Snorkelling

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.

More Info about Scuba Diving

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

More Info about Environment

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.

More Info about Value for Money

Testimonials

Excellent
Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours4.9
Based on 1456 reviews
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Juzzy H.
4 days ago
On the Dive and Snorkeling trip on 24 Jun 26. Fantastic day from a fun and professional crew. The dives and snorkeling were both well led with plenty to see. Highly recommended.
Response from the owner:Hi Juzzy, Thank you for your review and high recommendation of our tour - much appreciated :) We are thrilled you had a great snorkel and dive experience with our attentive crew!
Adrien
1 week ago
Had a great time with the crew! Went for one cert. dive and ended up doing two with our divemaster Anna. Great welcoming and really friendly crew. Good food buffet with breakfast, lunch, some and cheese afterwards! Would recommend :)
Response from the owner:Hi Adrien - Thank you for your review and recommendation of our tour - much appreciated! Wonderful to hear you enjoyed your scuba diving with Anna - it is so much better when you get shown the reef and all you need to do is relax and take in the wonders that surround you :)
Mal W.
2 weeks ago
What an awesome day! The staff were helpful, knowledgeable and at times hilarious. The food was fab. The fish, coral, birds and turtles came to the party ... and not to mention Gary the giant Trevally... what a star!
Response from the owner:Hi Mal - wonderful to hear :) Yes our family company personal service comes from the heart of all the "Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom" family from above and below the water!! Glad you enjoyed all the "family" - GT Gary will feel very special - we will let him know he got a special mention - though "Barnables" our turtle may get a little jealous!! Thank you for the review - it is much appreciated .
Joshua N.
2 weeks ago
Great experience overall. Entire crew was extremely friendly. Archie and Mia were especially helpful and great diving instructors!
Response from the owner:Hi Joshua! Thank you so much for your review. We are thrilled you had a great experience - that extra personal touch is what our local family company ethos has been for 30 years - Archie and Mia would be very happy to hear that you felt very comfortable on your dives with them - that is very important to us!
Marta R.
2 weeks ago
It was an amazing experience! The weather was a little bit rough, but who can control the weather. Overall, it was worth it. I'll keep this memory as a treasure 🧚🏻‍♀️ The boat and the crew were incredible. I had a great moment! The diving 100% recommended.Just a little bit shocked about how small we are 🐛
Response from the owner:Hi Marta, Thank you for your feedback of our tour! We are thrilled to hear you had an amazing experience despite the bumpy weather and loved your scuba diving - we agree that it is 100% pure fun being under the waves with all our marine resident friends :) We love to make special reef memories so very happy to hear that our experience will be one of your treasured memories - we are honoured!
Makenzie S.
2 weeks ago
We went out on the Ocean Free today and had the absolute best time! We can’t say enough wonderful things about the experience and the crew! The private snorkeling/diving spot off of Green Island allowed us to see fish, sharks, turtles and corals. It was amazing! We had a great time getting to know the others on the boat and would recommend this experience to everyone!
Response from the owner:Hi Makenzie - thank you so much for your review and recommendation of our tour - much appreciated :) Our little piece of exclusive reef for our Ocean Free guests really does make it a very private experience :)
Nadja G.
2 weeks ago
Had the best experience today. All staff is really friendly and competent, the tour was amazing! It was my first time snorkeling and my first time in the ocean, everyone took so good care of me and I enjoyed A LOT! Would recommend to everyone ❤️ thank you guys!
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Response from the owner:Hi Nadja! Wonderful to hear you enjoyed your first time snorkelling and first time in the ocean - well done !! Thank you also for your recommendation to everyone :) ..it is much appreciated and the photos!
Patrick A.
3 weeks ago
We went on the Ocean Freedom and did the morning Scuba in addition to snorkeling. We paid extra for a dedicated guide because there were 4 of us with various levels of experience. Paul was excellent and worth the extra dedicated service. Snorkeling and Scuba at the Great Barrier Reef was an epic once in a lifetime experience.
Response from the owner:Hi Patrick! Thank you so much for your review and feedback. We are thrilled to hear that you had wonderful day and enjoyed the extra dedicated service for your family. It is important for us that all our guests have the best possible reef experience suited to their skill level. We absolutely love making long lasting reef experiences and we know that our beautiful Great Barrier Reef will be a family conversation for many years to come - it does cast a spell on you! Thank you once again - your feedback is very much appreciated.
Carole D.
3 weeks ago
We had an absolutely fantastic day snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. The crew were friendly, professional and made everyone feel safe and welcome from the moment we boarded. I would highly recommend this cruise.
Response from the owner:Hi Carole, Thank you for your review and high recommendation of our tour - we are thrilled to hear you had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Your feedback is very much appreciated .
Udit V.
3 weeks ago
Had a surreal experience with our first ever and certainly not the last Snorkel and Scuba tour today. We took the 8 hoir cruise along with a glass bottom boat, snorkel and dive package. Let me start with the most important bit. We have no doubts that the crew is so so ocean driven and connected. The level of warmth, support and welcome only comes when you are so close to nature. We had the privilege of being under the Guidance of Marie, the dive instructor along with Tamara, Storm, Amber and Rayan the Skipper. From their support, training, motivation and attention to detail everything was just perfect. We are vegetarians and over and above their usual catering which seemed to have catered to all types of preferences already, they arranged for a vegetarian bowl for us. Wasn't even something we expected. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and even desserts were all timely, organised and delicious. And, you get an option to pre book A Dive along with snorkling or even let them know after you are on board that you'd like to go on one. They very kindly accommodate you. And you dont even need to be certified . They train you and hand hold you really well and safety is their top priority. Special thanks to Marie who encouraged my partner inspite of her fear and Panic around the dive and an even bigger thanks to her for making me fall in love with the dives and the world down there. Cherry on the cake is, they dont do any of these things for the sake of a job but they really do love what they do and so, you genuinely can connect with them. We were at there during not the easiest weather conditions with wind and currents both being high but they managed everything like pros. The return trip was basically an extra boost of adrenaline that would let you skip the jet boat ride :p Dont just highly recommend them but hope to dive with them someday soon. <3 -Devki and Udit.
Response from the owner:Hi Udit, Thank you so much for your detailed review - it was a joy to read! We are a local family operator - now in our 30 th year. Our business was born out of a passion and connection to nature and in particular the ocean and Great Barrier Reef. For 30 years we have "hand-picked" our crew who must share this passion of connection to nature themselves and importantly inspire all our guests to a deeper connection to the GBR. So it is fantastic for us to hear your comments. We view our crew as our best asset and you are correct they sincerely love the reef, looking after it, and also love to look after all our guests (in whatever conditions Mother Nature may hand us on those days!). We also agree that once is never enough to see the GBR :) Each day is different and brings in different surprises - we very much look forward to having you come out with us again! Thank you once again for your review and high recommendation.
Scott T.
3 weeks ago
Family of 4 out for a day trip snorkeling the reef. The team could not have been more accommodating. Great service from start to finish.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your review Scott - much appreciated :) We are thrilled to have been able to give you and your family a memorable day from start to finish.
Aurora C.
4 weeks ago
Such an incredible day out on the reef! Was honestly in awe - the spots we visited were perfect. Crew was incredible, skipper Maddie was a legend - couldn’t recommend more 🩵
Response from the owner:Hi Aurora! Thank you so much for your lovely review - wonderful to hear that you had an awesome day and found the spots we visit to be perfect! The GBR is truly a spectacular piece of nature! And the crew and in particular Maddy will be thrilled to hear your comments! Thank you also for your high recommendation - much appreciated!
Nick D.
4 weeks ago
Took this tour company for a day of snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef . I’m a horrible swimmer and first time snorkler. This was better than expected . One of the crew , Reese , was very patient and made sure I was able to go out into the water without trouble and see the coral . I highly recommend this tour company . It’s a class act .
Response from the owner:Thank you Nick for your review and high recommendation of our tour. Reece will be thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your first time snorkel experience - but once is never enough - you will need to come out again in the future!
Rachel S.
4 weeks ago
Loved this excursion. The staff were fun, knowledgeable about the marine life, and safety focused. The boat felt comfortable and not packed like on some others I’ve tried. Great options for all comfort levels - snorkeling, diving, and appreciated the glass bottom boat. At the end of swimming 2 locations, the team gave confident swimmers the option to be dropped by a smaller boat, then swim to the larger boat with a guide, which was fun. Lunch was great with shrimp, smoked salmon, chicken, and lots of sides. Crew kept passing around fruit and cookies on the ride back.
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Response from the owner:Hi Rachel Thank you for your review - great to hear you loved it! We love creating reef memories :). We do cater for the experienced adventure snorkeller and the less experienced so wonderful you noted that. Perfect that you also loved the food - we know that all that in-water adventure does make one hungry so we ensure there is plenty to eat throughout the day! Thank you also for the great photos :)
Orhan Ç.
4 weeks ago
It was great experience, all lovely and helpful crews:) Aa one suggestion food could be hot :)
Response from the owner:Hi Orhan - thank you for you review . We are very happy to hear that you had a great experience and found the crew to be kind and helpful. Sorry in regard to not having hot food - it it too difficult for us to cook or store on our size boat .
Andrea R.
4 weeks ago
My family and I had the best day with ocean freedom. The staff are amazing, fun, kind and very smart. They made sure we got to see everything we wanted to see and had some really fun facts. They even made the safety briefing fun!!! Would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in snorkelling or diving the Great Barrier Reef.
Response from the owner:Hi Andrea Thank you for your review and your high recommendation to anyone for snorkelling or diving the Great Barrier Reef - we are very happy that your family had a great day on the reef!!
Gaurav M.
4 weeks ago
Highly highly recommend Ocean Freedom as your chosen scuba diving instructors. They undertake their responsibility very seriously yet kindly. Ann, Mia, Amber, Mike and Archie deserve a special mention. My kids were very scared of scuba diving, and Mia patiently walked them through it. She helped them throughout with the dive ensuring a really really good experience for them, despite their anxieties. She was kind, patient and helpful. Ann and Amber also helped pacify my wife when she felt scared and ensured she completed her first snorkeling experience. We did the glass bottom tour, snorkeling and scuba diving. It gave us a great introduction to the flora and fauna at the reef. I was not able to do my pre booked dive experience due to a medical condition and they promptly refunded my cost of dive. Apart from being amazing instructors for the water activities, they went above and beyond in terms of service. We were served fresh fruit,danish, cheese crackers and cake and the heavy lunch. They were very accommodating of allergen requirements. Despite such a long day, they always wore smiles on their faces. Leaving at the end actually felt like saying goodbye to people we knew for a long time. Their warmth, their expertise and their patience made our journey to the Great Barrier reef so so memorable. We cannot thank them enough for their kindness. Highly recommend Ocean Freedom regardless of your group type or swimming knowledge. Be assured that you are in the best of the hands that are trained well and understand anxieties you might have if it's your first time.
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Response from the owner:Hi Gaurav, Thank you so much for your lovely and detailed review - we are very passionate about service and ensuring our guests get the very best out of their Great Barrier Reef experience and our crew love to do this so they will be very happy to hear your comments! It is so important for your first dive to feel comfortable so great to hear that Mia also helped your kids get over their fear - they will now be "water babies"! Thank you so much for your high recommendation - much appreciated.
Ellen J.
4 weeks ago
Really loved our boat trip with these guys, we felt very welcome. The crew has a love for the ocean that really shines through! We enjoyed the snorkeling and even saw sting rays and a turtle. Please go with these boat,you'll love it
Response from the owner:Thank you Ellen - much appreciated :) Great our sting rays and turtle came out to visit you too!
Shivali O.
4 weeks ago
I had a wonderful experience with Ocean Freedom and cannot recommend them highly enough. As someone who does not know how to swim, I was naturally quite nervous before the trip. However, the crew were incredibly patient, reassuring, and supportive throughout the day. The entire team made me feel safe and well looked after, and they explained everything clearly, which helped me enjoy the experience at my own pace. We visited two beautiful reef locations and saw colourful fish, stunning coral formations, and even turtles. The glass-bottom boat tour was also fantastic and allowed me to appreciate the reef from a different perspective. The food onboard was excellent, and as I was celebrating my birthday, I was even given a complimentary drink, which was a lovely surprise and made the day even more special. As a solo traveller and a non-swimmer, I truly appreciated how welcoming and attentive the crew were. This was one of the highlights of my trip to Cairns and a birthday I will always remember. Thank you to the entire Ocean Freedom team for creating such a memorable experience. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cairns, especially solo travellers and those who may not be confident in the water.
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Response from the owner:Hi Shivali! Thank you for your lovely words and high recommendations :) Being a solo traveller on our tours is very comfortable with our friendly crew and we are sure you enjoyed the company of other guests - we tend to have many friendships made on our tours :) . With 6hrs on the reef you are able to partake in all the activities at your own pace and one can definitely absorb more information during this time so we are thrilled to hear you made the most of your time exploring our beautiful reefs. Thank you once again for your lovely and detailed review. We are honoured that you chose to come out with us on your birthday and thrilled that we were able to give you a "highlight" trip and a memorable birthday :) Thank you also for the photo - great shot! Hmm.. maybe we should be your annual birthday treat every year - would love to see you back out with us!
B B.
4 weeks ago
Doing a day trip with Ocean Freedom was an amazing experience through and through. From the booking stages, the team was extremely helpful in answering all of our questions. The boat crew on 29 May were absolutely incredible! So friendly, kind, welcoming and patient. Huge thanks to Anna, Mia and Ollie for making us feel so cared for and reassured during diving. I really hope there are more operators like this, so passionate about what they’re doing and so thoughtful 💙
Response from the owner:Hi BB, Thank you so much for your review - we are passionate about providing all our guests with the best day possible from start to finish .. so your words are very much appreciated :). Anna , Mia and Ollie will be very happy to also hear that you felt comfortable and reassured during your dive - that is also very important to us. We hope to see you again in the future!
Brian C.
4 weeks ago
Amazing experience. Mia was so patient and nice when teaching me the basics and how to calm myself. As someone who is a bit panicky in open water and cannot swim, everyone was so welcoming and helpful in making be believe in myself and do the introductory dive 10/10 experience for people who can’t swim or dive. The 2:1 ratio was great in reassuring me too
Response from the owner:Hi Brian, Well done on achieving and enjoying your very first SCUBA dive!! Our 2:1 ratio is reassuring for guests of all water levels - those not so comfortable in the open water and also a very personal adventure for those who may be water babies! You will find with each dive you do, it will eventually become second nature. Mia will be very happy to hear she played a part in your underwater journey!
Josette L.
1 month ago
Our snorkeling trip with Oceans of Freedom out of Cairns was an experience we’ll never forget. Visiting the Great Barrier Reef was absolutely incredible—we saw sea turtles, clownfish, hundreds of other species of fish, and some of the most beautiful coral we’ve ever encountered. The crew was fantastic from start to finish. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making sure everyone had a great experience. They encouraged questions, took guest comfort seriously, and helped create a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere throughout the day. One piece of advice for future visitors: wear a wetsuit or other sun-protective clothing. The Australian UV is no joke. Despite applying sunscreen, we left with severe second-degree sunburns after spending the day on and around the water. That was entirely our mistake, not the company’s, but it’s something we wish we’d been better prepared for. Don’t underestimate the sun and don’t skimp on sun protection. Overall, this was a truly memorable experience and one of the highlights of our trip to Australia. We would absolutely recommend Oceans of Freedom to anyone looking to experience the Great Barrier Reef.
Response from the owner:Hi Josette, Thank you so much for your detailed review and your very high recommendation of our Ocean Freedom tour - it is very much appreciated! The Great Barrier Reef is indeed stunning and we are very honoured to have the opportunity to provide our guests with long lasting memorable reef experiences and are thrilled to hear we were one of your Australian highlights and that the coral was the most beautiful you have ever encountered! ! Our reef sites are located in a Marine Park Green Zone so protected from fishing - this ensures a great diversity of fish and marine life. In regard to the Australian sun -YES - you do need to protect so always good to take advantage of our wetsuits we provide for the day free of charge and also another tip is to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before entering the water - this ensures not only maximum protection but also allows it to be absorbed into the skin and not in the water on the reef. And remember in the shade on a boat you can still get the rays from the reflection of the water so always best to cover up :)
Emilie R.
1 month ago
I spent a really lovely day today with Ocean Free ⛵️🐠☀️ The timing was perfect (not slow, not fast), snorkelling 🤿 and exploring Green island with a bit of free time 🏝️. Also, good and plenty of food! I was in a nice group and with the best team ever! They’re so welcoming, friendly and kind. Matt, Ricardo, Bruce and special mention to Marie, the the woman with the biggest smile in the ocean! ✨🌊 So grateful for this beautiful day, thank you so much! 🤗
Response from the owner:Hi Emilie, Thank you for your review and glad you enjoyed our crew hospitality AND their big SMILES!! Ocean Free is truly a unique mix of sail , reef and island with a small group of like minded guests. And ..of course we do love to feed you throughout the day - great you also enjoyed this part too - that is also important to us!!
JJ
1 month ago
Unforgettable experience, well-trained and nice cruise members, lucky enough to see sea turtle, sharks and nemo for multiple times that day, thanks to the spotter!
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Response from the owner:Hi JJ, Wonderful to hear .... we have learnt about our specific reef sites over 30 years so crew get to know where to find the best on the day! However nature is not always so predictable so it is always exciting to see who may visit us on any day! You were lucky enough to see some true Hollywood stars:) .... and next time who knows!
Femke Van Z.
1 month ago
We had the best day on the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Free! There were only 11 people and 4 crew members on the boat, so we had lots of space. Everything was as it should've been and better. The snorkeling and diving gear was great. The food was perfect and plentiful. Chill atmosphere. The diving instructor, Ambrose, was very knowledgeable and made us feel safe during the whole dive. It was our first time and we had a great experience. Everything was explained and practised carefully before the actual dive. If you are looking for a trip to go out on the reef and don't want to be on a big ship with lots of other people, we would really recommend this trip.
Response from the owner:Hi Femke! Thank you for your review of our boutique-style Ocean Free reef and island tour. Great you also enjoyed your first time dive- Ambrose will be thrilled:) Thank you also for your high recommendation of the tour - it is much appreciated.

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