Ocean Free

Family Owned

Ocean Freedom

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

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.

More Info

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

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

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

Testimonials

My 13 and 17 year olds and myself had the best experience on ocean freedom. The crew were amazing, the scuba diving was amazing and from the second we booked to when we stepped off the boat we felt incredibly well looked after. Would absolutely recommend.
Insight Therapies Anita G.
Insight Therapies Anita G.
1728806661
Amazing experience and staff. It's a smaller charter so you get more personalized interactions.
Kendall S.
Kendall S.
1728772340
Fantastic staff, fantastic tour, fantastic food.Overall, FANTASTIC.
joshua J.
joshua J.
1728716894
Once in a life time experience with awesome crew ⚓️⛴️. Paul, Mike , Charlotte and all the others, thanks for giving us a core memory! 🫶🏼
shamitha S.
shamitha S.
1728550025
Had a great experience, the scuba diving was amazing and got to see the life in the barrier reef. The food was great and the crew was very friendly. Highly recommended for everyone and there's no need to be able to swim very well too.
Pawan R.
Pawan R.
1728385807
We had an amazing day on Ocean Free yesterday. The staff were outstanding, making sure everyone was taken care of, especially non strong swimmers when snorkelling. This was a once of a lifetime experience for our family (2 adults 50+ and 2 teens). A good balance of snorkelling, Green Island, and sailing. Highly recommend for those looking for a more personal trip to the reef.
Anne N.
Anne N.
1728350482
A boat excursion to Green Island worthy of a 10 out of 10. Every aspect was perfect. The friendliness of the crew, the amazing experiences (snorkeling and seeing lots of fish, a turtle, and a baby shark), the stunning locations, and even plenty of delicious food. My wife and I were on our honeymoon, and they even prepared a congratulatory certificate and a special aperitif for us. I highly recommend this experience, it was truly fabulous. In the end, we deemed it the best excursion of our entire honeymoon.Thank you Crew, from ItalyGabriele e Irene
Gabriele B.
Gabriele B.
1728213950
Fantastic crew! Great food! Plenty of snorkel time!! My friend and I did the full day tour, spending the day enjoying the reef. Our glass bottom boat tour guide (from Oct.4,2024) was fantastic; knowledgeable and made the experience exciting. Please update the photo of your boat though; the only exposed seating area is the very top which is closed when traveling to and from the reef. It was choppy weather conditions and the only seating available was inside which was not ideal for my friend who was sea sick.
Chelsea D.
Chelsea D.
1728204116
Nice tour! Really good service and extremely cautious. Food is good too and a lot. Anna is an amazing dive guide, rich in experience and expertise. Absolutely recommend the Ocean Freedom day trip.
Alexander S.
Alexander S.
1728124568
Trip of a lifetime! We did the Ocean Free. Exceeded our expectations beyond belief. Only thing I can think that would top this trip is a space flight to the stars, seriously. The GBR is beautiful—scuba and snorkeled and saw turtle, sharks, and all the blazing beautiful fishes, too. Thanks to our crew the skipper Michael and our dive team Amber, Alexa, and Mike for making the trip so fun, hospitable, and energized!
Huy N.
Huy N.
1728123894
Had the best possible start to our vacation in Australia! Would absolutely recommend this company, from the great food and drinks, to the vibrant and fun crew to the absolutely amazing first time dive we did, everything was just wonderful.Special shootout to Mike who was a fantastic diving instructor!
Michiel B.
Michiel B.
1728117746
Nous avons passé une super journée ! Merci à Mike, Tom et Pascal pour leur bonne humeur, bienveillance et leur ecoute. Pour ceux qui ne sont pas à l’aise dans l’eau, ils sont là pour vous accompagner afin que vous vous sentiez à l’aise dans l’eau. Les fonds sous marins sont beaux et on a même pu nagé avec une tortue !
Manon G.
Manon G.
1728038268
Ocean freedom was fantastic, highly recommend! The staff were all super friendly, funny, helpful, and made the trip very enjoyable. We went for 2 intro scuba diving sessions, which we've never done before, and it was an amazing experience.
Andy L.
Andy L.
1727784018
Wonderful day out—the crew *made* the experience. Reef itself was less vibrant than I expected, probably due to coral bleaching. There were loads of beautiful, colourful fish and we even saw a turtle and a cuttlefish! The crew very sociable, knowledgeable and helpful. I even got to help hoist the sail!
Steph E.
Steph E.
1727655392
Amazing day & experience! The crew was so kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. Also the food was above my expectations- they always made sure you had what you needed. It does without saying the GBR was breathtaking- and they would answer any questions and help you identify anything you saw. Highly recommend!!
Kaitlyn G.
Kaitlyn G.
1727642866
Best Day ever today with the ocean freedom family!! The reef is amazing, but the crew really makes the experience amazing. We've learned and seen so many things!! Truly recomend it❤️❤️
Laura P.
Laura P.
1727599667
Great trip to the Great Barrier Reef!!The entire crew is amazingly knowledgeable, extremely peasant and fun to deal with, very , very attentive and helpful to ALL passengers!Breakfast and afternoon snacks and drinks were excellent, lunch was OK.The snorkeling experience was excellent!!Very grateful for the experience.
M B
M B
1727424329
Ocean Freedom Cairns: A Day of Reef BlissOcean Freedom Cairns delivered an unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experience! The crew's friendliness and professionalism made us feel instantly welcomed.Snorkeling and diving were fantastic, with vibrant coral and diverse marine life. The guided tours were informative, and the crew's passion for the reef was evident.Lunch was delicious and plentiful, catering to various dietary needs. The overall atmosphere was relaxed and fun, making it an ideal trip for families and couples alike.I highly recommend Ocean Freedom Cairns for anyone seeking a memorable day on the Great Barrier Reef.
ben S.
ben S.
1727423202
had an absolutely fabulous time with the crew on Ocean Free. they were friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. our trip out to the Great Barrier Reef and Green Island was absolutely magical. we didn’t scuba dive but the snorkeling experience was amazing. we saw many types of marine life and were educated by the crew every step of the way. it felt like an intimate experience with less than 20 people on the boat. would recommend to anyone who wants to explore the Great Barrier Reef.
Christina Hogya (.
Christina Hogya (.
1727353267
Amazing! Have done the cheaper ones before where you’re packed on and everything is rushed and you have 80 people swimming in this tiny space. Ocean Free was so much better. The staff were amazing, great food, relaxing boat, awesome location on the reef with plenty of options to cater for everyone. My two kids boy/8 and girl/15 both said it was the best day they’ve ever had on one of our regular trips up to Cairns. Thank you to the Ocean Free crew!
Jason G.
Jason G.
1727075470
Very good toursLots of food and beveragesAwesome 1 day
Saeed
Saeed
1726925470
Ocean Free was the highlight of our trip, the staff were incredible and made it super fun. T was an amazing Dive Guide and since I was the only one who signed up we got to explore a lot. Saw so many turtles and sharks and the reef was just thriving. Went to the island and wanted to immediately go back in the boat to jump off, snorkel and float with some bevies- Thanks for keeping the wine and ginger beer flowing. Pascal and the girls did a great job skippering (I’m making that a word), hosting the day, and the food offerings were above and beyond. Thanks guys for an incredible experience -The Canadians
Tania Boyko (.
Tania Boyko (.
1726727065
We just did the Ocean Freedom Cruise to Upolu Cay Reef & Outer Edge Upolu Reef yesterday. Shout out to Shea for going above and beyond for our two small kids.We saw a turtle, stingray, star fish and we found nemo.
Benn P.
Benn P.
1726570071
js_loader

© Ocean Freedom 2024

Website created by RJ New Designs

Google Rating
4.8
Based on 956 reviews
js_loader