August 2025 - Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours

Google Rating

4.9

Based on 1376 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours

4.9

A.D.A

1771401977

Super Ausflug, tolle Organisation. Ein unvergesslicher Tag am Great Barrier Reef!! Danke an die Crew, für den tollen Tag!

Don Tripp

1771395312

Captain Mike and crew were fantastic and made the day fun. Easy ride to the reef and great info provided about the reef on the glass bottom boat tour. Enjoyed the snorkeling and felt very safe based on the instructions provided. Fresh food and drink really hit the spot at lunch and the snack on the way back was perfect! Definitely recommend this experience!!

Moshe Stein

1771144919

We had the cruise today and enjoyed it very much. The snorkeling was fantastic the weather was more than fair, and above all the team of Matt, Marie & Paul were fantastic, focused, attentive to every request, generous and helpful when needed, the hospitality and the food were great.Thank you guys for a fantastic experience !!

Gabriel Curry

1770099480

We went out on the Ocean Freedom today and it was an absolutely amazing experience. From start to finish everything was enjoyable, beautiful, and extremely well run. The crew was professional, friendly, and made the entire day feel relaxed and seamless.The scenery was stunning and the food truly exceeded expectations. It was some of the best food I have ever had on an excursion like this, which really stood out.You can tell the team genuinely cares about delivering a world class experience. I would highly recommend Ocean Freedom to anyone visiting Cairns and wanting an unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experience.

Christie Carey

1769805440

Phenomenal service and spectacular way to get out to the reef for a day trip. We were looking for a way to see the barrier trip in a more intimate way with a smaller crowd and a fun crew. Oceans free delivered! Great food fun crew and same like minded folks choose this tour. 10/10 would recommend these guys.The dive site it self was a bit more limited but still wonderful. Got to see a mako shark, a sea turtle, and giant clams.

Olive Mac

1769234638

The staff are very friendly 😊 the dive was beautiful as well

A J

1769079357

Excellent arrangement and very memorable experience with Anna, Blare and Luke. Great work everyone and thank you for making this a life time snorkeling experience.Overall arrangement, seating, food options (plenty of food options), beverages, drinks etc was simply great. Snorkeling, Green Island experience supported by stories was a good combination from Ocean Free team.Highly recommended for everyone.

Dovie Bohnhoff

1768867045

This was an amazing tour to the Great Barrier Reef! The Skipper was so great at his job and very protective of his guests making sure we were safe! The staff was amazing and right there with us in the water! The food was perfect and the extra plates of fruit & desserts that were passed during the day was such an extra treat. We would 100% recommend using this company!!!

Natalia Rubio

1768728738

We went on the Ocean Freedom cruise to Upolu Cay Reef and Outer Edge Upolu reef. It was an amazing day of snorkelling and scuba (opt-in). The staff provided incredible service the whole time with a vast range of food and snacks including some breakfast as the tour started at 8. The reefs were gorgeous and the staff on the guided snorkels were very knowledgable on the marine life. In particular Marie and Alma went above and beyond in providing an excellent reef and boating experience. They have sea sickness pills (non drowsy) available for purchase which was very useful. If you want to opt in to scuba on the day of as well that is possible and I would definitely recommend. The staff were also meticulous with safety and making sure everybody no matter swim or physical ability was able to see the reef. It is a physical day and can be very tiring but the guides take life rings out on the guided snorkels that can help those in need or if you just need a rest. The only negative was that the boat was not as nice as the one pictured and despite still being a good boat for this tour it was not “luxury” as stated in our booking. We only had 32 people on board but the full capacity is 75 so it may feel more crowded in peak season. Everything else was amazing and I would definitely recommend booking with ocean freedom. They also had a bar where you could purchase drinks throughout the day.

MegaMatthew1001

1767855815

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.

Levinia Mathews

1767776627

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.

Orion Kemp

1767755924

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.

Carolyn Williams

1767696538

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!

Solène

1767627691

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!

Suzie G

1767610348

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!

Jean Bourgeois

1767436198

john weatherill

1767425093

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

Brett S

1767415631

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.

Beau

1767163353

Molly

1767160503

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!

Matthew Jackson

1767160310

Had a great day out with the team. Thanks for the amazing diving experience.

Sarah

1766904718

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!

Amy Emerson

1766877396

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!

Sam Cosgrove

1766789179

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!

D S.

1766747600

Superb excursion and friendly staff!

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Facebook Rating

5.0

Based on 438 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours

5.0

Jolsna Vibish

1766914159

Amazing support . Highly recommend ..

Anil Henry

1766131624

🥳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

Emma Dahl Thorsager McNulty

1765019199

100% recommended! We had the best day out on the water. The crew was amazing - super fun and nice! We saw turtles and lots of beautiful fish! Very professional tour!

Becky Kerr

1763074664

We had the most amazing trip with Ocean Freedom 13.11.25. All the crew were great, really friendly, helpful and made you feel very safe in the water. Snorkeling was fantastic, we were supplied with all equipment ( wetsuit, snorkel and flippers). Glass bottom boat was good and then we seen turtles and reef sharks. Food was great too. Would highly recommend as we have made memories for life. Thank you ocean freedom.

Robin Taddeo Wallace

1763009042

Wow! What an amazing crew and Captain Ben. Luke Archie Maddy Andros(sp?) Dan and so many more!! Every crew member was fabulous to work with. Had the best diving experience two days in a row and coming back for more. I see something new each time. Such a professional operation. I scuba dive but they also have a glass bottom boat and tons of snorkeling (their specialty) I highly recommend if you want a great experience exploring the Great Barrier Reef this is the team to choose. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you Ocean Freedom for an amazing experience!!!

Danuta Kopieniak

1748391484

🌊
I had the absolute best experience on May 22nd with Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom! From start to finish, everything was flawless — the crew was beyond amazing, warm, professional, and full of energy. Their passion for the reef, the ocean, and for ensuring every guest has a magical time was clear in every interaction.

The snorkeling was incredible, the visibility was perfect, and we got up close with so much marine life. The crew made us feel safe, informed, and completely spoiled the entire day — the food was delicious, and the service was top-notch.

Huge shoutout to the entire crew — you made this the highlight of my trip. Thank you for the memories. Love Danuta and Slav

Lance Schneider

1748374032

While the water wasn’t the best conditions, the crew was top notch and personable. Can’t wait to come back to Cairns and dive with them again!

Enobong Bassey Etteh

1747258001

What a tour, did 1st dive. Well constructed experience, no stone left unturned by the genius who runs this. Music, food, fresh air, interest g company. What’s not to like.

Davina Phillips

1741840268

Hands Down the best reef trip out of Cairns. Best crew, food, attention to detail. Small numbers, beautiful reef, walk in a tropical island early arvo, I literally cannot recommend this gorgeous sailing boat enough. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Karen Harrop

1736714438

Thanks to the whole team for a truly memorable day, my first time snorkeling but the team gave me the confidence ( and the safety ring ) to experience the reef - thank you 😊

Fionnuala Murphy

1730004175

What a trip! The hospitality was first class, the boat spotless and the food, well we were fed all day long.
I'm a decent enough swimmer but never go out of my depth and to have Mike and Molly guide me when snorkeling whilst keeping me safe and given me the confidence all day, I had the trip of a lifetime! The reef was spectacular, the teams knowledge and expertise was second to none. Never mind seeing so many fish, star fish and the turtle. Would recommend this trip with Ocean Freedom without hesitation. Thank you so much Mike and Molly.

Ariel Quintos

1724744929

We have a wonderful time in snorkling. Very nice service and the snorkling buddys were great also! They always check on you if you're ok during the boat ride. I will definitely recommend to friends and family that will visit Cairns, Australia! Captain Mike and the crews you're the best!

Rohan Whatley

1719133246

yes, strongly recommended

went to Upolu reef with ocean freedom, 23/6/2024. only my 3rd time snorkeling and 1st time scuba diving. Very helpful and caring instructors. very well kept boat.

scuba dive was worth it, plenty of fish including Nemo you won't see snorkelling

Chris Hales

1687043270

We had a wonderful experience sailing on the Ocean Free boat to Great Barrier Reef where we snorkelled and our daughter had her first experience diving. The diving instructor gave great instruction and had a genuine care for his clients and the skipper and crew were focused on giving us the best experience possible.
would highly recommend.

Terry McGrath

1684272821

We had the best day. The crew on board were fantastic. The spot they moored off Green Island was so close to the reef you could almost stand on it. Snorkeling and diving was brilliant. Lunch on board is very impressive. We met some lovely people from all over the world. Sailing back at under full sail with a lovely glass of wine was exhilarating and exciting. Thanks to all the staff and crew. You made the day for us so easy from booking to leaving. We didn’t want to leave.

Sue Bailey Thomson

1680595403

We went on this reef cruise today and it was fantastic! The guides were incredible and the food was great- and there was loads of it! We went on a different snorkeling trip yesterday to Green Island and it was nothing compared to Ocean Freedom. The guides were in the water with us showing us all the fish and marine life. Definitely skip Green Island and go with Ocean Freedom!!!!

Elaine Kelly

1678969131

What a perfect day! The crew was so pleasant and helpful, catering to our every need, even a glass bottom boat for those wanting a break from snorkeling. Good equipment, great food - and awesome to see all we saw while snorkeling!

Campbell Mill

1675898986

My wife, daughter and myself went out on Ocean Freedom on Wednesday 8 Feb 2023. A great day - the Captain and crew were unbelievably helpful and polite. Nothing was to much trouble. Once at the reef a guided glass bottom boat trip then onto with the snorkelling or SCUBA if you wanted. The food was high quality and heaps for everyone. When you thought it was over out came the cheese and biscuits followed by cake. I’ve been on a number of boat tours around the world and this is by far the best. It is highly recommend. Lastly a shout out to crewman Tom who was very patience with my wife and helped her snorkelling experience.

Dan Boon

1671434033

Perfect day out visiting two of the nearby reefs.
The crew are extremely warm, welcoming and a great laugh helping you be at ease wether if it’s your first time snorkelling/diving or somebody used to the ocean.
I did my first (and 2nd) ever scuba dive guided by these guys today and it couldn’t have been any better!
Will definitely go with these guys again next time I find myself in Cairns. Thank you!

Kgothatso Mohale

1665275230

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Mark DiFelice

1662359648

Great crew and a great day out. More food than you could possibly ask for and great attention to detail.
Special shout out to Mike, Liam, Jazz and Jayden who really made the day special. A few people feeding the fish due to bad weather but the crew handled it beautifully.
Thanks all.

Amy Whiteman

1661940602

Great day had by our family of 5. Mike the Skipper was awesome and lead an amazing crew. Food was great and plentiful. Would definitely recommend this company to anyone. The only fault was the weather

Jane Daniels

1656121964

I had a lovely experience on this tour. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was great. Met some lovely people on the tour from overseas and other parts of Australia. Snorkelling was amazing and I learnt a little about the Great Barrier Reef on the Glass Bottom Boat tour. Hope to do this tour again and hopefully try diving next time.

Brad Warren Simpson

1655888788

Awesome day was had ,great hosts and got to see all you could on the reef

Sarah Domet

1655761618

My partner and I went out diving for the day. He’d never dived and I hadn’t been for years. We were so well looked after and all the friendly, happy staff showed such patience!
Fantastic day out highly recommend this business ⭐️

See all reviews Write a review

Google Rating

4.9

Based on 1376 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours

4.9

A.D.A

1771401977

Super Ausflug, tolle Organisation. Ein unvergesslicher Tag am Great Barrier Reef!! Danke an die Crew, für den tollen Tag!

1771395312

1771144919

1770099480

1769805440

1769234638

The staff are very friendly 😊 the dive was beautiful as well

1769079357

1768867045

1768728738

1767855815

1767776627

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.

Orion Kemp

1767755924

Carolyn Williams

1767696538

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!

1767627691

1767610348

1767436198

1767425093

1767415631

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.

Beau

1767163353

Molly

1767160503

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!

Matthew Jackson

1767160310

Had a great day out with the team. Thanks for the amazing diving experience.

Sarah

1766904718

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!

Amy Emerson

1766877396

Sam Cosgrove

1766789179

D S.

1766747600

Superb excursion and friendly staff!

See all reviews Write a review

Facebook Rating

5.0

Based on 438 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours

5.0

Jolsna Vibish

1766914159

Amazing support . Highly recommend ..

Anil Henry

1766131624

Emma Dahl Thorsager McNulty

1765019199

100% recommended! We had the best day out on the water. The crew was amazing - super fun and nice! We saw turtles and lots of beautiful fish! Very professional tour!

1763074664

1763009042

1748391484

1748374032

While the water wasn’t the best conditions, the crew was top notch and personable. Can’t wait to come back to Cairns and dive with them again!

Enobong Bassey Etteh

1747258001

What a tour, did 1st dive. Well constructed experience, no stone left unturned by the genius who runs this. Music, food, fresh air, interest g company. What’s not to like.

Davina Phillips

1741840268

Karen Harrop

1736714438

Thanks to the whole team for a truly memorable day, my first time snorkeling but the team gave me the confidence ( and the safety ring ) to experience the reef - thank you 😊

1730004175

1724744929

1719133246

1687043270

1684272821

1680595403