Day Tours with Glass Bottom Boats
Glass bottom boats offer an interesting bird’s eye perspective of the underwater wonders beneath the surface of the ocean. The unique design of a see-through vessel gives viewers a window to the world of marine inhabitants and their homes. Spectators can get a lay of the land (or sea), and a who's-who in the underwater zoo, immersing themselves in an array of tropical fish, reef sharks, turtles, rays and more.
Great for people of all swimming levels, non-swimmers and families, glass bottom boats and semi-submersible tours allow passengers to get as close to the reef as possible, without getting wet! In this article, we’ve compiled a list of all the trips departing Cairns offering up glass bottom boats and semi-submersible experiences.
What is a Glass Bottom Boat?
A glass bottom boat is a vessel that has a transparent hull (the bottom section of the boat) typically made from glass or acrylic. This transparency allows passengers on board the boat to see underwater without the need for snorkelling or scuba diving equipment.
Glass bottom boat tours are popular amongst families with young children and are great for those who want to see the sights of the ocean, but don’t want to get in the water. With a low profile hull, glass bottom boats are able to cruise over shallow coral reefs, allowing passengers the chance to witness a variety of soft and hard corals, marine life, giant clams and other interesting ocean environments.
There are many Great Barrier Reef tour operators that offer glass bottom boat experiences from Cairns.
Reef Day Trips From Cairns Offering Glass Bottom Boat Tours
Great Adventures Green Island Discovery
Glass Bottom Boat Tour: Included
Depart from Cairns Marlin Marina on a cruisey catamaran to discover Green Island. A 6,000 year old coral sand cay, Green Island is the only cay on the Great Barrier Reef to be blessed with a lush green tropical rainforest. Spend the day snorkelling, relaxing by the pool, or lazing on the white sandy beach surrounded by coral gardens. The Great Adventures Green Island Eco Adventure gives you the choice of enjoying a glass bottom boat tour or hiring snorkel gear for the day, while the Discovery package gives you the best of both worlds.
Sunlover Fitzroy Island Package
Glass Bottom Boat Tour: Included
Other than Green Island, Fitzroy Island is the closest place to Cairns that you can participate in a glass bottom boat tour to explore fringing reefs. Sunlover Reef Cruises offer a great package deal that includes return ferry transfers, snorkel gear hire and a guided glass bottom boat tour led by knowledgeable marine guides. If you're lucky, you might spot, turtles, reef sharks, lagoon rays and other fascinating sea life that call the corals around Fitzroy Island home. If you want to make the most of your day, jump on Sunlovers Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island Full Day Package!
Ocean Freedom
Glass Bottom Boat Tour: Included
Your glass bottom boat experience is included in the Ocean Freedom day tour. Ocean Freedom will take you to the outer edge of Upolu Cay and Reef. The blend of snorkel and scuba action as well as the opportunity to get a sneak peak of the reef through the glass bottom makes this a great day trip for everyone.
Ocean Free
Glass Bottom Boat Tour: Optional add-on activity
Feel the sun on your skin and sea breeze in your hair on this amazing and unmissable day trip that combines sailing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Ocean Free is the ultimate small group tour, taking just 25 guests per day! Spend time exploring Green Island’s fringing reefs and the exclusive mooring site located at Pinnacle Reef. You have the option to add-on a glass bottom or semi-submersible boat tour from Green Island.
Reef Magic Pontoon Day Tour
Glass Bottom Boat: Included
Semi-Submersible Experience: Included
Both a glass bottom and a semi-submersible experience are included in Reef Magic’s day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Learn about the history and biodiversity of the reef from your expert guides, snorkel with tropical fish, and watch the underwater world pass by. Reef Magic caters to both swimmers and non-swimmers, making it an ideal day trip for families with young children. Kids can also see fish swim by from the underwater marine observatory!
Reef Experience
Glass Bottom Boat Tour: included
This tour is currently not operating glass bottom boat experiences.
Hit two pristine Outer Reef sites for up to six hours of sundrenched fun. Check out the best snorkel spots from the glass bottom boat with a presentation from an expert marine biologist before you make a splash. Reef Experience caters to all levels of swimmers and scuba divers, providing a great value Great Barrier Reef day trip.
SeaStar
Glass Bottom Boat Tour: Included
Embark on a scenic journey to the Outer Reef as the fully-airconditioned SeaStar zooms by Green Island, Upolu Cay and Oyster Reef. Enjoy guided presentations on Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef's underwater ecosystems from the glass bottom boat tour included in SeaStar’s day trip package.
Compass Cruises
Glass Bottom Boat Tour: Optional add-on activity
This tour is currently not operating.
Hit the reefs with Compass Cruises for a day of snorkelling through Breaking Patches, Hastings Reef and Jorgenson Reef. A twenty-minute introductory dive is included in this day package, making it an excellent option for snorkellers wanting to find their feet (or flippers!) in scuba. Add on a glass bottom boat tour!
Reef Day Trips From Cairns Offering Semi-Submersible Tours
Great Adventures Day Trip to The Great Barrier Reef
Semi-Submersible Tour: Included
Cruise the waters on Great Adventures’ fully air-conditioned catamaran with a unique spin on the glass bottom. The glass bottom feature of this boat is semi-submersible, meaning guests are lowered into a small keep which is submerged beneath the water! Peer through the windows and see eye-to-eye with the fish and reef life.
Sunlover Day Trip to Moore Reef
Semi-Submersible Tour: Included
Head to the Outer Reef with Sunlover and enjoy hours exploring the exclusive reef site from the purpose built activity platform. Sunlover offers an included semi-submersible boat tour so you can see the underwater delights in comfort behind glass windows. Experience 360 degree views of the coral reefs, keeping a keen eye out for sharks, turtles, octopus, Maori wrasse and other sea creatures inhabiting the waters. All snorkel gear is included in this adventurous day trip, so you can discover more of the reef from the surface!
Frankland Islands Reef Cruise
Semi-Submersible Tour: Included
Frankland Islands offers an incredible all inclusive day trip that has something for everyone! From guided snorkel safari's and semi-sub tours, to stand up paddleboards and nature walks around the island, it's an exclusive hidden gem that not many know about. Escape the crowds and getaway to this pristine tropical island where you can do as little or as much as you want!
Ocean Spirit Cruise to Michaelmas Cay
Semi-Submersible Tour: Included
Michaelmas Cay is a picture-perfect sand island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Located a couple hours from Cairns, you'll find coral gardens filled with giant clams while it offers a sanctuary to a variety of marine creatures. Sea turtles are quite often spotted here, lazily munching on the sea grass in shallows, unphased by snorkellers watching in awe above them. Ocean Spirit Cruises also includes a guided semi-submersible tour allowing you to witness the underwater gems from above the surface. Keep an eye out and you might see Moorish Idols, Bat fish, Anemone fish (aka Nemo), and the odd turtle popping up for a breath of air.
