Evolution Private Day Charter
Departure Times
Book a private charter on Evolution, an award-winning 35-metre superyacht, for the ultimate day on the Great Barrier Reef!
- Full day private charter suitable for all ages and groups
- 3-level dive vessel with air conditioning and luxury amenities
- Visit 2 reef sites amidst the Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef
- Snorkel and scuba dive with the diverse marine life
- All equipment and catering included with amazing add-ons as well
Charter your own luxury dive vessel for the perfect day out on the Great Barrier Reef! Evolution Private Charter allows you and your guests to have an exclusive experience amidst the natural beauty of the world's largest coral reef system. The high-speed and well-equipped superyacht will whisk you to two glorious reef sites where you can snorkel, dive, and appreciate the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef.
Features
- Private charter on Evolution
- Visit two Outer Great Barrier Reef destinations
- Comfortable, stabilized superyacht
- Three-level vessel with air-conditioning
- Aussie BBQ lunch with steak, prawns and tropical salads
- Unlimited snorkelling with high-quality equipment provided
- Add-ons including scenic helicopter flights and scuba diving
- Suitable for all ages and up to 150 guests
- Complimentary glass of wine & snack on return
Sample Itinerary
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Here is the sample itinerary for your private day charter on Evolution from Cairns!
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Here is the sample itinerary for your private day charter on Evolution from Cairns!
Snorkelling
Snorkellers have the chance to explore the stunning Great Barrier Reef aboard Evolution. Check out the unparalleled diversity of marine life as you glide effortlessly through crystalline waters, with chances to spot tropical fish, unique coral formations, sea turtles, reef sharks, and more. All snorkel gear is provided and the expert guides will help you have the best possible snorkelling experience!
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef is an immersive journey into an aquatic wonderland. Introductory and certified scuba divers can venture underwater during your charter on Evolution, with all gear provided and varying levels of instruction available. New divers can try the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program and learn the basic skills of scuba diving for the first time. Certified divers can pre-book up to 3 dives and make the most of their time at the various stunning reef sites.
Option add-ons
In the afternoon, there is free time for more snorkelling, diving, or adding on another fun activity. Those who want to see underwater without getting wet can join a semi-submersible tour with a marine naturalist guide! Cruise around the shallows and view the reefs and marine life while learning about the ecosystem from an expert. Or add on a scenic helicopter flight over Hastings Reef! You can soar over the extensive reef system and admire the vastness of the natural wonder from the sky, which is a once in a lifetime experience.
Reef Sites
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On your private charter aboard Evolution, your captain will choose the best locations based on the conditions. But the vessel frequents certain reef sites that may be first choice, including:
- Saxon Reef - A flourishing, colourful reef site with a shallow lagoon and abundant marine life
- Hastings Reef - Unique coral formations located on the outer edge of the reef
- Norman Reef - A varied reef wi...
Read More
On your private charter aboard Evolution, your captain will choose the best locations based on the conditions. But the vessel frequents certain reef sites that may be first choice, including:
- Saxon Reef - A flourishing, colourful reef site with a shallow lagoon and abundant marine life
- Hastings Reef - Unique coral formations located on the outer edge of the reef
- Norman Reef - A varied reef with a range of different depths to suit all snorkellers and divers
Vessel Specifications
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Evolution is an impressive yacht that successfully creates memorable reef experiences for travellers in Cairns. Launched in 2016, this 35-metre, 3-level catamaran has specialised dive decks and comfortable amenities for an incredible day on the reef. Here is more info about the vessel:
Level 1
- Air-conditioned interior
- Seating for up to 140 people
- Large windows with excellent views
- Fully stocke...
Read More
Evolution is an impressive yacht that successfully creates memorable reef experiences for travellers in Cairns. Launched in 2016, this 35-metre, 3-level catamaran has specialised dive decks and comfortable amenities for an incredible day on the reef. Here is more info about the vessel:
Level 1
- Air-conditioned interior
- Seating for up to 140 people
- Large windows with excellent views
- Fully stocked bar
- Live entertainment area
- Bathroom amenities
- Personal storage areas for dive/snorkel gear
- Hydraulic dive platforms for easy water access
Level 2
- Air-conditioned middle deck
- Comfortable bench seats with tables and windows
- Gold Class Lounge
- Soft, comfortable sun decks
- Seating areas at the front and rear of the boat
Level 3
- Spacious seating area
- Bean bag chairs
- 360 degree views of the surroundings
More Information
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What To Bring
- Towel
- Sunscreen & hat
- Swim suit
- Sunglasses
- Cash or Credit Card for bar and souvenir purchase
- Change of clothes and warm jumper/ jacket for cooler days.
- Certified Divers must bring C Card
- Dive Medical if required
What's Included
- Cruise on board luxury 35-metre superyacht
- Visit 2 unique outer reef sites
- 5 hours of snorkelling or diving
- Unlimited snorkelling with all equipment
- Hot BBQ lunch including fresh fish, prawns, s...
Read More
What To Bring
- Towel
- Sunscreen & hat
- Swim suit
- Sunglasses
- Cash or Credit Card for bar and souvenir purchase
- Change of clothes and warm jumper/ jacket for cooler days.
- Certified Divers must bring C Card
- Dive Medical if required
What's Included
- Cruise on board luxury 35-metre superyacht
- Visit 2 unique outer reef sites
- 5 hours of snorkelling or diving
- Unlimited snorkelling with all equipment
- Hot BBQ lunch including fresh fish, prawns, steak and salad
- Tea, coffee, and mini muffins
- Free lycra/sun-suit hire
- Free glass of wine and snack on return
- PADI qualified dive instructors and Master Reef Guide
- Spacious air-conditioned lounges and upper deck to relax
- Reef Levy
What's Extra
- 10 Minute Scenic Helicopter Flight - $199pp
- Introductory Dive: 1st dive $80, 2nd dive $60, 3rd dive $45
- Certified Dive: 1st dive $80, 2nd dive $60, 3rd dive $45
- Marine Biologist Snorkel Tour $25
- Semi-Submersible Tour $20 Adults, $10 Child
- Wetsuits $10pp
- Underwater Camera Hire - $60
- Return Coach Transfers starting from $10pp
- Prescription Mask Hire - $50 refundable deposit
Terms and Conditions
Important Information:
- Please click here for more diving information and to read the medical questionnaire.
- Helicopter: 130kg weight restrictions apply for helicopter rides.
All information provided at any time by Cairns Tours and our affiliates is subject to these Terms & Conditions. This includes but is not limited to tour information, pricing, blog posts, travel advice, itinerary information and availability.
Your Responsibilities:
Please advise us before booking if any passengers are under 18 years old to ensure this is the appropriate trip.
You must reconfirm all booked tours prior to travel as specified on your voucher. If applicable, notes such as dietary requirements, pick-up locations and additional fees should also be confirmed at this time. Reconfirmations cannot be actioned through Cairns Tours/Mr Travel, and must be done so directly through the Service Operator as specified on each ticket.
It is your responsibility to notify us of ticket discrepancies. Please read through the details on your voucher thoroughly to ensure all details such as passenger names, ages and dates of travel on vouchers are correct.
It is the responsibility of all passengers travelling to advise both your travel agent at the time of booking and vessel check-in agent before boarding of any medical conditions including food allergies you may suffer from.
You need to allow adequate time to check-in prior to the specified departure time.
Prices/Extra Costs:
All prices are stated in Australian dollars and include GST. Surcharges over peak holiday seasons may apply.
The Service Operator reserves the right to alter prices and extra costs. Extra costs may include EMC fees, Stingersuit/Wetsuit Hire, Luggage Storage, Insurance, Linen Hire, National Park Fees, Fuel Levies, Dietary Fees, etc. Bonds may also apply.
Bookings made from the 1st of March 2023 include Levy Fee.
We will also endeavour to communicate these extra costs with you at the time of booking, and on your ticket. However, it is your responsibility to confirm which (if any) additional costs apply with each Service Operator upon reconfirming your trip.
Travel Risk/Insurance:
It should be noted that adventure travel involves risk. Whilst we make every effort to safeguard clients, we cannot be responsible for personal injury or loss due to the actions of our clients which are beyond our control. We highly recommend that all clients have travel insurance covering illness, injury, loss or damage to personal belongings and not being able to travel on the confirmed date of departure. You should also ensure your travel insurance will cover special circumstances including weather events preventing guests from travelling to their tour departure destination and cancelled flights due to unforeseen circumstances.
Transport:
It should be noted that any transport you have booked (buses, flights and ferries) through Cairns Tours is non-refundable and non-transferable. It might be possible to change flights however do note this must be done directly with the flight operator and we are unable to offer any support with this. This may incur change fees or cancellation fees, it depends on the T+Cs of the flight operators themselves. As we acted as a booking agent for you, it is possible to liaise with the airline directly should there be any unexpected events and the airline is forced to cancel your flights. If there are any changes to your flight times or days, we will get notified and send this email directly to you in a reasonable time.
Merchant Fees:
Please be aware operators pass on credit card merchant fees so there is a non-refundable 1% surcharge for VISA and MASTERCARD card purchases.
Other:
Terms and Conditions (including the Cancellation Policy) are subject to change. The most recent versions can be found online on the relevant product pages.
All ticket/voucher reissues attract a $20 administration fee.
Transfers:
The Service Operator reserves the right to limit courtesy transfers to select local accommodations. Private residences or Airbnb properties may be asked to meet at the closest confirmed location. Failure to meet at the specified pick-up location may be treated as “No Show”, for which the Client Cancellation Policy applies. Not all tours offer transfers, please refer to the individual product to see if this is applicable to your tour.
Open Date Vouchers / Gift Certificate:
Shipping Costs are in addition to the ticket price and will be added at check-out. Shipping costs are non-refundable and do not makeup part of the ticket value.
E-Vouchers incur no shipping fees.
You have 5 years to use the value of the voucher. Seasonal Price Rises will apply if travelling out the current seasons pricing. Vouchers can be exchanged for free up to the full value of the voucher excluding credit card fees and charges.
Cancellations
Client Cancellations:
All cancellations forfeit 25% of the recommended retail price (RRP) - not the discounted/sale price. No shows or client cancellations made within 24 hours of departure forfeit 100% of the total ticket price.
Cairns Tours is required to notify the operator of any cancellations within the specified cancellation period. It is your responsibility to make sure you submit your cancellation request with adequate time, and during standard business hours (9am-5pm), to allow us to contact the tour provider.
Transfers between tours can be made at the suppliers discretion, however, it should be noted that supplier fees may apply. Tour transfers also incur a $20 administration fee.
It is compulsory that all cancellation requests are in writing and sent via email to admin@mr-travel.com. Cancellations attempted via online chat or phone will not be actioned.
Supplier Cancellations:
The Service Operator reserves the right to alter prices, alter itineraries, apply a fuel surcharge, cancel departures, arrange alternative transport and vary itineraries and services if necessary.
All departures and itineraries are subject to weather. Tours may be changed or cancelled for any reason at the discretion of the Service Operator. If the Service Operator has to cancel the trip or activity (prior to departure) and we cannot offer a suitable alternative, then a refund will be given minus a 20% administration fee and any associated card fees. We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance, especially during the wet season.
All add-on activities (including but not limited to scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, helmet diving, guided snorkel tours, banana boat rides and waterslides) are subject to availability and price changing, and may not be available during your tour without notice. Guests are not eligible for refunds on the grounds of non-operating extra activities.
In the unlikely event of your trip being cancelled or stood down, all guest communication is required to go through our Online Store via telephone or email. While there is a Travel Shop retail outlet located in Cairns, please be aware that they operate as a separate entity and are unable to access reservations made by the Cairns Tours/Mr Travel online department..
Refunds:
All refunds are in Australian Dollars and must be made to the card of payment. Cairns Tours/Mr Travel is not liable for exchange rate fluctuations or fees, or any other merchant/bank fees associated with domestic and/or international transactions.
Where a full refund is applicable, there is the option to transfer the whole cost of the tour to another tour or “Credit” to avoid the administration fee. A transfer fee of $20 will apply.
You will be emailed confirmation once the refund has been processed. Once the refund has been processed, it may still take time for the banks to clear the amount. Please allow 7-10 business days for the funds to clear into Australian accounts and up to 21 business days for international accounts.
Accountability/Misconduct:
All Service Operators have the right to provide client feedback and to cancel bookings based off of feedback from other Service Operators.
Please enjoy your travel experience in a kind and responsible manner.
Cairns Tours/Mr Travel will treat this as any normal client cancellation and therefore the cancellation fees stated in the Client Cancellation Policy will apply.
Information & Advice:
All information, advice or pricing provided by Cairns Tours and our affiliates, or through any of our team, is subject to change. Cairns Tours articles and products are provided online for general information purposes only and are intended as guides. Any advice interpreted from information on the website (including but not limited to financial, immigration, employment and tax information) is not specialist advice and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional instruction. Cairns Tours does not guarantee that any information provided is up-to-date or accurate. Please obtain professional advice before actioning any advice, including but not limited to tax, immigration, employment, travel restrictions and finances.
Thank you for booking with our East-Coast travel experts here at Cairn Tours / Mr Travel. If you would like any further advice, assistance in arranging accommodation, transfers or additional tours please get in touch.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Evolution depart from?
Check in starts from 7:15am at the Down Under Dive counter located inside the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns. The Evolution yacht is located at A Finger, Cairns Marlin Marina and departs at 8am sharp.
What reef sites do we visit on Evolution?
Evolution has access to 12 exclusive moorings at six different reef spots. We will visit two outer reef locations in the morning (Norman Reef or Saxon Reef), then travel to North Hastings Reef in the afternoon where they also conduct Helicopter Flights and the Semi-Submersible tour. The exact locations are chosen on the day based on the weather and tides!
Are there any restrictions for helicopter rides?
130kg per person weight restrictions apply for helicopter rides.
Can my dietary requirements be catered for?
Evolution provides a delicious Aussie BBQ lunch including prawns, fish, steak, vegetarian option, vegan option and tropical salads. They can cater to guests with vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free diets - but you must advise reservations of your special dietary requirement at least 48 hours prior to travel. You are also welcome to bring your own snacks for morning and afternoon tea if you have any concerns regarding the options provided.
Does Evolution visit an island or pontoon on the reef?
No, Evolution is a luxury catamaran with 3 stories that moors on the Outer Reef. But the vessel is so large, luxurious, and stable that it almost feels like a pontoon!
Is Evolution a disability-friendly vessel?
Evolution can accommodate guests with limited mobility, but it is advised to speak to staff when inquiring to ensure if the crew can meet your specific needs.