Passions of Paradise
Departure Times
Departure Point: Cairns - Reef Fleet Terminal, Marlin Marina
Pricing Options
Make the Great Barrier Reef a passion of yours with a Passions of Paradise day trip!
- See the beautiful underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef
- Opportunity to scuba dive and snorkel amongst colourful corals and fish
- Visit two exquisite Outer Reef locations
- Fast, high-performance catamaran with full amenities
- Exclusive mooring at Paradise Reef to enjoy plenty of time in the water
Overview
Passions of Paradise offers guests the chance to dive or snorkel on an amazing day trip to the Outer Great Barrier Reef! You'll get the opportunity to explore sprawling coral walls and see unique marine life at different reef locations. Sailing daily from Cairns the high-performance catamaran is the perfect vessel to enjoy the sun and sites, after a day filled with underwater adventure! Choose to dive, snorkel, or try both!
Highlights
- Fast, modern catamaran
- Visit the best reef destinations on the Great Barrier Reef
- Exclusive mooring at Paradise Reef to beat the crowds
- Free guided snorkel tour
- Dedicated snorkelling instructor
- Full buffet lunch prepared by Passions’ very own onboard Chef
- Highest-quality masks, snorkels, fins and scuba diving equipment
- Free floatation vests to aid non-swimmers
- Air-conditioned saloon
- Morning tea including freshly brewed tea, coffee and a fresh tropical fruit platter
- Afternoon tea with a cheese platter
- Onboard marine naturalist presentation on coral and marine life
- Staff trained in Advanced ECO Certification Standard
- Rates include National Park Levy
- Vessel maximum capacity 140, reduced to 90 guests for your comfort
- Eco Discovery add-on option for those interested in marine biology
Sample Itinerary
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Your itinerary on Passions of Paradise is action-packed! Here is a quick rundown of the day's activities:
- 7:00 - 7:50 - Check-in at Passions of Paradise desk, Reef Fleet Terminal
- 8:00 - Depart Cairns Marlin Marina for the first location
- 8:30 - Scuba Diving briefings for Introductory and Certified Divers Commence
- 9:30 - Snorkelling lesson for new and returning Snorkelers
- 10:00 - Arrival at the ...
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Reef Sites
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During your day tour, you can look forward to visiting two unique sites! You'll stop at two different locations based on the weather conditions, with your captain choosing from:
- Moore Reef
- Milln Reef
- Flynn Reef
- Thetford Reef
- Hastings Reef
- Norman Reef
- Breaking Patches
- Pretty Patches
Sea turtles are common and you are also likely to see giant trevally, small blacktip reef sharks, batfish and h...
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During your day tour, you can look forward to visiting two unique sites! You'll stop at two different locations based on the weather conditions, with your captain choosing from:
- Moore Reef
- Milln Reef
- Flynn Reef
- Thetford Reef
- Hastings Reef
- Norman Reef
- Breaking Patches
- Pretty Patches
Sea turtles are common and you are also likely to see giant trevally, small blacktip reef sharks, batfish and hundreds of species of colourful reef fish. Paradise Reef is an exclusive mooring just for Passions so there are no crowds as you snorkel or dive on the outer Great Barrier Reef. It is a hard coral reef featuring a ribbon of small reefs. With depths of up to 25 metres along the edge, water clarity is good and the area is host to many exciting fish species including Wally, our resident Maori Wrasse.
Addons
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The following are available to add on to your Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef tour. See the "What's Extra" section for prices!
- Introductory and certified scuba diving
- Underwater digital ca...
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Important Information
- Your 1st dive must be pre-booked at checkout. You must meet the medical requirements to scuba dive.
- The 90-minute Eco-Discovery Tour is an add-on and will incur an additional cost.
What To Bring
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses
- Towel
- Cash or card for any onboard purchases
- Dive certification (if applicable)
What's Included
- Snorkelling equipment including a wetsuit or stinger suit and prescription masks are also available upon request
- Free guided snorkel tour
- Tropical buffet style lunch of cold cuts, salads and fruit
- Morning/afternoon tea
- Complimentary tea, coffee and chilled water are available throughout the day
- Marine naturalist presentation on coral fish and life
- Hot showers
- All marine park taxes included
What's Extra
T-shirts, assorted quality beers, wine and soft drinks available for purchase
City transfers ($25pp) & Northern Beaches transfers ($45pp)
Optional extras are available on board*
- 1st intro scuba dive $90 (payable at checkout)
- 2nd intro scuba dive $60
- 1st certified scuba dive $75 (payable at checkout)
- 2nd certified scuba dive $55
- Underwater camera hire (options start from $60)
- Snacks and souvenirs priced individually on board
- Eco Discovery Tour $75 (payable at checkout)
*Prices are subject to change without notice
Please note your 1st dive must be pre-booked at checkout.
Cash and Credit are accepted on board.
All scuba diving is subject to the completion of a medical questionnaire on board. Some medical conditions and/or prescription medication may preclude you from diving. Please call us in advance to discuss any concerns you might have. Please click here for more diving information and to read the medical questionnaire.
Cancellations
No shows or client cancellations made within 24 hours of departure forfeit 100% of the total ticket price.
Group cancellation policy for 10 passengers or more:
- If cancellation occurs more than 14 days prior to arrival, a full refund applies.
- If cancellation occurs 7- 13 days prior, a 50% refund applies.
- If cancellation occurs 7 days or less of departure forfeit 100% of the total ticket price.
A refund in the event of cancellation is subject to both our Cancellation Policy and the terms of the supplier.
Terms and Conditions
Our Terms & Conditions apply to this experience. Please review them before booking.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the boat depart from and what time?
Check in starts from 7:00 am at the Passions of Paradise counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal at Cairns Marlin Marina, end of Spence Street. The boat is located at the end of Finger A Jetty and departs at 8:00 am.
When will it return?
You’ll arrive back into Cairns around 5pm give or take 10-15 minutes depending on if the weather is suitable for some genuine sailing on the way home.
Are transfers included?
Return transfers are available for an additional fee. Unfortunately transfers are not available from Port Douglas.
Can I scuba dive without prior experience?
Yes you can! If you are in general good health you can participate in an intro dive with a guided dive instructor. Please note you will need to complete a dive medical questionnaire onboard. Some conditions such as asthma, may prevent you from diving. Please check with your doctor if you have any concerns.
Will there be sharks or crocodiles?
If you’re lucky, you may see a little white or black tip reef shark cruising on by, but rest assured they are super shy and will swim away if you get near. Crocodiles prefer to hang around the murky waters of rivers, lakes and swamps. So the water is too clear for them out on the reef and is a long distance for them to swim from the mainland, making it extremely rare to see them out on the Great Barrier Reef.
Is snorkelling and scuba diving equipment included?
Yes! Everything is included. Masks, fins and stinger suits, as well as all dive equipment for scuba. Even dive computers are included for certified scuba divers!
Are special dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. Passions has an onboard chef who freshly prepares five different vegetarian salads, plus one of the two hot dishes is always vegetarian. Other special requests are sometimes possible with adequate notice prior to the day of your trip.
What if I can’t swim very well?
The crew on Passions are there to look out for you. They can supply you with a range of flotation devices to assist you while snorkelling. Some of the crew are also in the water with a flotation station if you need to rest.
Does the tour operate everyday?
Yes, the tour operates every day except for New Years Day. Finding passengers and crew at 8am first day of the new year is a bit hard!
What if I get seasick?
If you are prone to seasickness, it is advisable to take something before you board the boat. As Passions is a catamaran, the boat is a lot more stable than a monohull and the sails act as a stabiliser. Sea sickness tablets are available for purchase onboard, but please note that they are a preventative measure only, and will not help if you are already feeling nauseous.
Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9 / 5.0
Based on 30 reviews
