FAQs
Our helpful reservations team is happy to help with any questions you might have about our snorkelling and diving day trips, however, check these frequently asked questions first, as we may already have the answer you are looking for!
General FAQs
All our day trips visit the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The outer reefs are the sections furthest from the coast.
These reefs have fewer crowds and benefit from flowing nutrients distributed by the vast Coral Sea. Here, good climate conditions and clear water bring out the best in the coral colours and the incredibly diverse marine life.
With more than 17 sites to choose from, Tusa Reef Tours has the most choice of outer reef locations of all the local operators. On our half-day trips, we visit one site per day, based on weather and visibility conditions, to ensure you have the best possible dive or snorkel experience.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a huge range of marine life. During your day trip, you’re likely to see colourful corals and a variety of tropical and pelagic (ocean) fish – plus sharks, rays, turtles and more! Find out more about the reef here.
As long as you’re comfortable in the water, you should be able to snorkel or even do an intro dive. Before you enter the water you will fill out a form that includes information on your level of competence in the water and any medical conditions. Depending on your response, we may require that you use a flotation device while snorkelling.
Our friendly instructors will talk you through using all the equipment. If you’re unsure, feel free to contact us to discuss.
Some medical conditions can prevent you from scuba diving. Please read our Can I Dive? page carefully and contact us if you have any questions.
You will also be asked to fill out an assessment form before snorkelling. If you are assessed as an at-risk snorkeller, you may be required to wear a flotation device while snorkelling.
Absolutely, we can accommodate people who don’t wish to snorkel or do an intro dive. Our vessel has outdoor viewing decks and air-conditioned spaces indoors to relax and enjoy.
We have vegan/vegetarian options for our picnic lunch boxes, which can be pre-booked for your trip. If you have any dietary needs, please let us know when booking.
Our vessel is a large catamaran, which offers greater stability and a smoother ride than smaller vessels/monohull vessels.
If you are prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking advantage of the natural ginger tablets available onboard for no extra cost. We also have some Travacalm travel sickness tablets available for purchase on board.
Box jellyfish, also known as ‘stingers’, are pale blue, transparent jellyfish. They can measure up to 20 cm along each side of their cube-shaped bodies, and their tentacles can reach up to 3 metres long. Their sting can be very painful, and even fatal in some cases.
Box jellyfish live in the warmer coastal areas sheltered by the Great Barrier Reef, and are most numerous between November and May. We provide protective lycra suits during these months to protect all snorkellers and divers.
It is recommended (but not limited to) that you bring the following items on board:
- Personal items (phone, camera, dive certification if required)
- Swimwear
- Sunhat
- Quick-dry towel or chamois for the dive deck
Tusa Reef Tours can accommodate a maximum of 60 guests and operates with a minimum of 9 crew members.
The dress code recommended onboard is casual attire. For safety and comfort we encourage shoes not to be worn on board.
Smoking is not allowed inside the vessel or on the dive deck. However, there is a designated outdoor smoking area on the sundeck.
There is no minimum or maximum age on board Tusa Reef Tours; everyone is welcome! For guests over the age of 65, a current dive medical is requested for your own safety and for our duty of care.
All guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, including when diving or snorkelling. Our crew members are not able to provide supervision for a child while on board.
Your trip price includes everything except the picnic lunch box, which can be pre-purchased when booking, any light snacks, seasickness tablets, and any souvenirs purchased on board.
Intro Diving FAQs
Diving the Great Barrier Reef is great year-round! During Cairns’ winter (May to August) the water is a little cooler and offers great visibility and beautiful clear days, but sometimes can bring stronger winds.
From September through December the water warms up a little, and generally, conditions are clear with light winds. Many coral reef species breed at this time.
January through April is considered our wetter season, with amazing feeding and marine action following the breeding season.
We strongly recommend travel insurance to cover you if your snorkel or dive trip is cancelled due to illness, poor weather, travel delays, lost luggage and legal costs. Travel insurance may not cover diving accidents and/or treatment/evacuation. For that we recommend separate insurance – see our Dive Insurance page for more information.
All equipment is included in the trip cost. For an intro diver, this includes a regulator with a console computer, buoyancy control device (BCD), snorkel, mask, fins, wetsuit, emergency signalling devices, tank and weights/weight belt.
The maximum depth for an introductory dive is 12m (40 feet).
Some of the best dives on the Great Barrier Reef can be done in less than 15m of water, where stronger light can result in an even better view of the abundant marine life.
All intro divers are asked to complete a medical questionnaire on board. You don’t require a medical if you answer no to everything. If you answer yes to any questions, a further medical may be required. You will also be asked to fill out a general disclaimer, which differs from company to company. See our Can I Dive page for more information.
Regulations state that for a single, no decompression dive, you should not fly or go to altitude for at least 12 hours.
We recommend waiting at least 24 hours after diving before going to altitude or flying. These are guidelines only – there is no guarantee that following these recommendations will prevent decompression sickness. Currently there are no guidelines regarding diving after flying.
Altitude is defined as 300m/1000ft above sea level. Certain other tourist attractions around Cairns and Tropical North Queensland involve travelling to altitude. These include the Atherton Tablelands and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, so we recommend a gap between booking these experiences and any dive trip.
