- Top Reef Sites
- Professional Marine Guides
- All Inclusive
- Max. 40 Guests
Introductory Scuba Diving - Great Barrier Reef
Indulge in the ultimate Great Barrier Reef day trip with a premium all-inclusive tour by Tusa Reef Tours from Cairns. Enjoy our Introductory Diving experience as part of your day and treat yourself to an unforgettable experience.
Discover the mesmerizing beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, as our seasoned and knowledgeable Instructors and marine guides accompany you on this extraordinary journey. Our Introductory dives are for those who are not certified and want to experience scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or a beginner, you can participate in the dive (subject to meeting health requirements).
Introductory Diving Experience
Our expert marine guides will provide comprehensive briefings, instruction, and surface training, ensuring a safe and unforgettable dive. Immerse yourself in the underwater world and descend to a maximum depth of 30 feet (10m), where you will encounter a plethora of vibrant marine life. Our diving expeditions visit two serene outer reef sites each day, handpicked from our private moorings based on prevailing conditions.
With top-of-the-line diving equipment and purpose-built dive vessel, equipped with spacious dive decks and easy access platform, guarantee a comfortable dive experience. In between dives, relax and enjoy snorkelling the reef, with snorkelling equipment included for all guests.
Relax on sun-kissed decks, enjoy air-conditioned indoor spaces, and tantalize your palate with delectable food and beverages prepared by our talented in-house chefs. Join us and discover a whole new world beneath the waves. You may even consider becoming a certified diver – learn more about our scuba diving courses here.
Please Note: Although Tusa Reef Tours will have a range of languages spoken by our Marine Guides, PADI requires that guests need to understand the introductory dive briefing in English.
Tusa Reef Tours trips are restricted exclusively to people aged 12 and over, ensuring an optimal experience for all our guests.
$460 all-inclusive
Per Person (AUD$)
Easy Cancellation
up to 48 hours before departure
Best Price Guarantee
Get the best price by booking direct with us
Gallery
Premium Inclusions
See what sets us apart from the other Cairns Day Trip tour providers.
Chef Prepared Meals
Savour fresh local cuisine prepared by our in-house chefs, with vegan options available
Waterproof Headsets
Learn while you snorkel with our exclusive waterproof headsets with reef commentary
Reef Discovery
Enhance your experience with digital reference guides and Citizen Science projects
Itinerary
7.30 am – Kick off your morning early with complimentary hotel transfers and check-in at C Finger, Cairns Marina.
8:00 am – Time to indulge in a delicious breakfast with invigorating local coffees served on board. After you’re fuelled up, we’ll set sail to the Outer Reef, during which you’ll be treated to captivating commentary and reef information, including dive locations, interactive maps and visuals, dive site briefings for Scuba Divers. Plus, learn about the history of GBR and its Indigenous importance, and get insider tips on what to look out for from our resident Marine Biologist.
9:30 am – Once we arrive at Outer Reef Site #1, the real adventure begins! Certified Scuba Divers can take two short 40-minute dives or one long 60-minute dive, unguided. Certified Divers can also take guided dives scheduled for two sessions of 40 minutes each. Those new to scuba diving can experience an introductory dive with a PADI Instructor, while others can take part in two guided snorkelling sessions. After towelling off, refuel with morning tea served on board. Then it’s time to jump back in the water for the second dive session for the day.
12.30 pm – Enjoy a delicious lunch in the main deck area, or take advantage of one of the many open deck areas and enjoy your meal al fresco. Check out our cuisine page for more info. While you dine, the captain will move the vessel to our second exclusive dive site.
1 pm – Dive back into the action when the dive deck opens for the third and final session.
2.30 pm – As the day winds down, it’s time to say goodbye to the beautiful Reef and head back to Cairns. Enjoy drinks and a cheese platter while getting more information about the fish and reef bios and access GBRMPA’s ‘Eye on the Reef’ app to contribute your sightings. Plus, don’t forget to jump in a group photo or two to commemorate your incredible day.
4.00 pm – Back to the Cairns Marina, and we commence complimentary hotel drop-offs.
Outer Reef Dive Sites
Best Price & Easy Cancellations
Book with confidence knowing you will always pay the best price booking direct and be free to cancel or amend your booking anytime.
FAQs
Yes! For our day trips, you’ll be travelling on the same vessel as all our other passengers – so if you or your travel partners are certified divers and others in your group are not, you’ll share your journey out on the reef together and complete your dives/snorkel experiences at the same sites.
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.
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 a certified 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.
No, we allow solo diving only under the following conditions:
– Self-Reliant Diver Certification
– Logbook with Solo dives logged
– Your own dive equipment including a Pony tank.
Intro divers will need to dive with a guide at all times.
What to bring
- Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Swimsuit and towel
- Your sense of adventure!
Safety & Medical Information
It is vital that all individuals engaging in introductory scuba diving are in good physical and mental health. Some medical conditions can pose a hazard during diving, and it is recommended that individuals with these conditions undergo evaluation by a physician. Visit our Can I Dive? page for more information.
Prices are shown in Australian dollars and includes all equipment and tuition.
Prices valid to 31st March 2025. Price is per person and inclusive of GST and all fees, including the GBRMPA environmental management charge (EMC) which contributes directly to the management of the Marine Park.
$460 all-inclusive
Per Person (AUD$)
Book with confidence
Easy cancellation up to 48 hrs before departure
Best Price Guarantee
Get the best price by booking direct with us