Reef Site Interpretation Archives

Google Rating

4.9

Based on 1533 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours

4.9

Russell G.

10:01 12 Sep 26

Great day out with the crew at Ocean Freedom. Highly recommend the experience. We had a choppy, wet day though the team's safety briefings and protocols kept everyone happy and safely snorkeled complete with plenty of fish, corrals and even a few turtles!

Dipti T.

07:20 10 Sep 26

I honestly can’t thank Paul enough for helping me overcome my fear. I had tried scuba diving in the Gold Coast before, but I panicked and couldn’t do it. I really wanted to give it another try at the Great Barrier Reef, but unfortunately, I panicked again and couldn’t stay stable in the water, even after trying three times.Then Paul stepped in and gave me one-on-one support. He was incredibly patient, calm and understanding. He never made me feel pressured or embarrassed. Instead, he kept reassuring me, helped me control my breathing, and stayed with me until I felt comfortable enough to try again.Because of Paul, I finally managed to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef — something I honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to do. I’m so happy and proud that I didn’t give up.Paul is genuinely one of the best instructors I’ve ever come across. His patience, encouragement and calm nature made such a huge difference for me. I’ll always remember that he was the person who helped me overcome my fear and make this experience possible. Thank you so much, Paul! ❤️

Kelly B.

02:05 10 Sep 26

Ocean Freedom to Great Barrier Reef is an awesome adventure!The team is friendly and knowledgeable. Everyone genuinely loves what they do and wants all guests to have the best possible experience.Food and safety instructions before heading out to the first of two reef snorkel/swim/dive locations. All equipment provided. Bring reef safe sunscreen, and aloe vera for after.Complete hands-on assistance in the water for anyone who is uncomfortable or inexperienced. Lunch provided, snacks and drinks available. Medication for purchase if you have sea sickness concerns.Beautiful interaction with colourful corals, large and small. Turtles, stingrays, many kinds of fish can be seen in clear, blue water.What a memorable, life-changing experience! I highly recommend this tour!

Jorge P.

22:00 08 Sep 26

ADVERTENCIA. escribí mucho.RESUMEN. esta empresa superó por mucho las expectativas y entrega una experiencia por material, alimentos y sobretodo personal que trabaja a la perfección.Si tenían buenas calificaciones, todo es poco para describir la experiencia que han creado.Amables. No invasivos. Atentos. Todo el tiempo buscando que tengas el soporte que necesitas para la experiencia de snorkel. Éramos 40 y fuimos atendidos como en un tour privado.El barco impecable.Los baños casi un quirófano.El equipo de snorkel en perfecto estado.Hasta tenían máscaras con corrección pasta los que usamos anteojos para ver de lejos. Primera vez que me dan de estos!La comida tal como la describen y aún mejor. Hubo Salmón, langostinos, pollo, fiambres, quesos, pastelería galletitas. De todo! Y de muy buena calidad.Las bebidas. Café y té siempre disponible cuando el barco está parado. En navegación por seguridad no se permite.Música sin molestar. Libertad de hacer y estar donde uno quiere. Después de muchos viajes esta fue sin dudas la mejor experiencia.El reef es todo lo que uno se imagina o más!La reseña no es para contarles sobre lo que ya sabemos del reef, es para reconocer lo bien que nos hemos sentido en esta salida.Único cambio sugerido. Como viajero muy frecuente sigo reglas de seguridad innegociables: no comidas crudas (menos pescados y mariscos), agua solo embotellada y mejor con gas. El lujo del salmón y los langostinos que ofrecieron en la comida se agradece pero, en la opinión de quien escribe, si estuvieran cocidos (fríos pero cocidos) sería mejor.El agua estaba en un tanque. Lleve mi agua y había gaseosas para la venta. No fue un problema.Viajeros. Si deben elegir. Acá tienen una experiencia de clase mundial.

N M

09:56 08 Sep 26

We booked to be on a small tour with a different company but (unfortunately?) their boat engine didn’t start and we were offered to join this company’s tour.At first we were disappointed because we were hoping to be with a small group but that quickly faded. It was still about 40 of us and we were told the capacity of the boat was 80 so it was certainly not crowded.However the best part was the crew. All crew went above and beyond, we felt so well looked after!Everybody seemed very knowledgeable about the reef, we loved absolutely everything. The crew, the food, everything was very well communicated and we always knew exactly what was happening. I was honestly considering repeating the tour.Definitely one of the highlights of my life! And I have seen a lot of beautiful places around the world having travelled to almost 60 countries. But I never met such a wonderful crew!!

Søren B.

23:06 07 Sep 26

"We recommend this environmental experience with Ocean Freedom highly. Even if you were looking hard for something wrong with Cruise Ocean Freedom, you wouldn’t find any. Everybody was taken care of with keen eyes and interest, always with attention on everyone’s individual level. Very reassuring and relaxing. The staff’s vibe with each other and the guests was confident, funny, non-pretentious, and down-to-earth. From arriving to the cruise terminal, on the boat which was really nice, to diving and snorkeling at the reef, everything was top shelf. Even the food and snacks were better than you could reasonably expect on an expedition like this."

patricia O.

07:56 07 Sep 26

What an incredible experience. From booking in to the smooth sailing not to mention the great snacks and lunch. We had the best time.A special shout out has to go to the entire crew who made us feel so special. We have done snorkelling around the world and every piece of equipment provided was the best we have ever had. The safety briefings were 1st class 👌 we would like to give a special mention to Luke who took us on the glass bottom boat. He was so interesting and his knowledge and passion for the reef was incredible.Thanks for a great experience.

Matthew Y.

00:55 07 Sep 26

Couldn’t recommend the Ocean Freedom team enough. They’re one of the few remaining locally owned and operated dive operations in Cairns. The team was super friendly and personable. Dive Instructor (shout out Paul) was awesome. Great for any level of diver. If you’re looking to do any sort of day trip diving / snorkeling, I suggest you book through Ocean Freedom.

Kelly

08:13 05 Sep 26

We had THE BEST time! If you are looking for a company to book with, choose this one. We have tried others and I promise this was the most enjoyable, personalized, and non-chaotic experience we had.

Megan O.

20:57 04 Sep 26

We had such a great day with Ocean Free. The small group size made the whole experience feel really relaxed and personal, and the crew were absolutely fantastic; friendly, helpful and really knowledgeable.The reef was amazing and the day never felt rushed or overly organised. It was just a really enjoyable, memorable day from start to finish.Would definitely recommend Ocean Free if you want to see the reef without being on a huge, crowded boat. One of the highlights of our trip to Cairns.

Diego C.

11:10 04 Sep 26

Wow, what a great time we had with Oceam Freedom! I want to start thanking the entire crew for hosting such a great day at the Great Barrier Reef! Thank you to Luke, Tori, Jean Luke, Mia, and everyone else for being so welcoming and kind!The entire team has 3 key characteristics that I want to highly: they put safety first, they have a family mindset, and they are very organized.They did an excellent job getting us to the Great Barrier Reef safely. They break down in different groups and every group has a Guide that shows you and explains to you every fish or sea animal that you see on the reef. We saw sea turtles, clams, many different fish, including Nemo!! The glass boat was very fun to do as well! Shoutout to Luke for all the explanation about the reef!The entire trip was very organized, from start to finish! They provided breakfast & coffee great lunch, and pre arrival snacks & dessert. It was really good and fresh food! The team is always working very hard to make sure that everything goes as planned, and they are very organized.They provided everything that we needed for snorkeling & scuba diving. I couldn’t scuba dive because I had a cold and sinus congestion, but my wife did and she had a wonderful time with Tori! She was so nice and took care of her in the water! My wife loved the experience and now will continue to scuba dive in the future!They treat each other with respect and treat the customer like family! I struggle with sea sickness and the team took care of me that day and helped me to feel good. Thank you all, I really appreciate it!The process of checking in and boarding was very smooth. The boat is very comfortable and has enough storage space for your items. The other aspect I liked of the trip is that we were the only group in the reef. It was exclusive to us. There was no other boats around us.I would travel with Ocean Freedom again, and I recommend it to everyone visiting Cairns! They are the best company in town and it makes sense why they have 5 stars rating! We had an amazing time! Unforgettable experience in our life!! Thank you!!

Jule P.

06:08 31 Aug 26

I did a one day tour to the reef doing snorkeling and two dives and it was absolutely amazing! 🤩The experience started with the incredible Ellie who we were in touch with to book the tour. She responded so quickly and was so organized and kind. The tour day went seemingly smooth from Check in to arriving back at the pier. The entire crew was so welcoming and amazing. Tori did an amusing briefing on the boat and Storm was our dive master guiding us through the reef. 🪸I really enjoyed that it was a smaller boat and a smaller group really enhancing the experience. 🫶🏼

David D.

21:02 27 Aug 26

The Ocean Freedom day on the Reef was one of the coolest things i have done.We had great weather and the guides were super helping nervous people like myself.They basically make sure you relax and enjoy the experience. What a day.Thanks Guys

Asita A.

06:18 27 Aug 26

The Crew was the most attentive, kind and caring I ever had on a boat trip in cairns (and I tried many of them).The whole vibe was H20 like and I felt like in a Movie. Dive preparation by Tori was very nicely explained and she made sure, that we are all well preped for our cert dive. Storm was such a cool and Patient dive instructor! We felt safe and had so much fun in the water exploring with him! Thanks to Ellie for arranging the booking so spontaneosly and make it happen!At this Point shoutout to the Crew, where every single person on the boat made our Trip the best I ever had! ❤️

Ojesh J.

12:03 26 Aug 26

One of the best experiences of our lives! Ocean Freedom Cruise delivered an unforgettable day out on the reef.Paul was an amazing snorkeling instructor - great instructions and took fantastic care of our friend in the water during scuba diving.To our scuba diving instructor Mia: an extra special thank you! My partner and I are beginner swimmers, but Mia looked after us with extra care and made us feel so safe in her arms. She led us all the way through the gorgeous underwater landscapes of Upolu Cay Reef and the outer edge. Thank you Mia 🙏, for showing us a completely different world out there - seeing the corals and rare species so close was breathtaking.Thank you both for being so kind and attentive. This is a memory we will treasure forever!

Ai P

04:42 26 Aug 26

Fantástica experiencia haciendo este tour. El persona es encantador, la comida deliciosa y que decir de ver tortugas, corales y miles de peces de distintos colores y tamaños.

Liv

08:13 25 Aug 26

Amazing experience with the Ocean Freedom tour! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and there is a lot of time at the reef. There's plenty of food on the boat and you can also purchase snacks and drinks if you'd like. At the end they also fed the fish (they have the license to do so) and it was a nice treat to see at the end. Highly recommend!

Chris M.

03:37 25 Aug 26

We took the Ocean Free sailboat tour out to Green Island yesterday, August 24, and it was another brilliant day on the water. The classic schooner setting makes for a much more relaxed, personal experience compared to the larger ferry runs out of Cairns.The standout of the trip was our dive guide, Tori.Tori is exceptionally knowledgeable across all aspects of scuba diving. Having an actual dive instructor step into the role of dive guide made a world of difference—her focus on technique, safety, and background knowledge put everyone at ease immediately. We felt incredibly lucky to have her leading our group, and her expertise made the underwater tour both seamless and fascinating.Highlights:Vessel & Vibe: Intimate, unhurried sailing atmosphere with a attentive crew.Guide (Tori): Professional, deeply experienced, and an ideal instructor-level guide.Location: Great combination of reef diving and time to explore Green Island itself.If you're looking for a personal, highly skilled dive experience out on the reef, Ocean Free and Tori deliver across the board.

Caroline T.

23:35 24 Aug 26

Staff were fantastic and so accommodating. They were also very knowledgeable and fun. "Gary" the friendly Giant Trevally was definitely a highlight for the kids (and adults)!

ANGELA F.

07:18 24 Aug 26

Had an amazing day made all the more special by Mike, Luke and all the team. Bonus seeing so many whales which was a little pleasant surprise. The Crew and Mike are what made our day so so special, their hospitality was exceptional, they looked after everyone, nothing was too much for them and if it was they didn’t show it. Glass bottom boat with Luke and his knowledge of the Reef and fish was great. Guided Tour on the Reef by crew members was brilliant. They made every part of the day special and personal. Food, have to say was pleasantly surprised was great, lovely selection. The cheese, crackers and cake was a nice touch on the way back to shore. Well done to All the Crew, you are an exceptional bunch and made our experience of a lifetime so so Special.

Rik de G.

08:28 20 Aug 26

We hebben een fantastische dag gehad met Cairns Premier op het Great Barrier Reef. Voor het eerst gedoken. Super goede uitleg en begeleiding. Marie en Jean Luc waren top. Verzorging is perfect, je komt niks tekort.

Tara I

12:55 19 Aug 26

My friend and I went on the Ocean Freedom tour to Upolu Cay & Reef on 26/07/26 and were not disappointed!!! The day started dreary and drizzly but by the afternoon, it was beautifully sunny! The ENTIRE crew on board that day need an absolute pat on the back and management should know that their team is an absolute asset and should be acknowledged as such! They were bubbly, entertaining, knowledgeable and bloody passionate! They really made the tour top quality! For something different, we opted into the diving introductory! Ollie was our instructor for this and as someone who does a fair bit of meditation and breathing exercises, nothing could have prepared me for what the diving would be like. I thought I might have had to back out of it, but Ollie was so bloody patient with me and encouraging so after a few extra minutes we were underwater! Super grateful to Ollie for helping me through that because it was such an awesome experience in the end!To the crew on board that day, if you read this - Thank you! You guys should be proud of the effort you all put into making the day amazing, engaging and something that was really hard to not think about when we went back to reality (I mean work) the next day! You're freakin superstars! 🤩🥰🙏✨️(📷 Little snap of just how truly stunning the day ended up)Can't recommend this tour enough! And bonus points because we love to support family businesses!

Birger F.

03:06 19 Aug 26

The tour overall was a great experience for our family. Our youngest got seasick, and the team took tremendous care of her. The food offered was delicious, and the sites themselves were sufficient. While snorkeling, we were able to see many different types of fish and turtles. The only thing that surprised us was the lack of color in the corals — we had expected more vibrant colors.

S C

04:27 17 Aug 26

We had an excellent experience with Ocean Freedom. We did a scuba dive, snorkeling, and the glass bottom boat. The food was great. My partner was quite nervous about diving, however I have to give Mia the highest praise - she was so patient and settled her nerves so that my partner was able to dive and see so much. We were so grateful to Mia for how she handled it and for her guidance and warmth, a credit to the diving community!

Bernd F

09:17 15 Aug 26

Der Schnorchel-/Tauchausflug auf der Ocean Freedom war wirklich toll. Die Gruppengröße mit ca. 60 Leuten war voll in Ordnung, man wurde super verpflegt vom jungen aber kompetenten Team und die Spots waren gut gewählt. Es schienen exklusive Spots von Ocean Freedom zu sein, weshalb man nie etwas mit anderen Gruppen zu tun hatte. Auf der Rückfahrt haben wir Wale gesehen, wofür auch noch ein extra Zwischenstop eingelegt wurde.Die Tour können wir auch mit etwas kleineren Kindern sehr empfehlen!

kyle M.

10:42 14 Aug 26

My family and I had the best experience onboard the “Ocean Free” this week. The crew were extremely attentive and lovely. They explained everything in depth and presented so much knowledge and passion for the Great Barrier Reef. The food was also a massive highlight, they put on a great spread!A special shout out to Mia, who made the trip all the more special for us. My mum is struggling with mobility due to her cancer, and we were worried that she might not get to have the same experience as us. Mia assured us that this wouldn’t be an issue and even towed her around the reef on a life ring so that she wouldn’t miss out. This is only one shining example of the patience and kindness shown by the whole crew over the day.I couldn’t not recommend this company and their services any more highly. If you’re on the fence for what tour service to choose, this is your sign to go with the crew at Ocean Free(dom).

Moses-Gereon W.

09:05 13 Aug 26

Wir hatten eine tolle Ausfahrt mit Ocean Freedom aufs Riff! Das erste Mal schnorcheln mit John Luca, Paul und Storm.Einweisungen und Führungen waren super!Ein sogar deutscher Guide hat mich super ins tauchen eingewiesen. Tour anschließend mit Paul der bei einem 1:1 Tauchgang ideal auf mich eingegangen ist und viele spannende Dinge gezeigt hat.Danke auch an unseren Skipper und Guide aus dem Glasboden-Boot!!An Board gab es immer Getränke und Snacks/Essen. Später cracker, Käse und Kuchen. Alles sehr lecker.Die Musik auf dem Boot war super!Komme gerne noch einmal mit😊

Carlos C.

10:54 11 Aug 26

Fantastic experience for the whole family. The snorkelling experience was fantastic , particularly for my child. My child was looked after by a diver the whole time, not only safe but the diver (Anna) also spend a lot of time showing and explaining everything about the reef. My child had a once in a lifetime experience. The whole crew was amazing friendly and knowledgeable. Also, Sunscreen, food and all equipment provided.

Darlene E.

22:53 08 Aug 26

I am so happy I chose Ocean Free for my first Outer Reef tour! It was an incredibly fun and personalized experience with fewer than 15 people on the boat, which made it feel relaxed and uncrowded. I also did my first intro scuba dive, and the crew made me feel completely safe and at ease from start to finish. The staff were absolutely next level—friendly, knowledgeable, encouraging, and genuinely passionate about making sure everyone had an amazing day. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the Great Barrier Reef. Highly recommend!

Richard K

06:43 08 Aug 26

Fantastic experience with this fun, safe and service-oriented crew from a family-owned business. Highly recommended!

Lawrence I.

20:50 07 Aug 26

The crew was amazing. Our family had an amazing day!

13:30 07 Aug 26

Ive gone snorkelling before, with a different operator but this time after reading through reviews and recommendations, I decided to go with Ocean Freedom on the 30th July and it was a fantastic experience !First, I would like to emphasise that marine life & weather are things the crew cant control. However, the link to the meteorological/coastal report for the area is very helpfully included in their website which made it helpful for me to decide if it would be a good day to go snorkelling. Besides being a little windy, being the dry season & all, the visibility underwater was great and there were tons of marine life ( including rays, sharks, sea turtles ) and we were blessed with beautiful clear blue skies and sunny weather which made this experience so much more magical.The reef ( Upolu reef ) that we were brought out to was really beautiful and private, there weren't many other boats/people out there, and the best part was that there were only 33 people onboard that day, which made for an incredibly personalised experience ! The crew were so energetic and knowledgeable & made the whole day so fun. They were even sharp eyed enough to spot a whale from afar while we were en route to Upolu Reef & stopped the boat to point it out to us !What i appreciate most was the guided snorkel tours. We were split up into 3/2 groups, and there was a member of the crew bringing us around ( we followed her, I believe her name was Mia (?) I do apologise if I got her name wrong, I'm terribly bad with names ), she would dive into the water and point what/where we should be looking at and explain the various marine life we were looking at, which was really helpful rather than us cluelessly swimming around not sure what we were looking at. The instructors also prioritized the safety and wellbeing of everyone & consistently checked up on the wellbeing of all the participants before, during & after every activity ensuring everyone was okay and accounted for. It is clear safety is their number one priority !The crew were also what made this experience so amazing. They were not just knowledgeable about the marine aspect, but also were proactive in ensuring our comfort. Some of us sitting in the air-conditioned area of the boat were cold & shivering after snorkelling as the hatch leading to the fwd was open & wind was blowing in. Although the crew were extremely busy, having to clean our used equipment, man the food station, do the headcount, they noticed we were cold and kindly offered to close the hatch for us, which I really appreciate !While snorkelling at the second location I noticed that one of the divers & i think one of the diving instructors by the name of Tom ( again im sorry, im bad with names ) had surfaced because of an issue with said diver's goggles ( iirc water had entered his goggles ) . The diver was grabbing onto Tom's wrist but there was no judgement or laughing, instead Tom was patiently encouraging & assisting him, and assuring him he was doing a good job which was actually really nice to see !As someone who works in the service industry myself, I understand how much teamwork & effort it takes to make a day like this go so smoothly, and I can tell that it starts from not just the leaders, but from within. The crew all had amazing teamwork and it was felt by all of us onboard ! So once again a huge thank you to the staff for making this day such an unforgettable and amazing one for all of us 🤍🐢🌏✨️I learnt so much more about the GBR & the marine life that call it home & will definitely be back !

Tiffany C.

08:29 07 Aug 26

Excellent company! Feeling very fortunate we booked our Great Barrier Reef tour with Ocean Freedom. We have done boat tours all over the world and this was one of the very best. Even the humpback whales said hi. It had something for everyone. Want to scuba dive— check. Snorkel- check. Don’t want to get wet or have small children and would like to see the reef- check. They have a glass bottom boat that they will take you out on the reef Feeling a little surly because you are traveling with people that vacation very differently than you? Their idea is adventure travel and yours is relaxing at a bar and eating amazing food. Also check. They serve an incredible breakfast and lunch buffet. And fruit and cheese platters with cake! All included in your tour price and you can purchase your drinks after 11:30. 😀 With breath taking views.The staff is friendly, hard working and knowledgeable. And more concerned about safety than any other tour I’ve experienced. I didn’t have a “buddy” to snorkel with so I was put in a group with Jean Luke. He was delightful and informative. And found clown fish for us to see. The guides go out with you and if you are not comfortable snorkeling have a ring you can hang onto.At the end they informed us they were a family owned company. And it shows. The excursion felt more like a day out at the Great Barrier Reef with your friends in an amazing boat than a tour. Well done. Thanks for the incredible memories.

Max H.

07:56 07 Aug 26

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐We had an amazing experience with our whole family! Both the introductory scuba dive and the snorkeling trip were absolutely incredible. The dive sites were beautiful and full of marine life.The instructors and the entire crew were exceptionally friendly, professional, and welcoming. We felt safe at all times, especially during the scuba dive, where each instructor only took care of two guests. The atmosphere on the boat was fantastic, and everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. We would definitely come back and can highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting the area. A well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars!

Chiara A.

11:54 03 Aug 26

Amazing excepirence with a very professional crew!!

Louise H.

03:20 29 Jul 26

We went out yesterday with these guys and had the most amazing day snorkling & scuba diving ( both of us were not sure we'd do the scuba bit) Ollie was the most patient instructor, and was in no rush to push us beyond our comfort zone, resulting in a fabulous experience. The rest of the team were so welcoming, happy & genuine in their interaction with the guests. Thank you Matt, Maddy, Storm, Reece & Paul.

Marco B

01:26 29 Jul 26

Einfach nur klasse was die Mannschaft da leistet. Eines der letzten Tourunternehmen in Familienbesitz. Und das merkt man. Die Crew geht super miteinander um und bietet ein besonderes Erlebnis. Besonderen Dank gilt Anna für da betreuen meiner Tochter. 10 von 5 Sternen

Jim P.

22:49 28 Jul 26

My wife and I did the snorkel trip on Ocean Freedom and had an incredible time. The weather was rough with rain and wind all day but it's winter and no one can control that. Despite the weather the crew did an amazing job taking care of everyone and making sure we made the most of our experience. I did an introductory scuba dive, my first time diving, and couldn't be more impressed with the experience. Paul, the instructor and guide, was patient with all the intro divers and did a great job making sure we were prepared and comfortable diving.Seeing the reef was a once in the lifetime experience for us and this trip was so incredibly worth it. Having more time out on the water compared to other companies was a big reason we went with Ocean Freedom and I'm glad we did!

Sharon J.

06:53 26 Jul 26

Absolutely a brilliant day.The staff were sensational, helpful and friendly.The snorkling activities were such a lot of fun, the staff knowledge about the fish, reef and general sea conditions exemplary.Food was fresh and delicious, plenty for everyone.I would recommend this cruise absolutely no complaints.A great day had by us.Thankyou again for providing such aa awesome experience.

Lauren J.

06:48 26 Jul 26

Just went on the full day reef tour and had the best day of our trip!We visited two reefs, saw more fish than one person can imagine along with turtles, a shark and stingray. Highly recommend this boat tour, and the staff make it extra enjoyable with their enthusiasm, knowledge and kindness throughout the entire day! The time went by so fast we couldn't believe it.Will be recommending this tour to all our family who visit cairns.

Sebastian R.

03:11 26 Jul 26

The only downside was that reef-safe sunscreen wasn't offered. Instead, only a basic sunscreen from Woolworths was available, which not only provides poor protection but can also be harmful to the reef.Other than that, the trip was wonderful. One thing I really appreciated was having plenty of time for both scuba diving and snorkeling. If you really enjoy being in the water, you'll love it—I spent around three hours in the water in total trip (I paid for the second dive, and it was absolutely worth it).The crew was fantastic. They explained everything clearly, regularly checked on everyone to make sure no one was getting seasick, and were always attentive. I found them to be friendly, trustworthy, and highly professional.I would definitely do this tour with Ocean Freedom again.

Emma R.

07:41 25 Jul 26

We had the best day on Ocean Freedom! Thank you so much to the whole crew for being so kind and helpful. The food was fantastic and boat was lovely. 4 of our group scuba dived for the first time and Tom, Ollie and Hugo were so helpful and reassuring when teaching us. Would 100% recommend

Kerryn L.

10:16 24 Jul 26

We had the most amazing day with Ocean Freedom! My daughter did an introductory dive, and she absolutely loved it. The crew were so patient, encouraging, and professional throughout our trip.  On the way out to the reef, we were lucky to see the juvenile humpback whales breaching, which was an unexpected bonus.  We swam with turtles, saw so many beautiful tropical fish, a stingray, and even got to watch two octopuses mating! What really made the day special, though, was the crew. Every single staff member was so friendly, helpful, and clearly passionate about what they do.A huge thank you to Mia and Ollie for making our day so memorable. You were all fantastic!  If you're thinking about visiting the Great Barrier Reef, I can't recommend Ocean Freedom highly enough!

Riya R.

08:01 24 Jul 26

The best in Cairns. Best Crew, best service and very helpful. Even though I don’t know how to swim, Marie was there every single time. I did Snorkelling and Scuba Diving. She made sure that me and my friends were comfortable in the water, and held me the whole time. I was able to do it because of her. Ollie was also a great sport. Thank you Marie and Ollie for making this one of the best experiences of my life. Kudos 🫶🏻

Adam F.

06:42 22 Jul 26

Just finished our snorkelling tour today and it was amazing! Would highly recommend to swimmers of all levels! My partner is not a very experienced swimmer and all of the crew were very accomodating throughout! They guided her the whole time at both locations on a donut and ensured that we saw all that there was to see at each reef. All of the crew were very knowledgeable and approachable and it was also a plus that we were able to see multiple turtles!

Simon B.

23:50 20 Jul 26

Awsome experience, guy on the boat nade our day memorable. Also food on board was nice and the vibe with music on the way back was great. RECOMMEND!

John

01:26 20 Jul 26

Want to say huge thank you to Hugo (from France) our diving guide for taking care of us and literally pulling us during our dive to show us the Great Barrier Reef up close. Coming from New York, it was our first time is Australia and first time scuba diving, and because of Hugo, we were very comfortable and felt safe in the water. Also, big thank you to Tom and his company for taking care of literally everything for us, including teaching us some techniques on our second dive. We would do this activity again, and would recommend it to anyone interested. Cheers. -Olivia and John

Meghan P.

08:57 19 Jul 26

Really great experience!! All the staff were super accommodating and friendly and made the tour as enjoyable as possible. A few of us were less experienced swimmers, so the staff stayed with us while we were snorkelling and showed us the best spots.Also got to go on a glass bottom boat tour twice and learn about the reef.And lunch was fantastic; prawns, smoked salmon, etc.Honestly cannot rate these guys highly enough 💫💫💫💫💫

Priyanka

12:27 17 Jul 26

Absolutely Incredible and Perfect for Non-Swimmers!From start to finish, the entire day was fantastic - the boat, the crew, the experiences, and the service were all brilliant.What really stood out was how welcoming and beginner-friendly they were.As a non-swimmer, we were initially very nervous about getting into the water. However, the dive crew was exceptionally patient, reassuring, and attentive. They took the time to explain everything clearly and provided much support, making us feel completely safe and comfortable the entire time. They guided us step-by-step through the basics, allowing us to experience the underwater world with zero stress.If you are a beginner or a non-swimmer looking for a safe, fun, and magical diving experience, this is the crew to book with.Thank you so much team for giving us an amazing experience to cherish forever 💙

Charmaine W.

21:27 15 Jul 26

Fantastic tour. The staff could not have done more to meet everyone’s needs and expectations and were so helpful.Snorkelling tour guides (Paul and Ollie) were exceptional !

Sonima K.

09:03 14 Jul 26

Thank you, Ocean Freedom crew, for providing us with such an incredible snorkeling experience. From start to finish, the service was exceptional. The breakfast and lunch provided were delicious, and every team member was friendly, professional, and incredibly supportive. Their care and enthusiasm made the whole experience even more enjoyable.A special thank you to Luke for going above and beyond to make our trip so memorable. Your kindness, support, and positive attitude truly made a difference.Thank you all for creating such unforgettable memories—we highly recommend Ocean Freedom!

Stuart D.

06:39 13 Jul 26

Fantastic full day cruise today. Staff were absolutely amazing, so knowledgeable and helpful. We saw a whale and the reef was brimming with a huge variety of fish and coral. We even saw a number of green sea turtles. Our teens stayed off their phones the entire trip unless they were taking photos which is amazing!. Food was delicious and plentiful throughout the day. Thank you! From Merryn, Stuart.

Dan P.

23:05 12 Jul 26

Brilliant day out! Staff were friendly, professional, informative, hard working and great fun. We felt well looked after. Plenty of food, snacks and a tasty lunch. Beautiful dive/snorkeling locations and a spacious, comfortable boat. Highly recommend!

Michael L.

01:48 12 Jul 26

The whole day was fantastic the staff were genuine and friendly not the fake canned niceties that you get at other tourist setups and you can have a reasonably priced beer on the way home. Wish I could give 6 stars

Stephanie C.

23:06 10 Jul 26

THE BEST boat in Cairns! The crew was absolutely top notch- helpful, fun, informative. The service, food, snorkeling were amazing- boat is just the right size.It may be a little more than some boats but it’s absolutely worth the extra money. We did another boat the day before and it was worlds apart in experience.The other patrons on the boat were also polite and had great etiquette. I share this because The customers on the larger boat we did the day before with the water slides etc also attracted tourists who weren’t really there to appreciate the reef.

Penny C.

02:10 09 Jul 26

工作人員每位都細心體貼詢問你的感受，如評價所說，絕對值得5星。非常推薦！

Prashant B.

23:53 06 Jul 26

Reallly amazing crew. Loved every bit of it. One of the best experiences so far.

Aashish B.

14:57 06 Jul 26

If you miss this you will miss the best experience in scuba diving. Absolutely entertaining crew amazing hospitality and unlimited fun throughout the trip best thing i did in Cairns.

Pablo

09:50 06 Jul 26

Hemos ido a bucear al arrecife y todo de 10. La atención del personal, la embarcación y nuestra guia Tee que estuvo todo momento sobresaliente. Así que totalmente recomendables.

Kym H.

06:29 06 Jul 26

We loved our reef adventure with Ocean Freedom. The staff were amazing and so accommodating, loads of food from pastries and fruit when you board to cheese and crackers and cake at the end of the day.

Eric

05:45 05 Jul 26

We had a great time out on the reef, great company and service on board.

Aspen H.

07:30 04 Jul 26

So amazing!! Spent so much time snorkeling, seeing the Great Barrier Reef has been a dream of mine forever. Boat is crewed by amazing people. Felt a bit seasick on the way in- crept up such that I didn't have time to towel off before running to the rail. Crew member noticed my shivering and brought me a splash jacket ❤️ a true queen 👑 can't speak highly enough of the experience

Mark G.

12:36 03 Jul 26

Had an incredible trip on Ocean Free out to Green Island. Everything about it was excellent, the boat, food and equipment were perfect. The best thing was the crew, Ryan, Reece and Tom were so friendly, knowledgeable and patient. They are a credit to a very well run operation.

John E.

07:01 03 Jul 26

Excellent day trip to the reef . Skipper Mat and crew were awesome. First class , friendly service with a good helping of reef knowledge passed on . Shout out to our guides Storm and Archie , thanks again👌🏻

Alexandra M.

09:06 02 Jul 26

Outstanding day out on Ocean Free. Combo of snorkelling, diving, Green Island stop and sailing home. The amazing crew made everything easy, kept us safe and very well fed, showed us some fantastic marine ecosystems. Highly recommend this boat for a first reef experience. Thanks Matt, Ti, Amber and Brosman.

Eric M.

07:46 02 Jul 26

From start to finish it was an amazing experience. All the staff are enthusiastic about their job, friendly, patient ( my youngest is normally not a brave one and he had the best time ).Morning intro dive location is stunning, mature healthy reef with a great variety in soft and hard coral, with all the fishy friends you would expect and many that were welcome surprises.After the dive had plenty of time to snorkel still, before a delicious lunch.Second dive just as breathtaking in a completely different way. Visiting the GBR has been a dream for 20+ years and I couldn't have asked for more.Thank you all for the amazing day.

Gideon

12:07 01 Jul 26

Mia is the best instructor I’ve seen

Liam K.

01:52 01 Jul 26

Snorkeling sites were excellent and the staff exceptional in their patience, knowledge and enthusiasm.Thanks for an amazing day out in the reef.

Pie 3.

01:32 01 Jul 26

It was an amazing experience thanks to an amazing crew. They knew what they were doing and provided amazing service including lunch, fruits, snacks and sweets. The crew members had good knowledge of the Marine life and gave interesting insight and facts.Thank you :)

Sanjoy B.

09:56 29 Jun 26

Awesome GBR experience. The Crew is super helpful and caring. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks provided- Good cold spread. Alcohol can be purchased. The main vessel is bit old, everything else a great one

Juzzy H.

06:08 25 Jun 26

On the Dive and Snorkeling trip on 24 Jun 26. Fantastic day from a fun and professional crew. The dives and snorkeling were both well led with plenty to see. Highly recommended.

Adrien

11:33 20 Jun 26

Had a great time with the crew! Went for one cert. dive and ended up doing two with our divemaster Anna. Great welcoming and really friendly crew. Good food buffet with breakfast, lunch, some and cheese afterwards!Would recommend :)

Mal W.

01:41 19 Jun 26

What an awesome day! The staff were helpful, knowledgeable and at times hilarious. The food was fab. The fish, coral, birds and turtles came to the party ... and not to mention Gary the giant Trevally... what a star!

Joshua N.

21:51 18 Jun 26

Great experience overall. Entire crew was extremely friendly. Archie and Mia were especially helpful and great diving instructors!

Marta R.

03:07 18 Jun 26

It was an amazing experience! The weather was a little bit rough, but who can control the weather. Overall, it was worth it. I'll keep this memory as a treasure 🧚🏻‍♀️The boat and the crew were incredible. I had a great moment! The diving 100% recommended.Just a little bit shocked about how small we are 🐛

Makenzie S.

01:32 17 Jun 26

We went out on the Ocean Free today and had the absolute best time! We can’t say enough wonderful things about the experience and the crew! The private snorkeling/diving spot off of Green Island allowed us to see fish, sharks, turtles and corals. It was amazing! We had a great time getting to know the others on the boat and would recommend this experience to everyone!

Nadja G.

10:39 16 Jun 26

Had the best experience today. All staff is really friendly and competent, the tour was amazing! It was my first time snorkeling and my first time in the ocean, everyone took so good care of me and I enjoyed A LOT! Would recommend to everyone ❤️ thank you guys!

Danny H.

06:12 12 Jun 26

10/10

Patrick A.

04:45 12 Jun 26

We went on the Ocean Freedom and did the morning Scuba in addition to snorkeling. We paid extra for a dedicated guide because there were 4 of us with various levels of experience. Paul was excellent and worth the extra dedicated service. Snorkeling and Scuba at the Great Barrier Reef was an epic once in a lifetime experience.

Carole D.

01:18 11 Jun 26

We had an absolutely fantastic day snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. The crew were friendly, professional and made everyone feel safe and welcome from the moment we boarded. I would highly recommend this cruise.

Udit V.

10:56 06 Jun 26

Had a surreal experience with our first ever and certainly not the last Snorkel and Scuba tour today. We took the 8 hoir cruise along with a glass bottom boat, snorkel and dive package. Let me start with the most important bit. We have no doubts that the crew is so so ocean driven and connected. The level of warmth, support and welcome only comes when you are so close to nature. We had the privilege of being under the Guidance of Marie, the dive instructor along with Tamara, Storm, Amber and Rayan the Skipper. From their support, training, motivation and attention to detail everything was just perfect. We are vegetarians and over and above their usual catering which seemed to have catered to all types of preferences already, they arranged for a vegetarian bowl for us. Wasn't even something we expected. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and even desserts were all timely, organised and delicious. And, you get an option to pre book A Dive along with snorkling or even let them know after you are on board that you'd like to go on one. They very kindly accommodate you. And you dont even need to be certified . They train you and hand hold you really well and safety is their top priority. Special thanks to Marie who encouraged my partner inspite of her fear and Panic around the dive and an even bigger thanks to her for making me fall in love with the dives and the world down there. Cherry on the cake is, they dont do any of these things for the sake of a job but they really do love what they do and so, you genuinely can connect with them.We were at there during not the easiest weather conditions with wind and currents both being high but they managed everything like pros. The return trip was basically an extra boost of adrenaline that would let you skip the jet boat ride :pDont just highly recommend them but hope to dive with them someday soon. <3-Devki and Udit.

Scott T

22:01 05 Jun 26

Family of 4 out for a day trip snorkeling the reef. The team could not have been more accommodating. Great service from start to finish.

Aurora C.

23:21 04 Jun 26

Such an incredible day out on the reef! Was honestly in awe - the spots we visited were perfect. Crew was incredible, skipper Maddie was a legend - couldn’t recommend more 🩵

Nick D.

08:37 04 Jun 26

Took this tour company for a day of snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef . I’m a horrible swimmer and first time snorkler. This was better than expected . One of the crew , Reese , was very patient and made sure I was able to go out into the water without trouble and see the coral . I highly recommend this tour company . It’s a class act .

Rachel S.

01:08 04 Jun 26

Loved this excursion. The staff were fun, knowledgeable about the marine life, and safety focused. The boat felt comfortable and not packed like on some others I’ve tried. Great options for all comfort levels - snorkeling, diving, and appreciated the glass bottom boat. At the end of swimming 2 locations, the team gave confident swimmers the option to be dropped by a smaller boat, then swim to the larger boat with a guide, which was fun.Lunch was great with shrimp, smoked salmon, chicken, and lots of sides. Crew kept passing around fruit and cookies on the ride back.

Orhan Ç.

06:26 03 Jun 26

It was great experience, all lovely and helpful crews:)Aa one suggestion food could be hot :)

Andrea R.

04:57 03 Jun 26

My family and I had the best day with ocean freedom. The staff are amazing, fun, kind and very smart. They made sure we got to see everything we wanted to see and had some really fun facts. They even made the safety briefing fun!!! Would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in snorkelling or diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Gaurav M.

02:47 03 Jun 26

Highly highly recommend Ocean Freedom as your chosen scuba diving instructors. They undertake their responsibility very seriously yet kindly. Ann, Mia, Amber, Mike and Archie deserve a special mention. My kids were very scared of scuba diving, and Mia patiently walked them through it. She helped them throughout with the dive ensuring a really really good experience for them, despite their anxieties. She was kind, patient and helpful.Ann and Amber also helped pacify my wife when she felt scared and ensured she completed her first snorkeling experience. We did the glass bottom tour, snorkeling and scuba diving. It gave us a great introduction to the flora and fauna at the reef.I was not able to do my pre booked dive experience due to a medical condition and they promptly refunded my cost of dive. Apart from being amazing instructors for the water activities, they went above and beyond in terms of service.We were served fresh fruit,danish, cheese crackers and cake and the heavy lunch. They were very accommodating of allergen requirements. Despite such a long day, they always wore smiles on their faces. Leaving at the end actually felt like saying goodbye to people we knew for a long time. Their warmth, their expertise and their patience made our journey to the Great Barrier reef so so memorable.We cannot thank them enough for their kindness. Highly recommend Ocean Freedom regardless of your group type or swimming knowledge. Be assured that you are in the best of the hands that are trained well and understand anxieties you might have if it's your first time.

Ellen J.

01:08 03 Jun 26

Really loved our boat trip with these guys, we felt very welcome. The crew has a love for the ocean that really shines through! We enjoyed the snorkeling and even saw sting rays and a turtle. Please go with these boat,you'll love it

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Facebook Rating

5.0

Based on 444 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours

5.0

Amanda Palanzo F.

00:35 25 Jun 26

My husband and I booked the sail trip to green island to snorkel/dive the GBR. We prefer smaller tour groups, so we were very pleased that there were only 8 guests! It was quite windy that day, which made for great sailing, but unfortunately, there was low visibility in the water. Nevertheless, we still got to see the beautiful coral, giant clams, anemones and colorful fish. The crew was very professional, friendly and engaging. They went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. We are very happy we chose Ocean Free over one of the larger tours. Highly recommend! Amanda & Eric - Scottsdale AZ, USA

Carole D.

19:34 10 Jun 26

Kerry C.

07:59 09 May 26

Went today and the whole day was wonderful from start to finish. The staff were so helpful and friendly especially to someone as novice as me, Anna was patient, supportive and an amazing guide, the atmosphere on the trip was great, met some lovely fellow travellers and the singing by the staff at the end was hilarious, would recommend this to anyone visiting the Great Barrier Reef.

Mary J S.

09:47 03 May 26

My husband and I did two intro dives with Ocean Freedom and can't say enough positives about them. The crew was absolutely phenomenal, one of the best dive boats we've been on. We're certified, but hadn't been diving in 5 years. We did 2 dives with Paul to refresh and he was great, patient, kind, and attentive. Captain Mike was solid and kept an eye on everyone in the water. Oliver and Anna made sure everything was in order and the other crew were great, too. Danishes, fruit, tea, and coffee in the morning, lunch was salads, prawns, lunch meat, and chicken and then an afternoon snack of fruit, cheese and crackers, and cake. Ample time to dive and also snorkel at 2 sites. About 50 on the boat today, max of 75. It did not feel crowded, and the crew focused on keeping everyone safe while having an amazing time.

Jolsna V.

09:29 28 Dec 25

Amazing support . Highly recommend ..

Anil H.

08:07 19 Dec 25

🥳A perfect day on the Great Barrier Reef with Ocean Freedom. Crystal water, vibrant coral, and endless smiles. 💙🤿
I have been scuba diving in many locations before but today was truly special. Of course, the Great Barrier Reef is always remarkable on its own, but what made this experience exceptional were the two fantastic dive instructors I had—Archie in the morning and Amber in the afternoon.
The entire crew was outstanding as well. With Ryan as the skipper and Storu, Reece, Marie, and Shea as part of the team, everything ran like clockwork. They made sure everyone on board was well taken care of, always with genuine warmth and a smile.
Thank you for an unforgettable day. I look forward to enjoying another wonderful experience with you on my next visit.
Dr. Anil Henry

Emma Dahl Thorsager M.

11:06 06 Dec 25

100% recommended! We had the best day out on the water. The crew was amazing - super fun and nice! We saw turtles and lots of beautiful fish! Very professional tour!

Becky K.

22:57 13 Nov 25

We had the most amazing trip with Ocean Freedom 13.11.25. All the crew were great, really friendly, helpful and made you feel very safe in the water. Snorkeling was fantastic, we were supplied with all equipment ( wetsuit, snorkel and flippers). Glass bottom boat was good and then we seen turtles and reef sharks. Food was great too. Would highly recommend as we have made memories for life. Thank you ocean freedom.

Robina W.

04:44 13 Nov 25

Wow! What an amazing crew and Captain Ben. Luke Archie Maddy Andros(sp?) Dan and so many more!! Every crew member was fabulous to work with. Had the best diving experience two days in a row and coming back for more. I see something new each time. Such a professional operation. I scuba dive but they also have a glass bottom boat and tons of snorkeling (their specialty) I highly recommend if you want a great experience exploring the Great Barrier Reef this is the team to choose. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you Ocean Freedom for an amazing experience!!!

Danuta K.

00:18 28 May 25

🌊
I had the absolute best experience on May 22nd with Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom! From start to finish, everything was flawless — the crew was beyond amazing, warm, professional, and full of energy. Their passion for the reef, the ocean, and for ensuring every guest has a magical time was clear in every interaction.

The snorkeling was incredible, the visibility was perfect, and we got up close with so much marine life. The crew made us feel safe, informed, and completely spoiled the entire day — the food was delicious, and the service was top-notch.

Huge shoutout to the entire crew — you made this the highlight of my trip. Thank you for the memories. Love Danuta and Slav

Lance S.

19:27 27 May 25

While the water wasn’t the best conditions, the crew was top notch and personable. Can’t wait to come back to Cairns and dive with them again!

Enobong Bassey E.

21:26 14 May 25

What a tour, did 1st dive. Well constructed experience, no stone left unturned by the genius who runs this. Music, food, fresh air, interest g company. What’s not to like.

Davina P.

04:31 13 Mar 25

Hands Down the best reef trip out of Cairns. Best crew, food, attention to detail. Small numbers, beautiful reef, walk in a tropical island early arvo, I literally cannot recommend this gorgeous sailing boat enough. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Karen H.

20:40 12 Jan 25

Thanks to the whole team for a truly memorable day, my first time snorkeling but the team gave me the confidence ( and the safety ring ) to experience the reef - thank you 😊

Fionnuala M.

04:42 27 Oct 24

What a trip! The hospitality was first class, the boat spotless and the food, well we were fed all day long.
I'm a decent enough swimmer but never go out of my depth and to have Mike and Molly guide me when snorkeling whilst keeping me safe and given me the confidence all day, I had the trip of a lifetime! The reef was spectacular, the teams knowledge and expertise was second to none. Never mind seeing so many fish, star fish and the turtle. Would recommend this trip with Ocean Freedom without hesitation. Thank you so much Mike and Molly.

Ariel Q.

07:48 27 Aug 24

We have a wonderful time in snorkling. Very nice service and the snorkling buddys were great also! They always check on you if you're ok during the boat ride. I will definitely recommend to friends and family that will visit Cairns, Australia! Captain Mike and the crews you're the best!

Rohan W.

09:00 23 Jun 24

yes, strongly recommended

went to Upolu reef with ocean freedom, 23/6/2024. only my 3rd time snorkeling and 1st time scuba diving. Very helpful and caring instructors. very well kept boat.

scuba dive was worth it, plenty of fish including Nemo you won't see snorkelling

Terry M.

21:33 16 May 23

We had the best day. The crew on board were fantastic. The spot they moored off Green Island was so close to the reef you could almost stand on it. Snorkeling and diving was brilliant. Lunch on board is very impressive. We met some lovely people from all over the world. Sailing back at under full sail with a lovely glass of wine was exhilarating and exciting. Thanks to all the staff and crew. You made the day for us so easy from booking to leaving. We didn’t want to leave.

Sue Bailey T.

08:03 04 Apr 23

We went on this reef cruise today and it was fantastic! The guides were incredible and the food was great- and there was loads of it! We went on a different snorkeling trip yesterday to Green Island and it was nothing compared to Ocean Freedom. The guides were in the water with us showing us all the fish and marine life. Definitely skip Green Island and go with Ocean Freedom!!!!

Elaine K.

12:18 16 Mar 23

What a perfect day! The crew was so pleasant and helpful, catering to our every need, even a glass bottom boat for those wanting a break from snorkeling. Good equipment, great food - and awesome to see all we saw while snorkeling!

Campbell M.

23:29 08 Feb 23

My wife, daughter and myself went out on Ocean Freedom on Wednesday 8 Feb 2023. A great day - the Captain and crew were unbelievably helpful and polite. Nothing was to much trouble. Once at the reef a guided glass bottom boat trip then onto with the snorkelling or SCUBA if you wanted. The food was high quality and heaps for everyone. When you thought it was over out came the cheese and biscuits followed by cake. I’ve been on a number of boat tours around the world and this is by far the best. It is highly recommend. Lastly a shout out to crewman Tom who was very patience with my wife and helped her snorkelling experience.

Dan B.

07:13 19 Dec 22

Perfect day out visiting two of the nearby reefs.
The crew are extremely warm, welcoming and a great laugh helping you be at ease wether if it’s your first time snorkelling/diving or somebody used to the ocean.
I did my first (and 2nd) ever scuba dive guided by these guys today and it couldn’t have been any better!
Will definitely go with these guys again next time I find myself in Cairns. Thank you!

Kgothatso M.

00:27 09 Oct 22

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Mark D.

06:34 05 Sep 22

Great crew and a great day out. More food than you could possibly ask for and great attention to detail.
Special shout out to Mike, Liam, Jazz and Jayden who really made the day special. A few people feeding the fish due to bad weather but the crew handled it beautifully.
Thanks all.

Amy W.

10:10 31 Aug 22

Great day had by our family of 5. Mike the Skipper was awesome and lead an amazing crew. Food was great and plentiful. Would definitely recommend this company to anyone. The only fault was the weather

Brad Warren S.

09:06 22 Jun 22

Awesome day was had ,great hosts and got to see all you could on the reef

Sarah D.

21:46 20 Jun 22

My partner and I went out diving for the day. He’d never dived and I hadn’t been for years. We were so well looked after and all the friendly, happy staff showed such patience!
Fantastic day out highly recommend this business ⭐️

Susan G.

21:54 31 May 22

I loved the whole experience, from the friendly lady in the booking office, who was the main reason we chose Ocean Freedom, to all the friendly helpful staff once we were on the cruise. I had a very memorable 67th birthday in a beautiful location ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Ocean Freedom!

Tony T.

07:59 27 May 22

The tour run by Ocean Free was absolutely fantastic and surpassed all expectation! The program itself ran very smoothly and was an excellent balance between guided activities and relaxing free time. The crew was also brilliant — so friendly, fun and helpful throughout the day. All in all, a very worthwhile experience that any visitor to Cairns should consider 👌

Dianne R.

00:31 18 May 22

Went on a fabulous day out with these guys yesterday! This was my husband’s dream since childhood and it exceeded his expectations totally! The crew were so friendly and informative. The food kept on coming all day and the snorkelling was magical. We will do this again and won’t go with anyone else but these!

Denise W.

20:55 15 May 22

This tour exceeded all our expectations. The crew were amazing. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on board and couldn't ask for a more beautiful memorable day. Thank you for making our day extra special

Eoin D.

09:38 13 May 22

Brilliant experience, really knowledgable crew! Highly recommend

Gitte Kock J.

00:47 07 May 22

Look at this photo from 18.2.2000 !!!!!!!. My boyfriend back then, now husband and I had an amazing trip on Ocean Free. Back again in 2017 with 2 kids and my dad. ❤️

Stuart H.

08:21 03 May 22

Wonderful day on the reef with a fantastic crew. Did an introductory scuba dive with my daughter and our instructor Jordan was fabulous. Great day out on the water saw lots of marine life including turtles and reef sharks.

Helen G.

07:44 18 Apr 22

Just returned from a full day tour of the coral reef .We had just the best time . Ben and his crew are so friendly and professional. From start to finish we were looked after so well . The team do everything to make your day fun and memorable but also safe . Lunch and afternoon treats were fab too . I would totally recommend them if you want to dive and snorkel in Cairns

Gordon K.

23:13 14 Apr 22

Excellent to go on staff were exceptional would do it again. Love the snorkeling, perfect spots taken to. Totally enjoyed the day

Kristie L.

08:55 06 Apr 22

We had an amazing day on board Ocean Freedom. The crew where very knowledgeable and friendly and the marine life was next level 🐠🐬🐢🤩
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kaylene G.

07:28 08 Mar 22

crew were amazing. fantastic day with food all day and everyone looked after in the water. so lucky to have found this local family business.

Jasmine T.

11:29 27 Jan 22

What a great value for money.
We took the family tour and were lucky to be going on a quite day.
First time diving for 2 of us was made comfortable by friendly staff.
Crew was so helpful in making sure snorkelling at 2 different spots was a memorable experience of the reef.We swam with turtles,saw reef shark and plenty of beautiful fishes in the reef.
Glassboat tour, Heaps of time in and on the water and food is served throughout the day.
Highly highly recommended.

Rosario M.

18:17 15 Jan 22

Personalised Service is only one of the many wonderful experiences we had at The Great Barrier Reef. The crew members were fantastic, giving out information were serious and funny 😆; food 🥘 is delectable 🤤 and the day was perfect . This is my second visit to the Reef and my experience this time is super; smaller groups are better than bigger ones.
My grandchildren had a time of their lives snorkelling and creating friendship.
Thumbs up 👍 to your team; you have done well! To little Millie, you are more than amazing to behold 😊; you have an enviable life at sea, an inspiration to other children on board. To Gorgeous Amanda and the rest of the group; thank you for getting out of your way to make Joshua and everyone happy by making that special trip just for him to get back to the water 💦 🚿 💧
Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom is highly recommended 😍

Cherrie Jane W.

02:54 14 Jan 22

Amazing experience and awesome crew! Better than the bigger tours. The two reefs we went to were amazing with lots of coral and wildlife. Highly recommend⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

Candice Delia W.

02:43 12 Jan 22

Awesome day out.
Reef amazing
Staff and boat/CAT are amazing
Food was also amazing

Highly recommend

Gemma T.

00:53 01 Dec 21

Amazing introductory diving experience yesterday! 🙌🏼👌🏼

Rebecca C.

20:56 16 Oct 21

We had an amazing day. The crew were always helpful and friendly we could not have asked anymore! If we are ever back in Cairns we will be sure to book with Ocean Freedom again.

Catherine D.

10:08 15 Oct 21

We were fortunate to go on both Ocean Free & Freedom and had amazingly beautiful days snorkelling in pristine conditions. I can't speak highly enough of the crew, their priority was fun and safety. Thank you to "welsh" Liam ( I was considering a dive on Freedom if you were there), Matt (great to see you again for both days), skipper Pascal, Chris, "Pete" & skipper Ben. I highly recommend!
I need to add that the lovely Esme .... organised bubbles & celebrations for 3 guests b'days & an anniversary, thank you Esme☺️

Isabella M.

07:37 22 Sep 21

Absolutely recommend Perry and the team for a great day sailing. We enjoyed seeing some great snorkelling spots and loved the experience of sailing as opposed to sitting like sardines on a much bigger, sterile vessel. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and the food is a plenty! do it!!

Amy W.

08:30 28 Aug 21

Amazing experience with this tour today. Amazing crew showed us a fantastic day, would definitely recommend.

Floyd R.

07:17 29 Jul 21

We had a great day out the crew were so happy and informative morning tea lunch and Arvo tea was fresh and plentiful they also supplied good snorkelling gear and instruction 6 hours on the reef you get to see plenty. Well done Guys

Jo R.

23:23 16 Jul 21

This was a fantastic day out. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and the service was excellent. There was plenty room on the boat and loads of time in the water. And the food was good too. It was a bit more expensive than some of the other reef tours but well worth it!

Temma C.

00:35 08 Jul 21

I went with this company on Ocean Freedom twice while in Carins. Great food, lovely and friendly crew (also accommodating), well kept boat.

Michael H.

09:51 05 Jul 21

best reef bout about second time ive been with ocean freedom! brilliant as always great staff and best reef spots! highly recommend 😊😊

Deb R.

11:47 28 Jun 21

We enjoyed A1 friendly service and an absolutely perfect and memorable experience. I felt completely at ease with the competent staff assisting me with every step I made both on and off the boat. Lunch was delicious and expertly organised. I appreciate the hard work that goes into preparing and executing a safe and enjoyable experience for a large quantity of diverse individuals...you all did this amazingly well. a big shout out to my wonderful support man Liam on Monday 21/6. The best belated 60th birthday present was being up close and witnessing the resident turtle feeding.

Keith P.

10:05 18 Jun 21

Had an Awesome day today on the reef with Ocean Freedom . Captain & Crew were very helpful & very knowledgeable. Had a fantastic lunch ! The snorkeling was Amazing . A Fantastic boat ! A Fantastic trip ! Highly recommend you let these Great people give you an Awesome experience on the Great Barrier Reef ! Thankyou from Keith & Donna & Eloise 😎

Tanya S.

08:26 04 Jun 21

What a spectacular day. All the crew were amazing. Chris helping Chaise 13 with his first dive- he went in for second dive he had such a great time. Liam was incredible with Chloe 10- snorkelling and giving her so much information about the reef. Every staff member was exceptional, friendly and helpful. Constantly offered food and drink. Best day trip we’ve ever done.
A must do.

Robyn S.

09:00 27 May 21

The crew were just the best! Lovely enthusiastic caring observant and beautiful smiles all day! Great info while snorkelling about the coral and sea creatures below. I felt safe, motivated, surprised and satisfied with the whole experience! The day was perfect. I have wonderful photos as a fabulous memory of this important day. We appreciate the care abd love of the reef by all the crew on board Ocean Freedom.

David H.

06:44 02 May 21

Fun and professional crew. Awesome experience!

Linda C.

07:38 17 Apr 21

Amazing day out. Packed full of fun, a great crew and amazing scenery. Could not fault one crew member so helpful and informative. Food was amazing and plentiful. This is the first time that a crew member helped me out with prescription goggles. Made all the difference that they helped me to make sure I had the best experience.

What a great day out. Amazing

Jane Alison O.

21:44 16 Apr 21

Extraordinary; great service and two beautiful dives + snorkelling + glass bottom boat excellent coral, care and copious food. Boat launch clean, well run with safety first. Individual care and excellent coral with loads of other wildlife came with notable teamwork. Congratulations Ocean Freedom!

Vicki W.

06:15 13 Apr 21

Perry and his staff provided premium customer service and individual attention to insure each and everyone were well looked after.
It was my 60th birthday on this day and Perry went out of his way to give me a amazing birthday surprise.
🌸🎉🎊

Rachael D.

07:52 10 Apr 21

Fantastic day - not only was the reef magnificent but the crew was so friendly and helpful, and the food was plentiful and delicious. We snorkelled 3 times and went in the glass bottom boat, saw so many fish, corals, reef sharks and a turtle. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone!

Kim S.

08:44 23 Mar 21

I had the most fantastic experience with the very friendly & professional crew on Ocean Freedom! I saw the most beautiful reef fish, a reef shark, a magnificent turtle munching on algae, a stingray & stunning coral. I would absolutely recommend this Far North QLD reef tour! The crew are helpful, snorkel with you & educate you on what beauty is below the surface! The food was also delightful. Would go out again in a heartbeat - the highlight of my holiday! Thanks guys! Kimmi 😊

Leah H.

07:59 21 Mar 21

Amazing day out on Ocean Freedom yesterday. The crew are super friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.
Food was delicious and plentiful all day.
So many amazing sights both snorkelling and diving.
Highly recommended local family business 💙

Lisa J.

21:06 18 Mar 21

Absolutely recommend this trip. Had an amazing day. The crew were awesome, always checking everyone was safe and happy. They made sure we saw the best of the reef and were knowledgeable and attentive. Weather was perfect, plenty to eat and drink.

Madi R.

08:35 24 Feb 21

Had an amazing day out at the Great Barrier Reef today and couldn’t have asked for a better crew Sophie taught us how to scuba and was absolutely amazing and understanding she made us comfortable and took it slow with us. Scott was a great skipper and the whole team was super friendly and funny. Made the whole experience very welcoming. We were able to stop at two areas today to explore what this beautiful place has to offer and lunch on the cruise, and snacks throughout the day. The crew also taught us about the wildlife and cool facts along the way. Would highly recommend these guys!

Danny T.

10:43 23 Jan 21

Awesome crew that make you feel at home and had a amazing day. Highly recommended

Terri B.

08:18 03 Jan 21

We went out today on the Ocean Freedom
The whole experience was amazing.
The crew
The food
The snorkelling
The sharks
The turtle
💯 💯 💯

Tony B.

10:35 30 Dec 20

Great day with fantastic cruise assistance. Can't thank Jess enough for helping to get my ASD son to snorkel.

Eveline H.

08:37 30 Dec 20

What an amazing day. Great crew, great food and the service was superb.

Oscar S.

04:44 20 Dec 20

BME NQ had an awesome time with Ocean Free yesterday for our Christmas party. Crew were so friendly and helpful. Awesome day out with very tasty food. Thank you for yesterday Perry and Ocean Free Crew.

Sandy B.

20:52 17 Dec 20

What a fantastic day guys. You made us feel so safe and welcome onboard your boat and in the water all day. The crew were always looking out for us and making sure we new what was happening and how to use all the gear they gave us. If you have never been to the Great Barrier Reef, or been swimming with the wonderfull sea creatures in Tropical North Queensland these are the people you want to do it with. Great day and worth every dollar. Thankyou team, your awesome.

Ana D.

07:01 14 Dec 20

The Captain & Crew are amazing and made the day perfect while we sat back enjoying the hospitality, checking out the amazing sights at the Reef and enjoying the amazing food. We also made sure we enjoyed some well earned cold beers on the way back after a lot of snorkelling!!

Cobie P.

07:41 08 Dec 20

This crew were hands down the most attentive crew I’ve ever encountered! EVER! In the whole tourism industry. Huge statement that I truly endorse unconditionally!
A crew that were Caring, dedicated, knowledgeable and respectful of people with severe allergies and disabilities! They were patient with beginners, adhered to cleanliness and covid safe parameters. Food was delicious and plentiful. I recommend anyone and everyone book through Ocean free and Ocean Freedom Tours!
Thank you for a great day on the reef,
Love Cobie, Sarah and Kerrie NSW xx

Fiona C.

03:53 15 Nov 20

What a fantastic cruise, crew, adventure & overall day, all together!! This is the crew to choose 🙌😊
VERY professional whilst also VERY friendly. Value for money experience & inclusions. A more personal approach with all activities - no “herding” of crowds - such a delight. Great facilities and constant supply of beautiful & yummy refreshments. Interactive & guided activities as well as as self directed time. Very knowledgeable, trained staff. Such a wonderful feeling of family, generosity, fun & hospitality. Recommend these people so highly. 🙌👍💕

Geoff C.

03:52 15 Nov 20

Just an amazing day on the reef with the crew of Ocean Freedom.
So much fun and these guys are total professionals.
Great saftey protocols with maximum fun the whole day.
Our many snorkels were wonderful with great comentary and guidance if desired. All the crew were so knowledgeable about the reef and its inhabitants. Scuba dives with Lou & Rose were so good great guides and they were so caring fot all divers.
Food was fabulous and there was plenty to go around.
The whole crew were so frienly, interactive and really well organised.
Our day was perfect and we would love to travel again with the Ocean Freedom Family. Thanks guys for a very memorable day!

Megan J.

00:27 27 Sep 20

The crew were fantastic and very informative. Highly recommend this tour. Will definitely do this again.

Shelley M.

07:27 22 Sep 20

Had a lovely day aboard Ocean Freedom. The crew were all very lovely and knowledgeable. They were happy to drag us around the ocean as it was a bit choppy in the first location. All the staff were happy to explain about the fish and point things out. A great day out. Highly recommended.

Brian W.

23:53 03 Sep 20

I was booked on this tour by my travel agent. I had found another cruise by decided to let the agent do the booking work for me. My tour was on 12th August.
From the moment of checking in, I was treated like a VIP for a day. A joke of "permission to come aboard" at the pier started a relaxing day of cruising the reef, 2 introduction dives of scuba diving, snorkelling, great food, and even better, fantastic staff.
I had not dived since 1987 and my instructor Jen took me through the process and I was both excited and nervous about entering the water. Jen made me completely at ease, and I loved every second of my two dives.

Kym W.

21:49 15 Aug 20

We just can't say enough about these guys! The crew were just BLOODY AWESOME! They took us to a place on the reef that wasn't heavily populated by other tour boats so we were spoilt for choice. We got to spend 6 hours in the water snorkelling. There were always guides with us showing us around and sharing information about the marine life around us. Glass bottom boat tours were included.

In between we were kept well fed and watered. Lunch was really good. Simple food, seafood, cold meats and salads but fresh and good quality👍 Morning and afternoon tea was also provided.

The boat wasn't overly packed out either. Plenty of room to move around. If you have 1, DEFINITELY bring a GoPro with you. I hung out with a green sea turtle for a good half an hour and wish I could've captured some of that experience.

An awesome laid back Nth QLD experience at its finest! We will be back again for sure!

Thank you team for a great day out.

Eero L.

08:10 30 Jul 20

Happy team to make you a special day!
Greatly recommended!

Ruut Elisabet E.

06:57 29 Jul 20

I entirely enjoyed my day. The crew was amazing, so attentive and helpful. The captain Pascol ( hope I spelled his name right 😁) made sure we all were safe and can enjoy every moment of the day. Could not have a better day. The food-endless service and very lovely. Thank You all for making such a wonderful day for us.

Charlotte W.

05:13 28 Jul 20

of all the tour choices for seeing and experiencing the reef, we were somehow lucky enough to have found THE BEST! From beginning to end, the most professional crew , and pristine boat ( we were on the power cat). we had a personal dive master Yatti, who's expertise and direction made us feel safe and well looked after! Thanks heaps mate! Rosie led our guided snorkelling tour and was extremely knowledgeable about the reef, and pointed out all the highlights! Didn't miss a thing! The food aboard was top notch too.. 5 plus stars out of 5!! what a team!

Barbara R.

11:51 03 Mar 20

Great day at the Reef with a experienced young and funny Crew!

Mitch T.

08:23 02 Mar 20

One of the best crews around, friendly knowledgeable and the service was above and beyond. Would recommend 👌

Charlene Lee Van H.

20:49 29 Feb 20

Unforgettable Christmas Adventure !

We highly recommend the Ocean Freedom and their team. They strive to ensure your day is fantastic, safe and memorable. We had a wonderful experience on the introductory to scuba and appreciated the safe system in place to give first time scuba divers a trip of a lifetime. The passionate and enthusiastic crew made sure we had what we needed with gear and instruction. The onboard breakfast, lunch and snacks were delicious. Excellent Ozzie hospitality extended with passing the afternoon snacks around so no one missed out.
We valued the lower number of passengers on board resulting in spectacular memories to last a lifetime. Many thanks for an absolutely awesome experience!!

Vicky H.

01:14 22 Feb 20

What a wonderful day with this great team!
I was not a confident snorkeller and mainly booked so my hubby could have his great barrier reef experience, but ended up getting involved and absolutely loving it!
The food was excellent and plentiful.
The ladies on the booking desk were fantastic too!
Many thanks to all! X

Molly W.

09:32 16 Feb 20

An amazing day. Staff are so knowledgeable and always available to help. Great snorkeling locations and on board service. Wish I could do it again!!

Jirvan S.

11:07 02 Feb 20

What a great experience!! What they tell you in their brochure is what you get for the full 100% and more! Paul gave us a briefing of the day which he did with a lot of humor. When we got to the reef we started off with the glass bottom boat. Lou was amazing she explained everything you needed to know about the reef. Doing this first was great because you knew what to expect. After that we jumped into the water for some snorkeling for more than 2 hours. We went on a snorkel tour with Mat which was great. He showed us everything we needed to see. After the tour you could explore the reef by yourself. When we got back on the boat a perfect lunch was prepared for us with prawns, smoked salmon, chicken and some nice salads.
After lunch we headed off to another spot where we again snorkeled for about 2 hours.
After this we cruised back to harbour with fruit and snack served.
Overall.... it was an amazing day!
Thank you guys for making this trip unforgettable!
Greetings Jirvan, Ben and Tosca

Lori Miller W.

07:03 20 Jan 20

Great day with the best team on GBR. Look no where else because they are the best. Thanks Paul, Lou, Chris and special thanks to Matt for the snorkeling tour and to the rest of the team

Jeannie W.

09:20 12 Jan 20

Had a fantastic day today .. Thanks to the great hosts Paul and Chris ... took the time with my daughter to help her around the reef ..Chris is a great guide and very knowledgeable .A small group of 10 people ..good food after a snorkel ..thanks for a memorable day .jeannie and mikaila .

Morgan Jayde Maree H.

06:57 18 Dec 19

Best tour to go to! The instructors were awesome and the views were amazing. Tried my first time scuba diving and it was just unreal. Would do again!

JD Lovekamp A.

07:40 16 Dec 19

First time diving and couldn’t have asked for better staff. Chris was patient and guided us past the nerves. We had a great time. Ben and Eva were fantastic. If you are looking for a smaller group tour and excellent service then go here. Also the food was fantastic. We had lunch, later we stopped for wine and cheese, and before returning we finished off with dessert. We definitely had an incredible experience. Highly recommended.

Donna McDowell D.

09:00 10 Dec 19

My friend and I took a snorkeling tour with them today and it was AWESOME! The staff were the BEST! They were very attentive to everyone’s level of snorkeling and diving! The worked very hard! The food they served was also amazing! They had coffee and pastries for breakfast, served lunch and it wasn’t sandwiches, served cheese and crackers throughout trip along with fruit, figs, deserts and whatever you water along with other drinks!! I would highly recommend them! You would be missing out on a great experience if you didn’t book with them! Thanks to all for a spectacular day!!

Ruth M.

07:40 26 Nov 19

my mum and mines first experience and what an experience! staff so welcoming and made us feel at ease while both doing our scuba, we would of tested patience with our learning skills but we did not feel judged!! Fab day, and great instructors 😁 def recommend for newbies that want a small group!! PS the food was amazing too. What a day, thank you Ocean Free!

Anders B.

14:54 23 Nov 19

I've been trying to break my wife into scuba and needed to find a charter that would take good care of her. Ocean Free did not disappoint. For her first dive ever they took great care to make sure she felt confident in the water and that we all had an amazing experience. The crew was nothing short of exceptional and diving the reef was the experience of a lifetime. The excursion to Green Island and the crocodile park was a nice bonus for those less inclined to be in the water as well. Couldn't be happier.

Danika H.

10:55 26 Oct 19

I had a wonderful experience on Ocean Free Sail. The crew was so accommodating and amazing. They took us to the best side of Green Island and saw stunning marine life.

Chris L.

05:27 26 Oct 19

Fantastic crew, excellent service, amazing experience

Linda D.

08:27 22 Oct 19

Amazing amazing amazing the hi light of our Cairns visit Pasquale The skipper went to great lengths to make our trip memorable Chris entertained us with stories (ask him how far a 200klm lake is) and made us Dave Mathews fans. Pale (excuse the spelling if wrong) very knowledgeable helpful as well. This crew took great care of everyone especially those that didn’t take the tablets a huge thank you guys made this trip the most memorable one we have had, loved the sailing and the crew made the day as perfect as
It could be

Sue C.

08:35 14 Oct 19

Great day out on the reef. Led by Captain Paul the team were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Snorkeling and diving available. Lunch was fabulous and I would through recommend them if you are contemplating a trip out to the reef.

James H.

07:52 14 Oct 19

Great day with super helpful staff

Joanne B.

07:41 12 Oct 19

Thanks Scott, Chris and Ava. Just a perfect day out. If you’re looking for a personal trip lots of laughs then this is the one for you.

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Reef Site Interpretation

Climate Care on Ocean Freedom