Ocean Freedom’s commitment to the environment and to its guests

Ocean Freedom…

…is passionate about giving you the most personal, customer-oriented Great Barrier Reef tour possible.

Ocean Freedom is one of two personal Great Barrier Reef Tours operated by Taryn + Perry -owners of Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours. This locally owned and family operated company was borne from a desire to give travellers the best and most personal, customer-oriented reef experience possible, whilst ensuring a high respect for safety and passion for looking after the reef. Operating for over 25 years, Perry and Taryn personally promise to give all their guests the best possible experience in any conditions that may present on the day.

…is strongly committed to sustainable practices and looking after the reef.

It is of utmost importance to them that their crew also share their passion for customer care, safety, the reef and really connecting with the guests to offer a wonderful everlasting experience of the Great Barrier Reef! By engaging all guests and giving them a real “connection” to the reef – they believe – will make people want to make small positive environmental and lifestyle changes in their lives – the sum of which can lead to great outcomes.

“Our take home message is for all guests to have an appreciation of the incredible coral reef and marine life, and then value and understand the importance of looking after this magnificent icon for the enjoyment of future generations.”

…is strongly committed to following all Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority regulations and guidelines.

All our GBR sites visited are situated in the highly protected parts of the Marine Park and fall under the protecton of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Association guidelines.

“Due to Ocean Freedom’s  commitment to eco friendly sustainable tourism it  is listed as a  “High Standard Reef Operator”

…proudly displays its Advanced Eco Certification from Ecotourism Australia.

Ocean Freedom continues to be strongly committed to maintaining the very high eco and sustainable practises and ongoing commitment  to protection of the environment.

Although the company has always operated boutique-style eco friendly operations since the early 1990’s, Ocean Freedom gained its formal accreditation in 2009 and maintaining this Advanced Eco Certified certification includes their commitment to:

• Continued education of environmentally safe snorkelling and diving practices
• Continued annual coin collection every May on the boat with 100% going to local turtle rehabilitation.
• Continued support for COTS (crown of thorns eradication programme).
• Continued Support of Marine Tech school.
• Updated Books Ocean Freedom’s Treasures and Ocean Free highlighting our reef areas with passengers encouraged to become guardians of any marine life they may have photographed on the day.
• Continued no plastic use for over 20 years we have not used any plastic plates, cutlery, cups or plastic straws on either vessel
• The stoppage of bottled water sales on both boats since 2017
• 2020-2021: Updated all site-specific interpretative material on both “Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom” – including site maps and fish ID
• 2020-2021 Further development of engaging activities with our specific site “Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom” Fish ID card game.
• 2021 – Awarded “Green Travel Leader” by Ecotourism recognising 10 years of providing sustainable and responsible Great Barrier Reef Tours

So, come and learn about the Great Barrier Reef in a fun and informative way – do all or some of our activities – your choice.  If you are interested make sure you ask our crew – they are always willing to inform!

• • • Be mesmerised by our informative Adventure Drift Snorkel tour with our Master Reef Guide or Marine Naturalist
    • Keep dry and jump on board our Glass Bottom Boat Tour
    • Take our optional extra dive and plunge a little deeper to see the Great Barrier Reef up close and personal
    • Be enthralled by the abundance of reef life and if interested come and see our Coral Nurture programme in action – our crew will point out the nursery areas and some out-planting that has been done

What are the most recent projects?

• Coral Nurture Programme
• Photo Point Enhancement project with Reef Teach
• Tourism Industry Activation and Reef Protection Initiative

Our continued philosophy: To provide the most personal, responsible, customer-oriented Great Barrier Reef experience and truly “connect” our guests to this amazing natural icon, with the knowledge that once they have had this surreal experience, they will naturally want to protect it and make little changes in their everyday lives.