There are a few different car parking options near Reef Fleet Terminal. View here.

The rain in Cairns tends to stick to the mountains. Cairns is located in the wet tropics and attracts fairly high rainfall. However, as our reef is 40 km offshore, the clouds don’t collect, and the rain tends to stay away. When you wake up in the morning in Cairns and it’s raining… do not panic! It will usually be fine on the outer reef locations. Check the sea breeze report here.

We have one boat called Evolution, and we love her! When Evolution launched in 2016, she was named Ausmarine Best Tourist and Dive Boat in Australia. Evolution is a 35-metre three-level custom-designed and built catamaran. The saloons are air-conditioned providing comfort for your day tour on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. With the largest specialised dive decks, you will have ample room to enter the water for all of your reef activities.

We have 12 exclusive moorings at six reef locations. Locations are chosen each day based on weather conditions and water clarity to ensure the best experience for all activities. Generally, we travel to one of our two outer reef locations in the morning (Norman Reef or Saxon Reef) then make our way to North Hastings Reef in the afternoon to conduct Helicopter Flights and our Semi-Submersible tour.

The best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is from April to November, but honestly, the answer is whenever you can really! Temperatures around the GBR don’t usually drop below 26°C. In November, the mass spawning of corals is a sight to see snorkelling and scuba diving. Once a year after the full moon in November/December, the corals release eggs and sperm into the water creating multi-coloured underwater snowfall making this an unforgettable natural experience!

Generally, from April to November, you’ll experience fewer crowds and less rainfall, which can mean increased water clarity, and fewer people around and you’ll see more specials and discounts on Cairns reef tours.

We normally advise our customers to book at least 3 days before the date of travel to secure a spot. However, please note that June, July, August and December/January school holidays are very popular travel periods, therefore it’s advisable to book as soon as you’ve decided to travel, that way your spot is secured for your Great Barrier Reef tour.

Our wetsuits are Scubapro wetsuits with 3mm thickness. They are shorts with short sleeves (i.e. not full-length). Wetsuits are included for Introductory and Certified Scuba Divers. These are an additional $10 per person onboard for snorkelers.

Lyrca/sun-suits are included for all passengers at no extra cost. The sizes range from XXS to XXL.

We have fins to fit kids to adults up to size 13. We also have opened-heeled fins to fit any larger-sized feet over size 13. We have fins to fit everyone!

Evolution is surveyed to take 300 passengers but we limit our numbers to a maximum of 150-180 passengers. We are fortunate to have one of the largest reef vessels in Cairns. Evolution has three floors and is considerably spacious with multiple outdoor deck spaces as well.

Minimum age for Introductory divers and dive courses: 12+ years and Certified divers: 10+ years. Please keep in mind that all divers are required to complete a Medical Questionnaire. In our commitment to the safety of our guests, divers over 65 years (or 45 years for PADI dive courses) must have a medical clearance with a physician the confirms they are Fit To Dive. This can be provided by your own GP before you leave for your holiday.

All introductory divers will be accompanied by a PADI qualified dive instructor for the entire duration of the dive. Your instructor will provide you with ongoing instructions for your safety and point out marine life.

If you are a certified diver, you will not be accompanied in the water by a dive instructor. If you would like a guided dive, we have these available for $10 per dive. You can pre-book this or purchase onboard on the day. During busy periods, we recommend pre-booking with our reservations team before travel.

During your introductory scuba dive, you will learn the basic skills required to dive down to a depth of up to 12 metres while accompanied by one of our experienced PADI qualified dive instructors. The scuba dive experience lasts up to 20 minutes giving you time to feel comfortable and begin to enjoy your first dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

Introductory dives are for those who are not certified or who have never dived before. A certified dive means you hold a certified diving qualification and are competent to dive in a group guided by a Dive Master.

No, we do not.

Due to safety reasons, women who are pregnant are not allowed to scuba dive. However, pregnant women are allowed to snorkel. We have flotation devices available and snorkel supervisors in the water and on the lookout for any assistance.

Yes, for safety reasons there is a 130kg weight restriction that applies for helicopter rides.

The helicopter flights are 6-seaters the majority of the time. However, there are unique circumstances where the helicopters may have 4 or 7 seats. The standard helicopters are 6 seats.

The helicopter flights are 6-seaters the majority of the time, so not everyone will get a window seat. Seating arrangements are made based on weight requirements of passengers per helicopter.

If you’re prone to seasickness, it’s advisable to take something before you go. Check with a chemist. As Evolution is a catamaran, it’s more stable in rough weather than monohulls. We do sell seasickness pills on board the boat, but please remember, tablets are a preventative, not a cure, so take them before we depart.

As we are located in a tropical destination, the water temperature is pleasant all year round. Average temperatures throughout the year are December-February 29C (84F), March-May 25C (77F), June-August 22C (72F), September-November 25C (77F).

The reef boat ride will take about 90 minutes to reach the Outer Reef Location. Our Reef Day Trip will depart Cairns at 8am, arriving at the first reef location by approximately 9.30/9.45am. Evolution is one of the fastest boat trips to the Outer Reef giving you 5 hours of snorkelling and scuba diving at 2 Outer Reef Sites. The boat returns to Cairns at approximately 4.30pm.

Yes, we do have a designated smoking section, please see the crew on the day. You will be allowed to smoke when the boat is moving.