Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours
4.9
Kelly K.
1771431388
Great snorkeling tour. Was an overcast day but it didn't slow anything down. Had a glass bottom tour first off and that was a great suggestion on their part. Wonderful talk about the reef, it's inhabitants and protection of the area. Then we did a guided snorkel followed by a snorkel in a marked area. The lunch was fantastic and the snacks plentiful.... you need it with the swimming! Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable - was a great fun and relaxing day!
A.D.A
1771401977
Super Ausflug, tolle Organisation. Ein unvergesslicher Tag am Great Barrier Reef!! Danke an die Crew, für den tollen Tag!
Don T.
1771395312
Captain Mike and crew were fantastic and made the day fun. Easy ride to the reef and great info provided about the reef on the glass bottom boat tour. Enjoyed the snorkeling and felt very safe based on the instructions provided. Fresh food and drink really hit the spot at lunch and the snack on the way back was perfect! Definitely recommend this experience!!
Moshe S.
1771144919
We had the cruise today and enjoyed it very much. The snorkeling was fantastic the weather was more than fair, and above all the team of Matt, Marie & Paul were fantastic, focused, attentive to every request, generous and helpful when needed, the hospitality and the food were great.Thank you guys for a fantastic experience !!
Ed & Sophie T.
1770812560
What a mind blowing experience curated by an amazing, brilliant, wonderful crew who made us feel truly valued, safe and looked after. How do we go about properly thanking such a cool team ie where do you hang out on a Thursday night in Cairns!?!?
Eileen B.
1770411717
What a fantastic experience on the Ocean Free. The crew Matt, Shea and Storm couldn’t have done more for us. They were knowledgeable, kind, friendly and genuinely seemed to love what they do. Matt skippered the boat combining sail and motor for a unique reef experience. Shea guided me through my first ever Scuba dive and wow, it was amazing. She led me to giant clams, a turtle, heaps of amazing reef and fish and even a reef shark! I am really not confident in deep water but she made it so safe and calming for me. Unfortunately, my husband developed an eardrum issue whilst in the water and the crew were so kind and helpful to him. Thank you so much Ocean Free x
Nikki R.
1770140647
Highly recommend choosing Ocean Free for your Great Barrier Reef tour. The guides and team were helpful, kind (to us and each other!), thoughtfully inclusive (aka safe & fun, regardless of comfort in the water!).I'm not a very confident swimmer & am afraid of being in open ocean/water - they were reassuring & also set us up with water guides towing a bouy for me & my mom to swim so we could enjoy the snorkeling while also feeling safe within our comfort zones. Many others dove solo/in pairs within the designated area and had a fabulous time as well. The food and refreshments were also wonderful throughout.Highly recommend choosing this team for your trip!
Christie C.
1769805440
Phenomenal service and spectacular way to get out to the reef for a day trip. We were looking for a way to see the barrier trip in a more intimate way with a smaller crowd and a fun crew. Oceans free delivered! Great food fun crew and same like minded folks choose this tour. 10/10 would recommend these guys.The dive site it self was a bit more limited but still wonderful. Got to see a mako shark, a sea turtle, and giant clams.
Tharaka De S.
1769242699
We had an amazing day at the Great Barrier Reef and can’t recommend this company enough. The crew are wonderful and truly make your day special. From check-in to the end of the trip, you feel genuinely welcomed and well looked after.We did the full-day tour to Upolu Reef and Upolu Cay, with plenty of snorkelling time. The instructors were very patient and professional, which made it perfect for families and anyone who isn’t very confident in the water. There are multiple instructors in the water with life rings, and they really take the time to support everyone.We enjoyed a glass-bottom boat tour before snorkelling, and during the snorkelling tours we saw green turtles, starfish, sea cucumbers, lots of fish, and beautiful coral. The crew are extremely knowledgeable and shared fascinating information about the reef and marine life throughout the day. Our skipper, Ben, is a marine biologist, which added even more to the experience.Special thanks to Maree, Tory, Tee, Anna (and the rest of the crew, I wish I remembered all the names. And sorry if I misspelled any names) for being so friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the day.Lunch was generous and delicious, with chicken, smoked salmon, prawns, pasta salad, potato salad, and more, followed by a third snorkelling stop after lunch. There were also plenty of snacks on the way back, including fruit, cheese and crackers, and cakes, so you definitely won’t go hungry.In between the tour times there is opportunity to snorkel on our own. And there was fish feeding by a crew member where we got to see more fish from the boat.We travelled with our 11-year-old daughter, and the crew took excellent care of us, making the day relaxed and enjoyable as a family. If you want an outstanding, well-organised, and family-friendly Great Barrier Reef experience, Ocean Freedom is the tour to book.We will definitely be back for another tour. I wish I brought an underwater camera. And we will be doing the scuba dives next time.A huge thank you to the Ocean Freedom crew. Keep up the fantastic work!
Lydia B.
1769156392
We went on the Ocean Free Tour today. It was absolutely fantastic! Like really worth the money, from start to finish every part was really well thought through and quality. We had the option to snorkel or dive, we had a fabulous lunch provided with snacks throughout the day like cheese and biscuits/cake/ fresh fruit platters. The team were SO accommodating and extremely knowledgable. We would highly recommend Ocean Free in Cairns. We were all super impressed
Kyle G.
1768995373
Fantastic experience overall! Quality family-feel experience. They limit their passengers to 65 or 75 people so they can get to some green reefs that vessels with large amounts passengers cannot go to. It was a very personal experience and all of the staff were very friendly.We did 2 scuba dives and the divemaster was well organized and professional. The experience was well worth the money for getting 2 dives at the Great Barrier Reef! I can't say much about the snorkeling, but the folks that snorkeled seemed to enjoy it well.
Dovie B.
1768867045
This was an amazing tour to the Great Barrier Reef! The Skipper was so great at his job and very protective of his guests making sure we were safe! The staff was amazing and right there with us in the water! The food was perfect and the extra plates of fruit & desserts that were passed during the day was such an extra treat. We would 100% recommend using this company!!!
Natalia R.
1768728738
We went on the Ocean Freedom cruise to Upolu Cay Reef and Outer Edge Upolu reef. It was an amazing day of snorkelling and scuba (opt-in). The staff provided incredible service the whole time with a vast range of food and snacks including some breakfast as the tour started at 8. The reefs were gorgeous and the staff on the guided snorkels were very knowledgable on the marine life. In particular Marie and Alma went above and beyond in providing an excellent reef and boating experience. They have sea sickness pills (non drowsy) available for purchase which was very useful. If you want to opt in to scuba on the day of as well that is possible and I would definitely recommend. The staff were also meticulous with safety and making sure everybody no matter swim or physical ability was able to see the reef. It is a physical day and can be very tiring but the guides take life rings out on the guided snorkels that can help those in need or if you just need a rest. The only negative was that the boat was not as nice as the one pictured and despite still being a good boat for this tour it was not “luxury” as stated in our booking. We only had 32 people on board but the full capacity is 75 so it may feel more crowded in peak season. Everything else was amazing and I would definitely recommend booking with ocean freedom. They also had a bar where you could purchase drinks throughout the day.
Max M.
1768474568
Super Tag, vielen Dank an die herausragende Crew!
MegaMatthew1001
1767855815
10/10 staff. Even in the less than ideal weather conditions they did an excellent job taking care of us.The boat was great too. Well kept and offers a nice mix of fully enclosed spaces, covered and fully exposed.My biggest recommendation (not specific to this boat or operator): Take a seasickness pill. Even if you think you’ll be fine… Take it.
Levinia M.
1767776627
Such a wonderful experience. The crew are highly skilled and passionate. They were also very empathetic to the needs of different passengers. It is a must do experience with this company.
Orion K.
1767755924
Great experience the condition weren’t that great but that didn’t stop up. They made you feel safe and looked after a very well oiled operating, professional crew and skipper can’t speak highly enough for there knowledge of the ocean and onboard vessel experience. Will do again.
Carolyn W.
1767696538
The crew were amazing and very accommodating. We had a very windy day on the ocean but the crew handled everything extremely well, I was very impressed!
Solène
1767627691
We did the Ocean Free Sail to Green Island & the Great Barrier Reef and booked two introductory dives and two certified dives. It was a great day, and the staff were very attentive to everyone on board. The number of people is quite limited because it’s a sailboat, which is really nice. There is a shaded area on the boat where you can relax. Lunch was good. The vibe was great, and the dives were very enjoyable as well, it felt much more intimate than on bigger boats.A big thank you to our divemaster Anna, who found my partner’s dive watch in the ocean and sent it back to us by post (to France). That was incredibly kind, thank you so much.You can book this company and this trip without hesitation. Thank you again!
Suzie G
1767610348
The best boat trip I've ever been on! Highly recommend!We opted for the 2 scubadives.Boarding 7:30 for 8am departure. Pastries, fruit and hot drinks were available on board.Lovely boat, clean and decent space for everyone.We had an intro talk for the scuba while we were making our way out to the first reef.The first dive lasted around 25 minutes. We had one instructor to 2 people and they linked arms and guided us around the reef. We saw a shark and various other fish.Then there was time for snorkeling and a glass bottom boat trip.Whilst snorkeling we saw a turtle and jellyfish.Lunch was a selection of prawns, salmon, meat, pasta, salad etc. it was delicious.We then headed to the 2nd dive site. Usually on the 2nd dive you may get chance to swim independently with instructor supervision but the current was so strong we stayed together same as the first dive. There wasn't as much to see here but we did see a stingray. Again lasted about 20 mins.There was more time for snorkeling before heading back.On the way back there was fruit, cheese and crackers and cake!The crew were all friendly, professional, organised and clearly take safety seriously.The sea did get a bit choppy but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, for most of the day it was fairly flat but after lunch the waves picked up.This trip was the highlight of my holiday! Would highly recommend and would do again!
john W.
1767425093
Me an my partner did the trip to the reef with snorkeling and introductory diving sessions and we had such an unbelievable time. From start to finish everything was amazingly well organized, nothing was too much trouble for the staff! The food was a great addition and there was more than enough to keep you going, actually more than expected!We would like to say a special thank you to Tori who took us diving, she was the best teacher we could've wished for. She made us both feel extra comfortable and explained everything and looked after us whilst keeping the whole thing fun, so thank you Tori for making our trip!The glass bottom boat was also really well done and the lady who took us (sorry we've forgotten your name) explained how the reef works and talked us through the fish, the coral and everything else we spotted on our trip out in the the glass bottom boat.We would recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to try this experience it genuinely was one of the best trips of our travels to Australia.John & Jess
Brett S
1767415631
Had a great day out. The kiwi trio crew kept us well fed and looked after. The sail boat is a bit rough on the edges, I guess you have to expect that with a boat of that age. Highly recommend.
Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours
5.0
Jolsna V.
1766914159
Amazing support . Highly recommend ..
Anil H.
1766131624
🥳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.
1765019199
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.
1763074664
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.
Robin Taddeo W.
1763009042
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.
1748391484
🌊 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.
1748374032
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.
1747258001
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.
1741840268
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.
1736714438
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.
1730004175
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.
1724744929
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.
1719133246
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
Chris H.
1687043270
We had a wonderful experience sailing on the Ocean Free boat to Great Barrier Reef where we snorkelled and our daughter had her first experience diving. The diving instructor gave great instruction and had a genuine care for his clients and the skipper and crew were focused on giving us the best experience possible. would highly recommend.
Terry M.
1684272821
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.
1680595403
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.
1678969131
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.
1675898986
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.
1671434033
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.
1665275230
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Mark D.
1662359648
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.
1661940602
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
Jane D.
1656121964
I had a lovely experience on this tour. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was great. Met some lovely people on the tour from overseas and other parts of Australia. Snorkelling was amazing and I learnt a little about the Great Barrier Reef on the Glass Bottom Boat tour. Hope to do this tour again and hopefully try diving next time.
Brad Warren S.
1655888788
Awesome day was had ,great hosts and got to see all you could on the reef
Sarah D.
1655761618
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 ⭐️
