Try scuba diving for the first time on the outer Great Barrier Reef, with an instructor beside you the whole dive. Silverswift is a fast 29 metre dive catamaran from Cairns that visits three different outer reef sites in a day, with about five hours at the reef.
Days
- About 9 hours with check-in
Age
- 12 years and over to dive
Group size
- Shared reef cruise; instructor beside each new diver
Start / finish
- Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal / Outer Great Barrier Reef / Cairns
- Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, about 4:30pm
Return
- Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, about 4:30pm
Transport
- 29 metre high-speed dive catamaran
Meals
- Morning tea, buffet lunch and afternoon tea
Route
Included experiences
- Outer reef — introductory scuba dive with a PADI instructor
- Second reef site — option of a second introductory dive
- Three reef sites — unlimited snorkelling with briefings at each
- Third site — guided snorkel tour
- On board — reef talks from the crew
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 17 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 17 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the instructors for their patience, attentiveness and ability to make nervous first-time divers feel safe and comfortable throughout the experience. The reef itself stands out most frequently in reviews, with visitors highlighting the crystal-clear water, abundant and colourful marine life including coral, fish, turtles and rays, and the well-organised visits to multiple sites where divers and snorkellers are kept separate. The most common caveat is that the boat ride can be rough and cause seasickness, with several travellers recommending that guests take seasickness medication in advance, particularly for the journey to the outer reef.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
A great day doing two intro dives and one snorkel. The crew were helpful and knew the reef well, and I'd worried about the food but it was great with lots of variety.
An unforgettable day. Craig took the time to assess my situation and gave me the confidence to do my introductory dive, and my instructor Kenji was patient and made me feel completely safe. We explored the Coral Gardens at Flynn Reef and another stunning site, and a sea turtle swam calmly right in front of us. Some say the boat can be rough, but the reefs are breathtaking and worth it.
A stellar day at three sites. I did my first two dives ever and the crew taught me everything I needed to feel at home underwater, plus lots about ocean conservation on the way. Great food and hours in the water, but take seasickness pills early, it's a fast boat.
My first time scuba diving and the reefs were beautiful, with clams, coral, fish and turtles. On the intro dive an instructor takes a small group down after a clear briefing and some skills practice, so I felt comfortable at the bottom. Simu and Yui were amazing, and Jess the marine biologist gave a fun talk and a guided snorkel.
I loved my day. I wanted the outer reef and most of the day in the water, and this smaller boat delivered. My instructor Vanesa was very patient on my first ever scuba dive, and there was lots of snorkel time at three sites. Take travel sickness tablets on a rough day.
An unbeatable experience. I booked two dives having never dived before and felt safe the whole time while enjoying and learning, and the reef is incredible. Special mention to our instructor Will, and the buffet was excellent.
