Your once in a lifetime day cruise on board Ocean Spirit; sailing the Great Barrier Reef and exploring Michaelmas Cay.
Scuba dive, snorkel, jump on board our Semi-submarine/glass bottom boat Reef Discovery tour or take a guided tour to explore the magnificent marine world.
Seabirds, Turtles, and hundreds of reef fish; discover the array of marine and bird life on and around this magical sandy cay.
Ocean Spirit operates daily, some times and scheduled activities may vary subject to conditions on the day.
7.30am | Check-in at Ocean Spirit’s counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal for boarding passes. |
8:00 am | Boarding commences. Complimentary tea and coffee served until departure. |
8:30am | Depart Cairns for Michaelmas Cay and the Great Barrier Reef |
9:00am | Safety demonstration, reef brief and snorkelling demonstration.. |
9:30am | Informative Marine Biologist slide show presentation. |
10.00am | Dive brief for introductory divers. |
10:30am | Arrive at Michaelmas Cay. Reef Activities commence: Fish feeding presentation - Snorkelling - Semi-submarine/glass bottom boat Reef Discovery tour - Scuba diving for introductory divers. (Dive session times are 11:00am, 12:15pm & 1:30pm) |
12:00-1.30pm | Buffet lunch served onboard. Time to enjoy more Reef Activities! |
2:30pm | Afternoon tea is served onboard |
On completion of safety head count we depart Michaelmas Cay for return journey to Cairns. | |
Glass of complimentary sparkling wine served on the homeward journey, cheese and crackers. | |
5:00pm | Arrive Cairns. |
Included activity
Snorkelling is fun way to experience the many treasures of the Great Barrier Reef. With easy access from the beach at Michaelmas Cay, people of all ages and experience, can enjoy the reef, quietly drifting over the myriad of corals and colourful fish.
Included activity
See the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet in an air-conditioned sem-sub! Seated just one metre below the waterline, you’ll be able to see a treasure trove of marine life going about their daily lives. Perfect for non-swimmers or anyone wanting to see the reef in air-conditioned comfort.
Optional activity
Take a guided snorkel tour of the reef surrounding Michaelmas Cay with one of our experienced Marine Biologists. As a small group you will be introduced to an abundance of marine life, from parrotfish to giant clams, and learn about the Great Barrier Reef eco system. Fun for individuals or the family.
Optional activity
Take the plunge with an introductory scuba dive and see the reef up close and personal. Glide past stunning coral formations, swim along with schools of fish and discover a whole new world. No experience is necessary to take a fully supervised, guided introductory dive.
All taxes are included in the total price.
*EMC: A Government Environmental Management Charge (EMC) of $0 per person applies to all adults and children 4 years and over entering the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area. This fee is included in the fare price.
Surcharge: Due to potential significant volatility in supply and operational costs, a surcharge may be applied due to unforeseen circumstances. In such cases any charge will be collected on departure.
Credit card surcharge may apply.
Yes we do. When you are going out to experience the reef you are more than likely going to get wet anyhow! Often when it is raining in Cairns, it can be fine offshore. If you are worried about the weather please call our reservations team as they will be able to let you know the latest conditions. You can change your date of travel without incurring any fees.
Travelling time from Cairns to Michaelmas Cay is approximately 2 hours.
Yes! As Michaelmas Cay is a shallow sandy cay area, it is perfect for children and families. Guests are only allowed in the allocated area on the island which makes it easy to keep an eye on children whilst they are playing on the island. The water is quite shallow so it is also suitable for children swimming off the cay.
You certainly can! In fact most people who scuba dive with us are doing it for the first time! We have highly qualified dive instructors who will teach you all you need to know about scuba diving in the shallow waters of Michaelmas Cay before you venture out into the deeper waters. Certain medical conditions may preclude some people from Scuba Diving and the minimum age to participate is 12 years. For further advice, please contact our office.
We have a penalty free cancellation policy. If the weather takes a turn for the worse or if your plans change, you can cancel or change the travel date, as long as you let us know by midday on the day prior to travel. Follow this link for more information on our cancellation policy.
We are at Michaelmas Cay for a full four hours which gives you plenty of time to explore the cay with all of the included activities - and time for some relaxation too!.