August 2021 - Ocean Free

Google Rating

4.8

Based on 1018 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Great Barrier Reef & Island Tours

4.8

RAFAL W

1737616399

The Australian best . The trip to Great Barrier Reef is for everyone: experienced or inexperienced divers or snorkels or even swimmers. Very well organized, friendly staff and delicious food

Lilian M.

1737440704

A bit more expensive than the other but definitely worth it. Few people, amazing staff. Food all the time. Love it

carlos B.

1737105626

We had an amazing experience with my son ,The team were exceptional, making us feel very welcomed and comfortable from the moment we arrived. Special thanks to each and every member of the team , specially “Tom” our instructor who made our diving experience one to remember for a long time , overall outstanding hospitality and for such a memorable experience 💫💫💫💫💫

Karine D.

1737066436

We had a wonderful day on 5th January 2025 despite the windy weather. As someone English who is not used to sea swimming, I was reassured by the staff's presence in the water as the sea was very choppy! I was disappointed by not seeing the reef proper but this was because of the weather, not the crew. The lunch was fantastic and the crew so positive and upbeat. I would definitely choose to come with them again. Big shout out for T, Paul, Lucy and Mike, you made our trip very special.

Andy K.

1736598580

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Ocean Freedom Cruise with my family, and it truly was a memorable adventure. One of the highlights was undoubtedly the snorkeling experience at the Great Barrier Reef, which offered breathtaking views and an up-close encounter with the vibrant marine life.The crew on board was exceptional—very accommodating, friendly, and well-organized. They ensured that every guest felt welcome and supported throughout the trip, making our experience enjoyable despite the weather conditions. It’s clear that they are passionate about what they do, and their professionalism stood out.Unfortunately, we faced some challenges due to the weather. It was rainy, and the waters were choppy, which certainly affected the experience. However, as they say, “weather you cannot change,” and we all tried to make the most of the situation.Overall, the Ocean Freedom Cruise is undoubtedly the best choice for exploring the Great Barrier Reef. If you're lucky enough to have good weather, my family can only imagine how incredible the experience would be. We wholeheartedly recommend this cruise for anyone looking to explore the reef, and we look forward to returning in better conditions!

Lesley C.

1736501316

Our family of 12, age range from 3 to 77, had the most amazing day with Ocean Free! Incredible snorkeling & scuba diving, super knowledgeable & friendly crew, great vibe - not overcrowded. Great food too! I would highly recommend Ocean Free to anyone looking for a day out on the reef…great for all ages & degrees of experience in the water.

Sandra G.

1736501128

Once in a lifetime experience!Friendly and welcoming crew made a memorable day. Smaller group, guided snorkeling and great atmosphere enhanced the whole experience. 😊

George and Sandy N.

1736499754

Best day on Ocean Freedom today! 20/20. Highly recommend this to anyone wanting an awesome day out on the reefs. Such helpful staff.Massive thanks to this legend who took fabulous care of my husband and son on their 1st ever dives! They had such a memorable day and are now addicted 😆 🙏🏻

Anand G.

1736489714

If I could give more stars I would. I had not scuba dived and my wife doesn't know swimming. The instructors were patient, friendly and even kind enough to show us around with us just tugging along for the ride. It also helped that we went on an absolutely beautiful day with only 3 knots.

Margaret C.

1736411665

What a unbelievable experience, the staff are excellent. Giving individual attention and being your buddy and best friend while out at sea. A special mention to ya ya for giving the irish couple great attention and helping us out and helping us to enjoy such an unbelievable experience. We would highly recommend Ocean freedom for the reef experience with small numbers and great attention. The lunch and refreshments on board were great.Thank you Ocean freedom staff.

Danny P.

1736153251

Here’s a detailed review for Ocean Freedom:A Snorkeling and Scuba Adventure Beyond Expectations!Ocean Freedom delivered an absolutely unforgettable experience that surpassed all of our expectations. From start to finish, everything about our day on the water was exceptional.The crew was nothing short of amazing. Their professionalism, enthusiasm, and knowledge made us feel welcome and completely at ease. Whether you were a seasoned diver or a first-time snorkeler, they catered to everyone with such care and attention. Safety was clearly a top priority, and their briefings were thorough yet engaging. The crew’s passion for the ocean was contagious—they shared fascinating insights about the reef and marine life, adding an educational element to the adventure.The snorkeling and scuba diving were phenomenal. The Great Barrier Reef locations we visited were pristine, with crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral gardens, and an abundance of marine life. We saw everything from schools of colorful fish to graceful rays and even a friendly sea turtle! The crew ensured everyone had the best possible experience, offering guidance and support in the water.The boat itself was spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped, with everything you might need for a day out at sea. The food provided was delicious and plentiful—fresh, varied, and perfect after a morning in the water.What truly set Ocean Freedom apart was the crew’s dedication to creating a personal and memorable experience. They took the time to get to know everyone onboard and made us feel like part of the Ocean Freedom family.If you’re looking for a snorkeling and scuba adventure in Cairns, Ocean Freedom is the way to go. It’s not just a trip to the reef—it’s a day filled with excitement, discovery, and genuine hospitality. Thank you to the incredible crew for an experience we’ll treasure forever!Experienced on 06.01.25

Sabrina L.

1736145014

Amazing day out with Ocean Free! We went with them for a dive / snorkel and excursion to Green Island. I did the intro dive and my boyfriend did a beginner’s snorkel, and the crew were friendly, attentive and made us both feel so comfortable with trying our new activities. Ocean Free is also an awesome sailboat and on our way back we had our sails up and did some sailing with no engines, which was also a super unique experience. I’d recommend it to anyone - don’t hesitate to book!

Melis D.

1735979591

Everything was amazing and the crew even accommodated my ankle injury. Thanks to them, I still managed to do snorkelling at the reef and had one of the best experiences ever. Recommend this company to everyone who wants to see the reef. 🤩

Pieter N.

1735971851

Did a reef snorkel for a day. Staff were exceptionally friendly and helpfull.Food was top notch and safety taken seriously.I will highly recommend this business 😀

Cam N

1735646953

We were very glad to have chosen Ocean Freedom for our reef tour. It’s a smaller group and the staff were fun, attentive and very passionate about the ocean and the reef. We went in early Nov so it’s the beginning of the jelly fish season but we didn’t see any. We got to see sea turtles, sea snake, sting ray, clown fish, and so many many more. All thanks to a crew member that was kindly showed us around the reef. It was a far better experience than the larger tour we went with the last time we were in Cairns. Highly recommend.

Claude R.

1735068311

Très bon accueil et très grand professionnalisme

Vera F.

1735046844

Highly recommend this tour. It’s a smaller and more intimate group than the other larger boats/cruises. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff and you can tell they are all very passionate about the reef. The instructors easily cater to all swimming experiences. All snorkel gear are sanitized and clean.Food is great as well. It comes with the cost and they provide lunch as well as afternoon snacks like fruits and mini cakes.First reef snorkel spot is my favourite out of the 2 locations they take you. We were very lucky with the weather and visibility during wet season in early December.

Jason K.

1735041779

Agree with all the other reviews - I snorkeled, and it was a great day. Having two snorkel spots which offered distinct types of coral and fish was very cool, they took care of everything, and the lunch was quite good.The glass bottom boat was a nice way to get information about the reef, but the views were worse compared to the snorkeling, which I think is to be expected.Also, I didn't get to tell them in person but whoever was in charge of the music on the 24th was playing some good stuff 👌👌

Muhammad B.

1734884402

I had an unforgettable experience at the Great Barrier Reef, and I just have to share how amazing the staff was! Molly, Amber, Tom, Shae, and Mike, the diving instructor, were all fantastic—so knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. And Bobby, the most welcoming face, really made me feel at home.A special shoutout to Maddy, who sang "Three Little Birds" and shared her incredible knowledge of the reef. It was such a peaceful and educational moment!I had so much fun snorkeling, and even though I didn’t go scuba diving this time (I panicked a bit), I’ll be back with a stronger will to try again. Keep doing what you're doing; your passion and hospitality make this place truly special.Ps: Sorry if I miss someone : crew is great

Clemens R.

1734764836

It has been a lifelong dream of mine to see the Great Barrier Reef, and I’m thrilled to say that, with the help of OceanFreedom, I fulfilled that wish in ways I never could’ve imagined! The two introductory scuba dives and the snorkeling were absolutely otherworldly. The crew were the nicest people ever! Great communication prior to departure as well and for glass wearers they have prescription diving goggles! My instructor, Tom, was top notch — I couldn’t have wished for a better guide to introduce me to the world of diving. I’d 100% book with them again and again, and if I wasn’t leaving Cairns so soon I’d book another dive right now. No exaggeration, what a f*ing trip! 12/10... minus 1 for almost forgetting my weightbelt Tom 😜 = 11/10

victoria R.

1734340054

We had such an amazing day snorkelling and scuba diving with the Ocean Freedom crew today! The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable and made sure everyone felt comfortable in and out of the water. Foodwas delicious and would absolutely dive with them again. 10/10 🙌🏼🌊🐠

Jatin M.

1733969137

I would highly recommend choosing them as they have the best crew in the business, and their diving and snokling spot is also really great .Loved the experience 🤙🏻

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Facebook Rating

5.0

Based on 435 reviews

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours

5.0

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.

Micheal D.

1727172999

100% yes would recommend.

Yaya and the Mikes were amazing!

Very helpful and had confident answers for all our questions and issues. Beginner scuba class was easy to learn and even more enjoyable in the water.

Lots of fish, turtles and sharks on the dives - very knowledgeable.

Loads of time in the water and options to spend your time either on the island or half and half with more snorkle time.

Journey home and dance party topped off the trip. Will come back again with more friends next trip in the future.

Thanks for the highlight of our trip!

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

Mark G.

1704614533

I recently did a Reef tour down at Hamilton Island as my first on the GBR and had a great time.

A trip to Cairns (Palm Cove) meant another trip was due!

Ocean Freedom was recommended to us due to the smaller capacity and attention to detail by people at Palm Cove.

It was an amazing day out. A very full day, 2 reefs, well fed and normally I’d just do my own thing in the water, but opted for the glass bottom boat tour and guided snorkel while there and it was great. As little or as much time as you can handle in the water. Excellent reefs, Green Sea Turtles and Manta Rays were spotted by our family.

Highly recommended for your trip to the reef. Very kid friendly also and all provided equipment was top notch.

Loved it!

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 ⭐️

Susan G.

1654034054

I loved the whole experience, from the friendly lady in the booking office, who was the main reason we chose Ocean Freedom, to all the friendly helpful staff once we were on the cruise. I had a very memorable 67th birthday in a beautiful location ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Ocean Freedom!

Tony T.

1653638361

The tour run by Ocean Free was absolutely fantastic and surpassed all expectation! The program itself ran very smoothly and was an excellent balance between guided activities and relaxing free time. The crew was also brilliant — so friendly, fun and helpful throughout the day. All in all, a very worthwhile experience that any visitor to Cairns should consider 👌

Dianne R.

1652833879

Went on a fabulous day out with these guys yesterday! This was my husband’s dream since childhood and it exceeded his expectations totally! The crew were so friendly and informative. The food kept on coming all day and the snorkelling was magical. We will do this again and won’t go with anyone else but these!

Denise W.

1652648150

This tour exceeded all our expectations. The crew were amazing. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on board and couldn't ask for a more beautiful memorable day. Thank you for making our day extra special

Eoin D.

1652434700

Brilliant experience, really knowledgable crew! Highly recommend

Gitte Kock J.

1651884479

Look at this photo from 18.2.2000 !!!!!!!. My boyfriend back then, now husband and I had an amazing trip on Ocean Free. Back again in 2017 with 2 kids and my dad. ❤️

Stuart H.

1651566101

Wonderful day on the reef with a fantastic crew. Did an introductory scuba dive with my daughter and our instructor Jordan was fabulous. Great day out on the water saw lots of marine life including turtles and reef sharks.

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25 YEARS OF OPERATIONS

GREEN TRAVEL LEADER 2021

Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award Ocean Free August 2021