Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
+4
Gallery showing 5 of 9 images, 4 more available
Ocean Freedom
4.9
1495 reviewsAbout
Ocean Freedom is one of two most personal Great Barrier Reef Tours operated by the passionate Cairns Premier Reef and Island Tours' team.
Experience six hours of un-rushed activities at two very unique and different Great Barrier Reef sites. This stylish high speed 20 metre CAT travels to two stunning uncrowded reef locations - Wonder Wall on the Outer Edge of Upolu Reef and Upolu Cay Reef. Enjoy complimentary Adventure Drift Snorkel and Glass bottom boat tours with their Master Reef guides or Marine Naturalists. Interact respectfully and learn about the stunning marine life with your passionate and knowledgeable crew.
Operating for 30 years, owners Perry and Taryn have found the right balance of care, fun and relaxation while ensuring safety and professionalism on their tours. Advanced Eco Certified and a Green Travel Leader, they are committed to practices to protect the reef and educate all guests in an engaging way. Involved in the Coral Nurture programme since 2019 and active in the Eye on the Reef programme providing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority with important tourism site-specific data.
For a truly customer-oriented, personal reef experience Ocean Freedom and/or sister vessel Ocean Free are must do tours in Cairns. You won't be disappointed!
What's Available
17 featuresECO Certified (Advanced Ecotourism) by Ecotourism Australia
Available Tours
Ocean Freedom Cruise to Upolu Cay Reef and Outer Edge Upolu Reef
Ocean Freedom, a fast stylish 20 metre luxury cruiser, goes to two great destinations - the crystal clear shallow waters of Upolu Cay and surrounding reef and "Wonder Wall" - a truly magnificent eco-friendly snorkel and dive experience on the Outer Edge Upolu Reef. Experience an informative complimentary Glass Bottom Boat and Adventure Drift Snorkel tour with attentive Master Reef or Marine Interpreter guides (all top snorkel equipment included). With only just over an hour to arrive at the first reef site and only 10 minutes travel time to the second - Ocean Freedom offers six hours to to enjoy all the activities and relax with no rush in the day. Enjoy Danish pastries, fresh fruit on boarding , a smorgasbord feast for lunch and cheese, fruit and cake platters on the comfortable cruise home. Outstanding personal service with low guest numbers, high crew to guest ratio and snorkelling tuition with even personal in-water crew assistance if needed. Very personal optional diving offered with only two divers to one instructor on your very first dive and a complimentary guide if a certified diver .Comfort guaranteed whether you prefer sundeck, shaded areas or an air conditioned saloon. Simply Superb!
Nearby places
Reviews & Ratings
Christelle
Google review
This review reflects my personal experience on 06/07/2026. While it may have been an isolated incident, the day unfortunately did not match the experience that was promised or paid for. The trip started on a positive note. We were happy to be out on the ocean and excited about the snorkeling. However, this quickly became disappointing. The wind created strong waves, making the experience uncomfortable, and the marine life was not particularly impressive compared to other snorkeling spots. After returning to the boat, lunch was served and looked very appealing, which was a highlight of the day. We were then taken to the island and given some free time to explore, not particularly exciting. The main issue occurred once we were back on the boat. A mistake was made by a crew member while handling the sail, which resulted in a very frightening situation where the boat tilted sharply to one side. While the skipper had warned us that this will happen for our return, the real concern was the crew’s reaction. There appeared to be a clear lack of coordination and communication, and the situation felt poorly managed. I understand that mistakes can happen, and I do not place blame on the individual involved, especially without knowing their level of training. However, it was noticeable that there were internal tensions within the crew, almost as if there were two separate groups that did not work well together. This significantly impacted the overall atmosphere and quality of the experience. Additionally, I found that only the skipper and the second-in-command were genuinely friendly and attentive toward guests. By the end of the trip, I was eager to return home, particularly after seeing several passengers become extremely unwell on the journey back. While Ocean Free is not responsible for weather conditions, I believe it would be beneficial to adapt the itinerary in such circumstances to ensure guests still have an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. I would not recommend Ocean Free based on this experience and other tours and activities I have had.
Ozana Hoermann
Google review
We had an absolutely amazing experience with this team during our Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns! The entire staff was extremely well trained, professional, and very polite. The atmosphere on the boat felt warm and welcoming, like a family. You can truly see that they love what they do and care about every detail. The food was excellent: we had breakfast, a very diverse and delicious lunch, as well as snacks throughout the day, everything was fresh and well organized. We had two fairly long stops (around 2 hours each), and we did snorkeling at both locations. Our package also included scuba diving. My husband initially felt a bit uncomfortable, but the team was incredible: they encouraged him, stayed with him, and supported him the entire time. In the end, he managed to do it and enjoy the experience. We felt completely safe both during scuba diving and snorkeling. The marine life was absolutely stunning, we saw an incredible variety of fish, from Nemo to stingrays and turtles as well as beautiful corals. The team was always attentive, guiding us, showing us where to look, and explaining what we were seeing. We highly recommend this experience – it was truly unforgettable!
Ana Wadey
Google review
We had an amazing day!! Our group loved the mix of snorkelling and/or scuba diving, and the crew were all friendly, passionate, and very helpful. The boat wasn't too crowded. The food was great. A special shoutout to Archie who was super knowledgeable, took my friend diving, and even got some great GoPro footage for us, thank you!! Such a lovely experience from start to finish-we didn't want to leave!!
Rachel Steitz
Google review
Loved this excursion. The staff were fun, knowledgeable about the marine life, and safety focused. The boat felt comfortable and not packed like on some others I’ve tried. Great options for all comfort levels - snorkeling, diving, and appreciated the glass bottom boat. At the end of swimming 2 locations, the team gave confident swimmers the option to be dropped by a smaller boat, then swim to the larger boat with a guide, which was fun. Lunch was great with shrimp, smoked salmon, chicken, and lots of sides. Crew kept passing around fruit and cookies on the ride back.
Kerry M
Google review
Great company, good customer service, excellent lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea. I rated four stars as the two dive sites are in the same spot the boat doesn’t move. Good site for a beginner snorkel but not for a dive. The staff on the way back were having private conversations quiet loud from different parts of the boat not the best when your feeling sea sick. I would highly reccomend this company for someone nervous in the water but not for those experienced. We went on ocean free
Get in touch
Where you'll be
1 Spence Street
Cairns QLD 4870