Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom - Great Barrier Reef
The team at Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom are our pick for a day trip out of Cairns if you’re looking for a relaxed vibe without sacrificing quality. They run two boats: Ocean Free, a smaller sailing catamaran that heads to Green Island and a nearby reef site, and Ocean Freedom, a faster motor cat that hits two outer reef locations. We love the personal touch – fewer people on board means more room to spread out and more attention from the crew. If you’re keen on experiencing the outer reef, Ocean Freedom is your best bet. We’ve found the diving at Upolu Cay and Arlington Reef to be consistently good for a day trip. Keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks resting under ledges and often, we’ve spotted green sea turtles gliding past. The visibility on the outer reef often stretches beyond 20 metres, giving you a proper sense of scale as you drift along the coral walls. Our tip? Snag a spot on the earlier trip if you can; the reef is a bit quieter then. It's a great option for newer divers or those who prefer shorter boat rides with solid reef encounters.
- Location
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -16.900000, 145.750000
- Phone
- +61 7 4052 1111
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.oceanfreedom.com.au
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI Dive Boat [padi:6109]
- Address
- Po Box 358, Edge Hill Queensland 4870, Australia
Dive Sites Near Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom
Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom provides access to 15 dive sites in Great Barrier Reef.
- Admiralty Anchorage (reef)
- Agincourt Reef - 5-25m (reef)
- Agincourt Reef No. 1 - Trigger Fish City (reef)
- Agincourt Reef No. 4 - The Point - 5-25m (reef)
- Agincourt Reefs (reef)
- Agincourt Reefs (reef)
- Alexandra Reefs (reef)
- Atkinson Reef (reef)
- Aylen Patch (reef)
- Baines Patches (reef)
- Baines Patches (reef)
- Barracuda Pass (drift)
- Bashful Bommie (reef)
- Bashful Bommie (reef)
- Batt Reef (reef)
Other Dive Centres in Great Barrier Reef
- ABC Dive & Snorkel - ["PADI"]
- Blue-Cruise Pty.Ltd
- Coral Princess Cruises P/L - ["PADI"]
- Dive Centre
- Divers Den - PADI
- Horseshoe
- Lizard Island Lodge - ["PADI"]
- Ocean Safari - ["PADI"]
- Octopus Dive - ["PADI"]
- Pleasure Divers
Best Time to Dive in Great Barrier Reef
The warmest water temperatures in Great Barrier Reef occur in February, averaging 29.5°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 25.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.4°C
- February: 29.5°C
- March: 29.2°C
- April: 28.4°C
- May: 26.9°C
- June: 25.8°C
- July: 25.1°C
- August: 25.0°C
- September: 25.4°C
- October: 26.6°C
- November: 27.7°C
- December: 29.0°C
Marine Life in Great Barrier Reef
Home to 163 recorded species including 88 reef fish, 61 hard corals, 9 seagrass & algae, 2 sharks & rays, 1 starfish, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Marine Life
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) - Sharks & Rays
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora damicornis) - Hard Corals
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Great Barrier Reef
Based on average water temperature of 27.3°C, currents 17 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories