Reef Daytripper - Great Barrier Reef

The team at Reef Daytripper are our pick for a really personal Great Barrier Reef experience. They run a smaller boat, which we always appreciate, cutting down on the usual crowds you find on the bigger day tours out of Cairns. We think they’re perfect for divers who want a relaxed pace, maybe a bit more bottom time, and a crew who remember your name. They specialise in taking divers to outer reef sites that feel less hammered, and you’ll notice the difference. We’ve had some truly fantastic dives out with them, particularly around Hastings Reef. One trip, we spent a solid 20 minutes just watching a pair of reef sharks cruising over a bommie, totally unbothered. Another time, the fusiliers were so dense on a particular wall, it felt like swimming through a silver cloud. Ask them about their favourite drift dives; those are usually a winner. Visibility is generally excellent out there, often pushing 20-30 metres, especially if you get an early start before the wind picks up. It’s not the cheapest option, but for a more intimate GBR dive, we reckon it’s worth the extra few bucks. Just remember to book ahead, as that smaller boat fills up fast.

Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Australasia
Coordinates: -16.918674, 145.787410
Phone: +61 449 947 612
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.reefdaytripper.com.au
Certification Agencies: ["PADI"]
Courses: PADI Dive Boat [padi:29420]
Address: 1 Spence Street, Cairns Queensland 4870, Australia

Dive Sites Near Reef Daytripper

Reef Daytripper 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

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