Sail to the stunning Michaelmas Cay, a coral sanctuary in the Great Barrier Reef, onboard the luxurious Ocean Spirit Catamaran. Snorkel among vibrant coral gardens, spot green sea turtles and tropical fish, or relax on the pristine white-sand beach. This tour includes a semi-submarine ride, guided snorkelling tours, and a delicious buffet lunch on deck. Departing daily from Cairns, this is the ultimate Great Barrier Reef day trip for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
If you’re keen to try scuba diving to observe the wild colours of the coral from a whole new perspective, Michaelmas Cay’s shallow protected waters is the perfect place to add an introductory dive. A qualified and experienced instructor will be by your side to help you with every step of the dive, ensuring you to have a stress free, fun, and unforgettable experience.
From $288pp 
1 Day 
7.30am: Check-in at Ocean Spirit’s counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal for boarding passes
8:00am: 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-submersible coral viewing 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
3:00pm: Return journey to Cairns. Glass of complimentary sparkling wine served on the homeward journey, cheese and crackers
5:00pm: Arrive Cairns
Set sail for a day of adventure and discovery at Michaelmas Cay. Snorkel or scuba dive through vibrant coral reefs. Explore the underwater world from the comfort of a semi-submersible and enjoy a Marine Biologist presentation to learn about the reef’s unique ecosystem.
Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns City
Cancellation & Refund Policy: Refunds will be processed according to the following time frames:
Cancellations after 6pm on the day prior to travel a 100% cancellation fee will apply.
Cancellations between 12 midday and 6pm on the day prior to travel a 50% cancellation fee will apply.
Cancellations before 12 midday on the day prior to travel no cancellation fee will apply.
Travelling time from Cairns to Michaelmas Cay is approximately 2 hours.
Yes. 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 the reservations team as they will be able to let you know the latest conditions.
There is parking available outside or undercover at the Pier. Please ensure you have coins for parking if using the outside area. Other nearby parking is available at the Reef Casino or Cairns Hilton Hotel. The Cairns Cruise Terminal on Wharf St is another parking alternative however is a little further to walk to the Reef Fleet Terminal.
Hopefully not. Where there is motion, whether a car, bus, plane or boat, some people will suffer from motion sickness. Motion sickness tablets are available onboard for purchase. Also on offer are ginger tablets as a natural alternative motion sickness medication on a complimentary basis. To be effective, motion sickness medications should be taken immediately on boarding.
Yes the onboard daily buffet lunch provides food options for vegetarians. All menu options are labelled with ingredients list. Please reach out directly if you have specific dietary needs.
We recommend you bring your own towel. Limited towels are available onboard for hire however cannot guarantee availability.
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 Ocean Spirit are doing it for the first time! Onboard are 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.
Discover more ways to discover the Great Barrier Reef with our epic guide.
Due to government regulations and comfort of all passengers, smoking is not permitted on board any vessels. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas on the island, the crew will instruct you as to where these areas are.
Yes, there are no allocated seats on board – you are free to sit wherever you wish.
Yes there are toilet facilities on board the vessel. There are no facilities on the Cay.
Yes, like every ocean there are sharks in the Great Barrier Reef. Although, don’t be afraid – you won’t encounter Great White Sharks as they prefer the cooler waters of the Southern Ocean! You’ll mostly see small reef sharks which pose no threat to divers or snorkellers. The common species of sharks that’s encountered here include black or white tip reef sharks and wobbegong sharks. These sharks are generally very shy and only grow to about 5 foot in length.
4.69 / 5.0
Based on 48 reviews
A perfect mix of comfort and adventure. Highly recommend booking this tour early.
The views were spectacular, though the buffet could use a little upgrade.
The wind picked up in the afternoon which made the return trip a bit rocky. Staff handled it like pros.
Great day, but the commentary was hard to hear when the boat was moving. Still would recommend.
I’ve done a few reef tours and this one is by far the best. Less crowded, more personal.
It felt like a luxury getaway. Clean, spacious, and so well-organized. Worth every cent.
Couldn’t fault a thing! From the breakfast onboard to the guided snorkel tour, Ocean Spirit nailed it.
Loved every minute – relaxing sail, vibrant coral, and a delicious lunch.
Felt safe and supported the whole time. Only wish we had more guidance on the snorkeling locations.
Really great day out – I would’ve liked a bit more time in the water, but otherwise no complaints.
Unforgettable! The crew were knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about the reef.
Perfect weather, calm seas, and a super helpful crew. The reef was teeming with life. 10/10 would go again.
This was the highlight of our trip to Queensland. We even saw a turtle!
Nice boat and views, but I found the snorkeling quite basic. Better for first-timers.
The tour was excellent but the transfer logistics from the hotel could’ve been smoother.
We had a fantastic time, but a few areas of the reef were a little cloudy that day.
Incredible experience! The glass-bottom boat gave us such a cool view of the coral. Loved every second.
Great overall – just a bit too many people for my liking.
Just okay. The trip felt overhyped for the price. Still, it was a relaxing day out.
We saw rays, turtles, and countless colorful fish. This tour exceeded expectations.
Loved the semi-submersible – my kids were fascinated by the coral and fish.
Truly magical. Seeing the reef from the semi-submersible was like entering another world.
Wish we had more snorkeling and less time sailing. It felt more like a boat ride than a reef experience.
Not bad, but not memorable either. The lunch was bland and the commentary was hard to hear.
Would give 5 stars if the lunch options catered better to dietary needs. Everything else was brilliant.
Really enjoyable and relaxing. The sun deck was great, but snorkeling could have been more guided.
The attention to safety and comfort was impressive. We even spotted a reef shark!
Ocean Spirit is well-organized and professional. The reef speaks for itself – just wow.
A must-do in Cairns! The photos we got were incredible – shoutout to the onboard photographer.
The marine biologist onboard gave a great talk and made the snorkeling much more meaningful.
The catamaran was top-notch, and the drinks were reasonably priced. Some gear looked a bit old though.
Average experience overall. Crew was helpful, but I didn’t find the reef as impressive as I hoped.
Nice boat and friendly staff, but lunch was just okay. Still, the reef was breathtaking.
Absolutely stunning day out! The catamaran was spacious and the crew made us feel safe and welcome. Snorkeling on the reef was surreal.
Loved the sailing experience, but felt a little rushed between activities.
Hands down the best reef tour I’ve been on. Everything ran like clockwork.
The crew made everyone feel welcome, and the vibe onboard was super chill and fun.
A luxury experience from start to finish. Beautiful boat, friendly staff, and amazing reef access.
Top-tier service, just a slight delay in boarding at the marina. Still a great day.
Booked last minute and I’m so glad I did! It was one of the best days of my trip.
Beautiful cruise, good food, and a relaxed pace. We didn’t feel rushed like on other tours.
What a day! We snorkeled, sailed, and sipped champagne on the way back.
Bit too touristy for my taste. Didn’t feel like a genuine reef adventure.
An okay experience – the reef wasn’t as vibrant as I expected, but the staff were friendly.
A very good experience overall. Just wished the weather held up a bit longer for better snorkeling.
Special shoutout to the staff – they went above and beyond to help my partner who was nervous about snorkeling.
We booked through Happy Travels and everything went smoothly. Ocean Spirit is a must-do when you're in Cairns.
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Could have used more structure in the day. It felt a bit chaotic with everyone rushing to get gear.