<span class="g">Ocean Free</span>

Ocean Free

Family Owned

Family Owned

<span class="o">Ocean Freedom</span>

Ocean Freedom

CAIRNS PREMIER GREAT BARRIER REEF & ISLAND TOURSOperating Two Exclusive Reef Tours "Ocean Free" & "Ocean Freedom"

Small, personally guided Great Barrier Reef eco snorkel and dive experiences — designed for comfort, care and genuine connection with one of the world’s most remarkable natural wonders.

Not a crowded tour. Not a rushed experience. A carefully guided day on the reef — refined over 30 years. 

Locally owned and passionately operated by Perry Jones, Taryn Agius and their wonderful team.

Our story began with a shared love of the ocean and a commitment to creating experiences where every guest feels genuinely welcomed, cared for and inspired—where you’re known by name, not by number.

Perry has been working in the Cairns dive industry since 1988, managing reef operations on several small vessels. He met Taryn in late 1992 on one of the boats, and they purchased Ocean Free in 1996. Their dedication to exceptional guest experiences quickly earned Ocean Free a reputation as one of Cairns’ most respected personalised reef tours.

In 2005 they expanded that vision with the launch of Ocean Freedom, creating a second, complementary reef experience that offers spacious comfort, extended reef time and access to spectacular Outer Great Barrier Reef locations, while maintaining the same personalised approach that guests had come to love.

Together, the two vessels provide guests with the opportunity to choose the experience that best suits their style of adventure, while sharing the same commitment to their reputable service, safety and environmental stewardship.

“Many of our guests return time and again, recommending us to family and friends because they value the style of service, genuine connections with our crew and the relaxed atmosphere that has become the hallmark of “Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom”. While our vessels have grown and evolved over the years, one thing has never changed—our commitment to genuine hospitality and sharing our passion for the Great Barrier Reef.”

Today, Perry, Taryn and their dedicated crew continue to love what they do, taking great pride in ensuring every guest enjoys not only an unforgettable Great Barrier Reef adventure, but an all-round “feel good day” from the moment you step on board to the moment you depart ….and beyond!

“We believe the best reef experiences create lasting memories, and lasting memories inspire people to care for the Great Barrier Reef. We look forward to welcoming you aboard Ocean Free or Ocean Freedom, arriving as our guests and leaving feeling part of our ever-growing “Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom” family.

Safe, Personalised Reef Experiences - Your safety, comfort and enjoyment are at the heart of every experience we provide - Whether an adventurous snorkeller or diver looking to explore the Great Barrier Reef, a first-time snorkeller ready for a new adventure, or travelling with family or friends of varying ages and abilities, our experienced crew are committed to helping every guest enjoy the day with confidence - Our tours are designed for guests with a sense of adventure and a willingness to experience the reef, while recognising that everyone enjoys the day in different ways - Whether you prefer a day filled with adventure or a more relaxed pace, how active or leisurely you make it is entirely your choice - We've provided detailed information throughout our website, including tour suitability and accessibility, medical considerations and frequently asked questions. If you're still unsure which tour best suits your needs, our friendly reservations team is always happy to help on info@oceanfree.com.au or phone +61 7 40521111 We would sincerely love the opportunity to give you all a great day on the Great Barrier Reef, Taryn, Perry, Jazz and the Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom family.
What this Video
What this Video

Why Choose Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours
Sail Ocean Free . Cruise Ocean Freedom

Personalised Tours

We value our guests and are committed to providing very personalised, caring tours on both boats, where you’re a name not a number.

Exclusive Sailing Trip

Ocean Free has an exclusive mooring 1km off Green Island offering international visitors and locals a sail, reef and island experience.

More Reef Time

Ocean Freedom gives guests 6 unrushed hours to explore 2 stunning reef destinations, Upolu Cay Reef and Outer Edge Upolu Reef.

The Best Crew

Crew members are hand-picked to provide unsurpassed service, professionalism, reef knowledge and a high respect for safety.

Fantastic Snorkelling

Step straight off our boats to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, no deep, dark water!  The coral outcrops come up to just 1M under the surface for easy viewing. We provide guided tours, and our crew share their knowledge and passion  for the reef.

More Info about Fantastic Snorkelling

Scuba Diving

We have the highest ratio of dive instructors to divers (2:1) for our Non-Certified (intro) diving and small group Certified diving with complimentary guide to ensure you see the best parts of the reef. We take your safety very seriously.

More Info about Scuba Diving

Environment

Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours are proud to announce that both their personal Great Barrier Reef Tours have been  Advanced Eco Certified tours for over 10 years, earning the Ecotourism  title of Green Travel Leader

More Info about Environment

Value for Money

Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom are both priced the same and offer great value for money, with lots of inclusions including all snorkel equipment and tuition, snorkel tours, food served throughout the day  and plenty of time at your reef destinations.

More Info about Value for Money

Testimonials

Adam F.
15 hours ago
Just finished our snorkelling tour today and it was amazing! Would highly recommend to swimmers of all levels! My partner is not a very experienced swimmer and all of the crew were very accomodating throughout! They guided her the whole time at both locations on a donut and ensured that we saw all that there was to see at each reef. All of the crew were very knowledgeable and approachable and it was also a plus that we were able to see multiple turtles!
Simon B.
2 days ago
Awsome experience, guy on the boat nade our day memorable. Also food on board was nice and the vibe with music on the way back was great. RECOMMEND!
John
3 days ago
Want to say huge thank you to Hugo (from France) our diving guide for taking care of us and literally pulling us during our dive to show us the Great Barrier Reef up close. Coming from New York, it was our first time is Australia and first time scuba diving, and because of Hugo, we were very comfortable and felt safe in the water. Also, big thank you to Tom and his company for taking care of literally everything for us, including teaching us some techniques on our second dive. We would do this activity again, and would recommend it to anyone interested. Cheers. -Olivia and John
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Meghan P.
4 days ago
Really great experience!! All the staff were super accommodating and friendly and made the tour as enjoyable as possible. A few of us were less experienced swimmers, so the staff stayed with us while we were snorkelling and showed us the best spots. Also got to go on a glass bottom boat tour twice and learn about the reef. And lunch was fantastic; prawns, smoked salmon, etc. Honestly cannot rate these guys highly enough 💫💫💫💫💫
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Priyanka
5 days ago
Absolutely Incredible and Perfect for Non-Swimmers! From start to finish, the entire day was fantastic - the boat, the crew, the experiences, and the service were all brilliant. What really stood out was how welcoming and beginner-friendly they were. As a non-swimmer, we were initially very nervous about getting into the water. However, the dive crew was exceptionally patient, reassuring, and attentive. They took the time to explain everything clearly and provided much support, making us feel completely safe and comfortable the entire time. They guided us step-by-step through the basics, allowing us to experience the underwater world with zero stress. If you are a beginner or a non-swimmer looking for a safe, fun, and magical diving experience, this is the crew to book with. Thank you so much team for giving us an amazing experience to cherish forever 💙
Charmaine W.
1 week ago
Fantastic tour. The staff could not have done more to meet everyone’s needs and expectations and were so helpful. Snorkelling tour guides (Paul and Ollie) were exceptional !
Kerryn L.
1 week ago
We had the most amazing day with Ocean Freedom!
My daughter did an introductory dive, and she absolutely loved it. The crew were so patient, encouraging, and professional throughout our trip. 
On the way out to the reef, we were lucky to see the juvenile humpback whales breaching, which was an unexpected bonus. 
We swam with turtles, saw so many beautiful tropical fish, a stingray, and even got to watch two octopuses mating! What really made the day special, though, was the crew. Every single staff member was so friendly, helpful, and clearly passionate about what they do. A huge thank you to Mia and Ollie for making our day so memorable. You were all fantastic! 
If you're thinking about visiting the Great Barrier Reef, I can't recommend Ocean Freedom highly enough!
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Sonima K.
1 week ago
Thank you, Ocean Freedom crew, for providing us with such an incredible snorkeling experience. From start to finish, the service was exceptional. The breakfast and lunch provided were delicious, and every team member was friendly, professional, and incredibly supportive. Their care and enthusiasm made the whole experience even more enjoyable. A special thank you to Luke for going above and beyond to make our trip so memorable. Your kindness, support, and positive attitude truly made a difference. Thank you all for creating such unforgettable memories—we highly recommend Ocean Freedom!
Stuart D.
1 week ago
Fantastic full day cruise today. Staff were absolutely amazing, so knowledgeable and helpful. We saw a whale and the reef was brimming with a huge variety of fish and coral. We even saw a number of green sea turtles. Our teens stayed off their phones the entire trip unless they were taking photos which is amazing!. Food was delicious and plentiful throughout the day. Thank you! From Merryn, Stuart.
Dan P.
1 week ago
Brilliant day out! Staff were friendly, professional, informative, hard working and great fun. We felt well looked after. Plenty of food, snacks and a tasty lunch. Beautiful dive/snorkeling locations and a spacious, comfortable boat. Highly recommend!
Michael L.
2 weeks ago
The whole day was fantastic the staff were genuine and friendly not the fake canned niceties that you get at other tourist setups and you can have a reasonably priced beer on the way home. Wish I could give 6 stars
Stephanie C.
2 weeks ago
THE BEST boat in Cairns! The crew was absolutely top notch- helpful, fun, informative. The service, food, snorkeling were amazing- boat is just the right size. It may be a little more than some boats but it’s absolutely worth the extra money. We did another boat the day before and it was worlds apart in experience. The other patrons on the boat were also polite and had great etiquette. I share this because The customers on the larger boat we did the day before with the water slides etc also attracted tourists who weren’t really there to appreciate the reef.
Penny C.
2 weeks ago
工作人員每位都細心體貼詢問你的感受, 如評價所說,絕對值得5星。 非常推薦!
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Prashant B.
2 weeks ago
Reallly amazing crew. Loved every bit of it. One of the best experiences so far.
Aashish B.
2 weeks ago
If you miss this you will miss the best experience in scuba diving. Absolutely entertaining crew amazing hospitality and unlimited fun throughout the trip best thing i did in Cairns.
Pablo
2 weeks ago
Hemos ido a bucear al arrecife y todo de 10. La atención del personal, la embarcación y nuestra guia Tee que estuvo todo momento sobresaliente. Así que totalmente recomendables.
Kym H.
2 weeks ago
We loved our reef adventure with Ocean Freedom. The staff were amazing and so accommodating, loads of food from pastries and fruit when you board to cheese and crackers and cake at the end of the day.
Eric
3 weeks ago
We had a great time out on the reef, great company and service on board.
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Aspen H.
3 weeks ago
So amazing!! Spent so much time snorkeling, seeing the Great Barrier Reef has been a dream of mine forever. Boat is crewed by amazing people. Felt a bit seasick on the way in- crept up such that I didn't have time to towel off before running to the rail. Crew member noticed my shivering and brought me a splash jacket ❤️ a true queen 👑 can't speak highly enough of the experience
Mark G.
3 weeks ago
Had an incredible trip on Ocean Free out to Green Island. Everything about it was excellent, the boat, food and equipment were perfect. The best thing was the crew, Ryan, Reece and Tom were so friendly, knowledgeable and patient. They are a credit to a very well run operation.
John E.
3 weeks ago
Excellent day trip to the reef . Skipper Mat and crew were awesome. First class , friendly service with a good helping of reef knowledge passed on . Shout out to our guides Storm and Archie , thanks again👌🏻
Alexandra M.
3 weeks ago
Outstanding day out on Ocean Free. Combo of snorkelling, diving, Green Island stop and sailing home. The amazing crew made everything easy, kept us safe and very well fed, showed us some fantastic marine ecosystems. Highly recommend this boat for a first reef experience. Thanks Matt, Ti, Amber and Brosman.
Eric M.
3 weeks ago
From start to finish it was an amazing experience. All the staff are enthusiastic about their job, friendly, patient ( my youngest is normally not a brave one and he had the best time ). Morning intro dive location is stunning, mature healthy reef with a great variety in soft and hard coral, with all the fishy friends you would expect and many that were welcome surprises. After the dive had plenty of time to snorkel still, before a delicious lunch. Second dive just as breathtaking in a completely different way. Visiting the GBR has been a dream for 20+ years and I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you all for the amazing day.
Gideon
3 weeks ago
Mia is the best instructor I’ve seen
Liam K.
3 weeks ago
Snorkeling sites were excellent and the staff exceptional in their patience, knowledge and enthusiasm. Thanks for an amazing day out in the reef.

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