Cairns: Exclusive Green Island & Reef Snorkel Cruise

We had an u forgettable day on the Ocean Free! From start to finish the crew made us feel so welcome and at ease. We loved being on the smaller boat with a smaller group, it feels much more personal than being on one of the massive boats. We went to our own little private reef and snorkelled with all the amazing fish which was incredible. We then went to the island and swam with sea turtles which was a massive highlight of an already amazing day! We managed to get some sailing in on the way back which was great. Also food was great and lots of little snacks on the way back, plus a glass of wine! If you’re comfortable on a sailing boat then book this trip, they’re the smallest company running and it feels like they care about the guests and the reefs, not just making a ton of money. Thanks so much for Blair, Amber and Dan for making the day so special. Freya, Sophie and Nikki ❤️

Four of us joined Blair and team for the day and had the most amazing time. The care taken to look after us and the ocean / coral reefs was amazing. Blair, Paul, Kelly and Ollie had such great teamwork it was a joy to chat & they loved sharing their passions for the ocean with us. The stroll on the beach on Green Island & seeing the turtles there was so cool. Whilst snorkling we saw cuttlefish, clown fish & many many more & a mass of healthy corals. I would have no hesitation in recommending (tall people - mind your head 😄) thank you

Very friendly crew, very personable, very well planned. They had a delicious lunch ready for us, and made sure we did what we wanted and enjoyed ourselves. Shoutout Storm for taking me on an awesome scuba dive and making sure i didn’t give myself DCS due to my flight the next day!

Absolutely brilliant; look no further and book this immediately if they have open spots! The experience was amazing and had a blast snorkeling in the reef, seeing the fish, coral, and even a sea turtle. The lunch was tasty and there was plenty to eat. Personally, I loved the smaller sailboat since it was so much faster to get everyone set up with gear and in the water quickly so you could enjoy more time with the fishes (if you prefer a bigger boat that was also available). All that said, the crew was hands down the best part of the excursion! The safety briefs were fun but covered everything that we needed to know to make sure we had a fun, safe experience. They were not only knowledgeable and helpful, but it was so apparent they love what they are doing. Chatting them up and getting not only information about the sea life, the reef, and Cairns, but Australia in general, along with their recommendations for other things to see and do was invaluable. I will absolutely book this again when I'm back here!

My husband and I sailed on the Ocean Free on November 8th, and the day was amazing from start to finish. The crew — Kelly, Archie and Ollie, skippered by Blair — were outstanding. They were professional, knowledgeable, friendly and wonderfully entertaining. From the moment we stepped on board, it was clear that safety was their top priority, and we felt completely at ease. A special mention must go to Blair and Kelly for their kindness and encouragement. I can swim, but it had been years since I’d done anything like snorkelling, and at first I was convinced I’d just stay on the boat and watch my husband. Thanks to their gentle reassurance, I decided to take the plunge — and I’m so glad I did. The reef was absolutely breathtaking, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Lunch was delicious — I still don’t know how they managed to serve such a fantastic buffet on a small vessel! Green Island was beautiful to wander around, and we paid extra to visit the Crocodile Park, which was incredible. On the sail back we were treated to cheese, biscuits, cake and a glass of wine while soaking up the relaxed, friendly atmosphere that the crew had created. What stood out most was how 23 strangers boarded the boat in the morning, but by the end of the day we left feeling like friends. Docking was genuinely bittersweet — the perfect end to a perfect day. Thank you to the Ocean Free team for giving us an experience we’ll never forget! Highly recommended.

Fabulous experience Crew (Anna, Capt Mike, Archie & Oli) ran a really slick operation, working like demons and accommodating last minute requests, but always happy to chat with us & answer questions. Unfailingly cheerful & helpful. Weather conditions pretty much perfect & snorkelling visibility excellent. Incredible wildlife down there! Crew were attentive and encouraging giving extra attention to those of us who were a bit nervous. Safety is clearly the main priority, lots of safeguards in place. Lunch was fresh & good quality. Optional time on Green Island (a good break to be on land for a short time if the snorkelling makes you queasy) with 2 shuttle trips out from the boat & 2 returns giving flexibility. Couldn’t have been happier with the experience. The crew get that it’s important they get it right. Quote from Anna sums it up “We do this every day but for customers it’s often a once in a lifetime.” Thank you!

Skipper Mike and crew Storm & Paul were wonderful and we had a great day snorkeling and visiting Green Island.

We had a fantastic experience on Ocean Free. The crew were engaging, informative and friendly; the boat was lovely and comfortable, the food was very good. Snorkelled on the reef and at the jetty on Green Island, and saw lots of fish and a giant turtle. It was a beautiful day!

This was a fantastic trip aboard a sailboat with fewer than 20 people. The crew were fantastic! When we went snorkeling there were two crew with life rings in the water for safety reasons. The food was excellent and again, the crew was awesome.

I don't normally write reviews,but I feel I have to as this experience was by far the best day the entire family had. Kids and adults enjoyed the smaller group experience on the smaller boat. Definitely a more personalised experience. Snorkeling site was great. Fantastic crew, fun and great energy. Couldn’t recommend this highly enough.