The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises

On a recent trip back home to Australia for the holidays, we took some time out to explore Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. I have always wanted to see the Great Barrier Reef, and had been perfectly content with doing so by snorkeling… until the boyfriend suggested I try scuba diving (he’s certified but I’ve never dived a day in my life!). I love swimming and snorkeling, but the thought of deep, dark, ocean and being totally dependent on an oxygen tank scares the bejesus out of me! The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises

Enter Seastar Cruises

With the highest reef cruise rating out of Cairns on TripAdvisor, our day on the water with SeaStar Cruises was the highlight of our time in Queensland.

The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises

What’s Included:

  • Morning and afternoon tea/coffee
  • Hot/Cold buffet lunch (plentiful and delicious!)
  • Fully guided snorkel tours and two different reefs
  • Glass bottom boat tour at one reef
  • Quality brand mask, snorkel and fins provided
  • Wetsuit or stinger suit provided depending on the season
  • Airconditioned vessel – the Seastar 1 is a modern designed and comfortable boat (more info. on it on TrollingMotorsGuide)
  • Photos taken daily by the crew and uploaded to Facebook

Extras:

  • Scuba diving – both certified and introductory
  • Souvenirs
  • Soda and alcohol (alcohol only available after all dives are completed)
  • Return bus transfers from your hotel to the dock

Advantages:

  • Has one of the smallest max. passenger daily limits out of all the reef cruise providers.

Reefs Visited:

  • Michaelmas Cay
  • Hastings Reef

Scuba Diving:

Certified: If you are a certified diver, you can pay an additional fee for either one or two dives at Hastings Reef. You will be required to bring your dive card along with you as proof of your certification. All certified dives are guided by an experienced dive master.

Non-Certified/Introductory: If you have never dived a day in your life (like me), you have the opportunity to take one or two introductory dives on board the Seastar. Dive one takes place at Michaelmas Cay and dive two takes place at Hastings Reef. You have an experiences dive master by your side that helps you out the entire way and will even hold your hand the entire time if need be!

While the introductory dives can be scary for a beginner, I highly recommend trying at least one of them. It was definitely quite the experience and my instructor was amazing – she even managed to keep me calm under 12 meters of water when my boyfriend lost my GoPro while we were down there…

Price:

Standard Cruise Pricing: for an adult = $185 AUD + $15 in fees & levies = $200 AUD total.

Certified Dive Add On: 1 dive = $55 AUD or 2 dives = $200 AUD.

Introductory Dive Add On: 1 dive = $75 AUD and 2nd dive is an addition $45 AUD.

The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises
The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises
The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises
The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises

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The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises

The Great Barrier Reef with Seastar Cruises

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