sunlover cruises reviews

• Telephone 0410 510 214
• Email [email protected]
• Address Cairns Queensland Australia

Sunlover Review

When your crew is a combination of scuba divers and snorkelers , and you want the best Great Barrier Reef experience possible, then an outer reef pontoon is the answer for you. Sunlover’s Moore Reef tour packs a good value punch, with pontoon, diving, snorkelling, glass bottom boat, semi-submersible, underwater observatory, touch tank, scenic heli rides, waterslide and more. Great reef location. Lots of inclusions. Just a short boat ride from Cairns. Tick, tick, tick – let’s go with our Sunlover Reef Cruises review.

Sunlover’s Moore Reef tour makes the reef accessible for all people. Divers can take guided dives (make sure you check out the soft corals under the pontoon), snorkelers are close to the action and even non-swimmers can have a reef experience on Sunlover.

Sunlover Review for the Moore Reef Day Tour

Sunlover Reef Cruises has two different tours, Moore Reef (which is this review) and Fitzroy Island (which we will do another time). Moore Reef is around 50km from Cairns, which is a 90-minute boat ride with Sunlover – on arrival, the catamaran ties up to the pontoon and portable ‘bridges’ provide passenger access to and from the boat and the pontoon. The pontoon itself is permanently moored in a coral lagoon. Water access is via submerged stairs and platforms, which makes for easy entry and exit – there’s even an enclosed ocean pool which is perfect for the little people. The multi-deck pontoon has undercover tables and chairs, a sundeck with beanbags and chairs, an underwater observatory, touch tank, waterslide, lifeguard lookout station and dive deck. It’s also the departure point for all water and reef activities, with a timetable allowing you to plan your day. Most importantly, the reef here is excellent, for divers and snorkelers. Certified and introductory scuba divers are taken along a coral wall with hard and soft corals and sea fans, with an excellent swim through adding to the diversity of the dive. All dives are guided and all equipment is included in the dive price. Snorkellers can float over shallow coral gardens, which are just metres beneath the surface and teeming with a diverse array of fish and marine life.

“When we want to go to the reef with non-diving friends and family, and want to make sure they get a full reef experience, we always choose a pontoon. The inclusions are great and the outer reef delivers on coral cover, marine life, diversity and underwater visibility. Sunlover has been operating since 1991. Our last trip with them was several years ago, when we saw an eagle ray, reef sharks, green sea turtles and of course, lots of fish. This trip was just as good and now they have a 30-metre spiral waterslide, from the top deck straight down into the sea. When I read about it, I thought it was a bit gimmicky and unnecessary, but now I’ve done it – it’s just so much fun – make sure you take the time, to ride the slide.” – Julie Johnston

Exploring the Great Barrier Reef with Sunlover From Cairns

Our Sunlover review begins with check-in at the Reef Fleet Terminal, which is open from 8am. We grabbed our tickets and wandered over to the catamaran, getting a quick souvenir photo before finding a seat on the air conditioned mid-deck, which has comfortable couches and chairs. During the journey from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, we participated in the dive briefing, which included an equipment and dive overview and brought us up to speed on timings for the day ahead. Our group of 5 consisted of 3 scuba divers and 2 snorkelers. On our day of travel, it was a calm 10 knot day and the boat ride to Moore Reef was fast and smooth. On arrival the divers headed straight over to the dive deck, while the snorkelers grabbed their masks and fins and set out explore the reef. For scuba divers, water entry is via submerged steps to a platform, with lines down to the sea floor below. Again, some quick souvenir photos, both in and out of the water, before we set out on our 50 minute guided dive. Highlights included seeing a large Maori Wrasse – we love these guys, the colours, size and markings – some red and yellow sea fans, dotted sweetlips, pink anemonefish, nudibranchs and a green sea turtle. It was a gentle dive along the wall with a lovely little swim-through and at the end, we stopped by to get some cool photos with the soft corals growing underneath the pontoon.

Out of the water, we found our snorkelers and had some lunch, which was a self-serve hot and cold buffet on the boat – which you could eat on the boat or the pontoon, we chose the pontoon. Lunch was a great opportunity to swap stories about what we had seen and done and afterwards, it was on to the glass bottom boat for a quick tour. Having ticked that box, it was back into the water for some more snorkelling where we found nemo (well not really, we found a barrier reef anemonefish – and not just one, at least 15 of them), cruised over abundant and vibrant coral gardens with feather stars, clams of all sizes and colours, parrotfish, rabbitfish, butterflyfish, Moorish idols, schools of chromis, the always inquisitive six bar wrasse and much larger, but always friendly Maori Wrasse. I overheard one guest comment it was ‘like being in an aquarium’ and that’s so true – a lovely showcase of the Great Barrier Reef its beauty and diversity.

Time for the sundeck and waterslide. As previously mentioned, I wasn’t really interested in the waterslide – I knew my son and his friend would love it – but it wasn’t a main attraction for me. Well – I was wrong – that waterslide is a whole lot of fun! I did it a lot more than I thought I would and it just added another dimension and experience to what was and is already a great day on the Great Barrier Reef. The slide is supervised to keep it safe and everyone from small kids to parents and grandparents were slip sliding away. Slide time. Dive time. Snorkel time. Reef time.

from $285.00

Sunlover Reef Cruises

Our Sunlover Review Summary Moore Reef

This was a great day at the reef. It is a later start than some other reef tours, which I for one appreciate, while still providing you with 4 hours at the reef. The Moore Reef tour can take up to a maximum of 300 guests per day – it is normally less – but it can be that high too. I think there were around 250 people on the day we travelled. There was plenty of space on the boat for everyone, with a choice of shaded outdoor decks and sundecks and air conditioned interiors. Tables and chairs on the pontoon were at a premium and the snorkel deck was busy at the start of the day, but more spacious after lunch. The dive deck was well run with easy water access and lots of space. Glass bottom boat tours and semi-submersible tours run throughout the day and there was plenty of time to enjoy all the activities.

It’s a great value day at the reef with lots of inclusions. There are also optional extras, which include scuba diving, a guided snorkel tour, Seawalker helmet dive and scenic helicopter flight. There’s an onboard photographer taking photos above and below the water all day, and you can preview these on the return trip to Cairns with the option to purchase them. We did. A great souvenir of our day at the reef with our mates. We also purchased ice-creams and some drinks from the bar, for the ride back to Cairns.

Questions About Sunlover’s Moore Reef Tour From Cairns

Is sunlover worth it.

Yes – Sunlover is worth it – although the ticket price is expensive, there are lots of inclusions, such as all of your snorkel equipment, glass bottom boat tours, semi submersible tours, entry to the underwater observatory, touch tank, waterslide, sundeck with bean bags and a hot and cold buffet lunch.

What is the diving like on Sunlover?

The diving on Sunlover is good. We did a 50-minute guided dive, which took us along a coral wall with a swim through and ended under the pontoon, which had its own little selection of soft corals. Please note there is no unguided diving on Sunlover.

What is Moore Reef like – is it a good place to see the Great Barrier Reef?

Sunlover’s Moore Reef site is a good place to see the Great Barrier Reef. Excellent coral cover, colour and diversity. Diverse array of marine life. Good underwater visibility. Range of ways to see and experience the reef, for non-swimmers, snokellers and scuba divers.

Is Sunlover a good family trip?

Yes – Sunlover is a good family trip. We travelled with two 11-year-olds who had a great time. As already mentioned, the ticket price is good value with lots of inclusions and the family price – for 2 adults and 2 kids – lets 1 child travel for free.

Is a pontoon trip better than an island trip?

Controversial question and there’s no definitive answer to this question, as it all depends on what you want to see and do. I would say this, the pontoons are normally on the outer Great Barrier Reef, so usually have better underwater visibility. They are usually moored in coral lagoons, so there’s lots of reef and coral to see. Islands provide the opportunity to walk and explore and you can relax on the beach. The visibility can vary, pending tides and there are usually more people on an island, than a pontoon.

Does Sunlover do any local specials?

Yes – Sunlover do great local specials – for people who live between Cooktown and Cardwell. At the time of writing this (October 2023) the full adult price for a full day tour to Moore Reef costs $265 or $185.50 for locals. Full fare child price $155 or $108.50 for local child price. You will need to show local ID.

What’s included in the Sunlover Moore Reef day tour?

Lots of inclusions in the Sunlover Moore Reef day tour.

• Boat ride to and from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef
• Complimentary tea and coffee on boarding
• Use of the multi-deck pontoon all day
• All of your snorkel equipment
• Glass bottom boat tours
• Semi submersible tours
• Underwater observatory
• Touch tanks
• Hot and cold buffet lunch

Cairns Sunlover Moore Reef Tour What You Need To Know

Sunlover’s Moore Reef day tour, to and from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, operates 365 days a year. Travel is on a spacious catamaran with indoor and outdoor seating. The multi-deck pontoon has undercover tables and chairs and a sundeck with beanbags and chairs. A hot and cold buffet lunch is included in the ticket price and is self-serve on the boat. You have around 4 hours at the reef, which is plenty of time to do all of the activities. This trip is suitable for people of all ages and abilities and on the day we travelled, guests were a mixture of families (with kids of all ages), tour groups and older guests. Check-in commenced at 8am and you return back to Cairns around 5.30pm. Ice creams and beverages are available to purchase on the boat, which is extra to the ticket price.

• All equipment provided
• All scuba dives are guided
• Snorkelling is good
• Glass bottom boats
• Wear sunscreen and sun smart clothes
• Daily departures from Cairns

Related Great Barrier Reef Posts

• 24th Jun 2024

Great Adventures Review

If you can’t decide between a Cairns reef or island day tour – no problem – do them both in one action packed day with Great Adventures. This full day itinerary includes 2 hours at Green Island and 3 hours at the Outer Great Barrier Reef, with buffet lunch and semi-submersible tours. It ticks all the boxes. Cruise. Snorkel. Dive. Explore.

• 14th Nov 2023

Silverswift Cairns Dive Review

Fast boat, smooth ride and guided dives on some stunning Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef sites, that’s what Silverswift is all about. They visit 3 reef sites each day, with plenty of time for diving and snorkelling. Meals, snacks and equipment are all included, so without further ado, let’s dive into our review.

• 16th Oct 2023

Calypso Dive Review

Peering over the edge of the boat, we see glimpses of the coral gardens below. Excitement builds. Weight belts on. BCDs on. Buddy checks complete. We stride in and begin our scuba diving discovery of the Great Barrier Reef with Calypso Reef Cruises, from Port Douglas. This was a great day, exploring amazing reef sites.

• Unguided Diving in Cairns
• Down Under Cruise & Dive Review
• Passions of Paradise Diving and Snorkelling Review
• Upolu Reef Diving and Snorkelling Review
• Green Island Snorkeling Review
• Opal Reef Snorkel Tour
• Mission Beach Snorkel Tour
• ABC Snorkel Charters
• Ocean Safari

About the Author

Julie was born in Cairns and grew up running around in the cane fields south of the city. She has explored, breathed and loved everything about our amazing Cairns region her whole life. Excited to be able share this wonderful place with our son and see it all again through ‘new’ eyes. Watch this space for more info on the people, places, destinations and things you can do up here.

Sunlover vs Reef Magic vs Reef Experience: Review

• Post author By Julia
• Post date March 7, 2019
• 1 Comment on Sunlover vs Reef Magic vs Reef Experience: Review

As you’ve probably read in the previous post , we had intended to visit the Great Barrier Reef once but we loved it so much that ended up going there 3 times during our week in Cairns. We decided to go with different providers. This is a fair comparison of the 3 Reef Cruise companies we tried.

If you check reviews on the internet, all the 3 have a very good rating but one of the companies was just one big disappointment. That was the last one we tried, Reef Experience .

Sunlover turned out to be the most expensive and second best.

Our absolute favourite (except for a couple of things that could be better), was Reef Magic .

Read on to know why.

Sunlover depart Cairns at 9:30 and the journey to the Reef takes 2 hours, with 1 stop on the way. Reef duration is 4 hours.

Reef Magic depart at 9:00 and take you to the Reef in 1,5 hour without any stop. Thus you get to the Reef one hour earlier which is yours – both leave at the same time, 15:30. Reef duration is 5 hours.

Reef Experience promise up to 6 hours of Reef time but the reality is different. The departure time  on their site   is stated as 8:00, but in our case they were running late, forcing people to wait under the rain for 30 minutes, departing Cairns and arriving at the destination 30 minutes later as well . Moreover, after boarding, all the passengers were given forms to fill in, creating more chaos and delay. The second snorkelling location was available 75 min instead of the promised 2 hours. So in total, they stole 75 min from their passengers’ reef experience.

All the three boats we tried were different. The bigger boats tend to be more stable but the size is not only what matters. The Sunlover’s  boat was bigger but it didn’t make the journey smoother or easier. On the contrary, we noticed more manoeuvres to avoid the waves with the Reef Magic smaller catamaran. The Reef Experience boat was even smaller and it was the least enjoyable, i t was not at all modern, piece of art and very stable, as it was promised on their site.

The seats of the Sunlover and ReefMagic boats were soft and comfy, Reef Experience – hard and inconvenient.

All the 3 boats were well air-conditioned , Reef Magic a bit too much.

Sunlover had plenty of motion sickness bags everywhere on board which was very handy.

At the Reef Itself

All the 3 cruises we’ve taken bring you to the outer reef (supposedly, more interesting than the inner reef).

Sunlover and Reef Magic boats take you to the pontoon , which is a large floating platform with shade and all the equipment necessary for snorkelling, diving and other activities for fish watching: a semi-submarine, a glass bottom boat, an underwater observatory and a kid’s pool – a small enclosed area where kids can safely play in the water, with a bonus of lots of colourful fishes coming for a visit. The pontoons didn’t differ much.

Reef Experience had no pontoon and the boat took to us to 2 different reefs, but it didn’t make our experience richer. On the contrary, lots of time was wasted on changing the location.

The locations of Sunlover and Reef Magic were with a much reacher marine life and more colourful corals than of Reef Experience, where the corals were actually mostly bleached.

Reef Experience had the least modern equipment, including very thin and torn wet suits.

The Sunlover staff on the boat was friendly but the feeling was like at the market where everybody tries to sell as much as possible to you. We didn’t like all that commercial attitude. The staff at the pontoon were a bit grumpy.

Reef Magic had less commercial attitude and more informative presentations, like the one from a marine biologist with a very nice (and not too long) talk about the Great Barrier Reef and some history around it. We also appreciated how skillfully the captain avoided big waves on the way to and from the Reef.

Reef Experience crew seemed to be the least professional from the 3 cruises. Their management, when we complained, pointing the issues with the organization, first ignored us and then simply refused not only a refund of any kind, but even to acknowledge their fault.

The prices are slightly different, not only for the cruises but also for the things not included in the package, like diving, lockers, wetsuits rental, with Sunlover being the most and Reef Experience the least expensive.

We are by no means affiliated to any of the companies, this is a fair comparison based on our personal experience which might be helpful for somebody, like us, trying to choose among all that diversity of offers around the Great Barrier Reef.

Share this:

• Tags Great Barrier Reef Cruises , Reef Experience , Reef Magic , Review , Sunlover

One reply on “Sunlover vs Reef Magic vs Reef Experience: Review”

Thanks for the great insight.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

100% Australian Owned & Operated!

PH: (+61) 07 4041 1638  | Email Us : | About Us : | FAQ : | Contact Us : |

PHONE: (+61) 07 4041 1638  | Email Us : |

QUICK SEARCH:

Sunlover Reef Cruises Review

Cairns dive adventures trip review.

Sunlover is a great reef day trip to Moore Reef. Suitable for families (of all ages) and guests that want to mix it up with a range of diving and non-diving activities.

Trip Review By:  Richard

Sunlover Reef Cruises provides day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, departing from Cairns’ Marlin Marina at 9.30am. Their fast catamaran takes you to a large pontoon, which is permanently moored at Moore Reef.

Here, guests have up to four (4) hours to enjoy a range of activities, including but not limited to, snorkelling, introductory and certified scuba diving. It’s a great day out, perfect for people of all ages, including young families, groups of friends and solo travellers.

Our Sunlover Reef Cruises experience was taken on Saturday 11 March 2017. We did a family trip, two adults and a 4.5-year-old child. Both adults are certified divers, but on this occasion, only one parent dived, so we could maximise family time at the reef. There would be time for both parents to dive separately, if you wanted to do this.

Our day began with check-in at the Reef Fleet Terminal from 8.30am. Check-in is open until 9.15am and there’s no real rush, as you can’t board the boat until 8.45am. The boat is a short walk from the Reef Fleet Terminal and you are greeted by professional photographers, who are taking souvenir photos.

The photographers travel with the boat and are around throughout the day, capturing topside and underwater photos of your Great Barrier Reef experience. These are available for preview and sale on the way home and are a great piece of memorabilia.

The Sunlover catamaran is an impressive vessel with three-levels of air-conditioned interior and two exterior sun decks. Plenty of space for everyone to spread out and enjoy. Complimentary tea and coffee are available on-board, with all hot beverages to be consumed prior to departure from Cairns.

Divers were provided with paperwork to complete and were required to show their certifications.

Briefings are provided in both Chinese and English, catering to the mix of guests on board. The briefings covered the day’s itinerary, as well as some of the optional extra activities you could choose to purchase and participate in. These included a guided snorkel trip, introductory and certified scuba diving, helmet diving and scenic helicopter tours. They also talk about lycra suits and wetsuits, which may be hired for the day from $5 and $10 respectively. These must be paid for at the bar, on the boat, at which time you will be issued with a docket, which you can redeem at the dive deck on the pontoon.

The boat fired up its engines and pulled out from Cairns on time, at 9.30am. There’s plenty of views from all places on the boat and it’s a scenic journey, from Cairns to the first port of call, Fitzroy Island. Here, Sunlover pulls up to drop off day guests and pick-up island guests, to take to the reef. It’s a well-rehearsed procedure and is completed in no time at all.

It’s a beautiful day in paradise and everyone is out enjoying the breeze on the top deck. With all guests aboard, we continue our journey, departing Fitzroy at 10.30am. The crossing from here to the Moore Reef pontoon can be a bit bumpy; sea sickness medication is available for purchase from the bar. Please note this is preventative though, so if you suffer from motion sickness, it’s best to take something before leaving Cairns.

On the way to the pontoon, the dive crew advise that my certified scuba dive will be at 12.45pm, letting me know I should eat first. All certified dives with Sunlover are guided by dive professionals. Lunch is served on board the boat, from 12pm.

We arrive at the Moore Reef pontoon at 11.15am. There’s lots of seagulls and birds who are enjoying the pontoon as the perfect place to relax and we can’t wait to get on board. Guests disembark from the boat at 11.25am. We head straight to the dive deck to collect our lycra sunsuits, which are available in a range of sizes, including kids’ sizes.

The lycra sunsuits are a great idea for everyone. The pontoon is also fully stocked with masks, snorkels and fins (which are complimentary) in a range of sizes. They also have buoyancy vests, for those who are not confident swimmers. NB: We brought our own for our son, so the Superman vest is not provided.

There is a lifeguard on duty at all times and the pontoon has an enclosed paddle pool / swim area for kids. This is a submerged and enclosed platform in the sea, so the fish do swim up on to it, providing the little ones with a real thrill and chance to experience the Great Barrier Reef for themselves.

Children and adults alike will appreciate the number activities that are included in the ticket price. This includes snorkelling, glass bottom boat rides, semi-submersible rides, a visit to the underwater observatory and fish feeding. These activities are scheduled throughout your time at the pontoon, so make sure you allow time for everything.

Now, on to the snorkelling! Water entry is via a set of steps down to a partially submerged platform, which has a seat, making it easy to put on fins and mask in the water. Fish are everywhere. We’re excited to snorkel.

Almost immediately, our family was surrounded by tens of yellow-tailed fusiliers, scissor-tailed seagent fish and glass fish. We even saw a large Humphead Maori Wrasse. The coral gardens were beautiful and our son was amazed at all that he saw. Such a special family trip.

If you are interested to learn more about the Great Barrier Reef see our latest article – The Ultimate Guide to the Great Barrier Reef

With an eye on the time, we headed back to the boat to grab some lunch. It’s a delicious hot and cold buffet, which included cold prawns, meats, fruits, a selection of salads (garden, pasta, potato, cous cous) and bread, as well as hot curry and rice and chicken and mushroom pasta. You could choose to eat on the boat or the pontoon. We chose the sea views from the pontoon and there was plenty of tables and bench seats to choose from.

DIVE 1: SUNLOVER CRUISES – MOORE REEF – 1.20PM

I arrived at the dive area on time, 12.45pm. Here we waited for the dive crew and the rest of the group to arrive. We were given a quick dive briefing, which advised the maximum depth would be 17m and that we should stay with the dive guide in a buddy system and keep an eye out for the underwater photographer. There were 3 certified divers in my group. Water entry for scuba divers is via another step of submerged steps, which take you down from the dive deck to a platform beneath the pontoon. Here the water is about waist height. Once the dive group are assembled, we put in our regulators and descend to the ocean below. This can be done either by dropping down on your own, or following a guide rope down. It was 1.20pm.

Immediately below the water, we were again greeted by fish of all shapes, size and colours. The Humphead Maori Wrasse is there and made for an excellent underwater photo subject and companion. Photos completed, our dive guide headed out to explore Moore Reef. We saw an amazing variety of hard and soft corals, giant clams, sea whips and sea fans. We also saw a range of different Great Barrier Reef fish, including but not limited to Clark’s and Pink Anemonefish, Puffer Fish, Fusiliers, Parrotfish, Butterflyfish, Glass Fish, Moorish Idols, Giant Trevally and Spangled Emperor. It was diving around the coral walls and bommies, as well as an awesome swim through.

The dive lasted 40-minutes and ended at 2pm. While I had been diving, the rest of the family had been on the glass bottom boat and semi-submersible, as well as visiting the touch tank on the pontoon and underwater observatory. Everyone was having a great day, on the Great Barrier Reef.

Back together again, we did some more snorkelling. Once in-water activities were complete, we had a freshwater shower on the pontoon and got changed into clean, dry clothes. There are change rooms on the pontoon and change rooms and toilets on the boat.

At around 3pm, they call guests to board the catamaran, in anticipation for the return to Cairns. Before departure, they complete a head count and the boat pulls away from the pontoon at 3.37pm. The bar is open and guests can choose to purchase a range of cold drinks, including beer and wine. It also sells chips and chocolates. There is complimentary biscuits and tea and coffee. The journey back is smooth and after another short stop at Fitzroy Island, we arrive back into Cairns on time at 5.30pm.

THE VERDICT

Sunlover Reef Cruises is a great day trip to Moore Reef. It is suitable for families (of all ages) and guests that may want to mix it up with a range of diving and non-diving activities. There’s lots of inclusions and a range of optional extras, catering to people of a diverse range of interests and abilities. The reef was great. We saw lots snorkelling and on the dive. Chinese and English signs, staff and presentations, catering to guests.

Book this tour with us, spend over $550, and receive our 1 x FREE digital underwater camera hire service . If you have any further questions about this tour call our dive crazy reservation team on: PH: +61 7 40411 638 or Email: [email protected]

Sunlover Cruises

Trip review photos:.

Search for Tours:

Categories:, recent posts, which snorkeling spots in cairns are best for spotting marine life, cairns dive adventures – new shop open 2024, snorkeling with turtles from cairns & fitzroy island, diving conditions after cyclone jasper cairns australia 2024, coral spawning cairns 2023 dive & snorkel the great barrier reef, cairns diving easter 2023 school holidays, learn to dive in 3-days open water course, cairns easter holiday diving 2021, cairns christmas day great barrier reef tours, had a great time on the reef, cairns reef information.

Click the links below to find out more.

Do you need help choosing a trip?

Can't decide? We have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour , to suit your experience and budget.

FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE*

Spend over $550.00 AUD on your Great Barrier Reef tour with us and receive the latest Digital Underwater Camera Hire. Take amazing High-Resolution images and 1080 HD Video. Only when you book online thru our website. 

Not available for any tours to the Islands as fine white sand damages the seals on the cameras and makes them leak!

You need to come into our shop located on the Cairns Esplanade the day before departure to pick up the camera before 5:30 pm. You also need to supply your own SD Camera Card and drop the camera off back at our shop before 5:30pm.

Please Remember there is no other way to collect our cameras! All passengers must come into our shop the day before departure day before 5:30 pm.

Great Barrier Reef Tours