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Certified divers can discover Fitzroy Island’s stunning reefs with Octopus Dive’s guided trips—including glass-bottom boat dives, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking just minutes from Cairns.
Certified divers can discover Fitzroy Island’s stunning reefs with Octopus Dive’s guided trips—including glass-bottom boat dives, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking just minutes from Cairns.
Book with Octopus Dive
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Octopus Dive · Fitzroy Island, Queensland
Just 45 minutes by ferry from Cairns lies Fitzroy Island, a lush tropical sanctuary bordered by crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs. Octopus Dive offers certified divers an exceptional opportunity to immerse themselves in this underwater world with guided scuba dives departing from a unique glass-bottom boat. This approach allows divers to follow the reef’s edge while instructors navigate alongside, ensuring safety and comfort even for those new to the currents.
The island’s fringing reefs are alive with color and movement—reef fish dart through corals shaped by millions of years of marine life. You’ll find sea turtles grazing on seagrass patches and tiny reef sharks patrolling the deeper blue. Fitzroy Island’s combination of volcanic slopes and lowland rainforest creates a remarkable above-water backdrop that complements the blue expanse below.
Octopus Dive stands out in Queensland’s dive community by blending adventure with accessibility. Their small group sizes—max eight divers per trip—mean personalized attention, a rarity on busier dive boats. The option to enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, or rainforest hikes between dives makes it more than a dive trip; it’s an all-day outdoor experience.
For those who prefer a slower pace, the guided snorkel safari offered on the same boat syncs perfectly — family or friends who don’t dive get their share of reef magic too. Afterwards, relaxing at Foxy’s Beachfront Bar, with panoramic ocean views, is the quintessential way to wind down.
Octopus Dive’s commitment to safety, professionalism, and local stewardship ensures every diver leaves with fresh memories and respect for this fragile ecosystem. For certified divers seeking an actionable, scenic dive outing near Cairns, Fitzroy Island via Octopus Dive ranks as a top-tier choice in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef region.
moderate.
2–4 hours.
Participants should have reasonable stamina for surface swims and light hiking between dives.
All participants must be certified divers, with open water certification or higher, to join the guided dives.
Yes, the boat also offers guided snorkel safaris so family and friends who don’t dive can accompany you.
Full gear rental is included, though you’re welcome to bring and use your personal equipment if preferred.
Octopus Dive offers single or double dive options, allowing free time for other island activities between dives.
If weather conditions make diving unsafe, your dive will be rescheduled or refunded; ferry tickets are excluded.
Meals are not included, but you can purchase snacks and lunch at island venues like Foxy’s Beachfront Bar.
Fitzroy Island is an ancient volcanic remnant with a long Aboriginal heritage, now a protected national park.
Octopus Dive supports sustainable practices by minimizing reef disturbance and promoting reef-safe products among visitors.
Octopus Dive is a dive operator based on Fitzroy Island, Queensland, offering guided dives, certification courses and introductory experiences for divers and non-divers. Located on Fitzroy Island, the operator runs trips that include certified guided dives from a glass-bottom boat, Discover Scuba sessions (pool-only and ocean dives), and PADI certification courses such as the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses. The Open Water Diver Course is offered as a three-day PADI certification with eLearning and practical dives in small groups. Participants complete confined and open-water training dives, gain skills to dive to 18 meters, and can enjoy on-island leisure activities such as snorkeling, kayaking and hiking. The Advanced Open Water Diver Course is a two-day program with five dives, including a Deep Dive and Underwater Navigation; electives include Altitude Diving and Fish ID, and certified students can progress to 30-meter depths on completion. Discover Scuba options include a pool-only session designed to teach basic breathing and buoyancy, and an ocean dive that begins with a briefing, equipment preparation, beach skill practice and a 30-minute shallow reef swim. Certified Divers trips depart from a glass-bottom boat and combine guided reef dives with free time for kayaking, snorkeling or hiking. Many trips include a 45-minute ferry transfer from Cairns. Octopus Dive emphasizes practical training, small-group instruction and clear briefings to build diver confidence. All activities take place on Fitzroy Island’s reefs and beaches, making the operator a convenient choice for accessible reef diving near Cairns. Booking is available online.
Book with Octopus Dive