Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom

On the Great Barrier Reef out of Cairns, Ocean Free + Ocean Freedom is a locally owned dive operation run by husband-and-wife team Perry Jones and Taryn Agius. They sail two vessels — Ocean Free, a 16.5M schooner offering a 25-guest reef and Green Island experience, and Ocean Freedom, a 20M motor catamaran giving guests an un-rushed six hours of reef time. The promise on both is the same: a personalised, caring tour where you're a name, not a number.

Diving and the reef sites

Certified divers and first-timers are welcome, with diving and Introductory dives offered as an optional extra onboard. Trips reach standout sites including Upolu Cay Reef with its crystal-clear turquoise waters, the Wonderwall on the outer edge of Upolu Reef, and Pinnacle Reef, where sharks, turtles, whales and ocean fish share the water.

An Advanced Eco-Certified operator involved in projects such as the Coral Nurturing pilot study and Eye on the Reef, Ocean Free + Ocean Freedom has run reef tours locally for over 27 years. PADI scuba diving, snorkelling, and equipment service and repairs round out what they offer.