What Teenagers Love About Sunlover Reef Cruises

Are you trying to plan a Great Barrier Reef day trip that keeps everyone happy, especially the teens? It can feel like a big ask and where do you start? The I Love Cairns family give Sunlover the thumbs up and when their son turned 13 years old, he wanted to go on Sunlover to celebrate. Sunlover’s Moore Reef pontoon has everything that makes teenagers reef cruises exciting — a dive platform, snorkel lagoons, and an epic ocean slide.

Ethan has joined his family on several Sunlover Reef Cruises adventures, and this is why he likes it so much. Dive. Slide. Snorkel. Repeat. Let’s unpack that a little more; here’s why Sunlover is a winner with kids and teens alike.

Scuba Diving Adventures

Ethan’s favourite activity on Sunlover? Scuba diving. “It’s lots of fun,” he says. “I like going down the stairs to the partially submerged dive deck underneath the pontoon. You can put your fins on nice and easy and then just descend.”

The dive area beneath the Moore Reef pontoon is designed to make diving accessible and comfortable for everyone, from introductory divers to certified divers and even helmet divers. Once underwater, there are swim-throughs that feel like coral canyons, with soft corals, sea fans and plenty of fish life. For confident young divers, it’s an unforgettable experience.

“The swim-throughs are awesome, it’s like swimming through a coral canyon.”

Scuba Diving at Moore Reef is perfect for beginners to experienced divers.

Snorkelling Made Simple

When he’s not diving, Ethan’s back in the water with his snorkel. The snorkelling platforms at the Moore Reef pontoon make water entry and exit easy, even for less experienced swimmers. It’s a submerged platform where you can sit down in waist-deep water and put on your mask, snorkel and fins. The reef is a short swim from the pontoon.

“The corals are close to the surface with almost 100% coral cover,” Ethan said. “There are heaps of fish, including anemonefish and six-bar wrasse.”

With lifeguards on duty and shallow reef sections right next to the pontoon, parents can relax while the kids explore safely. It’s a fun, low-stress way to see the Great Barrier Reef together as a family.

Capturing the moment with a rental underwater camera from Sunlover.

The Waterslide — Only on Sunlover

It’s not every day you find a waterslide in the middle of the ocean. Sunlover’s giant slide spirals straight off the top deck of the pontoon and splashes down into the sea below. “So cool to have a waterslide in the ocean,” Ethan says. “Kids of all ages will love this, adults too!”

Whether you race your friends or just enjoy the view from the top before taking the plunge, it’s pure reef fun.

Make a splash on the only waterslide on the Great Barrier Reef at Sunlover’s Moore Reef pontoon.

Relax Time & Refuel

After all that adventure, it’s time to chill. “The buffet is good,” says Ethan. “I like the bean bags on the pontoon’s sundeck, and Mum liked the sunlounges.” There’s also plenty of shaded space and an upper sundeck to soak up the view. Don’t forget the treat for the trip home: “The ice cream on the boat is really good, try the chocolate for sure!”

Nothing beats reef adventures and a cold ice cream!

A Reef Day Teens Actually Love

From diving and snorkelling to sliding and snacking, Sunlover Reef Cruises hits the sweet spot between fun and adventure. It’s a full-day experience that keeps teenagers entertained and gives families a shared memory of the Great Barrier Reef that’s hard to beat.

Want to read more check out Ethan’s take Here – For more Reef Adventures in and around Cairns – Check out https://www.ilovecairns.com.au/