The Queensland government will host a reef safety meeting in Cairns following a spike in dive-related deaths.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace will meet on Wednesday with key figures in the tourism industry, Surf Life Saving Queensland and Northern Coroner Kevin Priestly.

Five tourists have died in Great Barrier Reef waters over the past three months, with 10 people dying on the reef over 2016 - double the industry standard.

Ms Grace said Queensland had the strongest safety regulations in the country, however if there was a way to prevent deaths they needed to be considered.

'Some of the issues up for discussion include the mandating of automatic external defibrillators and increased regulation around medical declarations,' Ms Grace said in a statement.

'We'll do everything practicable to ensure that all reef visitors not only enjoy its spectacular attractions, but also return home safely to their families.'

There has previously been strong calls from operators for a second rescue helicopter to be dedicated to the region.

Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators spokesman Col McKenzie has claimed some of the deaths could have been prevented if they had been airlifted to the mainland in time.

'We're a massive industry and we're treated as second-class citizens,' he said this month.

'The area here is too big for just one helicopter, we need two.'

However, Clinton Gibbs of Retrieval Services Queensland told an inquest into the death of a dive operator in Cairns this month a second helicopter wasn't viable

'It comes down to how do you resource for every possible contingency,' Dr Gibbs said.

'Realistically you can't without costing taxpayers ultimately large sums of money.'

AAP