• Sleep on the reef!  Liveaboard adventure to the Outer Barrier Reef 
• Experience the magic of the reef at night with an exclusive night dive   
• Extra Option to choose a ‘Go Flouro’ dive and see the reef transform into a fluorescent wonderland 
• Take a selfie on the dive step at sunrise, just before jumping in for your dawn dive or snorkel or perhaps as you relax on one of the sun lounges on the deck in between dives. 
• Playing "Shark in the Dark"

Cairns dive trips. Sleep and wake up on the spectacular Great Barrier Reef! This multi-day liveaboard Cairns dive trip gives you the best of Outer Reef diving and snorkelling. Try a fluoro dive at night or play 'Sharks in the Dark', snorkel at sunrise and witness magnificent sunsets over the Reef.

Departing from Cairns our luxury liveaboard dive and snorkel tours are for created for everyone to enjoy either just one amazing night, or multiple nights sleeping on the world famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia on a spectacular Cairns dive tour.

Should you only wish to spend one night for a scuba diving adventure on the outer Great Barrier Reef, then we can make it happen with our Cairns 2 day 1 night sleep on the reef tours.

With up to five scuba diving opportunities per day, including one at night, (anyone for shark in the dark games?) there are plenty of opportunities to soak in everything this spectacular marine ecosystem has to offer.

Our liveaboard dive boats have Nitrox available for those keen scuba divers looking to spend longer time underwater on their Cairns dive trip.

Divers can try our Fluoro Night dives, and snorkellers can play "Shark in the Dark"  

Cairns Dive Trips

Day 1- Great Barrier Reef Dive Tours

On day one you’ll depart from the Cairns Marlin Marina where you’ll enjoy your first day on the reef aboard our fast transfer vessel.

After lunch and another dive or snorkel, you will then be transferred to your floating outer reef hotel where you’ll have a chance to settle into your new floating accommodation.

Should you decide to forgo relaxation there is another chance to dive or snorkel before dinner.

Dinner, freshly prepared on board, is served early.

Certified scuba divers have another chance at a dive in the dark. This time with the nightly marine creatures as they patrol the waters of the Great Barrier Reef looking for their dinner whilst snorkelers get to experience our "Sharks in the Dark" program.

After all the excitement divers and snorkellers usually gather around the bar to have a few drinks and get to know each other before hitting their cabins. 

Day 1: 2 dive/snorkel sessions onboard transfer vessel/day boat PLUS 2 dive/in-water opportunities onboard Ocean Quest (including 1 night dive/sharks in the dark for a total of 4 dive/in-water sessions on day 1)

Day 2 and Middle Days - Great Barrier Reef Dive Tours

Wake up the next morning to the sun rising over the Great Barrier Reef and take a dip in the pristine waters before breakfast for your first dive.

Enjoy a big buffet breakfast and then back into the ocean for two more dive and snorkel opportunities in the morning.

After exerting all that energy it's time for lunch and then back into the water for 2 dives/in-water opportunities in the afternoon.

After dinner it's time to enter the dark ocean for a night dive and maybe even a Fluoro Dive!

Day 2 (and middle days): 2 dive/snorkel sessions in the morning PLUS 2 dives/in-water opportunities in the afternoon/evening (including 1 night dive/sharks in the dark for a total of 4 dives/in-water opportunities on middle days)

Day 3 or Last Day

It's time for your final day of your Cairns dive tour of the Great Barrier Reef so you need to make the most of it with an early morning scuba dive and snorkel and then enjoy a big final breakfast.   

After breakfast you will have 2 opportunities to snorkel/dive in the morning before our transfer vessels comes to pick you up in the afternoon to take you back to Cairns (3:00pm)

Day 3 (or last day): 2 dive/snorkel sessions in the morning (total of 2 dive/snorkel opportunities)

Cairns Dive Trips - Number of dives on liveaboard dive trip

• 2 days & 1 night = Up to 6 dives/snorkel opportunities
• 3 days & 2 nights = Up to 10 dives/snorkel opportunities
• 4 days & 3 nights = Up to 14 dives/snorkel opportunities

Cairns Dive Tours - Dive Boat Departure Cairns

A shuttle will pick you up  from your Cairns city accommodation in the morning to take you to the Cairns dive centre where the last of the paperwork will be finalised.

Any luggage you’d rather not bring on board will be stored here after check in.

Just make sure what you bring on board the dive boat is minimal and in a soft bag for easy storage.

You’ll be taken to the Cairns Marlin Marina where you will board our transfer boat which also doubles as the day trip vessel for your first day on the Great Barrier Reef.

Bring all your luggage on this boat for transfer later to your livaboard dive boat on the reef.

When it’s time to transfer to your liveaboard dive boat mid-afternoon, the crew will help you with your luggage just like concierge in a land based hotel.

Your first Great Barrier Reef tour experience for the day is only a 90 minute-ride away.

During this time all scuba divers – both certified and introductory – will receive their safety and procedures briefing. 

Cairns Dive Trips - Liveaboard Snorkelling Tours Great Barrier Reef

Snorkellers will receive their briefing at the reef as the scuba divers descend to the depths of the Great Barrier Reef for the first time.

Snorkelling is a popular activity for a reason, it’s easy and doesn’t require a high level of fitness.

You can literally float on the surface, watching the buzzing activity of the reef below.

Or take a deep breath, dive down and get amongst it.

If you feel a little unsure though and need a refresher, or have never snorkelled before, the boat crew are there to help.

They will show you how to put on your mask and how to get the most from your snorkel gear.

And if you’re keen on a little insider knowledge of the reef’s vibrant ecosystem there are guided snorkel tours you can join for free. 

Scuba Diving

One of the great things about this Great Barrier Reef liveaboard dive trip from Cairns is that you will be taken to two different dive and snorkel sites throughout the day to ensure you see as much as you can in the time you have.

The Captain chooses each location based on wind and tide conditions with optimal visibility and variety in coral formations and aquatic life the key considerations.

This ensures all aboard – both snorkellers and scuba divers – will find something to suit their level of experience. 

Introductory Scuba Diving

If you’re keen to explore the Great Barrier Reef as a diver but don’t have your dive license, consider the Introductory SCUBA option.

The only prerequisites for introductory scuba diving is that you need to be over 12 years old, be able to swim and you will also need to complete a self-assessed medical declaration.

While you won’t be a qualified PADI diver at the end of the dive trip, it’s a fantastic way to experience the thrill of diving on the world famous Great Barrier Reef!

Boarding Your Liveaboard Floating Hotel in Cairns

This will take place in the afternoon, after lunch and the afternoon dive or snorkel session, at around 2 – 3pm.

Once you’ve settled into your cabin berth there is another chance to get into the water, otherwise grab a sunlounger and relax for the rest of the afternoon before dinner and get to know the other passengers on the dive boat.

After a nice dinner, prepared by the onboard chef, the certified scuba divers have a chance to do a night dive and or try Fluoro Diving if you’re keen on seeing the reef in a different light.

Snorkellors can try the Sharks in the Dark program if they are game enough!

The bar is open until 10.30pm but you may want to turn in early to ensure you get the most out of the following day on the reef. 

Night Dives - Flouro Dives - Sharks In The Dark

Flouro Diving will shed a completely different light on the reef’s nightlife.

Using specialised torches and mask filters, the Great Barrier Reef will transform into a fluorescent wonderland.

Coral will radiate bright, fluorescent colours and sea life – such as crabs, tiny shrimp and the scorpion fish – will emit flashes of fluorescent yellow and pink.

Note:- This dive isn’t included in the overall price of your stay.

Sharks in the Dark is another activity that’ll be sure to get the heart pumping, but needlessly.

While swimming with sharks is intimidating at best, they are harmless reef sharks and the whole experience is incredibly safe and calm.

The reef sharks and other nightly creatures have become accustomed to the boat so as the divers descend into the waters it’s more a meeting of old friends.

This dive is included in the overall cost. 

Cairns Dive Trips - Waking up on The Great Barrier Reef

Start your day with an early morning dive or snorkel as the sun rises over the reef.

You’ll see the night dwellers turn in as their daytime counterparts kick into action.

After the buffet style breakfast, there’s a chance for two more dive or snorkel sessions.  

Before you know it, lunch is ready and you’ll be refuelling on the freshly-prepared buffet before your fourth lot of reef exploration on the day.

Your liveaboard floating hotel will move between the Norman, Saxon and Hastings Reef.

This will usually happen twice a day so each day passengers will experience three unique coral reef sites.

The dive sites are chosen according to weather conditions.

If you happen to be departing our liveaboard dive boat today, you will be picked up by the fast transfer vessel, at about 3pm.

From here you’ll cruise back to Cairns where the staff will arrange to transfer you to the dive centre to pick up your luggage and transfer you to your city accommodation.  

If you have another night on the reef it’s more snorkelling, diving or relaxing on a sun lounger!

Swim With Dwarf Minke Whales

The only exception to running these liveaboard dive trip 365 days a year is the exciting arrival of the Dwarf Minke Whales.

We facilitate dive and snorkel expeditions during the weekends of June, July and potentially the first weeks of August.

It is regarded as one of the most extraordinary encounters divers and snorkellers will ever experience.

These inquisitive whales will actively seek out human company and we pride ourselves on an average 90% encounters of swimming with these inquisitive whales.

Our snorkel with Dwarf Minke Whales expeditions from the Friday night with disembarkation taking place on the Tuesday morning at 8.30am.

On each trip we will also conduct the full PADI Advanced Course, Sharks in the Dark and Flouro Night Dives and Nitrox dives. 

For more Great Barrier Reef livaboard scuba dive trips please see here

Tour Languages Offered

• French
• German
• Japanese
• Spanish

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• 7.30-8am: Pick up from your city accommodation (if booked) and check in at our dive centre at 319 Draper Street before transferring to the marina
• 8.30am: Set off from Cairns Marina and cruise out to the reef on our day trip vessel SeaQuest
• 4.30pm returns to Cairns Marina on return date
• 5.00pm return to your Cairns city accommodation (if booked)

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Norman, Saxon and Hasting Reefs

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Digital camera hire
• Professional photos for purchase
• Guided dives ($15 per dive)
• Extra dives (subject to availability)
• Nitrox fills
• Introductory dive package
• Fluoro Diving
• PADI Nitrox Dive Course
• Soft drinks, alcohol and snacks
• Quality souvenirs

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Additional Information

• Please note there are regulations about flying or going to altitude after diving.
• Currently the rules state that for a single no decompression dive, you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 12 hours.
• For multiple dives you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 18 hours.
• Deep Sea Divers Den recommends waiting a minimum 24 hours whenever possible.
• These are guidelines only, there is no guarantee that these recommendations will prevent decompression sickness.
• Currently there are no guidelines regarding diving after flying.
• *Altitude is 300m/1000ft above sea level.
• This includes going to the Atherton Tablelands, so be careful when you are booking tours to follow your dive course/trip.
• Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive at 12pm (midday), this should help with organising any travel plans you have after your dive trip with us.
• Minimum age for diving 12.
• All divers must complete dive medical. 

Eco Certifications

• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Swimsuit and towel
• Overnight bag with changes of clothing, including warm clothing and socks for overnight wear
• Toiletries
• Reusable water bottle
• Bedding and bath towels are supplied on board. Excess baggage can be stored at our Draper Street office at check in.

• Child price applies to children 4 to 14.
• All children MUST remain supervised at all times
• Minimum age for Introductory diving is 12
• Certified diver age 10 to 14 MUST dive with a parent guardian or SHARED guide
• Full adult rates apply to any child scuba diver