Cairns Outer Reef Liveaboard Diving

Cairns outer reef liveaboard diving allows you to stay and play on Cairns’ Outer Great Barrier Reef. There are excellent dive sites, abundant marine life and there's nothing quite like watching the sun rise and set over the Coral Sea.

VIEW SELECTED TOURS BELOW:

Ocean Quest Liveaboard Dive Boat Cairns Australia

Ocean Quest – Liveaboard Dive Trip

Ocean Quest 3-Day/2-Night Liveaboard dive trips depart Cairns every day! Enjoy amazing diving on beautiful outer reefs. Includes all chef-prepared meals and accommodation & 10-Dives with full dive gear!
Pro Dive Cairns liveaboard scuba dive vessel - ScubaPro

Pro Dive – Liveaboard 3-Day/2-Night

Watch the sun set and wake up on the Great Barrier Reef on this 3 day / 2 night trip from Cairns. Suitable for divers and snorkellers. Twin share and double cabins. Includes meals and accommodation.
Coral Sea Dreaming Boat

Coral Sea Dreaming Liveaboard

Low number, overnight sailing adventures from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef for divers and snorkelers. Max 12 guests. 3 Crew.
Reef Encounter Dive Boat

Reef Encounter – Liveaboard Dive Trips

Reef Encounter offers 2-3-4 day trips from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef. Suitable for snorkelers and divers: options for all budgets and itineraries.

Do you need help choosing?

Can't decide? We have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour, to suit your experience and budget.

Cairns liveaboard dive operators are highly qualified and internationally recognised by PADI and SSI for their experience and professionalism. With more than 60 years combined diving experience, you can be assured your Cairns Great Barrier Reef dive trip will be undertaken with the highest safety standards and environmental care and protection.

Cairns Outer Reef Diving

Outer Great Barrier Reef dive site depth varies, but is generally no more than 30m, with some of the best diving in the first 15m of water. The reef and dive sites are about 60km offshore, so visibility is usually good and varies from 10 – 30m. Water temperature is generally warm, around 29 degrees Celsius in Summer and 23 degrees Celsius in Winter.

These trips are suitable for everyone from the beginner to the advanced diver. Water entry is generally giant stride from the back of the boat and the dive sites have swim throughs, caves, ledges and coral bommies.

All Cairns Outer Great Barrier Reef dive tours include accommodation, linen, meals, dive equipment and lycra suits or wet suits. Dive guides are available on most boats but guided dives do cost extra. All of these trips visit multiple reef and dive sites. All diving is open water diving (so subject to currents etc): there is no solo diving.

Liveaboard Diving Options

There are two types of Cairns liveaboard dive tours. The first is where a day boat takes you out to the reef, meeting up with a liveaboard boat which is pretty much permanently at sea. These tours offer complete flexibility in regards to departure dates and length of stay. You can choose an overnight trip, or stay at sea for a week. Price is calculated on a per day rate and includes a set number of dives, including night dives and accommodation. Usually, an overnight package will give you the chance to complete seven (7) certified dives, including a night dive.

The other type of Cairns liveaboard dive trip is a 3 day / 2 night trip, which departs every day except Tuesday. On these trips, you board the boat you are going to stay and dive on in Cairns, and then travel to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. You stay on this boat the whole time, which allows you to get to know the dive crew and fellow passengers a little better. These trips visit just as many dive sites and you don’t have to worry about meeting up with a day boat each day. You can enjoy up to 11 certified dives on these trips, including two night dives.

Travel time to and from Cairns to the Outer Great Barrier Reef is generally around 2-hours, so by staying out there, you can enjoy more diving, less travelling. Please note: none of the Cairns liveaboard dive tours allow solo diving or reverse profile diving.

Cairns Dive Adventures has been on all of Cairns’ liveaboard dive boats and are pleased to provide unbiased advice and trip reviews. We are not affiliated with any of the boats. We are Cairns locals who are passionate about diving and ensuring you have the very best Great Barrier Reef experience, to suit you experience and itinerary. Our income is from tour bookings made on this site: we thank you for your support and hope our information has been of some assistance.

Please note: Dive tour operators will want to see a copy of your dive certification license / card, so please ensure you have this with you when booking / travelling. It is preferable if you have your log book with you too. If you have not dived in a while, refresher courses are available.

Please note: Travelling with non-divers is no problem. All Cairns liveaboard dive tours offer the opportunity for guests to book an introductory dive (no experience necessary), or alternatively, your non-diving companion can snorkel and swim on the Great Barrier Reef.

For those wanting to expand their scuba diving skills, you may choose to complete a dive course while on your Cairns liveaboard trip. PADI and SSI dive courses are available.

Reef Encounter Dive Boat

Reef Encounter – Liveaboard Dive Trips

Reef Encounter offers 2-3-4 day trips from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef. Suitable for snorkelers and divers: options for all budgets and itineraries.

PRO DIVE – Ribbon Reef Minke Whale Liveaboard

PRO DIVE - Ribbon Reef Minke Whale Liveaboard is here! This brand new liveaboard dive expedition has commenced for the 2021 Minke Whale Season. Operates JUNE / JULY!
Pro Dive Cairns liveaboard scuba dive vessel - ScubaPro

Pro Dive – Liveaboard 3-Day/2-Night

Watch the sun set and wake up on the Great Barrier Reef on this 3 day / 2 night trip from Cairns. Suitable for divers and snorkellers. Twin share and double cabins. Includes meals and accommodation.
Ocean Quest Liveaboard Dive Boat Cairns Australia

Ocean Quest – Liveaboard Dive Trip

Ocean Quest 3-Day/2-Night Liveaboard dive trips depart Cairns every day! Enjoy amazing diving on beautiful outer reefs. Includes all chef-prepared meals and accommodation & 10-Dives with full dive gear!
Coral Sea Dreaming Boat

Coral Sea Dreaming Liveaboard

Low number, overnight sailing adventures from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef for divers and snorkelers. Max 12 guests. 3 Crew.

Search for Tours:

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages

Cairns liveaboard dive information

Click the links below to find out more.

Do you need help choosing a trip?

Can't decide? We have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour, to suit your experience and budget.

Special

FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE*

Cairns Underwater Camera Hire Service

Spend over $550.00 AUD on your Great Barrier Reef tour with us and receive the latest Digital Underwater Camera Hire. Take amazing High-Resolution images and 1080 HD Video. Only when you book online thru our website. 

Not available for any tours to the Islands as fine white sand damages the seals on the cameras and makes them leak!

You need to come into our shop located on the Cairns Esplanade the day before departure to pick up the camera before 5:30 pm. You also need to supply your own SD Camera Card and drop the camera off back at our shop before 5:30pm.

 

Please Remember there is no other way to collect our cameras! All passengers must come into our shop the day before departure day before 5:30 pm.