Product Name:
Ocean Quest – Liveaboard Dive Trip
FROM: $750.00
Ocean Quest overnight liveaboard dive trips offer 2-Day/1-Night and 3-Day/2-Night and 4-Day/3-Night liveaboard diving trips at Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reefs! On a 3-Day/2-Night trip enjoy 8 x day dives + 2 x night dives! The trip includes beautiful chef prepared meals and all dive gear like: snorkel, fins, mask, wetsuit, BCD, regulator and dive computer!
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Call: + 61 7 4041 1638
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$750.00
All Prices in Australian Dollars.
Camera Special
*FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE
Book this trip with us, you must spend over $550.00 AUD to receive our 1 x Free Cairns Underwater Camera Hire. Only when you book online thru our website. You must come into our Cairns Esplanade Shop to pick up the camera the day before departure day before 5:30 pm. You also need to supply your own SD Card. Reserve your camera today!
*Not valid for any tours visiting the islands. Fine white sand damages the seals on the cameras and makes them leak!
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.
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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.
Product Name:
Ocean Quest – Liveaboard Dive Trip
Tour Type: 2-3-4-Day Overnight Trips | Operates: Daily | Departs: 8.30am | Returns: 4.30pm | Transfers: Yes, Cairns city included
HIGHLIGHTS:
Ocean Quest overnight liveaboard dive trips offer 2-Day/1-Night and 3-Day/2-Night and 4-Day/3-Night liveaboard diving trips at Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reefs! On a 3-Day/2-Night trip enjoy 8 x day dives + 2 x night dives! The trip includes beautiful chef prepared meals and all dive gear like: snorkel, fins, mask, wetsuit, BCD, regulator and dive computer!
| AVAILABLE ON THIS TOUR: | |
|---|---|
| Scuba Diving: Yes, A Fantastic Certified Dive Boat | All Snorkel Gear: Yes, Snorkel, Fins, Mask |
| Meals: Yes, Chef Prepared Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Morning/Afternoon Tea and Dinner! | Dive Briefings: Yes, detailed dive briefings from professional instructors. |
| Guided Dives: Yes, Just $20 per person per dive | Window Cabins: Yes, Window Cabins |
| Full Dive Gear: Yes, BCD, Regs, Dive Computer, Wetsuit | Outer Reef: Yes, Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reef Systems |
Deep Sea Divers Den – Ocean Quest offers liveaboard dive and snorkel (for more information on these activities, see the tabs below) trips from Cairns to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. These trips are available as a multi-night liveaboard ( 2-3-4 day options) being the most popular duration, allowing you to sleep on the reef and enjoy early morning and night dives, as well as see sunrise and sunset over the Coral Sea. The benefit of liveaboard trips is that you have more time to explore more reef sites than you would get to see on a day trip.
These trips are cost-effective, including transfers to and from the reef, all accommodation, meals and linen, so you don’t have to worry about hotel costs in Cairns. Accommodation is available in TWIN bed or DOUBLE bed configurations, allowing you to tailor your trip to suit your budget and preferences. All cabins are air-conditioned and you can choose between, twin share (share bathroom) and double cabins (which have their own ensuite). It’s first in best dressed with cabin allocations and the boat sleeps a maximum of 30 guests, which means it’s a small number with a high crew to guest ratio. There are hot freshwater showers on board.
There are daily departures from Cairns for the liveaboard trips, thanks to Deep Sea Divers Den’s day boat, which takes guests to and from the liveaboard boat. During your stay at sea, the liveaboard boat will move to different locations around the Great Barrier Reef, allowing you to explore different sites each day. The boat has over 16 reef permits on Norman, Saxon, and Hastings reef systems. Please read the Ocean Quest Cairns Dive Sites PDF to learn more about the dive sites. There is internet on board, as well as a licensed bar. Snorkeling trips are cheaper than scuba diving trips and introductory diving is available (no experience necessary).
All prices in Australian Dollars:
| CHOOSE OPTION | PRICE | TOTAL DIVES |
|---|---|---|
CERTIFIED DIVING: | ||
| 2-Day/1-Night TWIN Share | $750.00 | 6 dives |
| 2-Day/1-Night DOUBLE Bed (Minimum Two People) | $780.00 | 6 dives |
| 3-Day/2-Night TWIN Share | $1,015.00 | 10 dives |
| 3-Day/2-Night DOUBLE Bed (Minimum Two People) | $1,075.00 | 10 dives |
| 3-Day/2-Night DOUBLE Bed (Sole Occupancy) | $1,960.00 | 10 dives |
| 4-Day/3-Night TWIN Share | $1,280.00 | 14 dives |
INTRODUCTORY DIVING | ||
| 2-Day/1-Night TWIN Share | $750.00 | 2 dives |
| 3-Day/2-Night TWIN Share | $955.00 | 2 dives |
SNORKELING | ||
| 2-Day/1-Night TWIN Share | $620.00 | - |
| 3-Day/2-Night TWIN Share | $825.00 | - |
| 4-Day3-Night TWIN Share | $1,030.00 | - |
Itinerary:
These liveaboard trips can be booked as a multi-night stay, 2-3-4 day options being the most popular duration: price varies, please see the prices tab for more information. For the purposes of providing a sample itinerary, we will write a three (3) day trip itinerary. For two (2) day trips, just delete the middle day, for four (4) day trips, just repeat the middle day, but add more reef sites, as the boat will move around each day. We have highlights at the start of each (as overview information) and more detailed information underneath. Please contact us if this does not make sense, or you’d like more information.
DAY 1. Highlights: Getting to the Great Barrier Reef, visiting three (2) different reef sites, and transferring to your liveaboard boat. Sunset and sleeping on the Coral Sea. For divers, up to four (4) certified dives today, including a night dive. Snorkellers can try an introductory scuba dive (additional cost).
MORE DETAIL: Transfers from Cairns city accommodation is included in this liveaboard trip, so your tour commences with a coach pick-up at around 7.45am. The coach will take you to Deep Sea Divers Den’s Cairns office on Draper Street, where check-in and any final payments (reef tax) are made and boarding passes are issued: from there, the coach takes you over to Marlin Marina (a five minute drive). Boarding their day boat, which is a fast and comfortable catamaran, you can enjoy complimentary tea and coffee (if you are diving, you will be given dive medical paperwork to complete and be issued with your diving equipment for the day). All guests are asked to
sit in the air-conditioned interior for welcome and safety briefings, as the boat prepares for its 8.45am departure from Cairns.
Briefings continue as you head out to the Great Barrier Reef and during the 90-minute transfer, snorkelers and divers are provided with their equipment and all training and briefings prior to arrival at the reef. Arriving at the reef at around 10.30am it’s straight into the water for some reef fun, before the buffet lunch is served at 12pm. The buffet includes cold meats and salads, bread rolls and tropical fruits. While you eat, the boat moves to its second reef location for the day, where it’s back into the water for more snorkelling / diving.
All guests are asked to be back onboard by 2.10pm in time for a 2.30pm transfer to the liveaboard boat. The transfer is completed quickly and easily, with guests just stepping over from one boat to the next. You are welcomed aboard the new boat and given an overview of the vessel and allocated your cabin number. After dropping your bags into the cabin, there is plenty more time for in-water activities, be it snorkelling or diving. Dinner is served at 6pm and after that you have the option of a night dive, before dessert is served to end the day.
NB: Deep Sea Divers Den has a strict policy on alcohol consumption, as soon as you have a drink of alcohol that is the last time you will be allowed into the water that day. Both boats have licensed bars, but keep this in mind when planning your day.
DAY 2. Highlights: Waking up on the Great Barrier Reef and watching the sun rise over the Coral Sea. Visiting at least two (2) different reef sites and then watching the sun set on another glorious day. For divers, up to five (4) certified dives today, including a night dive and early morning dive: snorkellers can try an introductory scuba dive (additional cost).
MORE DETAIL: For divers, the first dive of the day is at 6.30am: snorkelers can sleep in, or get up early to catch the sunrise.
[Please note there is a daily itinerary notice board on the liveaboard boat, showing all dive and meal times, which helps you to plan your day.]
Breakfast is served from 7.30am and includes hot and cold options (cereals, fruit, bacon, eggs and toast). After breakfast, the boat moves to a new reef location and there’s plenty of time for more diving and snorkelling (there is the chance for two dives before lunch). Lunch is served at 12.30pm and then you’ve got a couple of hours to just relax, while the liveaboard boat moves to a new reef site. You can have a sleep in your cabin, relax in the air-conditioned interior or enjoy some time on the exterior sun deck. During this time, the day boat will stop off and drop off new guests, while picking up any departing guests.
Everyone is allowed back into the water from 3.30pm for more diving and snorkelling: there’s 2.5 hours until dinner is served at 6pm. Tonight there is the option for a night dive (for certified divers) and dessert is served from 8pm.
DAY 3. Highlights: Waking up on the Great Barrier Reef and watching sunrise over the Coral Sea. For divers, up to three (2) certified dives today, including an early morning dive. Snorkellers can try an introductory scuba dive (additional cost).
MORE DETAIL: Wake up early to watch the golden sun rise up over the Coral Sea and take an early morning swim / dive, or sleep in and wander out in time for the 7.30am hot and cold breakfast.
For divers, the early morning dive is highly recommended and a great way to start the day! This is the time when you can see the marine life changing shifts, the night time hunters are all retiring for the day, while the day time fishes are just starting to become more active. In particular, watch out for large schools of Bumphead Parrotfish, fast moving Trevally and the always striking Lionfish.
The boat will move to a second location after breakfast and for those departing today, there is time for one more scuba dive or snorkel on the trip. Departing passengers should be out of the water by 11.30am, giving you time for a freshwater shower and to pack-up your cabin before lunch is served at 12.30pm.
After lunch, you can chill out in the air-conditioned interior or on the exterior sundecks for a few hours. The day boat collects you around 2.30pm, departing the Great Barrier Reef for its return to Cairns at 3pm. Pending weather and conditions, you should arrive back into town at 4.30pm, with coach transfers back to your accommodation.
Diving:
These trips are suitable for divers of all experience and certification levels. If you want to try scuba diving for the first time, this is also an option, with introductory dives available: no experience necessary. As the liveaboard trips are available as a multi-night liveaboard ( 2-3-4 day options) being the most popular duration, the number of dives you can complete depends on your length of stay. Please note that all equipment and dive briefings are included in the dive prices. For specific information on introductory and certified diving, including the number of dives you can do per trip, please see the below headings.
INTRODUCTORY DIVES: This is a great opportunity to try scuba diving for the first time. No previous experience is necessary and as Deep Sea Divers Den also provides learn to dive courses, you can be assured their professional crew have plenty of experience in teaching people to be comfortable with the equipment and in the water. Comprehensive dive briefings are provided, covering skills, equipment and underwater communication. You will practice using the equipment on the boat, before getting in the water. You will then practice breathing just a few meters under the water and if you are comfortable, you will head out on a guided dive. Introductory dives generally last around 30-minutes and go no deeper than 12m. A great option on the 2 day / 1 night liveaboard trip is “Discover Scuba” which includes the trip, all accommodation, meals, instruction and five (5) introductory scuba dives. This is excellent value for money. Introductory diving should be booked onboard, or contact us for more information and tour bookings – PH: 0740411638
CERTIFIED DIVING: This trip is suitable for certified divers of all experience and certification levels. The maximum dive depth is generally only 18m (this is as deep as the waters get off Cairns, on the Great Barrier Reef) and the dive price includes all dive equipment (including computers, wet / lycra suits) and dive briefings.
Divers have the choice between guided and unguided diving, although guided diving is charged extra at $20 per person, per dive (payable on board). The number of dives you can complete during the trip depends on the number of days you are at sea: see below for more information. The maximum number of dives you can complete in a day is four (4) and there is no reverse profiling allowed. The recommended depth for each dive is: 18m – 16m – 14m – 12m.
Basic Deep Sea Diver’s Den certified dive rules are that the maximum dive time is 60-minutes, or, come back to the boat with 50 bar of air left in your tank, whichever comes first. All diving is buddy diving: there is no solo diving on this trip. You will be required to show your dive license and preferably your logbook. You will also need to complete dive medical paperwork on board, prior to getting in the water.
- 2 day / 1 night Trips = up to 6 dives (including a night dive)
- 3 day / 2 night Trips = up to 10 dives (including 2 night dives)
- 4 day / 3 night Trips = up to 13 dives (including 3 night dives)
You do not have to complete all of the dives. You can do as many, or few as you like. Nitrox is available but not included: this is charged at $20 per fill for 32% nitrox mix. Leave a note in the comments section of the booking form to add this to your booking.
Snorkeling:
These trips are suitable for snorkelers who are confident open water swimmers. All of the reef sites you will visit are open water reef sites, which means they are located in the ocean rather than being near an island, pontoon or sand cay. The sites are all protected within the Great Barrier Reef, which means (pending conditions) there should not be too much current or waves, but water depth will vary.
Snorkelling conditions are excellent, with many of the coral reefs rising from the ocean floor to plateau just metres from the surface, making it easy for you to see the marine life and colourful corals. All snorkelling equipment (mask, fins and snorkel) is included in the snorkel price, as is wet / lycra suits. The boat visits different reef sites during your stay, meaning there is always new things to see and should you be interested, you can always try an introductory dive while on board (no previous experience necessary).
Customer Reviews:
CUSTOMER TOUR REVIEWS & FEEDBACK
Customer reviews are written by our customers using our 1 x FREE Digital Underwater Camera Hire Service. Remember to collect our camera you do need to come into our shop the day before departure day before 5:30 pm to pick up the camera. You also need to supply your own SD camera card.
By: Jilly
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 4 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 4 out of 5
Overall Rating - 4 out of 5
Travelled on: 27/10/2013
Spent just one night aboard, wish we could have stayed longer but still well worth it. The staff were incredibly friendly, always knew our names and were keen to help. Managed to squeeze loads of dives in a short space of time including a night shark dive which was breathtaking. Would definitely recommend it, even if it’s just to play with Wally!
By: Susannah Gibson
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 3 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 4 out of 5
Overall Rating - 4 out of 5
Travelled on: 09/07/2013
We had rough seas for our two nights on Taka, but we still had a great time on our dives and Taka had everything we needed – great food, hot showers and friendly/helpful staff. A highlight was the night dives with sharks and seeing humpback whales on the trip out to Taka on our first day.
By: Will
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 4 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 5 out of 5
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5
Travelled on: 19/10/2013
This trip was our first overnight diving adventure and it lived up to expectation. The reef sites were full of sea life and color. The food and accommodation was perfect after 4-5 dives and everything was well laid out and explained by the dive master. This is by no means a 5 star vessel but when the focus is on diving who cares that you…
By: Stuart Robinson
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 4 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 4 out of 5
Overall Rating - 4 out of 5
Travelled on: 02/09/2013
Loved the night dive, crazy to jump into a bunch of hungry sharks.
By: Jen
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 5 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 5 out of 5
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5
Travelled on: 24/08/2013
Awesome trip! Thanks so much Anna for all the remote online help!
By: Amanda Dalby
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 5 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 5 out of 5
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5
Travelled on: 21/08/2013
Fantastic!! I had 7 amazing dives around different reefs, seeing white tip reef sharks, turtles, a very friendly napoleon wrasse called ‘Wally’, bumphead parrot fish, giant clams, you name it! The reefs were absolutely stunning and I was traveling with my mother who enjoyed snorkeling just as much. The staff were very friendly and helpful. the accommodation was comfortable and the food very tasty, we…
Full Reviews:
CAIRNS DIVE ADVENTURES TRIP REVIEWS:
Here you will find our dive trip reviews. Our staff have completed over 700 dives on the Great Barrier Reef. We love our scuba diving and we love to write reviews on what you can expect to see and do on a dive trip. See our full range of Cairns Dive Adventures trip reviews.
OceanQuest Overnight Dive Review
By Julie |
Deep Sea Diver’s Den provides affordable, comfortable overnight dive trips from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef. There are daily departures, thanks to SeaQuest, and OceanQuest is suitable for certified divers and snorkelers. Non-divers will enjoy the spacious, communal spaces and divers can look forward to excellent diving on varied Great Barrier Reef dive sites....
All prices in Australian Dollars.
We accept VISA & MC with no booking fees.
Choose your options on the booking form.
Press the red book now button.
Remember to try any form of scuba diving everyone needs to be medically fit with no asthma and not be taking any prescription medication. PADI recommends allowing up to 24 hours after diving before flying in an airplane. Some tour operators have a no refund policy for any dives not completed for whatever reason. Please note the art of freediving is not permitted on any of the day boats or liveaboard dive boats from Cairns & Port Douglas. With the high instances of (shallow water blackout) companies do not allow this for safety reasons. It is highly recommended that passengers take out full comprehensive travel insurance for all tours and travel arrangements.
Do you have Medical Issues:
Please note if you have any medical issues you will need to go see your local GP where you live and get them to write you a letter on the practice letterhead signed and dated by your doctor that you are “Fit to dive” If you have one of these letters then all dive companies in Cairns will take you diving. Please note these letters are only valid for three months from their date of issue.
ROOM EXPLANATIONS:
TWIN SHARE ROOM: Two single beds with a private bathroom, you will share with another person.
DOUBLE ROOM: Couples who would like one large double bed – Please choose the DOUBLE bed cabin you get the room to yourself please note minimum of two people per room.
Scheduled Minke Whale Departure Dates for 2025 below: Get in Quick these trips get totally booked out well over 6 months in advance!
Friday – 06th JUNE 2025 Minke Whale Trip (4 Days, 4 Nights)
Friday – 13th JUNE 2025 Minke Whale Trip (4 Days, 4 Nights)
Friday – 20th JUNE 2025 Minke Whale Trip (4 Days, 4 Nights)
Friday – 27th JUNE 2025 Minke Whale Trip (4 Days, 4 Nights)
Friday – 04th JULY 2025 Minke Whale Trip (4 Days, 4 Nights)
*Maximum of 36 guests only
Please Note: Ocean Quest will be used on the above special Minke Whale departure dates. So regular liveaboard trips will not be operating during the above times mentioned. If you are interested in a Minke Whale expedition please visit – Cairns Minke Whale Expeditions.
Inclusions: Accommodation on board in a choice of twin or double cabins, Air Fills, Bed Linen, Fresh Showers, Cairns City Accommodation Transfers, All quality diving and snorkeling equipment including wetsuits, All meals whilst on board, Tea – Coffee & Chilled water all day, 2 Locations per day on the Outer Reef
Note: All Certified dives are unguided, this gives you the freedom to dive in your own buddy pairs and explore the Great Barrier Reef. If you would like a dive guide they do charge $20.00 per person per dive. You can organize this on the boat.
Special
FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE*
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.