The cabins are divided into four distinct categories. Enjoy a gourmet lunch as you cruise to the Great Barrier Reef arriving in the first dive spot for an afternoon orientation dive and a twilight or night dive subject to the weather conditions. If the weather allows, you will also go out to Bougainville Reef in the Coral Sea and dive an oldshipwreckand underwater caverns. It's also not just beautiful reefs and their associated coral gardens that are on the diving radar here either - the SS Yongala wreck is widely recognised as one the finest dive sites on the planet, situated towards the southern end of the reef. This powered catamaran departs from Airlie Beach. All children must be accompanied by a parent at all times, including when diving or snorkelling. This boat whisks divers and non-divers away in luxury to experience the boundless pleasures of Australias Great Barrier Reef. On Thursdaymorning wake up to enjoy your last breakfast onboard with your dive buddies as you return back to Cairns at approximately6.30amand then catch courtesytransfersback to your Cairns holiday accommodation. Most of the time full equipment is available to rent (please check this! Perfect boat for your next family adventure with plenty of time to relax in luxury. Furthermore, the Ocean View Standard cabin is also located on the top deck. There is an on-board crew of 12, including the dive team, master diver and the chef, to ensure every guests comfort all along the journey. Undoubtedly the best method of exploring the GBR is sailing through the Coral Sea amongst the reef on an Australian liveaboard dive cruise. Finally, the Premium cabins (4) have a double deb, ocean view and ensuite bathroom. It's the day for our Shark Attraction dive so get ready to be scared.Here at OspreyReef, you will see a huge amount of sharks and the likes of Gray Whaler sharks, Silvertip sharks, reef sharks, schooling barracuda, trevally, other pelagics and even Hammerhead Sharks. The room includes adouble bed, bed side tables, a desk, wardrobe, and a television with DVD player. Travelling and diving again in the midst of a pandemic, Top 5 Dive Sites for Snorkeling in Indonesia, Why you will love diving Myanmars Mergui archipelago, Czech Diving Equipment Manufacturer Uses Expertise to Help Create Medical Ventilators, All About the Best Scuba Diving Insurance Plans. Beautiful coral. Opportunity for up to 11 dives
The main language spoken on our dive trips is English, with Japanese guides available onrequest. Trip itineraries are subject to change at the sole discretionof the Master of the Vessel. COD HOLE has a resident family of giant Potato Cod which will let you take some fabulous close up photos - there are not many places you can take a selfie with a fish that is likely larger than you! Returns Cairns 8am Thursday
The native language of Australia is English, although commonly dive crews will speak a variety of others. The itinerary for Wednesdayand Thursdayare weatherdependent. Diving Great Barrier Reef in April on the ScubaPro II. Deck towels are provided after each dive and there are fresh water showers on the aft deck. The big highlights of our Cairns dive trips is our exclusive adrenaline pumpingdive with sharksand our dives with the family of giant potato cods. This family of Potato Cod find you just as interesting as you find them and they love to receive a pat as they come up to you for a look. And, snorkeling gear is always available and free. I hope all of the info you find on this website will help you plan your next dive trip! On Thursdayyou will be picked up from your Cairns holiday accommodation by a courtesy shuttle andtaken to Cairns Marlin Marina to board the luxury liveaboard dive boat. In my opinion 'Coral Gardens' was the most beautiful. Isolated they are only reachable via a few liveaboards. Our boat has an exclusive licence toswim with Dwarf Minke Whaleswhen they are sighted on the Great Barrier Reef. We do not offerLearn to Dive courses, resort dives or any form of scuba diving activities for anyone who isnot a Certified Diver. As you discover Australia's Great Barrier Reef from the sky you will be more excited than ever to venture into the deep blue and discover all the magnificent creatures in the ocean below. On waking you will see you have arrived at the beautiful Ribbon Reef Numbers Nine and Ten. There were a lot of fish of all sizes. The Spoilsport was specifically designed with a twin hull so it provides a great stability regardless of the sea conditions. The diving was really vibrant and amazing, with a wide variety of reef fish, ocean fish, sea life, nudibranch, corals, eels, snakes, and much more. A luxury liveaboard in Australia is sure to meet, if not exceed, any expectation you might have. Standard tour rates apply foraccompanying interpreters. We require divers to present a valid Certification Card and be equippedwith a safety sausage, whistle and alternate air source (included in our Hire Equipmentpackage). In the afternoon you'll head to High Five where you do your first drift dive and then it is an evening dive at Georgie's Wall. Even while you arent diving, youll feel at home on the Spoilsport. We strongly recommend Travel Insurance. Trip fees will not be refunded should passengers be unable to board intime for the scheduled departure or be unable to complete all available dives. 1300 231 118 Email: Some coral bleaching was evident but it was apparent that it was coming back. What we experienced was amazing but also you see the stress the reef is under and that part should spur us all to do more to save it. Some divers may be required to produce a current dive medical clearance fromtheir doctor or specialist, to be able to participate in scuba diving. 4 Day Coral Sea and 7 Day Cod Hole & Coral Sea tour: Advanced Diver Certification withminimum of 20 ocean dives including 5 dives within the last 12 months. After your firstday'sdives, settle in and get comfortable,enjoy some good meals and get to know your new dive buddies because it is now an eight-hourjourney overnight to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Copyright 2022 LiveAboard.com. The few 'best of', and on many liveaboard itineraries, are described below: OSPREY REEF is famous for its 40m+ visibility and almost guaranteed sitings of large numbers of sharks at North Horn. Dive Level: Open Water Diver, minimum 10 ocean dives including 5 in last 12 months, Four-Day Coral Sea & Ribbon Reefs
See our list of Budget Liveaboard in Australia! Same gender cabin share is not guaranteed in twin and quad share cabins. All of this life is present all year round, and if you are visiting between June and December, you may have the added bonus of viewing dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Dolphins and the annual spectacular coral spawning. Some of the cabins even feature large windows with magnificent ocean views. LIZARD ISLAND is a national park on an island of the same name, situated to the very north of the GBR. During your 3 and 4-day liveaboard scuba diving trips you will get a bonus low-level scenic flight from Cairns airport to Lizard Islandfor the 4 Day Liveboard and from Lizard Island to Cairns on the 3 Day Liveaboard where you can travel 500 metres above the world's largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef. I have been really lucky to dive all over the globe over the past few years. Beforedeparture, you will meet the crew and undergo a simple orientation of the vessel. Ocean View cabins contain Double beds only and rates are based on double occupancy. Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Shute Harbour. Amazing locations - the skipper knew exactly the best sites, Due to the weather it was only OK, not the best vis on most dives. Chef prepared gourmet meals - Australian style, Australian wines and soft drinks with evening meals, Low-level scenic flight Lizard Island to Cairns on the 3 & 4 Day Cruise. This 7-day,7-nightadventure departs Thursdaymornings at noon and returns the following Thursdayat 8.00am. After dinner, sit back and relax as you cruise on to the northern Ribbon Reefs where you will wake up to your new surroundings ready for a day of spectacular scuba diving, snorkelling and exploring the amazing underwater attractions of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Digital cameras (Sony DCS-P9) and housings are available for hire. This is the ultimate scuba diving experience in Australia that allows passengers to truly discover the vastness and uniqueness of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef in Queensland Australia. Fantastic healthy dive sites with plenty of marine life - lots of marine megafauna and macro life. Departing: Diving Great Barrier Reef in July on the Rum Runner, Fantastic! Tons of animals and corals to awe upon. Tuesday night you will then sail to the Ribbon Reefs whilst you are enjoying awell-earnedrest. Manta rays are usually seen in the southern sections of the Reef, and dugong can occasionally be found in the shallow seagrass beds. Gracing our list as the best budget liveaboard in the Great Barrier Reef, the Ocean Quest is the most spacious diving vessel in Queensland. Lots of corral dying, but Sri enough to see. Most sites were great. Very relaxed and well organized, very safety concious. As a first time diver, awesome. Plus, cameras have their own rinse tanks, making sure they stay salt free. For all itineraries that include flights, the total luggage weight is limited to a maximum of 20kilograms (45 lb) per person. Pickup: The best time to dive in the Great Barrier Reef is from June to December. Some limited bleaching, but stunning. But still beautiful, Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the ScubaPro I. Varied fish and coral warm temps calm weather, Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the ScubaPro II. Ok, vis was about 15 mtrs for most dives, fish life was awesome! The Solomon Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania and The Kimberley are just some of the world-class destinations available. Not as many starfish as I expected though. Returns Cairns 8am Thursday
From there you will board a lighttwin-engineaircraft for a wonderfullow-levelscenic flight to Lizard Island where you can take some great images of the reef and sea creatures below. Pretty good. Indeed, every cabin has air-conditioning as well as an en-suite bathroom. Tons of fish and soft coral, Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Spoilsport. Amazing animal sightings! Fantastic, the reefs are healthy - covered in endless hard and soft corals. For the price, the Spoilsport offers the best in liveaboard style and comfort, giving you the opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef as you desire. Very good, coral still in good condition. There are three entertainment areas on the vessel where passengers can kick back and relax; the dining saloon, lounge bar and sundeck where you have the occasional barbeque under the stars. A few lacked fish and live coral. In between dives, relax and enjoy the comforts of Spirit of Freedom's spacious cabins, welcoming lounges and sundecks, and hearty chef-prepared meals. Someofthe spectacular scuba diving sites you willexperienceare Permission Bommie, Wonderwall, Pixie Reef Pinnacle, Lighthouse Bommie and the Clam Gardens. Its also important to note that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best liveaboard destinations for beginners. Superb visibility, awesome reefs and fish, not to much current, Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Spoilsport, Perhaps better condition of coral and marine life compared to diving the same sites 10 years ago, Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Pro Dive Cairns. Theonboardchefs providefirst-classrestaurant quality meals and can cater to specific dietary requirements with enough advance notification. There are a few small regional airports (for example Townsville, Rockhampton, Lizard Island) where it is possible to fly into from other areas of Australia, but by far the easiest, cheapest and convenient way to visit the reef is to fly directly into Cairns. This scuba dive adventure departs Cairns at 12.00 Noon on Thursdayand returns back to Cairns via a low-level scenic reef flight from Lizard Island at 10:00am on Sundays. It was great that we were able to see so many different parts of the reef with the boat moving twice a day. Liveaboard divers will want to stop by Cod Hole where friendly potato cod greet divers, and Ribbon Reefs is a must-visit area due to its amazing biodiversity. The coral gardens were beautiful and marine life was plentiful. Snorkelling is in waters which are exposed and not calm sheltered waters. Beautiful! Amazing though coral bleaching is very evident :( great abundance of fish! Outstanding views of species of fish and wildlife. Your cruise will include the Ribbon Reefs, the Cod Hole, a chance to explore Lizard Island, Osprey and possibly Bougainville Reef in the Coral Sea. In addition, this is one of the only liveaboards in Australia with a private bathroom in every cabin. On 3 & 4 Day Cruise there are light aircraft restrictions, your total weight of your luggage is limited to 20 kilograms/ 45 lb per person, including your dive gear and carry on luggage. We got to see so many turtles too, which was amazing. Maximise your time in the water with up to 26 dives over this one week itinerary. From June to November, the water temperature drops, attracting pelagic species such as manta rays, whale sharks and minke whales. You'll see the full complement of reef fish, including Clownfish, Fusiliers, Butterfly Fish, Angelfish, Trout and Batfish, all swimming amongst a backdrop of stunningly colourful hard and soft corals. Diving Great Barrier Reef in September on the Pro Dive Cairns, Really beautiful, stunning fish, turtles and aharks. You won't need to rely on your guide to spot the tons of circling Reef Sharks, elegant Turtles (green and loggerhead), and huge Manta Rays that are present at many sites frequented by liveaboard operators - you'll have to make sure you have your camera handy though as you won't want to miss these creatures in their natural habitat! Join your friends or family on a Whitsunday luxury yacht charter for the ultimate holiday experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Gorgeous! Obviously, it has all the amenities stated above such as a roomy bathroom, wardrobe space, air-con, TV, etc. Diving Great Barrier Reef in August on the Pro Dive Cairns. Diving on Cozumel: The Perfect Return into the Blue! Awesome experience, some sites are like beautiful gardens. The reef was pretty vibrant, but you can see the stress its under. This Coral Sea dive with sharks scuba diving adventure departs Cairns at8.30am Sundaysand returns at 8.00amon Thursday. During your seven days and nights of diving, experience the two diverseecosystemsof the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea. T Shirts, Polo, Caps, Jumpers, Jackets, Vests, Stubby Cooler plus more! Another is the Stateroom, located on the lower deck, it features lots of space and a queen bed. At day's end, the boat will have reached Watson's Bay at Lizard Island where an Aussie barbeque dinner will be held on the top deck for your last evening. The best spots are the farthest, which makes it the perfect liveaboard destination! Opportunity for up to 26 dives
If you have other luggage that youneed to be storedthen please advise at time of booking. Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Spirit of Freedom. The diving was beautiful, I loved changing sites daily. It was lovely, there were no other boats so not invaded by a million other divers. Diving in ill- fitting equipment is not allowed. On Wednesdayyou will head to Ribbon Reef Number 3 and do three dives at Steve's Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. After the final dive of theday, it is time to settle in for the final boat cruise back to Cairns. ), there's some incredible macro life to be seen as well, such as brightly patterned Nudibranchs and tiny but graceful Shrimp. During your trip, you will be able to experience up to 26 amazing dives! To see the full list of liveaboards in the Great Barrier Reef, click the button below. Diving Great Barrier Reef in June on the Spoilsport. Amazing dives with a full picture of the marine life and reefs. encounter six different species of sea turtles, These remote sections of the Reef are only accessible by liveaboard, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best liveaboard destinations for beginners, View All Liveaboards in the Great Barrier Reef, Women Course Directors Are Taking Giant Strides in the Dive Industry, 5 Dive Sites in Gili Islands Where Youll Want a Nitrox Certification, The Only Male Animals in the World that Get Pregnant and Give Birth, Scuba Certification: Everything You Need to Know, PADI Womens Dive Day Brings Communities Together for Global Celebration, 7 Signs Its Time to Become a Diver and #LiveUnfiltered. Includes scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island
Due to Covid 19 we are now virtual. Diving Great Barrier Reef in November on the Spoilsport. Swimming with whales is one of the most pure animal interactions you will ever experience, as these little 8 meter whales are so inquisitive and friendly and happy to interact and come close to have a good look at you. BOUGAINVILLE REEF benefits from an exposed position on the outer reef, which does mean it can only be visited by liveaboard and when conditions permit. The salon and the large sundeck, with optional shading, will sure please the most discerning vacationer. Diving Great Barrier Reef in April on the Spoilsport. All those rooms, on the lower deck, are also including an en-suite bathroom, wardrobe and air-conditioning. But, that's part of the adventure. Late Thursdaymorning a courtesy shuttle will pick you up from your Cairns holiday accommodation and take you to Cairns Marlin Marina where you will be introduced to the crew and your dive buddies, and given an orientation of your liveaboard boat, your home for the next seven days. Food is carefully prepared by the chefs, which can cater to specific requirement. Diving Great Barrier Reef in April on the Pro Dive Cairns, Even though the visibility was bad for windy weather, still coral was spectacular and there were many kinds of fish, Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Ocean Quest, Disappointing snorkelling, more suited for diving. Diving Great Barrier Reef in August on the Spirit of Freedom. All passengers are required to complete anon-line Diver Information form which requires themto agree to our passenger terms and conditions, advise details of their diving experience, andcomplete our medical statement. It was beautiful. Water temperatures range from 22 to 30 degrees Celsius. Great Barrier Reefliveaboards visit this world-famous and stunning marine areawhich has earned its name as a 'must visit area' in this spectacular part of the world. Perfect visibility, still very good coral, but also pieces of dead coral, Diving Great Barrier Reef in August on the Ocean Quest Liveaboard. View the vastness and beautify of the reef from above while spotting turtles, manta rays, sharks whales, dugongs and many other sea creatures. It is so large and vast that it is visible from outer space - even if you spent a lifetime exploring the reef, it would be impossible to view it all. Even aboard a liveaboard cruise, you'll still only touch the surface (pardon the pun! Diving Great Barrier Reef in June on the Ocean Quest, Kind of depressingly dead still worth it. Amazing to be the only ones out at those dive sites. Our itinerary is to suit Scuba Diving and you may not be able to snorkel at every site. Reef areas were beautiful. Diving Great Barrier Reef in September on the Spoilsport. Departs Cairns 8.30am Sunday
Two days are spent diving the spectacular walls of Osprey Reef, an old volcanic atoll lying 225km (140mi) off the coast, including our famous shark dive at North Horn!