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Cairns liveaboard diving tours are the ultimate gateway to exploring multiple Great Barrier Reef sites, maximising your dive time, number of dives and overall reef experience. A highlight of liveaboard tours is the early morning and night dives, options that just aren’t possible on a day trip, and sunrise and sunset at sea which is just spectacular. The schedule of a Cairns liveaboard diving tour is pretty phenomenal, dive, eat, sleep, repeat. Spend your days exploring coral gardens and walls, thriving with an abundance of marine life. Guaranteed sightings include anemonefish, schools of fusiliers, sweetlips, sea cucumbers, trout and cod. On our over 480 dives on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef, we’ve seen these every time. Beyond that, being on a liveaboard trip greatly increases your chances of seeing reef sharks, especially on night dives, bumphead parrotfish, sea turtles and more. Liveaboard trips depart Cairns every day. The main difference between them all is destination and tour structure. Some have liveaboard boats permanently at sea, which you transfer to and from on a day boat, while others are dedicated dive boats going to and from Cairns. We’ve done them all and are here to help you choose the right boat for you, with unbiased advice and information.
The Best Cairns Liveaboard Diving Tours. Maximise your dive time and Great Barrier Reef experience by exploring multiple sites, over many days on a liveaboard trip. The price includes transfers, accommodation and meals, so while these tours appear more expensive at a glance, they deliver serious return on investment. There are a few choices when it comes to trips and destinations and we break this down below, to help you pick the best one for you.
Our Expert Advice: We’ve been on every Cairns liveaboard dive trip. We know how the boats work, what the cabins and food are like and most importantly, what the reef sites offer for divers. We want to ensure your liveaboard dive trip delivers unforgettable Great Barrier Reef moments and memories, and our unbiased advice is based on first-hand experience not brochures. We don’t work for the boat companies; we work for you, and in appreciation for those who book a liveaboard trip through us, we’ll lend you a free GoPro and make you a personalised trip video. The price is exactly the same and the commission supports us to continue to supply independent reviews and advice. Book online or hit us up by calling Richard on 0410 510 214 or richard@ilovecairns.com.au Thanks to you, Richard, Julie and Ethan Johnston.
Get a free underwater camera rental when you book tours through us valued at over $750, we’ll lend you a GoPro underwater camera to use for the duration of your tours. Numbers are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Get in touch with us to claim this deal today.
We’ve hand-picked our top 4 best Cairns liveaboard dive tours, prioritising the quality and variety of reef sites, number of dives available, dive crew service, cabin comfort and value for money. This is drawing on our own experience. All these trips are suitable for divers with an Open Water level of certification and above, with excellent diving in the top 18m. For personalised advice and tour bookings contact Richard on 0410 510 214 or richard@ilovecairns.com.au or book through our site.
From 1 night to 4 nights. Twin & double cabins. Family friendly. Suitable for snorkelers and divers of all levels. Daily departures.
From 1 night to 4 nights. Twin, double & quad share cabins. Suitable for snorkelers and divers of all experience levels. Daily departures.
3 day / 2 nights. Up to 11 dives, incl 2 night dives. Focus on divers of all experience levels.
3-night Cairns liveaboard with up to 11 dives on Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs. Meet giant potato cod, enjoy a night dive, and a scenic flight.
Choosing the right Cairns liveaboard diving tour for you, comes down to matching your itinerary, dive expectations, travelling partners and budget, with the right tour and boat. There’s no bad tours, but the wrong choice can result in you missing out on some memorable moments. We’ve identified the below factors for consideration and provide our personal recommendations. Liveaboard tours depart every day from Cairns and the boats are equipped with everything you need for an amazing diving experience. Certified divers will need to bring their certification cards and all divers will need to complete dive medical paperwork on board the boats. Our Top Tip: If you’re travelling with non-diving companions, make sure you book a boat that caters to snorkellers too, more on this below.
If you want to see the best of the Great Barrier Reef and your budget allows it, we recommend a liveaboard tour that visits the Far Northern Ribbon Reefs. These reefs are home to some of our favourite diving sites of all time, specifically Steve’s Bommie and the Cod Hole. These trips are suitable for divers, not snorkellers.
Our Recommendation - Spirit of Freedom - Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs - This 4 day / 3 night trip departs Cairns at noon on Thursdays and returns at 11.30am on Sunday. It includes up to 11 dives, 10 day dives and 1 night dive, a one-way scenic flight from Lizard Island to Cairns, accommodation and all meals. Must have Open Water certification and at least 10 ocean dives.
Time and Money. Always a big consideration when looking at tours and we know, diving is expensive and not everyone has a lot of time. No problem, you can book a 2 day / 1 night liveaboard trip from Cairns, with departures every day. The best rate is to stay in a twin cabin.
Our Recommendation - Reef Encounter Cairns Liveaboard - This 2 day / 1 night trip has daily departures, thanks to a day boat transferring you to and from the liveaboard boat. It includes 5 dives, being 4 day dives and 1 night dive, accommodation in a twin-share cabin and all meals.
Fun Fact: None of the Cairns liveaboard diving tours include dive guides in their tour price, but all provide site briefings. You can opt to pay extra for a dive guide on Reef Encounter ($15 per dive, per person) or OceanQuest ($20 per dive, per person).
Our Recommendation - OceanQuest Cairns Liveaboard - OceanQuest offers more dives per trip than Reef Encounter and let you book your guided dives on the boat, payable direct. In addition to the dive guides, you also have the option to book a Fluoro Night Dive (at additional cost).
2 Cairns liveaboard diving tours offer overnight tours, DiversDen on Ocean Quest and Reef Encounter. These trips are suitable for divers of all experience levels. It is unguided diving. Reef Encounter has child-prices, Ocean Quest do not.
Our Recommendation - OceanQuest Cairns Liveaboard - This trip allows for up to 6 dives (Reef Encounter has 5) and you can do 4 dives on the first day, 2 in the morning, 1 afternoon and 1 night dive. Accommodation is in twin, double and quad share cabins. Maximum dive time per dive is 50 minutes.
There are 3 Cairns liveaboard diving tours providing 3 day / 2 night trips; DiversDen, Reef Encounter and Pro Dive Cairns. All visit outer reef sites and include diving, accommodation and meals. Pro Dive is a divers only boat.
Our Recommendation - Pro Dive Cairns Liveaboard Dive Trips - Maximum dives at the best price on a 2 night / 3 day trip. Pro Dive Cairns gives you up to 11 dives, with departures every day of the week, except Tuesday. You can BYO alcohol, but no diving after drinking.
Choose between 3 liveaboard diving tours; DiversDen, Reef Encounter and Spirit of Freedom. Spirit of Freedom is the premium choice, visiting the Ribbon Reefs and including a scenic flight from Lizard Island. Second choice for best price is Reef Encounter.
Our Recommendation - Spirit of Freedom - Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs - Bucket list experience! It’s the most expensive tour but it delivers outstanding dive sites, dive service, quality meals and the scenic flight. Departs Thursday, returns Sundays. Must have Open Water certification and at least 10 ocean dives.
3 liveaboard Cairns diving tours to choose from. For divers of all experience there’s DiversDen or Reef Encounter, on Cairns outer reef sites. DiversDen provide 1 extra dive. Spirit of Freedom’s Osprey Reef trip is for advanced divers.
Our Recommendation - Spirit of Freedom - Osprey Reef - Advanced Divers will love Osprey Reef for its remote locations, jaw dropping visibility and serious shark action. Expensive tour, but a bucket list experience. Departs Sundays, returns Thursdays. Must have Advanced certification and at least 20 ocean dives.
There’s 3 x 7 night Cairns liveaboard diving tours to choose from. DiversDen and Reef Encounter on Cairns Great Barrier Reef, moving to different sites during the trip (Reef Encounter is best value). Spirit of Freedom is premium, expedition diving.
Our Recommendation - Spirit of Freedom - Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Osprey Reef - Advanced divers only. 7 night trip with up to 26 dives at premium sites including Steve’s Bommie, Cod Hole and Osprey Reef. Meet potato cod, explore 1,000m coral wall drop offs and enjoy epic visibility.
Liveaboard dive tours provide the opportunity to enhance your logged dive time. For a 2 night trip, Pro Dive provide 11 dives, the most for that duration. While night for night, Ocean Quest provides 1 more dive than Reef Encounter. All provide more dives per trip than Spirit of Freedom.
Our Recommendation - OceanQuest Cairns Liveaboard - This is the best choice for divers wanting to maximise their dive time. It provides 1 more dive per trip than Reef Encounter, has daily departures and you can choose your trip duration. Suitable for all experience levels.
While all 3 of the main Cairns liveaboard dive trips offer dive courses and the chance to add to your certification levels, only 1 is a dedicated dive boat and that’s Pro Dive. DiversDen and Pro Dive are PADI affiliated and Reef Encounter is SSI.
Our Recommendation - Pro Dive Cairns Liveaboard Dive Trips - Hands down, Pro Dive Cairns are the go to operator of choice if you are looking to increase your diving skills. 2 night / 3 day trips. Up to 11 dives. Diver only boat, providing range of courses.
By choosing a liveaboard Cairns diving tour you’ve already increased your chances, as night dives and early morning dives are the best time to see sharks. Open Water divers should pick OceanQuest for best value. Aim up for Advanced Divers.
Our Recommendation - Spirit of Freedom - Osprey Reef - The Osprey Reef trip is all about the sharks. This is remote location expedition diving and includes a stop the ‘North Horn’ site, where you can participate in a shark attraction dive, with guaranteed shark action. Advanced Divers only.
Only 2 Cairns liveaboard reef tours cater to divers and non-divers; OceanQuest and Reef Encounter. Both have daily departures and you can choose the length of stay. They provide similar experiences, OceanQuest provides 1 more dive per stay, but Reef Encounter is cheaper for snorkellers.
Our Recommendation - Reef Encounter Cairns Liveaboard - If you’re a couple, with 1 diver and 1 snorkeler, then a 2 day / 1 night trip on Reef Encounter provides the best value and experience at $1,375 (OceanQuest is $160 more). Pricing current at time of publication, January 2026.
There is only 1 family-friendly Cairns liveaboard diving tour and it caters to families of all ages. In addition to having child prices, Reef Encounter also has the option for port-a-cots and/or roll-a-beds in your shared cabin and high chairs.
Our Recommendation - Reef Encounter Cairns Liveaboard - This is an awesome, family-friendly Cairns liveaboard diving tour. We took our son was he 1 year old and 11 years old. Epic time on both occasions with diving and snorkelling.
This section relates to ‘what you get’ in conjunction with your tour price. The ‘base price’ for all Cairns liveaboard diving tours covers the boat, your accommodation, linen and all meals. When you pick a Cairns outer reef liveaboard – OceanQuest, Reef Encounter or Pro Dive – all your equipment is included in the tour price. All diving is unguided, but you can opt to pay extra for a dive guide and this is detailed above. Pro Dive is BYO alcohol, while beverages can be purchased at additional expense on OceanQuest and Reef Encounter. The Spirit of Freedom trips include some dive equipment in the tour price (mask, snorkel, boots, fins, tanks, weights and weight belts) additional equipment, including BCD, regulators, computer, torch and wetsuits can be hired at extra cost. Beverages are purchased at additional cost on Spirit of Freedom.
Cairns liveaboard diving tours can be very expensive. As you will have seen above, the Spirit of Freedom trips are the most expensive, but they travel greater distances, visit premium dive sites and have outstanding customer service. If you can afford them, they are worth it. For the trips on Cairns outer reefs, it’s impossible to compare apples with apples as while they are similar, they are all slightly different too. We’ve been on all these boats and provide unbiased, honest advice to help you choose the best tour for you. Contact Richard on 0410 510 214 or richard@ilovecairns.com.au we’d love to help you with your Cairns liveaboard diving tour and provide a FREE GoPro to guests who book through us. Limited availability, first in best dressed.
The Great Barrier Reef is a dream destination for scuba divers. Vibrant coral gardens and lagoons teeming with an outstanding diversity of marine life. From tiny and colourful chromis, to schools of fusiliers that stream around the reef, anemonefish, trout, snapper, sweetlips, wrasse, parrotfish, damsels, giant clams, stingrays, sharks, sea turtles, moray eels and more, we’ve seen it all on our reef trips. Cairns liveaboard diving trips are suitable for divers of all experience levels, as well as those travelling with non-diving companions and families. Cabin accommodation ranges from quad share to twins, doubles and staterooms. All trips include meals, accommodation, linen and transfers to and from Cairns to the boat. You can choose from a 1 night / 2 day trip to a 7 night expedition and we’re here to help, matching you with the best trip to maximise your experience.
Liveaboard dive trips are the best! You get to dive all day and see lots of different reef sites. It also means you get to do night dives, which are the best time to see sharks! I loved my first night dive! The cabins are really comfortable and the food is pretty good, but I must admit I don’t like the desalinated water on board. My favourite liveaboard trip was on Reef Encounter, because our whole family got to share a cabin together. The crew of the boats I have been on are really great with kids and made me feel really welcome. Ethan’s Top Tip for Kids: Take a wetsuit, the more diving you do the colder you get, I have a 3mm wetsuit and it keeps me comfortable. Also, make sure you get the dessert, it’s always awesome!
Cairns liveaboard tours visit a range of locations. We’ve included the top 4 operators on the page. 3 of them visit the Outer Reefs, being OceanQuest, Reef Encounter and Pro Dive Cairns. Spirit of Freedom is an expedition dive boat that goes further afield, travelling to the pristine Ribbon Reefs and the remote Osprey Reef. The Cairns outer reefs are suitable for divers of all experience levels, with the maximum depth rarely exceeding 22m and usually 18m. The Ribbon Reefs are suitable for Open Water divers, while Osprey Reef is only suitable for experienced Advanced Divers with 1,000m drop offs. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the differences and highlights of all these diving locations below.
Cairns outer reefs offer excellent diving for all certified divers. If you are travelling with a non-diving companion that wants to try diving, this is the only location that Introductory Dives are available (minimum age to participate is 12 years old, certain health conditions will preclude you from trying). The majority of dive sites on the outer reefs are in coral gardens and along coral walls. In most instances the current and waves should be mild to moderate, and visibility is usually at least 10m, but weather and tides can impact this. Cairns liveaboard diving tours visiting the outer reefs usually visit at least 2 sites per day, providing you the chance to explore more of the Great Barrier Reef. The outer reef has a diverse array of hard and soft corals and marine life. You are most likely to see sea turtles and sharks on a liveaboard trip.
The Ribbon Reefs are renowned as offering some of the best scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. These are remote sites only visited by a few boats. They include coral gardens and lagoons, as well as standalone bommies, with Steve’s Bommie offering particularly excellent diving. Another highlight is the world-famous Cod Hole, providing divers the opportunity to dive alongside human-sized potato cod, which are friendly and inquisitive. We’ll always remember our first dive here and it’s a bucket list destination. Beyond that, the Ribbon Reefs generally offer a greater diversity of brilliantly coloured marine life, including an abundance of beautiful Anthia’s, fusiliers and snapper, there’s also a higher chance of seeing sea snakes, especially at the aptly named Snake Pit site. The Ribbon Reefs are suitable for Open Water divers, with all sites accessible to that maximum 18m depth limit. However, due to their distance from Cairns, the liveaboard boats do want you to have at least 10 recent open ocean dives under your belt.
Osprey Reef is pure expedition and adventure diving, only suitable to divers with an Advance level of certification and above. This is a marine landscape of sea mounts and walls that drop away 1,000m to the sea floor below. The visibility is mind-blowing and can be up to 30m. There are sharks everywhere on every dive, and an Osprey Reef itinerary includes a shark attraction dive, with guaranteed shark action. We’re talking Grey Reef Sharks, Silvertips and the occasional Hammerhead. Beyond that the walls are festooned with a staggering array of soft corals and sea fans, an underwater photographers paradise. Of course Osprey Reef also has the ‘usual’ reef creatures, potato cod, giant groupers, bumphead parrotfish, big-eye trevally, mackerel, sea turtles and more. This is a serious divers location, so everyone on board these trips will share your diving passion. Dive depth is limited to your experience level and due to their distance from Cairns, the liveaboard boats do want you to have at least 20 recent open ocean dives under your belt.
The map provided outlines numerous dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef. While diligent attempts have been made to accurately place the markers, the precise locations and name of each dive site cannot be guaranteed.
For the best bang for your buck, we recommend a 2 day / 1 night stay on Reef Encounter or OceanQuest. Because these boats use a transfer vessel to bring guests back and forth daily, they offer the most competitive rates for short stays. If you’re looking for the cheapest price per dive over a longer trip, Pro Dive Cairns is hard to beat for their 3 day / 2 night package, which includes 11 dives.
The longest scheduled liveaboard diving tour departing Cairns is the 7-night Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea trip with Spirit of Freedom. This is the ultimate Great Barrier Reef odyssey, covering hundreds of miles and up to 26 dives. If you want a longer stay on the Outer Reefs, both Reef Encounter and OceanQuest allow you to “stack” nights, meaning you can choose how many nights you stay at the time of booking.
It mostly comes down to remoteness and diversity. The Outer Reefs (like Moore or Milln Reef) are closer to Cairns, making them accessible, sheltered and perfect for all levels. The Ribbon Reefs are a 100km+ chain of reefs further to the north. Because they are more remote, they often have better visibility and diversity of marine life. You’ll see different species there, like the giant Potato Cod or olive sea snakes, which are less common on the Outer Reefs.
Absolutely, but choose your boat wisely! Reef Encounter and OceanQuest are essentially floating hotels and are perfect for couples where one person dives and the other snorkels. They have plenty of deck space and easy water access. However, boats like Pro Dive and Spirit of Freedom are very diver-focused; while snorkellers can go, the itinerary and boat layout are designed specifically for people who are underwater most of the day.
Yes, they’re very used to catering for vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free guests. However, because the boats are at sea, the chefs need to plan their menus before leaving the dock. Our Top Tip: Make sure you note any allergies or preferences at the time of booking. If you have a very specific or rare requirement, hit us up first and we can check with the boat to make sure they can look after you properly.
Definitely. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the best places in the world to gain experience because the conditions are generally very forgiving (minimal current and warm water), and industry is very regulated with exacting safety standards and protocols on all tour boats. Most of the diving is done in the 10m–18m range, which is perfect for new divers. If you’re feeling a bit rusty, we recommend Reef Encounter or OceanQuest, as you can pay for a guide to go down with you until you get your “fin-sea legs” back.
In Queensland, dive safety laws are very strict. All divers must complete a medical questionnaire on board. If you have any history of asthma, heart conditions, or are taking certain medications, you may be required to provide a medical clearance from a doctor. We highly recommend checking the “Queensland Dive Medical” requirements before you fly to Cairns to avoid disappointment on the boat.
Space is limited in boat cabins, so pack light is the golden rule. You’ll spend 90% of your time in swimwear and comfortable ‘throw on’ clothes. Essential items include:
To ensure your safety and avoid decompression sickness, you must wait at least 24 hours after your final dive before flying. When planning your trip, make sure your flight out of Cairns is scheduled for at least 24 hours after the boat returns to the marina.
Absolutely! Liveaboards are incredibly social. If you are a solo traveller, the dive crew will buddy you up with another diver of similar experience. You’ll also likely share a twin-share cabin with another solo traveller of the same gender (unless you book a private stateroom).
Yes! Boats like Reef Encounter and OceanQuest are perfect for non-divers. You can enjoy the reef as a snorkeller or try an Introductory Dive (no experience necessary). It’s a great way to “test the waters” without committing to a full course.
Generally, no. While some boats may have limited satellite Wi-Fi for emergencies, you should expect to be off-grid once you leave the sight of the coastline. This is part of the magic, waking up at sunrise with nothing but the ocean around you!
At first glance, the price can be surprising, but it’s helpful to view a liveaboard as a “floating resort.” Your booking includes your accommodation, all meals (usually chef-prepared), and between 3 to 4 dives per day. When you subtract the cost of 11 individual dives, 3 nights of hotel stays in Cairns, and 3 days of dining out, you often find that a liveaboard actually offers better value per dive than a series of day trips. You’re also paying for access to remote sites that day boats simply can’t reach.
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