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Coral Sea Dreaming is the smallest Cairns liveaboard trip, taking a maximum of 12 guests and 3 crew on overnight trips to the Great Barrier Reef. These trips cater to snorkelers and divers, including those wanting to try diving for the first time on an introductory dive. These 2 day / 1 night trips depart from Cairns 3 times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The tour price includes your time on the boat, air-conditioned accommodation, all meals, a lycra or wetsuit and all equipment needed for diving or snorkelling. The nearly 16m sailing boat has 3 private double cabins, a quad share cabin and 1 set of bunks. The bunks are not in a room, but are adjacent to the double cabins. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities for all guests.
Coral Sea Dreaming has 25 different moorings on 9 different reefs, all of which are part of the Great Barrier Reef. They can access some of Cairns’ best reef locations, including the Three Sisters on Milln Reef. Where they go on your overnight reef trip will be dependent on weather, current and tides. The tour prices are structured to suit snorkellers, certified divers and those wanting to try an introductory dive. All diving is extra, but the price includes all of your dive equipment and dive guides.
Overnight Cairns Great Barrier Reef tour. Double and quad share cabins & bunk. Suitable for snorkelers and divers of all experience levels.
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Coral Sea Dreaming is Cairns’ only overnight sailing tour and is suitable for most people with reasonable mobility. Please note: it is not suitable for families with infants, babies or toddlers, but is suitable for families with older children and teenagers. The boat takes a maximum of 12 guests, accommodated in 3 x double cabins, 1 quad share cabin and 1 set of bunkbeds. All accommodation is air conditioned. The toilet and shower facilities are shared. Coral Sea Dreaming provides guests with the opportunity to participate in snorkelling, introductory diving and certified diving. These tours depart Cairns at 8am on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday and return around 4pm the following day.
Coral Sea Dreaming’s Cairns liveaboard reef tours cater to scuba divers of all experience and certification levels. The dive price includes up to 5 dives (4 day dives and 1 night dive), dive site briefings, rental of all diving equipment and dive guides. All diving on Coral Sea Dreaming is guided by an experienced Dive Instructor. You will visit different sites during your time at sea and all dive sites are suitable for those with Open Water certification level and above. Water entry is giant stride from a front platform, water exit is via stairs lowered into the water. You will be required to show proof of your dive certification. You do not have to participate in all of the dives, but all are included in the tour price; there is no discount provided if you do less dives.
Coral Sea Dreaming does offer introductory scuba diving, with no prior experience necessary. On an introductory dive, you will go scuba diving with one of their experienced Dive Instructors, to a maximum depth of 12m*. You will be in physical contact with the instructor for the duration of the dive. The minimum age to participate is 12 years old. You can book 1 introductory dive with your initial booking, with the option to add more when you are onboard the boat, subject to availability. The introductory dive price includes all of your dive equipment, dive instruction and dive guide. *If you are uncertain if diving is for you, there is the option to try a free 5 minute trial, where you will descend to a 2m depth with the instructor. At that time, the instructor will ask if you are OK, if you are, you continue on. If you are not, you will surface and not be charged for the introductory dive.
Please note certain health conditions can prevent you from trying scuba diving, this includes but is not limited to: asthma, epilepsy, chronic sinus conditions and ear problems, heart disease and sugar diabetes. It is not advised to try scuba diving if you are pregnant.
Coral Sea Dreaming’s overnight Cairns reef tours are suitable for snorkellers, of all experience levels. If you can swim, you can snorkel and if you haven’t snorkelled before, the crew can show you how. You will visit several different reef sites during your overnight tour, all of which will be suitable for snorkelling. All snorkel equipment, mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit or lycra sunsuit, is provided and included in the tour price. Flotation devices are available if needed. Site briefings are provided for each location. Water access to and from the boat is easy, thanks to stairs lowered into the water. Please note all snorkelling will be in open water and in some instances, waves and current might be present. Buoyancy devices are available if needed.
Coral Sea Dreaming is a sailing motor yacht, providing overnight Cairns Great Barrier Reef tours. This steel monohull is 15.85m long and has a 140kw diesel engine. They do sail when they can, but sailing is of course weather dependent. The boat takes a maximum of 12 guests and 3 crew, making it the smallest liveaboard dive tour from Cairns. The boat has 2 decks offering a range of shared spaces. The lower deck is air conditioned for passenger comfort and is home to all cabins, the two shared toilet / shower facilities, galley and saloon with table and chairs. The top deck has a sundeck for relaxing and covered backdeck, as well as a hammock. She’s a small sailing motor yacht, thoughtfully designed to maximise space.
The accommodation on Coral Sea Dreaming is provided in 3 x double cabins, 1 quad share cabin and 1 set of bunkbeds. All accommodation is located on the air conditioned lower deck; bed linen, pillows and bath towels are provided. The shower and toilet facilities are shared. When you’re not in your cabin, you’re welcome to relax in the air conditioned saloon area or on the external deck.
Coral Sea Dreaming has 3 double cabins, which are allocated on a first in best dressed basis. Maximum number of guests in double cabins is 2 passengers.
There is 1 quad share cabin, with 4 single bunks. This is a v-shaped cabin at the front of the boat. Maximum number of guests in the quad share cabin is 4 passengers.
There is a single set of bunk beds. These are not in a cabin and are adjacent to the 2 double cabins. These are great for children, teenagers and solo travellers.
Coral Sea Dreaming has access to 25 reef sites, located across 9 reef systems. These sites are some of the best off Cairns and include the Three Sisters on Milln Reef. The other reefs they can visit include Flynn, Hastings, Michaelmas, Norman, Upolu, Moore, Thetford and Breaking Patches. Each of the reef sites are suitable for snorkelers and divers of all experience levels. The maximum depth is around 36m. During your overnight trip with Coral Sea Dreaming, the boat will move around to different sites, allowing you to explore a few places on the Great Barrier Reef. The night dive location will usually be at the same site as the last dive for the day, so you are already familiar with it. Which reefs and sites you will visit on your tour will be dependent on the weather, tides and current.
All meals are included in the Coral Sea Dreaming price. On day one you’ll receive morning tea, consisting of tea, coffee, cake or muffins, and a light lunch of cold meats and breads, salads and condiments. Afternoon tea is fruit, cheese and crackers and dinner will be a hot meal, accompanied by salad and bread. This might be meatballs in tomato sauce with mashed potatoes, an Indian curry with rice, thai green curry or similar. On day two, breakfast is a selection of cereals, with toast and spreads and lunch is the same as day one. The meals are prepared fresh onboard the boat. Tea, coffee and water are all complimentary, additional beverages can be purchased at extra cost. Credit cards and cash are accepted.
Dietary requirements can be accommodated, with a minimum of 48 hours notice.
When coming on a Coral Sea Dreaming liveaboard reef trip, you should bring all of your clothing and swimwear (including warm clothes for the evening). A shower towel is provided in your cabin, but please bring an extra ocean towel. Also bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, toiletries and reusable water bottle, plus seasickness medication (if you need it). If you are scuba diving, then you will need to bring your dive certification card. Please pack in a small overnight bag, as space is limited on the boat.
Sleeping bags, pillows, extra luggage (can be safely stored in a locker). Extra shoes. You will not be wearing shoes on the boat.
Please note your check in and departure point for this overnight tour is at the Coral Sea Dreaming boat, which is moored on A Finger in the Cairns Marlin Marina. This is adjacent to the Reef Fleet Terminal. The boat is next to the Cairns Adventure Group’s jet boats. Check in and boarding is from 7.45am for an 8am departure; you return to the same location the following day, at around 4pm.
Check in at the boat commences at 7.45am for an 8am departure.
Snorkelling and scuba diving on Cairns Great Barrier Reef. Following a usual itinerary, you will visit two different reef sites today and enjoy sunset at sea.
A light morning tea is provided on Coral Sea Dreaming. On the journey from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, the crew will show you to your accommodation and provide safety, snorkelling and diving briefings. You arrive at the first reef site around 11am for snorkelling and scuba diving. Lunch is served at 1pm, as Coral Sea Dreaming moves to its second reef site of the day. More snorkelling and diving from 2pm, followed by time for rest and relaxation. There is the option for a night dive at 6pm followed by dinner at 8pm.
The boat returns to Cairns Marlin Marina at around 4pm.
Waking up to see sunrise over the Coral Sea. Breathtaking. More time exploring the reef, snorkelling and scuba diving.
Wake up and watch the sunrise. It’s a magical way to start your day on the Great Barrier Reef. Breakfast is served at 6.30am with the first dive and snorkel session at 7am. The second and final water session for diving and snorkelling is at 9.30am. Lunch is served at 11am and then Coral Sea Dreaming commences the return journey to Cairns. You arrive back around 4pm.
The Coral Sea Dreaming overnight Cairns reef trip goes to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They have 25 sites to choose from on 9 different reefs being Milln, Flynn, Hastings, Michaelmas, Norman, Upolu, Moore, Thetford and Breaking Patches. All their sites are suitable for snorkelers and scuba divers, including introductory divers. The exact locations you will go to depend on the prevailing weather conditions. They will always pick the best sites to maximise your experience pending tides and current. This boat does not go to the Ribbon Reefs or Osprey Reef.
The snorkelling on Coral Sea Dreaming is good. They visit outer reef sites, which usually have excellent visibility. Coral gardens will rise up to within a few metres of the surface. All snorkelling equipment is provided in conjunction with the tour price – including mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit or lycra sunsuit – and a reef site briefing is provided at each location. Flotation devices are available if needed. If you are travelling with a diving companion, then you will be snorkelling on the same reefs as them. You can spend all the time with them, except when they are under the water.
No, you do not need to be a certified diver to go on a Coral Sea Dreaming Cairns overnight reef trip. These trips are suitable for snorkellers and divers. If you are a snorkeller who wants to try scuba diving for the first time, then you can book an introductory dive*. No prior experience necessary. Minimum age to participate is 12 years old.
*Introductory diving is in addition to the tour price, but it includes all of your dive equipment, dive instruction and dive guide. You can pre-book 1 introductory dive on this trip, with the option to do more on the boat, pending availability. The maximum depth you will go is 12m.
Please note certain health conditions can prevent you from scuba diving, this includes but is not limited to: asthma, epilepsy, chronic sinus conditions and ear problems, heart disease and sugar diabetes. It is not advised to try scuba diving if you are pregnant.
The introductory diving on a Coral Sea Dreaming Cairns overnight reef trip is excellent. This boat has access to some awesome reef sites and the dive crew are friendly and professional.
You can pre-book 1 introductory dive on this trip. Additional dives may be booked on board, pending availability.
Coral Sea Dreaming have access to some of Cairns’ best outer reef sites, so the diving will be excellent. All of their sites are suitable for divers of all experience levels. All scuba diving on Coral Sea Dreaming is guided by experienced Dive Instructors. You can do up to 5 dives on this trip, 4 day dives and 1 night dive. All diving equipment and dive site briefings are included in the dive tour price. Certified divers will need to show proof of their certification.
You can do up to 5 certified dives on a Coral Sea Dreaming trip. 4 day dives and 1 night dive.
Yes, all diving is guided on Coral Sea Dreaming trips, by experienced Dive Instructors.
Yes, you should be able to swim to go on a Coral Sea Dreaming trip. As per the note on their website: “Coral Sea Dreaming is an adventure tour suitable for those who can swim, dive or wish to try diving. There are no activities on the boat that would suit non-swimmers, very young children or people with mobility issues.”
Yes, this trip is suitable for families that have children who are old enough to swim in the open ocean. It is not suitable for families with babies, infants or toddlers.
The food on Coral Sea Dreaming is pretty basic, but adequate for an overnight trip. Breakfast is cereals and toast with condiments. Lunch is cold meats, salads and breads. Dinner is a hot meal, accompanied with bread and salad. Morning and afternoon tea is muffins, biscuits and cheese. They can accommodate dietary intolerance and allergies, but you need to provide at least 48 hours advance notice.
This is small group touring. The maximum number of guests on a Coral Sea Dreaming Cairns overnight reef trip is 12 people. There are 2 crew.
Yes, Coral Sea Dreaming is suitable for snorkellers and divers.
Everything you need. Transfers to and from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef. All of your snorkelling and/or diving equipment is included in the relevant price for that activity / trip, as is reef site briefings at each destination. If you are diving, then a Dive Guide is included in the dive price. All accommodation is included, as is bed linen and bathroom towels. All meals on board are included, as is unlimited tea, coffee and chilled water.
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