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Reef Encounter is a family owned and operated Cairns reef liveaboard tour. These tours are suitable for snorkelers and divers, and those wanting to try diving for the first time. Reef Encounter is always cruising Cairns’ outer Great Barrier Reef, with the liveaboard guests being transported to and from Cairns on their day tour vessel, Reef Experience. There’s also the option to elevate your transfer with a scenic helicopter flight. Your adventure can begin any day of the week and can last anywhere from 1 night to 4 nights. The stateroom liveaboard price has lots of excellent inclusions, such as transfers to and from Cairns to the reef, all meals and unlimited chilled water, tea and coffee, linen, bath towels and toiletries, plus all your snorkelling equipment. There’s also the opportunity to do a VIP upgrade to the Top Deck Club, which ensures you get the best cabins, private valet, private snorkel and/or dive guided tours, late check out and gourmet meals. Reef Encounter has 21 spacious cabins, which are combination of double and twin.
Reef Encounter can go to over 15 different reef sites, located on 5 different reefs, which are all a part of the Great Barrier Reef. This liveaboard tour stays on Cairns’ outer reefs (it does not go to the Ribbon Reefs or Osprey Reef) and will pick the best destinations to maximise your in-water experience, pending the conditions at the time of travel. The pricing structure is tiered to accommodate snorkelers, divers and introductory divers. All diving is extra, but the dive price includes all your dive equipment.
What We Love About Reef Encounter’s Cairns Liveaboard Reef Tours. Lots to love about this tour!! Here’s our top 5 reasons to book this one, listed in no particular order. 1. The crew is awesome and work hard to make sure you have a good time. 2. The beds in the cabins are super comfortable and we got to share a cabin together, which was awesome. 3. The food was fantastic, prepared fresh with a real focus on flavour – it really was great. 4. There’s an onboard photographer, getting photos above, in and under the water. You can purchase these (at additional cost) with no pressure to do so, but these make for magnificent souvenirs of your time on the Great Barrier Reef. 5. Last but certainly not least, the chance to do early morning dives – best time of the day to dive – and up to 4 day dives each day. Read Our Reef Encounter Trip Review.
We’ve been on all the tours we book. As a couple, as a family with a baby, then with a young child and now pre-teen. We’ve taken non-swimming friends and older relatives to the reef. So, we have first-hand experience and can help you make the right choice for your Cairns Reef Tour. Chat with us or send us an enquiry and we’ll get back to you.
Get In Touch Chat With UsReef Encounter’s liveaboard reef tours are suitable for people of all ages, including those travelling alone, with friends, in a couple, or as a family with babies and young children. This company prides itself on providing outstanding customer service and fabulous food, while exploring some amazing Great Barrier Reef sites. It caters to snorkelers, certified scuba divers and those wanting to try introductory diving for the first time, with no experience necessary. It has daily transfers to and from Cairns and you can stay anywhere from 1 to 4 nights. Reef Encounter takes a maximum of 42 guests, accommodated in 21 cabins. All cabins have windows with ocean views, and their own ensuite with shower and toilet.
Scuba divers of all experience levels will enjoy their time with Reef Encounter. The dive price includes all your dive equipment and site briefings, with the option to hire a wetsuit or prescription mask for a small extra cost. All diving is buddy diving, and if you aren’t travelling with your buddy, then the crew will allocate one to you. The dive price is for unguided diving, with the option to have a dive guide, at extra cost. If you want to have a private dive guide, who is just with you in the water, then consider upgrading to the Top Deck Club. How many dives you can do on a Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour varies, depending on the number of nights you are staying on the boat. The 2 day / 1 night package allows you to do up to 5 dives (being 4 day dives and 1 night dive). For each additional night you are staying on Reef Encounter, you can do an extra 4 dives (being 3 day dives and 1 night dive or 4 day dives – you can decide). So, for a 3 day / 2 night trip, you can do up to 9 dives, for a 4 day / 3 night trip, up to 13 dives and for a 5 day / 4 night trip, up to 17 dives. All of Reef Encounter’s dive sites are suitable for those with Open Water certification level and above. Please note you will be required to show proof of your dive certification. You do not have to participate in all the dives, but they are all included in the tour price; there is no discount provided if you do less dives
For those who want to try introductory diving for the first time, Reef Encounter provides a free ‘try before you buy’ experience, which entails going down 5m underwater with the dive instructor to see if you are comfortable. If you are, you can proceed and pay for the dive. If you aren’t, then you can get out of the water with no charge. Please note the minimum age to participate in an introductory dive (which Reef Encounter calls a resort dive), is 12 years old. Introductory diving is in addition to the tour price, but it covers all your dive equipment, instruction and briefings. There’s no prior experience necessary and there’s a maximum of 4 introductory divers per dive instructor. If you want a private dive experience then consider upgrading to the Top Deck Club which provides this, and many more benefits. The maximum depth for introductory divers is 12m.
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.
Reef Encounter’s Cairns reef liveaboard tours are great for snorkelers of all experience levels. If you haven’t snorkelled before, then the crew are on hand to provide instruction and assistance. If you are worried about being in the water by yourself, you can join a free guided snorkel tour. Buoyancy devices are also available and included. Experienced snorkelers will enjoy exploring the many coral gardens of the reef sites visited, which are home to an abundance of marine life. There is unlimited snorkelling on this tour and all equipment is provided and included. Site briefings are provided for each location. Water access to and from the boat is easy, thanks to a purpose-built platform which is level with the ocean with easy access stairs.
If this is your bucket list experience and visit to the Great Barrier Reef, then we highly suggest upgrading to the Top Deck Club on Reef Encounter. The main ‘benefit’ of this is having your own private valet throughout your stay, as well as a private snorkel guide and/or introductory or certified dive guide. You’ll also get the best cabins on board, gourmet meals – including breakfast in bed and dinner under the stars – sunset cocktails and a late check-out. The Top Deck Club has twin share and double rooms to choose from.
Reef Encounter is your boutique floating hotel on this Cairns reef liveaboard tour, a 35m catamaran specifically designed to provide stability and comfort at sea. Reef Encounter can comfortably accommodate up to 42 guests each night, in 21 spacious cabins. The boat has 3 decks, a combination of air conditioned interiors and exterior sun decks. The top deck has a heli pad (for those who prefer a heli transfer from Cairns to the reef), and a sun deck with sun lounges. The middle deck houses the cabins, while the bottom deck has the lounge / dining room, TV and games area, licensed bar and more cabins – there’s even a heated jacuzzi on board. Reef Encounter has a cruising speed of 12 knots and a crew of 12 people.
The accommodation on Reef Encounter is provided in 21 cabins, a combination of double and twin share. All the cabins are air conditioned and have windows with ocean views and their own ensuite facilities. Bed linen, bath towels and toiletries – soap and shampoo – are provided and included. All cabins have power outlets, to charge devices. Check in to the cabins is at 10am and check out at 8am on the day of departure – unless you upgrade to the Top Deck Club for a late check out. When you’re not in your cabin, you’re welcome to relax in the air conditioned lounge and bar area, or on the external decks, including the top sundeck.
Reef Encounter has double stateroom cabins. They are all air conditioned, with large windows and private ensuite facilities. These cabins are for 2 guests and are allocated on a first in best dressed basis. If you’re travelling solo, you can pay for sole occupancy.
Reef Encounter also has twin share stateroom cabins. They are all air conditioned, with large windows and ocean views, as well as private ensuite facilities. They have 2 single beds. The maximum occupancy is 2 people. If you are travelling solo, you can share a twin share cabin with another guest.
Reef Encounter has moorings at over 15 different reef sites, scattered across 5 of the best Cairns’ outer Great Barrier Reefs, which include Hastings, Saxon, Norman, Breaking Patches and Jorgensen Patch reefs. These are all a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and provide excellent snorkelling and scuba diving for guests of all experience levels. Reef Encounter will generally visit 2 reef locations each day – weather permitting – moving once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Which exact reefs and sites you will visit on your Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tours, depends on the weather, current and tides. The captain will always pick the best locations to maximise your experience of the reef.
The meals on Reef Encounter are really good. They are prepared fresh daily by the onboard chef, with a focus on quality local produce, showcasing tropical flavors and flair. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert are all included in the tour price. What you will eat each day changes, but we can give you some indicative menus. Breakfast will always include cooked and continental options. Lunch will be a hot meal, accompanied by a range of fresh salads served buffet style. Options could include rocket, pear and ricotta – roast pumpkin with pinenuts and goat feta – papaya, lime, mint and chilli – organic quinoa, cranberry, pinenuts and herbs. Dinner is a plated meal, served to your table by the crew and dessert is delicious – we’re talking pastries, cakes, mousses, pannacotta and more, served with ice cream and sorbets. In addition to the meals, fruit, tea and coffee are also included and available throughout the day. Additional snacks, including chocolate, chips, cookies, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase from the bar and please note – Reef Encounter is licensed, you cannot BYO alcohol. Also – no alcohol may be consumed before water activities. Once you have consumed alcohol, you will not be permitted to enter the water again until the following day. The purchase of drinks and snacks is in addition to the tour price.
Dietary requirements can be catered too, please advise them at the time of booking and then let the chef know, once you are aboard.
Reef Encounter is one of the very few Cairns liveaboard reef tours to accommodate and cater to the needs of families. If you have a baby or an infant aged 0-2 years, cots can be added to your booking. For children aged 2-11 years, rollaway beds can be added to your booking. Children aged 12 and over must have a standard bed.
When coming on a Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour, you should bring clothing and swimwear (including warm clothes for the evening) and an ocean / dive deck towel. Shower towels are provided in your cabin, as is linen and basic toiletries (soap and shampoo). Also, please bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, additional toiletries and a reusable water bottle, plus seasickness medication (if you need it) and cash or credit cards, to make additional purchases of snacks and beverages onboard. If you are scuba diving, then you will need to bring your dive certification card and logbook.
Sleeping bags, pillows, extra luggage or extra shoes. Reef Encounter is a ‘barefoot product’ – you will not be wearing shoes on the boat (but you can bring socks if you get cold feet).
When you’ve booked a Reef Encounter Cairns liveaboard tour, your transfer to the reef and boat is on the operation’s day tour vessel, Reef Experience. Reef Experience is moored in Cairns’ Marlin Marina and has check-in and boarding from 7.30am with an 8am departure. Self-drive guests should make their own way to the marina. If you need a shuttle bus transfer, this can be provided but is an additional cost to the tour. Transfers are available from Cairns city, northern beaches and Port Douglas. On the final day of your Reef Encounter tour, you will get back into Cairns’ Marlin Marina around 4.30pm. Self-drive guests make their own way from here, those with transfers will be directed to the coaches.
Check in is at the Reef Experience day tour boat, which is moored at A Finger on Cairns Marlin Marina. Check in and boarding commences at 7.30am with an 8am departure. You can self-drive here, or if you require coach transfers these can be arranged at additional cost.
Snorkelling and scuba diving on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef. Unlimited snorkelling. 3 scuba dives – 2 day dives and 1 night dive. Sunset on the Coral Sea is always amazing, with beautiful colour.
Get excited, your Cairns Great Barrier Reef liveaboard trip is about to begin. Check in is at the Reef Experience boat from 7.30am, with an 8am departure. During the 2 hour trip to Reef Encounter, you can enjoy a BBQ bacon and egg roll (or veggie burger) for breakfast and listen to a Marine Biologist presentation on the reef. At 9.30am you’ll arrive at Reef Encounter and be welcomed by the crew, before checking in to your cabin at 10am. There’s time for a snorkel before lunch which is served in the dining room at 12pm. Water and activity briefings start at 1pm, with diving and snorkelling at 1.30pm. When everyone’s back on board, Reef Encounter will move to a new site, where your second dive and snorkel session starts at 3.30pm, with the option for a night dive at 6pm. Dinner is served in the dining room from 7.15pm with dessert at 8pm. There is also the option to take a scenic helicopter transfer from Cairns to Reef Encounter, which is an additional cost.
First dive / snorkel session is at 6.30am, with breakfast at 7.30am. As it’s your last day on board Reef Encounter, you need to pack your bags and check out of your room by 8am (or 2pm if you have upgraded to the Top Deck Club). This allows the crew to clean it for the incoming guests. Second dive / snorkel session at 10.30am. Lunch is served at 12pm. Last snorkel session at 1.30pm. Transfer to the day boat at 2.45pm for the return to Cairns.
Waking up for an early morning snorkel and/or dive session. This is arguably one of the best times to be in the water. Chance to do 2 dives today and/or 3 snorkel sessions. If you’re leaving today, your in-water experience ends at around 2pm.
It’s a 6am wake-up call if you want to participate in the first dive / snorkel session of the day, which is at 6.30am. Breakfast is served in the dining room from 7.30am, with a cabin check out time of 8am – unless you upgrade to the Top Deck Club, in which case you can choose to have breakfast in bed, with a cabin check out at 2pm – and while this is happening, Reef Encounter is moving to a new reef location. There’s another dive / snorkel session at 10.30am and lunch is served at 12pm. The last water session is snorkel only and is at 1.30pm. At around 2.45pm departing guests will transfer back to the Reef Experience day boat, for the return journey to Cairns. During this trip, enjoy complimentary fruit, cheese and biscuit platters are served with a glass of Australian wine. You will arrive back to Cairns’ Marlina Marina at 4.30pm. There is also the option to take a scenic helicopter transfer from Cairns to Reef Encounter, which is an additional cost.
If time and budget permits, we recommend spending at least 2 nights on Reef Encounter, that way you have at least 1 day where it’s all about the reef – without transfers, check in and check out. The boat moves twice a day (weather permitting) so you’ll see a range of different reef sites. Site briefings are provided at each new site.
Unlimited snorkelling at the reef sites, with up to 4 scuba dives per day, being 3 day dives and 1 night dive. Weather permitting, Reef Encounter moves to a new reef site, twice a day. Early morning dives and night dives are an added bonus of being on a Cairns liveaboard reef trip.
Reef Encounter has an established daily itinerary, so you know what’s happening every day you are on the boat. For those wanting to participate in the early morning dive snorkel, there’s a 6am wake up call for a 6.30am briefing and start. A cooked and continental breakfast is available in the dining room from 7.30am and while you eat, Reef Encounter moves to a new reef site. The second swim / snorkel / dive session is at 10.30am, followed by lunch at 12pm. Another dive / snorkel session at 1.30pm, before Reef Encounter moves to a new site at 3pm. Dive / snorkel at 3.30pm, with the option for a night dive at 6pm. Please note – Reef Encounter has 5 water sessions each day, but guests can only participate in 4 of them – and it is your choice which ones to do. For snorkelers you can enjoy 4 x water sessions each day at 2 x different sites. Scuba divers can do 4 dives a day, which can either be 4 day dives, or 3 day dives and 1 night dive. Dinner is served at 7.15pm, followed by dessert at 8pm. Lots of time exploring the reef, and in between, fabulous food and relaxation on the boat. It’s like living the dream peoples.
Reef Encounter spends its time on Cairns’ outer Great Barrier Reef and can access over 15 different sites, on 5 different reefs, being Saxon, Hastings, Norman, Breaking Patches and Jorgensen Patch. Their reef sites are suitable for scuba divers of all experience levels and snorkelers, with the coral gardens rising up to within meters of the surface. The exact locations you will go to depend on the prevailing weather conditions. Reef Encounter will pick the best sites, to maximise your Great Barrier Reef experience. Weather permitting, Reef Encounter moves twice a day – generally after breakfast and after lunch. This boat does not go to the Ribbon Reefs or Osprey Reef.
The reef sites visited by Reef Encounter maximise engagement with and access to the reef, for snorkelers and divers – so the snorkeling is excellent. All snorkel equipment is included in the tour price and there are buoyancy devices available, if you are uncomfortable in the water. If you are nervous about snorkelling on your own, join a free guided snorkel tour and be in the water with the crew. If you are travelling with a diving companion, then you will be snorkelling on the same reefs and able to spend all the time with them, except when they are under the water.
No. Reef Encounter caters to snorkelers and divers, as well as those snorkelers who want to try scuba diving for the first time – this is called an introductory dive (or resort dive). You need to be aged at 12 years old to participate, and there’s no prior experience necessary. Introductory diving is in addition to the tour price, but the extra cost covers all of dive equipment, dive instruction and dive guide. If you’re unsure if scuba diving is for you, then Reef Encounter has a ‘try before you buy’ option: in this instance the dive instructor will take you 5m under the water. If you like it, you can proceed. If you don’t, you can resurface with no cost to you.
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 Reef Encounter is excellent. There’s a maximum of 4 guests per dive instructor or if you upgrade to the Top Deck Club, you can have your own private dive instructor. Their reef sites are excellent, and the dive crew is committed to ensuring you have the best time possible.
The diving on a Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour is awesome! Their reef sites are suitable for people of all certification and experience levels. All diving on Reef Encounter is buddy diving and if you aren’t travelling with your buddy, then the crew will allocate one to you. The dive price includes all equipment and site briefings, but it does not include a dive guide unless you upgrade to the Top Deck Club, however you can pay extra to have guided dives. Certified divers will be required to show proof of their certification and bring a log book.
The number of dives you can do on a Reef Encounter Cairns liveaboard reef tour varies, depending on how many nights you are staying on the boat. A breakdown of the maximum number of dives you can do is below. Please note – Reef Encounter has 5 water sessions each day, but guests can only participate in 4 of them – and it is your choice which ones to do. Scuba divers can do 4 dives a day, which can either be 4 day dives, or 3 day dives and 1 night dive. You do not have to participate in all the dives. It is at your discretion. There is no discount if you do less dives.
No and yes. The ‘standard’ dive price for a Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour does not include dive guides. It does include reef site briefings, at each site. However, if you want, there is the option to pay for a dive guide, which is in addition to the tour price.
No, you do not need to be able to swim to go on a Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour, but it is recommended. Reef Encounter is a liveaboard reef boat, catering to the needs of snorkelers and divers. It stays at the reef for the duration of your trip. It does not visit an island or sand cay and as such, if you want to see the reef, you will need to get into the water. That being said if you don’t swim, but are travelling with someone who does, then you can still relax on the sundecks and enjoy the views. It is not compulsory to get in the water.
Yes! The Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour is suitable for families – in fact this is one of the only liveaboard reef boats from Cairns, that can provide cots for babies and infants and rollaway beds for older children. We took our son with us when he was 14 months old and we had a great time (they provided high chairs in the dining room and a cot for the cabin). We took him again as an 11 year old had another great time (they provided a rollaway bed for the cabin). There are some rules regarding ages and children, in regards to bedding, which are as follows.
Reef Encounter’s food is very good, much better than some other liveaboard boats. All meals are prepared fresh daily by the onboard chef, with a focus on flavour and using local produce. They can cater to dietary intolerance and allergies, but you should notify them of this at the time of booking and again when you are on the boat. Breakfast is cooked and continental, with bacon and eggs, cereals, toast and fruit. Lunch changes daily, but will always include a hot dish and a range of fresh salads served buffet style. Dinner is plated and served to you by the crew, followed by dessert. Additional snacks, such as chocolate, chips, cookies and soft drinks can be purchased on the boat, at additional cost to the tour price.
Please note Reef Encounter is licensed and alcoholic beverages are available for sale on board the boat. However, please note that once you have consumed alcohol you will not be permitted to enter the water again until the following day.
There will be a maximum of 42 guests on a Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour. Guests are accommodated in 21 spacious cabins, a combination of doubles and twins. All cabins are air conditioned, with large windows providing ocean views. All cabins have their own ensuite, with showers and toilet. Bed linen, pillows and bath towels are provided, as is soap and shampoo. All cabins have power outlets, to charge devices. When you’re not in your cabin, you’re welcome to relax in the air conditioned lounge and bar area or on the external decks, including the top sundeck.
Yes. Non-diving friends and/or partners can come with you on Reef Encounter. Non-diving friends can enjoy unlimited snorkelling, with the opportunity to try a resort dive (no prior experience necessary). You will be able to enjoy the entire trip together, except for the time when you are getting your dive gear on and off, and under the water.
Lots of great inclusions in a Reef Encounter Cairns reef liveaboard tour. We’ll break them down for you as follows.
The Reef Encounter boat has been designed to provide comfortable liveaboard trips on the Great Barrier Reef, for snorkellers and divers. There are three passenger levels. The first is at water level and contains some accommodation cabins, the kitchen, dining room, lounge and bar area and professional photographer’s corner. The interior is air conditioned. This level also contains the dive deck and snorkel deck, with steps down to a platform which provides easy access to the water. The second level contains the majority of the passenger cabins, which are all air conditioned, and its back deck is where your in-water equipment is stored in tubs (mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuits), with 1 tub allocated to each cabin. The top level has a sun deck with sun lounges and also provides stair access to the heli deck. This layout makes navigating the boat easy for guests, with excellent transition zones from cabins to communal spaces and outdoor decks. The beds are comfortable, with table and chair seating in the dining room and comfy couches. All internal zones are really well maintained.
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