Dive & Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

Cairns: Liveaboard Trips (Overnight)

If you have the time, the best way to see the Great Barrier Reef is on board a liveaboard dive or snorkel trip. A liveaboard trip allows you to maximise your diving or snorkeling time - and you get to sleep on the reef! There are a number of vessels that operate from Cairns offering a wide range of trips. These trips can range from 2 - 11 days. Similar to hotels, there are different standards of accommodation on different vessels, from budget to luxury.

The other main difference is where the trips actually go to. Although all diving from Cairns is on the Great Barrier Reef, the general rule of thumb is the further away from land you go, the better the diving. The downside to this is longer travelling time and the further you travel, the more expensive the trip becomes.

Outer Barrier Reef

Dive trips to the Outer Barrier Reef are ideal for all levels of experience and for those with limited time. You may do a trip in as little as 2 days/1 night and usually get the opportunity to log 6 or 7 dives - including a night dive!

see the links below for full itinerary and prices:

• 2 day liveaboard with Deep Sea Divers Den - 7 dives
• 2 day liveaboard with Cairns Dive Centre - 6 dives
• 3 day liveaboard with Deep Sea Divers Den - 11 dives
• 3 day liveaboard with Cairns Dive Centre - 10 dives
• 3 day liveaboard with Pro Dive - 11 dives
• 4 day liveaboard with Deep Sea Divers Den - 15 dives

Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs

The Cod Hole was first made famous by Rod & Valerie Taylor. You can still see the giant potato cod (up to 30kg) hand fed by the divemasters on every trip. The Ribbon Reefs run parallel to the coastline and offer a huge range of stunning dive sites. These reefs are visited by fewer operators then the Outer Barrier Reef and as such are in pristine condition.
Trip duration is usually 4 or 5 days (usually 1 day is spent travelling).

Use the links below for full itinerary and prices:

• 4 day Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs trip with Taka - 10 dives
• 3 day Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs trip with Spirit of Freedom - 10 dives
• 4 day Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs trip with Mike Ball - 12 dives
• 4 day Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs trip with Nimrod III (Itinerary B) - 12 dives
• 5 day Cod hole & Coral Sea trip with Taka - 14 dives
• 5 day Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs trip with Nimrod III (Itinerary A) - 16 dives

Coral Sea

The diving just doesn't get any better the this!!!!
If you want to experience the best diving possible you must visit the Coral Sea. The diving here is best suited for those with a little more experience as there are deep walls (1000m +) and there can be strong currents (great for drift diving).

As previously mentioned, the further away from land you get, the better the diving is - you can pretty well guarantee 30m viz year round. Due to the distance travelled and the fact that the dive sites are unprotected, weather plays a big part in where you actually dive. Most operators do not have a set itinerary and the location is determined by the skipper based on comfort and safety. The best time of year is September to January.
Trip duration is usually 5 to 7days (usually 1 day is spent travelling).

• 4 day Coral Sea with Spirit of Freedom - 14 dives
• 5 day Coral Sea & Cod Hole with Taka - 14 dives
• 5 day Coral Sea trip with Mike Ball - 14 dives
• 7 day Coral Sea & Cod Hole with Undersea Explorer - 22 dives
• 7 day Coral Sea & Cod Hole with Spirit of Freedom - 24 dives
• 7 day Coral Sea & Cod Hole with Taka - 24 dives
• 7 day Coral Sea & Cod Hole trip with Nimrod III (Itinerary C) - 23 dives
• 7 day Coral Sea Safari with Mike Ball - 26dives

Far Northern Reefs

There are a couple of extended trips to the untouched beauty of the Far Northern Reefs. These trips only happen a couple of times during the year due to the dependency on weather and are recommended for experienced divers only.

• 8 day Northbound Far Northern Exploratory with Nimrod III
  (Itinerary # 6) - 27 dives
• 8 day Southbound Far Northern Exploratory with Nimrod III
  (Itinerary # 8) - 27 dives
• 9 day Remote Far Northern Expedition with Undersea Explorer
  (ex Port Douglas/Cairns) - 30 dives

Liveaboard Summary (all trips)

*Limited dates