Reef Encounter: Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Trips (Snorkel/Dive)
Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Adventures
About your experience on Reef Encounter – If you really want to experience the Great Barrier Reef at its best … spend a night on it.
Reef Encounter offers an outstanding Cairns scuba diving experience while spending nights on the Great Barrier Reef. Packages all include cabins with ensuites and chef-prepared gourmet meals.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world & Reef Encounter offers an outstanding opportunity to spend 1, 2, 3 or many nights on the Great Barrier Reef.
Dive and snorkel packages all include chef prepared gourmet meals.
Reef Encounter is a 35 metre luxury catamaran designed for the utmost stability & comfort at sea. The vessel is air-conditioned throughout & features spacious decks as well as roomy dining & recreation areas to dine and relax in.
The large easy access water platform allows hassle free scuba diving and snorkelling. The vessel also features staterooms which have double or twin beds, all with private bathrooms.
All of these features, combined with friendly, experienced dive crew makes Reef Encounter the ultimate scuba diving & snorkelling adventure vessel. We even have an onboard SPA!!
Depending on how long you stay aboard Reef Encounter, your time will be spent scuba diving or snorkelling at the many different reefs and locations on the Great Barrier Reef that we travel to and from.
Departs/Cairns Marina – 7.30am Daily day boat transfers to Reef Encounter (This allows you to choose the number of nights you’d like to spend on the reef)
Highlights
- Cairns overnight liveaboard dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef
- Caters to snorkelers, introductory and certified divers
- Up to 4 Dives per day including a night dive experience
- All Stateroom cabins include ensuites
- Top Deck Club – (VIP Option)
- Spacious sun decks dining area and lounges
- Several reef locations visited during your time on the Great Barrier Reef
Vessel Facilities
- Air-Conditioning
- Modern Ocean View Rooms (Twin/Double)
- Private bathrooms
- Large Dining Area, bar and lounge
- Hydraulic dive/snorkel platform
- Sundeck
Diving Details
Reef Experience offers introductory as well as certified scuba diving. For those wanting to try an introductory dive, there’s no previous experience necessary and all equipment and tuition is included in the price. Reef Experience is the only vessel to offer a Night Introductory Dive experience. All introductory dives are guided. Certified divers dive in buddy pairs and dive guides can be organised (additional charges apply). All equipment is included in the dive price. You will need to bring and show your certification card. There’s no solo diving. The maximum dive depth is usually around 25m, with the best diving in the first 15m.
Number of Dives – 3 Day dives + 1 Night Dive per day/night on the reef
Introductory Scuba Diving – Try dive options/packages available
Dive Sites: Norman Reef / Saxon Reef / Hastings Reef
Top Deck Club – VIP service from the start of your liveaboard adventure to the moment you step off the boat. Included is your own personal Valet, Gourmet meals, Sunset cocktails and personal dive and snorkel guide.
Personal experience
I can’t speak more highly of this vessel, the dive crew and the Great Barrier Reef locations visited. If it’s the little things you love in service then you’ll be pleasantly surprised onboard Reef Encounter. If travelling first class is your preference then you have the option of experiencing the best luxurious liveaboard accommodation and fantastic service on the Outer Great Barrier Reef with Reef Encounters “Top Deck Club”.
Learn to Dive Courses
If you’re not certified and want to learn to dive, you can on the 3 day 2 Night liveaboard with Reef Encounter’s SSI Open water course.
Peak Season Surcharge applies for Reef Encounter during Christmas, New Year and Easter.
A Peak Season SURCHARGE of $100 per person is applicable for all travel from the 17/04/2025 to 22/04/2025 AND from the 23/12/2025 to 01/01/2026 – Payable onboard on the day of travel.
Volunteer Programs
If you love being on the ocean scuba diving and snorkelling and not afraid to work for the experience then welcome to Reef Encounter’s Volunteer Program. This is an exciting opportunity to extend your adventure on the Great Barrier Reef while contributing to the operators daily operations. As a volunteer, you’ll enjoy free meals, accommodation, and diving or snorkelling sessions in exchange for helping our crew with various tasks. This program is perfect for those who love the ocean and want to immerse themselves in the vibrant life of the Reef. Click the above link to learn more about how you can join and make the most of this unique experience while in Cairns. Terms and Conditions apply.
Whats Included
- Twin or Double Stateroom with private bathroom
- Chef prepared meals
- Reef Levies, Management Fee, and Fuel Surcharge
- Marine Biologist presentation when transfers are done by Reef Experience
- All dive and snorkeling equipment, except for wetsuits
- Free scuba lesson for snorkellers and dive equipment for divers
- Coffee, Tea & Milo are available all day while vessel is not underway
- Fresh fruit is always available on board Reef Encounter
Extra's (payable onboard)
- Wetsuits – $5 pp per day (stinger suits provided during wet season)
- Marine Biologist Guided Snorkel Tour – $40 pp
- SSI Nitrox Scuba Dive Course – $310 pp (includes 24 hours of nitrox fills)
- SSI Advanced Adventure Dive Course – $270 pp
- SSI Stress and Rescue (booked with 3D2N cert dive package) – $520 pp
- Scuba Dive Refresher Course – $55 pp
- 1st Introductory Scuba Dive $80 pp
- Additional Introductory Dives $70 pp
- Guided dive package for Certified divers only – pre-booked only – $10 pp per dive
- Guides for Certified Scuba Dives when booked onboard – $15 pp per dive
- Underwater cameras for hire – $100 pp per day
- Prescription Mask hire – $10 pp per day
- Drinks, snacks, cameras, souvenirs, T-Shirts etc.Soft Drinks, snacks ect from the bar
A Peak Season SURCHARGE of $100 per person is applicable for all travel from the 17/04/2025 to 22/04/2025 AND from the 23/12/2025 to 01/01/2026 – Payable onboard on the day of travel.
Full Itinerary
Vessel Departure Times
Reef Encounter stays out on the Outer Great Barrier Reef with daily transfers from Cairns Via Reef Experience
Check in at Marlin Marina A Finger at 7.30am boarding transfer vessel “Reef Experience”
DEPARTS CAIRNS DAILY at 7.30am from Marlin Marina “A finger”.
Accommodation Transfers are not included. Customers are to make their own way to the vessel
Reef Encounters Sample 2 Day Itinerary
Day of Travel
- 7.30am Marlin Jetty“A” Finger– Welcome on-boardReef Experienceour high speed air-conditioned catamaran. Enjoy a BBQ breakfast with Tea, Coffee and fruits
- 8.00am Depart Marlin Jetty Cairns transferring directly to“Reef Encounter (90 Minute transfer time)
- 9.45am Arrive at the Outer Great Barrier Reef and Transfer to Reef Encounter
- 10.30am Snorkel, sunbake and relax
- 12.00pm Lunch is served
- 12.45 Dive briefing for new passengers
- 1.30pm Scuba Dive and Snorkel Session or just sunbake and relax
- 2.45pm Cruise to out next spectacular Outer Reef location.
- 3.30pm Dive and snorkel session
- 6.00pm Dinner and Desert are served
- 6.30pm Brief for Night Diving
- 7.00pm Night Scuba Dive, relation time, star gazing
Day of Departure
- 6.30am Cereal and toast available before Scuba Dive or Snorkel Session
- 7.30am Breakfast is served
- 8.00am Cruise to our next Outer Reef Location
- 8.30am Scuba Dive and Snorkelling session
- 10.30am Scuba Dive session and last dive for depart passengers
- 12.00pm Lunch
- 1.30pm Last Snorkel Session for Departing Passengers
- 3.00pm Transfer to Reef Experience for Journey back to Cairns
Itinerary and locations may change due to weather conditions
Skipper will decide which spectacular outer barrier reef location depending on weather and Reef Encounters Schedule
Please advise of any dietary requirements.
FAQ
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