The Best Three-Day Liveaboard Tours in Cairns
Ready to dive into the underwater wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef on an extended tour but don’t know where to start? That’s what we’re here for, babe! We’ll walk you through the top three three-day liveaboard dive and snorkel experiences. Three days on the reef is perfect for beginner and novice divers still building their skills and includes plenty of splash action for non-divers too! Across three days and two nights, guests can go on up to 15 diving excursions and eleven snorkel adventures — plenty of time to find your feet (or flippers?) in the water and fall in love with explosions of colours and underwater serenity. So, let’s get you on that liveaboard tour! Read on to find out which boat is best for you.
Pro Dive
Leave the mainland in your rear-view as you sail into the horizon aboard Pro Dive’s 25-metre boat to explore 11 different dive sites on 4 different reefs on the Outer Reef, including Flynn Reef, Thetford Reef, Milln Reef and Pellowe Reef. Some of these reefs are rarely visited by other operators, so enjoy the serenity of the less disturbed ecosystems in their unexploited conditions. When you’re not hitting the reefs, hit one of the two spacious sundecks to bathe in the sun and take in the endless views of cobalt blue.
Pro Dive starts at $875 per snorkeller and $1043 for certified divers (two night dives included), with the added option for certified divers to undertake their Advanced Open Water diving course $1040).
Oceanquest
Oceanquest is for everybody: from beginning divers and long-time pro-divers to snorkellers of all ages! From $724 per person, snorkellers can explore up to 11 reefs at their leisure and can even dip their toes in the world of scuba with the option to go on up to 5 expertly guided dives! Oceanquest is a great option for families, with the minimum age for snorkelling 4 years old and the minimum age for diving 12 years old.
It’s $855 per certified diver, which includes two unique night dives. On night one you’ll meet reef sharks in the dark during an intimate evening dive under the stars, and on night two you’ll see the reef as you’ve never seen it before. If the vibrancy of the corals and tropical fish blew your socks off before, this fluorescent disco dive will take your breath away! With special masks and underwater torches provided you’ll join your fellow divers in casting a fluorescent light over the reef and score some once-in-a-lifetime views — picture aurora borealis, but underwater. How many people can say they’ve witnessed visions akin to the Northern Lights dancing through vibrant coral gardens and gentle currents?!
When it’s time to come up for air hit any of the spacious decks onboard to bask in the glory of the Far North Queensland sun and take in panoramic views of the ocean. Mmm, bellissimo. At night retreat to your twin or double cabin with a private ensuite and catch up on some sweet sleep to prepare for more fun under the sea in the morning.
Reef Encounter
Reef Encounters is a crash course in all things reefy. With presentations by marine biologists and glass bottom boat tours, this is a fabulous option for snorkellers and divers wanting to get to know the Great Barrier Reef better. Climb aboard the 35-metre luxury catamaran specifically designed for diving and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Reef Encounter starts at $690 per person (snorkelling only) with added costs of $145 for certified divers (two night dives included) and $380 to take part in an introductory dive course. You’ll visit over 15 individual reef sites all up, including fan favourites Norman Reef, Flynn Reef, Hastings Reef and Breaking Patches.
Enjoy gourmet meals prepared fresh by the onboard chef and drinks from the bar on the sun deck as you take in the stunning vista of the sun dancing on the shimmering surface of the Coral Sea. Bubs and kids are welcome to join the fun too, and cots can be provided for children under 2 (kids over 12 must have a standard bed each). Glass bottom boats are the best way for the kids get up close and personal with the reef without having to worry about getting wet or having to keep your eyes on them. They can peer through the clear floors into the underwater traffic of turtles, rays, tropical fish and reef sharks, kind of like an underwater theatre where all of the actors have scales and gills!
You’ve seen the reef from below, now take your Reef Encounter to the next level with a helicopter flight to see the world’s largest living structure from above (for an additional cost). And keep an eye out for whales playing along the surface of the water during migration season!
