An outstanding opportunity to spend 1 or many nights on the Great Barrier Reef. There simply is no better way to see the Great Barrier Reef than onboard in a twin or double stateroom with a private bathroom.

Accommodation facilities onboard the fully air-conditioned vessel are terrific. Staterooms are modern, spacious & bright with plenty of storage space, & all have en-suite bathrooms. The vessel has its own onboard water desalination plant so guests have the luxury of unlimited showers. The dining room is big & fresh, our onboard spa is perfect to relax after a night dive or watch the sunset with a glass of champagne. 

Our hydraulic scuba dive / snorkel platform makes scuba diving & snorkeling a breeze. Reef Encounter is large enough to provide all the comforts of larger cruise ships, yet small enough to enable access to spectacular reef locations inaccessible to other vessels. The vessel is available for Private Charter for the ultimate vacation experience. This boat offers an outstanding opportunity to live aboard & spend a night or several nights on the Great Barrier Reef.

 

Snorkelling

Snorkelling is a popular recreational activity, particularly on the Great Barrier Reef. The primary attraction of snorkelling is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting.This may include coral reefs and their denizens, such as fish, cephalopods, starfish, sea urchins, and molluscs as well as an abundance of brightly coloured coral reef fish only found on the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkelling in sandy areas may allow sighting of rays and various flatfish. Other organisms that can be seen while snorkelling include jellyfish, shrimp, sea turtles, various types of sea cactus and occasionally anything else which may be found in the ocean.

 

Introductory Divers  Try our FREE 10 minute Scuba Diving Lesson:Never tried scuba diving? Why not try an Introductory/Resort Scuba Dive with our team of experienced Dive Instructors. No experience necessary! It's fun...it's safe...it's easy! Our professional Dive Instructors guarantee a fantastic first experience.

 

Your time at the Reef

 About Our Reef Sites

We visit spectacular Outer Great Barrier Reef locations, with access to well over 15 dive and snorkel sites over a range of the best Outer Great Barrier Reefs. Each day the Captain decides which reef locations the vessel visits based on the time of year, weather, other conditions and which reef site offers guests the best reef experience and comfort.
The vessel generally visits two reef locations every day – moving twice per day – once in the morning and once again in the afternoon (weather dependent).

Hastings Reef - Hastings Reef is a fabulous coral reef in all weather, and we have many different locations to choose from here depending on which way the wind blows! Being the largest reef site we visit, it provides good protection and calm diving and snorkelling conditions all year round. Favourite dive and snorkel spots along this reef include ‘coral gardens’, ‘the fish bowl’ and ‘compass mooring’.

Breaking Patches Reef - A popular afternoon destination when the weather is good, Breaking Patches is a small reef location  just north of Michaelmas Cay – a tropical sand island and marine turtle breeding ground. As the name suggests, this is a patch reef and is great for viewing giant clams and blue spotted stingrays. It’s also home to one of our well loved marine friends – the friendly resident seaturtle, called ‘Gus’.

Saxon Reef - Depending on the time of year, Saxon Reef can be a hive of marine activity. In the right seasons it’s a great reef to see young cuttlefish families or migrating humpback whales. White tip reef sharks can often be seen sleeping on the shallow sandy areas and hiding under coral coves. Popular dive and snorkel spots along this reef site include ‘magic mooring’, turtle bommie’ and the famous ‘twin peaks’.

Norman Reef - he furthest north Outer Great Barrier Reef destination that we visit – the coral and vast variety of marine life here is simply breathtaking! Outstanding swim throughs, underwater caves, bronze whalers and it’s also home to our giant Maori Wrasse ‘Frank’. This is the most impressive reef for a sunrise snorkel or night dive due to the number of larger inhabitants such as turtles and reef sharks.

Jorgensen Patch - There are walls, gullies, small caves, overhangs and swim-throughs that can be found in the area of ‘Jeorgies’ – a reef visited at the right time of year. With sandy bottoms that have giant clams, there are sea cucumbers and bluespotted lagoon rays on the sandy bottoms as well as lots of soft corals. You can also observe whitetip sharks, schools of damsels and fusiliers schooling in the plankton rich waters.

 

Top Deck Club on the Great Barrier Reef.  

Upon arrival guests are greeted by our crew and invited to share delicious local fruit platters and a glass of Australian champagne.

Our Top Deck Club is designed to meet the expectations of the most discerning of guests, offering an unhurried, relaxed ambience. Our modern staterooms have a private ensuite and are spacious and air-conditioned with ample space for clothes and luggage. Luxurious touches such as crisp Australian bed linen, silk doona, cotton sheets and feather down pillows adorn our oversized double beds. Soft fluffy robes, plush bath sheets and Australian beauty products are replenished daily.

• The magic begins each day when the reef awakens.Perhaps an early morning dive, a revitalising swim or relaxing spa.
• Breakfast is served to your suite.
• All personal options are available. The Reef has a personality of its own and our resident experts, our crew, are on hand to provide whatever assistance is required in and out of the water.
• Personal dive/snorkel guides will assist with fitting of fins and dive/snorkel gear, providing our Top Deck guests with an aquatic adventure remembered for a lifetime.

 

Learn to Scuba Dive

The program offers more guided dives than both the open water and advanced courses combined! 8 pleasure dives are combined with 6 skills sessions over a 3 day / 2 night period on board. This ensures all candidates have 8 recreational dives on the Great Barrier Reef...
There’s no pools, no classrooms - do away with the fundamentals of your traditional 5 day course and be certified in just 3 days…
Learn by experience under the watchful eye of your instructor with only 3 other students... Personalised.... Safer..... More Fun.....Attention to detail....