4 Day / 3 Night Liveaboard Snorkel & Dive
Overnight Great Barrier Reef adventure from Cairns aboard OceanQuest, including snorkelling and twin cabin accommodation with en-suite, all meals, and access to premier reef sites at Saxon, Norman, and Hastings Reefs.
Key Highlights
- Experience overnight stays on the OceanQuest liveaboard vessel
- Explore outer Great Barrier Reef dive sites near Cairns
- Snorkel, introductory, and certified diving available
- Access more than 14 permanent moorings at Saxon and Norman reefs, plus selected sites at Hastings Reef
- Stay in air-conditioned cabins with private en-suites
- Enjoy freshly prepared meals by an onboard chef
- Relax in spacious lounges, sundecks, and bar area
- Unique night dive experiences including Fluoro Diving
What’s included
- Floating accommodation aboard OceanQuest
- Snorkelling equipment
- Air-conditioned twin cabin with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert prepared by the onboard chef
- Lounge and bar facilities
- Spacious sundecks and fresh water showers
- Access to all listed mooring dive sites
Overview
Enjoy an immersive overnight snorkelling adventure on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns aboard the OceanQuest liveaboard vessel. The journey takes you to vibrant dive and snorkel sites at Saxon, Norman, and Hastings reefs, providing direct access to the reef's unique marine life while you stay in your comfortable, air-conditioned twin cabin.
During the day, you can snorkel or participate in introductory and certified dive experiences with flexible options to suit all skill levels. Spend your surface intervals relaxing in the spacious lounge or on the open sundeck, soaking in uninterrupted ocean views or socialising at the onboard bar.
The OceanQuest vessel features three decks, a large dive platform, and hot, fresh water showers for post-adventure comfort. Your meals, including hearty breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and tempting desserts, are freshly prepared onboard by the resident chef, ensuring you're refuelled between excursions.
Enhance your experience by joining night dives or trying Fluoro Diving for a stunning view of nocturnal marine life. An overnight stay also allows time to improve your dive skills with expert instructors available for training on request, making your time at the Great Barrier Reef truly memorable.
Commonly asked questions.
OceanQuest visits selected sites on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, including Norman Reef, Saxon Reef and Hastings Reef. The crew chooses the locations according to weather, visibility and sea conditions, giving guests access to a variety of coral gardens, bommies and reef walls.
Staying aboard OceanQuest gives you more time to experience the reef, with additional snorkelling and diving opportunities outside the usual day-trip schedule. You can explore the reef in different light conditions, enjoy evening activities and wake up surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef rather than returning to Cairns each afternoon.
Yes. OceanQuest caters for snorkellers, introductory divers and certified scuba divers, so people with different interests can travel together. Everyone can enjoy the reef, while those who choose to dive can participate in additional underwater activities appropriate to their experience and booking option.
The package includes onboard accommodation, meals, snorkelling, snorkelling equipment, and drinking water, tea and coffee. Diving packages also include the applicable scuba equipment and air fills. Transfers from selected Cairns CBD accommodation are available, subject to the operator's arrangements.
OceanQuest has air-conditioned cabins with private ensuite bathrooms. The vessel offers twin-share cabins and double cabins, making it suitable for couples, friends and solo travellers. Cabin allocation depends on the booking selected, and same-gender cabin sharing cannot be guaranteed.
All main meals are prepared onboard by the vessel's chef, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, with dessert and snacks also available. Tea, coffee and chilled drinking water are provided. Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and additional snacks are available to purchase separately.
Yes. Night diving is available for certified divers, subject to conditions and the scheduled activities. Exploring the reef after dark offers a different perspective, with nocturnal marine life becoming active. Divers who have not previously completed a night dive may need to use a dive guide at an additional cost.
Sharks in the dark is a unique after dar experience for anyone not doing a night dive. The crew lower the dive platform until it's just underwater, allowing passengers to lay on the platform and watch the sharks and other marine life attracted to the lights from an underwater perspective without leaving the boat.
Using specialised blue lighting and fluorescent viewing equipment, this experience reveals glowing colours in certain corals and marine organisms that are not normally visible under standard lighting. It is an unusual way to experience the reef after sunset, availability is limited and additional charges apply.
Yes. OceanQuest offers opportunities for eligible guests to undertake further practical dive training on the reef, including advanced diving courses on selected packages.
Diving packages include the applicable scuba equipment, tanks and air fills, while snorkelling equipment is included for snorkellers. Some optional extras, such as Nitrox fills, guided dives and underwater camera hire, will incur additional charges.
Transfers are available from selected Cairns CBD accommodation, making it easier to reach the dive centre and departure point.
Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, toiletries and comfortable clothing for relaxing onboard. Certified divers should bring their certification card and logbook if required. An underwater camera, spare batteries and charging equipment are also useful. Pack light, as cabin storage is limited compared with a hotel room.