Great Barrier Reef Dive Liveaboards

What is a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard and why choose one?

A Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboard is a small floating hotel you sleep on so you wake up on the outer reefs and dive more with less travel.

It is the easiest way to see the best sites of the Great Barrier Reef and to do more dives in a week.

Which Great Barrier Reef routes are best for a first timer?

For a first liveaboard on the Great Barrier Reef, choose the Ribbon Reefs from Cairns for easy conditions and bright coral, then add the Cod Hole for potato cod encounters and gentle wall dives.

What is the Coral Sea itinerary near the Great Barrier Reef and who is it for?

The Coral Sea is a remote add on beyond the Great Barrier Reef, with Osprey Reef’s blue walls and Great Barrier Reef sharks action. It suits confident divers who want deeper drop offs and huge visibility.

When is the best time to dive the Great Barrier Reef for calm seas?

The Great Barrier Reef is good for year round scuba diving. May to November in the Great Barrier Reef brings drier weather and steadier seas on the Ribbon Reefs; June and July add the chance of dwarf minke whales.

When is stinger season on the Great Barrier Reef and how do you stay safe?

On the Great Barrier Reef, stinger season runs roughly November to May. Wear a stinger suit or thin 3mm wetsuit, follow crew guidance, and use designated swim lines at popular outer reef sites so you can relax and enjoy long snorkels and scuba dives.

Where do Great Barrier Reef liveaboards depart from and how do you get there?

Most Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboards depart from Cairns, and some longer trips run from Townsville, so fly into Cairns or Townsville and take the short transfer to the marina.

How many dives a day will you do on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard?

A Great Barrier Reef liveaboard usually offers three or four day dives with a night dive when conditions are calm, and you can always skip one for a rest. If you are diving this many times per day, you might prefer to dive using Nitrox, as this will lessen your fatigue.

If you prefer to dive with Nitrox, use the filter to narrow your search to include those Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboards that have Nitrox onboard.

What will you see underwater on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard?

On the Great Barrier Reef you will see hard and soft corals, large schools of fish, turtles, reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, and at the Cod Hole the famous potato cod. But in addition to these, you might be lucky to see Dwarf Minke Whales on Ribbon Reef trips.

Are Great Barrier Reef liveaboards good for beginners?

Many Great Barrier Reef liveaboards welcome beginner divers with easy entries, shallow reef tops, clear waters, and a gentle check dive on day one to settle your buoyancy.

My very first dive was on the Great Barrier Reef, which tells you how beginner-friendly it is. If you want to build experience fast, a Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboard stacks up your dive count in a single week..

Can you learn or upgrade your skills on Great Barrier Reef liveaboards?

Unfortunately no, as non of the Great Barrier Reef liveaboards currently offer scuba diving courses. But it is worth checking in the above collection of Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboards under the "Diving" filter to see if this is an option to filter to those liveaboards with scuba diving courses.

What are the water temperatures and visibility on the Great Barrier Reef?

Great Barrier Reef water temperature can range between 23-29°C, depending on time of year and location on the reef system, where a 3mm wetsuit will work for most divers. Or perhaps a shortie wetsuit.

The typical visibility on the Great Barrier Reef is between 15 to 30 metres, 

Do Great Barrier Reef liveaboards include nitrox and rental gear?

Many Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboards offer nitrox onboard as an extra, and all carry full rental gear onboard, so ask for a price list and reserve your sizes before you fly.

To narrow to Great Barrier Reef boats with Nitrox onboard, open the Diving filter and select ‘Nitrox onboard’.

How much does a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard cost and what is included?

Great Barrier Reef liveaboards vary by route, season, and cabin type, yet most include cabin, meals, snacks, and guided dives, with fees like park permits listed as extras. Use the above collection of Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboards to narrow your search and preferred price.

Is a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard better than day boats from Cairns?

A dive liveaboard reaches the outer Great Barrier Reef before day boats and hits quieter sites with more sea life. Day boats from Cairns are perfect for a taster with up to two tank dives, whilst Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboards usually give three to four dives per day.

When can you see dwarf minke whales on the Great Barrier Reef?

On the Great Barrier Reef the best chance for dwarf minke whales is June and July on Ribbon Reef trips, with special permits, which allow for short in-water encounters with these large mammals.

How do you plan travel for a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard without stress?

Arrive in Cairns or Townsville a day early, keep your dive kit in one bag, and bring your certification cards and logbook for smooth boarding. Cairns Airport is international and reachable from the UK, USA and Europe with one connection in most cases.

What is the one tip that helps most on Great Barrier Reef liveaboards?

Tell the crew your Great Barrier Reef wish list such as Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole, or a Coral Sea add on, and they will pick sites that match your goals all week. Of course, there are no promises, and it will depend on who else is on the boat, plus on it's already set itinerary.