Tour Highlights
- Our Cairns based dive boat offers a unique, small group (max 12) liveaboard scuba dive experience on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
- We have permits to scuba dive 25 exclusive dive and snorkel sites over nine different coral reefs on the outer Great Barrier Reef off Cairns in Queensland Australia.
- Our liveaboard dive trips from Cairns are great for beginner and advanced divers, with one-on-one instruction, flexible schedules, longer dives and unlimited tank refills
Description & Tour Inclusions
Included In Price
- Small group sail experience only 12 guests maximum
- Dedicated crew of 3 for a boutique, personalised reef experience without the crowds.
- Sail the path less travelled to Cairns outer reefs on the beautiful Coral Sea Dreaming sail boat where you can watch the sun set over the Reef, sleep with the stars overhead and wake to a Coral Sea sunrise
- Unlimited snorkelling
- Freshly prepared meals, local fruit, cheese platter and snacks included. (special diets catered for with advance notice at no extra charge).
- A combination of shared and private cabins to suit couples, singles, or groups.
- Hot Shower, 2 toilets (shared).
- Fresh linen and towels.
- A/C and fans throughout the vessel
- All snorkelling equipment
- Complimentary welcome pack including toiletries and chocolate
- Bar facilities on board - Soft drinks and alcohol sold on-board (no BYO)
Cairns overnight diving and snorkelling on a yacht. Spend 2 days and one night exploring the outer Great Barrier Reef with only a total of 12 guests onboard this intimate dive trip from Cairns.
What to Expect
Set sail on a unique two-day overnight adventure on the Great Barrier Reef, starting from Cairns. Aboard the "Coral Sea Dreaming," a 15.85-meter steel sailing motor boat with a charming wooden interior, you’ll experience an intimate overnight diving and snorkelling tour. Designed for a small group, our tours ensure personalised attention and a cozy atmosphere for up to 12 guests.
Features and Highlights
Unique Vessel and Comfortable Accommodations:
- Spacious Yacht: The yacht boasts a variety of sleeping options from private cabins to shared bunk rooms, ensuring comfort throughout your journey.
- Classic Design: With its sturdy build and beautiful wooden interior, the yacht provides a stable and aesthetically pleasing environment for guests.
Exclusive Diving and Snorkelling Sites:
- Variety of Reefs: With access to 25 exclusive mooring sites across nine different reefs, each dive and snorkel session presents a unique exploration opportunity.
- Marine Biodiversity: Encounter an abundant array of marine life in vibrant coral settings, making each water session unforgettable.
Important note
- Diving is bookable & payable on board only
Personalised Itinerary:
- Flexible Schedule: Enjoy multiple diving and snorkelling opportunities each day, tailored to suit the experience levels and preferences of our guests.
- Engaging Activities: Participate in up to four certified day dives, one night dive (Only certified divers can participate in a night dive), or four introductory day dives. Continuous snorkelling is available except at night.
Culinary Delights Onboard:
- Fresh Meals Prepared Daily: Indulge in a variety of meals prepared onboard, from hearty lunches to delicious dinners, complemented by beautiful ocean views.
- Dietary Accommodations: We cater to most dietary needs with advance notice, ensuring all guests enjoy our culinary offerings.
Detailed Itinerary:
- Day One: Begin with morning tea at Cairns Marlin Marina, followed by a sail to the first snorkel and dive location. After lunch, explore a second reef site, and experience a magical night dive.
- Day Two: Start with an early morning dive, enjoy breakfast, and a final snorkel or dive session before returning to Cairns in the afternoon.
Reef Locations Visited
We have access to over 25 moorings on 9 different reef systems, including some of the most famous dive sites around Cairns: Three Sisters and The Whale on Milln, Little Tracey on Flynn, 5 Ways on Moore and Michaelmas Cay are just some of the many sites we visit with untouched coral gardens.
Environmental Commitment:
Sustainable Practices: Our tour emphasises environmental responsibility, using wind power for sailing when possible and minimising our ecological footprint.?
Join us on the overnight diving and snorkelling tour from Cairns to enjoy a breathtaking journey to explore the undersea wonders of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This intimate liveaboard diving and snorkelling tour experience combines adventure with relaxation, offering detailed insights into the marine ecosystem, expert guidance from our crew, and the tranquil beauty of life at sea.
View all Great Barrier Reef tours in Cairns and the Whitsundays.
Read The Tour Specialists Blog for all the things you need to know before you go
Itinerary
A Typical Itinerary
Day One
- 7:45 - Board 'Coral Sea Dreaming' at Cairns Marlin Marina. Check-in, morning tea and safety and dive brief.
- 8:00 - The journey to the Great Barrier Reef starts
Travel time from Cairns to the Reef varies from 2.5 to 4 hours depending on the locations chosen for the voyage and wind. The sites will be chosen to suit the range of in-water experience of our passengers and their comfort.
- 11:00 - Arrival at the first site and first water session
Guests are given a reef brief at the arrival on each site identifying the features and key species to look out for. Our attentive staff will assist all guests into the water and back on deck upon return from their adventures.
There is a crew member stationed on watch at all times the guests are in the water with a safety tender deployed for immediate emergency assistance. For first-time snorkellers we have plenty of flotation aids.
- 13:00 - Lunch
Lunch varies, but there is usually a hearty selection of salads, cured meats and cheese, bread and spreads, all prepared freshly onboard. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know before the trip so we can accomodate to your needs.
- 14:00 - Second location
The boat moves to a second location for another dive and snorkelling.
- 15:00 - Free time
Enjoy another water session or relax in the sun. Snacks and fruit are served in between the activities.
- 18:00 - Sunset
With the sunset starts the night dive and is an absolute must do on the trip. Night time brings out a whole other world underwater from sharks and hunting red bass to sleeping turtles, dazzling luminescence and glowing corals under the UV torches.
- 20:00 - Dinner
Unwind after the night dive and enjoy a freshly cooked dinner. Take in the untainted, mesmerising view of the galaxy and its countless stars - a real privilege to see.
Like lunch, dinner varies but you can expect a meal like meatballs with mashed potatoes, thai green curry, gnocchi with chicken in mushroom sauce, indian curry or chilli beans.
Day Two
- 6:00 - Wake up on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns.
Awake to the dawn and watch the sun rise over the Coral Sea.
- 6:30 - Breakfast
Breakfast is served. Choose from a variety of toasts and spreads, yogurts and cereals.
- 7:00 - Morning dive
Jump in the water for a morning dive or snorkel to see the magical shards of light through the water. See the change of shift between the night and day inhabitants of the reef.
- 9:30 - Second dive
For divers, now is the time for the last dive, at the final location for the trip. The rest of the time is unstructured. You can enjoy some more snorkeling or just laze on the deck soaking up the morning sun.
- 11:00 - Lunch
A buffet selection of cold cuts, cheese, vegetables, breads and salads is prepared onboard and served.
- 12:00 - Journey back
Time to sail back to Cairns. This is usually a calmer transit with the prevailing winds filling our sails and smoothly guiding us home.
- 16:00 - Arrival in Cairns
Typically we return to Cairns between 3–4pm. Please let us know if you need a specific return time. The end of the trip is followed by a group photo - and often, drinks with the crew in the nearby bar for those interested.
Please note:
While we have tried to describe a typical trip, our itinerary is reflective of weather conditions at the time. As we have access to over 25 exclusive moorings at 9 reef systems, we will always seek the best option given the weather conditions to ensure guests enjoy the best possible locations on the day and are comfortable and safe. Therefore, times and locations visited may vary.
Itinerary allows for 4 to 5 certified day dives and 1 night dive, or up 4 day intro dives (conditions apply). Snorkeling is available at all times except at night.
***diving is bookable & payable on board only, not included in the ticket price***
We can accomodate most of the dietary requirements, however please let us know before the trip if you do have any.
Tour Details
Tour Languages Offered
English
EnglishDeparts From
Cairns
Departure Time
Board Coral Sea Dreaming at 7:45am, Berth 3, Finger A, Marlin Marina Cairns for morning tea and meet & greet - Departs 8.00am - Returns 4.00pm the following day
Destinations
- Great Barrier Reef
- Outer Great Barrier Reef Cairns Queensland Australia
Months of Operation
January - December
Days of Operation
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Please note we are closed for Christmas: Saturday 24th to Sunday 25th December; and also for New Year: Saturday 31st of December to Sunday 1st of January
Duration
2 day & 1 night
Available for Purchase / Hire
Scuba Diving bookable on board only
Fitness Level Required
Low, Medium
IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS
Scuba Diving Restrictions
- Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
- Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
- Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
- Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.
Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.
Additional Information
- Diving is bookable and payable on board only
- Night diving is only available for certified divers
What to Bring
- A small overnight bag only (limited luggage storage available upon request)
- Sunglasses, Hat and Swimwear, Beach Towel, Camera, warm clothes for evening, Cert card and logbook for certified divers. We accept credit cards or cash for on-board payments.
- Toiletries are now PROVIDED onboard for all guests (soap, shampoo, shower gel, conditioner).
Cancellation Policy
Our T&Cs
All cancellations must be in writing.
We understand things may change, so we have made cancellations very easy.
In every instance we always recommend you purchase travel insurance for life’s last-minute hiccups.
Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.
Additional Tour Operator's T&Cs
If you can't make the trip and wish to cancel for any reason, the following cancellation policy applies:
More than 30 days prior to departure: free (full refund)
7 to 30 days prior to departure: 35% cancellation fee
Less than 7 days prior to departure or no show: no refunds under any circumstances, including illness, cancelled flights, etc.
Private charter bookings
Similarly to the above, if you wish to cancel your private charter booking, the following cancellation policy applies:
More than 90 days prior to departure: free (full refund)
30 to 90 days prior to departure: 50% cancellation fee
Less than 30 days prior to departure or no shows: no refunds
If we need to cancel the trip
While we aim to run all trips, sometimes we need to cancel for reasons out of our control, including:
Strong winds
Cyclone warnings
Mechanical issues with the boat or equipment
Staff unavailability
When this happens, we will offer to either move your booking to a different date depending on trip availability, or a full refund if the alternatives don't work for you.
Please note we are unable to cover your additional expenses such as accommodation, flights and others that might be affected by our trip cancellation.
We recommend all guests have travel insurance prior to travel.
Please ensure you are aware of the medical restrictions attached to underwater activities - Medical Conditions
From
au$669.00
Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.
Child:
au$669.00
Family: au$2,676.00
Tour Code: 228
Whatsapp
Facebook
Instagram