• Amazing life changing expereince is to swim with the Dwarf Minke whales during the months of June & July
• The opportunity to spend time in the water with an inquisitive Dwarf Minke Whale
• Scuba diving the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef
• Sleeping on the Great Barrier Reef and experiencing the sunrises and sunsets  

Cairns Dwarf Minke Whale liveaboard dive tours, unique only to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. There is nowhere else on the planet that you can swim and dive with these highly inquisitive Dwarf Minke Whales. Book now to enjoy amazing whale encounters.

What to Expect

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with Minke Whales on a 4-day liveaboard dive tour to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Running during June and July, this is the only place in the world where these curious whales interact with humans. This Cairns dive tour offers up to 16 dives at some of the most pristine dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs, including the famous Cod Hole. Whether you are a snorkeller or a diver, this tour offers a truly unforgettable experience swim with whales experience. The trip also provides a chance to earn an Advanced Diving Certification while exploring one of the world’s most biodiverse marine environments.

Features and Highlights

Swim with Dwarf Minke Whales

The Dwarf Minke Whales are highly inquisitive and often approach snorkellers for close interactions. Although these whales were only discovered in the 1980s, they have since become a fascinating marine encounter. Typically, the whales prefer interacting with snorkellers over scuba divers, making this tour ideal for everyone, not just certified divers. Snorkellers hold onto floating lines as they quietly wait for the whales to approach. Encounters with these majestic creatures can last from a few minutes to several hours, with pods ranging from two to as many as 28 whales.

Dwarf Minke Whales can grow up to 8 meters long and weigh several tons. They are known for their playful behaviour, often approaching humans to engage in eye contact, spy hopping, and swimming in circles around swimmers. Despite decades of research, there is still much to learn about these elusive animals, making every encounter a unique and humbling experience.

Diving at World-Class Sites

In addition to the whale encounters, you’ll have the opportunity to dive at some of the most renowned sites on the Great Barrier Reef. Highlights include:

• Cod Hole: Famous for its resident Potato Cod, this site offers divers the chance to get close to these massive, friendly fish.
• Steve’s Bommie: A pinnacle dive site that offers pristine coral formations and a wide variety of marine life, from tiny nudibranchs to larger pelagics.
• Lighthouse Bommie: Known for regular Minke Whale sightings, this site is rich in soft corals, anemones, and an impressive array of reef fish.
• Night Dives: Witness the nocturnal creatures of the reef as they emerge from hiding. Night dives offer a completely different underwater experience, with bioluminescent plankton lighting up the water and predators hunting under the cover of darkness.

Humpback Whale Sightings

During June and July, you may also have the chance to spot Humpback Whales as they migrate through the Northern section of the Great Barrier Reef. These giants often put on spectacular shows above and below the water, making the experience even more remarkable.

Luxury Liveaboard Experience

Your home for the next four days is a comfortable liveaboard dive boat with twin-share cabins or double rooms, accommodating up to 36 passengers. The vessel is equipped with all the amenities to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable trip, including fresh daily meals prepared by onboard chefs, a spacious lounge, and sun decks for soaking in the tropical surroundings. The vessel is designed to cater to divers and photographers, with dedicated camera rinse tanks, charging stations, and multi-level camera tables.

Diving and Snorkelling Safety

Safety is a top priority on this Cairns dive tour. All interactions with the whales are governed by strict regulations set by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure the safety of both humans and whales. The crew is highly trained, with certified dive masters and instructors on board to assist with all aspects of your diving and snorkelling experience

Itinerary

Day 1 (Friday)

• 8:00 AM: Check-in at the Cairns office and transfer to the reef.
• 2 dives at Norman Reef, followed by an afternoon transfer to the liveaboard vessel.
• Evening dive and night dive, then overnight journey to the Ribbon Reefs.

Day 2 (Saturday)

• Morning: Begin the day at Lighthouse Bommie, a prime site for Minke Whale encounters.
• 4 dives throughout the day, including a night dive with Potato Cod and other nocturnal creatures.

Day 3 (Sunday)

• Explore the least-visited sections of the Ribbon Reefs, with 4 dives scheduled for the day.
• Experience the diversity of marine life, from small critters to large pelagics.

Day 4 (Monday)

• Dive at Steve’s Bommie and other pristine dive sites.
• After the final night dive, begin the return journey to Cairns.

Day 5 (Tuesday)

• Enjoy your last sunrise over the reef before disembarking in Cairns around 9:00 AM.

Note: The itinerary may be adjusted due to weather conditions or to maximize in-water interactions with the whales during Minke Whale season.

You Must Book Early?

The chance to swim with Dwarf Minke Whales is a rare and highly sought-after experience. With limited spots available during the peak June and July whale season, it's recommended to book at least one year in advance to secure your place on this extraordinary liveaboard adventure or miss out.

***Please note: Itinerary might be altered slightly due to weather conditions and during Dwarf Minke whale season the dive schedule may be changed to allow as much in-water interaction with the whales as possible***

Book your swim with Minke Whales tour very early to secure your spot on this rare marine encounter! 

See more swim with whale tours on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

Check in is at 7:30am at the operator's office located in Cairns city - address will be confirmed at time of booking 

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• The Great Barrier Reef Ribbon Reefs

Months of Operation

June - July

Days of Operation

Friday

2024 Departure Dates: 14th & 12th July

Duration

4 days & 4 nights

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Scuba equipment hire: $160
• Digital camera hire
• Nitrox fills   
• Soft drinks
• Alcoholic beverages
• Snacks (choc/chips)
• Quality souvenirs
• PADI Minke Whale Awareness Specialty: $105
• PADI Advanced Open Water course - $239
• PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Dive Course - must be a certified diver: $269

Fitness Level Required

Medium, Active

Restrictions

Scuba Diving – minimum age 12

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

• All guests must be able to read and write English or travel with an interpreter
• Whales encounters are regular and initiated by the whales themselves. We don't find the whales, the Dwarf Minke whales find us. Our Great Barrier Reef tours have achieved a success rate of up to 90% with an average whale interaction of 2 hours.
• Currently the rules state that for a single no decompression dive, you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 12 hours, or 18 hours after multiple dives. Divers Den recommends waiting a minimum 24 hours whenever possible. These are guidelines only, there is no guarantee that these recommendations will prevent decompression sickness. There are no current guidelines regarding diving after flying. Altitude is defined as 300m/1000ft above sea level. This includes going to the Atherton Tablelands (a popular local scenic attraction), so be careful if booking tours to follow your dive trip. Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive at 8pm the night before you return to Cairns.
• We require all Certified Divers to present a valid Certification Card. Failure to show a Certification Card may result in the customer not being able to dive on the tour. This includes but is not limited to dive equipment that varies from standard and any specialty cards needed such as Full Face Mask Distinctive Specialty or Nitrox.

• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Swimsuit and towel
• Overnight bag with changes of clothing, including warm clothing and socks for overnight wear
• Toiletries
• Cert card and logbook (for certified divers)
• Bedding and bath towels are supplied on board. Excess baggage can be stored at our Draper Street office at check in.

• Children 4 to 18 are welcome, however MUST be accompanied/supervised by a parent or guardian at all time.
• Children travel at adult price.
• Certified divers age 10 & 11 must be with a parent, guardian or PRIVATE GUIDE.
• Certified divers age 12 to 14 must be with a parent, guardian or SHARED GUIDE.
• Please note children over 12 with open water diving certifications are restricted in regards to how deep they can dive therefore will not be able to partake in all dives.
• Open Water Courses: minimum age is 12 to participate in a PADI Open Water Course. Any person under the age of 18 must have the relevant liability forms signed by a parent or guardian.
• We are unable to supply dive gear in childrens sizes.