• Another bonus of our Cairns dive tours is the opportunity to swim with a family of man size Potato Cod at the world famous Cod Hole on the northern sections of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia 
• You may not believe us but you will be swimming eye to eye with the Dwarf Minke Whales as they come up and take a good look at you and spend hours with you in the water 
• A highlight for our more game scuba divers on our Coral Sea dive trips is the opportunity to go scuba diving with sharks on the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef
• Whilst waiting for flights you can enjoying an hour or two to explore world famous Lizard Island
• Also include in your 7 day dive the Coral sea tour is a low level scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island for you to meet the boat out on the Great Barrier Reef

Dive & Snorkel with Minke Whales on the Great Barrier Reef in June and July. Limited departures and availability for this unique 7 day liveaboard marine encounter. Swimming with Minke Whales, diving with Sharks, hanging with Giant Potato Cod fish and playing with puppy like Humphead Maori Wrasse

7 Night Minke Whale Scuba Diving Expeditions on the Great Barrier Reef - Departing from Cairns

Departure Dates (current as of 03/01/25):

2025 Departure dates: 5th June 4 seats left, 12th 19^th & 26th June SOLD OUT, 3rd & 10^th July SOLD OUT, 17th July 10+ seats left

2026 Departure dates: 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th June, 2nd, 9th & 16th July 10+ seats available

What to Expect

The world’s only destination where you can swim with Minke Whales is right here on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns. With departures from Cairns city dive into an extraordinary 7-night liveaboard adventure to the remote reaches of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, where you will swim alongside Dwarf Minke Whales, dive with sharks, and marvel at the vibrant marine life. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is available only during June and July, coinciding with the Dwarf Minke Whales’ annual migration. Join an exclusive small group of scuba divers and snorkellers to witness this rare event, diving in pristine waters filled with marine biodiversity.

The Cairns liveaboard dive and snorkel boat offers luxurious accommodations for the week, with spacious, air-conditioned cabins and premium amenities. Between dives, enjoy gourmet meals and Australian wines, relax on the sundeck, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. During the whale expedition, you’ll not only have unforgettable wildlife encounters but also contribute to valuable research on Dwarf Minke Whales.

Features and Highlights

Swim with Dwarf Minke Whales (June-July Only)

• Get up close to the curious Dwarf Minke Whales, which can grow up to 8 meters long. These gentle giants are known for approaching snorkellers, sometimes spending hours swimming nearby. This natural interaction is a humbling and life-changing experience, and strict guidelines from the Australian Government and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority ensure safe and respectful encounters for both you and the Minke whales.

Diving with Sharks

• Dive into thrilling encounters with sharks at sites like North Horn in Osprey Reef. Expect to see Grey Whaler sharks, Silvertips, and reef sharks in this adrenaline-packed dive. The clarity of the water at Osprey Reef, with visibility reaching up to 100 meters, makes it a perfect place to witness these apex predators in action.

Explore the Famous Cod Hole

• One of the highlights of the Cairns overnight trips are diving at the world famous Cod Hole, home to the enormous Potato Cod, which can grow as large as a diver. These friendly fish are used to human interaction, making it a perfect dive for underwater photography. You’ll also encounter Humphead Maori Wrasse, Moray eels, and colourful anemones, all amidst pristine coral gardens.

Luxurious Liveaboard Experience

• Enjoy 7 nights on a top-of-the-line liveaboard dive and snorkel boat with just 26 guests. The boat features 11 air-conditioned cabins, each with an ensuite bathroom. Premium cabins come with entertainment amenities, while common areas such as the lounge, sundeck, and dining area offer space to unwind. Gourmet meals are prepared daily by the onboard chef, and Australian wines and soft drinks are served with dinner.

Minke Whale Research

• During your trip, you’ll have the unique opportunity to participate in research efforts by observing and photographing Dwarf Minke Whales. This data helps researchers better understand these fascinating creatures. A Minke Whale Project researcher from James Cook University may even join the expedition to share insights and answer questions.

Dive the Remote Coral Sea

• Explore the remote, unspoiled dive sites of the Coral Sea, including Fairy Grotto and Admiralty Anchor, where you can see the rare Nautilus. With some of the best visibility in the world, these sites offer spectacular wall diving, teeming with marine life such as trevally, barracuda, and vibrant corals.

Night Diving on the Great Barrier Reef

• Experience the reef in a completely new light with night dives. You’ll see nocturnal creatures like octopus, eels, and phosphorescent organisms glowing in the dark waters. Watch as the Great Barrier Reef comes alive at night, and spot predators like sharks and hunting parrotfish.

World-Class Dive Sites: Cod Hole, Steve's Bommie, and More

• Cod Hole: Dive with the giant Potato Cod, playful Humphead Wrasse, and colourful reef fish.
• Steve’s Bommie: Known for its rich marine life and ideal for both wide-angle and macro photography.
• Lighthouse Bommie: A hot spot for Dwarf Minke Whale sightings, large schools of fish, and beautiful anemones.
• Pixie Pinnacle: A towering coral formation with vibrant coral, schools of fish, and incredible biodiversity.

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1 (Thursday): Board the liveaboard at 6:00 PM after meeting the crew. Depart Cairns and set up your dive gear.
• Day 2 to Day 7: Dive up to 5 times per day, including night dives. Snorkel and swim with Dwarf Minke Whales. Participate in research and relax with gourmet meals onboard.
• Day 8 (Thursday): Return to Cairns after breakfast and disembark at 8:00 AM.

Important Information

• The Minke Whale expedition departs on specific dates between June and July.
• Minimum age for diving is 12 years old.
• Divers must hold at least an Open Water certification. Advanced certification is recommended for some dive sites.
• A 24-hour no-fly rule applies after your last dive.
• This liveaboard is suitable for both divers and snorkellers, with snorkellers having more opportunities to interact with Minke Whales.

This exclusive 7-night liveaboard expedition combines thrilling dives with one of nature’s most magical marine encounters. Swimming with Dwarf Minke Whales, exploring the Coral Sea, and diving the Great Barrier Reef makes this a truly unforgettable adventure. Be warned to secure your spot you must book at least many months if not a full year in advance to secure your berth, as availability is limited during the Minke Whale migrations season.

Over the 7 nights on our liveaboard dive boat we will be heading to the annual migration grounds of the Dwarf Minke Whales to hopefully dive and snorkel with the Minke Whales which a lot of our past dive guests say is a life-changing experience.

It’s not uncommon for people to emerge from the water screaming with joy, crying with happiness, or just with a blank look on their faces and speechless. It’s astounding watching and listening to the stories as the snorkelers emerge from the waters of the Great Barrier Reef after just spending time swimming with the Dwarf Minke whales. Blindly chattering away at what they saw, how they felt and what the Minke Whale did and what it looked like, and how it sounded.

It’s an animal encounter experience they simply cannot wait to do again.

If you too want to add this amazing marine encounter to your Australia Holiday Bucketlist, then you need to book your berth on our 7 day swim with the Dwarf Minke Whale tours today for the next season or miss out!.

View all the swim with Minke whale tours right here and read our blog dedicated to watching and swimming with whales.  

And if you are really super game how about a holiday diving with sharks of other varieties for a thrill? 

Dive With The Minke Whale Experts - 7 Nights Great Barrier Reef

Hosted by Minke Whale experts, these exploratory expeditions will take you further out from the iside of the Great Barrier Reef protection to the Coral Sea beyond. 

You will dive remote dive sites like Fairy Grotto and go diving with sharks at North Horn and experience seeing the rare Nautilus at  Admiralty Anchor.

Dwarf Minke Whales are very similar to Minke Whales, but are slightly smaller, hence their tag “Dwarf”.  Though, if dwarfs were measured as 8 metres long and weighing up to five tons then “giant dwarfs” might be nearer the description.  

These curious, gentle and amazing animals come to the warmer waters of the Great Barrier Reef at this time to feed on lantern fish, krill and other crustaceans and small fish. 

It is not unknown to have populations of 100 or more feeding and cruising off the ribbon reefs of the Great Barrier Reef around this time.

This is an extra special scuba dive trip only available from Cairns  where you can be in the water to interact with these mammals.

Minke Whales are naturally curious and seem to enjoy their human friends and will approach boats and snorkelers spending hours swimming with the scuba divers and snorkellers.

It is this natural desire to interact that has enabled local diving and snorkelling operators to organise swim with Dwarf Minke Whale dive and snorkel tours from Cairns on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Being in the water with these gentle giants is truly remarkable.  You’ll never forget looking into the eyes of these amazing creatures as they gently approach and gracefully glide past you.

You will realise how privileged you are to share the ocean with such beautiful animals and it truly is a humbling and almost life changing experience. 

Swim with Minke Whales Dive Tours & Expeditions Only Operate in June and July.

These unforgettable close-up Dwarf Minke Whale experiences can be enjoyed by both divers and snorkellers however the Minke Whales prefer to spend time with snorkellers rather than divers with tanks on their backs . 

The itinerary of this amazing adventure will be dictated by the Dwarf Minke Whale activity and proximity of the key dive sites so allowing the best utilisation of time.

Your boat for this adventure is the most highly awarded liveaboard dive boat in the country. This well-appointed luxury dive liveaboard is your home and the expedition is offered to divers over 12 years (inclusive) with a minimum age of 8 years old, however we are unable to provide the correct dive equipment sizes for children.

To ensure the best safety for divers and snorkelers and the Dwarf Minke Whales, all interactions with these animals are strictly governed by clear rules from the Australian Government and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 

Once a pod of Minke Whales has been spotted the boat will stop its engines and everyone will quietly slide into the water with their snorkelling gear. 

There is a floating cast line that runs from the boat that allows people to hold on and wait for the Minke Whales to approach. 

The Dwarf Minke Whales can be a little nervous around scuba divers and moving snorkelers, but will approach with no trepidation to snorkelers hanging quietly on the surface and will get very close as they curiously pass by.

Sometimes they even come right up close and spy hop amongst you and take a close look at the humans hanging onto the ropes and they look at you eye to eye as if trying to communicate with you.

All guests will also be involved in helping to research and gain information on these elusive creatures.  Whale observations and photographs are all valuable resources in helping to update the Dwarf Minke Whale database.

When not snorkelling with the whales, you will still have a whale of a time diving the amazing dive sites on the northern section Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Continental Shelf. 

The coral reefs off off Tropical Far North Queensland are some of the most pristine reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. 

Due to less coastal settlements and farming by man there has been less impact on the health of the coral reefs and acidity levels of the water. 

At times a James Cook University Minke Whale Project researcher may be present to help with questions and to inform guests on these amazing animals.

Dwarf Minke Whales On The Great Barrier Reef

As mentioned previously, dwarf is a rather a relative term for an animal that can grow up to 8 metres long and weigh several tonnes.

An average interaction with the Dwarf Minke Whales consists of around 2-3 whales for around 90 minutes or longer.  Some of the best encounters to date was a Minke Pod of 28 whales with an encounter that lasted for 10 hours. 

It has to be remembered that these are wild animals and this isn’t a Disney theme park.  Past successes do not guarantee any future successes, so your trip really will be a case of seeing what happens.

Research on the Dwarf Minke Whale is continuous. There are only two known species of Minke Whales, the slightly larger Antarctic Minke and the North Atlantic Minke. 

It is thought that the Dwarf Minkes, and the ones that visit the Great Barrier Reef are related to the North Atlantic Minke, or is an unknown species.

7 Night dive Trip Sample Itinerary - Subject To Change Based On Conditions.

Thursday:  

• Check in at our office  between 8.30 am and 4.00 pm - paperwork.
• From 4.30 pm:  Make your own way to Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf (200m from MBDE office) to meet your fellow passengers.  Please note that dinner is not provided on the first evening so you may wish to eat before boarding.
• 5.50 pm: Our crew will lead you from Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf to board Spoilsport.  Enjoy a glass of champagne and light snacks while your Trip Director provides a full briefing.
• 6.00 pm:  Spoilsport departs Cairns
• Time to organise any rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck.

Friday:  (4 dives + night dive)

This is a sample of a ‘typical day’, however exact times may vary to optimise the prevailing weather conditions on the day.

• 6.30 am: Wake up call, light breakfast available in dining room
• 7:00 am: Dive brief & diving commences
• 9.00 am: Full cooked Breakfast
• 10.30 am: Dive brief & diving. “Open decks” accommodate 1-2 dives either am or pm
• 2.00 pm: Lunch
• 3.30 pm: Dive brief & diving
• 4:30 pm: Afternoon Tea
• 6:30 pm: Night dive brief & dive
• 8:00 pm: Dinner

Saturday:  (4 dives + night dive)

• As per above

Sunday: (4 dives)

• As per above, however all diving is finished by 5pm. Spoilsport moors off Lizard Island for the evening.
• As the sun sets we pour the champagne, lay out the nibbles and get ready for an Aussie BBQ party night. Don’t forget to wear your loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by our talented crew.

Monday:  (2 dives + night dive)

• 7.00 am:  Light breakfast
• 8:00 am:  Bid farewell to passengers doing the 4 night expedition who will disembark here.
• 8.00 am:  Stay onboard or take a tender over to Lizard Island to stretch your legs and explore a little of this beautiful island.
• 11.00 am:  New passengers join us here.  Champagne and light snacks provided.
• 12.45 pm:  Dive brief and dive
• 2.00 pm:  Lunch
• 3.45 pm:  Dive brief and dive
• 4.45 pm:  Afternoon tea
• 6.00 pm:  Dive brief and night dive
• 8:00 pm:  Dinner

Tuesday: (4 dives + night dive)

• 6.30 am: Wake up call, light breakfast available in dining room
• 7:00 am: Dive brief & diving commences
• 9.00 am: Cooked breakfast
• 10.30am: Dive briefing & diving. “Open decks” accommodate 1-2 dives either am or pm
• 2.00 pm: Lunch
• 3.30 pm: Dive brief & diving
• 4:30 pm: Afternoon tea
• 6:30 pm: Night dive brief & dive
• 8:00 pm: Dinner

Wednesday: (4 dives)

• As per above. Exit last dive 5pm.
• As the sun sets we pour the champagne, lay out the nibbles and get ready for a final farewell party!
• Overnight cruise to Cairns

Thursday:

• 7.00 am:  Light breakfast
• 8:00 am:  Disembark and courtesy transfer to Cairns inner city hotels, the airport or our office where we can store your luggage until 5pm if you have a later flight.

Important:

We recommend that you allow 24 hours between your last dive and your onward flight (all diving is finished by 5pm Wednesday).

World Famous Cod Hole

Yes, the Code Hole is aptly named as the place where you will see Cod and is the most famous dive site on the Great Barrier Reef.  The Potato Cod at Cod Hole are the size of a diver (and larger) and can reach up to 8.5 feet and weigh in up to 110 kilograms (240 pounds).

These curious fish are used to divers and are very used to being photographed (if they had their own phone they would be the ‘selfie’ fish of the Pacific).  Other dive friendly big fish are the Maori Wrasse (other names – Napolean and Humphead Wrasse). 

The Maori Wrasse are another dive sized fish that can reach up to 2 metres long and weigh up to 180 kg, but typically most you see will be around 1 metre long.

These are listed as endangered, but are protected in the area.  They will follow divers around sometimes like little puppies and are inquisitive of divers.

This is a great dive for the photographers – so make sure you have a wide angled lens – so you can get in all the action.

Other marine life at the Cod Hole includes anemones, giant clams, Solomon’s sweetlip, feather stars, cruising white tip reef sharks and plenty of cleaning stations.

Steve’s Bommie

Steve must be chuffed - this is one of the most popular sites in the area. This dive site is one for all macro and wide-angled photographers.  It is one of the best sites on the Great Barrier Reef due to the density and diversity of marine life here.  Large schools of fish take refuge around the bommie and circle it.

Watch large schools of trevally and barracudas, reef sharks and rays.  Interspersed in the colourful corals macro life clings to the sides of the bommie and you can see anemone fish, stone fish and nudibranch. 

A small underwater plaque commemorates ‘Steve’ who the bommie was named after in 1989.

Lighthouse Bommie

This is another popular site for divers and for the Dwarf Minkes.  Diving here you will see large schools of yellow and blue snapper and many types of anemone fish and a good likelihood of seeing the amazing Dwarf Minkes on the surface.

Pixie Pinnacle and Gardens

This dive site boasts a pinnacle that is 30 metres tall and 15 metres diameter.  This Pinnacle, like an ornate cake is decorated on the sides by wonderful coral formations and a host of marine life.  Your dive starts at the top at just 2 metres depth and you slowly work your way down around the hard and soft and corals, dodging sea whips, large gorgonian fans and sponges.  

Some of the nooks and crannies and overhands shelter lionfish, shrimps, moray eels, clownfish in their anemone home and the amazing flaming fire shells.

Circling in the blue next to the pinnacle are schools of surgeonfish, barracuda and trevally.  For the small critter enthusiasts you can check out lace scorpion fish, harlequin ghost pipefish and leafy scorpion fish.

The Ribbon Reefs

The most prized dive region of Great Barrier Reef, this stretch of reef from Lizard Island to Cooktown is also where the minke whales migrate each year to breed and calve. Nutrient rich waters from the Continental Shelf attract abundant fish and coral species.

Lizard Island

Mid-expedition we moor off Lizard Island, saying goodbye to some guests and welcoming new ones. You will have a few hours to relax on the beach, go for a swim or climb the hill to Chinaman’s Ridge for a view.  One of our crew members will show you around.

Night/Twilight Dives on the Great Barrier Reef

On all the trips you will have the opportunity to do night dives (led dives) or twilight dives (you and your buddy).  These dives are usually spent on the last dive site and moor up of the afternoon.

Night lights can be rented or bring your own (with spare batteries).

As day turns to night you can see feeding coral polyps, colourful fans, crustaceans and cruising sharks. The night dives are a whole different experience and a completely different show.  As the day animals curl up to sleep and nestle under their rocks – out come the thousands of reef animals that surface under the cover of dark.

View the red eyes of shrimps illuminated in your dive light like the eyes of lots of little aliens.  Colourful fish will follow your light with curiosity.  Catch sight of hunting octopus, moray eels, or a sleeping turtle with its head under a rock.   

You might see a nocturnal black spotted puffer fish, a dog face, epaulette sharks and clown fish. The hard coral your saw on your afternoon dive now looks different as the polyps have come out to feed.

You might see passing sharks looking for easy fish to pick off amongst the rocks and sleeping Parrotfish encased in their own specially made saliva sleeping bags.

There’s nothing like diving at night amongst phosphorescence or surfacing under the stars of a clear tropical night. 

Your Scuba Diving Boats - Features

Your well-appointed liveaboard dive boat has plenty of room to spread out and many living areas that include an alfresco bar (handy for watching another beautiful sunset with sundowner cocktail) an inside bar and lounge area, a large sundeck (with sun beds)

• There is equipment and set ups for photographers
• A 12 person crew – all highly experienced
• A Marine Biologist will give nature presentations daily and is there to consult with throughout the trip
• The vessel has full air-conditioning
• Daily cabin service
• Well designed large dive deck with well laid out exit and entry platforms
• 2 large screen TVs in the lounge area
• Nitrox and Rebreather divers are catered for
• 2 large inflatables dinghies are in use every day allowing for optimal dive access 

Dive Boat Specifications

• Beam – 10.5m (35ft)
• Length - 30 m (100ft)
• Speed – cruising speed of 15 knots
• Survey – 29 people - Commissioned in 1989

Instruments on Board

• 240V /110V Recharge Facilities – available in lounge areas and bedrooms.
• Radar
• Global Positioning Systems x 2
• Chart Plotters x 2
• HF & VHF Radios
• Echo Sounder

Equipment

If you don’t wish to lug heavy equipment on the airlines and in bags then you can rent all your equipment for the trip.

That includes BCD’s (Aqualung Wave), wetsuits (5mm full length), snorkel gear, regulators, gauges, dive lights and snorkel gear.

By law all dive companies that provide equipment have to have it serviced every 6 months (that’s BCD’s and regulators).  So you don’t have to worry about renting shonky equipment.   If you do bring your own equipment then it is recommended that you ensure it has been serviced within the year.

For safety on the dives all divers are provided with a  Nautilus Lifeline GPS (no extra rental charge), which  is worn on each dive.

No matter what your first stage set up the boat has European DIN and US style tank valves.

For keen photographers you can also hire an underwater camera.

Extra Diving Services

Rebreathers

Due to the demand the boat now has facilties to cater for rebreather divers.  Please advise the tour specialists when booking the trip as paperwork is sent prior to ensure that all the equipment and support you require on the trip is in place.

Rebreather services include:

• HI 5G booster pump and fill pane
• MBDE Rebreather Pre-Dive Checklist for added safety
• Tri-mix rebreather service and decompression diving
• Safety diver and bailout gas will all be prepared and ready during decompression dives
• Complimentary supply of:
•  2L aluminium
• 3L steel “on board” cylinders
• 7L steel “off board” cylinders (limited supply)
• No time limit on dives (where practical)
• Any depths will be limited to experience and qualifications
• Soda lime and oxygen supplied to order (fees apply)

Please note:  All rebreather divers are requested to dive with a buddy and this is a safety policy on board these trips.

Photographic services on board

• Air guns at all camera stations
• Spacious camera stations x 3
• Freshwater rinse tubs on diving deck for camera equipment
• Camera shelving with 3 tiers to incorporate charging facilities:
• 240v (Australian) socket.
• 110v (USA style - 2 prong straight pin)
• Charging sockets in all cabins -  110v and 240v
• Access to computers (Windows) for editing and saving of photos
• 1x video/DVD player – to view videos
• 2x large TV screens to allow for viewing photographs and video

Enter the Guest Underwater Photo Competition that is run every expedition (win a free dive trip!)

Note:  Remember when you pack to bring adaptors for the electrical sockets (Australia sockets are two thin prongs pointed together and a straight thin prong at the base).   Also remember any chargers and USB sticks and memory card readers.  

Nitrox

Nitrox is offered on this trip whether as a certified nitrox diver (bring your certification card) or why not take the nitrox certification course whilst on board.  This will extend your bottom times as it offsets your nitrogen limits (at extra cost). 

Dive Schedule

Your diving day will consist of:

• Morning Dive
• Afternoon Dive
• Night Dive (at the same site as the afternoon dive)
• A certified experienced Dive Master can accompany you on dives if you wish.  If you prefer to dive with your dive buddy then that’s fine as well.
• Meals provided on board
• Continental Breakfast
• Full Breakfast
• Mid morning snacks and fruits available
• Lunch
• Fruit and snacks
• Dinner (a la carte)

Book your swim with Minke Whales liveaboard dive trip now to secure your berth on these limited marine encounter opportunities on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

View more swim with whales, watching whales and dive with sharks tours.

Read our dedicated minke whale blogs for an insight into these inquisitive creatures.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

6:00pm

Departure Instructions

• Check in 8.30am to 4.00pm at our Cairns office and then board to boat at Trinity Wharf at 6.00pm
• Disembarks Thursdays 8.00am

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Where the Dwarf Minke Whales hang out, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Steve’s Bommie, The Cod Hole, Gotham City, Ribbon Reefs, Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Blue Lagoon, Vertical Gardens

Months of Operation

June - July

Days of Operation

Thursday

2025 Departure dates: 5th June 4 seats left, 12th 19th & 26th June SOLD OUT, 3rd & 10th July SOLD OUT, 17th July 10+ seats left
2026 Departure dates: 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th June, 2nd, 9th & 16th July 10+ seats available

Duration

7 nights

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Beverages from the bar
• Gear Hire: wetsuits, gloves, tanks, GPS, safety sausage, nitrox fills, tanks, weights, gauges, BCD, light/torch
• Note: we recommend you bring your own wetsuit, mask snorkel and fins to ensure they fit well.
• Dive Courses are available on board, discuss options at time of booking
• Underwater camera hire
• Trip videos
• Underwater photography course

Fitness Level Required

Medium, Active

Restrictions

• Experience: Snorkelers, novice & advanced divers
• We recommend that you allow 24 hours between your last dive and your onward flight (all diving is finished by 5:00pm Wednesday)
• Passengers MUST understand English

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.

• A luggage allowance applies to the flight from Cairns to Lizard Island: 25kg / 55lb per person plus 3kg / 6.5lb – carry on plus an additional 10kg/22lb is allowed for professional photo/video housed systems.
• Excess luggage may be left at dive company office. We take care but not liability.
• You should bring your own personal toiletries, hair dryer, personal medication, swimming costume, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, foot wear (sandals or tennis shoes), T-shirts, shorts, sweater and sweat pants – light weight pants and tops for the evening are a good idea. Also your wildest “loud” shirt/dress for the BBQ evening.

• We seldom have children onboard however we do welcome ONE family per expedition with children minimum age 8 years.
• We are unable to supply dive gear in children’s sizes
• Children must be over 12 years old and must be fully qualified.