Short and Sweet: Dive the Great Barrier Reef!
Overall Rating
Very experienced crew for an intense cruise with 11 dives, including 2 night dives not to be missed. Very functional boat, basic comfort, clean. Good food, adequate quantity. Permanent air conditioning throughout. Bring a BCD! It's important to understand English well, especially for debriefings or if you're taking lessons. As for the dives, they're adequate for divers with good navigation skills. Shallow dives, 15-5 m (50-16 ft). At the sites we visited, the marine life was fairly sparse. It was very windy and visibility was very, very average. No luck? Few other boats. That's good. Still beautiful spots with varied and healthy coral, but also quite a bit of breakage. A mixed diving experience from our point of view, considering the location and our expectations. We'll try again on the outer reef this time...
Intense and very friendly. You have to be in great shape if you want to do the 11 dives. It's challenging but very well organized, with a hot shower after the night dive.
Why We Love It
Perfect for divers who have little time, embark for three action-packed days! You'll get to dive on the outer Great Barrier Reef without breaking the bank. With two night dives included in the 11 dives, be prepared to see some action on the reef! Beginners will get to practice their skills and finish their certification onboard, while the most experienced divers will explore the sites with their buddies.
Conservation
Since 1986, the dive operator has had a team of scientist divers, the Reef Biosearch, monitoring the reef. It now has the longest-running logbook of marine observations on the reef. It has also been involved in coral reef restoration projects since 2018. Solar power is used across operations whenever possible, and a strong focus is put on waste management and phasing out plastic consumables.
Who Is It For?
For all levels of divers, from beginners to more experienced divers. Non-divers can join the trip, and can even do their Open Water certification before and during the cruise if they wish.
Prices and Dates
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3-Day Trip on the Outer Great Barrier Reef
FIRST DAY: 4 dives
- Pick up from your Cairns hotel at 6:00
- Check-in at the Pro Dive Cairns Retail shop to pick up your dive gear
- Light breakfast on board
- One dive before lunch
- Two more dives in the afternoon
- One night dive, at the same site as the afternoon dive
SECOND DAY: 4 dives
- Three dives on two different sites
- One night dive, at the same site as the afternoon dive
THIRD DAY: 3 dives
- Sunrise dive
- Two more dives before noon
- Transfer back to your Cairns city hotel at 16:00
- Farewell dinner in Cairns (optional, additional cost)
Dive Briefing!
Marine Life
Recognized since 1981 as a UNESCO World Heritage Area, the Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 species of fish, 360 species of hard corals, and one-third of the world's soft corals.
North of Cairns and only accessible by liveaboard, the outer Barrier Reef hosts big groups of tropical fish, some giant clams, some turtles and barracudas, and the occasional bull ray.
Dive Conditions
- Season: all year round
- Currents: little to moderate currents
- Visibility: up to 20 meters (66 ft)
- Water Temperature: January through April: 29° (84°F) , May through August: 24° (75°F) , September through December: 27° (81°F)
- Depth: shallow and deep dives, according to your certification level
Dive Sites
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Milln Reef offers a beautiful topography with pinnacles, swim throughs, and some walls. Expect to see some resident turtles, some white-tip reef sharks, and plenty of sweetlips! A good site for night dives too.
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Thetford Reef has plenty of beautiful and soft corals full of life with plenty of angel fish, damselfish, and butterflyfish. Cathedral and Blue Lagoon sites are famous among divers.
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Flynn Reef is a popular reef that offers excellent diving for novice to very experienced divers. Its hard coral is particularly beautiful, with finger, table, plate, and boulder corals.
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Pellowe Reef is a small isolated reef located close to the edge of the continental shelf. This site is only accessible when conditions are fine. The site has an exciting wall dive, with a drop-off going down to 30 meters (98 ft), and swim-throughs. You might see some barracudas and other pelagic fish there.
The Team
- Operation started in 1983
- Three custom-built dive vessels
- 5 Star PADI Training and Instructor Development Centre
- Dive Courses available on board and before the cruise: ask us
- English-speaking crew
Safety Information
- Equipment Recommended: 3 to 5 mm wetsuit depending on the season, dive computer, surface marker buoy, and a whistle
- Insurance: Both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend DAN Europe that has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote.
- Nearest Hyperbaric Chamber: Townsville - 450 km (280 miles) South of Cairns
Visas, Flights, and More!
Visa Requirements
- Short-term (three-month) tourist visa known as ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) is available for nationalities from Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong (SAR PRC), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, and United States
- You can apply for the ETA online for a cost of A$20 (about ... EUR) * Consult Australia's Department of Home Affairs for other nationalities
How to Get There
- The trip starts and finishes in the city of Cairns, Australia
- You can reach Cairns International Airport (CNS) with direct flights from major cities in Australia and Asia.
- Airlines offering flights to Cairns include: Qantas, Jetstar, Silk Air, Cathay Pacific
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- Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, rash guard, a sweater or lightweight jacket, and some walking shoes
Destinations
Right Season
Dive Operators
Booking Fees
