A liveaboard is the deepest way to dive the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns — more dives, more remote outer-reef sites, and night dives you can’t do on a day trip. Compare the Cairns liveaboards below and book the trip that suits you.
Help Me Choose
- How many nights do you want? Cairns liveaboards run from a 2-day/1-night trip up to 4- and 5-day trips. More nights means more dives and more time at the outer reef.
- Already certified? → Ocean Quest or Pro Dive Cairns — both run certified-diver trips to the outer reef, with day and night dives.
- Learning to dive? → Pro Dive Cairns 5-Day Learn to Dive — a PADI Open Water certification combined with the liveaboard, so you qualify and dive the reef on the same trip. (Ocean Quest also offers a PADI option.)
- Want a moored liveaboard reached by day boat? → Ocean Quest — a 36-metre catamaran permanently moored at the outer reef (Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reefs); you’re transferred out by fast boat from Cairns.
- Want a dedicated dive-vessel trip across several reefs? → Pro Dive Cairns — a purpose-built liveaboard visiting Flynn, Milln, Pellowe and Thetford Reefs, with up to 11 dives across 19 sites on the 3-day trip.
Compare at a Glance
| Operator | Trips | Reefs | Diving | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Quest (Divers Den) | 2-day/1-night, 3-day/2-night, 4-day/3-night | Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reefs | Up to 10 dives on the 3-day (day & night dives); moored 36m catamaran reached by fast boat | Flexible nights; certified & intro divers |
| Pro Dive Cairns | 3-day/2-night; 5-day Learn to Dive | Flynn, Milln, Pellowe & Thetford Reefs | Up to 11 dives across 19 sites on the 3-day (incl. 2 night dives); dedicated liveaboard vessel | Certified divers & PADI Open Water learners |
Live prices and every Cairns liveaboard trip are shown below.
Cairns Liveaboards — Book Direct
Choose your Cairns liveaboard below and book direct.
Good to Know
Cairns liveaboards depart from Cairns and dive the outer Great Barrier Reef. Trips suit certified divers, and some (Pro Dive Cairns’ 5-day, plus PADI options) are built for learning to dive — you gain your certification and dive the reef on the same trip. Snorkellers can join most trips. Nights, number of dives and reefs vary by operator and trip length — check each product’s inclusions below.
Planning: Diving the Great Barrier Reef · Dive courses
Cairns Liveaboards — FAQs
What is a liveaboard, and why choose one from Cairns?
A liveaboard is an overnight dive trip where you stay on the water, so you dive more sites — including night dives — than a day trip allows. From Cairns, liveaboards reach the outer Great Barrier Reef, with 1 to 4 nights aboard.
Do I need to be a certified diver?
No. Certified divers can join any Cairns liveaboard, and there are trips designed for learning to dive — Pro Dive Cairns’ 5-Day Learn to Dive combines a PADI Open Water course with the liveaboard. Snorkellers can also join most trips.
How many days should I choose?
More nights means more dives and more remote reefs. Ocean Quest offers 2-, 3- and 4-day trips; Pro Dive Cairns runs a 3-day/2-night trip and a 5-day Learn to Dive. A 3-day/2-night is the most popular length.
Ocean Quest or Pro Dive Cairns?
Ocean Quest is a permanently-moored catamaran at Norman, Saxon and Hastings Reefs, reached by fast boat from Cairns, with 1–3 night options. Pro Dive Cairns is a dedicated liveaboard vessel visiting Flynn, Milln, Pellowe and Thetford Reefs, with up to 11 dives on the 3-day and a 5-day learn-to-dive option.
Keep exploring
Cairns Great Barrier Reef Tours · Great Barrier Reef Diving
Not sure a liveaboard suits you? Compare all Great Barrier Reef tours by departure point and experience.