Wonderful liveaboard tours on the Great Barrier Reef
Across the very best Outer Great Barrier Reefs, Cairns premier liveaboard cruise ‘Reef Encounter’ is one of the most unique holiday escapes in Australia…
Whether you’re a scuba diver, snorkeler, or simply wish to spend time in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, everyone can travel together on a Cairns liveaboard tour.
Consistently awarded “best snorkelling and scuba diving liveaboard” by industry professionals and independents such as Trip Advisor, ‘Reef Encounter’ is large enough to provide the comforts of a cruise ship yet small enough to access spectacular reef locations not accessible to other vessels.
See the reef at its best – day and night!
Stay for as many nights as you like in superbly appointed staterooms with double or twin bed options, or choose to upgrade to the Top Deck Club for that extra bit of VIP luxury.
With daily transfers from Cairns by boat or helicopter, Reef Encounter is the excellent alternative to a resort based holiday.
Activities
- Unlimited Snorkelling (Included with all liveaboard tour bookings, suitable for all ages)
- Certified Scuba Diving for experienced divers – (select this package during booking)
- Resort Scuba Diving for beginner divers – (select this package during booking, or choose to give it a try once on-board)
- Learn To Scuba Dive Course – become a qualified diver – three-day courses or four-day courses available (select this package during booking)
- Advanced Scuba Courses for qualified divers (select course during booking)
- Glass-bottom Boat Tours of the Reef – a fun and informative way to view the reef for all ages (available free of charge, upon request during your stay)
- Helicopter Tours over the Great Barrier Reef (select helicopter transfer when booking)
What’s Included
- Sleep on the Great Barrier Reef with ‘Reef Encounter’ Liveaboard Cruise
- Access to some of the very best locations across a range of outer Great Barrier Reefs. Locations are selected daily by the Captain, for optimal Reef conditions based on weather and other variables. The number of locations visited will depend on your chosen length of stay
- Outstanding Cuisine: All meals prepared fresh daily, by an onboard Chef. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Fruits are available throughout the day along with tea & coffee. All dietary requirements will be catered for – please advise us of these when booking
- The best crew on the reef – The Reef Encounter team win personal and professional awards for outstanding customer service in the tourism industry year after year
- All snorkelling and scuba diving equipment (wetsuits are a small additional charge)
- Glass bottom boat tours upon request
- Use of all onboard facilities: hot tub, lounge, sundeck, etc. (See ‘Facilities’ below)
- On your transfer voyage to Reef Encounter, you will have the option to listen to an informative Marine Biology presentation about the coral reef and marine animals
- Free luggage storage facility available at the ‘Reef Encounter’ office in Cairns City
Accommodation
- ‘Reef Encounter’ offers a choice between double or twin bed cabins at no additional cost* (See policies)
- Spacious, fully air-conditioned cabins – with ocean views
- All cabins have their own en-suite toilet & shower
- Towels and toiletries provided (soap, shampoo)
- All cabins have Australian power outlets
Liveaboard Facilities
- ‘Reef Encounter’ is a fully air-conditioned hotel-style liveaboard, designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea
- Large dining saloon
- Fully licenced bar
- TV and lounge area
- Outdoor, freshwater hot-tub
- Spacious sundeck with sun loungers
- Large, easy access dive and snorkel platforms
- Helicopter pad on the roof for low-flying scenic helicopter tours over the coral reef as your transfer to/from ‘Reef Encounter’ (optional extra)
Getting There
‘Reef Encounter’ Liveaboard trips depart from Cairns Marina every day, via a fast transfer vessel ‘Reef Experience’. Check-In and Boarding is at 7.30am (for an 8am departure)
Alternatively, you may choose to transfer to and/or from ‘Reef Encounter’ by helicopter. The helicopter transfer is an optional extra that you may select during your booking process online
Bus transfers to and from your Cairns accommodation are available to the Marina at an additional cost and may be booked during your online reservation, or added at a later date by contacting our friendly reservations team
The approximate arrival time back into the Cairns Marina on the final day of your tour is 4.30pm
Itinerary
Click here to view a sample ‘Reef Encounter’ Liveaboard itinerary…
Important Information for Scuba Diving
We have a passion to show you Australia’s Great Barrier Reef so please make sure you understand the scuba diving laws.
Queensland, Australia has some of the strictest scuba diving rules in the world but also the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules including medical as is the law.
To avoid disappointment on your day of travel we strongly recommend that all of our passengers complete our dive medical questionnaire prior to booking as some medical conditions, age and/or medications may prevent you from scuba diving. It is always our mission to provide our passengers with the very best Great Barrier Reef experience.
We are very happy to help you with any questions you may have. Please contact our office on 07 4037 2700 or email us at
Or alternatively, you may like to consult your own Doctor for a Dive Medical using the Australian Standard Forms ‘AS.4005.1
Flying after Scuba Diving
For a single no-decompression scuba dive, you should not fly or go to altitude for at least 18 hours after a scuba dive. For multiple dives, you should not fly for 24 hours after your last dive. If Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning you must wait 24 hours after your dive. We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible
Click ‘BOOK’ to select your arrival and departure dates – and then choose your desired activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling or enrol on a dive course.
Highlights
Nothing compares with how amazing it is to stay on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef!
While you are on board, there will be plenty of opportunities to Snorkel and scuba dive with brightly coloured fish and coral.
At night take in the stars from the top deck or our onboard heated hot tub.
Included
Included in Reef Encounter Stateroom packages
- Great Barrier Reef accommodation with Reef Encounter, Cairns best Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
- A variety of spectacular outer Great Barrier Reef locations during your stay
- Snorkelling or scuba diving, depending on which you select upon booking.
- Delicious fresh meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Fruit is available throughout the day, along with tea and coffee.
- All dietary requirements will be catered for – please advise us of these when booking.
Optional Extras
- Barista Coffee
- Soft Drinks
- Alcohol
- Nitrox
- Tshirts and hats
- Snacks
- Photos
What to bring
What to bring
- Hat,
- Sunglasses
- light jacket
- socks
- Camera
- Travel Voucher
- Certification card and logbook for certified divers
- Cash or credit card for onboard extras
Reef Encounter is a barefoot experience.
How to get there
Getting to Reef Encounter
Reef Encounter is always on the Great Barrier Reef.
By Boat (included in tariff)
Our sister vessel Reef Experience operates daily transfers meeting up with Reef Encounter.
Boarding starts at 7:30 am on Finger A on the Marlin Jetty, Cairns.
Reef Experience will bring you back to the same destination between 4 and 4:30 pm on your final day.
Helicopter Transfers (optional extra)
Reef Encounter has a helipad on board for guests looking at adding some magic to their stay. You may choose to take a spectacular scenic flight.
Important Information
Important Information for Scuba Divers
This information is for all guests participating in scuba diving activities.
Australia has the strictest scuba diving rules globally and the safest scuba diving record.
Therefore you must understand Queensland’s scuba diving laws.
Great Barrier Reef liveaboard boats are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules, including the requirements for a dive medical, where applicable, as required by law.
Please complete our dive medical questionnaire as some medical conditions, age and medications may prevent you from scuba diving.
Our mission is always to provide our passengers with the very best Great Barrier Reef tour.
If you have any questions, we will be delighted to assist you.
Please contact our office on +61 7 4037 2700 or email our helpful team today.
Alternatively, you may like to consult your Doctor for a Queensland Dive Medical using the Australian QLD Standard Form AS.4005.1
Flying after Scuba Diving
Plan your travel itinerary.
On the final day of your Reef Encounter stay, your last dive will be completed by 1 pm.
Do not fly or go to altitude for at least 18 hours after scuba diving for a single no decompression scuba dive. You should not fly for 24 hours after your last scuba diving in multiple dives.
If Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning, you must wait 24 hours after your dive.
We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible.
Add your review for Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard
Kammi
5Everyone was friendly, helpful and competent, always professional - awesome:-) Our guide was outstanding!!! Very helpful to me, patient with our 17 yo daughter, knowledgeable, so friendly. Being, underwater was awesome, but above was also really great!
kristina
5A , the crew was extremely fun, very attentive. helpful & easy to chat to. The rooms were very comfortable and the food was delish! thank you for catering a vegan diet. Overall great experience, will recommend it to anyone visiting.
Vishal
5The crew were all awesome and friendly. Made me feel welcome and comfortable before my first ever dive. Special shoutout to the dive instructors for showing around. The meals were fantastic. The housekeeping crew was fabulous. Would definitely recommend it. I cant wait to come back!
Joan
5Beyond excellent! Way beyond... I dove for the first time in my life! I never would have without your crew - so calm and confident, they made me calm and confident! I found Nemo :-) Excellent!
Sofie
5Amazing! It was clear to see how well functional the team was and everyone was always attentive and happy to help. Very satisfying accommodation. Breakfast was the best! Really great and updated diving equipment. Great vibe!
Amy
5AMAZING crew! Very efficient and organised. Everyone seemed to work well together. Meals were spectacular- completely exceeded our expectations. Accommodations were comfortable- pillows a bit lumpy but adequate. I wish I could have stayed on and that I had found your company earlier when I travelled with my kids. The friendliness of the crew and the efficient and safe way they got everyone in and out of the water would have made me feel comfortable as a Mom.
Jenna
5Amazing, helpful, kind, courteous- ALL crew members went above and beyond to make sure the stay was wonderful! All the crew members are the most extraordinary bad-ass people around! Thank you! Especially spending a holiday working and spending time with everyone on the boat. Chef was brilliant, food was amazing and filling! Variety and presentation extras were great! Everything was wonderful!
Jess
5Absolutely loved the Top Deck experience. Would book the same trip again. The food was incredible. Hats off to the Chef!! All the crew were fabulous! Cam is awesome. Don't think you could pay him enough. The rest of the crew could not have been better. Can't think of anything to make it better!
Alice Lee
5Honestly...bunch of most genuine crew I've ever met. They tried to fulfil any reasonable request and tells you if it can't be done. Real friendly people. Peter the chef- excellent. Big kudos to Taylor (runs everything so efficiently), dive guides/masters/instructors- Nelson, Heather, Chantal, Sam...you guys rock! Thank you! Everyone made my stay a beautiful experience!
Britia
5Amazing crew, great meals and rooms. Peter the chef gets five stars!
Nicholas
5Good operator, awesome crew. Really good compliments to the kitchen. Thank you for an awesome time!
Sam
5AMAZING crew. This was my second time out on the boat and both times, staff were friendly, helpful and an absolute pleasure to be around. Peter is a fantastic cook and provided meals to suit my vegetarian diet with ease. Thanks Pete! Sam is also an absolutely amazing part of the team. He made this experience a "once in a lifetime" trip…..twice :)
Kate
5Absolutely an amazing experience! Will come back in the future. The crew were excellent, so helpful, knowlegeable and fun to be with. The accommodation was very comfortable and the meals were great - very delicious! Thank you all so much for introducing me to scuba. Will recommend to all !
Rosalind
5The trip was incredible and I only wish I could have stayed longer. The crew were fantastic, friendly, enthusiastic and helpful - all you could ask for! The food was fantstic and the beds were very comfortable. Thank you for everything.
Stephanie
5The crew were great, friendly, accommodating, patient and professional. The meals and room was very good and I would defiently come again. An amazing experience and I loved the hot tub!
Casey
5The crew were amazing! Loved all of them and had such an amazing time! Both the meals and accommodation were 10/10! Especially the food! Pro staff, great conditions and beautiful reef..cant wait to come back!!
Reid
5The crew were fantastic, very helpful and accommodating. Definitely made the trip! The accommodation was great, clean and comfortable. The food was amazing. The whole experience exceeded our expectations.
Francesc
5The crew were really nice and helpful. The meals were great, wasn't expecting this quality from a boat kitchen. Really tasty and healthy. The accommodation was great and very comfortable.
Lily
5Wonderful crew, everyone is great especially Cam and Tito! We loved our room and the frequent change of towels. The food was great! We enjoyed our stay very much and will recommend to friends and family.
Andy and Steve
5The crew were so friendly and awesome and they all knew our names! Bailey was a fantastic guide. He showed us amazing finds along the reef and made our trip so special. The meals were great and deliscious, accommodations lovely. We loved our time on Reef Encounter, would highly recommend to all our friends. Thank you!
Quentin
5The crew were fantastic, very helpful and Oscar was extremely patient. Jade was super friendly amd made our experience very enjoyable. They have a brilliant chef and the whole experience was 6******!
Mairhead
5There are not enough words - the crew were amazing, friendly, hard-working, fun, engaging, professional, great chef, love their jobs! Fantastic - they made the trip! The meals were excellent - HATS OFF to the chefs!! Aaron and Peter were legends. We loved diving with all the instructors! Kohler you were amazing and thank you for breakfast tea, nice touch! I will be back for sure - Thank you !
James Holtby
5Keep doing what you are doing and I hope to see ya'll again soon! The crew were absolutely perfect from knowledgeable to extremely friendly, I couldn't fault anyone. Accommodation was sound food was incredible!
Andreas Groenning Pouken
5The whole crew was just beyond friendly and helpful. I just loved the whole experience, will definitely look for an opportunity to get back and scuba dive more. The crew were very friendly crew. Feels like coming into a family where you're instantly welcomed. Very professional as well. Room was very good and cozy. The food was amazing through and through.
Annabel Blake
5The crew were Phenomenal!!!! Friendly, relaxed, accommodating, inclusive and competent. Our instructor Martin was 100/10. Super patient, encouraging, friendly and skilled. What a fantastic first diving experience. The meals and accommodation were 10/10 great, great, great! Loved the crew, loved the friendly PA announcements, we loved that the boat was quite and chilled (great sleeps and naps). Lots of locationchanges it was great! The photoswere also great, I loved not having to think about taking photos.
Leigh
5I booked on a liveaboard Reef Encounter. Crew: Mike is AMAZING, so knowledgeable, attentive, truly made our experience outstanding. The meals were delicious and far exceeded our expectations. Everyone (staff) was incredibly friendly and made us feel welcome and safe.
Toby and Alice
5I booked my overnight reef trip on a liveaboard Reef Encounter, Trip Advisor has the best recommendation, value for money and availability. Crew is friendly, patient, informative, approachable, knowledgeable. Great crew - made my experience extremely enjoyable. Accommodation clean and comfortable. Food terrific, great range, the risotto was excellent.
Joselyn
5Reef Encounter, the liveaboard, great reviews and diving opportunity! Amazing! So friendly and communicative. Wish I could getting to know everyone better. Thank you all !!! Accommodations and meals are comfortable and delicious. Really impressive on a boat! Really loved it, thanks for the great time.
Diego M
5I chose this tour because of the affordable price and great reviews. Everything was excellent, no complaints. The crew were excellent. All crew members were attentive, kind, courteous, experience and approachable. The chef is really talented! I really like the opportunities provided to volunteer aboard. I think next time I come aboard the ship it will be as a "hostie." I am left very satisfied with my experience aboard the ship.
Courtney and Nelson
5We loved our experience aboard reef Encounter! The crew were energetic, friendly, polite (Oscar was awesome). Food was excellent, accommodations were comfy.
Arman
5The crew were great. They had a wonderful attitude and helped guide during snorkeling and diving. They were also very friendly and always had a smile. The meals were delicious and the accommodation was great. The crew made this experience amazing and I will never forget the amazing staff and wonderful wildlife that I saw. Reef Encounter was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Maria
5Fantastic, always helpful & smiling. Loved Holly, Rai, Maddi, Sean, Johnny, the chef<3!! Oscar, Ashley, Jaden, Holly's cheerful voice was a delightful sound track for a fabulous happy vacation. The rooms were very comfortable. Loved the cosy bed and coverlet pillows windows. The food was superb!! Every meal and snack was artistically arranged tasty. Loved all the veggies! Best vacation ever loved having so many opportunities each day to snorkel!! Love the big focus on fish.
Tara
5Amazing crew!! So friendly and helpful, nothing is ever too much to ask. Always offering help and making conversations with guests and always smiling and in a good mood. All seem to be one big happy family. Accommodation was comfortable, clean and tidy and everything needed was supplied. Thoroughly enjoyed staying here. Meals were super tasty and a wide variety of lovely foods. I had an amazing stay here and will 100% be coming back, nothing could've improved my experience. Will was amazing at doing my scuba cert course with me, very patient and all round good trainer. Thank you all so much! :) Hollie was absolutely amazing, very friendly, helpful and always offering help!
David
5Amazing! Crew are very friendly and personable, catering to any and every need. Getting to know the crew was one of the best parts of the trip! Accommodation and meals were fantastic. Felt very lucky to have my own cabin and enjoy the great food. Thank you so much for having me. This was an experience I will never forget!
Amy
5Ramon was outstanding - as a guide and as a host for Top Deck. He is very knowledgeable about marine life and taught us so much! Out of water he treated us like royalty! The rest of the crew was great too- no complaints! :) Top Deck room - spacious, quiet, comfortable. Food was very good and plentiful. Loved the creativity. Hot showers = happy :). Reef Encounter runs like a well oiled machine! Appreciate the efficiency and organisation. Every dive was a thrill! Thanks to Ray and the whole crew for making our GBR trip awesome! P.S. much love to photographers too!
Callum
5Fantastic crew. Welcoming and friendly. Always happy to help. Food was great and a good variety. Beds were really comfy and the hot tub was perfect for an after dive relax. Great atmosphere. 100% recommend and would love to come again. Great experience.
Alex & Joyce
5Crew are lovely. Charismatic, personable and caring! Everyone was perfect. Room was simply perfect perfectly simple. Food was a pleasant surprise - absolutely delicious! We had a brilliant time and couldn't have asked for a better crew.
Kathleen
5I booked my overnight reef trip with a liveaboard called Reef Encounter. The crew is awesome! Loved everyone! Great food. Comfortable room. Wonderful experience. Love the relaxed atmosphere and informative crew. Sorry to say good bye :( I would live to come back :)
Charlise
5Reef Encounter has the excellent service and comments and value for money. The crew were great. They catered for everyone individually and worked flat out the entire time onboard. The trip would not have been as amazing without the excellent crew members. The meals were delicious and suitable for everyone. They were freshest quality and the amount was very sufficient. While onboard Reef Encounter I highly enjoyed the trip. I was an Introductory diver and Megan (Meg) was so supportive and so helpful I was comfortable and love scuba diving with her. All the staff were bubbly, funny and interactive and made the stay pleasant and highly enjoyable.
Tzach & Shira
5Perfect. Compliments for the chef! The bedroom was just what we needed, cosy and comfortable. Crew are great! Very polite, helpful, and professional. We had a great time. Would repeat if we could, and definitely recommend it. Thanks a million!
Melissa (AUS)
5Crew are excellent, very competent, friendly and approachable. Meals were the best we had so far. Our dive 'butler' Martin was excellent. Very helpful, and willing to do all he could to make our stay wonderful.
Lydia (USA)
5Very friendly and helpful crew. Great accommodation and amazing food!! Great photography! Amazing trip!
Ausrine (Lithuania)
5Just perfect!!! I am a kitchen chef and I really enjoyed the food. Thank you very much, we had an amazing time, definitely recommend!
Victoria (USA)
5Love the crew. All in good spirits and seem to love their jobs. Delicious meals, satisfied with all the accommodations. Would definitely stay again if I come back to the GBR. Hitomi was my guide and she did an amazing job getting me certified and showing me awesome stuff during the dives.
Teri – USA
5This crew is AMAZING!! The Barrier Reef is great of course, but the crew made it absolutely perfect! The food and accommodations are all superb. Delicious every meal and comfortable rooms. I stayed for 3 nights but I wish I could have stayed for much longer!
Luis
5All people were fantastic! Very kind, helpful and always in good mood. We will miss the crew, they and the reefs made this an unforgettable experience. Tasty and abundant meals. It's clear there is experience and commitment in the crew. We loved the schedule for the day and pics taken by Luis were great!
Tyron
5Absolutely great. Always helping and in good mood. The room was very good, everything clean. The meals were absolutely delicious and of good portions. Keep your job in the same way. It's absolutely great!
Mary A
5Very friendly and helpful crew. Professional but took the time to get to know everybody. Accommodation was very comfortable and meals were better than expected - VERY good! I had a great time and would recommend Reef Encounter/do the trip again. I had a great experience!
Peter
5I booked my liveaboard reef trip on Reef Encounter, it has great reviews. The crew is excellent ! Great service, knowledgeable, friendly! Accommodation and food are excellent! Clean and tidy rooms. Good food and lots of it :) I would recommend this boat to a friend!
Lauren
5Booked with Reef Encounter cause of good reviews and best value. Crew was great! Very welcoming and kind, very accommodating. Room was cozy and clean! Meals were very good as well. Definitely exceeded expectations. Tina is wonderful! Love the photos as well! Thanks for a great experience!
Claire
5Excellent. Food was great. Comfy beds & clean room. Crew are really friendly and helpful. Had a great time, thanks! :)
Tahir
5Crew are very organised and helpful! Great job! Much better than expected. We enjoyed the tour. Big thank you to the crew!
Olivier
5Crew are great, very friendly & helpful. Food was great and rooms comfortable. Everything was awesome, pictures were beautiful.
Stephen
5Awesome crew. Room was nice and clean, meals were great. Thanks for a great trip!
Michelle
5Excellent crew! Very friendly, knowledgeable, very positive and helpful. Made the experience wonderful! Thank you for a wonderful experience! Enjoyed the 3days/nights that we spent. Loved the locations in the reef and the staff was wonderful.
Justin
5The crew was amazing, very helpful. Delicious meals, thought the whole thing and the rooms were nice too. I would definitely do it again.
Alex
5Great trip! I would come back again and recommend to everyone! The crew were AMAZING! 5 star service. Everyone was accommodating and helpful. Dive instructor Hitomi & photographer Greg were particularly helpful. Great intro to diving! Food was amazing and plentiful. accommodation was very comfortable. Thank you so much!
David
5Super rad. Cool, quick, nice, helpful, obviously passionate and professional crew. The room was good, loved having ow room as an option. Food was better than expected and consistently great! Oh, great rates too. Made easy to say yes. Hitomi was a great teacher, too.
Dat
5AMAZING! I felt like at home. Great atmosphere, relaxed, pro, everything was smooth and nice. Special thanks to Hitomi for her patience and instructions. Can't wait to go back diving! Yay! The meals and accommodation were all nice and perfect. Big thanks to the entire crew. Highlight of my holidays in Australia. Great job! If I would have had more time, I would have definitely applied for a hostie position!
David S.
5This has honestly been one of the coolest experiences [email protected] The crew was over the top nice friendly. We had a wonderful time, the food was fresh delicious. Thank you to the entire crew for a memorable time.
Alice
5Accommodation was great, comfortable, and very clean, meals were excellent! Would highly recommend, wish we'd stayed for longer!
Jabilli and Andre
5I booked a liveaboard on Reef Encounter. It had excellent reviews, guided dives, amazing food, well organized, nice boat. AMAZING! Everyone was so nice and friendly. The crew is so well organised and made sure every one was happy, comfortable and safe. Mike was our Top Deck crew member and he was the best! He made sure we had everything we needed, showed us all the amazing things in the best. No other dive boat will compare after this trip! The food was absolutely delicious!!! We were so well taken care of!!! Mike spent an entire dive heling with all the gear, he was so patient and attentive. Thank you for all the time you spent with us, Mike! We hope to come back another time!
Kristi
5It was nice that they (the crew) all called me by my name. It felt very personalized. Dive instructors were great! Meals were generous and varied. Very impressed! Favourite part of my Aussie vacation!
Joyce
5I booked Reef Encounter, the liveaboard, because it was highly recommended by my travel agent. The crew was fabulous! Very professional and knowledgeable. Val was awesome! Taking very good care of all of us. Greg (photographer) was wonderful and his photos were spectacular. Accommodations and food: very comfortable, all the amenities - food was excellent. We will recommend this to everyone we know !!!
Gabor T
5Everybody on the crew was super helpful!! Especially big thank you to Michael and Hugo for helping me underwater! The meals and accommodation were absolutely flawless. Keep up the good work. Well done guys!! Thank you all!!!
Mike (USA)
5Great experience. There is nothing I would suggest to make the experience any better! The crew have such great attitudes. Really wanted us to have a good time.
Eimear C
5The crew were so awesome and friendly and helpful. they were skilled in the water too. Great with nervous certified divers. Thanks to Alex for a great Reef Experience. The food was fantastic far beyond what I would expect from a liveaboard. Room and shared facilities were pristine. Loved the books available. Best holiday of my life. We plan to return!! Thank you and see you soon.
Michelle K
5The crew were wonderful and very helpful. Nathan is very patient and all are excellent at their craft! Thank you to Macka and team. The staff was very nice and the meals were quite tasty. I would totally do this again and recommend it. This was an amazing experience. I wish I had more time on board, but my schedule didn't allow it. Thank you to everyone.
Amy M
5Amazing! The value was awesome! Food was top notch, A ! It was varied and delicious. Cheers to the chef. So thrilled with my experience. We will be back for sure!! My first ever night scuba dive experience and it was definitely the way to do it!
Frankie L
5I'm a repeat customer and love diving! It was amazing and I loved all of the crew. I would take them home with me if I could. The food and rooms are amazing. I had the BEST sleeps since I've had my baby on board. I loved every minute and will definitely be coming back again.
Mark (UK)
5Very good, friendly and helpful whilst being clear, concise and professional. Seeing a white tip reef shark on the personalised tour. The personalised service in the water really made the trip. The service throughout was excellent.
Bridie (AUS)
5The crew are top class. All day they took care of us. I actually only went in water because a lovely staff member encouraged me. The marine biologist gave me a little tour to calm my nerves. She showed me a turtle and I felt amazed. This tour helped me face a fear. I can't thank you all enough.
Victoria
5Awesome crew, exceeded expectations. Great recommendations for dive/snorkel sites - friendly & approachable staff. Food was amazing especially the dinner on the Top Deck - great atmosphere and sunset setting. Room was very comfortable. Nothing bad to say about our night on board - would definitely recommend to friends and would come back!
Adrian (Ireland)
5Awesome crew, friendly and great service. Great dive guiding. Everyone did a great job making us feel comfortable. Accommodation was excellent, comfortable and clean. Meals were first class. Compliments to the chef. Fantastic way to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Would highly recommend to anyone.
Jenny (USA)
5Fabulous! So fun, friendly, and helpful. Rooms and food were both excellent! The chef was also so kind to make special meals for our picky 10 year old. Thank you for an amazing and memorable experience! A great time was had by all, from age 10 to 70!
Sterling (USA)
5Incredible. Shout out to Millie. Fantastic guide and everyone was so friendly. Some of the best food I've had in Australia and I slept like a baby. One of my favourite experiences ever. Thank you all!
Aliyah (USA)
5Amazingly wonderful! Fun! Hardworking impressive! The entire crew was super nice friendly and helpful! Meals were very yummy! Accommodations were better than anticipated. Photographers were great! Macca is super funny! Jade works her butt off! Thank you for the chance of a lifetime! Unforgettable!
Steve (UK)
5Outstanding. All staff were great, knowledgeable, and made this perfect. Great food, freshly and well planned. Dreamt since I was a child of diving on Great Barrier Reef - the experience was made true by the staff and boat being excellent.
Dakota (USA)
5Everyone was kind and helpful. Overall they made it a very enjoyable experience. All meals very good. I felt well taken care of and comfortable. Amazing dive locations. Thanks for such a wonderful experience. It was unforgettable.
Sarah (UK)
5Very friendly and welcoming, informative and knowledgeable. Meals were delicious, high quality. thanks for a great experience. Very glad we chose Reef Encounter. Unforgettable experience of the Great Barrier Reef.
William (UK)
5Excellent crew. Super friendly, very nice, really positive and outgoing. Really enjoyed completing my open water diver cert. Many thanks to my instructor Justin, he was excellent and patient with us. Many thanks to the crew. Good food, and amazing photos taken by Heather!!
Laura
5Lovely! All crew are friendly and will do anything to help you. Very knowledgeable about the reef. Room was great and spacious and meals were of high quality. Thank you for an amazing trip!
Krsita I
5The crew were so amazing and friendly. They were accommodating, fun, happy, and made everything so easy and comfortable. The meals and food were so amazing. Please keep up the good work! I will be recommending this experience to everyone.
Ann B
5I heard about Reef Encounter through Lonely Planet. The crew were fantastic. Everyone was extremely helpful. Kari was an Amazing instructor and helped me fulfill a lifetime dream of mine. Heather and Ollie were thoroughly entertaining for my 11 year old son. Everyone took the time to ensure we had an amazing trip. So well organized and the crew genuinely seems like they are having a good time. I really appreciated that they are their dinner with us. My picky eater children loved the food and thank you for making accommodations for us! It was the best! My son loved the food so much he asked for the dinner recipe!
Stephanie
5We booked Reef Encounter, the liveaboard, because of the Trip Advisor Reviews. The crew was very nice and accommodating, they made the trip a lot of fun. Accommodation is excellent! Really, really pleasantly surprised by the high quality of food provided. Really enjoyed the whole trip. Appreciate the high quality of service provided by the crew in all aspects. Thanks!
Donna
5I found out about Reef Encounter from Lonely Planet and reviews. The crew were very professional. The accommodation and meals were brilliant. Everything was better than I expected. Particular thanks to Hitomi who was a patient and very professional dive instructor. I felt very safe with her. Big thanks as I was nervous and its really made my trip!
Michael
5We found Reef Encounter online and loved the fact we did not have any pool sessions for the Open Water Certification, everything is done out on the Reef! I absolutely loved it all and the crew are the best I've ever had the pleasure to be with. They treated all of us like part of the crew (Great job guys) The meals on board far surpassed my expectations! I am not even exaggerating in saying this is my favorite holidays ever!
Daniel
5The reviews and super helpful/knowledgeable online chat definitely give this trip justice. It was fantastic! The crew were super attentive, friendly, helpful, accomodating, knowledgeable. also made you feel safe on water/reef! The rooms were wonderful. Very clean and comfortable. The food wa really delicious (vegan). Chef was very accommodating too. Lots of food and great options. Overall and seriously, NO complaints! it was really a great Experience. Would do it again! 10/10. Thank you all very much!
Samuel
5I booked 2 days of diving on Reef Encounter because it was cost effective and sounded exciting. Crew is incredible in very way. Extremely pleasant and high quality accommodations and meals. Thank you so much for all the wonderful experiences and for teaching me to dive. The night dive was especially memorable. Hitomi was a wonderful dive instructor and showed me a world I will never forget. I am extremely pleased with my short stay here and hope to come back for more someday.
Riley (Australia)
5The crew are extremely friendly and easy to deal with. Accommodation was clean and well looked after. Food definitely a highlight. Third time on Reef Encounter and is always an awesome couple of days.
Brock
5I chose Reef Encounter, the liveaboard, because I really wanted to get license for Scuba diving. The crew was amazing. Exceeded expectations. Accommodations and food were amazing. Thank you for an unreal experience of the Great Barrier Reef. I will definitely recommend Reef Encounter to my friends. Jackson, the instructor, was great.
Marta M
5We chose this because it departures every day and offer the product we were looking for: 2 days and 1 night at the reef. The crew are amazing. they are kindly and all the time taking care about us. The room was perfect!!! Everything was really good: our room, the bathrooms, breakfast, dinner lunch...CONGRATULATIONS! Thanks for these two days. It was amazing to be there!
Chris R
5The crew are great! Very friendly and relaxed. They were happy to go above and beyond for the guests. Very professional when it came to diving. The accommodation was great and the food was excellent. Both were better than expected. Would highly recommend Reef Encounter. Incredible diving experience with a great crew. They were also extremely helpful sorting out the cake for my girlfriend's birthday.
Lisa W
5The crew was excellent/. Very helpful and friendly and fun! The bed was very comfy and the meals were unreal. Felt like I was eating at a restaurant. I like having 2 towels each - one for swimming and one for showering/ I would highly recommend this to my friends and family. Will be a highlight of my time in Australia for sure! Thank you all :)
Amssa H
5I booked because of the great reviews and word of mouth from friends who have been before. It was so much fun! One of the best things I've done in Australia in my 3 month stay! The crew are GREAT - super friendly and knowledgable. The rooms and meals are also great. Food was much better than expected.
Jess
5Thank you so much for having me! The whole teams work has been amazing. I have never felt so safe and looked after. The crew were absolutely phenominal!!! incredibly fun, helpful, caring, words can't describe! My room was beautiful and clean, super comfy bed. The meals were massive and delicious. I will be back and I'll be telling everyone to come out as well. Lots of love :) ☀
Jeanie
5I first heard about Reef Encounter through a friend and found it easiest to book online. The crew were very friendly and efficient. The room was comfortable and the meals were excellent! This was the adventure of a lifetime! Loved every minute of it. Thank you for a wonderful time!
Jorien S
5Reef Encounter allows gests to do what they want vs a camp experience :) My favourite spot was 2nd level up front: sunny, quiet, protected from wind. The crew were amazing, everyone seemed to remember our name and were very polite. The rooms were clean, roomy, and beds were very comfortable. Meals were amazing and accommodated guests special needs. Definitely will recommend!
Amy B
5A once in a lifetime experience - swimming with turtles! The meals were fab. Loved the salad for lunch we had on the second day. The crew were great! So friendly and we loved the photographs we bought. Thank you so much for helping to make our honeymoon so special.
Anne
5I booked liveaboard Reef Encounter because the number of dives and snorkels being on the vessel during 2 nights, I felt safe like in a hotel. Crew is GREAT!!! Many thanks to all of them, the best crew on the reef!!! Cheerful, passionate, all about the reef. Rooms are excellent. Food is gourmet. Good equipment for diving, excellent night dives, we saw plenty of fantastic corals, fishes, turtles, sharks. A real marvel. Great spots on the reef. we will recommend Reef Encounters !!! Thanks for all !!! Thank you to the photographer. Thank you to the captain :)
Trieu
5I booked with Reef Encounter, the liveaboard, through excellent recommendations. The crew were excellent. Such a professional crew and friendly and approachable. Very efficient and passionate and respectful. Very friendly. The food and accommodations were excellent. So impressed with the experience. We will recommend to our friends and family.
Tom
5I booked the liveaboard on Reef Encounter cause of the friendly salesman at office. The crew were fabulous. The food was yam, the rooms were clean and comfortable. Keep on doing that good work guys. It was a pleasure to stay with you! We will remember this trip for a long time. Thanks for all from Switzerland :)
Colin
5Great recommendations from multiple people. had nothing but wonderful things to say. Crew is Amazing! Every single crew member was so kind, helpful and entertaining. Whenever I had a question I could ask anyone and they would know the answer and who/where to direct me to. The meals were perfect. Seriously, both of the chefs did such a great job with every meal. By the third day I almost had to go up a wetsuit size. 10 out of 10 would recommend Reef Encounter to all family/friends. Had the best birthday, I'm certain, I'll ever have thanks for making it special. Latly, thaks especially Hitomi, Sam and Elle for such a wonderful 4 days - I will never forget it.
Sarah
5I booked my overnight reef trip with Reef Encounter. I made my choice cause they had good reviews. The crew was incredibly friendly and helpful with everything, especially our dive instructor Nikki was amazingly kind and patient and made this a once in a lifetime experience. The meal providing exceeded all my expectations and were absolutely delicious. It was also great how they were able to work with all dietary restrictions. I am grateful to have had this opportunity to be on this boat with the amazing crew, food, and experiences. Another big thank you to Nikki for being the best and extremely patient with our group. Thank you !!!
Laura
5Amazing diving experience Highly recommend this company. We had amazing 5 day stay on the reef encounter. All services were delivered in a professional and timely matter. The staff were very friendly and professional. The overall accommodation was very comfortable, clean and created a nice atmosphere. The food was beyond what I expected for a live aboard. The diving was some of the best I've ever done thanks to the great dive masters and guides.