Ocean Quest Liveaboard, Australia

Name: 6D/5N Ocean Quest (Cairns - Cairns)
Start: 2026-11-18
End: 2026-11-23
Location: Australia

8.9 Fabulous

Nitrox available
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 211 / day Check dates

“Amazing experience with an amazing crew. ”
Pascal J, Canada

Highlights

Fluoro Night Diving to experience fluorescent colors
Nightly "Shark In The Dark" dives

The OceanQuest Liveaboard is a 36m Catamaran offering year-round diving trips to Australia's magnificent Outer Great Barrier Reef. The OceanQuest liveaboard is permanently moored at the Outer Reef, and guests are transferred by fast boat from Cairns.

The OceanQuest liveaboard was refurbished in 2017 and has 22 cabins, each with an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and a TV. Each cabin has either two single beds or two single bunk beds. Split over 3 decks, the OceanQuest liveaboard offers plenty of space for relaxing after a full day of diving. There is a large air-conditioned lounge, a well-stocked bar area with an entertainment system, and a spacious dining room. The sun decks are perfect for sunbathing between dives in the warm Australian sun. The OceanQuest team provides 3 meals per day, served buffet style in the large dining area.

There is something for everyone with the OceanQuest liveaboard, with options for certified divers, introductory divers, and snorkelers. Guests can explore numerous outer Great Barrier Reef dive sites with OceanQuest and enjoy up to 4 dives a day: 3 daytime and 1 nighttime. Non-diving guests are also welcome aboard.

Please be aware that the dives are self-guided; however, for solo travelers, the crew will be happy to assist with pairing you with a dive buddy or dive group. Rest assured, there is always a dedicated supervisor on board and a vigilant lookout on the deck during in-water activities. If you wish to opt for a guided dive experience, you can reserve this service on the day and overnight trips, priced at 20 AUD per person per dive. In cases where your certification or a medical condition necessitates supervised diving, it is mandatory to partake in dives accompanied by a guide.

OceanQuest liveaboard divers can experience the Great Barrier Reef at night in a new way with Fluoro Night Diving. This incredible dive uses specialist torches and mask filters to bring the reef to life in an array of fluorescent colors (extra charge applies). Nightly Shark In The Dark dives offer the chance to jump in and see the Great Barrier Reef sharks at night.

Book your Outer Great Barrier Reef Dive adventure today.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

29 Oct

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

FULL

29 Oct

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

29 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

29 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

29 Oct

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

30 Oct

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

FULL

30 Oct

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

30 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

30 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

30 Oct

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

31 Oct

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

31 Oct

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

31 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

31 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

31 Oct

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

01 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

FULL

01 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

01 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

01 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

01 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

02 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

FULL

02 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

02 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

02 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

02 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

03 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

03 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

03 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

03 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

03 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

04 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

FULL

04 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

04 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

04 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

04 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

05 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

05 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

05 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin available

05 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin available

05 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin available

06 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

06 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

06 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin available

06 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin available

06 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin available

07 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

07 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

07 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin available

07 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin available

07 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin available

08 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

08 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

08 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin available

08 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin available

08 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin available

09 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

09 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

09 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin available

09 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin available

09 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

10 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

10 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

10 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin available

10 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

10 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

11 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

11 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

11 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

11 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

11 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

12 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

12 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

12 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

12 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

12 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

13 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

13 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

13 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

13 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

13 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

14 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

14 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

14 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

14 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

14 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

15 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

15 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

15 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

Select Cabin available

15 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

15 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

16 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

16 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

Select Cabin available

16 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

16 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

16 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

17 Nov

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 587

Select Cabin available

17 Nov

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 816

FULL

17 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,045

FULL

17 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,273

FULL

17 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,502

FULL

Included: VAT, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Diving Package, Rental Gear.

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (AUD20 / day), Port Fees (AUD20 / day).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Snacks, Nitrox (AUD10), Nitrox Course (AUD325 / activity), Private Dive Guide (AUD750 / activity), Scuba Diving Courses (AUD335 / activity).

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Seaview Cabins
Indoor Saloon
TV in cabins
Daily housekeeping

Food & Drinks

Vegetarian Options
Beer available
Buffet style
Western Food

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
Dive deck

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 1988

Year renovated: 2013

Length: 36 metres

Beam: 13 metres

Cruising speed: 9 knots

Max guests: 44

Number of cabins: 9

Number of bathrooms: 23

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light
Engine room CCTV
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Ocean Quest Reviews

8.9 Fabulous

Vessel

8.7
Crew

8.4
Food

9.4
Diving

9.1
Value

9.0

9.6 Exceptional
Simon W
United Kingdom

Wow!! Loved this experience…a must do in cairns
This experience exceeded my expectations. It was extremely well run and in the space of two half days with a sleep over in the middle the crew squeezed us in 6 dives…including an amazing scary night dive. Apart from feeling a tad chilly between dives and it being cloudy at times I couldn’t have wished for anything different. Thanks to the crew for their professionalism and support
Recommended for
Night dive. Smooth organisation. Food.
07 Oct, 2026

10 Exceptional
Nectar P
Australia

Great experience.
Going SCUBA diving after so many years not going. A big thanks to Josh the captain of the boat for encouraging me and taking me one in one SCUBA diving. .
Recommended for
The People you meet in the boat. The crew are friendly and professional. Going SCUBA diving.
28 Aug, 2026

8.0 Very good
Kirstie B
New Zealand

Incredible experience for return to diving
Once I had mastered sea sickness- had an awesome time- staff were great and process to organise so many divers - super efficient.
Recommended for
Safety first. Friendly staff. Great facilities.
15 Sep, 2026

10 Exceptional
Lisa J
United States

AMAZING ADVENTURE!
Wally! Meeting lovely people from all over the world and the wonderful diving experiences!
Recommended for
the diving, great customer service, beautiful weather
28 Mar, 2019

10 Exceptional
Andrew O
United States

Great diving trip
A wonderful trip and wonderful crew. Very professional and well organised.
Recommended for
Felix. Service. The boat.
07 Aug, 2025

10 Exceptional
James N
United Kingdom

Dives, Equipment, Crew, Service and Location. All second to none!
A once in a lifetime opportunity to see the fantastic array of wildlife available from White Tip reef sharks all the way to Clown fish and Turtles. Fantastic.
Recommended for
Variety of dive locations. Excellent equipment. Friendly And helpful Crew.
16 Apr, 2018

10 Exceptional
jonathan O
United States

Amazing experience
The guides were super helpful and all of the staff were very accommodating and assisted us at every turn. Would recommend them to anyone.
Recommended for
Diving, food, rooms.
24 Jun, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Sander M
Belgium

Amazing trip on the OceanQuest
Amazing two night stay on board of the OceanQuest. Super friendly staff and guides.
Recommended for
Great guides, super friendly staff and great beds!
22 Oct, 2023

10 Exceptional
ruben S
Spain

an amazing experience
all the equipment is great and very professional, you couldn't ask for more great, very happy for everything, cleaning diving equipment, food, the rooms, everything 10 a great team
Recommended for
the food, the equipment on board, a great service
27 Mar, 2020

10 Exceptional
Howard K
United States

Excellent experience. Must try
Great diving and very friendly staff. Tom (supervisor) and Itay (guide) were great as was rest of the crew. Boat and cabins were surprisingly spacious and the showers and toilets all worked perfectly with reliable hot water.
Recommended for
1) dive operator efficiency and professionalism 2) friendly staff 3) good value
08 Jun, 2019

583 reviews

8.9 Fabulous
583 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

10 Exceptional
Symeon V
United Kingdom

Great and professional diving experience
Sharks in the dark was pretty cool. The bed was really comfortable All the crew were fantastic
Recommended for
The crew were very friendly and the briefs were great
05 Jun, 2019

10 Exceptional
Allison H
United States

I loved this trip!
I saw an eel, manta ray, orangutan crab, sharks, and a turtle. The food was good and the crew was nice. They really tried to make sure I was comfortable and checked in with me frequently. I really liked how the crew remembered everyone’s names too!
Recommended for
Sights, food, experienced guides.
15 Jun, 2022

9.6 Exceptional
Greg S
United States

Great diving and crew
Driving was great only thing was diving so soon after a meal was a little concerning. Crew and guides were very respectful and helpful.
Recommended for
Great dives. Crew very helpful with my disabled wife. All crew were friendly and helpful.
07 Jul, 2025

10 Exceptional
John H
United States

My first live aboard experience 😀
This was my first night dive and it was incredible!! Overall I think everything was very well managed. The boat pick up and transfer. Timing of meals and dive briefs were well organized. Great experience and I would highly recommend.
Recommended for
Night dive. Friendly staff. Clean, spacious room and bathroom.
23 Mar, 2026

10 Exceptional
Jasper W
United States

Such a wonderful experience!!
All the nudibranchs!! Amid seeing some of the most amazing animals on the planet, I made some wonderful friends and ate great food!
Recommended for
High number of dives, exuberant and knowledgeable staff, warm cozy beds
22 May, 2023

9.2 Superb
Jeroen H
Netherlands

Great diving trip, good food, helpful staff and well organized.
Nightdiving was defenitely the highlight for me, so many predators out hunting which was a great experience. Rooms were very nice and food was great as well. Also pretty cheap if you compare it for what you get from it.
Recommended for
Night diving, food and comfort.
29 Dec, 2023

9.2 Superb
Christine R
New Zealand

Had a great trip Thoroughly enjoyed it
Night diving and beautiful coral
Recommended for
Friendly Efficient Great diving
16 Aug, 2016

10 Exceptional
Ka Wai L
Australia

Best livaboard
Awesome crew, especially thanks to George, Fabio and Taylah
Recommended for
Vibes from the crew. Food onboard. Well-organized.
06 Jun, 2025

10 Exceptional
Jade V
Australia

Everything was incredible!
Everything was incredible. The crew were the absolute best and I loved how easy they made it to dive and have a great time!
Recommended for
The crew, the organisation and diving the GBR!!
19 Aug, 2022

9.6 Exceptional
Maren S
Germany

Highly recommended, everything is great!
I really enjoyed my stay on the Ocean Quest. Everything was well organized and the crew was very caring and took great care of all guests. During the dives and also on board, special attention was paid to safety.The food was very good and also plentiful and the cabins comfortable.I am already looking forward to the next diving trip with you!
Recommended for
Great diving spots. Great care. Delicious food.
14 Apr, 2025

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Reno M
Malta

Amazing experience
The reef is so beautiful. Our favourite was Troppos! Marine life was amazing. We managed to see some turtles and white tip sharks as well. The staff are very hard workers, professional and very helpful. The cabin was super comfortable and very clean. We had a double room with ensuite. It was an amazing experience! highly recommended
Recommended for
The reef and marine life, the cabin and the staff
17 Dec, 2019

9.2 Superb
Laura T
Australia

Fabulous trip! Wish I stayed longer!
The diving was fabulous despite poorly weather conditions. Fluoro night Dive was incredible!
Recommended for
Beautiful staff, great food and so many diving opportunities!
26 Mar, 2020

10 Exceptional
Jordyn L
Canada

Fantastic Stay
The dives were great and there are lots of them in almost all different locations on the reef. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Had Emily as my dive instructor for my Advanced Open Water certification and she was the best.
Recommended for
Amazing staff, clean facilities and lots of diving
14 Jan, 2020

9.2 Superb
Robin O
Netherlands

Amazing experience, lovely food en best crew ever!
I loved the nightdives
Recommended for
I loved the amazing crew, the fresh food they made, and the 4 dives a day.
06 May, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
CHIHLUNG C
Taiwan

Excellent liveaboard diving experience. The night dive was well worth it.
On the first day, the itinerary was compact, and the first experience was a little physical, but I told the dive guide that they would give appropriate advice and take special care of you. The night dive is well worth seeing a lot of sharks. During the day, you can also see stingrays, turtles, and sharks. The environment is clean and comfortable, and the food is good.
Recommended for
The dive guide is very friendly, will give proper guidance, and will take you to see the underwater life you want to see as much as possible. The team of dive guides is professional and will ensure the safety of all personnel. There is endless food and water that can be replenished at any time.
06 Jan, 2025

Translated from Chinese

10 Exceptional
Pascal J
Canada

Minke whale expedition
Amazing experience with an amazing crew. Everybody was positive and fun and I felt safe at all times. There were marine biologists on board as well to answer all our questions about Dwarf Minke whales.
Recommended for
Spacious cabins. Friendly and helpful crew. Great choice in dive spots.
10 Jul, 2025

10 Exceptional
Brandon B
United States

Amazing Dive Sites and Crew
The dive sites were simply incredible with the ability to do three dives a day. Briefings were great with a review of the terrain map and you were able to sign up for a guide or explore on your own. The staff are all amazing and made for a super fun trip.
Recommended for
Dive Sites, Crew, Food
04 Jan, 2023

10 Exceptional
David M
Australia

I'm now one of the privileged few, "La dolce vita!"
Fantastic experience living on the Great Barrier Reef for 5 days and 4 nights. I feel very privileged to have experienced what this great part of Australia has to offer. Loved the fish feeding and the expert commentary from Nils, he was very informative. Ocean Quest and the crew, sorry I cannot remember all the crews' names, but they were all fantastic. Also, a very international flavor with the broad collection of people representing a vast number of countries.
Recommended for
Friendly courteous customer focused crew. All were very welcoming and looked after me and my daughter.. Especial thanks and kudos to the skipper Matt and crew Deanne, Zach, Evan, Liam, Nils and Evelina. Great dive cons made me feel very safe in the water and most importantly kept my daughter safe whilst diving. Got us back to the boat every time within the 50 bar/50 minutes parameters.. The Ocean Quest is a well-appointed boat with very functional facilities for diving and passenger comfort. The only thing that would have improved my experience is the showers having better water pressure and hot water. and heat showers..
16 Jul, 2026

10 Exceptional
Paul R
Australia

Awesome
Everything was awesome the staff were exceptional and happy to be there
Recommended for
Staff food dives
27 Dec, 2020

8.8 Fabulous
sushant P
India

Wonderful and safe experience
Exploring the wonders of the great barrier reef with some wonderful people.
Recommended for
Friendly crew, safety, comfort
30 Nov, 2019