Ocean Quest Liveaboard, Australia

Name: 6D/5N Ocean Quest (Cairns - Cairns)
Start: 2026-08-27
End: 2026-09-01
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

07 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

FULL

07 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

07 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

07 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

08 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

FULL

08 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

08 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

08 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

08 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

09 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

09 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

09 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

09 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

09 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

10 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

FULL

10 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

10 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

10 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

10 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

11 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

FULL

11 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

11 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

11 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

11 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

12 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

12 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

12 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

12 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

12 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

13 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

13 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

13 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

13 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

13 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

14 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

14 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

14 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

14 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

14 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

15 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

FULL

15 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

15 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

15 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

15 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

16 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

FULL

16 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

16 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

16 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

16 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

17 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

FULL

17 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

FULL

17 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

FULL

17 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

FULL

17 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

FULL

18 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

18 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

18 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

18 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

18 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

19 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

19 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

19 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

19 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

19 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

20 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

20 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

20 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

20 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

20 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

21 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

21 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

21 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

21 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

21 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

22 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

22 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

22 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

22 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

22 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

23 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

23 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

23 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

23 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

23 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

24 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

24 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

24 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

24 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

24 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

25 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

25 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

25 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

25 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

25 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

26 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

26 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 818

Select Cabin available

26 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,047

Select Cabin available

26 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,276

Select Cabin available

26 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,505

Select Cabin available

27 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 589

Select Cabin available

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

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (20 AUD / day), Port Fees (20 AUD / day).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Snacks, Nitrox (10 AUD), Nitrox Course (325 AUD / activity), Private Dive Guide (750 AUD / activity), Scuba Diving Courses (335 AUD / 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

9.5
Diving

9.1
Value

9.0

9.6 Exceptional
Robert R
United States

Great experience
I had a great time on OceanQuest. The crew was all very friendly, and we traveled to different dive sites across the reef each day
Recommended for
Great room. Friendly crew. Amazing diving.
18 Jul, 2026

9.2 Superb
Mousindha A
United Kingdom

Nils was an absolutely fantastic dive master and I highly recommend requesting him for dives if booking a master. the whhole
1. Nils was absolutely fantastic. He recognised our challenges as divers and supported us throughout. Felt really confident and comfortable with him 2. All our equipment was always ready and prepared for us to go. 3. The vegetarian food was good and I liked that we always had snacks between and hot drinks 4. Everything ran like clockwork and was well organised
Recommended for
Nils our dive master. location of the dives. food and drinks availability.
18 Jul, 2026

8.8 Fabulous
Kimiko K
United States

Well run ship
Well run and tight ship practices. Appreciated the focus on safety. Liked the announcements to ensure everyone knew what was coming up.
Recommended for
Barrier reef experience. Staff provided incredible service. On target with their timing of activities.
08 May, 2026

8.8 Fabulous
René N
Germany

Great result the underwater world at the Great barriere reef
We were at Saxon and Norman Reef where there is a great underwater world, the night dive was the highlight for me, the sharks etc.
Recommended for
Professional divers. Good organization. Nice crew.
09 Jun, 2026

Translated from German

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

10 Exceptional
Sara M
United States

I had an amazing trip.
The crew did an amazing job with the dive briefings and helpful information. The food was amazing and the rooms were clean. Pat did a great job with the dive he lead and Paolo did interesting talks in the evening during dessert.
Recommended for
Food, crew, people
30 Sep, 2017

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

10 Exceptional
Jeff B
Australia

Every thing i was expecting
Diving the reef was number 1 of course. But the crew and hospitality were amazing also. The whole experience was awesome and as my first live aboard it has definitely enticed me to do more
Recommended for
Diving, friendly crew and meeting people
21 Aug, 2023

10 Exceptional
Kevin E
United States

Exceptional Experience
The Staff made the diving experience wonderful. My first liveaboard experience was different, more difficult, than I expected and the staff lessened the difficulty, made it more knowledgeable, exciting, safe, and all around a life changing adventure.
Recommended for
Staff, Staff, Staff
12 Dec, 2023

10 Exceptional
Pavel R
Australia

Scuba fun
Super friendly staff Swimming with sharks
Recommended for
The staff, the vessel, & the dives
19 Feb, 2021

565 reviews

8.9 Fabulous
565 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

10 Exceptional
Eliot N
United States

Great ocean adventure!
Our family of 5 had a wonderful time on all the different dives sites exploring the reef and aquatic life. All of the crew, from Captains Anna and Dany to Chef Marcos were always friendly, helpful and encouraging! Our dive guides (Diegho, Natalee, Jack, Simon) were so helpful - especially Diegho with his amazing energy and excitement at being able to show us the reef. Our nighttime flouro-dive was spectacular in its intimacy with the flourescence of the coral and the proximity of sharks (almost brushing us)! The chance to dive 4 times per day (or rest) and the crew's support is something we've never had before. One of us completed Advanced Diver certification, another Adventure Diver cert. They both said the chance to do-the-read and immediately apply the diving skills was so much richer than a dive class at home. The care of the crewe towards the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef and "flora and fauna" there is important too - with climate change this opportunity is fading unless huge changes can be made. The crew made us aware of this throughout. We loved our time on OceanQuest and would certainly return/rebook through Diver's Den in the future! Eliot (of the Nottleson family)
Recommended for
The amazing GBR diving, the fantastic diving guides and the great crew,
25 Jun, 2024

10 Exceptional
Taylor M
United States

An incredible experience that I would recommend to alll.
The staff really went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a great experience. The dive masters were very knowledgeable and friendly- especially Guy and Phil. The dive sites were beautiful. The boat was clean and comfortable and the food was amazing. Overall, a great experience and would dive again with Deep Sea Divers Den.
Recommended for
Staff, dive sites and food.
14 Oct, 2016

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
Sarah T
United States

Worth it!
The night dive was by far my favorite, swimming with a half dozen reef sharks and huge fish was quite an experience. We also saw stingrays, nudibranches, sea turtles, the giant friendly fish the crew calls Wally, and cuddlefish. The crew were wonderful and very accommodating to our needs and skill levels. The other passengers on board were also a highlight— plan to see many of them again on other dive trips!
Recommended for
Amazing diving, logistically convenient, kind and competent team members
28 Mar, 2019

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

8.8 Fabulous
Jason W
United States

Great diving trip
Very good experienced for a family trip, May visit again
Recommended for
Crews are experienced. Feel safe when diving. Boas Ride, food service all good.
24 Nov, 2025

7.2 Good
Alejandro J
United States

Great first liveaboard experience
Deanna and James were amazing. James was our private dive instructor and was very kind and patient with us, making sure we saw something spectacular in each of our dives. Deanna was very pleasant and accommodating to us during our stay. It was winter and the water was a bit cold, I wish there was a coffee and tea station set up outside so that we wouldn’t get reprimanded for going inside to get a warm drink. They also should have prepared you by telling you what to bring before you boarded. There were a million emails we received but nothing telling us what to bring for the trip. The cabins were quite cold and we had to purchase sweatshirts, I would have brought socks and warmer clothes had I known. Otherwise great experience overall.
Recommended for
Deanna and James. Ability to dive so much in a short amount of time. Our first night dive.
13 Jul, 2026

10 Exceptional
Delphine C
New Caledonia

A wonderful experience
A fabulous cruise on board with a caring staff and optimal diving conditions (choice of sites, dive guide and safety). It is with pleasure that I will come back to the ocean quest.
Recommended for
Reception. Availability. Number of dives.
20 Jan, 2025

Translated from French

9.6 Exceptional
Ka Wai L
Hong Kong

Amazing
It's my second time joing Ocean Quest, they are well organized, friendly, and well knowledged.
Recommended for
Vibes from the crew. Well organized. Good food.
18 Aug, 2025

8.8 Fabulous
Glenn H
Australia

Will likely do it again
Great ecperienced, great crew and well run trip.
Recommended for
Dive guides were great. Night dive. Dive deck and facilities.
11 Jan, 2026

10 Exceptional
Anonymous
United States

Superb
Loved everything about the trip but the flouro dive was amazing jumping into the ocean at night full of sharks OMG what a buzz.
Recommended for
Crew diving efficiency
03 Apr, 2016

9.6 Exceptional
Kyle F
United States

One of the most exciting interesting adventures my family & I have ever had!
Obviously, the reef is the star but Sharks in the Dark was amazing!!! My husband and I are just snorkelers, but our daughter was able to do an introductory dive day and had a fantastic, safe, well-supervised experience thanks to Mar.
Recommended for
Helpful crew, comfortable accommodations, lots of dive time
26 Jun, 2023

10 Exceptional
Ryan L
United Kingdom

Great live aboard experience!
Loved the shark night dive!
Recommended for
Sharks, food, service
27 Mar, 2020

10 Exceptional
Julia P
Germany

Best week in Australia
I had the best time doing my advanced Open water course with Danny and Momo. Would 100% recommend anyone to do that course
Recommended for
The crew. Great planning. Wonderful dive sites.
05 Nov, 2024

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

9.6 Exceptional
Margaux A
United States

Wonderful time aboard the OceanQuest!
I had such a lovely experience. The dive guides were great, along with the rest of the crew. Getting to do 12 dives in 3 days was also a great deal! The flouro dive was really unique and spectacular as well, don't miss it! Food was good too, with vegetarian options :)
Recommended for
Beautiful dive sites, friendly and helpful crew, great food
12 Sep, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Jennifer G
United States

Worth the adventure
Great experience overall. We enjoyed all our dives and the crew. We had a bit of a weather situation, and the crew did a great job of navigating how to meet the need of all guests and still keep everyone safe. Great time overall and highly recommend.
Recommended for
The staff's ability to read guests. Safety. Spacious rooms.
10 Jan, 2026

9.2 Superb
Joshua J
United States

Great first liveaboard trip!
We very much enjoyed the trip! The crew was great, very friendly and seemed to really enjoy working on the oceanquest. The accommodations and food were also surprisingly good. We went in late January and the water visibility was not its best, but diving was still great and we saw a lot. Would recommend the trip, we plan to do more liveaboards after our first great experience!!
Recommended for
Ability to do self guided dives, meeting new friends on board, the crew!
14 Feb, 2018

10 Exceptional
Simon L
Australia

Awesome adventure with my Son
Marine life Staff where amazing
Recommended for
Staff , Diving , Weather
20 Oct, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Valerie D
Germany

Great dives and delicious food
We had a great time aboard the Ocean Quest and thoroughly enjoyed all the dives. The room and the boat in general were bigger than expected, so you didn't feel cramped.
Recommended for
Eat. Friendliness of the staff. Spaciousness of the boat.
15 Nov, 2024