Ocean Quest Liveaboard, Australia

Name: 6D/5N Ocean Quest (Cairns - Cairns)
Start: 2026-09-06
End: 2026-09-11
Location: Australia

8.9 Fabulous

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

from $ 212 / 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

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17 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

FULL

17 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

FULL

17 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

FULL

17 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

FULL

17 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

FULL

18 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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18 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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18 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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18 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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18 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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19 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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19 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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19 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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19 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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19 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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20 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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20 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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20 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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20 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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20 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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21 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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21 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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21 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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21 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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21 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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22 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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22 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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22 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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22 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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22 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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23 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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23 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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23 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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23 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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23 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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24 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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24 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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24 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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24 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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24 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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25 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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25 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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25 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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25 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

Select Cabin available

25 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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26 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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26 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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26 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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26 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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26 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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27 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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27 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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27 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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27 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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27 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

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28 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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28 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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28 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

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28 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

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28 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

Select Cabin only 1 space left

29 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

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29 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

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29 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

Select Cabin available

29 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

Select Cabin only 1 space left

29 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

FULL

30 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

Select Cabin available

30 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

Select Cabin available

30 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

Select Cabin only 1 space left

30 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

FULL

30 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

FULL

31 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

Select Cabin available

31 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

Select Cabin only 1 space left

31 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

FULL

31 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

FULL

31 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

FULL

01 Sep

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

Select Cabin only 1 space left

01 Sep

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

FULL

01 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

FULL

01 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

FULL

01 Sep

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

FULL

02 Sep

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

FULL

02 Sep

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

FULL

02 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

FULL

02 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

FULL

02 Sep

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

FULL

03 Sep

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

FULL

03 Sep

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

FULL

03 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

FULL

03 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

FULL

03 Sep

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

FULL

04 Sep

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

Select Cabin available

04 Sep

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

04 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

FULL

04 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

04 Sep

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

05 Sep

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 591

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

05 Sep

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 821

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

05 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,051

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

05 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,281

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

05 Sep

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,511

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

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

9.4
Diving

9.1
Value

9.0

9.6 Exceptional
Catherine S
New Zealand

Come alive & thrive on a barrier reef dive!
This trip was outstanding and a dream come true. We did this trip 24yrs ago but this time surpassed all expectations. Highlights were the sharks in the dark dive. Special shout out to Ari, Sol, Tristan, Kiara & Liam who went above and beyond to get to know us and make our experience extra special.
Recommended for
Staff. Dives. Organization.
05 Jun, 2026

10 Exceptional
Rainer H
Austria

3 nights and 4 great days under and above water! :)
Even after almost 30 years of diving in Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, I ended up in Australia with my son. We deliberately chose the Ocean Quest and not any other dive vessel due to its good recessions.We always dived with guides and especially William and Sam we can highly recommend!In addition to a real interest in the underwater flora and fauna, both always had a watchful eye on their group with whom they were in the water. Both during descent and when surfacing and especially in the course of the dive. Not only did I notice this, but also the other divers who dived with us. Thank you very much for the great time that the Qcean Quest Team made possible for us!
Recommended for
Instructors specifically William and Sam!!. Team on the dive platform - very professional!. Team on board!.
12 May, 2026

Translated from German

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

8.4 Very good
Aditya M
Australia

Great first liveaboard experience
We had a great trip. It was our first ever live aboard and my wife wants to make it an annual thing to go diving on a live aboard. So we'll done to the team at Diver's Den for giving us the opportunity to experience diving on the outer reef.
Recommended for
The team. The organisation. Communication.
09 Aug, 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
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

9.2 Superb
Mark G
United States

3 wonderful days on the great barrier reef liveaboard
Excellent snorkeling on the reef Staff was professional and helpful when we had questions or needs Excellent communications about activities, timing
Recommended for
Entire operation well run by extremely helpful staff. Snorkel guides were very helpful, led us out to a wonderful variety of reefs. Cabins were comfortable, and food was good and plentiful.
17 Feb, 2026

8.4 Very good
Eric N
United States

Anyone one who wants to dive the Great barrier Reef shoud do Live Aboard.
Highlight of the time on Live aboard was doing a night dive
Recommended for
Thought all processes for the numerous dives were well managed. They did a good job moving things forward when the trip had to get cut short due to weather risks. The access to numrous dives in a short period of time.
25 Mar, 2026

8.0 Very good
BRUNO M
France

Very well organized, good welcome, nice dives we would have liked more different sites, 5 times the same is a lot
A very good organization from the beginning with the pick up from the hotel, then all the dives, the trip, and a smiling and very friendly service. The dives are beautiful, only downside we dived 5 times out of 10 on the same site, playground on Norman reef...
Recommended for
Very good organization. Night diving with sharks. The corals are very varied and colorful.
23 Jul, 2026

Translated from French

10 Exceptional
Pavel R
Australia

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

572 reviews

8.9 Fabulous
572 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

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
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

10 Exceptional
Alicia W
United States

Fun, Professional & Friendly!
The Ocean Quest was wonderful! Great dives, friendly & knowledgable staff, delicious food, and just an overall friendly vibe. We would absolutely recommend this liveaboard for folks that want to enjoy some serious diving!
Recommended for
Diving, food, staff
28 Aug, 2019

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

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
Theodore S
United States

Highlight of our trip to Australia
Highlight of our trip to Australia
Recommended for
Very comfortable cabins. Fantastic crew. The snorkeling and scuba diving was out of this world.
31 Dec, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
chana B
Canada

Amazing experience!
We saw such a variety of marine life, definitely the best diving experience I’ve ever had!
Recommended for
The staff were all very friendly and helpful, every cabin had its own ensuite bathroom, the dive sites picked were fantastic
18 Mar, 2024

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

10 Exceptional
Victoria S
Australia

Outstanding in all aspects
This was our second trip with Divers Den. We came back as we knew the quality we would get for the time and money. Dive sites show cased the best of the reef, with only our boat accessing each anchorage. All equipment was well maintained and well organised to ensure confidence and familiarity iver the course of the trip. Food and bedding was glorious and better than expected. Staff were genuine and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
Recommended for
Dive sites were spectacular and suitable for a range of skills. Accommodation was high quality. Staff were wonderful and passionate.
15 Jun, 2022

9.6 Exceptional
Mark B
Australia

3rd trip on Ocean Quest and always an amazing experience!
This is my 3rd trip on Ocean Quest and once again I had an amazing time! I met a great bunch of people to dive with, the crew were amazing, the food is delicious and the hospitality is second to none. Absolutely incredible value!
Recommended for
The diving (of course). The people on the boat - I've always met awesome people to dive and hang with. The crew and food.
04 Aug, 2022

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

9.6 Exceptional
Robert E
United States

Better than expected
Certainly, diving is paramount. We enjoyed the experience immensely and would consider this again. The accommodations were great, nice sized rooms, and nice bath, the dive deck was great for getting into the water. The crew was respectful and fun and very helpful. The weather was great and the diving was great. We did not see the bigger fish as a whole, but the reef was teaming with life and the colors and diversity of the coral was amazing.
Recommended for
Diving, room and crew
04 Nov, 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
Nicola B
Australia

absolutely fantastic crew, cabin, crew, dive planning, dive gear and support!
The crew were amazing - helpful, organised, professional. The cabin was big, clean and quiet. The dive sites were perfect - constant changes and good divebriefings before each dive. Excellent safety standards too - just brilliant!
Recommended for
Crew - organised, happy, friendly, helpful / cabin was big and clean / food was yummy, fresh and plentiful
02 Oct, 2019

9.2 Superb
Toke L
Denmark

Amazing 3 day trip, do it!
Amazing, even if you cant scubadive (I got a cold) you can still do snorkeling or simply stay comfy on the boat. Be prepared for really cold air-con (helps against seasickness)
Recommended for
The dives (good gear and satefy was top notch). The vibes from the passengers and crew. The view.
11 Aug, 2026

10 Exceptional
Abi B
United Kingdom

Wish we’d stayed longer!
From the original enquiry right up until we arrived back in cairns after our 2 day/1 night trip was awesome! It was our first liveaboard and first time diving since getting our Open Water certification a year ago so weren’t too sure what to expect and were a bit nervous, the team on the boats were fantastic - especially our guide Charlotte! The dives themselves were great and although it was a bit choppy, our guides made sure that we didn’t miss a thing! The cabins were much more comfortable and spacious than I was expecting and the vibe on board was great. Can’t wait to book our next trip - and will definitely be staying longer next time!!
Recommended for
The dives, the staff (on and off the boat) and the great atmosphere!
25 Oct, 2018

10 Exceptional
Inge D
United States

Great stay, highly recommended
We loved our 5-day stay. There is such a good atmosphere on the boat and everything is run so well. Our cabin was great and had everything we needed.
Recommended for
Friendly and knowledgeable crew and guides. Loved our cabin. Great food.
14 Apr, 2026

10 Exceptional
Aleks K
Australia

Great driving experience!
Well- run and organized diving, great guides who were very knowledgeable and looked after divers safety.
Recommended for
The boat was very comfortable and well equipped, the staff were awesome and most importantly superb diving!
30 Nov, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Michal K
Poland

Lovely trip
Lovely Minke Whales expedition. Can recommend
Recommended for
Crew !. Good diving. Other passengers.
16 Jun, 2025

10 Exceptional
Ingunn R
United States

Wonderful Experience with Ocean Quest on GBR
Liveaboard provides a much more relaxed and enjoyable dive experience than day trip boats - well worth the extra cost. We got to experience the GBR with great guides and then share our experiences with the other guests over a meal or a beer in the bar. The diversity at GBR is just awesome and getting to experience sea turtles, cuttlefish, sharks, unicorn fish and all the other colorful and unique species we encountered.
Recommended for
Warm showers when you wanted/needed, a bed to rest on .. and the crew
21 Aug, 2019