9.6 Exceptional
Larry W
United States

Great Crew!

Saxon Reef

Recommended for: Crew Crew Crew

6.4 Review score
Emily L
United States

Great diving, but bad food and management.

My husband and I spend 4 nights and 5 days aboard OceanQuest. While we were on our way to the reef, we filled out the standard medical forms. I had put that I was on a medication that I had never had any issues with diving before. When I went to dive, I was told I was not allowed to go out with my dive buddy because I had to go with a guide because of my medication. I was not allowed to talk to their doctor to get an explanation. I felt like I was treated differently by the dive supervisor because of this. . I also had a cold was was not able to equalize for several dives, but the dive instructors/masters on board allowed me to snorkel (but the dive supervisor made sure it was with a guide). The food on board was also not very good - this was our first live aboard but several others on board said that it was the worst food they've had on a live aboard. I think they tried too hard - simpler dishes would have been better. Their dive instructors/masters were very nice. They did allow my husband to join the guided groups for free as my dive buddy. Jen was my favorite, although she never actually led one of the dives I was on. Michy, Guy, Kris, Ron, and John were all great (there were a few others but I don't remember them all). Each dive was limited to 50 minutes, which was a bummer, since both my husband and I would come up with enough air we could have been down for an extra 10-20 minutes (even with a minimum amount left in our tanks).

Recommended for: Dive instructors/dive masters, seeing the diversity of fish, diving in the Great Barrier Reef

10 Exceptional
Robert B
United States

Awesome Experience!!

Our family of five had a marvelous time. There was plenty of room to relax. Multiple opportunities to dive at multiple sites with or without guides. If you have ever considered Liveaboard diving, book with these guys, you will not regret it. They’re among the best.

Recommended for: 1) Friendly crew and fellow passengers. 2)Organized and efficient 3) Multiple dive sites

9.6 Exceptional
Mark O
United States

great time diving the GBR

seeing all the life at the great barrier reef, and how it changes throughout the day (especially early morning and at nighttime)

Recommended for: lots of dives, great staff/guides, very organized

10 Exceptional
William H
United States

I will be back!

Meeting long term friends.

Recommended for: Efficient schedule of day’s events, ease of doing multiple dives per day, convenience at Every step

8.8 Fabulous
Mike W
United States

Perfect in all ways

The routine made things easy to constantly dive or eat, it was very easy to get in five dives and not miss any meals.

Recommended for: Fantastic Captain, energetic crew, spectacular diving

9.6 Exceptional
michael W
United States

Fantastic experience

Many sharks and large fish. The best coral I have ever seen in 34 years of diving.

Recommended for: Great dives, great staff, friendly people

9.6 Exceptional
TJ B
United States

17 Dives in 4 Days!

Dolphins, Sharks, Turtles, Octopus, Cuttlefish. Great experience, very worth it

Recommended for: Crew, 5 dives a day, Food

10 Exceptional
Corey S
United States

Very good dive /snorkel trip

Seeing half a dozen turtles. Seeing the Great Barrier Reef. Dive eat dive sleep repeat

Recommended for: Lots of dives. Helpful crew. Great in water guides

10 Exceptional
Chet B
United States

Can't believe the value for money

I have to say for the price, I was a bit skeptical about this cruise, but in the end, I have to say I was extremely surprised. I would recommend this trip to anyone, scuba diver or snorkeler. My GF and I are extremely experienced divers, but the boat was full of everyone from snorkelers, to first-timers, to people getting their licenses, to people like us. We were also a tad concerned, even at our experience level, that there is no dive guide with each dive, you must pay a $15/pp fee for a guide. Out of everywhere we've ever dove we've always guide. but after a few dives, we were extremely comfortable navigating. Newbies, I'd recommend staying close to the boat, but it worse comes to worst they can always come and pick you up if you can't get back to the boat. The cabin was great, we had a private room. I would recommend booking far in advance to make sure you have a private cabin if you are traveling as a pair, if not they will put you in bunk beds. The food was also not bad, not gourmet cooking, some meals were better than others, but overall pretty good. The staff was also great, again some better than others, but overall fantastic. Toby is hilarious. The diving was epic, I've dove around the world, and I was thoroughly surprised by the qualities of dives. The outter reefs are full of life and there are a ton of things to see. My only complaint is that the boat was going in for dry dock for the season and the Capitan didn't process enough fresh water. So after our last dive, we were covered in saltwater for the rest of the day. Not the worst deal, but we were paying customers and we would like to have been clean for our long journey home.

Recommended for: Private Cabin/Freedom of Diving/Experience

6.0 Review score
Alexa B
United States

Great Barrier Reef on a budget (and it shows)

Summary: Good diving on OceanQuest but terrible first few dives on ReefQuest. Unprofessional staff. Not enough food. We had very mixed feelings about our experience with Divers Den. On the one hand, the diving while on OceanQuest was wonderful. Despite having many divers on board, we were able to space ourselves out a bit and see the amazing reef. The dive sites provided a nice variety and there are many opportunities to dive every day. (Sharks in the Dark is also an option at night, and was a huge highlight of our trip.) If you finish a dive early you can get back in and snorkel, which is also wonderful. You can dive without a guide, which I think is kind of crazy from a liability perspective but does allow you to explore at your own pace. The dive master, Tobias, was professional and serious about safety checks. The equipment was mostly in good shape, but there was a shortage of medium- and large-sized gear (wetsuits and booties) and it wasn't very organized so there was a bit of a scramble every time. Unfortunately, our first several dives were done from ReefQuest, a really uncomfortable and overcrowded transfer boat that caters mostly to day snorkelers (young backpacker-types). There were not enough seats for everyone to sit comfortably and nowhere to store gear securely or out of the way. During our van ride to the marina, the staff joked amongst themselves about working on "SnorkelQuest" and that turned out to be so true. The diving equipment was subpar and included snorkel-grade masks that wouldn't stay dry or clear inside. On our first dive I couldn't see a thing and also had trouble equalizing my ears after our too-rapid descent, but our clearly inexperienced guide kept going despite my hand signals. I was in a lot of pain but not confident enough to surface on my own (huge error on my part). I had to sit out the next two dives (which we still had to pay for obviously) because of my ears but thankfully was able to continue the next day. My husband and I went on our own instead of with a guide, took a reasonable amount of time to descend, and everything was fine. My husband is a very experienced diver (~250 dives) and says that ReefQuest was the worst "dive boat" he has ever been on (in quotes because it is clearly really for snorkelers). As far as we could tell, OceanQuest is affordable for three reasons: 1) Your first day of dives are done on ReefQuest because there isn't enough capacity on OceanQuest for the people already on-board and the new arrivals. 2) It is staffed almost entirely by young people who are paid in room, board, and diving and clearly have zero customer support training/interest and little training as dive guides. Staff turnover is presumably very high. 3) Food is basic and essentially rationed. Guests were admonished for taking more than one slice of toast at breakfast (seriously? whose serving size of toast is less than 2 slices?). Staff complained in front of guests about not getting enough to eat. The staff should have separate portions from the guests so they don't have to worry about not getting enough if they're busy/late! It was pretty uncomfortable to feel like we were taking food out of somebody else's mouth. Overall we felt less like guests and more like intruders. Our room was comfortable enough but nothing about the boat is "luxurious," as described by Liveaboard. One thing that really bothered me is that the bed didn't have a top sheet and there is zero chance the comforters are getting changed/laundered between every set of guests. Lack of top sheet is clearly another way that management cuts costs/labor, but that is just gross and unacceptable. I would only recommend this liveaboard if you are on a tight budget and can't skimp anywhere else.

Recommended for: dive sites, unprofessional staff, rationed food

10 Exceptional
Svetlana G
United States

Exceeded Expectations

The diving. Hands down. First time visiting the Great Barrier Reef and my husband and I were blown away. That aside however, our experience with Ocean Quest exceeded all expectations. The accommodations were very comfortable. Cabins were actually quite spacious, the en suite was a lovely touch, and the beds were heavenly comfortable. Especially after a full day of dives. The food was very reasonable and the crew friendly, chipper, and very accommodating. The curriculum throughout the day leaves pockets of downtime but most of the time you do find yourself engaged somehow. We basically never felt like we were waiting around for the next thing but instead welcomed the hour or so pockets of downtime. We did the Shark Experience as well which was a really nice experience as an alternate do doing a night dive (had some ear problems earlier so decided to sit the night dive out). You have the option of diving with a buddy or hiring a guide. My husband and I buddied up which was a bit of a new experience and it was great! Everything is very structured but somehow doesnt feel that way and is instead very self paced and relaxed. My only complaint is that after our final dive, one of the crew members decided to prioritize speed of prepping the equipment for the next passengers over watching out for our equipment. We had our own masks and one had a tank set on top of it while we turned away to hang up our suits. No one owned up to it and they seemed very unconcerned that that had happened. Theres no way that the individual at fault wouldn't have noticed as the glass of the mask was smashed to bits and they would have felt it and heard it smash. I understand that there is a certain rush but it doesnt excuse not watching out for divers personal equipment. We werent the only ones, another diver had his personal regulator snatched and thrown in with the others. A suggestion would be to provide an area where divers could set their personal equipment while all the prep is happening if they are still getting out of their wet suits etc. As setting it by the other equipment is obviously not safe (that's where our mask was, by the BCD), and throwing it in with Ocean Quest's is not ideal either. Other than that I would still highly recommend this experience as one thoughtless individual shouldn't represent the entire experience.

Recommended for: Comfortable cabins, great crew, amazing diving

9.6 Exceptional
Michael F
United States

So good I immediately booked a follow-up trip!

The Reef was never more than a few fin-kicks from the boat—no wasted time. Abundant fish life—day and night. Gear was high-quality, always prepared and dive operations were efficient. This is a BIG deal when you are attempting 4 dives a day with 40 other divers entering and exiting the water.

Recommended for: Crew were wonderful, diving was accessible, captain and crew handled adversity with great professionalism

10 Exceptional
Kevin O
United States

Fantastic. This was one of our most memorable trips in a long time.

Night diving was completly magical - I had never done it before and I was so completly shocked by the awe and beauty of it. Highlights were waking up before the sun hit the water, new reef locations to explore every day, turtles, sharks, fish, fun staff and making new diving friends. Seriously, it was a complete blast.

Recommended for: If you diving and the sea, I can't imagine doing the reef any other way - completly worth the money and time.

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.

10 Exceptional
Robert C
United States

Awesome

Bucket list check ✔️

Recommended for: Capt., and crew. Food. Diving and snorkeling.

10 Exceptional
Dan P
United States

EPIC EXPERIENCE!

Loved every moment of it! Met really cool people (guests and crew), enjoyed hanging out in the various chill zones, my room was great. Completed my Advanced Certification while onboard. Highly recommend. To see a video of the experience, check out the one I made here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxlQn5OmHVI

Recommended for: food quality, dive variety, friendliness of crew

10 Exceptional
Kelcy H
United States

Amazing!

Great diving, so much variety. The food was amazing! The crew was friendly and we met some awesome people we will be staying in touch with!

Recommended for: The diving, the people we met, the food

8.8 Fabulous
Giovanna P
United States

The Crew and the Scenery were Amazing

It was our yearly family trip and the Great Barrier was on our bucket list. First time into a live aboard experience, we can not get over of how amazing the experience was. Full of fun and quality of people. We made friends from all over the world.

Recommended for: Great diving sites, crew service was very professional and the cabins were comfortable and clean

9.6 Exceptional
Nancy C
United States

Excellent way to immerse oneself in the Great Barrier Reef

One of my lifelong dreams has been to see the Great Barrier Reef and this was the perfect way to do it. Most of the 20-30 guests dove, with fewer of us snorkeling, and the sites chosen had something for all of us. There are 2 intertwined characteristics: the quality of instructors/guides and the unobtrusive focus on safety. The staff had to take the group as they presented, with various skill levels hours off land, show them the reef in as fun a way as possible, all the while keeping everyone safe and they did this beautifully. There is a standard schedule every day which was adhered to closely and that kept the potential chaos to a minimum. All told, really a remarkable 4 days. I highly recommend it.

Recommended for: 1. Snorkeling sites 2. The crew 3. The fun

8.0 Very good
clinton E
United States

Experienced narvana

Shark in the dark

Recommended for: Underwater scenery, accommodating staff, food

10 Exceptional
Phillip H
United States

All around amazing

Dive locations were amazing. Food was top notch and they went above and beyond to take care of people with eating restrictions. Can't praise the staff enough, professional and strict when it came to our safety, but friendly and fun with our general interactions

Recommended for: Staff food dives

7.2 Good
Jade M
United States

Diving was absolutely fantastic although I felt the crew was not as friendly as previous liveaboards I've been on and was quite crowded underwater with that many divers.

Diving!

Recommended for: Diving, accommodation and the sunrise.

10 Exceptional
Jenni S
United States

What an incredible experience!

Honestly, the whole trip was a lifetime highlight!

Recommended for: Obviously the Great Barrier Reef is the highlight of the experience, but the crew/staff really took the trip to the next level. The team was very helpful with general questions about diving/fish/the reef/etc. The food was great. The accommodations were nice.

9.2 Superb
David P
United States

safety was the number one concern which made me feel very comfortable

The beautiful sea life, the staff

Recommended for: the helpfulness of the staff, the Great Barrier Reef and the punctuality of the organization

9.2 Superb
Benjamin C
United States

Best Dive trip yet!

I checked off a bucket list dive—a must for avid divers. There is nothing like waking up on the reef and getting the experience of being in such solitude.

Recommended for: 1. Location, the most vibrant coral teaming with life. 2. Being on the reef. 3. The friendly service of the crew and dive personnel.

6.8 Review score
Kaleigh D
United States

You get what you paid for!

Diving.

Recommended for: Diving, boat was comfortable, the captain was friendly.

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

9.2 Superb
Joe E
United States

Ocean Quest is the Best

As a new diver, being able to dive with an experienced diver who could show me the true wonders of the GBR was amazing. Then to top it off, I got to do a night dive and the shark attack - which was AMAZING! I would HIGHLY recommend anyone to use Ocean Quest for their GBR diving trip

Recommended for: The experience, the people/crew and the value

8.4 Very good
Roey S
United States

Loved diving in the GBR

Great barrier reef was stunning

Recommended for: Diving itself in the beautiful GBR, comfortable boat, friendly staff

10 Exceptional
Michael M
United States

Ocean Quest

Snorkeling, a terrific crew made this a great vacation experience, and just a rewarding vacation viewing the Great Barrier Reef with the Ocean Quest team

Recommended for: Great Barrier Reef, Awesome Staff/Crew, Outstanding experience

10 Exceptional
Alexandra W
United States

Absolutely incredible with amazing staff

This trip was so beyond incredible and I had the absolute best time. The staff was amazing and the diving was so much fun. I loved the shark diving, and exploring the reef, and meeting other people on ocean quest! Definitely hope to do it again!

Recommended for: The amazing diving, the staff, the food

10 Exceptional
Michael R
United States

Awesome trip to GBR

The highlight of my trip was the diving. I could not believe how alive the reef was. The Ocean Quest is an organization that has a great concept that they are maximizing. They have a boat that stays out on the reef and another one that transports divers to and from the main boat. You can customize your trip for as many days that you would like. You can also dive the number of dives that you are comfortable with. Things to do and see when you are not diving. Great Job guys and gals!!!!!

Recommended for: Size and comfort of the boat. the friendliness of the workers of Ocean Quest, water temp

9.2 Superb
Scott W
Australia

Great trip, would go it again in a heartbeat.

Diving Fish Bowl on Saxon Reef was absolutely magical. The Divers Den and Ocean Quest are a very professional, smoothly run diving outfit.

Recommended for: The ease of diving, the amount of diving and knowing when dives were going to happen.

8.8 Fabulous
Hugh C
Australia

An absolutely fantastic week spent out on the Great Barrier Reef.

Seeing the wild clownfish

Recommended for: The best three things on the live aboard were definitely the Diving, the staff and the exploring of different sections of reef

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

9.2 Superb
Lauren P
United Kingdom

Best holiday ever, my dream come true

Diving with turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, soo many different fish. Diving with my daughter. Great staff especially Tobi, Jess, Rich, Emily

Recommended for: Diving up to 5 times a day, fantastic staff and guides, guided night dives

8.4 Very good
Shifali G
India

Great experience

Barring the food which was hit or miss, everything else exceeded expectations!

Recommended for: The guides, the dives, the amenities

10 Exceptional
Debashis B
United Kingdom

Great experience and a must do

The crew was efficient and friendly. Food was great. The camaraderie amongst the guests and crew was fantastic. Everything worked to clockwork precision. Great place to be

Recommended for: 1. The organisation of the crew 2. Food 3. Camaraderie

9.2 Superb
Rickard E
Sweden

Wonderful and nice trip!

Amazing dives, the professional and friendly crew together with the atmosphere among the divers aboard made this to a memory that will last!

Recommended for: The crew, the atmosphere, the diving

7.6 Good
Ritty C
Australia

Once-in-a-lifetime experience

Still amazed at this natural wonder even this is not the first time diving a the great barrier reef.

Recommended for: Beautiful sites, comfortable cabin, helpful crew

8.4 Very good
Carlos L
Australia

Overall, an amazing diving experience

The scuba diving was definitely the highlight of the trip. The Great Barrier Reef is still an amazing place to dive, with thriving marine life, both big and small. Scuba diving beside immense walls of coral is a once in a lifetime experience. On top of that, the Ocean Quest is an amazing vessel, with all the comforts required to make your experience out of the water as enjoyable as possible. The crew are friendly and always willing to give you hand. Their attention to safety is something that is also exceptional.

Recommended for: Dive sites, crew friendliness, efficiency of diving operation

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

8.8 Fabulous
Davina S
Australia

The diving was fantastic and of a very high standard in regards to equipment and crew.

Definitely the diving. Seeing sharks, turtles, cuttlefish and so many different varieties of sea life. Having the opportunity to dive 5 dives a day was absolutely fantastic.

Recommended for: The night dive. The crew. Meeting people from all around the world.

10 Exceptional
Nellie M
Australia

All the staff were brilliant, super friendly and I always felt very safe

You could tell the staff valued pleasing divers (and snorkellers) in water and on the boat. Particular shout out to chill Phil, knowledgeable Clara and "always right" with the best recommendations Mickie. The food was splendid, good spread, I'm vegetarian and I loved the salads and veggies, oh and that risotto! I enjoyed no Wi-Fi, (could send texts and access the internet with Telstra on my phone), very relaxing. Beds were comfy, showers were hot. Recommend bringing cash for tipping the staff for their attentiveness and above and beyond service. #bringbackthemargaritamachine

Recommended for: Diving, relaxing and lovely staff

9.6 Exceptional
Wolfgang K
Germany

Great diving with friendly people

The fluoro dive on the last night

Recommended for: Excellent organisation, friendly crew, great dive sites.

8.4 Very good
Josh B
Australia

Amazing trip

What an amazing trip we had in tough circumstances- despite being the last trip the crew made before the Coronavirus took hold they were amazing in the face of being out of work the next day. The reef was fantastic - and I look forward to going back soon!

Recommended for: An amazing trip - great crew, great dive sites, great value

10 Exceptional
Tanja W
Denmark

Amazing

The Crew was so amazingly awesome, helpful and fun. Always ready to help or answer stupid questions. The dives were amazing, utterly serene. The food was really good, and they always make sure you don’t go hungry. It was all worthwhile and every dime was well spent

Recommended for: Crew, dives, food

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!

10 Exceptional
Ryan L
United Kingdom

Great live aboard experience!

Loved the shark night dive!

Recommended for: Sharks, food, service

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

7.2 Good
Anton D
Sweden

Very nice experience!

Guide Natalie (Nat). Very friendly and showed us around under water in a good way. There were some inter individual difference from guide to guide. Getting to see the reef up close.

Recommended for: Get close to the reef. Diving.

8.8 Fabulous
Sibylla L
Canada

Good experience. Staff are very helpful and supportive ifyou forget things.

I loved the dives even though the water was not that clear because of the weather. I was worried about doing 6 dives in 2 days, but guides were very encouraging and supportive. Would do it again and would encourage others to as well.

Recommended for: Fun people. Very supportive staff. Well organized.

10 Exceptional
Paul R
Australia

Awesome

Everything was awesome the staff were exceptional and happy to be there

Recommended for: Staff food dives

8.4 Very good
Silvia S
Italy

Just what I needed to start 2021!

The crew was absolutely amazing! They really took good care of everyone on board and were very friendly. The diving was also unforgettable! We had good visibility throughout and the weather was incredible! We had storms every night, after all the diving had been done, which only made the experience better. Seeing the lightening show from the boat was really cool! I recommend and will be back for more!

Recommended for: The crew, the diving and the experience!

10 Exceptional
Pavel R
Australia

Scuba fun

Super friendly staff Swimming with sharks

Recommended for: The staff, the vessel, & the dives

10 Exceptional
Blake S
Australia

The only way to dive the GBR

Our trip was saw the Ocean Quest with only 5 guests on board. The crew was fantastic with spending time with us and having great chats about the reef and any dicing questions we had. My wife and I are both advanced open water certified and were able to buddy dive which we haven't been able to do with other companies. The highlight was the night dive with many many reef sharks swimming around us, a true bucket list experience. The food is homely, delicious and plentiful so don't worry about going hungry. 10/10 And will recommend to all

Recommended for: Diving effcienfy, knowledge of reef by staff, the food

10 Exceptional
Jiexiong W
China

Brilliant!

Night diving is so awesome. The corals are also beautiful.

Recommended for: Diving Crews and Individual bathroom

10 Exceptional
Peter B
Australia

This trip has made me want to do more liveaboards

Seeing the Great Barrier Reef from underwater, diving with sharks, could not fault the trip

Recommended for: Staff being organised, friendly helpful staff, great atmosphere

8.0 Very good
Yura C
South Korea

Amazing!!

Enjoyed diving thanks to well organized system

Recommended for: Hot shower, nice diving gear, well organized

10 Exceptional
Henricus R
Australia

Best drive trip ever

Amazing service by the staff. Nature delivered: abundant sea life Highlight was the Minke whales

Recommended for: Minke whales, the reef, the crew

9.6 Exceptional
Vince D
Australia

Exceeded my expectations.

Sharks in the dark, the Dwarf Minke Whales, the sea life at the reefs, the night diving.

Recommended for: The reef sites, crew and other guests

8.4 Very good
Allen B
Australia

Well organized and Friendly - professional staff

Shark experience, Fluro night dive

Recommended for: Great dive spots, Dive gear in good condition , helpful friendly staff

9.6 Exceptional
Allison W
Australia

Thoroughly and highly recommend this trip

Feeling well supported as a new diver.

Recommended for: Location , crew, food

9.6 Exceptional
Renee L
Australia

Professional and Amazing Trip

Night Diving Professional Crew Excellent food

Recommended for: Dive sites, Boat Crew, Food

10 Exceptional
Iman Daniel J
Malaysia

Amazing

The shark night snorkelling session

Recommended for: Lots of good food, friendly crew, the dives

8.4 Very good
Sherie E
Australia

If only it wasn't windy!

The reef is amazing and one of the best places to dive. Divers Den is a great set up - more for people who like their own space and company rather than a party boat. Seemed to be an older demographic than other liveaboards. Definitely more spacious. Unfortunately our trip was cut short due to a gale force wind warning - we only managed one day of dives and spent the night at Cairns wharf. This is the ultimate test for a company. Although it was out of their control, they organised a refund for part of the trip.

Recommended for: Spacious boat, well equipped, large cabins

9.2 Superb
Vic G
Australia

Simply the best way to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

Dive sites were safe and conditions were great. The staff were very professional and prioritised safety for everyone both in and out of the water.

Recommended for: Staff were superb, food was plentiful and delicious and diving was convenient. Water was beautiful!

9.6 Exceptional
Stuart R
Australia

Best liveaboard in Cairns

Seeing a whale shark! Seeing the wonderful sea life, corals, fluoro dive, turtles turtles turtles and having a very supportive dive crew who is always willing to help.

Recommended for: Diving sites, Crew & Dive Guides

9.6 Exceptional
Victoria T
Australia

Incredible experience with an affordable price tag

The night dives with sharks were amazing. All of the staff were so kind and had great knowledge about all the dive sites, with informative briefings and the option for dive guides. The food was also fantastic!

Recommended for: Incredibly affordable, knowledgeable staff, outstanding dive sites

10 Exceptional
Mengjie(Krystal) L
China

Absolute remarkable experience

It’s an unique diving experience on Aqua Quest and Ocean Quest. Every member is supportive and experienced. They are genuine, patient and compassionate. I recovered my confidence and pleasure in diving with the crew. They’re super environmental and creatural friendly. No doubt they are expertise and offer great opportunities exploring Great Barrier Reef.

Recommended for: Professional staff, competent safety control, reliable team

8.4 Very good
Wen Qin J
Canada

Great liveaboard experience for my first time

Met some awesome fellow divers and saw lots of different cool things (macro and micro life). The night dives were fun, although the fluoro dive felt a bit underwhelming. A shame that the weather wasn't cooperative so our choices for dive sites were limited for safety reasons.

Recommended for: Food, Night Diving, Meeting new diving friends

9.2 Superb
Allan B
Australia

The trip exceeded my expectations

The sharks in the dark on the rear duckboard Seeing my partner go from a novice diver with anxiety to a competent diver, even doing her first night dive. Sharing experiences and conversations with like minded people.

Recommended for: 1. The organisation while on board 2. The cross checks of equipment and manifest record keeping 3. The dive site briefings were at just the right level

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.

4.8 Review score
Dooyoung K
South Korea

I made a wrong decision to choose our honeymoon at Ocean Quest

I sent an email to company cause i wanted give good experience to my husband for our honeymoon trip and as the first trip in Australia for my husband that also mention email to company before we book the trip. company replied 'we will prepare something' the something we got amazing hospitality service + sleep just next engine room with heavy noisy for 2 nights. I am an Australian citizen, so i took my husband to Aus. for our small wedding from Korea. we choose liveaboard trip as our honeymoon, overall okay.. BUT one thing i was truly disappointed the service by manager. While serving food at the breakfast buffet, the manager asked to my husband to take the bacon off from the his plate, saying he had too much bacon on the plate, i thought that made a jock but eventually he asked me to share his bacon so i did not touch. I am an hotel manager for 15 years.. i was really shocked on speechless situation .. and my husband has limited English luckily who kept asked me to check either Manager really asked the bacon off from his plate. I lied to my husband that could not translate 100%. Hope company can training to staff to care the purpose of trip and respect every guests.

Recommended for: Friendly staffs ( except service operation manager) , lack of organization of dived schedule,

9.6 Exceptional
Peter J
Australia

Amazing and very affordable

My partner had a personal encounter with a turtle that was beyond her imagination and would be hard to imagine unless you saw it

Recommended for: Organisation overall,. The crew, and diving

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.

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!!

10 Exceptional
Emile A
Canada

Amazing experience

The highlight of my trip was seeing sharks, turtles, and two octopus fighting in one dive. I did intro dives and the crew was really nice in introducing me to the dives

Recommended for: The dives the atmosphere and the food

8.8 Fabulous
Sophie S
Germany

Very special and unique!

Feeling taken care of and being able to fully enjoy diving in the Great Barrier Reef without any worries

Recommended for: The dive sites were great, the crew is very nice and the equipment is top!

10 Exceptional
Heath C
Australia

Was excellent trip!

1. Night dives, the sharks and Huge GTs were amazing to dive with. 2. The crew. Extremely knowledgeable and helpful… every single member went above an beyond to ensure you had the best time possible 3. The people you get to meet along the journey and share your diving experiences with. I could keep going on but I’d just recommend that you go out and try it for yourself!

Recommended for: 1. Night diving with the sharks 2. The friendly crew that went the extra mile at every turn. 3. The value for money experience offered!

8.0 Very good
Stuart B
United Kingdom

2nd time

2nd time for me on this boat. The crew were brilliant. So helpful. Good briefings. Great mix of divers from different countries. Food could be better. Good value as everything is so much more expensive post Covid.

Recommended for: The crew, the company,the diving

10 Exceptional
Esther N
Australia

Owesome crews and great team work! Best liverboard in Cairns☆☆☆☆☆

Diving at Saxon reef was the best and Sharks in the dark was the best fun. It was the best holiday to stay on Oceanquest. The food was beautiful and plenty all the time. Program runs on time and every crew knows what they need to do for each program. Great team work, great support for every dives. All crews are kind and enjoyed to work for us. Energetic and cheerful mood all the time.

Recommended for: Great crews, facilities including gears, well organised program

9.2 Superb
Alex B
United Kingdom

Laid back yet well organised

Night dives; coral gardens

Recommended for: Boat ambience; the fact they dealt with my gluten-free diet; the people I met

8.4 Very good
Peter D
Canada

I enjoyed it but would try a different operator next time.

It was great being around people who loved diving - staff and clients. The ads are incorrect as 10 is the max number of dives possible (4 - day 1, 4 - day 2, 2 - day 3). Not sure why the ads say 11 as there just no way that’s possible the way the trip is organized. Not much variety in dive sites. We stayed at the same site on Norman for 4 of the dives. Even the Dive Masters we’re disappointed.

Recommended for: Staff, cabins, food.

9.6 Exceptional
Antonio S
Mexico

Incredible trip, it exceeded my expectations.

Everyone was really cordial, friendly and had a great attitude. The actual dives are the best part of the trip, I highly recommend doing them with guides, they are really experienced and know what is worth seeing in the reef.

Recommended for: The crew, the itinerary and the dives.

9.6 Exceptional
Florine C
Canada

Good time

This is my first scuba diving. I am a person easily nervous. When I told a guide my situation, he is very nice to carry me for the whole time. All the guides are very nice and reliable to take care me when they found I have problems

Recommended for: Crew, food

10 Exceptional
Isabelle K
Germany

Best trip ever!!!! Highly recommended

I met wonderful people and saw wonderful animals. It was great how many reef sharks were around and how many dives we could do. The food was spectacular and the crew is a dream! Cannot complain in the slightest and would always come back

Recommended for: Great crew, amazing food, a lot of great animals to see

9.6 Exceptional
Guido P
New Zealand

Great diving experience

The night dive was definitely the greatest highlight but the overall experience was amazing. Waking up and watching the sunset in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef was another highlight. Great value for the money spent

Recommended for: Diving, professionalty of the crew, cosmopolitan environment

9.2 Superb
Preston S
Canada

It was the best diving experience of my life !

The staff were friendly and very helpful the locations of the dive sites and knowledge of them was a key part of the experience!

Recommended for: The staff The Dive gear the size of the cabins

8.4 Very good
Reiko B
Japan

Fantastic coral reefs, super friendly crew

The wildlife - sharks, sea turtles, squid, and so many, many fish everywhere.

Recommended for: Dive sites, crew support, food

7.2 Good
Pavithra A
Sri Lanka

Poor after service from the operator

After service is pretty bad. Operator isn’t responding to a refund request I made for guide fee after one of the dives was cancelled. Other than that, had a great diving experience although the night dive was cancelled due to bad weather. Crew was exceptionally good, helpful in every way!

Recommended for: Crew Service, Diving experience

8.8 Fabulous
Aitana S
Germany

The three days went past too quickly; I could have easily stayed there much much longer.

All the diving trips where highlights of my trip;P Sharks at Night and fluoro diving (which sadly costs 50$ extra) where new experiences I’ll never forget

Recommended for: The divespots where amazing, the food was really good and more than enough. The cabins where cosy and with great view

6.0 Review score
Jaryd W
South Africa

Good

Night dive

Recommended for: Interaciton with fellow guests, crew service, diving the reef

9.6 Exceptional
YU L
China

Amazing

shark in the night

Recommended for: diving sites, service, fun activities

8.8 Fabulous
Philip D
Germany

Pleasant Stay, Nice People, Great Dives

Great Diving, with really friendly staff members, good times, clean boat and lovely dive sites. 3 Nights are perfect so experience the reefs.

Recommended for: Sharks, Sharks and more Sharks

9.6 Exceptional
Daniel J
Germany

Great Diving, great experience! Thank you!

Our Highlight was the Night dive!

Recommended for: Nice and helpful team, beautiful underwater life!

9.2 Superb
Seong Jo S
South Korea

The easy and perfect way to GBR

Encounters with various tropical fish species. In particular, I could feel the friendliness of the Napoleon fish and could easily see the sea turtle eating. There were also damaged coral reefs, but I liked the brilliance of many fish swimming in a clean underwater environment.

Recommended for: Friendly staff, Underwater environment, Clean equipment

9.6 Exceptional
Bronte H
Australia

Amazing value for money and extremely enjoyable trip (5 days 4 nights)

I loved the jam-packed nature of the trip and the fact we got to do 4 dives a day, including 1 night dive. The amount of marine life we saw was incredible, and the variety of dive sites was really great. The staff were really professional and organised whilst also being awesome, friendly people to sit and hang out with each evening. Initially I was surprised that the guides were not included in the price (maybe it would be good to make this very clear on the website) but this ended up helping us become more confident in our diving and guide ourselves on some dives which was a great experience. One area of improvement could be the food - the breakfast, lunch and dessert were good, but I felt after each dinner I was still hungry, so a larger dinner or more snacks throughout the day would be great. Being a vegetarian as well it would be great to have more protein included in the vegetarian options. Otherwise I couldn't fault this trip - would definitely plan another trip with these guys!

Recommended for: The staff were amazing, really great value for money, really good daily schedule

10 Exceptional
Wai Ling K
Hong Kong

Great experience!

Easy to spot sharks and turtles.

Recommended for: Private bath room, food, diving gear and service.

Ocean Quest Liveaboard, Australia

Choose your departure date

2023

2024

2025

Boat features

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Diving

Gear Rental

Accommodation

Double Cabin with En-suite

Twin Cabin with En-Suite

Boat Specifications

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Ocean Quest Reviews

Great Crew!

Great diving, but bad food and management.

Awesome Experience!!

great time diving the GBR

I will be back!

Perfect in all ways

Fantastic experience

17 Dives in 4 Days!

Very good dive /snorkel trip

Can't believe the value for money

Great Barrier Reef on a budget (and it shows)

Exceeded Expectations

So good I immediately booked a follow-up trip!

Fantastic. This was one of our most memorable trips in a long time.

I loved this trip!

Awesome

EPIC EXPERIENCE!

Amazing!

The Crew and the Scenery were Amazing

Excellent way to immerse oneself in the Great Barrier Reef

Experienced narvana

All around amazing

Diving was absolutely fantastic although I felt the crew was not as friendly as previous liveaboards I've been on and was quite crowded underwater with that many divers.

What an incredible experience!

safety was the number one concern which made me feel very comfortable

Best Dive trip yet!

You get what you paid for!

Amazing Dive Sites and Crew

Ocean Quest is the Best

Loved diving in the GBR

Ocean Quest

Absolutely incredible with amazing staff

Awesome trip to GBR

Great trip, would go it again in a heartbeat.

An absolutely fantastic week spent out on the Great Barrier Reef.

Amazing experience

Best holiday ever, my dream come true

Great experience

Great experience and a must do

Wonderful and nice trip!

Once-in-a-lifetime experience

Overall, an amazing diving experience

Fantastic Stay

The diving was fantastic and of a very high standard in regards to equipment and crew.

All the staff were brilliant, super friendly and I always felt very safe

Great diving with friendly people

Amazing trip

Amazing

Fabulous trip! Wish I stayed longer!

Great live aboard experience!

an amazing experience

Very nice experience!

Good experience. Staff are very helpful and supportive ifyou forget things.

Awesome

Just what I needed to start 2021!

Scuba fun

The only way to dive the GBR

Brilliant!

This trip has made me want to do more liveaboards

Amazing!!

Best drive trip ever

Exceeded my expectations.

Well organized and Friendly - professional staff

Thoroughly and highly recommend this trip

Professional and Amazing Trip