Rum Runner Liveaboard, Australia
8.4 Very good - Family Cabins
- Aircon Cabins
- Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
“Nice combination of showing where the best dive spots are while still allowing you to explore at your own pace. ”
Highlights
The Rum Runner Australia is a fantastic, budget-friendly way to dive into the Great Barrier Reef. Operating dive tours in the Great Barrier Reef since 2005, the Rum Runner liveaboard is perfect for the adventurous diver wanting to explore Australia's Barrier Reef and beyond.
The Rume Runner accommodates up to 16 guests in twin and 4-share single bunk-style berths. Cabins are not spacious or private - more like a multi-share hostel on water, but ideal for resting after diving or snorkeling. Common areas include an open salon, galley, and covered and open deck areas. There are also charging areas for cameras and phones, as well as separate male and female shared bathrooms with hot water showers. All meals are included; however, the boat operates a Bring Your Own Alcohol policy, with no glass allowed.
There are 2 tours available: an itinerary away from the crowds at the Outer Great Barrier Reef or an expedition to dive with sharks at the even more remote Holmes Reef. The classic 1-night tour is perfect for divers, snorkelers, or people who want to try diving in this amazing area. 6 dives are available, including a night dive, meaning you will get the most out of your 2 days on the Great Barrier Reef. The Coral Sea shark-diving trip is a must for the more adventurous diver. Holmes Reef lies 90 miles outside the Great Barrier Reef, and due to its isolation, is home to abundant shark populations, large pelagic fish life, and incredible visibility - up to 50m.
Note: Guided dives are not included or available. A Full Dive Briefing and refresher are given during the journey out, and we are ready to dive by the time we arrive at our first Site. Divers are paired in buddy pairs and can follow the Dive Leader to allow more time to relax and focus on the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, those with more experience can buddy dive off without a guide. All subsequent dives are buddy diving only. These tours cater very well for those straight off their "open water" course, those who have not dived for a while, and also to divers with more experience.
Book your liveaboard adventure aboard the Rum Runner today!.
Choose your departure date
Included: VAT, National Park Fees, Port Fees, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package.
Required Extras: Environment Tax (AUD40 / trip).
Optional Extras: Gratuities, Soft drinks (AUD2 / item), Rental Gear (AUD140 / trip), Scuba Diving Courses (AUD220), Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels.
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.
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Drawings & Vessel Layouts
Cabin Types
Rum Runner Reviews
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- 8.4 Very good
- Vessel 7.1
- Crew 8.5
- Food 8.8
- Diving 8.6
- Value 9.1
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- 10 Exceptional
- Crystal C
-
Australia
Lovely trip
Great experience, very glad that I decided to book with Rum Runner, Richard was very knowledgable about the reef and the boat is lovely. Food was great on board.
- Recommended for
- Great dive sites. Few divers in the water. Knowledgable skipper.
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- 6.4 Review score
- Simone G
-
Netherlands
Good for a low budget
Overall the trip was nice and worth it for the money. Nice diving sites, good equipment provided. It's a small boat so a small group which is great. However, if you're looking for comfort book somewhere else. I'm fine with basic accommodations but, when it had been grey, windy and raining the whole day, I just couldn't get warm in-between dives, and there was no comfortable place to warm up on the boat. Plus, the crew is very no nonsense which can be fun, but they are not particularly friendly: when 3 of us were throwing up on the side of the boat, an offer of a tissue or some water would have been appreciated. The food is good if you eat meat, if you don't you just get the sides of whatever the other people get (there's no point in letting them know your diet restrictions, you get what you get). Dives are not guided! But you're never too far from the boat.
- Recommended for
- Small group. Great diving sites. Out on the reef woth almost no other boats or divers.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Nadine G
-
Germany
Recommendation!!!
Top price-performance ratio! At Rum Runners you get great dive sites, breathtaking dives on the Great Barrier Reef, very good fresh food, fun and just a great time! The comfort on the boat is sufficient for 2D1N - I would love to come back!
- Recommended for
- Cheerful friendly crew. Great dive sites + information. Good food.
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- 10 Exceptional
- Jarno L
-
Finland
Highly recommended
This was a wonderful experience. Everything was well organised, the crew knew what they were doing and were super friendly to boot. Nice combination of showing where the best dive spots are while still allowing you to explore at your own pace. Highly recommended.
- Recommended for
- Great atmosphere, friendly and professional crew, top-notch dive spots
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Jordyn I
-
United States
Great bang for your buck for a no frills liveaboard. Would absolutely book with Rum Runner again!
As stated in a lot of reviews, this is a fantastic no frills liveaboard if that's what you're looking for. We had a great experience and the crew was kind and knowledgeable, and made for a positive environment on the boat. We didn't have a lot of time so this 2D/1N liveaboard was perfect for what we were looking for to get some dives in on this trip.
- Recommended for
- Crew. Dive sites. Food.
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- 8.0 Very good
- Javier C
-
United Kingdom
Great Diving Experience
We had a fantastic experience diving in Cairns on the Rum Runner.
- Recommended for
- Freedom. Fantastic places to dive. Friendly staff.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Amber H
- United States
Wonderful intimate experience with the GBR
Absolutely the best bang for your buck. This is my second trip to the GBR and I would prefer this experience over the more fancy boats anytime. You loose the Disneyland factor and gain an authentic experience with real people, great instructors and a great adventure. At the end of the day it’s about the diving, and I can’t tell you it was absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to come back and dive with the sharks. I’ll be back!
- Recommended for
- The dive sites, the instructors and the small groups
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- 7.6 Good
- Morgan W
- United States
The trip was fun with lots or amazing memories
The experience was well organized and tons of fun. The highlights were for sure the horseshoe dive, the night dive, and the sunset on the water.
- Recommended for
- Small amount of people. Great Barrier Reef. Seeing the stars at night.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Swen-Joerg W
- Germany
Great Diving with Friends and "Family"
Everything: an amazing and impressing trip with the same kind of people on the boat. Of Course I can write about the professional shark feeding at the end which was very impressiv. But that would not just to restrict the other things on that trip.....the profession and so realy friendly crew, the charme of an old sailingboat an even all the experiences of the dives before. Who is loving a kind of adventur is here perfect picked up.
- Recommended for
- The Ocean; Stars while sleeping on the top of the boat; Underwater landscape full with corals and fishes
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- 9.2 Superb
- Jess G
- Australia
Excellent Experience
We had excellent weather the whole trip and as a result epic visibility. I didn’t dive, I snorkelled, and my experience was the dive crew preferred the company of divers that at times felt like the snorkelers weren’t given direction or guidance. Otherwise the whole experience was fabulous. The menu was very complimentary to lots of time in the water. The skipper was really friendly and knowledgeable. The dive sites were incredibly beautiful and vibrant - exactly how I had hope to experience The Great Barrier Reef. Highly recommend.
- Recommended for
- Excellent weather - friendly skipper - authentic experience
