Rum Runner Liveaboard, Australia
8.5 Fabulous - Family Cabins
- Aircon Cabins
- Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
“The highlights were for sure the horseshoe dive, the night dive, and the sunset on the water.”
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, Visas and Fees, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package.
Required Extras: Environment Tax (40 AUD per trip).
Optional Extras: Gratuities, Soft drinks (2 AUD per item), Rental Gear (140 AUD per trip), Scuba Diving Courses (220 AUD), 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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- 8.5 Fabulous
- Vessel 7.0
- Crew 8.6
- Food 8.9
- Diving 8.7
- Value 9.0
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- 8.4 Very good
- Marcelo A
-
Australia
Definitely coming back
Great group of people, small number of divers meant was not crowded underwater. Crew was friendly, experienced and knowledgeable. Night dive was definitely the highlight.
- Recommended for
- Dive sites. People on board. Crew.
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- 10 Exceptional
- Nellie P
-
Finland
Amazing diving trip!
The night dive was a totally new experience for me, and it was amazing! And the diving spots were a dream come true
- Recommended for
- The crew, all of the dives, the reefs
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- 8.4 Very good
- eleanor F
-
United States
Great diving at a low cost
Rum Runner is exactly what it says it is: A very affordable live aboard. No frills here. Good solid food and great diving. Great for someone on a budget who loves to dive.
- Recommended for
- small number of divers. great dive sites. affordable.
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Laurence G
-
Belgium
A magical moment out of time
Having not dived for 9 years, the launch was more complicated than expected but thanks to the kindness of the instructors, I returned gently and was able to appreciate what I had come for: the corals!The food cooked on board was good and fresh: vegetables, watermelon! In the evening, a good friendly atmosphere thanks to Bear and PJ.
- Recommended for
- The kindness and benevolence of the crew. Security. The place.
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- 8.4 Very good
- Ananda S
- United States
A fun adventure!
Music onboard, hot shower after the dive, the rocky boat sleeping experience, the gorgeous fish, coral, and caverns on the reef.
- Recommended for
- 1) Captain PJ with his reef talk and guitar playing, 2) Kate and her excellent breifings, friendliness, and professionalism, and 3) the amazing underwater beauty.
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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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- 8.0 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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- 10 Exceptional
- Will R
- United Kingdom
Amazingly friendly trip, absolute highlight of my trip to Australia
Sucba diving through "The Laybrinth" or "Five ways" coral reefs, seeing the amazing fish and turtles and corals, hilarious and interesting stories from the crew members
- Recommended for
- Friendly staff, well planned, stunning reefs
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Taylor Q
- United States
The most authentic way to see the Great Barrier Reef
I booked this trip looking for a more authentic and communal experience on the Great Barrier Reef and the Rum Runner exceeded my expectations, would 100% recommend to anyone. Because of the size, the passengers and crew quickly became like family. You get to go to a few different dive spots without seeing crowds of other boats or tourists, and seeing the stars at night is so worth the overnight experience. The crew is absolutely fantastic - they make you feel right at home with added benefits of full cooked meals, education and entertainment. They even made each dive feel catered to your skillset. Keep in mind you probably won't sleep very much since the bunks aren't air conditioned (they are comfortable though) and the rules are 3 second showers so be prepared to be a little salty and sweaty, all part of the experience though! Perfect mix of snorkeling and diving which is great for any skill level, and solo or group travelers. This will be one of my favorite experiences in Australia.
- Recommended for
- Amazing crew, opportunity to bond with other passengers, secluded days on the reef!
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- 9.6 Exceptional
- Ben S
- Australia
An experience I won't soon forget
We saw multiple sharks, rays and turtles. Despite not seeing much sealife during the night dive it was a great experience. The evening talk on the fish we will find on the reef was both entertaining and interesting
- Recommended for
- The locations of the dives were perfect and offered a wide variety of sealife. The crew was friendly, funny and helpful in answering any questions I had. The boat was well equipped for it's size and I think the small number of people helped the trip feel more unique.
