Rum Runner Liveaboard, Australia

Name: 2D/1N Great Barrier Reef Diving Trip (Cairns - Cairns)
Start: 2026-09-10
End: 2026-09-11
Location: Australia

8.5 Fabulous

Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 153 / day Check dates

“The highlights were for sure the horseshoe dive, the night dive, and the sunset on the water.”
Morgan W, United States

Highlights

Budget-friendly diving in the Great Barrier Reef
Dive with sharks at remote locations
6 dives available, including a night dive

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

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

20 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

FULL

23 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

27 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

30 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

03 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

06 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

10 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

13 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

17 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

20 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

24 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

27 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 308

Select Cabin available

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 / trip).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Soft drinks (2 AUD / item), Rental Gear (140 AUD / 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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Boat features

Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Charging stations
Outdoor Dining
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Snorkeling Equipment
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera

Food & Drinks

Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Full-board Option
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Local 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

DIN Adaptors
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

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 1984

Length: 66ft

Max guests: 16

Number of cabins: 16

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
Fishfinder
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light

Rum Runner Reviews

8.5 Fabulous

Vessel

7.0
Crew

8.6
Food

8.9
Diving

8.7
Value

9.0

8.0 Very good
Michael M
Switzerland

Beautiful walk
The sailboat is not of the first youth but the quality price is good
Recommended for
The captain and crew organize the cruise perfectly. The sailboat, which runs only on the engine, takes only ten passengers. The atmosphere with others is very appreciable. The dive sites are far from other boats.
05 May, 2026

Translated from French

9.2 Superb
robert G
United States

Small group experience w family run business
Getting to know Captain Jase, authentic,skilled,and generous. From one green man to annother
Recommended for
Hanna,Paige,George
22 Mar, 2018

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.
22 Oct, 2024

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Julie L
Switzerland

Good dives and good times
Really nice dives with some through "coral tunnel", a night dive and a really good time just chilling on the boat. Great experience!
Recommended for
Nice dives, good atmosphere, friendly crew
13 Sep, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Guillaume J
France

Had a blast
Boat choses the spot so you're the only boat on the reef in the best possible reef (relative to weather etc)
Recommended for
Bang for buck, crew friendliness, freedom to explore away from the crowds
10 Jul, 2023

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.
31 Jul, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Jade G
France

Wonderful trip
We spent a wonderful trip : 6 dives including one night dive, the crew is very friendly, the food is amazing. It was perfect !
Recommended for
Dive. Food. Crew.
15 Jul, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Freya R
United Kingdom

Amazing
The best couple of days ever! Such great value for money with 6 dives available. Crew are so friendly and fun putting on shows in the evening and accompanying us on the night dive and even a morning dive to help up find a reef shark! Thank you so much for an incredible trip we will remember forever.
Recommended for
Beautiful locations. Friendly and fun crew. Great value for money.
26 Aug, 2025

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
30 Jun, 2021

8.8 Fabulous
Eric D
United States

Felt as though we had a real diving experience without unnecessary comforts and distractions.
Improved diving skills, beautiful reefs, interesting conversations with people from around the world.
Recommended for
Professional dives, good company, escape from the internet.
09 Nov, 2018

37 reviews

8.5 Fabulous
37 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

8.0 Very good
Anna S
New Zealand

Great for diving experience
This is a no frills experience. Great if you are adaptable and want to do lots of diving in different areas of the coral barrier. The 3 members of the crew were very helpful
Recommended for
Great crew. Plenty of food.
01 Jul, 2024

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.
10 Jan, 2026

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
04 Apr, 2023

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.
23 Dec, 2025

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
13 Jan, 2020

8.0 Very good
Alice W
United Kingdom

Budget-friendly way to dive the outer reef
Rum Runner is an affordable option for diving the outer reef, and good value compared to lots of the day trips on bigger fancier boats. The boat is basic as to be expected, but has all you need. Food was good. I would not recommend going on this trip as a less-experienced diver, as you are expected to be independent and able to dive unguided in pairs based on a very short briefing.
Recommended for
Marine life. Good food. Nice group.
28 Sep, 2025

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
28 Mar, 2020

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
10 Dec, 2019

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.
24 May, 2019

8.0 Very good
ALISTAIR B
United Kingdom

Cheerful, friendly, diving with no frills.
The biggest highlight was being buzzed by a manta ray.
Recommended for
The friendly crew, the food served up on board and the assistance and advice given on board
23 Jan, 2023

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
14 Oct, 2022

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.
13 Dec, 2024

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.
14 Sep, 2024

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.
26 Oct, 2023

10 Exceptional
Yvonne N
Czech Republic

I enjoyed it very much
Perfectly selected diving spots, very good organization of dives and perfect servis on the boat
Recommended for
great diving, crew frienlinnes, good food
16 Jul, 2020

9.6 Exceptional
Laura F
Germany

Great tour group and tour guide
The tour group First time diving (we felt very safe) The Great Barrier Reef
Recommended for
Super great tour group, funny tour guides, great first dive.
23 Jan, 2023

8.8 Fabulous
Travon C
United States

First time fun
Great trip. Friendly staff. Small but comfortable boat. All the dives were very well organized. Overall organization of the trip was excellent.
Recommended for
Crew. Guides. Location.
27 May, 2025

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!
14 Jan, 2023

8.8 Fabulous
Sheridan V
Australia

Great Diving at Thetford Reef
Mystery - towering coral columns and swim throughs made this site something special
Recommended for
Diving, diving and more diving. No frills or other time wasters on this trip.
16 Jul, 2018

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.
30 Oct, 2024

Rum Runner Liveaboard, Australia

Choose your departure date

Boat features

Food & Drinks

Diving

Languages Spoken

Gear Rental

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Boat navigation and safety

Rum Runner Reviews

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