Your Great Barrier Reef adventure will include up close and personal encounters with turtles, reef sharks, barracuda and Maori wrasse as we visit up to five different sites on one of the world's most pristine and diverse ecosystems over two days.
This company owns 20 moorings on nine different reef systems so our reef locations are some of the best in Cairns and allow us to select the ideal site for the conditions on the day. For almost 20 years this yacht has been taking passengers to pristine outer reef locations such as Flynn, Milln and Norman reefs.
After a day of exceptional diving and snorkelling, sit on the deck as the sun sets and enjoy the peacefulness of the Great Barrier Reef at night. Wake up to the sun rising over the Coral Sea and enjoy an early morning dive or snorkel in warm, tropical waters teeming with fish.
There is never a rush on this cruise and we insist you enjoy all the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef at your own pace.
With a maximum of only 12 guests on board and a dedicated crew of 3, we are the smallest liveaboard in Cairns. Our small group size allows for a close-knit atmosphere, where you'll feel like you're on a get-together with friends, rather than a crowded tour. We pride ourselves in creating an intimate and personalised experience for our guests and prioritise quality over quantity, ensuring you have an adventure of a lifetime with us.
Consistently rated one of Cairns’ best reef adventures, we invite you to join our fun and friendly crew on the holiday of a lifetime. When you travel with us, our aim is to fulfil your dreams.
Snorkelling
Enjoy all the snorkelling you want without a rigid schedule. We want you to take your time so that you can immerse yourself in this vast wonderland. For your comfort, we anchor in well protected lagoons where shallow reef flats and coral gardens are just meters from the boat. This means you can experience all the best reefs no matter how experienced you are. Got a question or need some help? Our crew will be delighted to lend a hand.
Certified Scuba Diving
Whether you are newly certified, need a refresher or very experienced, our dive sites are legendary. We travel to the best outer reefs and our staff will ensure that we show you all the fun stuff at a level you feel comfortable with. Our SCUBAPRO dive gear is state-of-the–art, plus, where we dive, there are no crowds. Flexible diving options mean you can dive with or without a guide in truly spectacular settings.
Introductory Scuba Diving
For those who want to try diving for the first time, there is no better place than the Great Barrier Reef. Introductory diving gives you a unique perspective on the underwater world. It’s an absolute “must do” and our highly skilled Instructors will have you playing with the fish in no time. It’s safe, fun, and a great way to get “up close and personal” with our resident marine life without having to complete a dive course.
The Boat
She is a spacious 60 foot steel ketch, recently refurbished and in excellent condition. She is comfortable, very safe, and carries all the latest navigational aids and sleeps 12 passengers and carries between 3 to 4 crew. A variety of cabin options are available including private cabins, single bunks, a family cabin (1 x double, 2 x single) or quad share. The vessel is in current 2B survey with a 200 mile offshore range which makes her ideal for private charters.
A large rear cockpit and forward deck (including a hammock!) provide plenty of room for passengers to spread out and relax. The boat is equipped with the latest SCUBAPRO dive gear (including computers) and a brand new Bauer diver compressor to fill tanks while at sea. All snorkelling gear and wetsuits are provided.
A rear platform allows passengers to get in and out of the water and the boat is equipped with full toilet facilities and a separate hot water shower. An additional fresh water shower is also located at the rear of the boat next to the dive platform. A large well-equipped galley ensures awesome food and plenty of it.
Itinerary
Day One
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Day Two
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Board at 0745, finger A02, Marlin Jetty, for morning tea and greet the crew.
Set sail to Cairns outermost reefs. Along the way we conduct introductory and certified dive briefings and a marine naturalist brief. There is plenty of time for passengers to mingle and relax, and get to know each other.
Arrive at Flynn Reef, our first Outer Reef location. We love this site for its fabulous visibility. Depths range from 5 to 28 meters giving divers a wide range of options depending upon experience. For the snorkeler, you’ll experience extensive coral gardens with an unbelievable amount of marine life. Expect to encounter turtles, small reef sharks and schools of pelagic fish. Our in-water activities are followed by lunch.
Boat generally moves to a second mooring on Flynn Reef. Here, large coral bommies sit alongside a reef wall making diving and snorkelling truly spectacular. Dive to 18 meters or snorkel the shallow reef flats. This is usually where one of our staff will offer a guided snorkel tour for those interested in learning more about the reef. Afternoon tea is served
Boat moves to Milne Reef, home to the Three Sisters and The Whale The Sisters is one of Cairns most famous dive sites and offers unsurpassed night and early morning dives. Depths range from 6 to 36 meters. Passengers undertaking a night dive are briefed and the diving begins. Dinner is served once activities are completed (during winter, dinner may be served prior to night diving). After dinner, passengers enjoy tea and coffee, a drink and tall tales.
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Awake to the dawn and watch the sun rise over the Coral Sea. Throw yourself into the warm tropical water and wake yourself up! This is the perfect time to snorkel or scuba dive as early morning is a fantastic time to see reef sharks, turtles and cruising pelagic fish. Breakfast is served.
Boat departs to its next location on Milne Reef (The Whale).This large coral bommie stands in 24 meters of water with excellent surrounding coral gardens, perfect for snorkelling, close to the boat. The Whale is a great dive to see basking sharks. Morning tea is served.
After mid-morning, the boat travels to Thetford Reef, its last anchorage for the day. Coral draped walls rise up from 18 meters in a circular lagoon to ensure great diving and snorkelling. This is also an excellent time to catch up on some serious sun tanning or relax, read a book or take in the stunning views. Lunch is served before departure.
Upon leaving our anchorage we hoist the sails. It is very common to have dolphins surf the bow wave and during the winter months, see humpback whales. The emphasis on the journey home is to relax and enjoy the company of new found friends. Finally, as we leave behind the wonders of the reef, passengers are treated to a spectacular view as we approach one of Australia’s most scenic harbours – mountains on the left and right rising high above a beautiful tropical city skyline.
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Please note: While we have tried to describe a typical trip, our itinerary is reflective of weather conditions at the time. As we have access to a large number of exclusive moorings, we will always seek out the most comfortable locations therefore times and areas/reefs visited may vary.
Passengers are at all times consulted and briefed on what they would like to do at each site.
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Private Charters
Create your ideal Great Barrier Reef adventure with a private charter. Perfect for groups seeking a personalised experience, our flexible charters let you customise your trip. Whether it's multiple nights on the reef, abundant diving opportunities, or an exclusive experience, our tailored private charters fulfill your desires. Discover the Reef your way.
Whether you are looking to have a romantic escape for two, a memorable family holiday, fun Christmas party or work function, we can tailor your every day.
You can hire the boat for anywhere from 2 to 5 days and for up to 12 people (this is a legal limit for the boat, and we can not accept more passengers including children). Charter includes your own dedicated crew (skipper and 2 dive instructors), food, bath towels, fuel, diving and snorkeling gear. If you are looking to complete your diving course during the trip, we are happy to help with that, but contact us for more information as it depends on the case.
Itinerary
We will work with you to define an itinerary based on your wishes and locations you'd like to visit. We have exclusive access to 25 moorings on 9 different reef systems including the famous Three Sisters, The Whale, Little Tracey, Point Break, 5-Ways and two moorings at Michaelmas Cay and Upolu Reef show casing untouched coral gardens.
Our locations are home to a diverse range of marine life and coral and are all suitable for snorkelers right through to experienced divers. We will always seek out the best reef locations based on the current weather conditions. One day trip is doable, but we do not recommend it. It takes about 3 hours each way to the reef and back, which leaves you with only a small amount of time for diving and snorkeling. Unfortunately we are not licenced as a fishing charter so we can't do any fishing from the boat.
If you are looking for a trip longer than 5 days, it is possible to do for smaller groups, up to 7 people. Our constraints are the amount of water and fuel we can bring.
