Reef Encounter

Reef Encounter is a 35 metre long steel hull catamaran (and 13 metre wide) designed foremost with stability and safety in mind, but also for your diving pleasure and leisure fun. Permanently stationed on the Cairns Outer Barrier Reef, the Reef Encounter is reachable in a flash by the speeding Reef Experience shuttle boat or, if you just can't wait, you can request a helicopter transfer.

On-board luxuries and creature comforts abound for the capacity of 40 guests. The roomy cabins in twin and double bed configurations all have en-suite bathrooms and ocean views. The cabins, dining area, fully licensed bar, and enclosed recreational areas are all air-conditioned, yet there is a heated spa is at the ready for all guests at any time you feel like a relaxing soak. Other onboard activities include a sun deck with sun loungers, and TV and games in the lounge.

Speaking of luxuries, the Top Deck Club is something a little extra for the VIP diver. As a Top Deck Club member you will be assigned a dive or snorkel guide who will act as your personal valet in and out of the water. You will enjoy benefits such as a personal crew member for private scuba/snorkel guided tours, late check-out times, Australian Sparkling wine upon arrival, evening turndown cabin service (complete with a chocolate on your pillow), luxury 3 course evening meal served under the stars. All guests who join the Top Deck Club are assured of the best top deck cabins with splendid sea views.

All diving operations are conducted from the mothership and a hydraulic diving platform makes getting in and out of the water effortless. You will dive at some of the 5 best Outer Great Barrier Reefs. And with 5 snorkel sessions per day, Reef Encounter offers superb snorkel experiences to people of all ages and abilities too. With the daily transfer service, you have maximum flexibiity with travel dates since you can come when you want and stay for as long as you like.

One unique feature of this Cairns liveaboard is that guests can get certified onboard without the need for class and pool time. Simply complete the e-learning pre-study then finish off all the other course components onboard during your dive trip. Reef Encounter is an SSI Diamond Dive Centre which is the highest achievable level worldwide and it is Australia’s Number One SSI training centre, making it an ideal choice for novice and less-experienced divers.

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Notes: Top Deck Club: This is a VIP upgrade which guarantees you: own personal dive/snorkel guide and valet, top deck cabin, deluxe 3-course evening meal with private dining under the stars option, continental or cooked breakfast prepared to your specifications, breakfast in bed option, sunset cocktails, evening turn-down service, late check-out. It is designed for people who want to enjoy the best of the Great Barrier Reef in style.

Dive experience: Scuba divers simply need to be certified Open Water Diver level or higher and bring proof of their qualification with them to be checked by the Dive Supervisor. All divers in Queensland must submit a medical questionnaire and seek medical clearance where necessary.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, hot drinks, port and park fees, dive briefings, scuba equipment (except wetsuit, incl. dive computer), wetsuit (Top Deck Club only), private guide (Top Deck Club only), tanks (12 litre, DIN and yoke), weights, weightbelt, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Dives (Standard cabin: 1 night: US$ 56, 2 nights: US$ 81, 3 nights: US$ 105, Top Deck Club: 1 night: US$ 56, 2 nights: US$ 105, 3 nights: US$ 155), wetsuit (US$ 3 per day) payable on board, peak season surcharge (US$ 62 per person) is applicable for all travel from the 23 Dec - 1 Jan 2025. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid in advance.

Optional extras: Snacks, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, return transfers to the port from Cairns city hotels (US$ 12 per person), nitrox fills (US$ 9 per tank), guided dives (US$ 6 per dive, max. 6 divers per guide) to be paid in advance, dive insurance, underwater camera rental, prescription mask, helicopter transfer. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash AUD or Visa/Master credit card with surcharge). Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Daily sea transfers to and from Reef Encounter are provided by its sister vessel, Reef Experience, from Cairns Marlin Marina. Please be at the marina 'A-Finger' at 7:30 am on the morning of the tour to check in. Reef Experience will take you directly to Reef Encounter. Land transfers from the outer suburbs, northern beaches and Port Douglas to Marlin Marina are all available at additional cost. A helicopter transfer option is also available upon special request.
The final dive of the tour will be at 10:30 am on the last day. You will depart the reef at around 3 pm, arriving back in Cairns at 4:30 pm. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
For more information on getting to Cairns, including airlines, see our How to get there section.
Note: Guest needs to call to reconfirm their trip 48 hours prior departure. Please ask us for more details.

Non-diver rate: Displayed prices are non-diver (snorkeller) prices. Costs of diving are disclosed in the 'Prices exclude' section.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional (in Standard cabin only) - single travelers may choose to share a cabin (no guarantee of same gender sharing) or pay a 100% supplement for their own cabin. This is a compulsory additional charge on single travelers for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation in Top Deck Club.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 10 cabins and 1 extra cabin (2 persons) can join the cruise free of charge.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Please contact us to enquire for a full charter.

Cairns Barrier Reef (2 Days / 1 Nights - 5 Dives)

Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Outer Barrier Reef: Breaking Patches, Saxon, Norman, Hastings reefs, Jorgensen Patch

Day 1
You will meet at Cairns Marlin Marina and board the Reef Experience transfer vessel for the 60 minutes journey to the Outer Barrier Reef, an area where sightings often include reef sharks, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, dolphins and barracuda. A breakfast of bacon and egg rolls will be served then you will be welcomed onboard the Reef Encounter liveaboard. After a safety briefing, it's time to check-in to your cabin, unpack your clothes and prepare your scuba gear for the rest of the trip. There will be time for a snorkelling session and then lunch is served in the dining room. At 1 pm, it's time for a first dive briefing before 2 afternoon water sessions (dives or snorkel excursions) at 2 different locations. A night dive takes place at 6 pm, after another briefing. Dinner time is at 7:15 pm, followed by dessert at 8 pm. Dinner is a waiter served, plated meal of your choice. Desserts include pastries, pannacotta, meringue, and cheesecake.

Day 2
An early wake up call begins the day at 6 am, followed by the first dive of the day or snorkel. Breaking Patches and Hastings Reef are shallow patches of reef that are ideal for snorkelling. Soft corals thrive here, swaying with the currents. On numerous sandy patches along the bottom you can spot sleeping reef sharks and small rays. Scour the reef and you will find a plethora of different crab and shrimp species, nudibranchs, as well as some impressive giant clams. Norman Reef is on the continental shelf, at the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef and is easily one of Cairns’ most prized diving destinations. There are shallow coral gardens, walls and drop-offs, swim-throughs, and caves, and one of the sites even has a small wreck. The crystal clear water provides incredible visibility, for which reef sharks, bronze whalers, giant Maori wrasse, and groupers can be seen. Saxon Reef is a patch reef with smaller bommies and giant boulder corals that are home to white-tip reef sharks, diagonally banded sweetlips, barramundi cod, and dozens of wrasse, parrotfish, and butterflyfish.

Enjoy a tasty breakfast at 7:30 am of bacon, eggs, roasted vegetables, beans, fruit salad, choice of cereals, toast and a selection of jams. as the boat moves to another location for the second and final morning dive at 10:30 am. A lunch of salads and hot dishes will be served at noon. Salad options include Rocket, poached pear, ricotta, lime and chilli salted cashews with lemon and honey vinaigrette, and Papaya, lime, mint, chilli and peanuts, mains includes curry, pasta and pizza. After a final opportunity to explore the reef on snorkel, the transfer vessel will be ready for boarding at 2:45 pm for the journey back to Cairns. Wine, cheese and biscuits will be served before your arrival back at the marina in Cairns late afternoon.

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Cairns Barrier Reef (3 Days / 2 Nights - 9 Dives)

Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Outer Barrier Reef: Breaking Patches, Saxon, Norman, Hastings reefs, Jorgensen Patch

Day 1
You will meet at Cairns Marlin Marina and board the Reef Experience transfer vessel for the 60 minutes journey to the Outer Barrier Reef. A breakfast of bacon and egg rolls will be served then you will be welcomed onboard the Reef Encounter liveaboard. After a safety briefing, it's time to check-in to your cabin, unpack your clothes and prepare your scuba gear for the rest of the trip. There will be time for a snorkelling session and then lunch is served in the dining room. At 1 pm, it's time for a first dive briefing before 2 afternoon water sessions (dives or snorkel excursions) at 2 different locations. A night dive takes place at 6 pm, after another briefing. Dinner time is at 7:15 pm, followed by dessert at 8 pm. Dinner is a waiter served, plated meal of your choice. Desserts include pastries, pannacotta, meringue, and cheesecake.

Day 2
An early wake up call begins the day at 6 am, followed by the first dive of the day or snorkel. Enjoy a tasty breakfast at 7:30 am of bacon, eggs, roasted vegetables, beans, fruit salad, choice of cereals, toast and a selection of jams. as the boat moves to another location for the second morning dive at 10:30 am. A lunch of salads and hot dishes will be served at noon. Salad options include Rocket, poached pear, ricotta, lime and chilli salted cashews with lemon and honey vinaigrette, and Papaya, lime, mint, chilli and peanuts, mains includes curry, pasta and pizza. There is an early afternoon dive at 1:30 pm, before the boat changes location again for a second afternoon dive at 3:30 pm. Finally, there will be a night dive at 6 pm, followed by dinner at 7:15 pm.

The Cairns Outer Barrier Reef is an area where sightings often include reef sharks, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, dolphins and barracuda. Breaking Patches and Hastings Reef are shallow patches of reef that are ideal for snorkelling. Soft corals thrive here, swaying with the currents. On numerous sandy patches along the bottom you can spot sleeping reef sharks and small rays. Scour the reef and you will find a plethora of different crab and shrimp species, nudibranchs, as well as some impressive giant clams. Norman Reef is on the continental shelf, at the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef and is easily one of Cairns’ most prized diving destinations. There are shallow coral gardens, walls and drop-offs, swim-throughs, and caves, and one of the sites even has a small wreck. The crystal clear water provides incredible visibility, for which reef sharks, bronze whalers, giant Maori wrasse, and groupers can be seen. Saxon Reef is a patch reef with smaller bommies and giant boulder corals that are home to white-tip reef sharks, diagonally banded sweetlips, barramundi cod, and dozens of wrasse, parrotfish, and butterflyfish.

Day 3
An early wake up call begins the day, followed by the first dive of the day or snorkel. Enjoy a final breakfast as the boat moves to another location for the second and final morning dive at 10:30 am. A lunch will be served at noon. After a final opportunity to explore the reef on snorkel, the transfer vessel will be ready for boarding at 2:45 pm for the journey back to Cairns. Wine, cheese and biscuits will be served before your arrival back at the marina in Cairns late afternoon.

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Cairns Barrier Reef (4 Days / 3 Nights - 13 Dives)

Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Outer Barrier Reef: Breaking Patches, Saxon, Norman, Hastings reefs, Jorgensen Patch

Day 1
You will meet at Cairns Marlin Marina and board the Reef Experience transfer vessel for the 60 minutes journey to the Outer Barrier Reef. A breakfast of bacon and egg rolls will be served then you will be welcomed onboard the Reef Encounter liveaboard. After a safety briefing, it's time to check-in to your cabin, unpack your clothes and prepare your scuba gear for the rest of the trip. There will be time for a snorkelling session and then lunch is served in the dining room. At 1 pm, it's time for a first dive briefing before 2 afternoon water sessions (dives or snorkel excursions) at 2 different locations. A night dive takes place at 6 pm, after another briefing. Dinner time is at 7:15 pm, followed by dessert at 8 pm. Dinner is a waiter served, plated meal of your choice. Desserts include pastries, pannacotta, meringue, and cheesecake.

Days 2-3
An early wake up call begins the day at 6 am, followed by the first dive of the day or snorkel. Enjoy a tasty breakfast at 7:30 am of bacon, eggs, roasted vegetables, beans, fruit salad, choice of cereals, toast and a selection of jams. as the boat moves to another location for the second morning dive at 10:30 am. A lunch of salads and hot dishes will be served at noon. Salad options include Rocket, poached pear, ricotta, lime and chilli salted cashews with lemon and honey vinaigrette, and Papaya, lime, mint, chilli and peanuts, mains includes curry, pasta and pizza. There is an early afternoon dive at 1:30 pm, before the boat changes location again for a second afternoon dive at 3:30 pm. Finally, there will be a night dive at 6 pm, followed by dinner at 7:15 pm.

The Cairns Outer Barrier Reef is an area where sightings often include reef sharks, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, dolphins and barracuda. Breaking Patches and Hastings Reef are shallow patches of reef that are ideal for snorkelling. Soft corals thrive here, swaying with the currents. On numerous sandy patches along the bottom you can spot sleeping reef sharks and small rays. Scour the reef and you will find a plethora of different crab and shrimp species, nudibranchs, as well as some impressive giant clams. Norman Reef is on the continental shelf, at the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef and is easily one of Cairns’ most prized diving destinations. There are shallow coral gardens, walls and drop-offs, swim-throughs, and caves, and one of the sites even has a small wreck. The crystal clear water provides incredible visibility, for which reef sharks, bronze whalers, giant Maori wrasse, and groupers can be seen. Saxon Reef is a patch reef with smaller bommies and giant boulder corals that are home to white-tip reef sharks, diagonally banded sweetlips, barramundi cod, and dozens of wrasse, parrotfish, and butterflyfish.

Day 4
An early wake up call begins the day, followed by the first dive of the day or snorkel. Enjoy a final breakfast as the boat moves to another location for the second and final morning dive at 10:30 am. A lunch will be served at noon. After a final opportunity to explore the reef on snorkel, the transfer vessel will be ready for boarding at 2:45 pm for the journey back to Cairns. Wine, cheese and biscuits will be served before your arrival back at the marina in Cairns late afternoon.

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Cairns Barrier Reef (5 Days / 4 Nights - 17 Dives)

Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Outer Barrier Reef: Breaking Patches, Saxon, Norman, Hastings reefs, Jorgensen Patch

Day 1
You will meet at Cairns Marlin Marina and board the Reef Experience transfer vessel for the 60 minutes journey to the Outer Barrier Reef. A breakfast of bacon and egg rolls will be served then you will be welcomed onboard the Reef Encounter liveaboard. After a safety briefing, it's time to check-in to your cabin, unpack your clothes and prepare your scuba gear for the rest of the trip. There will be time for a snorkelling session and then lunch is served in the dining room. At 1 pm, it's time for a first dive briefing before 2 afternoon water sessions (dives or snorkel excursions) at 2 different locations. A night dive takes place at 6 pm, after another briefing. Dinner time is at 7:15 pm, followed by dessert at 8 pm. Dinner is a waiter served, plated meal of your choice. Desserts include pastries, pannacotta, meringue, and cheesecake.

Days 2-4
An early wake up call begins the day at 6 am, followed by the first dive of the day or snorkel. Enjoy a tasty breakfast at 7:30 am of bacon, eggs, roasted vegetables, beans, fruit salad, choice of cereals, toast and a selection of jams. as the boat moves to another location for the second morning dive at 10:30 am. A lunch of salads and hot dishes will be served at noon. Salad options include Rocket, poached pear, ricotta, lime and chilli salted cashews with lemon and honey vinaigrette, and Papaya, lime, mint, chilli and peanuts, mains includes curry, pasta and pizza. There is an early afternoon dive at 1:30 pm, before the boat changes location again for a second afternoon dive at 3:30 pm. Finally, there will be a night dive at 6 pm, followed by dinner at 7:15 pm.

The Cairns Outer Barrier Reef is an area where sightings often include reef sharks, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, dolphins and barracuda. Breaking Patches and Hastings Reef are shallow patches of reef that are ideal for snorkelling. Soft corals thrive here, swaying with the currents. On numerous sandy patches along the bottom you can spot sleeping reef sharks and small rays. Scour the reef and you will find a plethora of different crab and shrimp species, nudibranchs, as well as some impressive giant clams. Norman Reef is on the continental shelf, at the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef and is easily one of Cairns’ most prized diving destinations. There are shallow coral gardens, walls and drop-offs, swim-throughs, and caves, and one of the sites even has a small wreck. The crystal clear water provides incredible visibility, for which reef sharks, bronze whalers, giant Maori wrasse, and groupers can be seen. Saxon Reef is a patch reef with smaller bommies and giant boulder corals that are home to white-tip reef sharks, diagonally banded sweetlips, barramundi cod, and dozens of wrasse, parrotfish, and butterflyfish.

Day 5
An early wake up call begins the day, followed by the first dive of the day or snorkel. Enjoy a final breakfast as the boat moves to another location for the second and final morning dive at 10:30 am. A lunch will be served at noon. After a final opportunity to explore the reef on snorkel, the transfer vessel will be ready for boarding at 2:45 pm for the journey back to Cairns. Wine, cheese and biscuits will be served before your arrival back at the marina in Cairns late afternoon.

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[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

Reef Encounter has 21 cabins, one of which will be reserved for luggage storage. 14 of the cabins are on the upper deck, including 6 double bed and 8 convertible double/twin bed cabins. On the main deck there are a total of 7 cabins, including 4 convertible double/twins and 3 twins. All cabins have ensuite bathrooms and ocean views. All are the same price unless you elect to join the Top Deck Club.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 20 / 20 - unlimited hot water

The crew comprises: 35m² Dive deck with toilets and fresh water showers - 30m² Dive platform - 2 Motorised dinghies - Separate rinse tank for cameras - 100m² Air-conditioned saloon with TV, DVD and sound system - 50m² Dedicated air-con restaurant area - 40m² Shaded, outside area - 150m² Sun deck with sun chairs - Movie and book library, games and magazines - Fish ID and diving books - Water dispenser - Well-stocked bar

Dining is one of the key features of any trip on Reef Encounter. Dinner is casual sunset dining over the water, but with restaurant quality, using high-quality cuts of proteins, flavours and colours. The aim is to cater for all diets with care and to respect and value each individual's unique requests.

• The menu aboard Reef Encounter is flexible, with a mix of Thai, international, Chinese, Italian, BBQ and Australian dishes served.
• The menus are not fixed and meals are served buffet style in the dedicated air-conditioned restaurant.
• Main meals comprise pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch & dinner with snacks in between.
• Fruit, tea & coffee and drinking water are available free of charge throughout the day. Milo and toast at breakfast, biscuits during the afternoon and ice-cream as desert are also free.
• Candy bars, soft drinks and Australian beer and wine are available as additional extras on board.
• Vegetarians and most other special diets are catered for with prior notice.
• Catering starts with a quick breakfast during transit on check-in day.

Customer reviews:

"The trip was great, organization very good, crew - wonderful people. The only problem was with my course. I booked to upgrade to Open Water Diver and I needed only 2 dives with the instructor. Unfortunately they didn't understand my certification and made me do 5 dives with all the exercises that took 2 days - almost the whole trip." - Daria Chrzczonowicz, Poland, 9 January 2025 ...

"The crew were super helpful and friendly.
Dive The World helped find me an operator and time that fit my schedule." - Matthew O'Malley, United States, 21 October 2024 ...