Reef Encounter: Unveiling the Ultimate Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Experience
Prepare to embark on an extraordinary adventure with Reef Encounter’s multi-day liveaboard dive trips, setting sail from Cairns. Whether you’re a snorkelling enthusiast or an avid diver, our range of options caters to every budget and itinerary. So, what makes a liveaboard trip so exceptional? It’s all about the extended moments you get to revel in the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. From awe-inspiring sunrise and sunset views to thrilling night and early morning dives, your journey promises to be unforgettable.
Reef Encounter’s Daily Departures with Ease
Convenience reigns supreme with our daily departures for all liveaboard options, made possible by our trusty day boat, Reef Experience. This vessel ensures swift and comfortable transfers between Cairns and Reef Encounter, essentially a permanent fixture on the reef. This flexibility guarantees a hassle-free itinerary, allowing you to focus on the adventure ahead.
Reef Encounter’s Splendid Deck
Reef Encounter stands tall as a spacious vessel boasting 21 cabins. These include double, twin-share, and stateroom options, accommodating up to 42 guests. Rest assured, all cabins are air-conditioned and feature private ensuite facilities, with linen provided. After your Great Barrier Reef exploration, indulge in refreshing hot showers courtesy of our onboard freshwater supply.
Amenities Beyond Compare
Our onboard amenities are designed to elevate your experience. They include:
- An air-conditioned dining saloon
- A fully licenced bar for your favourite beverages
- A lounge complete with TV, DVD, and games area
- A spacious sundeck furnished with loungers and an open-air hot tub
- A helipad for those seeking scenic reef flights
- A glass bottom boat offering on-demand tours
Boutique Floating Hotel
Your Reef Encounter adventure encompasses twin and double stateroom accommodation with ensuites, chef-prepared meals, coffee, tea, and fresh fruit throughout your stay. We provide snorkelling equipment, instruction, and a complimentary scuba lesson for snorkelers. Dive into the world of marine wonders with our glass bottom boat tours and enrich your understanding of the ecosystem through a marine biologist presentation. Reef Encounter is a locally owned and operated company that allows you to explore multiple reef sites during your live-aboard stay.
Please note that Reef Encounter charges an additional $100 peak season surcharge per booking per person for bookings made from December 23rd to January 2nd and from March 28th to April 2nd each year.
Accommodation Information
- Check-in Time: 10:00 am
- Check-Out Time: 8:00 am
- Boarding onboard Reef Experience Finger A, Marlin Jetty, Cairns Marlin Marina
Experience comfort like never before in our staterooms, where large windows frame breathtaking views of the Great Barrier Reef. Ensuite facilities, including toilets, showers, and all necessary towels and toiletries, are available. Australian power outlets are available in all staterooms for effortless device charging.
Reef Encounter Delicious Meals
Feast on an exceptional culinary journey aboard Reef Encounter—our talented onboard chef crafts all your meals, from hearty breakfasts to delectable desserts. Fresh fruit, tea, and coffee are available throughout the day. We are dedicated to accommodating all dietary requirements, so please inform us of any specific needs when booking.
Great Barrier Reef Liveaboards: Unparalleled Diving with Reef Encounter
Embark on a magnificent liveaboard diving adventure aboard Reef Encounter, our state-of-the-art catamaran, designed for the ultimate immersion into the Great Barrier Reef’s diverse ecosystems. Stationed directly over some of the most enchanting dive sites, Reef Encounter offers continuous access to the reef, allowing you to dive into the heart of this marine paradise at your leisure.
Scuba Dive into Diversity
Explore a vibrant underwater world where each dive uncovers something new. Our liveaboard locations include intricate coral gardens, dramatic reef walls, and deep underwater pinnacles. Encounter an array of marine life, from playful turtles to colourful schools of fish, and watch for majestic manta rays or minke whales during their migration.
Expert Guidance and Premier Equipment
Whether you’re a novice or an adept diver, our professional dive masters and instructors provide expert guidance to ensure your safety and enjoyment. We equip you with top-notch diving gear and offer comprehensive briefings on each dive site’s ecological and geological features.
Comprehensive Dive Courses
As a renowned diving school, Reef Encounter offers courses from beginner to advanced levels. Achieve your SSI certification while surrounded by the reef’s natural wonders, or advance your skills with our speciality courses, all conducted from the comfort of our liveaboard.
Liveaboard Convenience
Enjoy the distinct advantage of living on the water. Our liveaboard experience eliminates daily commutes, giving you more time to dive, relax, and soak in the stunning surroundings. Dive at different times throughout the day, including exhilarating night dives to witness the reef’s nocturnal life.
Relaxation and Comfort Onboard
Reef Encounter combines the thrill of diving with the comforts of a luxury stay, ensuring every moment on board is memorable and rewarding.
Snorkeling with Reef Encounter: Experience the Great Barrier Reef Up Close
Join Reef Encounter for an unforgettable snorkelling adventure in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Our luxurious liveaboard is perfectly positioned for you to dive directly into the reef’s most visually stunning underwater environments.
A Snorkeler’s Dream Come True
Snorkel amid the Great Barrier Reef’s most pristine waters, accessible directly from our catamaran’s convenient lower decks. Immerse yourself in a world where tropical fish swirl around expansive coral formations and sea turtles glide by in their natural habitat. Look out for friendly reef sharks as they patrol the depths in a display of the reef’s thriving ecosystem.
Expertly Guided Snorkelling Adventures
Our knowledgeable marine guides accompany each snorkeling trip with Reef Encounter. They’ll not only help you spot the reef’s hidden gems,. Still, they will also share insights into the ongoing conservation efforts that help maintain the reef’s natural beauty for generations. This educational component enriches your snorkelling experience, making it more than just a visual delight.
Superior Snorkeling Equipment and Assistance
Reef Encounter guests are equipped with top-of-the-line snorkelling gear to maximise comfort and safety in the water. Our attentive crew is always available to help adjust your equipment and provide snorkelling tips, ensuring even first-timers feel confident and secure.
Beyond Snorkeling
Beyond the water, Reef Encounter offers the comforts of a hotel. Relax in staterooms with sweeping ocean views, savour gourmet dishes crafted by our onboard chef, and unwind on the sundeck as you take in the breathtaking sunset. We aim to make your time in and out of the water as enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
Reef Encounter: A World of Amenities Awaits
Onboard, you’ll discover a comfortable dining saloon, a TV and lounge area, and an inviting outdoor space. Coffee connoisseurs can savour barista-made brews. Indulge in our freshwater hot tub or bask on the spacious sundeck with sun loungers. Our fully licenced bar ensures you can enjoy your favourite beverages while enjoying the reef’s beauty. With easy access to scuba diving and snorkelling platforms, your underwater adventures are moments away. And for those seeking an elevated view, our helicopter pad offers scenic flights.
Reef Encounter promises an incredible reef experience and the comfort and amenities to make your stay exceptional. Dive into the adventure and explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef like never before.
Discover more Reef Encounter packages.
Nothing compares with how amazing it is to stay on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef!
While you are on board, there will be plenty of opportunities to Snorkel and scuba dive with brightly coloured fish and coral.
At night, take in the stars from the top deck or our onboard heated hot tub.
Included in Reef Encounter Stateroom packages
- Great Barrier Reef accommodation with Reef Encounter, Cairns best Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
- A variety of spectacular outer Great Barrier Reef locations during your stay
- Snorkelling or scuba diving, depending on which you select upon booking.
- Delicious fresh meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Breakfast and lunch is served in a buffet format. Dinner is plated. Fruit is available throughout the day, along with tea and coffee.
- All dietary requirements will be catered for – please advise us of these when booking.
- Barista Coffee
- Soft Drinks
- Alcohol
- Nitrox
- Tshirts and hats
- Snacks
- Photos
- Wetsuit hire (Please note stinger suits are provided during wet season/summer from November to May)
What to bring
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Light jacket
- socks
- An extra quickdry towel
- Camera
- Travel Voucher
- Certification card and logbook for certified divers
- Cash or credit card for onboard extras
Reef Encounter is a barefoot experience.
Getting to Reef Encounter
Reef Encounter is always on the Great Barrier Reef.
By Boat (included in tariff)
Our sister vessel Reef Experience operates daily transfers meeting up with Reef Encounter.
Boarding starts at 7:30 am on Finger A on the Marlin Jetty, Cairns.
Reef Experience will bring you back to the same destination around 4:30 pm on your final day.
Helicopter Transfers (optional extra)
Reef Encounter has a helipad on board for guests looking at adding some magic to their stay. You may choose to take a spectacular scenic flight.
Cabin Share Advisory: Please note that the allocation of same-gender cabin shares in twin-share cabins cannot be guaranteed.
Important Information for Scuba Divers
This information is for all guests participating in scuba diving activities.
Australia has the strictest scuba diving rules globally and the safest scuba diving record. Therefore you must understand Queensland’s scuba diving laws. Great Barrier Reef liveaboard boats are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules, including the requirements for a dive medical, where applicable, as required by law.
Please complete our dive medical questionnaire , as some medical conditions, age and medications may prevent you from scuba diving. A certificate from your doctor stating that you are “Fit to Scuba Dive” or a Queensland dive medical may be required.
Flying after Scuba Diving
Plan your travel itinerary. On the final day of your Reef Encounter stay, your last dive will be completed by 1 pm.
Do not fly or go to altitude for at least 18 hours after scuba diving for a single no decompression scuba dive. You should not fly for 24 hours after your last scuba diving in multiple dives.
If Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning, you must wait 24 hours after your dive. We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible.
Yutoa Wang
5Wonderful experience, the crew are so nice and friendly. Perfect accommodation with ocean views and very hearty meals so much better than hotels in Cairns
Lucy
5This was the trip of a lifetime! Staying aboard a boat on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia was a dream of mine - and this exceeded all expectations. The entire trip - from the fish, reef and marine life, to the boat to the crew were all fantastic. I want to come back again!! Thank you for a terrific experience.