“The trip was amazing from start to finish. ”
Highlights
The OceanQuest Liveaboard is a 36m Catamaran offering year-round diving trips to Australia's magnificent Outer Great Barrier Reef. The OceanQuest liveaboard is permanently moored at the Outer Reef, and guests are transferred by fast boat from Cairns.
The OceanQuest liveaboard was refurbished in 2017 and has 22 cabins, each with an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and a TV. Each cabin has either two single beds or two single bunk beds. Split over 3 decks, the OceanQuest liveaboard offers plenty of space for relaxing after a full day of diving. There is a large air-conditioned lounge, a well-stocked bar area with an entertainment system, and a spacious dining room. The sun decks are perfect for sunbathing between dives in the warm Australian sun. The OceanQuest team provides 3 meals per day, served buffet style in the large dining area.
There is something for everyone with the OceanQuest liveaboard, with options for certified divers, introductory divers, and snorkelers. Guests can explore numerous outer Great Barrier Reef dive sites with OceanQuest and enjoy up to four dives a day; 3 daytime and 1 nighttime dive. Non-diving guests are also welcome aboard.
Please be aware that the dives are self-guided; however, for solo travelers, the crew will be more than happy to assist in pairing you with a dive buddy or a dive group. Rest assured, there is always a dedicated supervisor on board and a vigilant lookout on the deck during in-water activities. If you wish to opt for a guided dive experience, you can reserve this service on the day and overnight trips, priced at 20 AUD per person per dive. In cases where your certification or a medical condition necessitates supervised diving, it is mandatory to partake in dives accompanied by a guide.
OceanQuest liveaboard divers can experience the Great Barrier Reef at night in a new way with Fluoro Night Diving. This incredible dive uses specialist torches and mask filters to bring the reef to life in an array of fluorescent colors (extra charge applies). Nightly Shark In The Dark dives offer the chance to jump in and see the Great Barrier Reef sharks at night. Whale fans can join an OceanQuest liveaboard ‘Meet The Minke’ whale diving safari (available in June and July).
Book your Outer Great Barrier Reef Dive adventure today.
Choose your departure date
Included: VAT, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Diving Package, Rental Gear.
Required Extras: Port Fees (20 AUD per day).
Optional Extras: Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Snacks, Nitrox, Nitrox Course (325 AUD per activity), Private Dive Guide (750 AUD per activity), Scuba Diving Courses (335 AUD per activity).
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.
Pay by bank transfer or online with
Cabin Types
Ocean Quest Reviews
- 9.0 Superb
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Vessel
8.7
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Crew
8.4
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Food
9.5
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Diving
9.1
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Value
9.1
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- 8.0 Very good
- Catherine D
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United States
Loved the crew, dives, and divers I met. Did not care for the facilities of the boat nor the dive gear
This was my first liveaboard so I didn’t know what to expect other than the dive itinerary. We were picked up from our hotel and then shuttled to the docks onto a boat called Sea Quest. We did 2 dives from this boat. Then we were picked up by ocean quest. We were given our room assignments which I believe I paid for a queen or full but instead got a 2 twin bed room. The bathroom was pretty minimal and not much to speak of. We had 2 towels, one for each of us, and 1 floor towel. We all walked barefoot which I personally was not a fan of but my husband loved that. It gets stinky very fast because most of us are walking around with sea water dripping even though we tried to towel off before going inside the cabins. The food was ok, one night we had rice with curry and the rice was not cooked well at all, it was crunchy but the chef made lots of good desserts. We had fruit, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and 3 types of milks available at anytime which was nice. If you wanted soda you had to go up to the bar and buy it. We also did not have any WiFi on the boat which sucked because it made it hard to edit our dive media. Loved having 4 dives a day, never dove deeper than 19 meters. I did have a good time though because of the people and crew who made it enjoyable. I wish I brought my own gear because it is standard scuba pro vest inflate gear with no integrated weights which means weight belt.
- Recommended for
- The dive sites. The whole crew. The people.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Steven V
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United States
Great liveaboard for those newer to diving at a great price point. Would definitely book again!
Great diving and wonderful crew. Would definitely book again. Well organized and efficient diving operations. Cabin bathrooms are a bit dated and could use a refresh. Better diving gear storage on the dive deck for those who have their own gear. Beer options could improve, 2 beers/2 ciders available. But not a big deal because it's a dive boat, not a party boat. Overall, met expectations and beyond for the price point.
- Recommended for
- Great diving. Amazing crew/staff. Well organized and safe dive operations.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Christopher M
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United States
Will remember this trip for the rest of my life!
Overall the trip was great. The boat was nice and clean, the staff was friendly and the food was good given it was on a liveaboard boat. The dive sites were beautiful and got to see a large variety of different organisms.
- Recommended for
- The crew was super friendly and fun!. The whole experience was not very expensive.. Seeing the variety of reef sites with the night dives as well..
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Kenneth G
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United States
Well orchestrated, friendly staff, very enjoyable
We had a great time diving with people from around the world. Dives were great! Loved the beautiful coral and sea creatures we were able to see.
- Recommended for
- Very helpful getting ready for dives and after dives.. Meeting people, staff and other passengers. Great dives!.
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- 10 Exceptional
- Janice O
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United States
Awesome experience!
It was a great trip. Loved the experience and will recommend it.
- Recommended for
- Great staff. Lots of dives. Good food.
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- 9.6 Exceptional
- Andrew P
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United States
Great time
Had a great time on the Ocean Quest. With dives nearly every hour, impossible to be bored. Everyone on the crew was friendly and added positively to the experience. All the guides were knowledgeable about the dive spots made each one worth it. Really good value .
- Recommended for
- Dives. Guides and Crew. Organization.
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- 9.6 Exceptional
- James P
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United States
Diving with comedians! So fun!
We were late to show up but the crew was understanding and very helpful. Everyone learned our names and addressed us by name. The crew was fun and we cant wait to return!
- Recommended for
- The crew was funny and friendly!. Diving was Awesome !. Boat was stable, clean and comfortable.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Trenton H
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United States
Best experience possible, considering the weather
We had bad luck with weather and visibility but our 2 night snorkel trip was enjoyable regardless! Guides were willing to take us snorkeling and troubleshoot equipment/provide support. They encouraged my spouse to consider diving since he is certified. Cabins were comfortable, and en-suite bathrooms make a big difference for me. Crew took my asthma very seriously and helped me stay safe while enjoying the reef.
- Recommended for
- Great snorkel guides. Friendly staff and fellow guests. Plenty of opportunities to get In the water.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Luis D
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United States
Amazing
This is my second time on board Ocean quest and surpassed the already positive experience. Staff is beyond competent. Everyone on board wants to make you feel comfortable. Great experience overall
- Recommended for
- Incredible staff. Positive vibe onboard. Amazing dive sites.
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Ralph B
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United States
Over the top diving on the Great Barrier Reef
Of coarse, the diving was amazing. I've been diving for 50 years and found the amount of fish, the diversity of the fish and beautiful soft and hard corral beyond what I've seen in other parts of the world. All the staff and dive masters were very familiar with the dive spots and were happy to share their knowledge of the areas and pointed out things we wouldn't have noticed. Simon from Austria was exceptional in his knowledge and enthusiasm of guiding each dive. The equipment provided was first rate and the staff was always helping when we needed help.
- Recommended for
- Diving locations were beyond my already high expectations. Staff was knowledgeable, friendly and cared about safety. The passengers were from all over the world and easy to get friendly with.
