Ocean Quest Liveaboard, Australia

Name: 6D/5N Ocean Quest (Cairns - Cairns)
Start: 2026-08-03
End: 2026-08-08
Location: Australia

8.9 Fabulous

Nitrox available
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 221 / day Check dates

“Amazing experience with an amazing crew. ”
Pascal J, Canada

Highlights

Fluoro Night Diving to experience fluorescent colors
Nightly "Shark In The Dark" dives

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 4 dives a day: 3 daytime and 1 nighttime. Non-diving guests are also welcome aboard.

Please be aware that the dives are self-guided; however, for solo travelers, the crew will be happy to assist with pairing you with a dive buddy or 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.

Book your Outer Great Barrier Reef Dive adventure today.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

14 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

FULL

14 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

14 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

14 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

14 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

15 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

FULL

15 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

15 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

15 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

15 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

16 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

FULL

16 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

16 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

16 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

16 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

17 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin only 1 space left

17 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

17 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

17 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

17 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

18 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

FULL

18 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

18 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

18 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

18 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

19 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

FULL

19 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

19 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

19 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

19 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

20 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin available

20 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

20 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

20 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

20 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

21 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

FULL

21 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

21 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

21 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

21 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

22 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin available

22 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 1 space left

22 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

22 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

22 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

23 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

23 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

23 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

23 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

23 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

24 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

FULL

24 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

FULL

24 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

24 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

24 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

25 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin available

25 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin available

25 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

Select Cabin only 1 space left

25 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

Select Cabin only 1 space left

25 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

Select Cabin only 1 space left

26 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin available

26 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 1 space left

26 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

Select Cabin only 1 space left

26 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

Select Cabin only 1 space left

26 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

Select Cabin only 1 space left

27 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin only 1 space left

27 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 1 space left

27 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

Select Cabin only 1 space left

27 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

Select Cabin only 1 space left

27 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

Select Cabin only 1 space left

28 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin available

28 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

28 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

28 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

28 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

29 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin available

29 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin available

29 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

29 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

29 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

30 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin available

30 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

30 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

30 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

30 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

31 Jul

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

31 Jul

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

31 Jul

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

31 Jul

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

31 Jul

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

01 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

01 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

01 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

01 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

01 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

02 Aug

2 Days / 1 Night

$ 581

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

02 Aug

3 Days / 2 Nights

$ 807

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

02 Aug

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,033

FULL

02 Aug

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 1,259

FULL

02 Aug

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 1,485

FULL

Included: VAT, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Diving Package, Rental Gear.

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (20 AUD per day), Port Fees (20 AUD per day).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Snacks, Nitrox (10 AUD), 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

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Seaview Cabins
Indoor Saloon
TV in cabins
Daily housekeeping

Food & Drinks

Vegetarian Options
Beer available
Buffet style
Western 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

Nitrox available
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

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 1988

Year renovated: 2013

Length: 36 metres

Beam: 13 metres

Cruising speed: 9 knots

Max guests: 44

Number of cabins: 9

Number of bathrooms: 23

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
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light
Engine room CCTV
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Ocean Quest Reviews

8.9 Fabulous

Vessel

8.7
Crew

8.4
Food

9.5
Diving

9.1
Value

9.0

8.4 Very good
Adi T
Israel

Good time on the Ocean Quest
Very professional operation. Safety oriented. Good overall diving equipment. Great friendly staff.
Recommended for
The staff was nice and attaintive. The ship is well maintained. Loved sitting up at the sun deck between dives.
22 Jun, 2026

10 Exceptional
Rainer H
Austria

3 nights and 4 great days under and above water! :)
Even after almost 30 years of diving in Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, I ended up in Australia with my son. We deliberately chose the Ocean Quest and not any other dive vessel due to its good recessions.We always dived with guides and especially William and Sam we can highly recommend!In addition to a real interest in the underwater flora and fauna, both always had a watchful eye on their group with whom they were in the water. Both during descent and when surfacing and especially in the course of the dive. Not only did I notice this, but also the other divers who dived with us. Thank you very much for the great time that the Qcean Quest Team made possible for us!
Recommended for
Instructors specifically William and Sam!!. Team on the dive platform - very professional!. Team on board!.
12 May, 2026

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Catherine S
New Zealand

Come alive & thrive on a barrier reef dive!
This trip was outstanding and a dream come true. We did this trip 24yrs ago but this time surpassed all expectations. Highlights were the sharks in the dark dive. Special shout out to Ari, Sol, Tristan, Kiara & Liam who went above and beyond to get to know us and make our experience extra special.
Recommended for
Staff. Dives. Organization.
05 Jun, 2026

8.0 Very good
Lawrie A
United Kingdom

Highly recommend!
The team was great! Took out a Scuba diving guide with me every dive. Highly recommend! Had a very enjoyable experience overall!
Recommended for
Scuba Diving. Night Dive. Very well Organised.
06 May, 2026

10 Exceptional
Yan Chi L
Hong Kong

Best liveaboard experience
It’s one of my best diving experiences with super friendly and professional staffs on board. The accommodation and food are fantastic.
Recommended for
Friendly and helpful staffs. Professional dive guides. Delicious food.
10 Dec, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Jennifer G
United States

Worth the adventure
Great experience overall. We enjoyed all our dives and the crew. We had a bit of a weather situation, and the crew did a great job of navigating how to meet the need of all guests and still keep everyone safe. Great time overall and highly recommend.
Recommended for
The staff's ability to read guests. Safety. Spacious rooms.
10 Jan, 2026

10 Exceptional
Kayla M
United States

Once in a lifetime experience
We really enjoyed it, wish we had stayed even longer. Lots of dive options with availability to snorkel instead
Recommended for
It was absolutely wonderful! Staff were very nice, cameras for rent, beautiful reefs
11 Mar, 2024

10 Exceptional
Delphine C
New Caledonia

A wonderful experience
A fabulous cruise on board with a caring staff and optimal diving conditions (choice of sites, dive guide and safety). It is with pleasure that I will come back to the ocean quest.
Recommended for
Reception. Availability. Number of dives.
20 Jan, 2025

Translated from French

10 Exceptional
Michael M
United States

Ocean Quest
Snorkeling, a terrific crew made this a great vacation experience, and just a rewarding vacation viewing the Great Barrier Reef with the Ocean Quest team
Recommended for
Great Barrier Reef, Awesome Staff/Crew, Outstanding experience
26 Jan, 2023

10 Exceptional
Janice O
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.
31 May, 2025

561 reviews

8.9 Fabulous
561 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

8.8 Fabulous
Jason W
United States

Great diving trip
Very good experienced for a family trip, May visit again
Recommended for
Crews are experienced. Feel safe when diving. Boas Ride, food service all good.
24 Nov, 2025

10 Exceptional
Michael C
United States

Fantastic trip!
Night diving,Seeing multiple species of underwater organisms, seeing the reef at various sites. Overall a fantastic live aboard, would return in a heartbeat. #bringbackthehashbrowns #bringbackthehotchocolate #bringbackthemusic
Recommended for
Justin the cook was fantastic, the dives were fantastic, everything was well organized which was great.
02 Nov, 2019

10 Exceptional
Ingunn R
United States

Wonderful Experience with Ocean Quest on GBR
Liveaboard provides a much more relaxed and enjoyable dive experience than day trip boats - well worth the extra cost. We got to experience the GBR with great guides and then share our experiences with the other guests over a meal or a beer in the bar. The diversity at GBR is just awesome and getting to experience sea turtles, cuttlefish, sharks, unicorn fish and all the other colorful and unique species we encountered.
Recommended for
Warm showers when you wanted/needed, a bed to rest on .. and the crew
21 Aug, 2019

9.2 Superb
Mark G
United States

3 wonderful days on the great barrier reef liveaboard
Excellent snorkeling on the reef Staff was professional and helpful when we had questions or needs Excellent communications about activities, timing
Recommended for
Entire operation well run by extremely helpful staff. Snorkel guides were very helpful, led us out to a wonderful variety of reefs. Cabins were comfortable, and food was good and plentiful.
17 Feb, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
Michal K
Poland

Lovely trip
Lovely Minke Whales expedition. Can recommend
Recommended for
Crew !. Good diving. Other passengers.
16 Jun, 2025

10 Exceptional
Jake D
United States

So much fun!
It was great! Very organized and safe practices, great staff and guides, very nice boat. Highly recommend
Recommended for
Staff, boat, dives
10 Feb, 2024

10 Exceptional
Dakyung J
South Korea

Professional, Safe, and Well Organized
Overall, this was a well-organized and professionally run liveaboard. The crew offered a flexible diving setup, allowing divers to choose buddy diving while maintaining clear procedures and strong safety management. Although most dives were done as buddy dives by our preference, the operation was smooth and well controlled. Briefings were clear, entries and exits were well managed, and surface support was consistently attentive. The guided night dive was a highlight of the trip. Having a guide for our first night dive made the experience feel safe, calm, and truly memorable. From diving operations to life onboard, everything felt well organized and thoughtfully managed. I would recommend this liveaboard to divers who value flexibility, good safety management, and a supportive, professional crew.
Recommended for
Professional and safety-focused crew. Well-managed buddy diving system. Comfortable onboard environment.
02 Jan, 2026

10 Exceptional
jonathan O
United States

Amazing experience
The guides were super helpful and all of the staff were very accommodating and assisted us at every turn. Would recommend them to anyone.
Recommended for
Diving, food, rooms.
24 Jun, 2023

10 Exceptional
Blake S
Australia

The only way to dive the GBR
Our trip was saw the Ocean Quest with only 5 guests on board. The crew was fantastic with spending time with us and having great chats about the reef and any dicing questions we had. My wife and I are both advanced open water certified and were able to buddy dive which we haven't been able to do with other companies. The highlight was the night dive with many many reef sharks swimming around us, a true bucket list experience. The food is homely, delicious and plentiful so don't worry about going hungry. 10/10 And will recommend to all
Recommended for
Diving effcienfy, knowledge of reef by staff, the food
19 Feb, 2021

9.6 Exceptional
Margaux A
United States

Wonderful time aboard the OceanQuest!
I had such a lovely experience. The dive guides were great, along with the rest of the crew. Getting to do 12 dives in 3 days was also a great deal! The flouro dive was really unique and spectacular as well, don't miss it! Food was good too, with vegetarian options :)
Recommended for
Beautiful dive sites, friendly and helpful crew, great food
12 Sep, 2018

9.2 Superb
Robin O
Netherlands

Amazing experience, lovely food en best crew ever!
I loved the nightdives
Recommended for
I loved the amazing crew, the fresh food they made, and the 4 dives a day.
06 May, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Lucy Tahlia P
Australia

Great Dive Sights & oppotunity to upskill
Overall a fantastic experience that helped me further my dive skills. The crew have a focus on safety and lots of knowledge to share. I would recommend this as a budget friendly and upskilling experience.
Recommended for
Dive sights. Food. Experience.
20 Dec, 2025

10 Exceptional
Kenneth S
United States

Having a blast on the reef!
The friendliness and professionalism of the crew truly brought the liveaboard experience into the 5-star category. The diving opportunities were amazing, both in the quantity of the dives offered and the variety of dive locations visited. The accommodations in the guest quarters were clean and well maintained, and offered needed comfort after a long day of diving. Not only were the crew friendly, but the other passengers were also quite engaging and contributed to making the experience an incredible value for the money spent.
Recommended for
The crew, the diving, and the accommodations
28 Mar, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Ayu D
Indonesia

Recommended diving company in cairns
I had a pleasant stay for 4 days. All the crews looked after us from the start they picked us up, diving guides until they dropped off at our hotels. They even remember our names, that makes it personal. Excellent service! I would recommend Divers Den for sure. Good value for money too :)
Recommended for
Service, people, diving
21 Aug, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Anon
United States

Absolutely the best diving I have experienced!
Evening socializing with friendly staff. One on one dive guide and conversing about the dive afterwards. Making contacts and connecting with them after returning. Absolutely not to be missed if you want to dive!!!
Recommended for
Staff, expert equipment, fun evenings.
03 Dec, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
Allison W
Australia

Thoroughly and highly recommend this trip
Feeling well supported as a new diver.
Recommended for
Location , crew, food
08 Dec, 2021

10 Exceptional
Robert B
United States

Awesome Experience!!
Our family of five had a marvelous time. There was plenty of room to relax. Multiple opportunities to dive at multiple sites with or without guides. If you have ever considered Liveaboard diving, book with these guys, you will not regret it. They’re among the best.
Recommended for
1) Friendly crew and fellow passengers. 2)Organized and efficient 3) Multiple dive sites
13 Jan, 2020

10 Exceptional
Russell H
United States

Great 1-night liveaboard.
We had a wonderful trip despite the very windy and choppy conditions. The crew was delightful and always available to help.
Recommended for
The Crew who were fantastic and very helpful. Clarity of information and instruction.. The food!.
05 Aug, 2025

10 Exceptional
James N
United Kingdom

Dives, Equipment, Crew, Service and Location. All second to none!
A once in a lifetime opportunity to see the fantastic array of wildlife available from White Tip reef sharks all the way to Clown fish and Turtles. Fantastic.
Recommended for
Variety of dive locations. Excellent equipment. Friendly And helpful Crew.
16 Apr, 2018

9.2 Superb
Trenton H
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.
28 Feb, 2025

Ocean Quest Liveaboard, Australia

Choose your departure date

Boat features

Food & Drinks

Diving

Languages Spoken

Gear Rental

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Boat navigation and safety

Ocean Quest Reviews

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