Contact Cairns Visitor Centre

Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion

Destination: Outer Barrier Reef, including Norman, Saxon, Michaelmas & Hastings Reefs
Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night (includes option to add additional nights

Departs: Cairns Daily 8.00am
Returns: Cairns

Book Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion Enquire About Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion

View Rates For Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion

Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
  • Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion
The Cruise

Experience the Great Barrier Reef at its best, spend a night on it in absolute comfort. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world & Reef Encounter offers an outstanding opportunity to spend one or many nights on the Great Barrier Reef. There simply is no better way to see the Great Barrier Reef than onboard Reef Encounter. 

Reef Encounter is a spacious & comfortable 35 metre catamaran designed for the utmost stability & comfort at sea. The vessel is air-conditioned throughout & features spacious decks as well as roomy dining & recreation areas to dine and relax in.

The large easy access water platform allows hassle free scuba diving and snorkelling. The vessel also features comfortable and spacious Staterooms that offer Double or Twin beds, all with private ensuite bathrooms. 

All of these features, combined with friendly and experienced dive crew makes Reef Encounter the ultimate Scuba Diving and Snorkelling adventure vessel. There is even an on-board spa!

Our overnight Liveaboard Dive and Snorkel packages all include chef prepared gourmet meals, on-board accommodation in Double or Twin Stateroom accommodation, all linen including towels and hot fresh water showers.  Not to mention included Scuba Diving for Certified Divers, the option to try Introductory Diving for Non Licenced Divers, as well as Learn to Dive Courses for those who wish to gain their Open Water Dive licence. Of course you may choose to Snorkel without diving, the Coral Gardens as well as the many jewel coloured Reef Fish and Marine Life including Sea Turtles as well as small Reef Sharks, are all visible to snorkelers and not just the domain of divers!

Depending on how long you stay aboard Reef Encounter, your time will be spent scuba diving or snorkelling at the many different reefs and locations on the Great Barrier Reef that the vessel travels to and from.

Meals consist of fresh, local produce with buffet style breakfasts & lunches served daily and table service at dinner, as well as fresh fruit being available throughout the cruise and most dietary requirments catered for on request.  

Reef Encounter offers daily departures to the Great Barrier Reef on-board the fast, stable catamaran, The Reef Experience. Boarding is easy, return coach transfers are available from Cairns City, Palm Cove and Cairns Northern Beaches based accommodation. There is even the option to take deluxe Helicopter transfers from the mainland to the vessel!

Dive  & Snorkel Locations 
  • Saxon Reef- a perfect introduction to the outer reef, hard corals, moray eels, lion fish, Maori wrasse, beautiful coral gardens. Excellent shallow snorkelling over the bommie tops. Swim throughs and gullies are scattered throughout the reef.
  • Norman Reef - The very Outer Reef 70 kms from Cairns, on the Continental Shelf, yielding incredible visibility. Many canyons, swim throughs, and prolific large fish life. A must to see, the best location for 'Night Diving'
  • Hastings Reef- 58 kms off the coast of Cairns, lies 10 square kilometres of colourful coral gardens. Famous for its tame, friendly Reef Sharks, the Giant Maori Wrasse, and thousands of tropical reef fish.
  • Michaelmas Reef - Located 40 kms off Cairns, offers shallow coral reefs, and a dazzling array of exotic marine life including Giant Clams over 100 years old

Please Note: Locations visited are determined by the vessel's Captain according to prevailing weather & tidal conditions 
Trip Includes
  • All Chef Prepared Meals including buffet breakfast & lunches with table service at dinner 
  • Coffee & Tea & Water & Fresh Fruit 
  • Snorkel Equipment & Instruction
  • Scuba Diving Demonstration & Instruction
  • Glass Bottom Boat & Marine Life Commentary (weather permitting) 
  • Marine Biologist Presentation onboard Reef Experience 
  • Overnight Multi Share, Twin / Double Share Stateroom or Sole Use Cabin accommodation
Sample Itinerary - 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Cruise
Day 1
07.30 Board the transfer vessel ‘Reef Experience’ at Cairns Marlin Marina for breakfast, check-in & your journey to Reef Encounter
09.30 Arrive onboard Reef Encounter for your ‘Welcome & Safety Talk’ before being shown to your room to settle in and relax
10.30 Water Session, time to snorkel for all guests before lunch
12.00 Lunch is served in the dining saloon
13.00 Water Briefings: Certified Diver Briefings / Try Scuba Diving Briefings / Snorkel Adventure Briefings
13.30 Water Session: Scuba dive or snorkel time
15:30 Water Session: Scuba dive or snorkel time - Glass bottom boat tour available upon request (weather permitting)
18.00 Dinner is served in the dining saloon
19:00 Night Dive Briefings
19:30 Night dive commences for all those scuba diving
20:00 Desert is served in the dining saloon

Day 2 
06.00 Wake-up call for the early morning dive and snorkel session
06:30 Water Session: Sunrise scuba dive or snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request
07:30 Breakfast is served in the dining saloon
10:30 Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time
12:00 Lunch is served in the dining saloon
13:30 Water Session: Snorkel only session available to passengers before departure
14:45 Departing passengers board the transfer vessel ‘Reef Experience’ for the journey back to Cairns. Complimentary wine, cheese & biscuits served before the return journey
16:30 Approximate arrival time to the Cairns Marlin Marina

*Itinerary & locations may change due to weather conditions.
**Please advise on booking cruise if vegetarian or vegan meals are required
Additional Upgrade Options on Basic Liveaboard Excursion
Open Water Dive Course  SSI Open Water Dive Certification. Home School Scuba is ideal for previously experienced divers. Ideally candidates should have experienced the pleasures of breathing underwater, so that they feel completely comfortable in the water. The benefits of such a course include: The program offers more guided dives than both the open water & advanced courses combined! Up to 7 pleasure dives are combined with 6 skills sessions over a 3 day / 2 night period onboard Reef Encounter. This ensures all candidates have 7 recreational dives on the Great Barrier Reef. There are no pools and no classrooms. Do away with the fundamentals of your traditional 5 day course and be certified in just 3 days. Learn by experience under the watchful eye of your instructor, the group Maximum is 4 Students to 1 Instructor. The Learn to Dive Courses are personalised, safe and a lot of fun, with more attention to detail than the standard or regular Learn to Dive Courses!

No School Scuba Introductory Diving  This option involves, no testing, no license, just fun diving! Instructor led Guided dives are often called Introductory Dives or Resort Dives and are available to first time divers on successful completion of a Dive Medical Questionnaire. 

Reef Encounter Level One 'Top Deck Club'  The Deluxe Top Deck Club option includes upper level Top Deck accommodation in the Deluxe Staterooms with additional inclusions including Personal Snorkel and Dive Guides, valet Service, all meals with buffet breakfasts & lunches & table service at dinner, a welcome cocktail on the Top Deck, a la Carte Dinners served under the stars on a private deck area. Accommodation includes lots of 'little extras' including a personal evening turn down service, breakfast delivered to cabins (on request)! Cabins are larger than the standard staterooms and come replete with premium linen including silk doonas, cotton sheets and feather down pillows adorning oversized double beds. Soft fluffy bathrobes, plush bath sheets and Australian beauty products are replenished daily. The Top Deck Club option allows for those who like a little luxury to see the Great Barrier Reef in style without sacrficing any of the creature comforts!

Helicopter Transfers  Reef Encounter is the only vessel on the Great Barrier Reef with an onboard helipad. Helicopter transfers are offered 'one way' out to / or from Reef Encounter or 'return'; landing directly onboard the vessel’s helipad. Helicopter transfers are a wonderful way to see the Great Barrier Reef from the air, not mention allowing participants to cut down on boat travelling time or allowing for a later departure / or / earlier return. 
 
Rates - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025Rates - SnorkellersTwin / Double Stateroom Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$585.00 including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$240.00 per person, per night includes Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount 

Sole Occupancy Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2023 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$1170.00  including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$480.00 per night includes Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount 

Public Holiday Surcharge: For the Period from the 28th of March 2024 to the 02nd of April 2024 and the Period from the 23rd of December 20243 through to and including the 01st of January 2025 - The Operator of Reef Encounter will impose an AU$100.00 per person - per trip Peak Period Surcharge on Reef Encounter. Please contact Reservations if you require more detail or assistance with liveaboard pricing.

Important Booking Notes:
It's easy! On making a reservation please use the Booking Form's Comments Box to let us know as many of your requirements as you can think of, including:

- Advising as to who is wanting to do what! E.g. Let us know if you are Snorkelling only, or if you are Certified Divers (with an Open Water Dive Certification) or Introductory Divers (e.g. unlicensed No School Scuba Introductory Divers) or a mix of Snorkellers and Divers (advising who is Snorkelling, who is Diving inlcuding the type of Diving, as there's plenty of room in the Comments Box)!

- Please use the Booking Form's Comment's Box to clearly outline your preferred Stateroom Configuration e.g. Double Stateroom with ensuite (Queen Bed) or Twin Stateroom with ensuite (Twin Beds).

- Please also advise of any other important information you can think to offer to help ensure that you are well catered for whilst onboard e.g. Special Dietary requirements, or if any Additional Nights onboard are required 
Rates - Certified DiversTwin / Double Stateroom Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Day / 1 Night Scuba Diving AU$675.00 (includes 4 Day Dives & 1 Night Dive for Certified Divers) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$280.00 per person, per night includes Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy.

Sole Occupancy Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night Scuba Diving AU$1260.00 (includes 4 Day Dives & 1 Night Dive) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$520.00 per night includes Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy.

Public Holiday Surcharge: For the Period from the 28th of March 2024 to the 02nd of April 2024 and the Period from the 23rd of December 2024 through to and including the 01st of January 2025  - The Operator of Reef Encounter will impose an AU$100.00 per person - per trip Peak Period Surcharge on Reef Encounter. Please contact Reservations if you require more detail or assistance with liveaboard pricing.

Important Booking Notes:
It's easy! On making a reservation please use the Booking Form's Comments Box to let us know as many of your requirements as you can think of, including:

- Advising as to who is wanting to do what! E.g. Let us know if you are Snorkelling only, or if you are Certified Divers (with an Open Water Dive Certification) or Introductory Divers (e.g. unlicensed No School Scuba Introductory Divers) or a mix of Snorkellers and Divers (advising who is Snorkelling, who is Diving inlcuding the type of Diving, as there's plenty of room in the Comments Box)!

- Please use the Booking Form's Comment's Box to clearly outline your preferred Stateroom Configuration e.g. Double Stateroom with ensuite (Queen Bed) or Twin Stateroom with ensuite (Twin Beds).

- Please also advise of any other important information you can think to offer to help ensure that you are well catered for whilst onboard e.g. Special Dietary requirements, or if any Additional Nights onboard are required 
Rates - Introductory Scuba Dive Adventure - Includes 4 Introductory DivesTwin / Double Stateroom Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$795.00 (includes 4 Dives- No testing, No license) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$380.00 per person, per night includes Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy.

Sole Occupancy Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$1380.00 (includes 4 Dives- No testing, No license) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$620.00 per night includes Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy.

Please Note: Please Note: For the Period from the 28th of March 2024 to the 02nd of April 2024 and the Period from the 23rd of December 2024 through to and including the 01st of January 2025  - The Operator of Reef Encounter will impose an AU$100.00 per person - per trip Peak Period Surcharge on Reef Encounter. Please contact Reservations if you require more detail or assistance with liveaboard pricing.

Important Booking Notes:
It's easy! On making a reservation please use the Booking Form's Comments Box to let us know as many of your requirements as you can think of, including:

- Advising as to who is wanting to do what! E.g. Let us know if you are Snorkelling only, or if you are Certified Divers (with an Open Water Dive Certification) or Introductory Divers (e.g. unlicensed No School Scuba Introductory Divers) or a mix of Snorkellers and Divers (advising who is Snorkelling, who is Diving inlcuding the type of Diving, as there's plenty of room in the Comments Box)!

- Please use the Booking Form's Comment's Box to clearly outline your preferred Stateroom Configuration e.g. Double Stateroom with ensuite (Queen Bed) or Twin Stateroom with ensuite (Twin Beds).

- Please also advise of any other important information you can think to offer to help ensure that you are well catered for whilst onboard e.g. Special Dietary requirements, or if any Additional Nights onboard are required 
Rates - Top Deck Club - Snorkel AdventuresTwin / Double Stateroom Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31 March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$940.00 including $30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$420.00 per person, per night including Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy 

Sole Occupancy Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$1880.00 including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$840.00 per night inclduing Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy 

Please Note: Please Note: For the Period from the 28th of March 2024 to the 02nd of April 2024 and the Period from the 23rd of December 2024 through to and including the 01st of January 2025  - The Operator of Reef Encounter will impose an AU$100.00 per person - per trip Peak Period Surcharge on Reef Encounter. Please contact Reservations if you require more detail or assistance with liveaboard pricing.

Important Booking Notes:
It's easy! On making a reservation please use the Booking Form's Comments Box to let us know as many of your requirements as you can think of, including:

- Advising as to who is wanting to do what! E.g. Let us know if you are Snorkelling only, or if you are Certified Divers (with an Open Water Dive Certification) or Introductory Divers (e.g. unlicensed No School Scuba Introductory Divers) or a mix of Snorkellers and Divers (advising who is Snorkelling, who is Diving inlcuding the type of Diving, as there's plenty of room in the Comments Box)!

- Please use the Booking Form's Comment's Box to clearly outline your preferred Top Deck Deluxe Stateroom Configuration e.g. Top Deck Deluxe Double Stateroom with ensuite (Queen Bed) or Top Deck Deluxe Twin Stateroom with ensuite (Twin Beds).

- Please also advise of any other important information you can think to offer to help ensure that you are well catered for whilst onboard e.g. Special Dietary requirements, or if any Additional Nights onboard are required 
Rates - Top Deck Club - Certified Diving ExpeditionsTwin / Double Stateroom Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night Scuba Diving AU$1030.00 (includes 4 Day Dives & 1 Night Dives for Certified Divers) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$500.00 per person, per night including Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy

Sole Occupancy Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night Scuba Diving AU$1970.00 (includes 4 Day Dives & 1 Night Dive for Certified Divers) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$920.00 per night including Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy.

Please Note: Please Note: For the Period from the 28th of March 2024 to the 02nd of April 2024 and the Period from the 23rd of December 2024 through to and including the 01st of January 2025  - The Operator of Reef Encounter will impose an AU$100.00 per person - per trip Peak Period Surcharge on Reef Encounter. Please contact Reservations if you require more detail or assistance with liveaboard pricing.

Important Booking Notes:
It's easy! On making a reservation please use the Booking Form's Comments Box to let us know as many of your requirements as you can think of, including:

- Advising as to who is wanting to do what! E.g. Let us know if you are Snorkelling only, or if you are Certified Divers (with an Open Water Dive Certification) or Introductory Divers (e.g. unlicensed No School Scuba Introductory Divers) or a mix of Snorkellers and Divers (advising who is Snorkelling, who is Diving inlcuding the type of Diving, as there's plenty of room in the Comments Box)!

- Please use the Booking Form's Comment's Box to clearly outline your preferred Top Deck Deluxe Stateroom Configuration e.g. Top Deck Deluxe Double Stateroom with ensuite (Queen Bed) or Top Deck Deluxe Twin Stateroom with ensuite (Twin Beds).

- Please also advise of any other important information you can think to offer to help ensure that you are well catered for whilst onboard e.g. Special Dietary requirements, or if any Additional Nights onboard are required 
Rates - Top Deck Club - No School Scuba - Introductory Scuba Dive AdventureTwin / Double Stateroom Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$1150.00 (includes 4 Dives- No testing, No license) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$580.00 per person, per night including Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy

Sole Occupancy Rates – Per Person - Valid 01st of April 2024 to 31st of March 2025
  • 2 Days / 1 Night AU$2090.00 (includes 4 Dives- No testing, No license) including AU$30.00 per person Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy amount
  • Additional Nights AU$1000.00 per night including Government Reef Tax & Fuel Levy.

Please Note: Please Note: For the Period from the 28th of March 2024 to the 02nd of April 2024 and the Period from the 23rd of December 2024 through to and including the 01st of January 2025  - The Operator of Reef Encounter will impose an AU$100.00 per person - per trip Peak Period Surcharge on Reef Encounter. Please contact Reservations if you require more detail or assistance with liveaboard pricing.

Important Booking Notes:
It's easy! On making a reservation please use the Booking Form's Comments Box to let us know as many of your requirements as you can think of, including:

- Advising as to who is wanting to do what! E.g. Let us know if you are Snorkelling only, or if you are Certified Divers (with an Open Water Dive Certification) or Introductory Divers (e.g. unlicensed No School Scuba Introductory Divers) or a mix of Snorkellers and Divers (advising who is Snorkelling, who is Diving inlcuding the type of Diving, as there's plenty of room in the Comments Box)!

- Please use the Booking Form's Comment's Box to clearly outline your preferred Top Deck Deluxe Stateroom Configuration e.g. Top Deck Deluxe Double Stateroom with ensuite (Queen Bed) or Top Deck Deluxe Twin Stateroom with ensuite (Twin Beds).

- Please also advise of any other important information you can think to offer to help ensure that you are well catered for whilst onboard e.g. Special Dietary requirements, or if any Additional Nights onboard are required 
Optional Hotel Accommodation Transfers
  • From Cairns City Accommodation - AU$20.00 per person (return)
  • From Cairns Outer Suburbs & Northern Beaches Accommodation - AU35.00 per person (return)
  • From Port Douglas Accommodation - AU$70.00 per person (one way) - AU$140.00 per person (return) - Minimum 2 Persons
Optional Helicopter Transfers from Cairns to Reef Encounter - One Way or ReturnHelicopter transfers offer a great bird's eye perspective of the Great Barrier Reef. Why not consider a flight out to the vessel from Cairns or flight back from the vessel to Cairns? For those who wish to avoid boat travel altogether, there is even the option of foregoing travelling via catamaran and fly out and back both ways? No matter what your preference, we can assist in combining your liveaboard Outer Barrier Reef excursion with stunning, scenic helicopter transfers!

Please Note: Helicopter transfers require a minimum of 2 persons to operate
  • One Way Helicopter transfer to or from Reef Encounter - From AU$812.50 per person - minimum 2 persons * helicopter prices subject to change without notice 
  • Return Helicopter transfer to and from Reef Encounter - From AU$1625.00 per person - minimum 2 person * helicopter prices subject to change without notice 
Book Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling ExcursionEnquire About Reef Encounter - Great Barrier Reef 2 Day / 1 Night Liveaboard Diving & Snorkelling Excursion