Australia Liveaboards - Diving the Great Barrier Reef

I have a non diver who wishes to come - is that OK ?

This is no problem. There is plenty of good snorkeling and sometimes shore / beach time also on some trips. Please note however that the price is likely to be almost the same as a diver however as the cost of the trip is mainly running the vessel, not the diving. The trip costing is based on the number of beds / people that the vessel can take not whether they dive or not.


Do I have to book a liveaboard a long time in advance ?

If you have specific requirements then generally yes you do. Depending on the boat, destination and the season things can get booked up fairly quickly. The Rowley Shoals for example can only be dived for 4 to 5 weeks from November to early December and not many boats offer trips to this destination so booking early is recommended.


Can we charter a boat for our own group and would it cost less ?

Some boats can be privately chartered with the crew and most offer discounts for charter bookings compared to a per person rate. Simply tell us how many people and what level of comfort you expect and we can give you some options. . .


What is the best trip for me ? There are so many ?

Well the best way we can recommend a suitable selection of trips for you is for us to know a bit about your diving experience and previous  trips as well as your budget. If you are very experienced we appreciate how difficult it is at times to find something new or different. If you are an avid photographer or videographer then let us know as some boats cater for this better than others. Longer trips covering more destinations / dive sites offer the maximum opportunity for seeing something spectacular. If you e-mail or call us and explain your prior diving experience and budget we can usually find something to suit. As all divers know - we can't guarantee the marine life - and we are very pleased we can't. If every time you got in the water you knew you were going to see a Manta or Whaleshark then diving would quickly lose the excitement of the unknown. We can however make some educated predictions. . .


Can children also dive ?

Yes. If your children are between 10 and 12 and certified as divers they can go to a maximum 12m depth. If they are 12 to 15 they can dive to a maximum of 21m.  Normally you are required to dive with the children unless special arrangements are made in advance. Divemasters can usually be hired to look after them if you wish. These standards are set by PADI and the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC).


I don't have much experience - is this ok for liveaboard diving ?

As long as you have an entry level diving certification you will be fine. All the boats have guides and usually there are 4 to 6 divers per guide. As always if you haven't dived for a longer period - 6 to 12 months then it is a good idea to familiarize yourself again either in your own country with a local dive centre or by doing a quick scuba review with a dive school here prior to your trip. Remember you don't have to do all the dives on a trip. There are usually up to 4 dives a day but if you want to sit some out then that is fine. You will still dive enough to see plenty ! Remember the crews and Divemasters are all experienced and are there to assist you.


I can't dive but I want to learn. Can I do this during the trip?

Yes you can however we don't recommend it. Entry level diver training has several classroom and confined water (pool or calm beach) sessions for skills practice. There are then 4 certification dives in open water. It is best to complete an entry level course prior to the trip if possible. When you are on a liveaboard you want to be concentrating on the diving not the classroom! The course only takes 3 or 4 days so try to find the time if you can before the trip. One option - although not perfect but certainly a lot better is to complete your classroom and swimming pool sessions and all theory tests before the trip and then just do the 4 qualification dives on board. This is called a referral course. This can be arranged either here prior to your trip or in your home country. Contact your local dive centre for details.


We can only dive on certain dates. Is this a problem ?

Not usually unless you also have a very specific destination and/or budget in mind. Simply e-mail or call us with the dates and your budget and we can usually find you a trip. However please note that you may be more restricted if you are trying to book at short notice.


I'm a single female traveling alone. Can you find me another female to share with or can I get a single cabin ?

If you contact us as far in advance as possible then it may be possible to find you a female cabin mate. More and more females are diving each year. However, unfortunately since beds are sold on liveaboard trips and not cabins it is usually expensive (about twice the price) to have a twin or double cabin to yourself as you simply end up paying for the other bed space also. This is the same if you are male or female. Very few boats (only 1 at the present time - the Mermaid I) have single cabins.



How can we pay ?

PayPal is our preffered payment gateway as it is fast, secure and easy with only a 3.9% fee. We do not receive or keep credit card details on file as we never receive them - they are handled by the secure payment provider.

Generally a 20% deposit secures your place with the remainder paid 45 to 60 days before departure. If a liveaboards only has 14 places then only 14 are booked. It is easy for a hotel or airline to find you an alternative if they double book however with liveaboard trips this is rarely possible. Hence full payment is required at least 45 days before departure.