Ocean Quest

Ocean Quest is a 36-metre three-deck catamaran permanently moored on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The vessel does not sail overnight: it is a floating dive hotel, and guests are brought out from Cairns by fast boat in about an hour and a half. That arrangement gives you what a day trip cannot — morning, evening and night dives on the reef, once every day boat has gone home.

The vessel was built in 1988 and refurbished in 2017. On board are 22 cabins — 18 twins and 4 doubles — each with air conditioning, an en-suite bathroom and a TV. Maximum 44 guests. Three decks are given over to relaxing: an air-conditioned saloon, a bar with an entertainment system, a spacious dining room and open sun decks. Hot fresh-water showers, daily housekeeping.

Diving is done from more than 14 permanent moorings on Norman and Saxon reefs and selected sites at Hastings Reef — Playground and Shark Mountain with their grey reef sharks, Turtle Bay with green turtles, Twin Peaks with its narrow swim-through, and Sandra’s, where a shallow sandy shelf suits beginners and a deep wall suits experienced divers. Up to four dives a day: three in daylight and one at night.

Dives here are self-guided by default — with a buddy, without a guide. A supervisor is always on duty and a lookout watches the deck; solo guests are paired up with a buddy or a group by the crew. A guide costs extra (20 AUD per dive), and is mandatory if your certification or a medical condition requires supervision.

Two signature evening programmes: Shark in the Dark, a night dive to the grey reef sharks that gather under the hull in the lights, and fluoro diving with special torches and mask filters that make corals and fish glow. Both carry a surcharge.

The format suits everyone: certified divers, first-timers on an introductory dive and snorkellers — snorkelling is included for all passengers. A chef works on board and all meals are included. The operator is Divers Den, a Cairns dive centre running since 1974.