Coral Sea Dreaming

Diving Squad Rating:

 8.7/10

8.7 / 10

Coral Sea Dreaming is the Best Great Barrier Reef liveaboard for beginners, due to the fact that she offers introductory diving courses, scuba refresher courses and even introductory night diving courses!

She is also the second cheapest Great Barrier Reef liveaboard, runs the shortest trips and takes the smallest group size.

Great for: Beginners, Short Trips, Cheap, Snorkelling

Trip Lengths: 2 days

Max Guest Capacity: 12

Operates: All year

Review:

This is the only liveaboard where it’s possible to learn to dive during the trip! If you’ve never dived before, you can take a free ten minute introductory course where you’ll learn the basics of diving. After this, you can pay to go on a guided, full length dive.

There’s also an introductory night diving / NITRO experience. Divers who’ve completed the intro course and guided dive earlier that day, can dive the Great Barrier Reef by night with a torch, whilst under close supervision.

It’s also possible to complete a scuba refresher or advanced open water course for those who have some experience but want to sharpen their skills!

For more experienced divers there’s the opportunity to take part in drift dives, regular night dives, wall dives and deep dives.

Coral Sea Dreaming has exclusive access to 28 moorings at 9 of the very best dive sites of the cairns, outer great barrier reefs system, including Flynn, Milln, Thetford, Hastings and Norman reefs!

Diving depths range from 10 – 30m and divers can expect to see small reef sharks, turtles, pelagics and many colourful reef fish.

In addition to this, snorkelling gear is provided and there are guided snorkelling tours for non-divers.

Topside, the Coral Sea is an 18m long steel ketch sporting a hammock and a gorgeous wooden interior below where there’s a small indoor saloon and seating area.

There’s a 4 person shared bunk cabin, a 2 person shared bunk cabin and three private double cabins. All cabins are equipped with fans and share a bathroom.

Coral Sea Dreaming is undeniabiably as small as a liveaboard gets. She can feel a little cramped, but this doesn’t become much of an issue due to the shortness of trips.

Few people can say they learnt to dive somewhere as cool as the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also highly unusual to be able to do an introductory night course, as most schools and liveaboards don’t have the license to offer it!

But with Coral Sea both these things are possible, making her the best option for learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

Guest Reviews:

"Easygoing dive schedule, we did nice long dives. The crew also accommodated my wish to do a sunrise dive, meaning we jumped in the water a bit earlier than usual".

"We were only able to moor at Michaelsminn reef due to weather conditions, but the captain made sure we all saw our share of turtles, sharks, clown fish, and the beautiful colorful coral. I would also add that the trip back to the marina was a true sailing experience. We had winds at 25 knots and waves at 2 meters. The perfect conditions to experience real sailing".

"Skipper Chris was very kind and helpful to offer to guide and held onto our young Son (5 years old) out for his first snorkeling in the reef while we guided our elder daughter (8 years old) along. Chris even lent my Son his personal snorkeling gears. My Son was delighted to see turtle, giant clams and colourful fishes on his first trip. A big thanks to Chris for the great experience for the whole family".

Camera station
Non-smoking rooms
Bar
Leisure deck
Air conditioned indoor saloon
Sun deck
Warm water showers
Charging station
Al freso dining
Fine wines and beer

Morgon O from the United States said:

“The night dive with the reef sharks was truly awe inspiring, the fish, giant clams and sea-turtles are so cool, and it’s honestly a bit hard to process how incredible the whole weekend was!

Despite sea sickness, the boat crew went out of their way to ensure we had the dive trip of a lifetime and that it was worth every penny. THANK YOU”!

Similar Great Barrier Reef Liveaboards:

Ocean Quest

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Written by:

Alex

Scuba fanatic, travel ecstatic and loveable rogue. A rootless divemaster and perpetual adrenaline-junky, Alex holds the esteemed rank of Grand Admiral of the Diving Squad; a title he most nobly awarded to himself. A scuba-junky since 2014, he's dived much of the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Red Sea, Ireland, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. It's hard to say where he'll pop up next for he never settles; forever a leaf on the wind... or perhaps a lone bubble blasted along on the current.