Coast to Coast Diving Australia

Daintree Exclusive - Private Tour

Day 1: Cairns. On arrival into Cairns, you will be transferred by private vehicle to your Cairns accommodation.

Accommodation: Crystalbrook Riley (Panoramic Sea View Room)

Day 2: Daintree National Park. After departing Cairns around 7:30 am, you'll head north to the renowned Daintree Rainforest, a 120,000-hectare area estimated to be 180 million years old and recognized as a World Heritage site in 1988. Known for having Australia's highest diversity of rainforest mammals, this region offers a rich experience of ancient flora and fauna.

Accompanied by your expert guide, enjoy a 2.5-kilometer walk through a private section of the National Park. Learn about its 3,000 plant species, including a vast range of ferns, orchids, and early flowering plants. Look for the endemic Boyd's Forest Dragon, White-lipped Tree Frog, and Ulysses Butterfly.

You'll then visit the stunning Mossman Gorge, where you can swim and take in the beautiful views. Lunch at the Daintree Tea House includes sampling local fruits and berries amidst the sounds of the rainforest. Finally, embark on a wildlife cruise along the Daintree River on a solar-powered vessel, where you can spot Saltwater Crocodiles and various bird species, including kingfishers, herons, and eagles.

Accommodation: Crystalbrook Riley (Panoramic Sea View Room) | Meals: BL

4 Night Coral Sea & Ribbon Reef Liveaboard Trip - Departs Sunday

We recommend this Great Barrier Reef liveaboard dive trip for Advanced divers, or divers with a minimum of 20 ocean dives, including 5 dives in the last 12 months.

Day 3: Ribbon Reef 9 & 10. Around 7 am, the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will pick you up from your Cairns hotel and take you to Hinterland Aviation at Cairns General Aviation Airport. There, you'll board a light aircraft for a scenic flight up the coast to Lizard Island, marking the start of your 4-night liveaboard dive trip.

Upon arrival, the Spirit of Freedom crew will greet you and transfer you to the vessel by tender. After a vessel orientation, set sail for Ribbon Reef Number 9 & 10. This afternoon, you'll have the chance to dive at various sites, including Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Gardens, and Pixie Pinnacle. In the evening, you will embark on a 10-hour crossing to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Explore our Coral Sea dive sites during your journey.

Day 4 & 5: Coral Sea. You'll spend two days diving at Osprey Reef, weather permitting. Australia's Coral Sea reefs are famous for their crystal-clear waters, with visibility ranging from 30 to 100 meters. The underwater landscape is striking, featuring sheer walls adorned with gorgonians, sea whips, and vibrant yellow soft corals rising from the ocean floor thousands of feet below. At 'North Horn,' located at the tip of Osprey Reef, you can encounter grey reef sharks, silvertips, and occasionally oceanic sharks, and experience a close-up with the Spirit of Freedom shark attraction dive. Each day will offer four to five dives, including a night dive on Monday. On Tuesday night, you will depart from Osprey Reef and travel overnight to the Ribbon Reefs.

Day 6: Ribbon Reef Number 3. At Ribbon Reef Number 3, you will explore remarkable dive sites including Steve's Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. Depending on weather conditions, you may also have the option to head south from Osprey Reef to Bougainville Reef, which is renowned for its unique underwater terrain, caverns, and a partially submerged wreck. On Wednesday evening, embark on an overnight cruise back to Cairns.

Accommodation: Spirit of Freedom, Ocean View Deluxe Room. Includes chef-prepared meals & snacks, wine and soft drinks are included with the evening meal, Tanks, air fills, Nautilus Lifeline and weight belt. Daily cabin service.

Day 7: Cairns. Arrive back in Cairns at 6:30 am. Enjoy a light breakfast onboard and a group photo opportunity, before being dropped back at your Cairns hotel around 8:00 am

Accommodation: Crystalbrook Riley (Panoramic Sea View Room)

Atherton Tablelands - Private Tour

Day 8: Atherton Tablelands. Departing early from Cairns, you will journey to the Atherton Tablelands' highlands to enjoy stunning panoramic views of this World Heritage-listed area. Upon arriving at Danbulla State Forest, you'll visit the Cathedral Fig Tree, a massive 500-year-old strangler tree standing 50 meters tall with a 39-meter trunk circumference.

Guided by an expert, you'll explore prime birdwatching spots to see a variety of songbirds, including the Red-backed Fairy-wren, Golden Bowerbird, and Victoria's Riflebird. The next stop is Lake Barrine, a crater lake formed by ancient volcanic activity. After a delicious morning tea, your guide will share insights into the lakeside rainforest's flora and fauna. Enjoy a one-hour lake cruise for wildlife and photo opportunities, where you might spot Red-legged Pademelons, Musky Rat Kangaroos, and various birds. Following a seafood lunch, you'll search for the elusive Platypus. The day concludes with breathtaking views at Milla Milla Lookout and an option to swim at Lake Eacham or search for the iconic Lumholtz Tree-Kangaroo.

Accommodation: Crystalbrook Riley (Panoramic Sea View Room) | Meals: BL

Eyre Peninsula - Shared Tour

Day 9: Port Lincoln. Fly to Adelaide and then Port Lincoln with the afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel | Meals: B

Day 10: Neptune Islands. After a safety briefing, you'll depart the Marina at 7 am, heading towards the Neptune Islands. The 2.5-hour cruise takes you along the edge of Port Lincoln National Park, through Thorny Passage, and into the Southern Ocean. While enjoying a light breakfast, keep an eye out for playful dolphins, seabirds and White-bellied Sea Eagles.

Upon arrival at the Neptune Islands, the skipper will find a sheltered spot to moor. You'll gather on the back deck to discuss dive safety and procedures. No prior experience is needed for this surface dive, allowing everyone to enjoy the underwater action in the cage over the next 5-6 hours. You'll also spot local wildlife like Australian Sea-lions, Long-nosed Fur Seals, and various birds. Enjoy tea, coffee, soft drinks, snacks, and a buffet lunch, before returning to the marina around 6 pm.

Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel | Meals: BL

Day 11: Port Lincoln National Park.  Tour stunning Port Lincoln, nestled on the shores of beautiful Boston Bay where you will learn about the city's discovery and history while enjoying the tastes of the "Seafood Capital of Australia', as you sample the freshest seafood of the region. 

Experience the diversity of the 29,000ha Lincoln National Park via 4WD, where rugged cliffs and stunning sand dunes, provide an opportunity to view Osprey, White Bellied Sea-Eagles, Long-nosed Fur Seals off the rocks of Donnington Point, Bottlenose Dolphins, Western Grey Kangaroos, Emus, Rosenberg's Goanna (warmer months) and dragon lizards. Later in the afternoon, come face to face with wild Koalas, the cuddly icon of Australia as they laze in the Manna gums.  Fly back to Adelaide early evening.

Accommodation: Mayfair Adelaide (Deluxe King Room) | Meals: BL

Ningaloo Reef: Full Day Tour

Day 12: Perth.  Fly to Perth today with a day at leisure to explore the city.

Accommodation: Intercontinental Perth (King Premium Room) | Meals: B

Day 13: Ningaloo. Fly to Learmonth and check into your Exmouth accommodation.

Accommodation: Mantarays Exmouth (Superior Room) | Meals: B

Day 14: Ningaloo Reef Double Dive. The Ningaloo Marine Park is an amazing underwater sanctuary, with this tour providing the opportunity for guests to spend the day exploring different dive sights accessible by boat only. On the journey out across the beautiful waters, guests should be on the lookout for Bottlenose, Australian Humpback and Common Dolphins, Dugongs, Humpback Whales (from June to November) and Whale Sharks (boat viewing only from March to August). 

The marine life found at Ningaloo is incredibly diverse, with 300 coral species, 600 different molluscs, and around 500 species of fish in the region. Popular fish sightings range from Parrotfish, Butterflyfish, Angelfish, Damselfish, Scissor Tails, Flutemouths, and Wrasse, to larger fish such as Groper, Barracuda, Coral Trout, Cod and Trevally. A huge variety of nudibranchs are a delight for enthusiasts due to their spectacular colours.

More than 50 per cent of Indian Ocean coral species are found across the Ningaloo Marine Park area, with over 300 species, including Finger, Staghorn, Porites Cabbage, Brain, Lavender, Plate, Mushroom, Bubble and Branching Corals. Whilst not a coral, Anemone's are common, providing habitat for some of the reef's most endearing residents; the Clarkes, Pink and Tomato Anemonefish.

Whitetip and Blacktip Reef Sharks, Great and Scalloped Hammerheads, Bronze Whalers, Cat Sharks, Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Bull Rays and the well-camouflaged Wobbegong are highlights for divers whilst Manta Rays can be seen performing their incredible courtship dances around April, with the species growing up to 7 metres wide (disc width) and around 1,350 kg.

Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo offers adventures for divers of all experience levels, across a wide variety of sites. A full day of scuba exploring the amazing underwater world at Ningaloo will cover two different dive sites, selected according to conditions, to enable guests to experience the biodiversity of the region. Turtles, Sea Snakes, Manta Rays, Wobbegongs, sea fans, soft corals, Moray Eels, Batfish, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Nudibranchs and abundant colourful reef fish provide an endless feast for the senses.

Accommodation: Mantarays Exmouth (Superior Room) | Meals: BL

Deluxe Whaleshark Swim

Day 15: Whale Shark Swim. On this unforgettable day in the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park, you'll encounter the world's largest fish, the whale shark. Early in the day, you'll board a well-equipped vessel that will use light aircraft to locate these magnificent fish for optimal viewing opportunities.

The crew, including marine biologists, will provide educational talks about the area's rich biodiversity and the whale sharks' behaviours, feeding patterns, and identification tips. They'll also instruct you on how to safely and effectively swim with these gentle giants. A guide will accompany you in the water at all times to ensure a safe experience. The return journey often features sightings of other megafauna, such as Humpback Whales, Manta Rays, and various dolphins. Meals and refreshments are provided throughout the day, ending with a celebratory glass of champagne or light beer.

Accommodation: Mantarays Exmouth (Superior Room) | Meals: BL

Day 16: Perth. Depart Exmouth on a flight back to Perth for an option extension below.

Meals: B

Optional Extension: Dive Christmas Island (7 nights)

Christmas Island exists at the tip of a long-extinct volcano, with 80km of coastline supporting a fringing reef, most of which is around 20-25 metres depth. This provides views to some amazing drop-offs, hosting Gorgonian Fan corals and sea caves to explore, suitable for divers of varying experience and skills. With rarely any current, the visibility is usually between 25-50 metres.

During the dry season from April - October, the North Western coastline is typically used for diving due to the protected waters and spectacular coral gardens. This coastline also boasts caves, Gorgonian Fan corals, and steep drop-offs. During the wet season from November to March, diving is conducted on the North West coastline (weather permitting), with operators occasionally using the ramp at Ethel Beach. Whale Sharks can be seen on an opportunistic basis between November and March, and are most likely viewed on the northwest side of the island.

Flying Fish Cove is also spectacular for shore diving with amazing coral gardens, drop-offs and the occasional friendly Dragon Moray Eel, turtle and Bump-head Parrotfish. 

You will depart on your dive trips from Flying Fish Cove, with sites easy to access in a short time. Your dive trip will generally return in the early afternoon around 1 pm, providing plenty of time to explore the island's incredible wildlife, geology, landscapes and culture. Afternoon tours with Indian Ocean Experiences start at 2 pm, so you can still get back from diving in time to head out with an experienced guide.

Optional Extension: Dive Cocos Keeling Island (7 nights)

Please note that the Dive Cocos Keeling Islands can be combined with Dive Christmas Island below into a 14-night inclusive package.

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are known for their spectacular clear azure waters, with a significant population of turtles in the lagoon (15,000 Green Turtles and 15,000 Hawksbill Turtles), reef sharks, dolphins, Manta Rays, diverse coral gardens, delicate Gorgonian Fans and over 500 species of fish.

You will board the dive vessel from West Island and a short trip across the lagoon will provide access to outstanding locations such as Cabbage Patch, The Cannons and a Manta Ray cleaning station. Venturing to the outside of the lagoon rewards divers with some amazing drop-offs, visits by friendly sharks and if you are lucky – a chance to see Cocos's long-term resident – Kat the Dugong.

The surface interval with lunch is usually taken on Direction Island, also providing an opportunity to laze on the idyllic beaches. Dive vessels generally return later in the afternoon, giving you time to relax and enjoy the incredible sunsets.