MV Scubapro II dive boat review
Photos: Pro Dive Cairns / LiveAboard.com. Fleet photographs show the shared boat style; individual interiors may differ.
CAIRNS · OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF
Scubapro II: cabins and life aboard the 2002 sister ship
Three days and two nights on the Great Barrier Reef, with shared-bathroom accommodation and up to eleven dives. Choose the cabin and diving package, then establish the vessel assigned to your sailing.
32 guests · 16 cabins · Cairns return · Equipment included
See Pro Dive Cairns dates & prices →
Bookings are for the Pro Dive Cairns programme; a particular vessel requires confirmation. Divezone may earn a commission.
MV Scubapro II is owned and operated by Pro Dive Cairns. Built in 2002 for the company’s reef diving and training programme, it is the middle sister in the Scubapro fleet. Its practical appeal is straightforward: a private place to sleep, meals aboard and a dive deck close at hand for a busy few days on the reef.
The 23.95-metre monohull has a 7.35-metre beam and takes up to 32 guests. The operator lists Cummins QSM11 engines for Scubapro II, whereas I and III use MTU engines. That is a documented technical distinction, not evidence of a quieter cabin, smoother ride or better dive itinerary.
Choosing a bed on Scubapro II
| Cabin choice | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 14 twin cabins | Two bunk beds per cabin; useful for friends or a shared berth. |
| 2 double cabins | A double bed; availability is separate from choosing the boat. |
| Bathrooms | Eight shared toilet/shower combinations; no en-suite category. |
Air conditioning, linen, storage and power outlets make the cabin a useful retreat between dives. Sharing a twin berth and reserving a whole cabin are different bookings, so a solo traveller’s total depends on the occupancy arrangement. Pack compactly: towels are not supplied, and larger bags can stay at the Pro Dive shop.
A small routine built around diving
Scubapro II’s three-deck layout divides the holiday between the cabins, communal areas and the water. The sun deck offers somewhere to sit out between briefings, while the air-conditioned saloon gives the group a place to eat and relax indoors. Books, games and television are available, although with up to eleven dives the quieter moments can feel rather welcome.
Meals are cooked aboard: hot and cold breakfast and lunch, followed by dinner and dessert. Tea, coffee and snacks are available between meals. The programme’s buffet-style food includes Western and local dishes, with vegetarian and vegan options described; special dietary needs still belong in the booking discussion.
The reef trip attached to this boat
Scubapro II shares Pro Dive’s Cairns outer-reef programme, using sites around Flynn, Milln, Thetford and weather-dependent Pellowe. It is a continuous voyage from and back to Cairns, with no routine boat-to-boat passenger transfer. The skipper chooses the workable sites rather than following a fixed sequence.
The three-day trip schedules up to eleven dives, including two night dives. It is not a Cod Hole or Osprey Reef expedition. For the full daily timetable, guiding arrangements and course choices, see the Scubapro programme guide.
MV Scubapro II itinerary map
Indicative Cairns–outer reef–Cairns connections, not a fixed sequence or navigation track. Flynn, Milln, Thetford and weather-dependent Pellowe belong to one programme, not four separate cruises. The captain chooses sites, order and overnight moorings.
- Three days / two nights: Cairns → a selection of outer-reef sites → Cairns, aboard the same Scubapro vessel. The line illustrates Flynn, Milln and Thetford; it does not promise a visit to all three. Pellowe is another published option when conditions permit.
Principal dive-site references
- Flynn Reef: Reef reference for sites such as Gordon’s Mooring and Tracy’s Bommie; not an exact dive mooring.
- Milln Reef: Reef reference; Swimming Pools and Whale Bommie are among the operator’s named sites.
- Thetford Reef: Reef reference; bommies, walls and swim-throughs, with site choice governed by conditions.
Map references checked 9 October 2026: Pro Dive reef programme; Flynn / OpenStreetMap; Thetford / OpenStreetMap; GBRMPA Milln site plan. Positions are for trip planning, not navigation.
A cabin with a non-diving companion?
Snorkellers can join the shared three-day programme with meals and snorkelling equipment. The current non-diver fare needs a departure-specific quote; this is a reef-based holiday, without advertised regular island or beach excursions.
Scubapro fleet: reef diving film
Dive The World’s Scubapro programme film; it is not a current inspection of an individually assigned vessel. Watch on YouTube
Booking Scubapro II without paying for the name
Scubapro II is not a separate comfort tier or a different route. The useful comparison is the actual cabin and package: certified diving, training or snorkelling, shared berth or sole use, and any guiding or Nitrox additions.
The fleet budget breakdown keeps the common fees and inclusions in one place. The 9 October 2026 reference lists AUD 100 in reef/tax charges and AUD 25 fuel; where those are excluded from the quoted base fare, they add AUD 125 per person. A seller’s inclusive total must not be charged twice. The boat assignment and cabin arrangement should both appear clearly in your confirmation.
Joining the boat
Plan to be in Cairns before the early departure. Pro Dive recommends an equipment and paperwork visit the evening before sailing; its published schedule has a 6:20am shop check-in and a return to city accommodation around 4pm on day three. Allow the operator’s 24-hour no-fly interval after the final dive when arranging the rest of your holiday.
Guest feedback: fleet experience, named vessel
What guests loved
The reviewed Pro Dive accounts praise crew support, food and the reef experience. They do not consistently identify Scubapro II, so the dated examples are collected in the fleet review rather than presented as testimonials for this particular hull.
What could be better
Rough crossings occur in the programme feedback. No current, reliably vessel-specific complaint sample was established for Scubapro II. Shared bathrooms and bunk beds are practical booking trade-offs, not guest complaints invented for balance.
When another boat might suit you better
For a private bathroom or a shorter stay, compare OceanQuest. For remote Ribbon Reefs or Coral Sea diving, use the Australia comparison to choose a different route.
Questions about Scubapro II
When was Scubapro II built, and what makes it different?
Scubapro II dates from 2002. Its Cummins QSM11 engines distinguish it technically from the MTU-powered I and III. The published cabin layout and regular reef programme are shared; build year alone does not establish comfort or condition.
Can I book a double cabin on Scubapro II?
The layout includes two double cabins and fourteen twin-bunk cabins. A double must be available for your departure, and the assigned vessel should be confirmed separately. All bathrooms are shared.
Does a twin booking give me a private cabin?
Not necessarily. A shared berth occupies one bed, while sole use reserves the cabin. These arrangements can have different prices; the confirmation should specify which one you have.
Are there any en-suite cabins on Scubapro II?
No. The operator lists eight shared toilet/shower combinations for the sixteen cabins. If a private bathroom matters most, compare OceanQuest or the cabin choices in our Australia boat comparison.
What should I bring for the cabin?
Sheets and blankets are supplied, but two towels are recommended for showering and reef use. Keep luggage small and bring your personal clothing, toiletries and any required diving documents.
Is the Scubapro II itinerary a different trip from Scubapro III?
The regular three-day programme is the same outer-reef product. Sites and order depend on conditions, and the boat assignment is not a promise of particular dive sites.
Have you travelled on Scubapro II? Add your sailing date, cabin arrangement and what you enjoyed or would change.
Vessel distinctions checked 13 October 2026; shared fee references retain their stated dates. Gallery photographs illustrate the Pro Dive Cairns fleet layout unless a hull is explicitly identified. Existing reader ratings and comments remain below.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
Townsville
Townsville combines Great Barrier Reef day trips, the Museum of Underwater Art at John Brewer Reef and access to the SS Yongala wreck. Magnetic Island adds a nearby island stay. Choose the reef/art trip for a mixed party; choose Yongala only after checking the operator’s experience requirements.
Cairns
Cairns is a practical base for Great Barrier Reef day boats, learn-to-dive courses and liveaboards. Depending on your time, your budget, and your diving certification you can dive in many places around Cairns. Choose nearby outer reefs for a short visit, or a northern Ribbon Reefs/Coral Sea itinerar
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a long reef system off Queensland, not a single dive site. Choose Cairns for the largest range of reef boats and northern liveaboards, Port Douglas for Agincourt day trips, Townsville for MOUA and Yongala access, or the Whitsundays for island holidays and Hardy Reef.
Ningaloo Reef
The Ningaloo Reef is located on the stunning West Coast of Australia. Choose Exmouth for the North West Cape and Coral Bay for a compact reef holiday farther south. This is a fringing-reef destination with shore snorkelling, boat dives and seasonal wildlife trips; it is not part of the Great Barrier
Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a small, beautiful coastal town of North Queensland famous for its beach and reef life. Its main diving choice is a day boat to the Agincourt reef system, with the Daintree area close enough for a separate land day. Do not confuse this with a liveaboard expedition to Cod Hole or Ospr
Australia
From the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo to southern wrecks and seadragons, Australia rewards choosing a region and season that suit the diving you love.
Whitsunday Islands
When diving in the Whitsunday Islands you have two possibilities: the local spots or going further out on the Great Barrier Reef. Airlie Beach is the mainland base, while Hamilton Island offers a resort-and-airport alternative. Decide whether you want island sailing with some snorkelling or a trip d
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Australia & Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
.
Other Liveaboard Reviews in Australia & Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
MV Ocean Quest
OceanQuest is Divers Den’s reef-based catamaran, reached by a fast transfer boat from Cairns. Choose one to five nights on the outer reef, or a separate four-night Ribbon Reefs expedition during minke whale season.
MV Odyssey
MV Odyssey is the flagship of Odyssey Expeditions. For divers, the trip to look for is the eight-day, seven-night Rowley Shoals cruise from Broome. Its 20-guest capacity, substantial tender and unhurried time offshore make it a very different holiday f
Coral Sea Dreaming
Coral Sea Dreaming takes just 12 guests on an overnight Great Barrier Reef trip. Choose a double cabin or shared bunk, with guided diving and a canopy-covered social area where everyone soon gets to know one another.
True North
The 50-metre True North is not your usual diving cruise: the appeal is a comfortable small ship, fine food and a choice of water and land activities. Choose a diving itinerary if time underwater is your priority. A Kimberley sightseeing cruise and a re
MV Scubapro III
Photos: Pro Dive Cairns / LiveAboard.com. Fleet photographs show the shared boat style; individual interiors may differ.
Spirit of Freedom
The 37-metre Spirit of Freedom offers scuba diving cruises to the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea and the northern reefs. Its current programme includes three-, four- and seven-night trips as well as longer-range special expeditions.
Scubapro
Photos: Pro Dive Cairns / LiveAboard.com. Fleet photographs show the shared boat style; individual interiors may differ.