This Liveaboard is just one of the three dive vessels operated by Pro Dive Cairns, one of the leading liveaboard operators in Australia.
Scubapro 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 / Pro Dive Cairns: choose the three-day reef programme
Two nights aboard, up to 11 dives including two night dives, and a choice of twin-bunk or double cabins. Bathrooms are shared.
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.
Pro Dive Cairns operates the Scubapro fleet on a three-day, two-night Great Barrier Reef programme. This guide brings together the route, shared booking costs, diving arrangements and guest feedback; the individual vessel profiles below explain which boat name appears on your booking.
The three monohulls measure 23.95 metres by 7.35 metres. Scubapro I was built in 1998, II in 2002 and III in 2004. Each carries a maximum of 32 guests; the programme publishes six crew. Choosing the fleet trip does not by itself reserve a particular named sister ship.
Cabins: simple, private sleeping spaces
| Choice | Layout | Bathroom |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 14 cabins with bunk beds | Shared |
| Double | 2 cabins with a double bed | Shared |
Private cabins allow time to relax between diving and snorkelling. All cabins are air-conditioned, with storage and power outlets. Sheets and blankets are supplied; pack two towels for showering and reef use. Keep luggage compact, with excess bags stored at the Pro Dive shop. A shared berth and sole occupancy are different booking arrangements, so solo travellers need the cabin terms on their quote.
Life between the dive briefings
The sun deck is the place to read, relax and socialise; the indoor saloon provides air-conditioned space for meals and a break from the weather. Books, games, music and television are available, although a busy eleven-dive schedule tends to keep everyone occupied. The dive deck keeps the daily routine close to the water.
Meals are prepared aboard, with hot and cold breakfast and lunch, a hot dinner and dessert. The buffet-style menu includes Western and local food, with vegetarian and vegan options listed. Tea, coffee and snacks help bridge the surface intervals. Dietary arrangements should be agreed in advance; the operator advises travellers with restrictive diets to bring suitable extra snacks. Alcohol is BYO for after diving, and extra soft drinks cost more.
Where the Scubapro trip actually dives
The current liveaboard departs from Cairns for Flynn, Milln, Thetford and Pellowe reefs, with a selection of 19 sites across that programme. It is not the Cod Hole or Coral Sea expedition described in some older accounts. Those northern and offshore trips need a different itinerary.
Up to 11 dives include two night dives. Orientation and night dives have guiding included; regular dives are generally undertaken as buddy pairs. A private instructor package is available separately for divers wanting individual guidance throughout. PADI Advanced and Nitrox courses can be added, but neither should be confused with a blanket requirement for every participant.
Flynn and Milln offer walls, coral gardens and bommies; Thetford adds swim-throughs, and the more exposed Pellowe is weather-dependent. Depth and current suitability are decided for each diver and site. Bring your certification card and complete the operator’s medical screening; illness, medication or an indicated medical condition may require clearance.
Scubapro / Pro Dive Cairns 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.
Travelling with a non-diver?
Snorkellers can join the three-day reef programme, with snorkelling equipment and meals included. The current non-diver fare needs a date-specific quote. The holiday centres on the reef and life aboard; regular beach or island excursions are not advertised.
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
Budget beyond the cabin fare
| Item | Current booking context |
|---|---|
| Base fare | Request the three-day / two-night shared twin or double fare in AUD for your dates. |
| Published mandatory extras | The partner currently lists AUD 100 environmental charge and AUD 25 fuel surcharge per person per trip; establish whether your quote includes them. |
| Included | Meals, relevant dive/snorkel gear, computer and torch, air, bed linen, Cairns city transfers and the advertised dive insurance. |
| Nitrox | Operator package: AUD 140 per certified diver for the 11-dive programme. |
| Other spending | Private guiding, courses, sole occupancy, Northern Beaches transfers, extra drinks, flights and pre/post-trip accommodation. |
For a quote that excludes both published mandatory charges, the trip subtotal is base fare + AUD 125. Adding the operator’s Nitrox package makes that base fare + AUD 265. These are useful comparisons, not a full holiday total or a guarantee that every seller displays fees the same way. Rates and inclusions were checked on 9 October 2026.
Early start, afternoon return
Pro Dive recommends visiting its Grafton and Shields streets shop the evening before sailing for paperwork and equipment. The published trip starts with a 6am city-hotel pickup or 6:20am shop check-in, then departure at 7am. Return to city accommodation is around 4pm on day three. Northern Beaches transfers cost extra.
The final dive normally finishes by noon. Pro Dive requires a 24-hour interval before flying, so noon the following day is the earliest flight time on that schedule. An optional restaurant farewell dinner ashore costs extra. The direct-booking cancellation policy offers a refund more than 48 hours before departure; agent conditions can add separate fees.
What guests loved — and what could be better
These accounts concern the Pro Dive Cairns fleet programme; the reviewed departures do not consistently identify an individual Scubapro hull.
What guests loved
Kiauni P, reviewing on 6 October 2026, said the crew’s knowledge and support made a rough-weather trip rewarding. The equipment, meals and diving felt good value to that guest, even though conditions above water were challenging.
Joanna C’s 29 September 2026 review particularly praised the crew and food alongside colourful reef life. Alexander L, on 6 October 2026, described becoming comfortable with buddy navigation despite being new to unguided diving. Those are individual experiences, not a substitute for choosing an appropriate level of support.
What could be better
Rough and choppy weather appears in the reviewed accounts, including Kiauni P’s recent trip and Skye M’s February 2022 visit. Both still enjoyed the trip. No consistent recent vessel-maintenance criticism was established from this sample; shared bathrooms and bunk beds are booking trade-offs rather than guest complaints invented for balance.
When another boat might suit you better
OceanQuest is worth comparing if an en-suite bathroom or a one-night stay matters more than staying on one boat throughout. For the Ribbon Reefs or Coral Sea, compare the actual routes of Spirit of Freedom and Spoilsport.
Questions before booking Scubapro / Pro Dive Cairns
Is this a booking for one particular Scubapro boat?
The partner sells the Pro Dive Cairns programme. If the identity of the vessel is essential to you, obtain that assignment from the operator; the fleet has three sister ships.
Are the cabins en-suite?
No. There are 14 twin-bunk and two double cabins per vessel, with eight shared toilet/shower combinations.
Does this trip reach Cod Hole or Osprey Reef?
No. The regular programme uses Flynn, Milln, Thetford and Pellowe near Cairns. Northern Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea expeditions are different trips.
Are all eleven dives guided?
Guided orientation and night dives are included. Other dives are normally buddy dives, with private guiding sold separately.
What do I need to pack that is not supplied?
Two towels, personal clothing, certification card and any required medical clearance. Bedding and dive equipment are supplied; excess luggage can stay at the shop.
Can I learn to dive on the liveaboard?
Pro Dive offers beginner courses with the liveaboard component after the relevant preparation and training. The certified-diver trip by itself is not a substitute for completing those course requirements.
When can I fly after the trip?
The operator requires 24 hours after the final dive. With the published noon finish on day three, plan a flight no earlier than noon on day four.
What is the difference between Scubapro I, II and III?
Their published layout and regular reef programme are shared. Their build years are 1998, 2002 and 2004 respectively; booking one name does not establish that it has more amenities or a better itinerary.
Share your Scubapro review with the vessel name, travel date, cabin and highlights or limitations.
Editorial information checked 9 October 2026. This is a source-based update, not a new onboard inspection.
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.
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.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in 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
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Other Liveaboard Reviews in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
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.
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.
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.
MV Scubapro II
Photos: Pro Dive Cairns / LiveAboard.com. Fleet photographs show the shared boat style; individual interiors may differ.
MV Scubapro III
Photos: Pro Dive Cairns / LiveAboard.com. Fleet photographs show the shared boat style; individual interiors may differ.
Hello my name Chaz Christian. I am about to head over to Bali February 1 to become a Dive instructor. After that I am looking for work aboard a liveaboard. I’m 26 and very excited to further my career! If you are interested I can send you my resume with photos as well. I look forward to your response.
Thanks,
Chaz Christian
Best way you can ever hope to learn to dive! The boat is amazing, the eat-dive-sleep-repeat formula is perfect! The food was so great and there was huge amount of it… They could have rolled me out of the boat after the 4 days! Haha! Anyways, great people, top notch services and equipment. Diving was amazing and I am looking forward the next adventure!