<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15524680#post15524680 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tremont
How did you like reefquest in terms of cost/value?
I'm planning a Dive Trip to the GBR for my next vacation and I am looking for a good all inclusive live aboard type outfit to go with.
Thanks.
I thought it was a great value. I spent 5 days / 4 nights on the boat, and the total as I think $920 AUS, plus $75 AUS in port charges and taxes, so just under $1000 AUS in total. At the exchange rate back then, it worked out to about $800 US, which makes it about $160 per day. Considering that includes a place to sleep, food (lots of it), air fills, all your equipment (though I took my own), it's pretty cheap. The only thing I spent a little extra on was a couple T shirts and a few beers in the lounge during the evenings. They even provide transportation to and from your hotel if your staying in Cairns for no extra charge.
I was told that the reef up north is in better shape, but those trips cost significantly more, as well as just didn't fit my schedule. And overall from my photos you can see there is plenty to see on the reef here too. The nice thing with the OceanQuest is they have a day boat called the SeaQuest which they use as a transfer boat, and it goes out and back every day, so you can go out any day of the week, and come back any day as well. Makes it very flexible to fit any schedule. The boats up north usually leave once or maybe twice a week, and I just couldn't get my work schedule to fit them, unless I wanted to stay another week, which I would have, but I couldn't afford to stay gone that long (considering I didn't bring the family along, it was a "business trip").
As for the boat, it's roomy, I never really felt cramped, but then I spent about 5 hours a day in the water not counting the time to get geared up and down before and after each dive. The rooms are decent sized, I was in a twin share room, so two twin beds, a small desk area, a couple decent sized closets, and a private bathroom with shower. Not bad for a dive boat. The room had a TV, but I never turned it on. And they have a nice flat panel TV in a nice big comfortable lounge on the top deck. The food was always hot, never just a cold sandwich while on the Oceanquest and was plentiful. Usually there was more than enough that if you wanted to go back and get more you could. The cook on the boat did a good job with having a wide variety, at lunch sometimes he would have 3 or more different choices. Dinner was usually more of a single entree, but still was good. And we had a dessert waiting for us after the night dive as well. Dive deck wasn't too crowded most days, and they do pretty well keeping any classes offset either getting ready early or later than the other divers so it isn't too crowded. I took my own dive gear, but I didn't see anyone complaining about what they had to offer. They include dive computer as well in the price, so no extras there either. They do charge $15 per person if you want a dive guide, but I never used one. They gave very good dive briefings with a detailed map drawn out to show the site and where to look for different things. They will require you to use a guide on your first night dive if you haven't done a night dive (anywhere) before. The crew was very friendly and helpful, to the point where after being on the boat for 5 days I felt like they were old friends.
So overall, to me a great value. I've paid over $100 for a two tank boat dive in the Caribbean. On this trip I got in a total of 22 dives in 5 days / 4 nights (4 on the day out, 5 on full days on boat, and 3 on day departing). So not bad cost per dive at all.
