Rum Runner Cairns

Fantastic experience: Awesome experience, awesome crew, great food, and probably some of the healthiest and colorful reefs I've seen.

Fantastic experience: GREAT experience over two days and welcoming hosts/guides. Would definitely recommend them. Would suit anyone who want to experience diving or snorkeling at multiple sites in the Great Barrier Reef at a budget. Richard and his team did an amazing job to make sure people of all skill levels had the best experience. The boat has all the amenities required over the two days including food and drinks!!

Fantastic experience: Very good value. The snorkeling/diving was good (especially the turtle), the food was good, the dive support was good, and the sleeping anchorage was calm (very important for those of us who normally get seasick).

Fantastic experience: So. We had some windy, wavy weather. Visibility wasn’t as good as I’m sure it could have been. With that said, Richard and his crew took excellent care of everyone and did a great job of taking care of some folks that were having a hard time. Once at the reef, the waves calmed down and we all had a great time. This is a low cost trip with bunks and sandwiches. Some hot food too. Great value. Great, fun crew. Totally going out with them again if we are back in the area.

Fantastic experience: We booked the Rum Runner on a whim and I must say we had a great time. Lots of food and lots of great dive spots. We went to places that no other ships were going. Mind you we went on three different ships and this by far was the best as far as crew, dive spots and pure fun. We liked it so much we are going back next year and bringing our whole family for a private cruise.

Fantastic experience: I really enjoyed the trip on the Rum Runner. It is not a luxury boat, but it is everything there what you need. The Captain is also a really good cook (the dinner was great :-)) I was really happy, that we were on a small reef (3 different diving spots), so there was no other boat around and we could enjoy the great barrier reef in its beauty without being disturbed :-)

Fantastic experience: Had lots of fun on this 2-day dive trip. We did 6 dives around thetford reef with no other ships around and only 8 other guests. Exactly what we were looking for! Food was great and breathtaking sunset, stars and sunrise included!

Fantastic experience: Amazing time on rum runner. It was fantastic value for money and the boat is minimalistic but has everything you need for a trip out to the reef. All meals (plenty of food) and drinking water were included. Take any other drinks and you can keep them in the fridge. The dive equipment was all fully functional and as a certified diver you dive with a buddy (no guide) which was really cool because it meant you could just go explore the reef however you wanted and was great to build confidence diving. All dive sites were safe and easy to navigate, with the most amazing corals and fishies. At night the stars were the brightest I’ve ever seen we saw the Milky Way and lots of shooting stars. Sunrise and sunset over the ocean was another highlight. Would book again without hesitation!! Thanks to richard masa and Corey for a great trip.

Fantastic experience: Best dive boat in Cairns!

Fantastic experience: Other reviews encompass this wonderful Great Barrier Reef overnight experience already, and I'm not sure what else we can add but I'll try! The ship crew were fantastic, both professional in their work and fun as hosts of the trip, cooking delicious meals, leading us on introductory scuba dives (making us feel comfortable and confident, it being our first dives) and making everyone comfortable. This trip isn't for the faint of heart, though! It's raw, it's classic, an old boat that doesn't have luxuries. If you're looking for that, look elsewhere. But if you're happy to sleep in a tight cabin, be rocked around a little by the waves, and not have your creature comforts then this is the trip for you! They offer the best price for more budget-travellers, but even for those with a bit more money I'd recommend this crew for the authenticity they provide and adventure you'll have. 10/10 experience, would recommend to friends and anyone who reads this. (Review taken from my TripAdvisor)

Fantastic experience: Unforgettable Great Barrier Reef dive experience My partner and I did a 2-day/1-night liveaboard trip with Rum Runner Cairns and it was incredible. The crew was friendly and professional, the food was delicious, and the boat was spacious and comfortable. We did six dives, each in a different location on the Great Barrier Reef. The dive sites were stunning and teeming with marine life. We saw colorful fish, turtles. The night dive was also an amazing experience. We saw creatures we wouldn't have seen during the day, like fluorescent corals. The crew was amazing. They were friendly, helpful, and professional. They made us feel safe and ensured we had a great time. The food was another highlight. The chef prepared fresh, delicious meals that were perfect after a long day of diving. The boat was spacious and comfortable. There was plenty of room to relax and enjoy the view, and there was also bathroom with hot showers. We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend Rum Runner Cairns to anyone looking for an unforgettable dive experience on the Great Barrier Reef.

Fantastic experience: The crew were excellent; the boat was solid; the opportunity few get in a lifetime.

Fantastic experience: 2D/1N tour was excellent! We were a small group of 6, there was enough and good food, very relaxed crew. The 6 scuba dives we went as couples or whole group, there is no current and no other boats around. So also for fresh open water divers it's really fun, you don't get lost :) Don't forget to bring some beers for the beautiful sunset! This tour does not feel commercial as other tours, love it!

Fantastic experience: I went on an overnight trip to the reef with Rum Runner, and I had a great time! It’s a motor sailingboat, so it’s not the most luxury and spacious boat, but is has got everything you need! At night you sleep in small bunks, but they all have a comfortable pillow and clean sheets. The schedule allowed us to do 6 dives in 2 days, with enough time for good surface intervals. I really liked that the dive time wasn’t too limited; we were allowed to do 50min dives, and were encouraged to do long safety stops at the end of each dive, for extra safety. We also got told that the best part of the reef is the shallower part, and that was very true. This makes it a good tour for snorkelers as well! There isn’t always a guide available, and as a certified diver you’re expected to know how to dive with a buddy. I found that navigating the dive sites was quite easy, so this shouldnt be something to worry about. On our boat there was still a divemaster who took some people out that were a bit less confident diving without a professional. Because it’s a small boat with max 16 people on board there isn’t a lot of crew on board. They were all working really hard to make sure all our needs were met and we had a great time! I especially liked JP’s special fish show at night and him playing guitar after the night dive. The food was really good as well, every meal there was more than enough for everyone! Since there aren’t too many people on board and the boat isn’t very big, it was very easy to socialise and hang out with the others on board, that was definitely a big plus of this tour! I can really recommend this trip to backpackers and solo travellers on a budget, who like to meet new people and explore the Great Barrier Reef!

Negative experience: so bad stop with this company noob en slecht

Negative experience: really bad!!!

Negative experience: Really bad

Negative experience: Terrible dive school! Totally not safe!!! You know very well who I am. I did a night dive with you which was completely unsafe. No good communication. No guidance we could have been dead!

Negative experience: Worst dive school ever

Negative experience: Bad equipment and rude captain. Definitely a guest of you (2 day trip on Great Barrier Reef).

Fantastic experience: Unbelievable first experience on the reef thanks to the Rum Runner crew. Richard, JP, Massa and Tom were all absolute legends to spend 2 days with out on the yacht. Took us to some awesome sites and cooked incredible meals. JP's reef and fish show was bloody hilarious. Highly recommend this tour

Fantastic experience: Weren't able to go on the tour due to a missed flight but they gave us a full refund.

Fantastic experience: Excellent trip ...a real highlight of our trip in Australia....highly recommend and good value for money

Fantastic experience: Great crew so fun, big recommend

Fantastic experience: We had some issues with our flights to arrive in Cains and the crew was very helpful and understanding. Would 100% recommend!

Negative experience: NEVER go diving with this dive school. Two people (including me) got the DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS after diving with them. At the night dive they don’t do a safety stop. Probably they will react now on this review that they did a safety stop, but I got evidence. They signed my logbook where it said we didn’t do a safety stop and I recorded a phone call where the owner said we didn’t had to do a safety stop because we only went to 14 meters for half an hour. I was in the hospital for more then a week and then I had to recover for more then 3 weeks. In total it was more then a month busy with getting over my sickness. After I left the boat, I lost my sight. I saw everything blurry, saw double, couldn’t read anymore, saw nothing what was 1 meter away from me. I was dizzy, out of breath, pain in my body. Furthermore this is just a taxi boat. You don’t get a guide / dive master/ etc. to guide the tour. Only at the night dive you get an instructor to guide the dive (but didn’t even do a safety stop even when it was our 4th dive that day). I thought there was a guide in the first place, but under water everyone went there own way. For my feeling everything went really quick and not a descent dive plan. I asked questions about how to navigate underwater and the only thing you said: ‘just follow the sun’. How can I find a boat back without navigation skills and without a compass? Also i would like to say that my regulator was leaking all the time. I asked you twice about it and you just said don’t worry. No good material provided! I told them what happend and that I was in the hospital but they didn’t care. They just said what do u want from us. No compassion at all. They only talk about all the good reviews. I had to take a transfer to Townsville. There are the dive experts and decompression room. They said the dive schedule was not good at all!!! Very unsafe. Contact me if you wanna see the evidence. You can also contact the workers from the decompression room in Townsville because they had more people from this dive school. They tolded me this was one of the worst dive schools of Australia. Don’t get yourself fooled if they say they always got good reviews because there was one more person who ended up in the hospital with the decompression sickness!

Fantastic experience: Great experience! There are 6 dives in total, including one at night to try to spot the sleeping turtles, with a crew that will teach you more about the corals of the great barrier. Plenty of food and the sleeping arrangements are very comfortable. Thank you to Michael for guiding us throughout the dives!

Fantastic experience: We had a great time on the 2 day tour. We did the snorkeling only as we have a 5 and 7 year old. All the sites had great snorkeling. The crew were fantastic and gave us a great experience as a family. Plenty of good food and simple, but comfortable sleeping arrangements. Great value too.

Fantastic experience: Very nice experience on the rum runner for a 2D/1N cruise on the Great Barrier Reef. The crew (Richard,JP, Michael, Rina and Chris) was great. The food was really good. The accommodation is quite basic but we expected that so all good for the price you pay. The diving is quite intense (4 dives the 1st day and the 2 dives the second one) so you really get your money worth. We sometimes dived twice at the same spot. The sea was really rough that day. So if you're easily seasick, think twice :) Thanks guys!

Fantastic experience: The 2D1N snorkel and dive trip is an absolute must do! The reef is amazing and the crew were fantastic. A special shout out to Mike, who helped me as a first time diver to feel comfortable and safe even when I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do it. I loved every moment and am eternally grateful.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic trip shout out to Scuba Mike, Richard, Phill & Zeb for making it such a special trip!

Fantastic experience: Just had an amazing 2 day, 1 night trip to the great barrier Reef. I could not have asked for a better first time diving experience. The crew are amazing, very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, amazing food and a great atmosphere onboard.

Fantastic experience: A lovely trip with amazing crew and plenty of diving and snorkelling! We finished our open water course, another finished her advanced open water course and some tried introductory diving. There’s is something for everyone and this is by far the cheapest and best we have ever tried

Fantastic experience: What an amazing adventure ! Couldn't be happier about this 2 days spent with this funny and friendly team. Run away of big Tour operator and I advise you at 100% to book with rum runner ! You will be not disappointed. Great spots, freedom, fun, amazing food (thanks again Richie ) and you will leave with friends and awesome memories.

Fantastic experience: Super 2 day trip on the Great Barrier Reef. Richard and the crew were all so friendly and helpful and really wanted us to have a good time. There are 6 options to dive/snorkel so plenty to see. I hadn't dived in a long time but the staff were really reassuring and I felt super safe the whole time. The night dive was my favourite! There is also an opportunity to try diving for people that haven't done so before. We were fed really well (hot meals, plus snacks + tea/coffee and soft drinks/beer to buy, which were not expensive) and dietary requirements were catered for. Because it is a small boat, it can feel a bit cramped at times, this is not a luxury cruise! But it is insane value for money! I would recommend this company to anyone who wanted a close up personalised trip to the reef with knowledgeable, friendly guides.

Fantastic experience: One night out on the Great Barrier Reef with the Rum Runner, Captain Richard, Ebony, Bear and the other guests (who are now all friends) was incredible. I have come away with a yearning and passion to be back! The experience was far more sincere and personal and I would definitely recommend this over going on one of the large, fit-as-many-people-as-we-can providers. Rich and the crew were knowledgeable, very supportive and great fun. I would recommend this to everyone!

Fantastic experience: An all around great experience! Went with the whole family (9 and 10 years old) Crew were very professional. Even the ordinary weather couldn't put a dampener on the experience. The food was delicious and I amham surprised at how well we all slept.

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff!

Fantastic experience: Definitely recommend this trip. Did the 2day- 1 night trip. Friendly helpful crew, 5 dives & 1 nightdive. Good equipment, good food. Price-quality very nice trip!!

Fantastic experience: Had a great time, can't wait for our next trip!

Fantastic experience: Amazing day trip! The crew are very friendly and knowledgeable. Great value for money to dive the Great Barrier Reef! I know I'm hooked and will be rebooking another trip soon

Fantastic experience: Loved our one night, 6-dive trip with this crew. It was just perfect- the staff, the food, the fishes, whales and coral, the comfort and professionalism! Couldn't recommend it more.

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend this tour group. Did an overnight boat trip into the great barrier reef and it was such a great experience. All the food they prepared was delicious and the weather was also perfect.

Fantastic experience: Despite the mixed reviews, I gave Rum Runner a go and this is what I found. Firstly, I’ve been diving for 15 years and this is my 5th time diving on the Barrier Reef. The boat is as described - an oldish 20m motor sailing yacht. After chatting to the captain I learned the sail is for stability and I found the boat was stable and comfortable. The boat immediately felt intimate but never cramped. Quite a different feel to the large catamarans like Silver Sonic, Wavelength etc. One issue I’ve found with some of the larger newer cats is the constant diesel smell that somehow vortexes back inside cabin while cruising. Ok so it takes a little longer to reach the reefs, I didn’t really find this to be an issue and we still comfortably fit in 6 dives over 2 days (one of them a night dive) with food in between every single dive. Back at 3pm on the second day. They run a tight but well thought out schedule which was easy to follow and never felt rushed. I found the crew to be awesome, very friendly and accommodating. Captain JP was true blue and knew his stuff. He is very experienced and when a random mechanical fault happened to the diving tank filling hose occurred, he fabricated and improvised on the fly and had the mechanism fixed without a single delay, like it was an episode of deadliest catch! The crew were experienced divers that were doing their DMTs and a professional photographer. Due to the small numbers on the boat, this meant that although they weren’t necessarily 20+ year dive master veterans, we had small groups of 4 with our own personal underwater tour guide! They encouraged us to buddy up and explore if we desired or follow their lead which lead to some really good diving. (See the pics). Heather, Dom and Suzie thank you!!! - you guys were genuine and awesome and really made the trip! Food was great and absolutely no complaints from me. Seeing the captain salting up a couple of big bits of pork for roasting was something to look forward to! I eat everything but they also accommodated for vegetarians, vegan etc with every meal. In meal time crew will keep working and not touch a thing until every passenger has eaten - then they serve themselves before calling “seconds” which is thoughtful. I’d heard about the gear so I brought my own wetsuit mask and snorkel. From what I could see most of their gear was good enough. Never had an issue with my BCD. Did see a couple of holes in parts of some wetsuits (nothing really major) their fins and masks all looked completely fine. Boat has air con. It’s off at night as the generators are off. But they open the hatches to give you airflow. They have little fans in each room that can stay on. I slept like a log and I’m a light sleeper. Didn’t notice any bed bugs or get bitten. Clasping at straws for negatives - toilets were a little smelly at times but you’re not exactly sitting in there scrolling through your Instagram. Night dive could have been a bit longer. Bacon at breakfast to go with the eggs and all the sides!? Haha All in all it was a great trip and I’d do it all over again. If you’ve got some diving experience and want a good honest fun livaboard for a couple of days, Rum Runner is great. Value for money is unbeatable and it hopefully won’t be the last time I jump onboard!

Fantastic experience: Classic sailboat provided charm and a stable home on the reef for two days. Captain and crew gave a great personalized dive experience. We visited 5 unique and beautiful sites in 2 days. Equipment and food were more than adequate, crew including captain Rich friendly and competent. Great value ; would definitely go back .

Fantastic experience: Great boat diving trip! One of the best diving experiences I've ever had. It's more private with less people on the boat. The crew is friendly and the food on board is really delicious. To conclude, the whole trip was much fun and good education at the same time.

Fantastic experience: We are a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids (15 and 17). We really enjoyed our time on the Rum Runner! Richie was our captain, he was fantastic. The crew was great as well, especially Katie. A special shoutout to G who really took the time during our introductory dive to help my son when he had a problem equalizing. I would recommend Rum Runner to anyone.

Fantastic experience: My brother and I enrolled in the introductory scuba diving course. It was our first time so it was scary. But our instructor, Mike was extremely patient and helpful but at the same time he pushed us and encouragrd us so that we don't give up. We ended up 4 out of 5 dives and really felt proud of ourselves. Thank you so much to rum runner team! Definitely recommend them for your diving trips.

Fantastic experience: I would highly recommend a dive experience with Rum Runner. The crew went above and beyond our expectations. All required diving gear was waiting for us upon arrival, even for my son who is on the smaller side. The crew made sure we were well fed, and had wonderful diving experiences. All six dives were great in our two day sail. I would highly recommend Rum Runner.

Fantastic experience: We were a French family of 5 in August 2019.The young crew (under the watched of the experimented captain) was amazing. Nice weather and nice dives (6 among which a memorable night dive with an épaulettes shark) and one whale and several dolphins on the way to the dives from the boat. Meals were excellent. Crew were 6 and clients 7 : very cool atmosphere! Happy time on the Rum Runners!

Fantastic experience: The two day tour is a wonderful trip with a small group of very nice people with a lot of diving and the very special experience of spending the night on the reef. It is no luxury boat, but you won`t miss the luxury.

Fantastic experience: Recently took my 12yrs old Scuba Diving mad son on an overnight trip. Cannot say enough lovely things about this crew and Captain. Friendly, dedicated, encouraging and helpful. The boat is exactly as advertised, well loved, though clean and effective. Food was great and ample for all. Crew were so lovely to my newbie diver and he learned so very much on his 5 dives. We will be returning customers, for sure!!

Fantastic experience: Great budget trip. Crew/divemasters were great, very friendly and helpful. Captain stopped the boat when we spotted dolphins and whales so that we could get photos. Food was good, varied, and plentiful enough for the passengers. Crew ate after us. All scuba equipment was provided to the customers, including dive computers. Equipment was in great condition except for the wet suits, which were ripped and full of holes. Accommodations were fine, basic bunks plus a sheet. However the toilets were fairly gross and smelly after the first day, and the shower is literally above the toilet, so the bathroom floor is always wet with "something". I hope it was shower water... The diving was good, went to 4 different areas in 6 total dives. Saw plenty of animals. For the price, this was a good trip.

Fantastic experience: If you are looking for a secluded and private experience in the Great Barrier Reef along with an amazing crew, then look no further. We literally had entire reefs just for ourselves. The dives were spectacular. The crew was beyond amazing. Also, the captain is a good cook. Everything was perfectly organized and smooth. Loved it.

Fantastic experience: The best part of our honeymoon, a unique experience. It's not worth spending a fortune on bigger and more touristy boats. This sailboat gave us exactly what we were looking for: to learn how to dive in an incredible place, eat well, and be with pleasant people. The captain is genuine and also cooks deliciously! The food was amazing. The crew makes the trip enjoyable with how nice they are. Thanks to Jack, our diving instructor, we discovered a new world down there! Super patient with us and very professional (it was our first time diving). The rest of the crew, Jason, Bárbara, and Hanna, were wonderful and very attentive all the time, helping us with everything. We are delighted. 1000% recommendable.

Positive experience: A great experience for a diving baptism. Small crew, small boat, which allows to be well surrounded during diving and snorkeling outings.

Fantastic experience: We thoroughly enjoyed our stay on the Rum Runner. Staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend the Rum Runner if you plan to visit the Great Barrier Reef!

Positive experience: If I were to rate the diving experience itself, it would be 5 out of 5 stars. This is a budget trip so the limited space is expected and not disappointing. However, it costs $0 to be nice to someone and the captain didn’t seem to get the message. He was very rude and borderline abusive to his crew, who were all doing a great job. The captain embarrassed himself by yelling at him employees and negatively affected the trip. The pictures that you can pay for are amazing and I loved 5 out of the 5 introductory dives I’ve been on.

Negative experience: Disappointing scuba diving. If you want to see the dead great barrier reef, this is the tour. The standards are very low. Pro: the crew was great. However, I suspect and high turn over rate, they are working for a couple months only. The trip schedule is well organized and on time. Food was good. Cons: scuba diving equipment is in bad shape in general (except for the tank and BCD). The crew tries hard to give you the best they have (fins, wetsuits, mask, etc) but they simply don't have good stuff. Fins are not good and wetsuits are full of holes for example. The reef is basically dead. We went to Thetford Reef. Not worth the money.

Fantastic experience: Romantic old boat, ripping through the waves, a charming crew, and a delicious curry. Everyone took great care of the guests, in a very personal atmosphere, and let's not forget to mention the breathtaking sky... maybe brush up the breakfast buffet a bit.

Positive experience: I had an excellent experience on this boat. There wasn't too many of us, boat was nice and all was well organized. The food was incredible, proper meals like if you were at home and a large variety of things to fill you up. Guitar and singing after dinner, and a great 'fish show' by the.captain to tell you about the reef and what fish to find there. Took one star off, not really for the boat experience but for the diving in itself, out of 5 dives I only enjoyed 1, the last one which was truly incredible. I guess if its your first experience you'll love it, but if you've been to South East Asia, not so much. We stayed on one spot for the night where we did 2 day dives and 1 night dive, but it's a pretty... Boring site.The only reason why we did 3 there is because the boat can stay there overnight without hitting corals at low tide, but I even skipped one dive on this site. Overall a great experience nonetheless and a great value for money. It was good as there weren't a lot of people, great crew on the boat and last dive site was really fantastic... ticked the great barrier reef off the list!

Positive experience: 2 day one night diving trip in April - in general the trip was good value for money, offering 6 dives on a sailing boat. We had a fully booked trip with 16 guests and 4 crew (one of them a dive master) and a grumpy skipper. The dives were good value, the equipment safe but worn in places (wetsuit well worn and regular mouth price worn). The corals we went to were quite beautiful in most places but we got lost on one dive due as we were left to self direct as a buddy team. The food was plentiful, met all diets and impressive given the small kitchen area. The crew were lovely and energetic despite plentiful harsh words and telling off from the skipper which at times I felt dampened the atmosphere. I'm not sure the skipper was enjoying having to take guests out to the reef The boat was beautiful, we did a bit of sailing on the way back but it is a dive boat first and foremost. Good value for money at the discount price and would recommend to others. Thank you to the crew for their time and energy.

Fantastic experience: great trip, lol like other has said it, the skipper was grumpy but he can do almost everything! this trip is not for those who easily sea sick, but their price is unbeatable, a bit too hot for summer i guess, would recommend to go early springs. food was nice and plentiful. the reef was nice and alive, although sadly i didnt see any big fauna like turtles. would recommend if you want to spend more time on reef

Fantastic experience: Small vessel delivers real out on sea experience. Cooking is basic, as can be expected for the price and limited means, but overly nice and tasty for that matter. Crew was great and simply the best value trip in money for number and duration of snorkels/dives.

Fantastic experience: Had a fantastic experience with Rum Runner. This was my first time scuba diving and has got me hooked! Crew were very friendly and there was a great atmosphere onboard. Really enjoyed the trip and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking to explore the GBR.

Fantastic experience: We had a fantastic trip with Rum Runner!! Staff were very relaxed yet professional. Richard was very accommodating and flexible and we had an amazing time. Good food, great snorkeling/scuba diving, and even a few dolphin/whale sightings to top off one of the best weekends!

Fantastic experience: The Rum Runner tour is awesome! I had my first dive ever with them at the GBR and it was fantastic! I also went snorkeling and loved it. It was a lovely experience in total, would definitely do it again and would also recommend anybody to join them as well! Not to forget that the crew is the best! :)

Fantastic experience: I had an absolute great diving adventure with Rum Runner! They took us out to Thetford Reef to amazing sites, gave us the chance for a night dive and cooked amazing food. The boat is small and simple which I personally prefer and the crew is amazing too. Absolutely recommend going with them.

Fantastic experience: Exceptional crew. The whole time out at sea was amazing, the crew guided us through the reef. Every dive was relax and pleasent. The crew took care of us very well. The price for the 6 dive trip is unbeatable. I defeniy would recommend this dive crew to anyone. Next time I will be on for the shark dive as it is a little longer, with a few more dives.

Fantastic experience: The best experience I've ever had!

Positive experience: Went for the 2-day live-aboard to Thetford reef and did my advanced open-water certification (did 6 dives and a couple of short snorkels). The price was good, the boat was nice, the food cooked by the chef captain was fantastic, we had such amazing meals in the middle of the great barrier reef! The diving itself was pretty good. Wouldn't call it mind-blowing, because it did not blow my mind, but it was good --- lots of colorful fish, I saw a turtle, lots of corals (not as colorful as I had imagined, but huge variety of sizes and shapes and shades), and a variety of divesites including my first night-dive which was quite cool (saw some big night fish but no shark or octopus or something). The night sky out in the GBR is beautiful. Overall I'd give it 4.33 stars or so: good price, good experience. (Thanks again to Soaps, Jack, Jason, Odelia, Hanna, Masa, Rum, and others!)

Fantastic experience: We had such an amazing time at our trip to the great barrier reef. The crew was awesome and we had so much fun with them. They made really delicious food and it was difficult to leave the rum runner and its crew. Thanks a lot guys! I'll never forget those gorgeous diving spots.

Fantastic experience: Took my mom out who honestly isn't a huge fan of the water and yet she had a blast! Awesome crew, plentiful food. I would highly recommend choosing Rum Runner for your GBR trip! The small numbers they take out makes a huge difference to the whole experience (there were times where my buddy and I were the only ones diving). The captain has a lot of knowledge of the reef and a great story, he also picks the dive sites to avoid the crowds, only saw 1 other distant vessel the whole time. I'll be back!

Fantastic experience: Fantastic experience! I did the introductory diving tour, which meant I did five dives with the instructor over two days out on the Thetford reef. Really recommend the diving instructor (Jack), he was great and really put me at ease. Would also recommending trying a bit of the snorkelling, you can see some fantastic things both ways! The crew (Hannah, Nick and George), Diving instructor (Jack) and captain Jase are all brilliant, really appreciated the effort they go to in order to make it a fantastic trip! You're certainly fed well over the two days! I'd probably sum up the trip by a lot of diving, snorkelling, snacking and looking at ridiculous views. Staying out on the reef was an incredible experience. In short: It's a no frills, brilliant value group trip (up to 16 people plus crew). Would happily go again.

Fantastic experience: I recommend you to go diving with them, the boat is still family size, the crew is really very friendly, they speak French, English and Spanish and they are always available and smiling .... We eat super well ... They are super fly ... Good wind with this very nice team

Fantastic experience: I had a great weekend diving on a Great Barrier Reef. Crew was professional and friendly. Food was great too. There was only five divers on aboard and Rum Runner was only vessel on that part of a reef so it was a hasselfree and private diving!

Fantastic experience: A completely unique and unforgettable experience. If you're looking for a super generic, crowded, and impersonal Reef tour look elsewhere. The Rum Runner crew is incredibly knowledgeable and personable. You get incredible meals cooked by the captain himself, a small group setting, and unparalleled access to the reef. I hope to come back again.

Fantastic experience: We booked a trip March 10-11. What a great trip. The captain "Jace" was awesome. We had the time our life's. The food was great. The dive was great. They delivered a great memory for my wife and I. If you want a real down to earth crew and a great trip with great food and good times...well this is your trip! HAVE FUN>WE DID. thank you again JACE and crew!

Fantastic experience: Excellent time on the GBR with Jase and the crew. The captain/cook was colorful and interesting to talk to. Chelsea, Kelly and Jack were all super friendly and helpful. Loved that the boat was small and that our group was the only one on this section of the reef. Thanks Chelsea for getting me and my kids diving for the first time, we are hooked!

Fantastic experience: Nov. 23-24. Best “Thanksgiving” ever. Family of 4 (2 girls 15 and 18), Atlanta Georgia Snorkeling (and intro dives by the girls) With only 10 days in Australia, we really looked forward getting as much out of our 2 days on the reef as possible. The Rum Runner Cairns delivered. We had a great time and the crew was fantastic. The accommodation was basic as expected (like described on the website). However, above expectation were the crew, the reef, the food and the sunshine (re-apply!!!!) -Jason, thanks for a great time and good food! -Jen, you did a fantastic job introducing my daughters to diving. -Soap (-Sp?), Heather, Sabrina and Hanna, you truly made the time on Rum Runner Cairns great.

Fantastic experience: Ideal for young people looking to dive for the first time at a very affordable price!! The crew is very friendly and the captain is a great cook!! The diving instructor is excellent and very educational!

Fantastic experience: I had a wonderful experience during the 2-day, 1-night course of PADI Open Water Diver with ALWING. It was my first time diving in the ocean and staying on a boat, so I was quite unfamiliar with it all, but the staff were very friendly and kind, allowing me to successfully obtain my license. I made many mistakes and caused some inconveniences, but I appreciated their consideration in helping me focus on diving. The meals served in between dives were homemade and very delicious. I would love to use their services again if I have the opportunity.

Fantastic experience: It has an incredible price-quality ratio (don't spend a fortune on a boat for 30 people for no reason). The captain prepares very good dishes (he cooked a leg, among others). The diver instructor 'Masa' knows a lot and conveys a lot of calm. The crew is always in a great mood. Thank you very much, Captain Jase.

Fantastic experience: Such an amazing crew and an amazing experience!

Fantastic experience: Awesome team, awesome food and dives! Thank you guys!

Fantastic experience: Had a fantastic time on the rum runner. Food was excellent, the crew worked like a well oiled machine and seemed to really enjoy their jobs while being friendly and accomodating and the diving was very enjoyable. Great value and highly recommend.

Negative experience: Really unfriendly captain. And The most nasty thing on this horrobile boat there are many BEDBUGS. !!!!!!!! You should really book another boat there are many. The cabines are Not cleaned and it smells really bad. Its hot no A/C in The whole boat and you just want to leave

Positive experience: Great crew, grumpy skipper but was a great experience and good value for money. Really enjoyed the diving and snorkelling.

Positive experience: We booked the 2 day tour. If you are looking for a well organized diving trip on a motor boat, you will be fine. Food is okay. Crew was nice. Captain not to talkative/explaining what will be next. As I allready knew, I am not into diving. I tried to find a sailing opportunity and I thought snorkeling will be okay almost every where at GBR. If you expect fun while snorkeling and saiing look for other opportunities! The choosen spots at the GBR were not as colorfull and vibrant as expected for snorkeling. Nevertheless you could discover interesting things under water - but more by exident and by beeing patient. The crew should offer the snorklers a guide as well. At least for one time - just to make things aware to look for. Well - and it is less a sailing boot than a motorboat with additional sails wich helps to save fuel. So absolute no sailing fun.

Positive experience: Me and my friend did the Rum Runner tour and were very pleased with the crew and the boat, we also received plenty of food, which was delicious. The diving is very affordable and conducted by a knowledgeable instructor. However the reef was not as alive and beautiful as I expected it do be. Thus don't raise your expectations to high or you might be disappointed (Do not bother snorkling, really go for the dives or else it might not be worth it). I do recommend this trip, as I thought it was a great way to see the reef.