Something very special is about to unfold in our serene corner of the world - an adventure that promises to change your perspective of the underwater realm of the Great Barrier Reef.

Hold your breath as Blue Dive Port Douglas is unveiling an exhilarating and unique opportunity; night dives right within the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

Imagine floating in a world without sunlight, where everything is in shadow and has a mysterious feeling. You might even see creatures like octopuses and eels that are rarely seen during the day.

Mark Fraenkel, owner of Blue Dive in Port Douglas, Cairns, and Fiji, has over 30 years of diving experience and understands like no other that night diving is unlike any other scuba experience.

“The calmness of night diving is unmatched,” Mr Fraenkel shared. “While it may seem daunting, once you're in the water, guided by our safety-conscious experts at Blue Dive, it's peaceful and serene.

“Especially under the full moon, when the underwater world can be revealed without torchlight, the experience is truly breathtaking.”

Black Magic

Commencing this September, these exclusive private night dive charters will take place aboard the ‘Black Magic’, a vessel renowned for its role in sport fishing under FNSF-Nomad, now venturing into the realm of diving.

The concept emerged when the 'Black Magic' idled at the marina. Recognising the absence of night dives in Port Douglas, both FNSF-Nomad and Blue Dive saw the perfect opportunity to launch this initiative.

The 40-foot Black Watch can accommodate up to seven guests on the night dives but numbers will be restricted to four for extra comfort. It boasts hot showers and serves exquisite sushi meals from Seashells Seafood.

“Our focus is on providing a personalised experience for private groups of up to four divers, offering a premium adventure,’ Mr Fraenkel said.

“Initially, we'll be offering day trips with the potential for live-aboard tours in the future.”

Diving into the night

The night dive journey will start with Black Magic leaving the Port Douglas marina in the afternoon, gliding into the sunset while offering magnificent views of the dividing range.

“We'll start with a twilight dive to get used to it, have dinner, and then experience a night dive after sunset,’ Mr Fraenkel explained.

“During twilight, there's a shift change as daytime creatures rest and nocturnal animals come to life like harmless white tip reef sharks, beautiful anemones, active crabs, and eels.”

Jess McQueen, who is one of the dive instructors at Blue Dive, added to this by highlighting two mesmerising sights unique to night diving.

“You'll see sea turtles winding down for the night, taking their last breath of the day before sleep,” Ms McQueen shared. “They find a cosy spot for the night, semi-hibernating. It's truly amazing.

“And then, there's the breathtaking bioluminescence. Tiny plankton emit a neon glow in the dark when they move.

“To see it, you dim your flashlight and gently move your arms in the water. You'll witness a magical show of glowing plankton.”