Nimrod Explorer - 7 Night Outback Ocean Adventure

This liveaboard diving experience to the remote area north of the Lockhart River on Queenslands Cape York Peninsula, offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore one of the most pristine diving areas in the world.

This unique itinerary offers the best of the sites that we have found on previous expeditions, as well as the chance to experience reefs never before visited by divers.

Divers will be astounded at the diversity and colour of the easily accessible, pristine coral reefs in shallow water.

Though you are normally able to do four to fives dives daily (including night dives), the remoteness of the area means that weather and tidal considerations sometimes unexpectedly and adversely affect certain sites. The following itinerary is an example only, and can and will change during the course of the trip.

Itinerary

Day 1 Cairns to Lockhart River:
Guests meet at Explorer Ventures' Cairns office at 07.00 with the bus transfer to General Aviation airport for charter flight to Lockhart River departing at 08.30. Arrive at Lockhart River by approximately 10.30. 4WD transfer from airstrip to M/V Nimrod Explorer at Portland Roads, brunch provided enroute. Depart Portland Roads by 14.00 (please note- the vessel must rendezvous with a Mothership to take on essential fuel and food supplies today. Delays due to weather and tides may sometimes be experienced, and may determine if the 2 scheduled dives today can be offered.) Lunch served on way to the first dive site. 2 dives are offered today, including the orientation dive, at Lagoon Reef. After dinner, the boat will steam overnight, heading to Raine Island.

DAY 2 Raine Island:
4 to 5 dives are offered today, including a night or dusk dive. Spend all day diving around Raine Island. Raine Island is the world's largest green turtle rookery and is also an important nesting place for thousands of gannets, terns and frigate birds. You can expect to see green turtles, sharks and a huge variety of reef Life.

Day 3 Great Detached Reef:
4 to 5 dives are offered today, including a night or dusk dive. Today you explore the Great Detached Reef, diving the walls and pinnacles of this unique reef system. The Great Detached Reef offers an ecosystem which is unlike the Great Barrier Reef and yet unlike the Coral Sea Atolls. It is an interesting blend of the two reef systems, and very exciting diving is found here.

Day 4 Great Detached Reef:
4 to 5 dives are offered today, including night or dusk dives. Today you will shift to the southern sector of the Great Detached Reef and then, weather permitting, on to the outer walls of Wishbone Reef. Here you can find caves and walls covered in soft corals and gorgonian fans, sharks, turtles and colourful reef life.

Day 5 Great Detached Reef:
4 to 5 dives are offered today, including night or dusk dives. Dive around the deep walls of black rocks with the resident silvertip sharks and turtles, then over to Lloyds Reef for dives within its superb untouched coral gardens and more sharks. After the night dive, we move south to anchorage close to the next day's diving at Southern Small Detached Reef .

Day 6 Southern Small Detached Reef:
Southern Small Detached Reef is actually remnants of an undersea mountain. Rising from depths of over 1,200 meters, it is crowned by a beautiful coral atoll. Look for silvertip sharks and dogtooth tuna; in the shallow waters you will find the giant clams and puffer fishes. 3 dives at Southern Small Detached Reef, then head back into the Barrier Reef for safe anchorage and a night dive at Log Reef.

Day 7 Long Reef:
3 day dives are offered today, at sites such as The Swimming Pool and Picasso's at the beautiful Hibernia Reef complex. Rich coral growth with abundant and diverse fish life are found in this area. The last dive will be completed by 14.30 and lunch is served on the way to Portland Roads, where we spend the night on board.

Day 8 Lockhart River To Cairns:
Guests disembark the M/V Nimrod Explorer by 08.30 at Portland Roads. 4WD transfer to the Lockhart River airstrip for charter flight to Cairns, departing at 11.00. Arrive at Cairns General Aviation airport at approximately 13.00.

Accommodation

The spacious Nimrod Explorer accommodates only 18 guests in two double cabins (master or midship double), one twin cabin and three quad share cabins, each with air-conditioning, portholes or windows and private bathroom. All bed linen is provided including bath and deck towels.

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Dining

Meals onboard Nimrod Explorer are varied and plentiful offering hearty breakfasts, snacks between dives, buffet or hot lunches and full sit down dinners are the daily fare. A selection of beverages is always on hand and beer and wine can be purchased on board.

Vessel Details

The Nimrod Explorer carries six crew including the Captain, Engineer, two Dive Instructors, Chef and Host/Hostess. All dive staff members are trained by the certifying agencies in the most current emergency medical procedures as well as in water rescue techniques.

Nimrod Explorer is a sturdy 22 metres (72 foot) steel-hulled catamaran, designed for comfort, effortless diving and long range expeditions. Each week, the Nimrod Explorer visits dive sites ranging from less than six meters (20 feet) to 40 meters (130 feet) deep. Water temperatures range from about 22°C / 72°F in July to 28°C / 84°F in February, and visibility is generally between 18 to 25 metres (60 to 80 feet) - and is normally much greater in the Coral Sea.

Vessel: M/V Nimrod Explorer Length: 72 feet / 22 metres Beam: 26.2 feet / 8 metres Draft: 5.5 feet / 1.65 metres Cruise Speed: 9 knots Safety Equipment: Automatically-deploying inflatable life raft, life vests, fire suppression systems, emergency lighting, EPIRB Ship's Electricity: 220 VAC Communications Equipment: VHF and SSB radios, satellite telephone Navigation Equipment: Global Positioning System units, radar, autopilot, LCD depth sounder/recorder Fresh Water: 2 reverse-osmosis watermakers, 1,500 gallons per day, 1000 gallon Storage

Facilities

Entertainment centre with TV CD/video library Large air-conditioned saloon Spacious bow and sundeck Airconditioned cabins

Activities

Nimrod Explorer's spacious dive deck is equipped with individual gear lockers, camera table, 240v recharging station (120v transformers available on request), air filling station, tank racks and a separate freshwater rinse bath for dive equipment and cameras, as well as a wetsuit hanging area and freshwater shower. Steps lead down to the dive platforms themselves, where two in water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water.

Nimrod Explorer carrier emergency medical supplies, oxygen, ship to shore radio and satellite telephone.

Equipment: tanks and weights are supplied. Most dive equipment, including regulators, B.C's, dive computers, dive lights and underwater photo equipment are available for rent onboard.

Certification: all divers are required to have current open water certification card onboard from a major certifying agency.

Snorkelers: onboard Nimrod Explorer can also experience the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with the different coral formations and a multitude of tropical fish life to see. Dwarf Minke Whales are often found throughout the waters north of Cairns from May through July; guests often can snorkel with the whales, as they have inquisitive natures and will approach the vessel both at dive sites and as we steam from site to site. Snorkelers are welcomed aboard Nimrod Explorer and receive a 10% discount off advertised rates.

Dive & Reef Destinations

From Nimrod's base in Cairns the Nimrod Explorer winds her way north along the Ribbon Reefs to the world Renowned Cod Hole.

Stretching from Port Douglas to Raine Island in the Far North, the Ribbon Reefs line the edge of the Continental Shelf. On the eastern side they drop to incredible depths of over 1,000 metres, while on the sheltered western side you will find pristine coral gardens with over 250 species. Additionally, more than 1,000 species of fishes and over 4,000 invertebrates live and thrive in this remote area. The coral cays provide sanctuary to more than 215 species of seabirds and nesting grounds for five of the world's seven species of sea turtles. Being on the edge of the Coral Sea, these reefs have better than average visibility and the best diving of all the Great Barrier Reef.

Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs: Explore the world famous Cod Hole, home to a group of giant Potato Cod. Dive amidst spectacular bommies, pristine coral gardens and thrill at the incredible beauty and unbelievable array of marine life on the Ribbon Reefs - a real treat for any keen photographer.

Osprey Reef & Coral Sea: Known for its large pelagics and excellent visibility, Australia's Coral Sea is a pristine area that delivers diving memories to last a lifetime! Following a day of diving along the northern Ribbon Reefs, an overnight steam delivers you to the idyllic Osprey Reef and sites such as “North Horn”, with its big shark action, abundant reef inhabitants and spectacular soft corals often exceeding two metres in height.

Far Northern Reef Adventures: These expeditions to the sections of the Great Barrier Reef north of Lizard Island and/or Lockhart River, offer unparalleled opportunities to explore some of the most remote and pristine diving areas in the world! Fans of the large pelagics won't be disappointed! Reef environment lovers will be astounded at the diversity and colours of the easily accessible, pristine coral reefs in shallow water (October - December only).

Dwarf Minke Whale Expeditions: May through July, the Dwarf Minke Whales can be found throughout the waters north of Cairns and Nimrod Explorers special Dwarf Minke Whale Permit allows their guests the chance to interact and observe these magnificent creatures at close range.

Highlights

5.5 days diving - up to 27 dives offered Great and Small Detached Reef Low level scenic flight to Lizard Island

Inclusions

Low-level scenic flight to and from Cairns Non alcoholic beverages Sheets, towels and linens Three meals daily plus snacks Four to five dives per full day Use of tanks, weights and weight belts Transfer back to Cairns accommodation at conclusion of trip

Getting There

All guests meet at the Explorer Ventures office in Cairns on the day of departure and are transferred via bus, either to the vessel itself, or to the airport for a low level flight to Nimrod's location. Returning guests are transferred via bus from the vessel or airport to inner city accommodation.

Times

Availability of cruises will be confirmed upon booking.

Additional Information

Instant Quote: Provides rates in Australian Dollars including GST
Excludes: Environmental Management Charge (EMC) payable onboard, dive instruction, camera rental and retail charges, alcoholic beverages, transport to Cairns office on departure date, crew gratuities, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, Lockhart River air transfer.
Operated by: Explorer Ventures.