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 Cairns:
Liveaboard Trips (Overnight)
Nimrod Explorer, Nimrod - Itinerary B
4 days/3 nights departs Saturdays (alternate)
Departs alternate Saturdays from Cooktown,
disembarks alternate Tuesdays in Cooktown
Cooktown to Cooktown, 4 days/3 nights, 2.5 diving days – up
to 12 dives.
The Nimrod Explorer spends much of
her time between Cairns and Lizard Island, exploring the sites along
the Ribbon Reefs and introducing guests to the world famous
Cod Hole, often described as one of the best dive spots on
the Great Barrier Reef.
 The
Cod Hole is known for its resident family of huge potato cod which
enjoy protected status in the area, and have made this small section
of the reef their home.
They range in size from 25 to 60 kg (50
to 120 pounds). The diving depth at the Cod Hole varies from 10
to 20 metres on a sloping bottom that is dotted with high profile
coral heads and stunning coral
gardens.
This itinerary is designed for those who
prefer to do more diving
and less motoring between dive sites. The longest motoring stints
will be getting between Cooktown and the Ribbon Reefs, which will
be 5 to 6 hours on the first day, and 3 to 4 hours on the last day.Occasionally
there will be a shift for about two hours after the last dive of
the day, but generally the boat will be anchored for the night after
the days diving.
Though we 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.
Click
here for Schedule (departure dates)
Schedules
Click here
for itinerary
see also:
- 5Days/4Nights
- itinerary A -
Cooktown, Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs Expedition
Cairns to Cooktown, 5 days / 4 nights, 3.5 diving days - up to
16 dives
- 7Days/6Nights
- itinerary C -
Cooktown, Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea Expedition:
Cooktown to Cairns, 7days / 6 nights, 5 diving days - up
to 23 dives
| 4 Day / 3
Night Liveaboard with Nimrod Cairns - Itinerary B |
| Inclusions |
| Prices |
- from $1095
see full price list below
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| Commences |
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| Requirements |
- All divers must be certified by an internationally
recognised accrediting organisation.
- All divers must have logged at least one dive within
the 12 months prior to boarding the vessel, or participate
in a refresher course prior to boarding.
- Special flying
after diving rules apply
- Travel insurance is highly recommended.
- Soft luggage is recommended as it takes up very
little space when empty. Due to weight restrictions
on the low-level air flight, please limit the weight
of the loaded luggage you will be taking aboard the
boat to 20 kg/44 lbs; overweight baggage may
be assessed an additional charge.
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| Cancellation Policy |
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30% deposit to secure booking
Full payment 30 days before departure
- 90 days + - 10%
- 89-60 days - 20%
- 59-30 days - 30%
- less then 30 days - 100%
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- Opportunity for 12 dives, including 2 night dives
- 2.5 diving days
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Low-level scenic flight to/from Cairns and Cooktown.
- Sheets, towels and linens
- Three meals daily, plus snacks
- 4 to 5 dives per full day
- Use of tanks, weights, weight belts
- Transfers back to Cairns accommodation at conclusion of
trip
- Australian Government Tax (GST - 10%)
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| Not Included |
- Rental, instruction, or retail charges
- Alcoholic beverages
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
- Environmental Management Charge
- Crew gratuities
- Transportation to Cairns office on departure date
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| Extras (to pay direct) |
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These include;
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Prices
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Room Type
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Bathroom
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Prices
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from 1st Jan 2008
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Double / Twin
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Ensuite
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AUD$1595
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Quad Share
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Ensuite
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AUD$$1095
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Gear Rental
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AUD$95
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Price valid until 31st Dec 2008
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Gear Rental (payable
on board)
The vessel provides tanks,
weights and weight belts for your use. If you prefer
to rent the rest of your equipment from us, we have all of the equipment
you will need. Otherwise, the following items are the diver's responsibility:
- Certification Card (required to avoid a A$100 checkout fee for
certified divers)
- Diving Log Book
- Mask *
- Snorkel *
- Fins *
- Booties (if you wear them)
- Buoyancy Control Device (required)
*
- Regulator w / alternate air source (required)*
- Submersible pressure and depth gauges (required) *
- Underwater time piece (required)
- Dive Light *
- Dive Computer ( recommended ) *
- Wetsuit *
- Repair kit w/ spare parts
* Available for rent on board
Schedules
Room types
Click on the image to enlarge (opens in new window):
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Quad Share
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Master Stateroom
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Midship Twin/Double
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Twin Stateroom
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- 1 master stateroom
- 1 twin stateroom
- 1 twin/double midship cabin
- 3 quad-share cabins
All cabins are air conditioned and have
ensuite bathrooms
Itinerary B
Itinerary B - Cooktown, Cod Hole
and Ribbon Reefs Expedition
Cooktown to Cooktown, 4 days/3 nights, 2.5
diving days – up to 12 dives.
Departs alternate Saturdays from Cooktown, disembarks alternate
Tuesdays in Cooktown
DAY 1 -
SATURDAY- CAIRNS TO COOKTOWN
- Guests meet at Explorer Ventures’ Cairns
office at 1:30 pm
- Bus transfer to General Aviation airport for
3:00 pm 40-minute flight to Cooktown
- Guests are free to explore Cooktown (tours
are available) or relax on the top deck of the Nimrod Explorer.
Luggage may be kept on board until boarding time.
- Boarding time is 5:00 pm
- Introductions and vessel safety briefing.
- Dinner on board
- M/V Nimrod Explorer departs Cooktown at 19:30
- Arrive at Ribbon Reef 9 approximately at midnight;
anchor overnight.
DAY 2 - SUNDAY
- 4 to 5 dives
today, including dusk or night dives
- Dive Cod Hole, Lighthouse and Challenger Bay
DAY 3 - MONDAY
- 4 to 5 dives
offered today, including night or dusk dives.
- Dive Steve’s Bommie, Joanie’s and
Tak’s Drift.
DAY 5 – TUESDAY - COOKTOWN TO CAIRNS
- An early morning dive,
followed by another dive after
breakfast
- Depart for Cooktown at 11:00 am, with lunch
served in transit
- Arrive at Cooktown at 3:00 pm
- Bus transfer to Cooktown airport at 3:30
- Low-level flight to Cairns of 40 minutes duration
- Met by our passenger transfer service and
taken to Cairns accommodations
Click
here for Schedule (departure dates)
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Meals
Aboard the Nimrod Explorer, evening meals usually
consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef,
pork and fish. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, bacon, cereal,
toast. Lunches vary from soup and sandwiches to burgers, pasta,
assorted salads and quiche. All meals are served in the main saloon.
If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate
so on your application form so that we may provision the vessel
accordingly.
Schedules
Solo Diving Policy and Courses
Though diving solo isn't for everyone,
diving alone can be done safely by well-trained, experienced and
responsible divers. Scuba Diving International (SDI) recently
has formulated standards by which qualified dive instructors can
offer solo diving courses, and as of March 2004, all of the vessels
in the Explorer fleet will offer SDI solo diving courses on board.
Any solo divers diving off of our
vessels - including staff - must be both properly trained and
equipped. The equipment, training and administrative requirements
are extensive. If you would like to do a solo diving course during
your time with us, or to dive solo, you will need to be aware
prior to your arrival of the SDI requirements which we follow.
Please also recognize that not
all dive sites which we will visit may be conducive to solo diving,
due to weather, current, entry method, Marine Park regulation
or otherwise. There may be occasions where solo diving is not
allowed by the dive staff, based on their local knowledge of conditions
or dive logistics.
Solo Diver Course Requirements
Those wishing to take the SDI solo
diving course on board must meet the following prerequisites:
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Completion of standard liability release, as
well as medical history form
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Minimum Advanced Diver rating
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Minimum 21 years of age
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Minimum 100 logged dives (proof must be presented
to the instructor).
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Ability to complete a 200-meter surface swim
in full scuba gear, without stopping.
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In addition, the diver must be mentally and
physically fit to complete the course.
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Instructors have discretion in determining
whether a candidate qualifies on these points.
The solo diving course consists
of a class session emphasizing equipment and planning, as well
as two dives. Each dive must follow the dive plan discussed before
the dive or the student must do an additional certification dive.
During each solo dive, the equipment requires specified below
must be met.
Requirements - Certified
Solo Divers
Divers wishing to dive solo, who
have previously been certified to do so, are welcome to dive solo
off of an Explorer vessel. The follow requirements must be met:
Solo divers must present proof
of their certification. Solo divers must carry a pony bottle (not
a Spare Air or similar device) or independent or isolated-manifold
twin tanks, whistle, knife, compass, and signaling device deployable
from safety stop depth (safety sausage or dive flag on a reel,
for example).
All solo divers must file a dive
plan for each solo dive with the dive staff on board, and adhere
strictly to that dive plan.
Costs - Nimrod Explorer, Australia
Solo Diver Course - A$150, not
including manual - payable on board
Equipment Rentals - from A$40,
for shorter itineraries (includes all additional required equipment)
- payable on board
If you might be interested in the
solo diving course, please make note of it on your application
form so that we can ensure that the rental equipment will be available.
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