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Dive & Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

Cairns

Outer Barrier Reef | Cod Hole | Coral Sea | Far Northern Reefs

Cairns: Liveaboard Trips (Overnight)
Nimrod Explorer, Nimrod - Itinerary A

5 days/4 nights departs Tuesdays (alternate)

Departs alternate Tuesdays from Cairns, disembarks alternate Saturdays in Cooktown
Cairns to Cooktown, 5 days/4 nights, 3.5 diving days – up to 16 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.

Cairns Cooktown diving 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.

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

Schedules

2006 - 2008 Schedule (Departure Dates)

Click here for itinerary

see also:

4Days/3Nights - itinerary B
Cooktown, Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs Expedition
Cooktown to Cooktown, 4 days / 3 nights, 2.5 diving days - up to 12 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

5 Day / 4 Night Liveaboard with Nimrod Cairns - Itinerary A

Inclusions

Prices

from $1345
see full price list below

Commences

alternate Tuesdays

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.

Cancellation Policy

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%

Opportunity for 16 dives, including up to 3 night dives
3.5 diving days
Non-alcoholic beverages
Low-level scenic flight from Cooktown to Cairns
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%)

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

Extras (to pay direct)

These include;

retail items (shirts, scuba accessories, etc.),
scuba instruction,
including 'Solo Diving' course
dive and photo
gear rental
Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax), Fuel Levy
alcoholic beverages,
crew gratuities, etc.

Prices

Room Type	Bathroom	Prices
			from 1st Jan 2008
Double / Twin	Ensuite		AUD$1895
Quad Share	Ensuite		AUD$1345
Gear Rental			AUD$115
Price valid until 31st Dec 2008

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

2006 - 2008 Schedule (Departure Dates)

Room types

Click on the image to enlarge (opens in new window):


Quad Share	Master Stateroom	Midship Twin/Double	Twin Stateroom

1 master stateroom
1 twin stateroom
1 twin/double midship cabin
3 quad-share cabins

All cabins are air conditioned and have ensuite bathrooms

sea fan

Itinerary A

Itinerary A: Cooktown, Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs Expedition
Cairns to Cooktown; 5 days/4 nights, 3.5 diving days; up to 16 dives.
Departs alternate Tuesdays from Cairns, disembarks alternate Saturdays in Cooktown.

DAY 1 - TUESDAY - CAIRNS

Guests meet at Explorer Ventures office at 206 Draper Street, Cairns, by 4:00 pm
At approximately 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm guests are welcomed aboard M/V Nimrod Explorer
An evening meal is served as M/V Nimrod Explorer steams out to sea

DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY

4 to 5 dives offered today, including a night or dusk dive
Orientation dive at Escape Reef or Ruby Reef
Dive sites such as Joanie’s Joy, Century Bay and Tak’s Mooring

DAY 3 - THURSDAY

4 to 5 dives offered today, including night or dusk dives
Dive sites such as Steve’s Bommie, Clam Garden, Lark Pass or Fantasia and Challenger Bay

DAY 4 - FRIDAY

4 dives offered today
Dive sites such as Pixie Pinnacle, Dynamite Pass or Snake Pit and the Cod Hole
After dinner steam to Ribbon No 5

DAY 5 - SATURDAY - 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

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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

2006 - 2008 Schedule (Departure Dates)

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:

Completion of standard liability release, as well as medical history form
Minimum Advanced Diver rating
Minimum 21 years of age
Minimum 100 logged dives (proof must be presented to the instructor).
Ability to complete a 200-meter surface swim in full scuba gear, without stopping.
In addition, the diver must be mentally and physically fit to complete the course.
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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Dive & Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

Cairns

Cairns: Liveaboard Trips (Overnight) Nimrod Explorer, Nimrod - Itinerary A

Meals

Solo Diving Policy and Courses

Cairns: Liveaboard Trips (Overnight)
Nimrod Explorer, Nimrod - Itinerary A