Cairns: Liveaboard Trips (Overnight)
Nimrod Explorer, Nimrod - Itineray C

8 days/7 nights departs Tuesdays

Departs alternate Tuesdays from Cooktown, disembarks alternate Mondays in Cairns
Cooktown to Cairns, 8 days/7 nights, 6 diving days – up to 28 dives.

The Nimrod Explorer spends much of her time in the area of the Ribbon Reefs far north of Cairns, introducing guests to the more remote areas of the Great Barrier Reef inaccessible with day operators.

This itinerary also adds in two days diving at the isolated coral atoll, Osprey Reef, located 120 miles off the Queensland coast. Known for its big animals and excellent visibility, Australia’s Coral Sea is a pristine area that delivers diving memories lasting a lifetime!

Following a day of diving along the northern Ribbon Reefs, an overnight steam delivers you to the idyllic Osprey Reef and 2 days at sites such as ‘North Horn’, with its big shark action, abundant reef inhabitants, and spectacular soft corals often exceeding 2 metres in height. Here you will find dynamic wall diving with sharks, beautiful soft corals and shoals of pelagic fishes

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
• 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

Prices

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

Itinerary C

Itinerary C: Cooktown, Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea Expedition
Cooktown to Cairns; 7 days/6 nights, 5 diving days – up to 23 dives
Boards alternate Tuesdays in Cooktown; disembarks alternate Mondays in Cairns.

DAY 1 - TUESDAY, 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 available) or relax on the top deck of the Nimrod Explorer. Luggage may be kept on board.
• Boarding time at 5:00 pm with introductions and a vessel safety briefing.
• After dinner, M/V Nimrod Explorer departs Cooktown at 19:30 and arrives at Ribbon No 9 at midnight, where she will anchor overnight

DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY, DIVE THE RIBBON REEFS 9 & 10

• 4 to 5 dives offered today, including night or dusk dives.
• Dive sites such as Pixie Reef, Challenger Bay, Dynamite Pass
• Depart for Osprey Reef about 9:30 pm

DAY 3 – THURSDAY OSPREY REEF

• 4 to 5 dives offered today, including night or dusk dives
• Dive sites will be selected according to the conditions on the day

DAY 4 – FRIDAY

• 4 dives offered today, including a dusk dive.
  Dive sites will be selected according to the conditions on the day
• After dinner, return to the Ribbon Reefs at 8:30 pm

DAY 5 - SATURDAY

• 4 to 5 dives offered today, including night or dusk dives

DAY 6 - SUNDAY

• Dive Clam gardens, Steve's Bommie and Escape Reef
• Depart for Cairns at 6:00 or 7:30 pm (Approx 8 hours motoring to Cairns)

DAY 7 – MONDAY MORNING.

• Guests disembark the M/V Nimrod Explorer by 8:45 am for bus transfer to inner city accommodation

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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)

• 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.

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