Nimrod Explorer Coral Sea & Ribbon Reefs Expedition - Itinerary 1

Destination Coral Sea and Ribbon Reefs – Cairns to Lizard Island

Duration 5 Day / 4 Night Itinerary, up to 15 Dives

Departs Cairns to Great Barrier Reef / Tuesday
Returns Lizard Island to Cairns / Saturday

The Tour

The Nimrod Exploreraccommodates 18 passengers in 2 double, 1 twin and 3 quadruple air-conditioned cabins with private bathroom and shower. All interior areas of theNimrod Explorer are air-conditioned and the wide, carpeted bow area serves as a comfortable quiet area. Above the dive deck, the aft covered decks with sun lounges, and seating offers comfortable open-air relaxation. TheNimrod Explorer features one of the largest dive decks in Australia,
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 includes 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 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 itinerary listed below is an example only and can and will change during the course of the trip.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Tuesday Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef

Guests meet at Explorer Ventures office at 206 Draper Street at 3:00 pm
At approximately 4:30 pm guests are welcomed aboard M.V Nimrod Explorer
An evening meal is served as M.V Nimrod Explorer steams out to sea
Anchor near first dive site between 2.00am and 3.00pm

Day 2 – Wednesday Ribbon Reef # 9

Orientation dive
A total of 4 to 5 dives are offered today, including a disk dive or night dive at dive sights such as lighthouse or monolith
Steam overnight to Osprey Reef

Day 3 – Thursday Osprey Reef

4 to 5 dives offered today, including night or dusk dives
Dive sites such as Raging Horn, North Horn and Castles

Day 4 – Friday Osprey Reef

4 day dives offered today
Dive sites such as Raging Horn, North Horn and Castles o
After dinner steam to Lizard Island

Day 5 – Saturday Lizard Island to Cairns

Guests disembark Nimrod Explorer by 8.30am for transfer to Lizard Island
Time for a short walk on the island before commencing your 50 minute low altitude flight back into Cairns at approximately 11.00am
Guests are met by Nimrod’s passenger transfer bus and transfers to Cairns City accommodation

Rates:

Prices valid from 1st January 2008 through to the 31st December 2009

Master Double Cabin AU$1895.00 per person
Midship Double Cabin AU$1895.00 per person
Twin Share Cabin AU$1895.00 per person
Quad Share Cabin AU$1345.00 per person

*All cabins are air-conditioned and have private en-suite

Inclusions:

Low-level scenic flight to or from Lizard Island
4 to 5 dives per day (weather permitting)
4 nights accommodation on board vessel
All meals whilst on board
All linen
Tanks & weights (gear hire available)
Non-alcoholic beverages (excludes canned soft-drinks_
Transport from Cairns office to vessel and return to Cairns City based accommodation at conclusion of trip

Additional Charges:

Reef taxes AU$22.00 per person
Full gear hire AU$115.00 per person
PADI Advanced course AU$160.00 per person
Fuel Levy

Fuel Levy:

A fuel levy was introduced on 1st October 2005 due to the significant increase of fuel prices in Australia. Explorer Ventures charge $15.00 per person, per day however this may fluctuate with the increase or decrease of fuel prices. The fuel levy is payable direct by passengers to Explorer Ventures on the day of travel. The fuel levy is not included in the cruise fare.

Cancellation Policy:

20% cancellation fee 30 days or more prior to departure.
30 – 59 days prior to departure 50% cancellation fee
No cancellations can be accepted less than 30 days prior to departure

*It is for this reason that we would recommend that the individual
purchase of travel insurance.

** In the interest of safety we recommend you do not fly within a 24 hour period after diving **

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