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/ Nimrod Explorer
Note:
As of October 2008, Nimrod Explorer ceased operations. For
alternative excursions, please check out the following weblinks:
Nimrod
Explorer, a small 18-passenger liveaboard dive vessel, offers
divers the opportunity to explore Australia's magical Great
Barrier Reef, without the crowds. With its various itineraries
ex Cairns and scenic flights between Cairns, Lizard Island
and Lockhart River, there is something for every diver.
 Dive
Sites
On its standard itineraries, Nimrod Explorer will visit
the Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs or Osprey Reef in the Northern
Coral Sea. On extended special itineraries, you can visit
remote Far Northern Reefs such as the Great Detached Reefs
or Raine Island.
The regular Ribbon Reef excursion goes along the Ribbon
Reef section of the Outer Barrier Reef. Some of the dive
sites are world famous. These are some of the most frequently
visited sites: Dynamite Pass, Snake Gully, Pixie Pinnacle,
Steve's Bommie, Temple of Doom and the Cod Hole, were the
huge Potato Cods and Giant Maori Wrasse get fed.
More information is available about the diving regions visited
by Nimrod Explorer - Ribbon
Reefs, Northern
Coral Sea, and Far
Northern Barrier Reef
Vessel
Nimrod Explorer, a 23m motor catamaran, was the first vessel
on the Great Barrier Reef to offer dive cruises in relaxed
luxury.
Since the early eighties the Nimrod Explorer (then called
Nimrod III) has shown thousands of divers the beauty and
excitement of diving along some of the best dive sites on
the Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea. The new owners have
years of experience in providing first class dive cruises
and they have taken Nimrod Explorer even further in terms
of safety, comfort and service on board. With good dive
boats it is like with us people: we don't age - we mature!!
Accommodation
A maximum of 18 divers are accommodated in air-conditioned
cabins (three twin/doubles, three quad share). All cabins
have ensuite bathrooms Nimrod Explorer has:
- 1
master stateroom,
- 1
twin stateroom
- 1
twin/double midship cabin
- 3
quad-share cabins
The master and twin staterooms on the main deck are really
spacious and therefore usually the first to be booked, sometimes
even a year in advance. The Midship twin/double cabin is
situated on the lower deck midships on the port side. The
cabin has a double bed and a single bed.
Even
the 4-berth cabins have their private ensuite bathrooms
and offer more privacy than comparable cabins on other vessels.
  
Boat
Layout
 The
Nimrod Explorer offers various itineraries ranging from
4 to 8 days. Special excursions to remote Far Northern Reefs
are available during October/November each year.
Itin#1 Tuesday-Saturday
Cairns to Lizard Island:
Coral Sea & Ribbon Reefs Expedition, 5 days/4 nights,
3.5 diving days, up to 15 dives. Departs every Tuesday (check
in by 4 PM) from Cairns, disembarks every Saturday in Lizard
Island. Explore the best dives on the Ribbon Reef as well
as the isolated coral atoll, Osprey Reef, located 120 mi
off the Queensland coast. End your trip on a high note with
a scenic flight from Lizard Island to Cairns across the
Great Barrier Reef. Check-in on Tuesday is 3 PM.
Itin#2
Saturday-Tuesday
Lizard Island to Cairns:
Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs Expedition, 4 days/3 nights,
2.5 diving days, up to 13 dives. Departs every Saturday
from Lizard Island, disembarks every Tuesday in Cairns.
The
vessel 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. Check-in on Saturday
is 7 AM.
Itin#3
Tuesday-Tuesday
Cairns to Cairns:
Coral Sea, Ribbon Reefs & Cod Hole Expedition; 8
days/7 nights, 6 diving days, up to 28 dives. Departs every
Tuesday in Cairns, disembarks every Tuesday in Cairns. On
day 5, guests staying onboard for 8 days will have time
to explore Lizard Island whilst 5 day guests disembark and
4 day guests arrive on the island. Starts off with diving
the Ribbon Reef #9 dive sites before steaming to Osprey
Reef in the Coral Sea. After guest changeover on Lizard
Island, the cruise returns to Cairns diving various sites
in the Ribbon Reefs and the world famous Cod Hole. This
trip is a combination of itineraries #1 and #2! Check-in
on Tuesday is 3 PM.
Special
Excursions:
Great Detached Reefs, Raine Island, Lockhart River
(October and November)
These special expeditions to the section of the Great Barrier
Reef north of Lockhart River, on Queensland's Cape York
Peninsula, offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore
one of the most remote and pristine diving areas in the
world.
Other
Features
- PADI
Instructor on board, beginner courses only on special
request
- PADI
Advanced,
NITROX and SDI Solo Diving courses are offered for an
extra charge
- Fresh
water washing bins for cameras are provided on the dive
deck. Charging of batteries and storage of dry cameras
is done in the cabins. All cabins have enough power sockets
for 220/240V. Please make sure you bring your own adapters.
(There is only a limited number of adapters available
for emergencies!)
- Nimrod
does hire out Sea & Sea MX10 cameras with 2 interchangeable
lenses (macro and wide angle). No video cameras and housings
available for hire.
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