North Barrier Reef and Coral Sea

Overview

These Adventures have been operating for over 15 years to the Northern Great Barrier Reefs, Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea. Our brand new purpose-built dive vessel was launched in January 2004 setting a new standard in dive travel.

The famous Cod Hole attracts divers from all over the world combined with the Shark Feed at Osprey Reef is certainly a dive trip of a lifetime.

Osprey reef in the Coral Sea is one of the most spectacular dive sites in the world. Offering a diverse range of shark life all year round and pristine soft coral unlike anything you have ever seen before.

On our shark feed dive, you are more than likely to see anywhere from 10 to 70 sharks at a time. Some of our most frequent visitors include:

Grey reef sharks (AKA Grey Whalers), Black tip reef sharks, White tip reef sharks, Wobbegong sharks, Epaulette sharks and the larger Oceanic Silver Tip sharks. We have also seen the occasional lone Tiger Shark or Thresher shark cruising past and just recently an appropriately named Goblin shark. Hammerhead sharks can sometimes been seen at North Horn in late winter and into spring of each year.

From May to July we have the Dwarf Minke Whale Season each year. Passengers travelling during this time have the opportunity to contribute to the research of these whales. We team up with the James Cook University researchers, and record all sightings of these fantastic mammals. All passengers who have had interaction with the Minkes fill in a questionnaire, which helps to further research. Diving with these majestic creatures will be the most exciting and momentous experience of your life.

The amazing sightings are not limited to the Coral Sea, this year along the Ribbon Reefs the diving has been spectacular. Frequent sightings include various Nudibranchs, Manta Rays, Giant Australian Cuttlefish, Loggerhead and Green Turtles, Moray Eels, Red Flame File Shell, Lionfish and the best Marine life the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.

Itinerary

Friday

Complimentary pick-ups from Cairns City accommodation commence between 4:30pm & 5:00pm. Passengers arrive to your vessel at approx 5:10pm. Check in is then done by one of our experienced & friendly crew members.

The first evening we travel overnight 150km to the Cod Hole. During this time passengers organize their dive gear or hire gear. We also have a brief period of introduction followed by paperwork and a briefing on the schedule for the next day. Dinner is served at approx 7:30pm with the rest of the evening for relaxation.

Saturday

7:30am - Breakfast

8:30am, arrive at the Cod Hole, dive briefing.

Dive 1

Familiarization with the Cod Hole. Check out dive for those who have done less than 50 dives or have not dived in the past year. Likely Sightings include Giant Potato Cod, Moray Eel, Reef Sharks & Maori Wrasse.

Dive 2

Cod Feed at the Cod Hole- Close encounters with the Famous Potato Cod. Lunch

Dive 3

Pixie’s Pinnacle/Reef/Wall or Challenger Bay - Likely Sightings include Lion Fish, Nudibranchs, Garden Eels & Barracuda. Afternoon rest & snack.

Dive 4

6:30pm Night Dive at Challenger Bay - Likely Sightings include Cuttle Fish, Sea Turtles, Reef Sharks & Manta Rays.

8:00pm Evening Meal

Sunday

7:00am Breakfast

7:30am Arrive at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.

Dive 5

8:30am North Horn. Wall Dive with drop-offs to 100m. There is a fantastic variety of sharks swimming off the wall- such as Gray Whalers, White Tip & Black Tips, Hammerheads, A Giant Potato Cod and the occasional Bull Shark.

Dive 6

10:30am North Horn SHARK FEED. Divers observe this amazing spectacle from 15m sitting on dead coral palettes. The SHARK FEED can last anywhere from 5min to 30min depending on how many and how hungry the sharks are. Once the feed is completed, once the instructors gives the ‘all clear', the divers can leave the wall and continue the dive. Lunch

Dive 7

1:30pm Half Way Wall. Sightings include interesting coral formations, Feather Stars and Green Sea Turtles.

Dive 8

4:00pm The Entrance. Sightings include Puffer Fish & Clown Fish. Evening Meal

8:00pm Depart Osprey Reef and head back to the Great Barrier Reef.

Monday

7:00am Breakfast

Dive Briefing

Dive 9

7:30am Clam Gardens. Likely Sightings include Giant Clams (150-200 y/o)

Dive 10

10:00am Steve’s Bommie. Likely Sightings include Red flame File Shell, Stone Fish, Wobbegong Sharks, Turtles & Thousands of schooling Anthias. Snack

Dive 11

12:00/1:00pm Temple Of Doom. Sightings include Flatworms & Clownfish. Lunch followed by afternoon rest.

Dive 12

6:30pm Beer Gardens. Sightings include Sleepy Turtles & Parrot Fish.

8:00pm Evening Meal

Tuesday

Dive Briefing

Dive 13

6:30am Hogs Breath. Sightings include Angelfish & Clown Fish.

7:30am Breakfast

Dive 14

8:30am Split Bommie. Sightings include Octopus & various Butterfly Fish.

As we sail back to Cairns, passengers have plenty of time to rest and relax in between snacks and lunch. We then arrive back to Trinity Wharf in Cairns at 3:00pm. Complimentary transfers to local accommodation between 3:00pm and 4:00pm.

Further Information

Accommodation

View the vessel layout a features.

1x Master Stateroom, 5x Double/Twin En-suite Cabins, 1x Standard Twin Cabin, 4x Quad Share Cabins, all cabins air conditioned

What to Bring

• Dive Certification Card
• Hat, Sunscreen & Sunglasses
• a warm jumper
• a sense of humour (Smiles)
• Motion sickness tablets if you are prone to sea sickness
• Extra money for EMC, soft drinks, chocolates etc.
• Please notify us of any special dietary requirements you may have.
• An environmental management charge applies for all persons who are entering the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area. This charge is to be collected upon completion of the journey.

What's Included

• All linen, including two towels per person.
• Transfers to/from the vessel from Cairns City accommodation,
• Tanks, weights & Safety Kits (safety sausage with a whistle and cylume stick),
• Two night dives with torches, batteries and cylume sticks,
• free dive guide subject to instructor availability,
• Superb meals- freshly prepared onboard from dinner on the evening of departure to lunch on the last day,
• Snacks after every dive,
• Complimentary tea, coffee, Milo, water, cordial, biscuits and fresh fruit are available 24 hours a day.