Products / Liveaboards / Australia / Nimrod Explorer

Note: As of October 2008, Nimrod Explorer ceased operations. For alternative excursions, please check out the following weblinks:

• Spoilsport
• Spirit of Freedom
• Taka

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.

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.