Speedy & stable Nimrod Explorer sails the colorful Coral Sea
& is one of Australia's best liveaboard dive vacation packages.

M/V Nimrod Explorer cruises the Coral Sea
& the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

MV Nimrod Explorer - {Great Barrier Reef/Coral Sea departs from Cairns or Cooktown, Queensland, Australia} This fully air conditioned 70' motorized vessel can accommodate 18 passengers in 2 master staterooms with ensuite toilet and shower, and 3 quad cabins, each with ensuite facilities. With a beam of 26'4", the double hulled vessel allows for a spacious, comfortable ride. The lounge area has a TV and VCR, an entertainment console with stereo that is equipped with a CD and audio cassette player-recorder, and a large dining table with seating for all the passengers simultaneously. The boat is equipped with a clothes washer and dryer, plus irons for those who are more fastidious. An upper sun deck and a lower open-air deck, that includes a dive-deck, provide plenty of room for relaxation. Equipped with 16 air tanks for divers, a Bauer compressor provides refills quickly between dives. Itineraries from January through August include Cod Hole, the Ribbon Reefs and Osprey Reef for 5 and 6-day dive trips with about 4 dives per day. Whole boat charters are available.

When we heard that Clay McCardell, longtime friend & colleague who owns the popular Caribbean Explorer, had purchased the Nimrod live-aboard a couple years ago, we got rather enthused.  We knew this meant glad tidings for serious divers bound for the Queensland sector of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, & the virgin Coral Sea as well.  Here is why, amigos del mar.  Clay's live-aboard, Caribbean Explorer, has been voted year after year by readers of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine, Bible of the Sport, as the best dive vessel in the greater Caribbean. Some years she's a runnerup, but always near the top of the A List on the important dive travel surveys.  With Clay's penchant for superior service, affordable prices & meticulous management, we are certain he is going to make the Nimrod hit the same customer-satisfaction mark in this new Millennium.  Here is what we have learned about the newly renamed Nimrod Explorer, New Kid in Town on the Coral Sea diving scene. Now more choices in Australia live-aboards.

The Nimrod Explorer began Australia diving operations along the Great Barrier Reef in the late 1980s, & as the Nimrod III, spent over ten years sailing from bases such as Cooktown & Port Douglas before being based in Cairns in 1994.  Purchased by Explorer Ventures Ltd. in 1999, Nimrod Explorer & her staff now offer guests regular & exploratory itineraries in an area in which she pioneered diving.  The saloon includes TV, video, stereo, dining table, bar fridge & corner lounges.  There is a BBQ located on the shaded upper deck, & the spacious bow is a great spot to catch the sun.  Being a catamaran, Nimrod Explorer is spacious & very stable, & is an excellent way to explore the Great Barrier Reef.  The dive deck has a freshwater shower & freshwater rinse bins for equipment.  Gear lockers are located beneath the tank rack for easy storage of equipment.  Two ladders access the dive platform, where two additional in-water ladders hang for easy access to & from the water.  No cattle boat backups on this fine Coral Sea diving vessel, as one finds on the cheaper Australia live-aboards. Scuba vacations on the Nimrod are a class act, mates. Fair dinkum fun when you are Australia diving.

SCUBA DIVING from the M/V NIMROD EXPLORER:
There is no “best” time of year for Great Barrier Reef diving.  Each month brings something different, from manta rays during November through April, to the coral spawn in November, to the rare dwarf minke whales in June & July.  Water temperatures range from 22°C in July (72°F) to 28°C in February (84°F).  Due to the large selection of dive sites, we can usually avoid sites with strong currents.  Underwater visibility can range from 15 meters (50 feet) to well over 30 meters (100 feet); while visibility along the Great Barrier Reef can vary a bit more due to rainfall & water temperature, the visibility in the Coral Sea is consistently excellent year-round.  Dives are made from the vessel itself, taking advantage of the easy-access dive platform & other on board amenities.  Entries are usually made from the dive platform, just a few inches from the water, a welcome amenity on the best Australia live-aboards. G'dye mate; this is one fine way to go Australia diving.

SAFETY STANDARDS REQUIRED by the NIMROD DIVE CREW:
To ensure your safety, the vessel divemasters require the following of all diving clients:

• All divers must be certified by an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
• All divers must have logged at least one dive within the 12 months prior to boarding the vessel, or participate in a refresher course prior to boarding.
• All divers must adhere to the buddy system, standard on most Australia live-aboards.
• All divers must log in & out of the water with a member of the diving staff.
• Each diver must have a submersible console & timepiece.  Computers are OK.
• On night dives, each diver must wear a cyalume lightstick or marker beacon.
• Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions.  The maximum depth is 130 feet.
• Diving activities must cease when the consumption of alcohol begins. Period. This is an unwritten commandment of dive travel the world around, especially on good Australia live-aboards.

WHAT GEAR to BRING to the LAND of OZ (Great Barrier Reef diving):
Packing for a live-aboard trip is much easier than packing for a land based holiday.  The climate doesn’t require much more than shorts, T-shirts & swimsuits.  A warm shirt for the evenings is advisable, & a light raincoat may come in handy.  From June through August, a sweater is advisable. Suncream, sunglasses & a hat are recommended at all times.  Depending on your travel plans, you might find clean but informal attire advisable for evenings in Cairns or other destinations during your holiday; if you are planning inland excursions, be sure to bring the appropriate attire.  Soft luggage is recommended as it takes up very little space when empty.  If you have a tendency towards seasickness, come prepared with motion sickness medications; though the Nimrod Explorer is a very stable catamaran, boats always have some motion.  If possible, pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, a swimsuit, change of clothes & toiletries in your carry-on bag.  Having these few items with you will make an unexpected luggage delay far more bearable, & if you are arriving from overseas you may appreciate a change of clothes en route.  All bed linens, towels, & the like are provided on board.  Power in Australia & aboard the vessel is 240 volt, so be sure to bring a converter & 3-prong adapter depending on your equipment's specific setup.

SCUBA DIVING EQUIPMENT LIST:
As is standard with the best Australia live-aboards, Nimrod Explorer provides tanks, weights & weight belts for your use.  If you prefer to rent the rest of your equipment from us, we have all of the equipment that 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 & depth gauges (required)
• Underwater time piece (required)
• Dive Light (strongly recommended on all quality Australia live-aboards.)
• Dive Computer (recommended again, on the better Australia live-aboards.)
• Wetsuit (3-5-3 mm best for Australia diving).
• Repair kit with spare parts

AUSTRALIA's IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS:
All people arriving in Australia must carry a valid passport.  In addition, citizens of most countries must have a valid tourist visa.  In many cases these visas can be issued by your airline over the phone prior to departure; call your airline for their requirements specific for your nationality.  The Aussie visa can be secured easily via a process called an "ETA."   Call your travel professional about this process.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE:
Your dive package price aboard the Nimrod Explorer includes bus transfers within the city limits of Cairns.  Be sure that you notify our offices where you will be staying.   If you are joining a Tuesday departure & are staying within the Cairns city limits, you will be transferred from your hotel starting at 4:00 p.m.  If you are staying elsewhere, please make your way to the live-aboard office at 46 Spence Street, Cairns by 4:30 p.m.  If you are joining a Saturday departure, pick up time commences at 7:00 a.m.; those staying out of the city limits must be at the office by 7:30 a.m.  All pick-up details must be confirmed 24 hours prior to departure, if you are unsure of whether your accommodations are within the city limits, please contact the Nimrod office before your Australia diving trip.

MEALS on the VESSEL:
Aboard the Nimrod Explorer, evening meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, pork & fish.  Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, bacon, cereal, toast.  Lunches vary from soup & sandwiches to burgers, pasta, assorted salads & quiche.  All meals are served in the main salon.  If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form so that we may provision the vessel accordingly. Australia live-aboards like Nimrod aim to please.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:
The Australian dollar is the only form of currency accepted in Australia (without paying a stiff premium on the exchange rate).  While the exchange rate varies, it currently is worth approximately $0.70 American dollars.  It is advisable to convert as much money as you think you’ll need, upon arrival in Australia.  Airport kiosks will often buy it back at the same rate you purchased it, so keep your receipt.  Otherwise, ATM machines are available to charge cash advances to your credit card.

EXTRA CHARGES for SERVICES ONBOARD:
Though all meals, non alcoholic beverages, transfers (within the city limits) & much more has been taken care of with your Australia diving trip payment, there are additional items which you may charge to your on board bill.  These include retail items (shirts, scuba accessories, etc.), scuba instruction, dive & photo gear rentals,  Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax), alcoholic beverages, crew gratuities etc.  The bar bill & photo costs may be paid at the end of the trip using traveler’s cheques, cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Diners Club.  We must charge a 5% premium on the exchange rate for payment in currency or traveler’s cheques in other than Australian currency.  No personal checks are accepted.

SHIP-TO-SHORE COMMUNICATIONS:
The Nimrod Explorer is equipped with a ship to shore radio, & a radio telephone for emergencies only.  We can only pass messages to & from the vessel via the radio.  A message can be passed on via the Explorer Ventures’ Cairns office.

TIPPING the CREW MEMBERS:
Crew gratuities are at your discretion, & depend entirely on how you feel you have been treated during your holiday.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to approach the Captain & state your opinions any time you feel the need. The crews of good Australia live-aboards are not pushy.

Map of the Nimrod Explorer's main deck, showing room layouts on this spacious live-aboard.

Map of Nimrod Explorer's lower deck, showing more room layouts on this Coral Sea diving gem.

CORAL SEA DIVING SITES:
The Great Barrier Reef, situated off the eastern coast of Queensland, is one of the most exciting places in the world. The reef is alive & almost every part of it contains a magic all its own.  The Great Barrier Reef is perhaps one of the most important gifts Australia has given the world, by nominating it as a World Heritage Possession.  The average depth of Great Barrier Reef diving is approximately 18 - 20 meters or 65 feet. The water temperature you will experience from most Australia live-aboards varies year round, & there is no 'best' time of year for dive tours on the Great Barrier Reef, as each month sees different action - manta rays during February/March/April, minke whales during May/June/July, sometimes humpback whales during August, the coral spawning in November, etc.  Many clients say they prefer diving the Great Barrier Reef from June through September, when there is much less rainfall in the SW Pacific, generally speaking. Australia diving is nearly always best in the antipodal winter months, our summer in North America. These are the months when Australia live-aboards, such as the Nimrod Explorer, really shine. But you can get lucky any month of the year & have weeks of perfect weather even when the guidebook charts say Australia diving conditions may not be ideal. Just play your hunches on Australia live-aboards. The Nimrod is big fun any season.

COD HOLE / RIBBON REEFS:
The Nimrod Explorer spends much of time between Cairns & Lizard Island, exploring the sites along the Ribbon Reefs & introducing guests to the world famous Cod Hole.  This site, often described as one of the best dive spots on the Great Barrier Reef, is known for its resident family of huge potato cod which enjoy protected status in the area, & have made this small section of the reef their home. They range in size from 50 to 120 pounds. The ideal scuba diving depth at the Cod Hole varies from 10 to 20 meters on a sloping bottom that is dotted with high profile coral heads. This dive site is a perennial classic for most Australia live-aboards.

Dynamite Pass is a narrow channel one mile north of the Cod Hole. The channel is approximately 100 meters wide & 30 meters deep in the center. The sides rise vertically to within a meter of the surface. This site is usually explored as a drift dive which can last 30 to 40 minutes. The sides of the channel are loaded with soft corals, hard corals & seafans. It is just one of the many passes in between the reefs where the ocean is forced through the opening. These strong currents bring rich nutrients to feed the abundant coral formations & marine animals resulting in a greater concentration of reef life. Sharks & Manta Rays are commonly seen cruising with the currents so this makes an exceptional drift dive, one of the best on Nimrod dive tours.

The lee side of the Ribbon Reefs offers a variety of diving. The best of which is around the small coral bommies off from the main sections of the reef. The closer the bommie is to the pass in the reef the richer the marine life will be. Pixie Pinnacle is one of these coral bommies & has been described as the ultimate underwater fairy garden. It is a coral pinnacle 30 feet in diameter that rises from 100 feet to within six feet of the surface. Nestled in a pass between two large reefs, this spot is a favorite on most Nimrod Explorer dive trips, & a classic among Australia live-aboards.

Some of our dive trips are graced by the elusive minke whales. The minke whale is one of the smallest of the baleen whales, growing to a length of 10 meters or 30 feet & a weight of 10 tons. These graceful whales have more pointed head with a prominent ridge from the blowhole to the tip of the upper jaw. Minkes are generally black on the back with a grey-white belly. They are found throughout the waters north of Cairns from May - July; we often can snorkel with them, as they have inquisitive natures.  During their annual winter/spring migration the humpback whale is sometimes observed in local waters - they are easily recognized by the massive head & long pectoral fins. Humpbacks grow to a length of 15 meters or 45 feet, & can weigh as much as 45 tons.  Female whales probably use the Great Barrier Reef for calving as it offers sheltered lagoons & bays to drop their calves, protected from the hazards of the ocean & predators such as killer whales & sharks. Dive vacations that are blessed with big critter action like this are events that create lifetime memories. We really hope you get into the thick of the whales & big pelagics on this Australia diving vacation.
 

M/V NIMROD EXPLORER TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

• Built 1984
• Registry: Australia, Class 1B
• Boatmaker: Swiftships, 1972
• Length: 70 feet.
• Beam: 26.4 feet / 8 meters
• Draft: 5.5 feet / 1.65 meters
• Displacement: 71.70 tons
• Superstructure: Aluminum
• Hull & Decking: Steel
• Cruise Speed: 8 knots
• Range: 2,200 miles / 3,600 kilometers
• Main Engines: Twin Gardner Twin 6LXB
• Auxiliary Engines: Gardner 65kva & 60kva
• Fuel capacity: 11,200 litres
• Accommodations -- 1 x Double Stateroom
• 1 x Twin Stateroom
• 1 x Double & twin
• 3 x Four berth cabins
• Separate crew quarters
• Galley: 1 gas range with oven
• Refrigerator/freezer - 2 door upright
• 2 Stainless steel sinks
• Hot/cold fresh water
• Bar fridge: Beer, wine, & soft drinks
• Lounge / Dining area: Spacious area for dining & relaxing
• Video & Stereo gear available
• External areas:  Large aft deck with dive platforms
• In-water ladders

All Australia diving package prices for Nimrod Explorer listed here are subject to possible change in this steadily evolving travel market. Lodging, side tour & diving prices are traditionally stable, as are live-aboard package prices; however air prices can fluctuate daily. Until air tickets are issued, all airlines reserve the right to change airfares without notice -- an industry standard per FAA rules. We at U.S. Dive Travel will price-protect you to the utmost of our professional ability; & that has been our pledge for one decade now. Our Australia scuba diving vacation experts normally secure excellent wholesale discount air tickets for our clients who book early enough to secure limited seats in the best price categories. Remember please, the federal government has deregulated all U.S.-based airlines, so only they control their pricing -- not any travel professionals. Early is good when seeking the best air ticket rates for your Australia scuba diving package on Nimrod Explorer.

Unless specifically noted, these above Australia scuba diving packages for Nimrod Explorer are prices for only the live-aboard portion of your dive trip, in most cases reflecting double-occupancy rooms. On most live-aboards, including Nimrod Explorer, there will be no triple-occupancy staterooms offered. International air tickets & commuter "island-hopper" seats are always extra above these land costs. Nominal service fees are also extra for air tickets & the dive vessel + side tour components. The baseline tariffs for all Nimrod Explorer clients start at $45 per person for the land portion + $35 pp for the air tickets. Late-booking clients may receive slightly higher tariffs on the lodging + diving at many of our dive resorts. Solo Nimrod Explorer clients will always pay a single supplement to secure a private stateroom -- normally 50% - 100% more than the standard double-occupancy rate.

The preferred payment mode for all our Australia live-aboards & air ticket specials is by cashier's check or wire transfer in U.S. dollars. All clients living outside the USA or Canada will need to pay for their Australia live-aboards via direct wire transfer only. No personal checks will be accepted for the live-aboard or land portion of any Australia live-aboard reservation. Thank you for your gracious understanding. Our service level is the highest & our prices the lowest in this industry, & thus we need to preserve a reasonable margin. For published-fare Australia air ticket bookings, USDT always accepts Visa & Mastercard. For ultra-discount wholesale air tickets to your Australia live-aboards, USDT accepts only cashier's checks or wire transfers, please.

Remember, all Australia diving vacation clients on Nimrod Explorer will be asked by local officials overseas, upon departing the airport on your final day, to pay a nominal government departure tax, usually between USD $25 - $40 per client. USDT cannot collect this tax beforehand, so you simply pay it down there, in your host country. Be sure to stash away a little cash for this final moment at the airport, so you'll get your exit visa stamped quickly with no fuss; & away you go. Best of luck with your Australia scuba diving vacation plans. We hope your scuba diving vacation on Nimrod Explorer is a safe & satisfying adventure. Blessings & best wishes with your Australia live-aboard vacations.

Best fishes too!

>////*>   <*\\\\<

John Hessburg & Susan Hessburg, Mgrs.
U.S. Dive Travel Network.