Events | FinLifeDiving.com

Oct 18 - 20, 2017

Pro Dive Cairns

11 Dives

Overview
FAQ

Trip Includes

3 Days / 2 Nights on boat, all meals on boat
Up to 11 dives
Tanks & weights
Gear (no discount if you bring your own)

Trip Excludes

Airfare, tips, Nitrox (available)
Trip cancellation and dive insurance

Diving

*Dives/day: 4 dives (including a night dive) the first two days, and 3 dives the last day.

**Nitrox: 32% is available. 3 Day Nitrox package - $100 AUS (11 Dives)

Expected water temp: Usually averages 79°F - 80°F in October.

Expected viz: The Great Barrier Reef experiences an average visibility of 20 meters (~65 feet) with a range of 10 to 30 meters (30-100 feet)

Season: Spring, with low rainfall, light winds, clear skies, generally calm sea conditions, and excellent visibility. The air temperature averages are 69°F (low) and 85°F (high). It is after the cool season but before the wet and cyclone seasons. Many coral reef species breed at this time. It is before the box jellyfish season.

Tanks, weights: Included. They use 9-11L (65-80 cubic feet) aluminum tanks with yoke valves – the boat may have a couple of tanks with removable inserts for DIN regulators but it is best for customers with DIN regulators to bring an adaptor with them.

Other gear: Included, no discount if you bring your own,

Dive guides: Not generally provided. Divers dive in buddy teams. Guided orientation and night dives provided, if desired.

Expected diving: They have 16 exclusive dive sites on 4 different outer reef locations and they visit a selection of these sites on every trip. These sites have been selected for their variety and quality of both coral and marine life as well as great visibility. They rarely dive the same site more than twice. The dive sites have an average depth range of 10 - 25 meters (30-80 feet). As coral relies on sunlight for growth, some of the best snorkeling and diving can be done in shallow areas around the reef top. “We have chosen some of the best known dive sites off Cairns such as Flynn reef, Milln reef, Thetford reef and Pellowe reef for their abundance and variety of marine life.” http://www.prodivecairns.com/divesites

Nearest hyperbaric chamber: Townsville, Australia

Liveaboard

Style/Comfort: Comfortable, but not fancy. “The vessels are centrally air-conditioned, light and airy. There are 2 large decks, one for gear and one strictly for sun tanning and relaxing.” There is one bathroom for every two rooms.

Alcohol: Bring your own.

Food: Meals may vary slightly depending on availability of seasonal fruit and vegetables. Please advise if you are a vegetarian and they will do their best to cater for you. “We are very limited in catering to different dietary requirements/allergies and can only guarantee to cater for restrictive diets as far as standard vegetarians go as we use cooks onboard our boats, not qualified chefs, so food substitution can be tricky. We do have buffet style meals on board the boat so there will be a variety of foods available. You are more than welcome to bring your own snacks onboard the boat but we have very limited space for refrigerated foods. The cook will be happy to speak with you once onboard about your allergy/intolerance and they will be able to show you what foods they will be cooking with. Please notify the reservations team of your dietary requirement at the time of booking.”

Linens: Provided

Towels: You will need to take along 2 towels - one for swimming and one for showering.

External Communication: FREE Wireless Internet On Board!

Electrical: 220-240 Volts, 50 Hz

Logistics

Airport: Carins, Australia (CNS)

Getting here:

Transfer between Cairns hotels and the boat are included
Several flight options from PDX available, including PDX-SFO-SYN-CNS, departing Friday and arriving Sunday. NOT INCLUDED.

Money

Terms

$200 AUD deposit
balance due 18-July-2017 (~$485 USD)
*Prices are in AUS and are pp based on double occupancy. The approximate USD depends on the daily exchange rate.
Price includes taxes and fees
$89 AUS non-diver/snorkler discount

Travel insurance: We strongly recommend travel insurance. The guest or their insurance must shoulder the costs of cancellations, losses and disruptions caused by reasons outside of the Dive Operator’s control or responsibility. This includes but is not limited to: inclement weather, health problems, family emergencies, lost luggage, cancelled or postponed flights (including those we book for them) and any other unforeseen reasons that can change travel plans and/or cause financial losses. This is available several places, including DAN, Dive Assure, and www.csatravelpro.com.

Airfare: not included

Other fees: Taxes and fees are included

How settle bill for on board expenses: Onboard expenses can be paid by cash or credit card.

Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Australia but is much appreciated when received. When tips are given, most people use 10% of the trip fare as a guide. Tips can only be given in cash.

Non-divers: ~$85 discount for snorkelers. Contact me if interested.

Itinerary

Night Before Departure: If you have time we suggest you drop into the retail shop between 4 – 6:45pm, located on the corner of Shields & Grafton Streets, where you can arrange your dive equipment for the trip (this means you won’t have to do it at 6:00am on the morning of your trip!). Pro Dive recommends that people stop by the shop the night before the trip even if they’re bringing their own gear – that way they can drop off their gear and it will be loaded onto the boat for them in the morning.

As an option, you may wish to learn about the reef and fish you will meet by visiting 'Reef Teach' - a 2 hr marine biology presentation (additional cost). http://www.reefteach .com.au

Reef Teach operates Tuesday through to Saturday nights

WHERE:               85 Lake Street in the Mainstreet Arcade across the road from the retail shop

TIME:                    6:30pm - 8:30pm

COST:                    AU$23 per person

Day 1: Diving The Outer Great Barrier Reef

5:45am - Complimentary hotel transfer - available from Cairns City & Northern Beaches accommodation

6:15am - Check in at Pro Dive retail shop - corner Shields & Grafton Streets

7:00am - Depart Cairns for 3 days & 2 nights of fantastic diving/snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. A light breakfast is served onboard

11:30am - Your first dive is before lunch. This dive will be offered as a guided dive with an instructor, for those divers who have not dived in a little while

12:45pm - Lunch is served - hearty soup with an array of fresh salads, cold meats & bread rolls

2:30pm - Your second dive - head off & discover more underwater delights. Once you have completed your dive the vessel moves on to the next site

4:30pm - After an afternoon of snorkeling/relaxing, it’s time for your third dive of the trip

6:00pm - Dinner - the menu changes each trip however it will be wholesome, hot & of course lots of it!

7:30pm - The night dive! We generally try to do the night dive at the same site as the afternoon dive, as this way you are familiar with your surroundings. Keep a close eye out for our sleeping turtles, crustaceans & the occasional reef shark!

8:30pm - Dessert is served!

Day 2: Experience More Fantastic Diving On The Outer Great Barrier Reef

7:00am - The vessel moves for an early morning dive. Look out for splendid gorgonian fans, giant clams and bump-headed parrotfish

8:00am - Enjoy a hearty breakfast of cereal, fresh fruit, bacon and eggs as well as toast & spreads

10:30am - After breakfast the vessel moves on for the second dive of the day

12:00pm - Lunch on the second day is hot pasta with a variety of fresh salads

3:00pm - After lunch & a snorkel its time for your third dive

6:00pm - A hot dinner is served before your second night dive

7:30pm - Night dive!

8:30pm - Dessert is served!

Day 3: Morning Dives And Return To Cairns

6:30am - Your first dive of the day

7:30am - A hot breakfast accompanied with fresh fruit salad, cereals and toast

9:00am - After breakfast, the vessel makes its last site of the trip, where you will do your second dive of the day

11:00am - Your last dive! When you surface freshly made sandwiches are served as the vessel heads home

4:00pm - Complimentary accommodation transfers - Cairns city & Northern Beaches

7:30pm - Join fellow passengers & crew at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner if you wish

Please note, the above itinerary is a guide only, and the order of sites may change. The captain will always adapt the itinerary to the prevailing weather, tides and currents.

Before you go

Bring: Cert cards (including Nitrox)!

Forms: Sign a Waiver Release & Indemnity Deed onboard the vessel: www.prodivecairns.com/waiver.pdf

Passport: Please ensure your passport is valid at least six months after your return date to the US.

Miscellaneous

Caveat: The dives are subject to the current and weather conditions that day, and can be changed at the Captain’s discretion.

Outer Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard

Oct 18 - 20, 2017

Pro Dive Cairns

11 Dives