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Mike Ball Dive CNS Thur 7N [DiveMB8]

11 Days / 9 Nights - Cairns and Live-Aboard Diving Expedition

This itinerary departs from the USA on Monday evening. Stay in Cairns for one night before you board the diving vessel the next evening (Thursday). After disembarking from the dive vessel stay in Cairns for one more night. Your arrival day back into the USA will be on Friday morning.

Australia's north eastern town of tropical Cairns is the gateway for two of the world's greatest diving icons, the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.

The dive vessel departs Cairns 7:00 pm Thursday and returns 11:00 am the following Thursday. You will be transferred to and from your accommodation in Cairns.

Travel Package Features

• Accommodation - Cairns (2 Nights), Live-Aboard Diving Expedition (7 Nights)
• International Flights - Los Angeles to Cairns, Cairns to Los Angeles
• Day Tours - Cairns: Live-Aboard Diving Expedition
• Shuttle Transfers - Cairns Airport to Accommodation (return), Cairns Accommodation to Live-Aboard Dive Boat (return)
• All Other Day Tours are Optional and not included
• Visa Issuance for entry into Australia (US$15.00 per person)
• F.I.T. (Free & Independent Travel, i.e. this is not an Organized Group Tour)
• All Taxes and Fuel Levies (Except where noted)
• Itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to suit your needs.

Travel Package Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - International Flight - Los Angeles to Cairns

After departing from Los Angeles, you will be provided with an evening meal, you can relax, have a drink, watch a movie and rest. You will be given Breakfast before landing in Cairns, Australia. (you lose one day crossing the International Date Line but don't worry you'll catch it up again on your return flight to the USA) This flight has a connection in Sydney or Brisbane.

The Qantas Boeing 747-400 is equipped with the latest entertainment features of any Airline. The overnight flight to Australia can be a good opportunity for sleeping or to watch the latest movies after your evening meal.

Day 2 - Shuttle Transfer Cairns Airport to Accommodation

Travel by shuttle from the Cairns Airport to your vacation accommodation in Cairns, Australia.

Luggage restrictions apply as per standard economy Australian domestic flights of 2 standard bags under 30kg (66 lbs) per passenger. Excess baggage is AUD$5.00 per bag payable on board. If traveling with excess baggage please advise the shuttle company upon reservation confirmation so appropriate trailer size is available.

Pickups are conducted with a maximum waiting time of 20 minutes after collection of baggage from flight. If you are unable to meet within this time frame you will be required to wait for the next available shuttle.

Days 2 to 3 - 1 Night Accommodation in Cairns

Travel to your accommodation Cairns, Australia, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 1 night.


Your 4 star accommodation, combines fresh contemporary decor with relaxing North Queensland style. This bright and spacious 314 room hotel is perfect for exploring the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest or Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands. Other nearby highlights include: Cairns Casino, Marlin Jetty, the Esplanade and the Night Markets. Unwind with a cocktail by the lagoon pool or kick back with live music in the Bar followed by a sumptuous buffet or a la carte meal in the restaurant.

All rooms and suites have individual balconies, individually controlled air conditioning, refrigerator with mini bar, colour television, in-house movies, telephone, iron and ironing board, along with tea and coffee making facilities. Facilities include: a swimming pool with sandy beach, swim up bar, walk in bar, restaurant, 24 hour reception and porter, room service, valet laundry, dry cleaning, coin laundry, gymnasium, undercover parking, conference facilities, facsimile service, internet, tour desk, lobby shop, foreign exchange, babysitting (on request).

Days 3 to 10 - 7 Nights Live Aboard Diving Expedition

Coral Sea Safari. 7 nights - unlimited dives.
Imagine yourself as a feeling of excitement arises as you cruise north in the shelter of the Great Barrier Reef. Your choice of hot beverage delivered to your cabin begins the next day in a civilized way. On deck you are greeted by the fabulous turquoise waters of the Ribbon Reefs. To port is historic Cooktown to starboard is the vastness of the Coral Sea.





Day 1: Check-in and Departure
Cruise overnight to the magnificent Ribbon Reefs, the first stop on your 700km dive odyssey.

Day 2: Ribbon Reef #9 - Pixie Gardens, Cod Hole
Buddy up with diver size fish that dive with you at the Cod Hole!
Swim with giant potato cod, napoleon wrasse and moray eels.
Enjoy close encounters with huge Maori wrasse.
Anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings.
Night dive where decorator crabs, egg cowry shells, moray eels and crayfish are just a few of the creatures you can find.

Days 3 & 4: Coral Sea - Osprey Reef
Cruise 100 miles overnight to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.
Enjoy 40 meter (132ft) visibility with spectacular walls disappearing to 1000metres.
At North Horn swim with giant potato cod, napoleon wrasse, moray eels, tuna and barracuda.
Witness the resident shark population including grey whalers, whitetip reef sharks, silvertips and hammerheads.
Search for the commonly seen green and loggerhead turtles.
Find the caves, overhangs and spectacular walls adorned with huge soft coral trees and gorgonian fans.
Night dive.

Day 5: Lizard Island & Ribbon Reef #10 & #9 - Cod Wall, Cod Hole, Challenger Bay
Climb "Cook's Look" at Lizard Island where Captain Cook searched for safe passage through the reef.
Explore the rarely dived Cod Wall at the outer reef edge that disappears into 60 meters (200ft).
Glide back towards the Cod Hole while enjoying the clear water and spectacular coral formations.
Choose to dive the Cod Hole again if you agree with us that one day is not enough to enjoy its diverse marine life.
Shallow but fantastic, Challenger Bay is extremely rich in biodiversity from spectacular coral gardens and unusual critters through to large schooling fish. Great night dive location watch out for Baza the Barra!

Day 6: Ribbon Reef #9, #5, #4 - Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Andy's Postcard, Clam Beds, Vertical Gardens
Circumnavigate Pixie Pinnacle and Lighthouse Bommie shrouded in fusilier baitfish. Fluorescent purple and orange anthias attract predatory fish to these photogenic sites. Majestic Minke whales are seen here in June and July.
Rising from 80 meters the pinnacle of Andy's Postcard is encrusted in had corals, lion fish, nudibranchs, octopus, schooling trevally and barracuda.
See spectacular giant clams at Clam Beds as well as caves, canyons and coral encrusted bommies awaiting exploration.
Sheer walls covered in whip corals and sea fans brim the natural amphitheatre of Vertical Gardens. Marine life varies from the many colourful nudibranchs to large schooling bump head parrotfish.
Night dive.

Day 7: Ribbon Reef #3 - Flare Point, Joani's Joy, Steve's Bommie
Spiral majestic coral pinnacles teeming with diverse marine life.
See huge schools of baitfish stalked by barracuda, mackerel and trevally.
Anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings.

Day 8: Dock
Early morning docking at Trinity Wharf - Cairns, breakfast, courtesy transfers to Cairns city hotels.

Note: Itinerary subject to change.

This itinerary has been designed to include the 'prime' Ribbon Reef sites that have restricted access.
If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best diving.
Additional Ribbon Reef sites: No Name Reef, Yonge Reef, Day Reef, Hicks Reef.
Drift dives with schooling fish at the northern Ribbon Reef passes between No Name Reef, Yonge Reef and Hicks Reef, can be substituted for the standard Monday itinerary.

Days 10 to 11 - 1 Night Accommodation in Cairns

Travel to your accommodation Cairns, Australia, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 1 night.


Your 4 star accommodation, combines fresh contemporary decor with relaxing North Queensland style. This bright and spacious 314 room hotel is perfect for exploring the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest or Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands. Other nearby highlights include: Cairns Casino, Marlin Jetty, the Esplanade and the Night Markets. Unwind with a cocktail by the lagoon pool or kick back with live music in the Bar followed by a sumptuous buffet or a la carte meal in the restaurant.

All rooms and suites have individual balconies, individually controlled air conditioning, refrigerator with mini bar, colour television, in-house movies, telephone, iron and ironing board, along with tea and coffee making facilities. Facilities include: a swimming pool with sandy beach, swim up bar, walk in bar, restaurant, 24 hour reception and porter, room service, valet laundry, dry cleaning, coin laundry, gymnasium, undercover parking, conference facilities, facsimile service, internet, tour desk, lobby shop, foreign exchange, babysitting (on request).

Day 11 - Shuttle Transfer Cairns Accommodation to Airport

Travel by shuttle from your Cairns vacation accommodation to the Airport in Cairns, Australia.

Luggage restrictions apply as per standard economy Australian domestic flights of 2 standard bags under 30kg (66 lbs) per passenger. Excess baggage is AUD$5.00 per bag payable on board. If traveling with excess baggage please advise the shuttle company upon reservation confirmation so appropriate trailer size is available.

Day 11 cont - International Flight - Cairns to Los Angeles

This afternoon depart Cairns and fly back to Auckland