Dive Review of
Nimrod Explorer in
Australia/Cairns

[Unspecified]

Dive Conditions

No rigid enforcement, just typical recomendations for dive time and psi.  

Designated setup table, wash areas.  

Overall Rating

Our family of four(mom, dad, son(21) and daughter(16) spent 5 days aboard
the Nimrod with Explorer Ventures.  We were provided with a seasoned crew
very familiar with their jobs.  They provided top notch service.  The
Nimrod has only six cabins and is limited to 18 berths.  My family and I
occupied the two lower, center cabins.  The boat is a Catamaran with two
large hull sections where four of the cabins were located.  The two really
nice cabins on the main deck were already booked.  Our cabins in the two
hull sections were nice but subject to a great deal of engine noise when
the boat was moving. The boat is probably 25 years old.  It is decently
maintained and the air conditioners strained but did the job.

The hike out to the Great Barrier Reef takes overnight.  Once there the
boat moves around various reef sections with any great journey reserved for
the evening.  We were taken to all the hot spots and some were
unbelieveable.  I had to stop taking pictures on one site because the Coral
was just too breath taking.  If I didn't need to breath my regulator would
have fallen out of my mouth - it was just fantastic.  Lot's of small fish
and of course we did visit the huge Cod.  Only a few sharks to see.

I have a Solo certification and was allowed to dive by myself.  Nitrox was
provided at a small charge for anyone who wanted it.  Tanks generally stay
in the BC for refilling.  Typical day was 4 daytime dives and one night
dive.  Each dive was followed by a meal.  Food was available pretty much
all day.  The food was good and had moments of greatness according to my
family.  I thought it was just okay.  The dive briefings were detailed with
nice graphics.  

Although there was some training going on with some of the divers I thought
they were getting a bit short changed because the crew had many
responsibilities.  Most everyone was fairly busy because of the dive
schedule.  I rarely had time to catch a nap.

Overall my whole family was very happy with the trip.  Our five days of
diving were on top of two weeks visiting New Zealand, Sidney, and Cairns. 
We did jeep tours, rain forest tours with a real Crocodile Dundee, white
water rafting, ballon riding, etc.  A nice final touch with Explorer
Ventures is they fly you back over the Great Barrier Reef to Cairns.  Any
questions .. drop me an email at irwindanto@aol.com 

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