Monday 26 December 2016

FESTIVE SEASON IN CAIRNS




LIFE IN THE TROPICS THIS TIME OF YEAR

Ever wonder what we get up to in the tropics of Queensland in the great land Down Under during festive season?

If you are from the Northern Hemisphere... this is probz you right now...
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Winter.... is here.

Not for us in Cairns!!! We couldn't be feeling more different right now!
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So how do we celebrate? What do we do in such heat?!?

At Christmas, everything is closed and we spend time with family and friends. We usually have a Christmas lunch. In Cairns there are FREE BBQ's by the lagoon and beaches for a Xmas Aussie barbie. 

You can cool off in the large swimming lagoon.

How about a picnic in the rainforest by a fresh water swimming hole?

We try and buy all our food locally for the festive season from local growers, the nearby Tablelands and Rusty's Markets.


You can find some interesting produce here in the tropics!


WOW! Giant mango!

We stuff ourselves silly with loads of seafood....

Hey!!! Where did all the oysters go?!

...And liters of alcohol is consumed when it's this hot!
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We love a good pool party christmas!


We dress our trees in the sun amongst palm trees...

All the families get together in their cars one night before Christmas and play follow the leader looking at everyone's house Christmas lights displays...



And when the aftermath of Christmas hits... we sit in the air-con to stay cool, vegetate and watch cricket on TV.
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In a week's time we all come together for New Years Eve. We have fireworks by Trinity Bay at 9pm (for all of the families.. grab your camp chairs!) and midnight (for the revelers). It's so warm we don't need a jacket, hat or scarf to watch them!

Afterwards...we either party in an air-conditioned bar until the early morning hours as we are trapped inside due to lock out laws!

OR... we have a house party.

Most of us work in Tourism or Hospitality so being the hard core Aussie's that we are, we usually have to work after partying all night long!
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Made you jealous yet??? (Maybe not about being hung over on New Years Day!). Yearning to come visit??? Why don't you book at trip down under for next festive season and see what it's all about for yourself!!! Come see us in Cairns! 


If you want to know more details about NYE 2016/2017 in Cairns.. you can visit here:






Sunday 18 December 2016

EVERYBODY'S FREE WITH OCEAN FREE!

LET'S GO TO GREEN ISLAND!


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Lucky me was about to embark on another boat journey out from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef. This time, on a vessel that stands out from the rest, something.... a little different. I was heading out for a snorkel and visit to Green Island on the ONLY sail boat departing Cairns for a reef trip. That boat is OCEAN FREE.

Images of Ocean Free on my iPhone.

Ocean Free was purchased by a local couple in 1995. Later on in years they purchased another boat, Ocean Freedom. They really pride themselves on the quality and professionalism of their staff and are well known for that in Cairns. On either boat you are greeted with smiles from the get-go and are well looked after. Ocean Freedom is a bigger, busier boat with plenty of introductory divers in contrast to Ocean Free which is a much smaller boat (maximum 25 guests). You get great service like Freedom but it is oh-so-much-more personalized on Ocean Free. By the end of the day, you feel like a little family!

Checking in takes place in the Reef Fleet Terminal, just inside the main doors to the right. From there, you collect your boarding passes and make your way to A finger wharf.  

We were small numbers on this day and the weather, once again was epic (would I go out to the reef in anything less?!?!?) BUT... being such still calm conditions meant... no sailing. *sigh*. This was the trade off for a day I knew was going to be glassy with great visibility in the water.

Along the way a safety briefing was held for all followed by a intimate scuba dive briefing (this is for first time divers). The sun was out in full force on this day so thankfully the main sail was up providing us with a little shade as well as the under cover area at the stern. The journey would take close to 2 hours... plenty of time to burn! Lately I have been getting burnt in weird places on my reef trips (The sun can attack you from  all directions due to reflection from the water) so make sure you bring a hat, long sleeve shirt and wear loads of sunscreen when you head out.

On arrival to Green Island we motored our way slowly in-between the coral bommies to our mooring at Pinnacle Reef. A bommie is an cluster of reef shelf derived from the Aboriginal word "bombora". A bombora is the large waves crashing over a shallow reef or rock site located away from the Australian coast line. At Pinnicle reef there was at least 3 large "bommies" to explore snorkeling or diving.
The Beautiful scene that greeted us at Pinnacle Reef.

On arrival we were greeted by large fish such as Red Sea Bass and Giant Trevally. This boat has a licence to feed the fish which makes for a fun spectacle for guests. These fish are used to having their daily snacks at this time of day. Other regular visitors are Black Tip Reef Sharks looking for a feed. The skipper was saying they are not sure where they sleep or which area they hand around... they only have them visit in late morning before lunch. If your scared of sharks, don't be! These guys are more like big fish and are not interested in eating human!!!

First up was a guided snorkel tour which you could join if you wish or snorkel off on your own. If a guided snorkel is included in your reef trip, take advantage of it! The guide usually knows where all the cool stuff is like Nemo (clown fish) giant clams and sea cucumbers for example. We saw all 3 on this tour. I even held a Pineapple Sea Cucumber for the first time... a really odd texture and feel in your hands! You cannot touch anything on your own on the Great Barrier Reef as it is protected but Marine Biologist's can so it's worth while to go on a guided snorkel to see stuff up close.
Me holding the sea cucumber. What a strange texture!
A Pineapple Sea Cucumber under the sea. Photo from Google images.

I stayed in the water exploring after the tour while the Introductory  Scuba Dives got underway. What a great way to do your Intro Dive! 2 divers to your instructor. No crowds, no waiting your turn in groups like on the bigger boats and I noticed how patient the Instructors were with first time divers. If you want to get over any dive "fears" and this is your first time to scuba dive this is the perfect way to do it.
Some snorkel images on the Lumix Camera hired by Calypso Cameras.

After our water activities (after a couple of hours) there was a chance to go on an optional glass bottom boat tour. They have a smaller boat they use for transfers to Green Island and it also has glass panels in the floor so you can see the reef and stay dry. The skipper took us on our little tour, giving us information on the Great Barrier Reef and all the animals and fish.

Next up.... lunch time....YEEESSSSS! Cue excited face 😆😆😆 Smoked salmon here I come! I'll let the pictures do the talking. 

We had options for the remainder of the day. We could visit Green Island for 1 or 2 hours. I have been there before so decided 1 hour was enough time to take a walk around the Island and a quick dip in the sea. I wanted to head back and have one last snorkel and have the site to myself.

Green Island is a sandy cay that is 6000 years old and one of it's kind, named by Captain James Cook after his astronomer Charles Green. There is rainforest on the island (by birds over time depositing seeds in their droppings) for shade and lovely walks. There is a resort on the island and some shops, restaurant & bar and even a small zoo. This main area can be very hectic with tourists so it was nice to walk around the island away from the crowds.
Images of Green Island from my iPhone.

On the return journey it was time to chill with my fellow passengers with lovely conditions perfect for cruising, sipping a free glass of wine and eating fresh fruit, cheese & bikkies. We spotted 2 large sea snakes on the journey home, something I hadn't seen on a reef trip before... they were too hard to capture on film! doh!

Overall, this is my top pick for a visit to Green Island including a decent snorkel. By going to just the island there isn't good reef to see swimming off the sand... perhaps good turtle spotting, but not good reef. Joining Ocean Free gives you the best of both worlds and if Green Island isn't really your thing, you don't have to stay long.

Massive thanks to the staff who looked after us that day. You guys were professional, chilled and relaxed and made time to speak with all of the guests. I felt very "at home" on FREE and had a lovely relaxing day. Many people come in to my work asking for a small  intimate boat experience, this is the definitely that! 😊


THANKS AGAIN TO CALYPSO CAMERAS (LOCATED AT THE REEF FLEET TERMINAL) FOR THE HIRE OF MY LUMIX CAMERA.


CHECK OUT MY 6 MINUTE FUN MUSIC VIDEO FROM MY DAY WITH OCEAN FREEDOM BELOW!


WANT TO BOOK THIS DAY TRIP? VIST THIS WEBSITE & LET REEF INFO CAIRNS SHOW YOU HOW!
http://www.reefinfo.com.au



HARD FACTS…

Visit time:
Whole day trip

Times:
08:00am  to 5:00pm-5:15pm (Check in from 7:30am Reef Fleet Terminal)

Suitable for: 
  • Not so good swimmers to good swimmers
  • Nervous first time divers
  • Those wanting a relaxing sail day
Fitness level (out of 5):
  •  💪 💪  
Time of year:
  • All year round (Stinger season is from October through to April)
  • Lycra suits provided  
Price:

  • $185 + $10/Adult levy SNORKEL
  • $100 + $10/Child SNORKEL
  • $105/Adult for first Introductory Scuba dive on top of snorkel price
  • $513 + $40/Family snorkel


Saturday 10 December 2016

SLEEPING OUT ON THE REEF

AN OVERNIGHT 2 DAY ADVENTURE 

WITH DEEP SEA DIVERS DEN

 

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Got to 💙💚💛💜 that feeling that I was about to embark on another adventure and spend a night out on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a total fist pump moment (once you get over getting up early in the morning of course).
  
I am joining Deep Sea Divers Den on their overnight live-aboard vessel Ocean Quest... but to get there you spend your first day with their day boat, usually Sea Quest but on my day it was their newer vessel Reef Quest. Confused yet?! There definitely is a lot of "Quest" boats... 3 to be exact and all shall be revealed as I continue.
 
 
If you are a keen diver and want to get the most dives for the best price then this overnight option is the best for you. You can get at least 4 dives in each day and can stay out there from 1 night to 100 (well, perhaps not 100 but a few). 

Transfers within the Cairns CBD are included. You are taken to the Deep Sea Divers Den shop for check in before being transported directly to the boat. After a final check in on board of Reef Quest we take our fave seats out on the back top deck as we head out of Cairns Inlet.
 
Starting the day aboard Reef Quest. Beautiful day!
 
It was another amazing day out on the reef with stunning conditions. I won't bore you with the details of the day trip (you'll have to read my older blog on it!)... let's just say we visited two wonderful sites (including "Troppos" at Norman reef, a fave of mine) and capped off our day nicely when we had the chance to hang out with a very old turtle and a large White Tip Reef Shark. I was loosing my 💩💩💩 ....Just WOW! 
This photo captured on a Canon G16 from Snaphot Camera hire. Tara Reynolds
Jamie gives our shark the thumbs up! 👍👍👍

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s6uGTAYf4 
Check out the link to see the very old turtle we saw

It was time to begin my overnight experience and say goodbye to Reef Quest and board the overnight vessel, Ocean Quest. The boats pull up side by side and we were gracefully lifted up by the staff, luggage handed over, hat & camera handed over. Before I knew it, I was seated in the boats dining room.
Images of Ocean Quest. Photo's by Tara Reynolds.

We were introduced to the staff who would look after us for our stay, explained the timetable and boat lay out. Ocean Quest has 3 main floors. The floor the dining room was on also had the dive deck at the back. The next floor up was sleeping quarters with a large sundeck at the back (with access to the dive deck). Up a further floor was more rooms for sleeping, the bar & lounge and an undercover outdoor deck.
The Timetable for Ocean Quest.

After the initial welcome briefing we were off to our allocated rooms. Most of these rooms are twin share with a spacious ensuite. They are roomy enough and all with adequate air con for a good nights sleep. I was bunked in with a man, you need to be prepared to bunk with either sex. It didn't really matter to me, it's only for sleeping.

The new passengers (most whom were divers) were then shown the dive deck and where all the equipment is and got allocated a tank spot for the duration of their stay. The first dive for us was at 4pm and a dive briefing was held half an hour prior. We were at Wild Side West, located at beautiful Norman Reef. Every certified diver must go with a buddy (if you are advanced) and those only with new certification could choose to go in a group with a guide ($15 each dive extra). Passengers were also on board to just do a couple Introductory Dives and a small group was going for their certification. Some were also snorkelers...like me!!!
Information on the site, Wild Side West.

Away the divers go 2 by 2 off the large dive platform followed by the guided divers. It's hot, there's very little wind so it's time to take a dip myself for a guided snorkel tour. This tour wasn't very "guided" per say... we weren't given any information about what we were seeing and just followed along. I was the one who found Nemo and showed everyone and in the latter half of the tour I found a really cool toad-fish lingering in a cave. I had that moment all to myself as the others had taken off back to the boat. I enjoyed my swim none the less. It was very puuuurteeee.
Some snorkel snaps on my G16 Camera, hired from Snapshot. Photo's by Tara Reynolds.

Dinner was scheduled for 6pm. It was a plated "Asian Style" dish of chicken and noodles. It was nice to be waited on and have a chance to chat with your fellow passengers. Unfortunately this dish didn't really do it for me... a little bland with limp soggy noodles. I had to smother it in chili & soy sauce. It was a disappointment but I wasn't there for the food!

After Dinner there was still time to catch the amazing sunset with a glass of wine. Thank you mother nature! These moments make me grateful for what I have.
Sunset photo's on my iPhone.

As night descended it was time to hit the water again! The divers were going on a night dive and some opted for Ocean Quest's unique draw card which is FLURO DIVING! Instead of regular torches divers had a UV black light torch which enhanced the colours of the corals and fish below. Brilliant! I was a little jelly watching them.
The divers are ready! A pic on my iPhone.
Photo's from Deep Sea Divers Den Website.

Another night time activity was their SHARKS IN THE DARK option. We all put on our wet suits (included), grabbed our snorkel, mask and cameras and made our way to the hydraulic platform. Once lying on our stomachs they lowered the platform so we were half in the water. From this vantage point we could see all the giant fish and divers below. Unfortunately no sharks on this night, they must have been having a party elsewhere. Boooooo! Still, it was pretty fun and unique experience no one else offers. 😊

 CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW TO SEE IT ALL IN ACTION IN MY LITTLE MOVIE
A nice hot shower in the spacious ensuite was just the ticket at the end of a day of water activities. Salt be gone! A couple of wines in the licenced bar and Crème Brulee for dessert pretty much nailed me to the wall... I crashed out hard that night to a gentle rock of the boat.

The next day we were greeted by another stunning glassy day. While I was still tucked up in bed the divers had all ready smashed out their first dive for the day. Hats off to them, it's a lot of dives in one day!
The beautiful morning as seen through my iPhone.

As we moved location a hot buffet breakfast was served. All the usual brekkie items, eggs, bacon, beans along with cereal, yoghurt and fruit. It was a decent mix and gave us fuel for the day ahead.

The second site was Twin Peaks at Hastings. I had been here a week earlier with not the best conditions so was keen to get in for more snorkel time and see what there is to see.
Some reef shots taken through my polarised sun glasses! Photo's by Tara Reynolds. 

For a diver, you get your usual briefing and x2 dives at this site. You can choose to snorkel instead like me 2 times but unfortunately have to come back out of the water when the divers are done with the first dive and then get back in for the second... which was a little clunky really. I had a good hour swim and felt complete enough that I didn't feel the need to go back and re-explore the site. I opted to top up the tan and chill in the sun for the remainder of the time at that site.

Around lunch is when we moved to another site. Lunch was another buffet with salads, some greens, corn & peas and chicken drumsticks in a mild curry sauce. It wasn't overly exciting... I was grateful for anything green however! I am bit of a health nut in regards to food so was pleased it was reasonably healthy.

By lunch we had also checked out of our rooms and put our bags in the hall so housekeeping can make them up. There seemed to be an army of staff helping with the service of meals and housekeeping. They were all very friendly and made you feel at home, which is what you want. It is so important to have professional, informative friendly staff on an experience like this. I believe these guys have training programs in place for staff and dive instructors which is great for those who need to get a foot in the door.

I was looking forward to another snorkel when we pulled up along side the transfer boat, Sea Quest but alas... this was not meant to be. For those staying on board for another night this was their down time. I guess it was also a time for staff to take a break or prepare for the next load of arrivals. For a snorkeler I was a little annoyed that I had nothing to do until we leave at 2.30pm. Hopefully in the future they could amend this by getting a staff member on watch so we could explore this new site or perhaps have a marine talk on all the fish and corals we saw. I was left to have an afternoon wine while I chatted with other passengers. The views were stunning, the conversation pleasant and it was a much needed break for the divers.

Come 2.30pm we said goodbye to Ocean Quest and left the same way we came, in the arms of the staff on both boats. A 90 minute transfer back to Cairns was enough time to rest and check out all my photos and reflect on my fun time out to the GBR. If you are a diver, this is the best value overnighter in town! Hopefully... with a few adjustments made in the future with the program this will be the BEST snorkelling overnight out on the reef as well 😜
Thanks DSDD!!!!!!! 😘😘😘

Also much thanks to Dave at Snapshot Camera hire. They deliver the camera to your hotel in the Cairns CBD so you have it ready for the morning!!! What a great service! You can find them here...
 The Link to find your underwater camera to hire.


CHECK OUT MY VIDEO WITH FUNKY TUNES OF MY TIME OUT WITH DSDD ON MY YOUTUBE BELOW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn7J5O3Rl8A&t=1s
My little Youtube funky fun clip of my adventure.



Saturday 26 November 2016

A TERRIFIC TIME WITH TUSA DIVE


ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF!


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Another glassy day means It's time to get out and amongst it for a frolic in the sea! Today is Tusa day! 🐟🐠🐡🐢Tusa has many mooring's all over the Great Barrier Reef so when the weather is good they'll moor up at fantastic Outer Reef sites. We didn't end up heading to the sites I was hoping for *sigh* and headed north on this day (not a big loss!I had just been there recently). You have to be prepared to accept the fact you could end up anywhere and put your faith in the skipper. You would only know how sites differ if you are someone like me or you have done your research.On the up side, they will settle on a site suitable for the conditions.

On boarding the vessel I was surprised the boat wasn't full! It was such a beautiful day and I know for a fact most boats were full that day. On departure I was told the boat WAS at it's full numbers. WOW! Loads of room is always so important. This boat is excellent for those not wanting a big boat with hundreds of people on board.Cue my happy face!Let's stretch out peoples!

It's time for my favourite part of the day (NOT!) it's safety briefing time!!! (Boooooooo!). When you head out to the reef often like I do you have to put up with the boring stuff like safety briefings but they are o-so-important! Thankfully the Tusa team didn't muck around too long with it. Some boats can drag it out taking up valuable time away from checking out the Cairns city views, valuable photo taking and sun time! Before long I was back at my possy in the sun on the upper deck.

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The cruise out was smooth and super sunny. During this time dive briefings were held and everyone was issued with snorkel mask and wet suit.It's the end of our winter months so over the next few coming summer months, Lycra suits for sun and jellyfish protection are handed out.

They asked everyone to store their gear under the seats up on the deck I was seated at. Ermmmmm....excuse me! It got a little crowded up there... especially come time to get suited up to get into the water! Not sure if I was a fan of this. The boats design is so important in regards to what areas are "wet" areas. On this boat it was a little limited so what I once thought was spacious was now crowded with peeps struggling to get into their suits on top of each other. The serenity returned when everyone dispersed into the water.


Images from the day. Photo's by Tara Reynolds.

Our first site was The Fishbowl at Hastings Reef. I have come across people with mixed reactions on this site. I went in with an open mind and was ready to hit the water and explore.   
Another beautiful pano shot on my iPhone.

I was armed with another Lumix Camera from the amazing Calypso Camera hire company. I picked it up in the shop located right at the Reef Fleet Terminal where the boats depart from.Check out their cameras you can hire!


Staff on this vessel were lovely!👏👏👏👏 Staff can really make or break your day... there wasn't any problems with Tusa. Very friendly and happy to help you, they really seem to honestly enjoy what they do. At each site I was given pointers on where I should swim and what area's were best to explore. Armed with that knowledge I stuck to that plan and did get the most out of the site. I am pleased to say the site lived up to it's name, there was definitely loads of fish! My highlight was hanging with a heard of Humphead Parrot fish... my new fave fish! 


Check out the link for my video below!


In the middle of the day the dinner bell rings.... LUNCH!!!!Today we have a cold buffet lunch. A beautiful presentation of a selection of meats and salads including a unique eggplant (aubergine)& peas salad and beetroot salad... something different from other boats. There was also vegetarian quiche squares and an assortment of cheeses such as cheddar slices, bocconcini and ricotta & herbs. For those who don't eat bread rolls they had lighter pita bread options. Needless to say I was happy with my lunch.  
Morning tea & lunch on the Tusa vessel. Photo's from my iPhone. 

After lunch it was time to move to the second location. The sun reflected off the mirror like ocean creating a luminous landscape surrounding us. I wasted little time and dove into the big blue (ok... I didn't "dive" I took a big giant step like a boss) and headed towards the recommended area. The site was at Saxon Reef called Twin Peaks. I was told to look out for sharks resting on the sand behind the peaks and you can also swim between them. The viability wasn't the best on this day with the site loaded with red algae specks OR the corals were getting a little freaky early this year (coral spawning).I'd like to hope it's the former!!!

The elusive White Tipped Reef shark remained elusive on this day however I enjoyed exploring the site with the many fishy's, diverse corals and giant clams all the same.
Photo's with the underwater camera (lumix) from Calypso camera hire. 

The Tusa vessel is one of the faster catamarans out of the Great Barrier Reef fleet departing from Cairns. This is something to consider when choosing your boat/day as it maximizes water time at your location. It also is a welcoming feeling when you have swum your little heart out and are exhausted on your return journey back to Cairns. 90 minutes back to dry land and a refreshing shower is not too long to wait for.(some boats can take up to 2 hours) 😃😍😆👍 THANK YOU TUSA FOR HAVING ME! 

If you are feeling a little braver than I, introductory & certified scuba diving is also available on this day trip for an additional cost.
HARD FACTS…
The Tour:
Full Day trip

Times:
07.40am- 4.30pm (Check in directly on the boat, A Finger, Marlin Marina)
Suitable for: 
  • Good swimmers & snorkelers
  • Introduction divers
  • Low passenger numbers, good smaller boat option
Fitness level (out of 5):
  •  💪 💪
Time of year:
  • All year round
  • Stinger suits worn October to May
Price:
  • $205.00 AUD Adult (including $20 reef levy)
  • $130.00 AUD Child (including $10 levy)
  • $275.00 AUD Intro or Cert dive (including $10 Levy)

Friday 21 October 2016

GETTING DOWN WITH DOWN UNDER CRUISE & DIVE


I'M ON A BOAT......ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF!

So I was feeling very special last Wednesday when I boarded the super swanky, new Australian built reef boat THE EVOLUTION. I really did want to break out my own personal version of Lonely Island's, "I'm on a boat"!


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 Yup.... that was the feeling all right!

After we had checked in at the Reef Fleet Terminal and boarded the vessel we were greeted by a plethora of friendly smiley staff. Smiley skipper at boarding, smiley service staff at the bar, smiley customer service officers, smiley deck hands... it goes on and on. I wonder if the sunny glassy forecast has anything to do with staff morale!

After filling out the usual paperwork I raced upstairs to choose a primo position. I want to get the full on proper Evolution experience and that meant front row seats on the upper deck! This boat has many different spaces for you to enjoy throughout the day. 2 large indoor saloon areas with air-conditioning and booth seating. Large outdoor undercover top deck with seating AND bean bags! Sunny outdoor seating at the front of the boat and the usual dive deck space towards the back. Let's just say she's a very swanky sexy beast!


Professional service... professional boat! Photo's on my iphone.

I have all my own snorkel equipment so my friend was the only one who needed to collect hers on board. The (smiley) staff help you with fin and snorkel sizes and you have an allocated shelf area to keep your gear when not in use. I really liked this idea, stops unnecessary clutter and tripping hazards throughout the boat.

As we depart the shores of Cairns it's time for the usual safety briefing. Thankfully, the staff members in charge of this task are lively jokers and make it fun. I have heard similar safety spiels many times over so it's always a joy and refreshing when it's a good laugh and gets you pumped and totally sets the tone of the day!

I thoroughly enjoyed our front row seats up top on the smooth cruise out to the Outer Reef taking in the glorious sun bathed deep blue sea, a gentle breeze keeping us cool and engaging in pleasant conversation. It felt as though we were on a balcony of a ritzy hotel room! Just as we were totally settled we were needed downstairs for the mandatory snorkel briefing before we arrived at site 1. My friend is unlike me and hasn't snorkeled many times over (like the majority of people on this boat) so this snorkel briefing (more like tuition) is perfect if you need a little extra help and advice about snorkeling.   

We arrived to a beautiful Reef site!
Amazing day! Photo from my iphone.

It was very hectic on the dive deck when everyone was trying to get in the water, both snorkelers and divers. My advise is to hang back a little, take some photo's, chillax and take it all in. You then have an easier more comfortable entry into the water. Some passengers also don't stay out too long so my friend and I had the majority of the time on our own to explore the site. 
Finding Nemo's cousins, giant clams, a puffer fish and more. Photo's on a Lumix camera hired from Calypso camera's Cairns.

The stomach growling is a good indication that it's lunch time, one of my favourite times of the day (I do enjoy a good included lunch on the boat trips!!!). Today's menu was an Aussie BBQ with steak, sausages, reef fish & fresh prawns accompanied by an array of salads, bread & condiments. The staff cook all the meats on a huge hotplate on board so it's all hot and fresh. If you are vegetarian they have vege patties cooked separately for you (pre-ordered in the morning).

A lovely BBQ included lunch. Get in!!!!! Photo's on my iphone.

After lunch it's one final view of this site and on to the second site, minutes away. The view that greeted us was stunning on this day, due to a low tide revealing fantastic coral colours and aqua waters. Check out the link to my YouTube channel to see just how amazing the site looked on arrival from the top deck!




Time for another snorkel, a dive or semi-sub ride! Photo's on the Lumix.

This was a wide beautiful site. Due to the low tide and being very shallow the introduction divers on their second dive weren't at a very deep level so that situation is perfect for nervous beginners. We also partook in a 20 minute semi-submersible boat cruise, available for an additional $10 on the day. Elvis provided the commentary for the tour. He was very informative and funny (as he had been all day. What a machine!).

This site is where they also offer 10 minute scenic flights from a small pontoon. Check out the link for a short video I took of the helicopter from the water!




I see you watching me watching you! Calypso Camera's taking photo's of each other. You can purchase pics of yourself on the journey back to Cairns.

On this day there is plenty of time in the water across the 2 sites and also enough time to get some sun and relax on the boat before heading back to Cairns. On the return journey my man Elvis morphs into the entertainer and jams some reggae tunes in the main saloon. Passengers are also treated to a glass of red or white goon (wine in a box for all you non-Aussies) and cheese & Jatz. Who doesn't like a good glass of goon and cheese cruising on a million dollar boat?!?!
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The Evolution is fast, we fly pass many other boats heading back to Marlin Marina and park up by 4.30pm, back before the majority of the reef boats come in. If your travelling on by car it get's you out of the Cairns CBD before peak hour starts, which is nice! (Yes! Cairns has traffic at peak hour!) It also give you time before your holiday dinner reservations.

A lovely day out! If you don't like long boat rides and love a little comfort, Down Under Cruise & Dive's Evolution is the boat for you! Many thanks to the staff... you made my day and I am sure you will make many more people's day out on the reef.

Calypso Camera's hire out camera's for your day from their shop at the Reef Fleet Terminal (where you check in for Evolution). They also have professional photographers on board taking photo's of your day for sale.

LOVE the sound of this day trip? Contact me or the friendly staff at REEF INFORMATION CENTRE, located around the corner from the terminal. We can help book this amazing day for you!

HARD FACTS…

The Tour:
Full day trip 

Times:
08:15am - 4.30pm (Check in Reef Fleet Terminal)

Suitable for: 
  • Families (competitive family price)
  • Budget travelers (very good intro dive price)
  • Nervous first time divers 
  • Those wanting a little luxury
Fitness level (out of 5):
  •  💪 💪
Time of year:
  • All year round
  • Stinger suits worn October to May
Price:

  • $169.00 AUD Adult (including $20 reef levy)
  • $80.00 AUD Child (including $20 levy)
  • $438.00 AUD Family (including levys)
  • $209.00 AUD Intro or Cert dive (including $20 Levy)