Join S.V Rum Runner, a 66 foot Mono Hull Sailboat onboard this adventurous 4 Day / 3 Night Diving trip to the amazing Holmes Reef in the Coral Sea. With 9-10 dives possible at Holmes Reef which includes 1 night dive and a shark feed dive, plus 1 sunrise dive back on the journey home to Cairns on the fabulous Great Barrier Reef on Monday morning.
The Coral Sea is known for visibility that exceeds 20 + metres, large pelagic marine life to macro marine life, amazing wall dives and reef sharks in numbers. The perfect trip and dive site for underwater photographers.
Overall, Rum Runner is a comfortable and solid sailboat, well suited for adventurous divers with only single share beds. It’s all about the diving with no other liveaboard trip visiting this section of the Coral Sea. There are USB and 240V AC outlets for charging cameras, and Hot water in both separate Male and Female Toilet – Shower cubicles.
Maximum – 10 Guests (COVID 19 – Normally 16 guests)
Accommodation – All share cabins (single bunk style)
Trip Departures – Vary so please call first to confirm dates and availability
Vessel – Charter rates available (Group size 10 divers)
Detailed Trip Itinerary 4-day / 3-night Holmes Reef Shark Diving Expedition (Subject to variation)
Day 1: Cairns to Holmes Reef. Passengers meet at the company office (Rum Runner – Marlin Marina, E finger) by 4:00pm for an approximate 5:00pm departure. Passengers are briefed as to the itinerary and safety aspects of the trip and boat, and the dive equipment is organized, making it ready for your morning arrival at Holmes Reef. Dinner is served as you sail through Great Barrier Reef and watch the sun setting over the mountains behind Cairns. Guests can relax, have a few social drinks and get to know each other as the boat makes an overnight passage to the Coral Sea. Passengers are welcome to join in, grab a line and hoist a sail alongside the crew. In calm clear weather, the stars over the Coral Sea are an awesome sight.
Day 2: 4 or 5 dives ( i.e. number of dives are dependent upon our arrival time to Holmes Reef). While arriving to Holmes Reef a tropical breakfast is served, then the Dive Instructor will brief everyone on general dive safety and details of the first dive site. Diving will be tailored to suit individual experience levels. If anyone is a bit rusty one of the crew will accompany him or her on their first dive if they wish, guided dives can be arranged if required. It is time for some of the best diving in the world; Sites include Amazing, Nonki, Turtles Graveyard; from shallow coral gardens, isolated pinnacles to caverns, caves and spectacular walls, capped off with a fantastic night dive. Evenings are a relaxed affair, with just a chat and a few drinks on deck while at anchor in the calm water of the company’s protected night moorings.
Day 3: 4 dives, including shark feed dive. An invigorating deep dive at our secret Twins; before a hearty breakfast sees the start to a day of diving & exploring. Today’s diving includes swim-throughs, caverns and diving the fabulous Abyss, a sheer wall dropping 1000 meters and teeming with life; An ideal adventure for the Advanced diver but still safe and easy for the novice diver. A relaxing lunch break and then off to Predator’s Playground, another highlight of the trip. Dive the Amazing Caves before the shark feed; Last Dive:experience the thrill of seeing sharks feeding at Predator’s Playground, the shark feed is conducted in a very controlled and safe manner and is in only 9 meters of water.
Now before departing the Coral Sea for an overnight sail to the Great Barrier Reef, finish the day with the a few drinks and dinner going over the photos and videos with your fellow divers.
Day 4: Return to Cairns. As you sail back into the Barrier Reef you can get up early at 5.30am and watch the sunrise (the early sun on the mountains is gorgeous) and get ready for our last dive ….. your bucket list dive on the famous GBR; or you can just sleep in, until you feel like getting up, having breakfast and laying around while the boat sails back into Cairns. Arrive at Cairns at 11.00 am. Later in the evening meet with your new friends, the crew and fellow divers for a night out in Cairns.
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