Ultimate Minke Whale Expedition, dive and snorkel with minke whales
7 nights and 22 dives
The Ultimate Minke Whale Expedition is a diving trip and live board with Mike Ball Expeditions and the boat Spoil sport with the theme of snorkeling with minke whales. This is an expedition where the focus is on maximizing interactions in the ocean with the whales. This is the only known place in the world to see and experience minke whales up close. Meanwhile during your liveaboard you will be able to enjoy the diverse marine life at the Ribbon reefs. Dive sites where minke whales are most often seen can be visited several times.
The Great Barrier Reef on the east coast of Australia is the only known place in the world where you can snorkel and see minke whales. You will get very close to these large animals and for snorkelers this is a great trip to go on. Diving is also offered during this tour on various reefs. Tip is to book well in advance, as these tours are usually full at least a year in advance.
* Ribbon reefs - Explore the rich biodiversity of fish species and corals that make this part of the Great Barrier Reef so incredible.
Summary: Minke whales and dive sites nearby with the best biodiversity.
Experience: Snorkeler, beginner and advanced diver.
Boarding: Thursday 18:00 – Trinity Wharf, Cairns. (Check-in must be before 16pm at Mike Ball's office in Cairns.)
Disembark: Tuesday 08:00 – Trinity Wharf, Cairns
Weather
The most reliable season for diving trips to the Coral Sea is between September and January. This tour, the Ultimate Minke whale Expedition, is only done during the months of June - July, which is the only time of the year the whales can be seen. This is when they make their annual trek from Antarctica up to the Great Barrier Reef. The dive sites on all diving trips are chosen taking into account the weather and winds, and if the weather forces it, there may be a change in the route. Contact us for booking.
All pictures with © approval from Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Australia
What is included in a liveaboard package?
- Transfer from the boat to the hotel or the airport after your liveaboard
- 7 nights in a shared cabin with private or shared bathroom (depending on choice of cabin) on liveaboard
- 3 meals per day on board as well as water, tea, coffee,
- Open deck diving 3-5 dives / day including, dive briefing, tank, weights, GPS
Highlights
Winding expeditions
This is a unique opportunity to meet these amazing animals face to face. You will learn more about their biology and behavior from the research volunteers on board. You can also choose to participate in this research by helping with behavioral studies and other projects.
Ribbon reefs
The most appreciated diving region in the Great Barrier Reef. This stretch of reef from Lizard Island to Cooktown is also where the minke whales migrate each year to breed and calve. Nutrient-rich waters from the continental shelf attract abundant fish and coral species.
Lighthouse Bommie
A fantastic dive site where a large reef top attracts lots of marine life including sharks, rays, turtles and lots of fish of different species, sea snakes, rockfish and lots of other animals.
Lizard island
In the middle of the expedition, the liveaboard moors off Lizard Island. Here we say goodbye to the guests who chose to do the 4-night Fly Dive Coral Sea tour At the same time, we welcome the new guests who chose to do the Fly Dive Cod Hole in three days. You'll have a few hours here during the day to relax on the beach, swim, or climb up the hill to Chinaman's Ridge for views. One of our crew members will show you around.
Cod Hole - Ribbon Reefs - Great Barrier Reef
Cod Hole is widely known and talked about over the years for its large potato groupers. These fish are curious and don't care about divers and can become worldly close. A unique and fantastic opportunity to take pictures of these magnificent fish that have become real characters here over the years.
Pixie Pinnacle - Ribbon Reefs - Great Barrier Reef
An exciting dive on a reef top draped in soft coral and teeming with fish and marine life. Swim slowly up around the reef and look for interesting animals like electric clam or disco clam.
Steve's Bommie - Ribbon Reefs - Great Barrier Reef
Steve's Bommie is a UV photographer's dream. Here you experience very rich marine life. Here you can find, for example, rockfish, scorpionfish, octopuses, clownfish and turtles. Not to mention the many shoals of different species that call this dive site their home.
Ultimate Minke Whale Expedition dates:
2024 Departure dates: 6 June | 13 June | 20 June | 27 June | July 4 | 11 July | 18 July
Programme
Thursday:
Check-in at our office (3 Abbott St, Cairns) between 8am and 30pm.
From 16:30: You will walk yourself to Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf (200 meters from the MBDE office) to meet your fellow passengers. Please note that dinner is not provided on the first night so you may want to eat before boarding.
17.50pm: Our crew will guide you from Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf to the board Spoilsport. Enjoy a glass of champagne and light snacks while your tour director gives a full briefing.
18:00: Spoilsport departs Cairns.
Time to arrange rental equipment and assemble the diving equipment on the diving deck.
Friday:
(4 dives + night dives) This is a sample of a 'typical day', but exact times may vary to optimize the prevailing weather conditions on the day.
6.30: Wake up, light breakfast available in the dining room
7:00 a.m.: Briefing and diving begins
9.00: Full breakfast
10.30: Briefing and diving. "Open deck" accommodates 1-2 dives either morning or afternoon
14.00: Lunch
15.30: Briefing and diving
16:30: Afternoon tea
18:30: Briefing before night dives and night dives
20.00: Dinner
Saturday:
(4 dives + night dive)
As above
Sunday:
(4 dives)
According to above, all diving must be finished by 17.00.
The liveaboard moors off Lizard Island for the evening.
As the sun goes down we pour the champagne, lay out the bites and get ready for an Aussie BBQ party night.
Don't forget to put on your best tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by our talented team.
Monday:
(2 dives + night dive)
07.00: Light breakfast
8:00am: Farewell to passengers doing the 4-night expedition and will disembark here.
8.00 am: Stay on board or take a trip to Lizard Island to stretch your legs and explore a bit of this beautiful island.
11.00: New passengers join us here. Champagne and light snacks provided.
12.45: Briefing and dive
14.00: Lunch
15.45: Briefing and dive
16.45: Afternoon tea
18.00: Briefing and night dive
20.00: Dinner
Tuesday:
(4 dives + night dive)
6.30: Wake up, light breakfast available in the dining room
7:00 a.m.: Briefing and diving begins
9.00: Full breakfast
10.30: Briefing and diving. "Open deck" accommodates 1-2 dives either morning or afternoon
14.00: Lunch
15.30: Briefing and diving
16:30: Afternoon tea
18:30: Briefing & night diving
20.00: Dinner
Wednesday:
(4 dives)
As above, all dives must be completed by 17.00pm.
When the sun goes down, we pour the champagne, lay out the snacks and get ready for one last farewell party!
Overnight cruise back to Cairns
Thursday:
07:00: light breakfast
8:00am: Disembark and transfer to your hotel in Cairns, the airport or to the liveaboard office where you can store your luggage until 17:00pm if you have a later flight.
important:
We recommend that you allow 24 hours between your last dive and your onward flight (all diving is completed by 17.00pm Monday).
Please note!
Our solid program is a plan that is modified based on the external conditions that the weather gods reward us with. This means that we can move activities to other days and, in the worst case, replace planned activities with alternatives if necessary.
Liveaboards offering this safari
Spoilsport liveaboard great barrier reef
