Nimrod Explorer and Outer Barrier Reef

Saturday 21st July saw us set out on another adventure. This time we were catching the Nimrod Explorer from Cooktown for a 3 nights/ 4 day diving cruise to the outer Barrier Reef. All of the other 13 passengers began their trip from Cairns with a flight to Cooktown where we all boarded the boat at 6 p.m.

Nimrod Explorer is one of the roomiest dive boats anywhere. The vessel is twin hulled for optimum stability and measures 23m x 8m, making the saloon positively spacious. With a maximum 18 guests, we could have held a barn dance out there! There are 2 cabins on the saloon deck - 1 double and 1 twin and on the lower deck there are 4 quad share rooms and a double. All rooms have their own shower and toilet.

We had a quad share room, with both Walter and I bagging the bottom bunks, and a lovely young lass (Kat) who was a dive instructor from Cairns taking one of the top bunks. (She was much more agile than us!) We all gathered in the saloon/dining room once on board and were given a briefing by Captain Phil, Dive Masters Kelly and Dan, and Housekeeper Val and Chef Steph. This gave us a good idea of the procedures to follow for our time on the boat for our safety and the smooth operation of day to day.

It was a mixed group of people, 5 from USA, 2 from Spain on their honeymoon, 1 Japanese lady, an older Australian guy (even older than us!) Kat the dive Instructor (who was British), a Pakistani, and 2 other guys who we think were from South America. Even the staff was international! Cleaner was from Italy, Cook was from Britain, Kelly (dive master) New Zealand, and Dan (Dive Master) from Britain. The Captain and Engineer were actually Australians.

The boat has its’ own desalinator, which can churn out 6000 litres of fresh water per day, this meant we could shower after every dive. The boat has the old nautical charm of wood paneling throughout, but the Nimrod Explorer has fully air-conditioning throughout and has video and CD players. There are also plenty of fish identification books, a lending library, more board games than we had time to play, self-serve brewed coffee, a wide variety of teas and complimentary soft drinks. As if that were not enough to keep us busy, there is a shaded upper deck area with tables and chairs, as well as a sunbathing area.

The first night we left Cooktown about midnight and steamed throughout the night to anchor at first light on Ribbon Reef No.10, on the Challenger Bay. As the wind kept up, it was very “wobbly” as Phil the skipper put it, and I didn’t really get any sleep.

The first dive was at 6.30 am after a light brekky. Visibility was easily a good 25-30 metres. Pretty dive, nice corals, lion fish and a myriad of reef fish. Walter tried snorkeling but it was very windy so the sea very choppy on the surface that made it quite uncomfortable so he aborted the exercise! It was so nice underwater though, my dive lasted for 55 minutes….the joy of tropical waters! The timetable for the day was for 5 dives, including a night dive. The second was at Pixie Wall, again lovely with schools of barracuda, grey whaler shark, Trevally and thousands of highly coloured reef fish of all varieties. I even got to see some varieties that are particularly hard to spot, due to their ability to camouflage, such as the Leafy Scorpion fish. I had my new underwater camera so I had to start all over again working out its settings etc! The next dive was at Pixie Gardens. This is a very pretty area with Lion Fish, Anemone Fish, Christmas Tree worms and lovely coral of all shapes and types.

There were 2 other dives this day, the Monolith and a night dive but I was so tired after the third dive I opted out. Needless to say I slept like a top that night making up for the night before!

At 5.30 am we began steaming to the next site about 1 ½ hours away to the Cod Hole. When we arrived at the Cod Hole, the current was too strong for diving so we changed to Cormorant Reef. This was another amazing dive site, lots of fish, white tipped reef shark and Leafy Scorpion Fish. After completing this dive and having a lovely hot breakfast, we steamed back to the Cod Hole.

The Cod Hole, for me, was the pinnacle of the trip. I have read about the Cod Hole for years. The Cod Hole is known for its’ resident family of huge potato cod which enjoy protected status in the area, and have made this small section of the reef their home. They range in size from 25 to 60 kg (50 to 120 pounds). The diving depth at the Cod Hole varies from 10 to 20 metres on a sloping bottom that is dotted with high profile coral heads and stunning coral gardens.

Weather permitting, two dives are done at the Cod Hole on every 3 ½ day trip, including an in-your-face potato cod feed. Not only great fun for the divers, the feed encourages the potato cods to stay at the Cod Hole where there is an absolute ban on fishing. Unlike some dive boats, the crew of the Nimrod Explorer urges divers not to touch the impossibly cute potato cods so that we do not wipe off their protective mucous coating and expose them to possible infections. The feed was amazing and made for some fantastic photography! They are so cheeky! You really have to get out of their way! They have no trouble about getting up close and personal with you!

Following this dive, we motored back 1 ½ hours to Pixie Pinnacle for the next dive after lunch. This is a pinnacle rising to within 2 feet of the surface. You begin diving at the bottom, about 24 metres and spiral around the pinnacle. It is fascinating to see the changes in sea life as you go up. Very pretty, with Gorgonian fans and some pretty soft corals on this too. Also found some lovely Nudibranchs (see photo). After afternoon tea, we then did a dusk dive on the same pinnacle, different again as you see the ‘day’ fish and creatures going to bed and the ‘night life’ come out to play! The feather stars are beautiful at night as they extended their tentacles to feed, the red bass go hunting – they love the lights from the dive boat, and there are also the lobsters that are prowling around the reef. The parrot fish, they wrap themselves up in their cocoon to protect themselves from predators whilst they sleep. All so fascinating, and such a beautiful world.

Again we began steaming south straight after dinner towards Steve’s Bommie. About a 5 hour motor. There was a dawn dive (5.30 am) but I opted out! I had breakfast then did the next dive. This is another pinnacle named after a guy called Steve who died free diving at the Cod Hole in 1989. There is a plaque set on the bottom of the Bommie in his memory. Again you spiral around, going from the bottom to the top. The top of this Bommie is only 5 feet from the surface and I have never seen anything quite as pretty.. Real Nemo’s live here among a huge variety of corals, and fairy basslet reef fish in all colours of the rainbow.

Walter did not get to undertake any further snorkelling but he ate well and read books!

Then it was back to Cooktown. When we arrived back we were all served Champagne and nibbles on the back deck before we all departed. It was a great trip but we weren’t lucky enough to spot any of the dwarf Minke whales. Think it was a bit late in the season for them. We may have to do this trip again a bit early another time!