Ashmore Exploratory – Far Northern Reefs – Coral Sea

2024 Departure dates: 21 & 28 November
2025 Departure dates: 11 & 18 April Friday Departures | 20 & 27 November Thursday Departures

7 Nights – Up to 27 Dives. A rare opportunity to visit the remote and pristine reefs of Ashmore Reef. Dive with hundreds of turtles at Raine Island & descend on the historic wreck of the Quetta.

Highlights
Dive Site Map
Itinerary
Prices

Highlights:

Remote rarely visited reefs with incredible coral.
Raine Island – See hundreds of turtles at the world’s biggest green turtle nesting site. Tiger sharks are attracted to the nesting turtles.
Ashmore Reef – Plunge into the unknown, spectacular and remote.
Boot Reef – The single most remote place that MV Spoilsport visits.
Great Detached Reef – Big fans, hard and soft corals & pelagics.
Quetta Wreck (Tidal dependant) – Jewel of the Far North.

Horn Island

Embark at Horn Island 4:00pm.
Options for further travel vary. Daily scheduled flights from Cairns to Horn Island are available & should be arranged by the individual.

Ashmore Reef

Mysterious , isolated, rarely visited. The graveyard of a dozen 19th century ships. Still not fully explored, Ashmore Reef lies literally on the seaborder with Papua New Guinea. Help unlock the many secrets of this final frontier. A place that has already given us arguably the greatest drift dive in Far North Queensland…’The Flight of the Cassowary”. Dive into the unknown and uncover the hidden wonders of Ashmore Reef.

Boot Reef

Miles and miles of unbroken sheer-drop sea wall. Sharks, giant Qld grouper and magnificent fans create a symphony of colour and live action. Lying nearly 300 kilometres east of Thursday Island , Boot Reef is the single most remote place that MV Spoilsport visits. Almost anywhere you dive, you’ll be the first to have been there. Diving dreams are made of this.

Raine Island

Between 40,000-100,000 green turtles visit Raine Island each year to lay their eggs in the warm sands. The island is not accessible to the public, but the reefs surrounding it are excellent for diving. The pristine coral here is some of the best we’ve seen anywhere.

Great Detached Reef

The 46km of fringing reef here give us some great sites to choose from. See fields of hard coral down to 30m at Turmoil, plus beautiful soft corals, fans and whips at Twin Peaks, Oh My Bommie, Cracker and Big Woody. This reef is home to masses of marine life, large & small.

RMS Quetta (Tidal dependent)

The RMS Quetta sank on the night of 28 February 1890, after striking an uncharted rock. At the time, it was Queensland’s worst maritime disaster. Today, the RMS Quetta lies on her port side in 18m of water and is an excellent dive site in terms of wreck, reef and fish. The wreck diving jewel of the far north.

All itinerary details are subject to change, specific marine life cannot be guaranteed.
Please note no courses will be available on this expedition.

See best detail!

Expedition prices, per person in Australian dollars.

Ashmore Exploratory – Far Northern Reefs - 7 Night 2024
Cabin	Price
Premium	$6899
Standard	$6356
Club	$5581
Budget	$4789

Environmental Management Fee $8 per day (subject to change)
Horn Island flight not included.

Ashmore Exploratory – Far Northern Reefs - 7 Night 2025
Cabin	Prices
Premium	$7244
Standard	$6674
Club	$5860
Budget	$5029

Environmental Management Fee $8 per day (subject to change)
Horn Island flight not included.

Rates include:

Accommodation in twin/double cabins
Delicious meals & snacks, wine and soft drink are included with the evening meal
Tanks, air fills and weight belt
Daily cabin service
Reef ecology programme
Dive computer workshop

Please note that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority requires us to collect an Environmental Management Charge of $8.00 per day spent on the Great Barrier Reef. This amount will be added to your bar bill at the end of your expedition.

Click on the links here for extras such as dive courses, photo services and gear hire, plus discounts available.

Premium – queen or double bed, private bathroom, ocean views.
Standard – twin beds, private bathroom, ocean views.
Club – twin bunk beds, private bathroom, no ocean view.
Budget – twin bunk beds, share bathroom, no ocean view.

Itinerary

Ashmore Exploratory Itinerary (Horn Island to Horn Island – 27 dives)

Sample itinerary, subject to change based on conditions.

Special April Departures Notice: For April departures, boarding will be on Friday. Please adjust your travel plans accordingly.

Please note: Boarding this expedition is ex Horn Island onboard Spoilsport, (commercial flight to Horn Island not included and to be arranged by yourself). Disembarkation is Horn Island.

Thursday:

4.00 pm board Spoilsport at Horn Island Pier.
4.30 pm depart for Great Detached Reef.
Time to organise any rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck.
7.00 pm Dinner

Friday: (Up to 3 dives + night dive) Great Detached Reef and Raine Island.