Turtle Spectacular – Far Northern Reefs – South Bound
2024 Departure dates: 5 December
2025 Departure dates: 4 December
7 Nights – Up to 27 Dives. A rare opportunity to visit the remote and pristine reefs of the far northern Great Barrier Reef. Dive with hundreds of turtles at Raine Island & descend on the historic Pandora Wreck of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame.
“Absolutely mind blowing!” – Andrew Hunter, Australia
“The coral is the healthiest I’ve seen in 25 years of diving” – Aimee Dorfman, USA
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.
- Pandora Wreck – Historic wreck sunk in 1791 with 35 crew and mutineers from HMS Bounty.
- Great Detached Reef – Big fans, hard and soft corals & pelagics.
- Tijou and Cat Reefs – wall diving with fans, soft corals and pelagics.
- Stanley Island (Yindayin) – Incredible indigenous rock art.
- Cod Hole – Get up close with diver sized potato cod.
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.
Pandora Wreck
HMS Pandora is a dive into history like no other. This Royal Navy ship sank in 1791 in 33m with the loss of 35 crew and mutineers from HMS Bounty. Much of the wooden structure has perished however the anchor and stove are the highlights of this historically important site.
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.
Tijou / Cat Reefs
Exciting diving on walls buzzing with barracuda, rays, sharks and turtles and covered with fans and whips. The coral here will amaze too with Pussy Galore being especially beautiful. Explore the walls around Catchers Mitt, cut with gullies and full of fish and hard corals.
Stanley Island (Yindayin)
Incredible indigenous rock art featuring turtles, eagle rays and crocodiles as well as ancient tall ships from the 16th Century. The world’s longest art movement has spanned for thousands of years and you have the opportunity to see this pristine, rarely visited piece of important indigenous history.
Cod Hole - Ribbon Reefs
The Cod Hole is famous for its diver-sized potato cod. These fish are incredibly inquisitive and don’t mind getting very chummy with divers. A great opportunity to capture photographs of these magnificent characters or a simply hang out and enjoy their company.
All itinerary details are subject to change, specific marine life cannot be guaranteed.
Please note no courses will be available on this expedition.
Expedition prices, per person in Australian dollars.
| 7 Night Turtle Spectacular – Far Northern Reefs 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.
| 7 Night Turtle Spectacular – Far Northern Reefs 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
Itinerary (South Bound – Horn Island to Cairns – 27 dives)
Sample itinerary, subject to change based on conditions.
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 in Cairns.
Thursday:
- 4.00 pm board Spoilsport at Horn Island Pier.
- 4.30 pm depart for Raine Island vicinity.
- Time to organise any rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck.
- 7.00 pm Dinner
Friday: (Up to 4 dives + night dive)
This is a sample of a ‘typical day’, however exact times may vary to optimise the prevailing weather conditions on the day.
- 6.30 am: Wake up call, light breakfast available in dining room
- 7:00 am: Dive brief & diving commences
- 9.00 am: Full cooked breakfast
- 10.30 am: Dive brief & diving. “Open decks” accommodate 1-2 dives either am or pm
- 2.00 pm: Lunch
- 3.30 pm: Dive brief & diving
- 4:30 pm: Afternoon tea
- 6:30 pm: Night dive brief & dive
- 8:00 pm: Dinner
Saturday – Monday: (Up to 4 dives + night dive)
- As above.
Tuesday: (Up to 3 dives + Stanley Island Rock Art)
- 6.30 am: Wake up call, light breakfast available in dining room
- 7:00 am: Dive brief & diving commences
- 9.00 am: Full cooked breakfast
- 10.30 am: Dive brief & diving. “Open decks” accommodate 1-2 dives either am or pm
- 2.15 pm: Lunch
- 4.00 pm: Stanley Island Rock Art, Island Excursion
- 7:30 pm: Dinner
Wednesday: (Up to 4 dives)
- As per above. Exit last dive 5pm.
- As the sun sets, we pour the champagne as we ready for an Aussie BBQ party night. Don’t forget to wear your loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by our talented crew.
- Spoilsport cruises overnight to Cairns.
Thursday:
- 7.00 am: Light breakfast
- 8:00 am: Disembark and courtesy transfer to Cairns inner city hotels, the airport or our office where we can store your luggage until 4pm 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 finished by 4pm Wednesday).
- Please note no courses will be available on this expedition.
