July 2003 issue:
General
- Mike Ball's new "One World" Pricing Policy
- Been to Cairns before? Expect to be amazed on your return
Australia
- Ken's Trip Report: Diversity
- Sail away on the GBR on Vagabond with Sybille
- It's not all nudibranchs & blennies on the Ribbon Reefs
- Continue your Dive Education on your next live-aboard
Papua New Guinea
- The new "Moonlighting"
- Madang - Jais Aben Resort - Room upgrades complete
- Lissenung
Island - February to May 2004 special
Micronesia
- Big Blue Explorer in Palau - book before October 15!
- Fish 'n' Fins - travelling before September 30?
Webpage update
Other Topics
DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL Newsletter / July 2003
Online HTML version (English) | Online HTML Version (deutsch)
G'day from Diversion Dive Travel,
Whilst
much of the world is in the midst of enjoying its summer holiday break,
the Great Barrier Reef is enjoying its "winter" respite.
Of course, the seasons in our tropical region are relatively benign, with
air temperatures at a blissful 28C (82F) and water temps around 26C (78F)
this winter. Many visitors have indicated that they would gladly settle
for one of our winters - every summer! Certainly, the big creatures seem
to think this is the place to be. The dwarf minke whale season is now
in full flow with plenty of sightings and breathtaking encounters reported.
Before you can say
"Jacques Cousteau", the year will be closing in on us and it
will be time to dive the unique and remote Northern area of the Great
Barrier Reef, only accessible by live-aboard in October & November.
Space on all live-aboard dive cruises around this time of the year is
already very limited, so we strongly recommend anyone considering diving
the GBR around this time to plan and book as soon as possible to avoid
missing the boat!
General
Mike Ball's new "One World" Pricing Policy
End
of June, we received a surprise message from Mike Ball Dive Expeditions:
"As of July 1st 2003 Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is introducing a "One World" pricing policy. This means that customers from all over the globe will be charged off our Regular Price list in Australian Dollars."
This move is very welcome indeed by agents & customers alike. The different rates in US$ and AU$ for different regions have in the past led to situations where the US$ rate was up to 20% higher. Our clients from North America will be especially happy to see that their concerns have been taken on board.
With this pricing issue behind them, Mike Ball continues to offer some of the region's best quality dive cruises on their three vessels SPOILSPORT (Coral Sea, ex-Townsville), PARADISE SPORT (various regions in PNG) and SUPERSPORT (Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs out of Cairns).
SPECIAL - For all departures in August 2003 Mike Ball Dive Expedition offers up to 16 % off the regular price on Spoilsport http://diversionOZ.com/en/spoilsport.htm
Been to Cairns before? Expect to be amazed on your return
Cairns
has long been the "end of the road" for anyone travelling north
on the Australian East Coast. Many of Cairns characteristics are due directly
to its remoteness.
You maybe excused for thinking of Cairns as a sleepy tropical "backwater" - think again. The city has made a strong effort to attract visitors from all over the world based on culture, diversity and great cuisine. Cairns' residents have built an impressive place with man-made attractions to compliment the natural beauty.
Long neglected, the Cairns waterfront esplanade has now a multi-purpose swimming lagoon/park/barbeque area, which invites relaxation and all sorts of leisure activities.
The new sound shell
in the Esplanade offers World Class lunchtime and evening blues, jazz,
soul, R'n B and classical performances.
Eating out in Cairns is a culinary delight with a big variety of excellent
restaurants competing to please even the most discriminating taste buds.
Accommodation choices cater for all budgets and purposes. If it's beaches you want - Trinity Beach and Palm Cove, only a few miles north of the airport, are beautiful places to relax. You can now stay in First Class 5 Star luxury resorts, apartments & health spas as well as the good old cheap & cheerful Aussie favourite, the caravan park.
The first class services, combined with the leisurely and friendly attitude of our people, makes Cairns far more than just a transit point for the world's best dive cruises.
Australia
Ken's
Diversity Trip Report
Diversity - Best Crew & Service on Great Barrier Reef Live-aboards
"May
2 2003 - It had been 18 months since I had been on Diversity's maiden
voyage to the Coral Sea, so I was looking forward to experiencing the
service that many of my clients have been raving about in their feedback.
Of course, with only 12 divers maximum on-board Diversity, I was looking
forward to seeing more fish than divers underwater.
May 6 2003 - After a wonderful 4 days/4 nights on Diversity, now I know what all the feedback fuss has been about.
Over my many years of working & participating on live-aboards in different parts of the world, I would have to say the service of the friendly, knowledgeable and highly entertaining crew of Diversity is amongst the very best of I have ever experienced.
After a fantastic first dive at Challenger Bay, I was overcome by the wafting smells of would you believe, Eggs Benedict, for breakfast ?? It was there and then that I knew that apart from the excellent diving, I was in for a real treat on this trip.
Susi's (our on-board chef ) meals were outstanding and the accompanying mischievous grin (knowing all we divers would be full, bursting at the seams) announcing "Lunch (or Dinner) is ready" was a great welcome back to the dive deck each day.
The dive & marine biology crew of Andy, Tim & Pete, and their knowledge of diving and the marine environment was only surpassed by their joke-telling aptitude and skill at our evening "parlour games".
Captain Brett's laid-back Aussie demeanour did little to shield his professionalism and knowledge of the reefs, always allowing us a nice calm anchorage each evening.
Occasionally, amidst it all, we did some fantastic diving with a lot of rarities being spotted on this trip such as Leafy Scorpion fish, an Epaulette Shark, a Juvenile Harlequin Sweetlip (the wobbly fish), a Candy Crab & a Decorator Crab. We had all our old favourites turn up such as the White-Tip Reef Sharks, Potato Cod, many turtles and of course, the excellent Corals of the Northern Great Barrier Reef.
Above all, it was the service that this crew displayed that turned my head. If you are after a special trip, would like to experience some of Australia's best diving, enjoy personal attention (Crew to Guest Ratio - 5 crew to only 12 guests) and would like to feel fully pampered on your live-aboard trip, then Diversity is the trip you've been looking for."
Diversity -> http://www.diversionoz.com/de/diversity.htm
Sail away with Sybille to the GBR on board Vagabond
Sybille
Conrad, a valued member of our reservation & consultant team, reviews
her time on Vagabond, the new sailing yacht/live-aboard in our program:
"I had the pleasure of joining Vagabond for a 3day/2night live aboard late in June. Having always wanted to visit the Great Barrier Reef onboard a sailing yacht, I was not disappointed. From the time we boarded, we were made to feel welcome. Without fuss our cabins were allocated and as we were heading out to sea Mark the owner of "Vagabond" gave us a rundown on the trip to follow.
It took approximately
3 hours to get to Thetford Reef, where we moored and enjoyed one of Mark's
culinary treats. After lunch, there was still enough time to have a couple
of dives with John, our Dive Instructor.
I enjoyed the diving at Thetford and Moore Reefs. I was particularly enchanted
with "The Labyrinth" which offered some lovely swim-throughs,
large gorgonian fans, a tame speckled emperor which kept following us
around and a lot of other sea creatures to keep us interested.
At
night the generator is turned off and it is sheer bliss to be able to
fall asleep listening to the waves gently lapping "Vagabond".
It is a great change to be on a vessel where diving is not the "primary"
objective and relaxation & fun is given equal importance.
On my cruise, we were only 4 divers (The boat takes 10 divers maximum! ) The low number of divers achieves a number of very good effects: we got to go to dive sites that very few boats visit, the pre and post dive routine was very relaxing. It is really nice to see far more fish than divers underwater !
I enjoyed my time on "Vagabond"and would recommend this professional operation to all divers who want to combine a sailing cruise with diving."
http://www.diversionoz.com/en/vagabondsailanddive.htm
It's
not all nudibranchs & blennies on the Ribbon Reefs
The
Ribbon Reefs have long been considered the Macro nudibranch, blenny, &
pipefish capital of the GBR. The small critters of the Ribbons are world-renown.
A recent event has breathed new life into the rumours of a pelagic takeover.
Recently, a visiting fisherman latched onto a 5 metre Scalloped Hammerhead Shark on the Ribbons reef. After a 45 minute struggle with the hammerhead, our visiting hero was horrified when an even bigger Tiger Shark made lunch out of his catch.
We divers know better to be horrified, and the news of this event offers the possibility of more adrenaline-charged diving on the Ribbon Reefs. Bring it on….
Continue your Diver Education on your next live-aboard
There are ever-increasing opportunities to continue your diver education and gather much-valued diver certifications on your Great Barrier Reef live-aboard trip.
Spirit
of Freedom recently introduced the option of taking the PADI Enriched
Air (Nitrox) Specialty Course during your trip. At only AU$180 extra,
this is a bargain and only takes 2 days of your trip to complete. Of course,
once certified you can choose to dive on Nitrox the rest of the trip (AU$75
- 3 days, AU$105- 4 Days or AU$180 for 7 Days).
If you're looking
for that little bit of extra brush-up on your navigation or deep-diving,
you can also choose to pre-book the PADI Advanced Open Water Course for
a great price of AU$180.
Diversity also
has the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course on offer for an additional
AU$165 only.
If you're going to be on the live-aboard anyway, this inexpensive approach to traditionally expensive diver education is a great option. When placing your enquiries, it's worth a mention…..
http://www.diversionoz.com/en/divetraining-aow2.htm
Papua New Guinea
Okay, okay, I hear you. She's not quite finished yet and we've not got many photos……
Rest
assured, the new Moonlighting II is set to become one of PNG's premier
live-aboards upon completion, only weeks away.
With huge living areas, a maximum of only 12 guests, a great dive deck and the accessibility to the exotic, rarely dived in areas north of Madang and the Bismarck Sea, Moonlighting will not disappoint.
The price is right too.
SPECIAL - for the rest of 2003, Moonlighting II has a special introductory rate of AU$395 per night. Contact us for more details and/or check out the webpage in a couple of weeks.
http://www.diversionoz.com/en/moonlighting.htm
Jais Aben Resort, Madang - now even better !
For
many years, divers visiting Madang have enjoyed the comfort and ambience
offered at the Jais Aben Resort. Located in a picturesque lagoon setting,
less than 20 minutes ride from the town centre and the airport, the bungalow
style accommodation at this resort provides divers and snorkellers with
the ideal tropical treat and plenty of creature comforts to go with it.
Now with renovations recently completed, guests can enjoy the newly built
"Frangipani" bungalows set next to the waterfront. Each is decked
out with 2 double beds, air conditioning (Yes, air conditioning !), TV,
fridge and tea/coffee making facilities. Not to be forgotten, is the screened
verandah where a "sundowner" or two can be enjoyed late in the
afternoon.
The deluxe "orchid" bungalow offers the same facilities with
a separate lounge area.
SPECIAL - Despite
these improvements, packages including accommodation, meals & diving
with Aquaventures remain excellent value, so take a look at our webpage
for more details:
http://www.diversionoz.com/en/jaisaben.htm
Amazingly,
Lissenung still remains one of the best kept secrets for divers visiting
PNG. Each year more happy clients return to experience some of PNG's best
land-based dive sites, along with Edith & Dietmar's renowned hospitality.
The diving here is as personalised as it gets and there are no crowds
on this island !
The two new ensuite double bungalows are proving very popular with couples,
so early bookings here are essential.
SPECIAL - For February to May 2004, Lissenung will be even better value as it's offering 7 nights for the price of 6 and 5 dive days for the price of 4.
http://www.diversionoz.com/en/lissenung.htm
Micronesia
Big
Blue Explorer in Palau - 2004 for 2003 prices !
Without
doubt, a liveaboard cruise is the best way to fully enjoy the sensational
diving that Palau has to offer, as this gives divers the chance to explore
the more distant reefs off Peleiliu and beyond, and also the more popular
sites when the day boats aren't around.
Over the past couple of years, Big Blue Explorer has developed an enviable
reputation for quality and comfort as well as being considered Palau's
best value live-aboard.
SPECIAL - For 2004 cruises, prices are due to increase by US$200 per person
in each cabin category, however, Diversion clients booking and depositing
a 2004 cruise before 15 October 2003 still pay only the 2003 rates, priced
from US$1699
http://www.diversionoz.com/en/blueexplorer.htm
For divers who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground at night, we have a range of special summer promo dive packages with Fish 'n Fins, Palau, priced from US$655 per person including 7 nights accommodation, 12 dives & airport transfers.
These promotional
rates are offered to divers visiting Palau prior to 30 September 2003.
http://www.diversionoz.com/en/package-palau.htm
Webpage update
New accommodation additions to our program
We're increasing our accommodation recommendations in Cairns & Port Douglas !
For
that little bit of luxury, right on the beach in Palm Cove & perfect
for honeymooners & holiday-makers alike, the Angsana Resort &
Spa --> http://www.diversionoz.com/en/angsanapalmcove.htm
For great comfortable
and affordable accommodations in Cairns with plenty of free extras
(airport transfers, internet access etc.), The Balinese --> http://www.diversionoz.com/en/balinese.htm
Or the Bay Village has similar deals --> http://www.diversionoz.com/en/bayvillage.htm
For the Cairns Apartment 'deal of the century' for extended stays, the Shooting Star Apartments, priced at AU$$360 for a week can't be beat --> http://www.diversionoz.com/en/shootingstar.htm
Good quality accommodation can be very expensive in Port Douglas, but the Port Douglas Retreat offers a retreat from those kinds of prices -> http://www.diversionoz.com/en/portdouglasretreat.htm
Or stay in comfort
with the Rainforest at your back and the beach directly on your doorstep
at the Cape Tribulation Beach House -> http://www.diversionoz.com/en/capetribbeachhouse.htm
Other topics
Australian
Institute of Marine Science researchers set out to capture something no
one has ever seen before - Whale Shark "Bouncing" behaviour.
By tethering a video camera to the back of a whale shark they were hoping for an insight into the daily life of whale sharks but they also discovered how the whale sharks have been cleverly thwarting scientists attempts to track their every move.
For the full story --> http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/about/communications/backgrounders/20030620-whale-shark-crittercam.html
The third longest Barrier Reef in the world has been granted a temporary reprieve from the effects of misguided tourist development until further notice.
Dr. Geoff Gallop, State Premier of Western Australia, in his press release of 04 July 2003 said :
"Today I announced
that plans for a resort-style marina development at Maud's Landing have
been rejected.
It is our responsibility to protect the Ningaloo Coast for future generations.
We must now ensure people from all over the world are able to enjoy the
area without damaging it. Soon I will be releasing a land use and tourism
plan for the coast and will ask you for your views.
My decision to reject the resort development was made following EPA advice
that the "environmental risks and management needs for the proposal
have not been demonstrated to be environmentally acceptable".
Western Australia is now considering introducing a management body similar
to the already successful Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
in Queensland."
Nice to see that short term commercial interest is not always the top consideration when it comes to our environment. As the embryonic Western Australian tourism & dive industry approaches maturity, we all hope that the state continues to evolve into a role model of ecologically sustainable development that others choose to follow.
Specials
Please bookmark the following link for all the latest and greatest specials.
http://diversionOZ.com/en/specials.htm
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