Coral Sea trip amazing

opimoby · 22nd September 2007, 09:24

I just helped organise one of the first rebreather expeditions on the Undersea Explorer out to Osprey Reef. The trip was a modeling expedition to work out logistics for future rebreather dedicated trips which should be organised on a regular basis from Port Douglas which is not far from Cairns. The main destination was Osprey Reef's vertical wall dives on the northern side of the reef structure. The diving here is extraordinary with 2,000 metre sheer drop offs in extremely clear water. Lots of big predators and fabulous scenery. I was flying a brand new Evolution and my buddy Lance Robb had his Megalodon. Expedition organisors have been in close contact with Work Place Health and Safety dive inspectors to ensure that our diving procedures were compatible with safety guidelines for Queensland which seems to be far less problematic than many have indicated. Undersea Explorer combines scientific research with tourism diving and offers a hands on approach which creates and interesting and adventure packed experience for CCR divers which I can highly recommend. I have been going on their trips for many years as an OC diver and the rebreather creates a wonderful dimension to the experience. Feel free to email me if you require any more information or contact Undersea Explorer directly on
Click here >>>Scuba Diving Australia - Dive the Great Barrier Reef with Undersea Explorer
Also contact Tech Dive Academy for more information
Click here>>>Tech Dive Academy - PADI Diver Training Cairns, Diving Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas Australia

I can also recommend who to do your course with here in Australia and who to steer away from. Here are some shots from the trip....courtesy of Lance Robb
cheers
Ross

Lancer4545 · 22nd September 2007, 10:06

Hey Ross,

It was a lot of fun out there diving with you. Many thanks for the opportunity to come along. I have to say it has to be the most exciting dive trip I have ever been on with action of some kind on every dive.

I had a blast and can't wait until the next trip.....Hopefully with a boat load of rebreather divers next time.

Nice photos.....

Regards,

Lance

decoweenie · 22nd September 2007, 10:46

Nice photos.

Is that a lifting platform on the back of the boat ? If it is, that's REALLY nice one.

opimoby · 22nd September 2007, 11:05

Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie)

Nice photos.

Is that a lifting platform on the back of the boat ? If it is, that's REALLY nice one.

Yes its a big hydrolic lifter which is wonderful when I take my big HD camera rig. You just slide the gear out on the platform and down you go to the water. It's saved my back many a time

silent running · 22nd September 2007, 11:44

Thanks for the info and pics, looks top notch. I'm very interested in joining you. Any ideas on the best way/time to book an airline ticket? USA to Oz is pricey, almost as much as PNG from what I understand. Any suggestions as to how to keep the airfare under $2000 US?

opimoby · 22nd September 2007, 11:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by silent running)

Thanks for the info and pics, looks top notch. I'm very interested in joining you. Any ideas on the best way/time to book an airline ticket? USA to Oz is pricey, almost as much as PNG from what I understand. Any suggestions as to how to keep the airfare under $2000 US?

For information click here>>http://www.undersea.com.au/

or here>> http://www.tech-dive-academy.com/

cheers
Ross

RedSeaDiver · 22nd September 2007, 11:57

Quote: (Originally Posted by silent running)

Thanks for the info and pics, looks top notch. I'm very interested in joining you. Any ideas on the best way/time to book an airline ticket? USA to Oz is pricey, almost as much as PNG from what I understand. Any suggestions as to how to keep the airfare under $2000 US?

Check for airfares for Air Tahiti Nui - it's the cheapest way for us Aussies to get to the U.S., so it may well work out cheapest for you as well. They fly JFK - Tahiti - Sydney, and then get a cheap domestic flight from Sydney to Cairns.

Funny that you live in Brooklyn - I lived in Greenpoint for a little while.

opimoby · 27th September 2007, 12:37

The Evo was fabulous to fly although the batteries didn't last as long as I expected....Lance's Megaldon looks like a robust machine.....Undersea Explorer really looks after it's clients a great bunch of people.....the diving is truly extraordinary.......

undrh2o · 27th September 2007, 13:30

I can't say enough about the Undersea explorer - my wife and I did a 6 day trip with them to osprey reef in Sept 2006 (open circuit). They are a fantastic organization and it's a great feeling to know our fares was partly going to support marine research. We both enjoyed having a marine biologist on board to give talks in the afternoons as well as answer any post-dive nature questions.

Lancer4545 · 6th October 2007, 05:58

Quote: (Originally Posted by undrh2o)

I can't say enough about the Undersea explorer - my wife and I did a 6 day trip with them to osprey reef in Sept 2006 (open circuit). They are a fantastic organization and it's a great feeling to know our fares was partly going to support marine research. We both enjoyed having a marine biologist on board to give talks in the afternoons as well as answer any post-dive nature questions.

Ross and I had a fantastic time out at Osprey Reef with Undersea Explorer and we are still talking about it.

Everyone on board was extremely helpful when it came to the rebreathers and even set up a special bench for Ross's Evo. Most of the other divers were realy interested in the rebreathers as there are not a lot of them around here and we spent a lot of time explaining how they worked.

One of the objectives of the trip from a conservation/research stand point was the capture, tagging, data collecting and release of Nautilus.

Personally I had never seen a live Nautilus before and when we caught 25 of them in traps set over night I was intrigued by them. They are so cool and we even had the opportunity to take a couple back during a dive to take photos.

There are more rebreather trips in the planning and we will announce them as soon as they are finalised.

Lance

p1010280s.jpg
p1010306s.jpg

22nd September 2007, 10:06	#2 (permalink)
Lancer4545 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cairns QLD Australia Posts: 741	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing Hey Ross, It was a lot of fun out there diving with you. Many thanks for the opportunity to come along. I have to say it has to be the most exciting dive trip I have ever been on with action of some kind on every dive. I had a blast and can't wait until the next trip.....Hopefully with a boat load of rebreather divers next time. Nice photos..... Regards, Lance __________________ You can run but you can't hide! ISC Appointed Megalodon Dealer for East Australia http://www.closedcircuitdivers.com.au info@closedcircuitdivers.com.au
(Offline)

22nd September 2007, 10:46	#3 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,487	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing Nice photos. Is that a lifting platform on the back of the boat ? If it is, that's REALLY nice one. __________________ "...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..." - Rebreather World PM
(Offline)

22nd September 2007, 11:05	#4 (permalink)
opimoby New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Port Douglas, Australia Posts: 68	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie) Nice photos. Is that a lifting platform on the back of the boat ? If it is, that's REALLY nice one. Yes its a big hydrolic lifter which is wonderful when I take my big HD camera rig. You just slide the gear out on the platform and down you go to the water. It's saved my back many a time __________________ If you build it...they will come..
(Offline)

22nd September 2007, 11:44	#5 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,873	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing Thanks for the info and pics, looks top notch. I'm very interested in joining you. Any ideas on the best way/time to book an airline ticket? USA to Oz is pricey, almost as much as PNG from what I understand. Any suggestions as to how to keep the airfare under $2000 US?
(Offline)

22nd September 2007, 11:51	#6 (permalink)
opimoby New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Port Douglas, Australia Posts: 68	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing Quote: (Originally Posted by silent running) Thanks for the info and pics, looks top notch. I'm very interested in joining you. Any ideas on the best way/time to book an airline ticket? USA to Oz is pricey, almost as much as PNG from what I understand. Any suggestions as to how to keep the airfare under $2000 US? For information click here>>http://www.undersea.com.au/ or here>> http://www.tech-dive-academy.com/ cheers Ross __________________ If you build it...they will come..
(Offline)

22nd September 2007, 11:57	#7 (permalink)
RedSeaDiver New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: haulin iron ore in the Aussie outback Posts: 70	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing Quote: (Originally Posted by silent running) Thanks for the info and pics, looks top notch. I'm very interested in joining you. Any ideas on the best way/time to book an airline ticket? USA to Oz is pricey, almost as much as PNG from what I understand. Any suggestions as to how to keep the airfare under $2000 US? Check for airfares for Air Tahiti Nui - it's the cheapest way for us Aussies to get to the U.S., so it may well work out cheapest for you as well. They fly JFK - Tahiti - Sydney, and then get a cheap domestic flight from Sydney to Cairns. Funny that you live in Brooklyn - I lived in Greenpoint for a little while.
(Offline)

27th September 2007, 12:37	#8 (permalink)
opimoby New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Port Douglas, Australia Posts: 68	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing The Evo was fabulous to fly although the batteries didn't last as long as I expected....Lance's Megaldon looks like a robust machine.....Undersea Explorer really looks after it's clients a great bunch of people.....the diving is truly extraordinary....... __________________ If you build it...they will come..
(Offline)

27th September 2007, 13:30	#9 (permalink)
undrh2o Chris Miller Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 206	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing I can't say enough about the Undersea explorer - my wife and I did a 6 day trip with them to osprey reef in Sept 2006 (open circuit). They are a fantastic organization and it's a great feeling to know our fares was partly going to support marine research. We both enjoyed having a marine biologist on board to give talks in the afternoons as well as answer any post-dive nature questions.
(Offline)

6th October 2007, 05:58	#10 (permalink)
Lancer4545 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cairns QLD Australia Posts: 741	Re: Coral Sea trip amazing Quote: (Originally Posted by undrh2o) I can't say enough about the Undersea explorer - my wife and I did a 6 day trip with them to osprey reef in Sept 2006 (open circuit). They are a fantastic organization and it's a great feeling to know our fares was partly going to support marine research. We both enjoyed having a marine biologist on board to give talks in the afternoons as well as answer any post-dive nature questions. Ross and I had a fantastic time out at Osprey Reef with Undersea Explorer and we are still talking about it. Everyone on board was extremely helpful when it came to the rebreathers and even set up a special bench for Ross's Evo. Most of the other divers were realy interested in the rebreathers as there are not a lot of them around here and we spent a lot of time explaining how they worked. One of the objectives of the trip from a conservation/research stand point was the capture, tagging, data collecting and release of Nautilus. Personally I had never seen a live Nautilus before and when we caught 25 of them in traps set over night I was intrigued by them. They are so cool and we even had the opportunity to take a couple back during a dive to take photos. There are more rebreather trips in the planning and we will announce them as soon as they are finalised. Lance p1010280s.jpg p1010306s.jpg __________________ You can run but you can't hide! ISC Appointed Megalodon Dealer for East Australia http://www.closedcircuitdivers.com.au info@closedcircuitdivers.com.au
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode