The Cod Hole is located 200 km to the north of Cairns and has become famous for it's family of resident Potato Cod (Groper). Each of these huge fish can weigh up to 100 kg and are well accustomed to posing for diver's cameras.

The Ribbon Reefs are a string of 10 coral ramparts of the GREAT BARRIER REEF stretching southward from the Cod Hole. Coral formations vary from beds of huge plate corals to isolated pinnacles sustaining an amazing display of fish life, to walls and channels for the perfect drift dives as well as caves, canyons and shallow coral gardens.

Divers can expect to encounter the enormous giant clams, golden gorgonian fans, and clouds of colourful tropical fish, as well as cruising pelagics, moray eels, green turtles, reef sharks and the giant Napoleon Wrasse

The trip departs every Monday and Friday all year round and also takes in The Great Barrier Reef's turquoise chain of ribbon reefs with pristine coral gardens, excellent for macro and fish photography. The trip allows for 11 dives either from the vessel or from the two inflatables.

A spectacular low level flight is included which decreases travel time and increases dive time. Also included is a Free Reef Ecology Certificate Course, a Free Introductory Dive for non divers, all meals, tanks and weight belts.

The vessel is the best appointed liveaboard vessel operating to the Cod Hole. Length 90 ft , beam 34 ft speed 15 knots. Average passenger numbers are 20 (max 26). The vessel is equiped with Video Pro Service +E6 Processing, is airconditioned throughout, and offers full cabin service. The massive dive deck is superbly set up for diving.

Accommodation styles:

• Premium Double bed or twin beds, private bathroom
• Standard Double or twin beds, shared bathroom
• Economy Twin bunk beds, shared bathroom
• Budget Bunk beds (hull), shared bathroom

ITINERARY - Boat Out & Fly Back

THURSDAY
Check-in prior to 4:00pm at Mike Ball office, 143 Lake Street Cairns. Passengers then make own way onboard Supersport at Marlin Jetty at 8:00pm. NB: no boarding possible prior to 8:00pm. Cruise overnight to the Ribbon Reefs.

FRIDAY
Flare Point, Steve's Bommie, Fish Market and Ribbon Reef #3. Spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks, and green turtles. Spiral majestic coral pinnacles teeming with life. Huge schools of fusiliers entice predatory barracuda and schooling trevally. Night dives where decorator crabs, egg cowry shells, moray eels and crayfish are just a few of the creatures to be found.

SATURDAY
Ribbon Reefs #4, Clam Beds, #5 Rouge Reef, #9 Challenger Bay. Dive superb patch reefs rich in diversity and dotted with huge giant clams. Caves, canyons and encrusted bommies encourage great exploration. These unique shoals provide examples of some of the best plate corals to be seen and are home to an array of fish including sweetlip, butterfly, angel and beautifully coloured trumpet fish. Glide through fields of garden eels, blue spotted rays, leaf scorpion fish and moray eels. This is a spectacular night dive.

SUNDAY
Ribbon Reef #9, Ribbon Reef #10, Cod Hole, Dynamite Pass and Lizard Island. Circumnavigate Pixie Pinnacle and Lighthouse Bommie covered in schools of fusiliers. Fluorescent purple and orange anthias attract predatory fish to these photogenic sites. Majestic minke whales can be seen here from May to August. Swim, play with and photograph a family of giant potato cod at Cod Hole. Enjoy close encounters with huge maori wrasse. Exit last dive at 5:00pm and cruise to Lizard Island.

MONDAY
Breakfast on board and transfer to Lizard Island. Spectacular low level reef flight back to Cairns. Arrive at Cairns at approximately 11:00am.

ITINERARY - Fly Out & Boat Back.

MONDAY
Check-in at 7:00 am at Righa Cairns Colonial Club then transfer to Cairns airport for reef flight to Lizard Island and connection to Supersport. On to Cod Hole and Ribbon Reef #10. Swim, play with, and photograph a family of magnificent Giant Potato cod and observe them feeding, together with Maori Wrasse. Night dive at Challenger Bay with a myriad of colourful molluscs and crustaceans.

TUESDAY
Ribbon Reefs #10 and #9, and Harrier Reef. Glide along Pixie's wall with a procession of golden gorgonian fans lining its base. Watch mackerel hunt juvenile fusiliers gathered in schools at Don's Diner against a magnificent backdrop of plate corals. Night dive at "Clam Beds", a coral garden dominated by colourful molluscs and crustaceans.

WEDNESDAY
Ribbon Reef #3 and Escape Reef. Join the big eye trevally and barracuda as they school around Steve's Bommie. Take your pick at the "Fish Market" where a variety of species of fish gather, forming multicoloured clouds over a large bommie of hard corals. Dive on the Great Escape with its beautiful coral gardens dotted with giant clams.

THURSDAY
Early morning docking at Yorkeys Knob Marina, Cairns. Breakfast on Supersport and board coach at 9:15 am to transfer back to Cairns.

Prices are in Australian Dollars.
Prices are valid to 31 March 2005