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Price: AUD 2,990
Travel dates: 21 Jun 24 to 25 Jun 24
Book between: 12 Nov 23 and 15 Apr 23
Add on a PADI Minke Whale Specialty course for only $105
Join us on a curated trip to swim with minke whales and dive the Ribbon Reefs in crystal clear winter conditions.
Dwarf Minke whale diving trips from Cairns are a highlight of the scuba diving calendar, and one that can only be experienced at the Great Barrier Reef. Amazing encounters with these inquisitive whales happen at the peak of their migration every June and July, when these gentle giants move from Antarctic waters up to the Ribbon Reefs.
Expeditions are open to both snorkelers and divers, with whale interactions strictly controlled. Dwarf Minke whales grow up to 8 metres (26 feet) long, and a closeup encounter with these majestic 6-tonne creatures is an experience you will never forget.
Minkes often approach snorkelers, divers and boats, so there is every chance to see them close up. Our success rate for close sightings during a Minke whale dive over the peak season is over 90%, and your interaction with the whales could last two hours or more!
After your encounter, join the group in participating in vital citizen science research to help understand and protect these gentle sea giants. Researchers from the Minke Whale Project will be on board and will provide daily talks.
Our package includes:
- 4 nights’ twin share accommodation in a standard cabin on OceanQuest with a/c and ensuite
- 1 night 3-star transit accommodation in Cairns
- 1 group dinner in Cairns, the night before embarkation
- Up to 4 dives per day with tanks, weights and air fills
- Snorkel equipment, including wetsuits
- All meals on board (4 meals per day plus morning and afternoon tea)
- Fresh chilled water, tea and coffee
- Transfers from Cairns city accommodation
Only 11 places available.
PADI Minke Whale Awareness Specialty
If you are interested in learning more about these fascinating creatures why not include the PADI Minke Whale Awareness Specialty on your trip. Developed by our team of dive experts, you’ll learn all about dwarf Minke whales, including their biology, how to identify them by their markings, and how they behave. You’ll gain insight into the pressures and threats to their populations worldwide, and what conservation efforts are being made to protect them.
During this Minke whale specialty you’ll understand the importance of the rules and monitoring activities that govern how we interact with these fascinating creatures. By the end you’ll know how to plan and carry out interactions with Minkes in a way that keeps everybody safe.
The course includes knowledge development, and two open water training dives. The speciality costs just $105 and you can add it to your booking at checkout.
