You
can view the different cabins here:
http://www.spiritoffreedom.com.au/vessel/cabins.html
The Spirit of Freedom can
accommodate a maximum of 26 guests
in 11 cabins all
with private bath.
Inclusive of:
Chef prepared meals and snacks daily
Soft drinks, Australian wine and
beer available with the evening
meal.
Tanks & weights
Daily cabin service
Hotel transfers in Cairns city area
10% goods and services tax
Additional charges:
Marine Park levies $25 per person
Optional Extras:
Scuba Gear Hire
Nitrox fills
Soft drinks & Alcohol outside of
the evening meal time
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Experience the profound sense of
connection that comes from looking
into the eye of another species…
Dwarf Minke Whale Expeditions run
for 6 weeks each June/July and all
encounters take place on the whale's
terms. Learn about their biology,
behaviour and life history through
onboard lectures by marine
biologists and scientists. Guests
will be given the opportunity to
assist the ongoing research by
helping to identify individual
whales and be involved in
behavioural observations. This is
truly one of the most unique under
water experiences available (and
don't forget that it is accompanied
with magnificent diving and
snorkelling on the Great Barrier
Reef!)
Code of Practice for dwarf minke
whale interactions
Sample itinerary:
TRIP BEGINS: Day 1:DAY 1: (noon-
12:30)
Board your vessel around noon at
Trinity Wharf, Cairns. Meet the crew
of Eye to Eye Marine Encounters and
Spirit of Freedom. You will be shown
to your cabins, have a tour of the
vessel, a safety brief, check all
paperwork is completed and dive gear
organized. Enjoy lunch on board and
head out to a local reef for your
check out dive or snorkel in the
afternoon. Continue steaming into
the evening and overnight and awake
at your first dive/snorkel site.
DAY 2:
Wake up to the Ribbon Reefs stretching out before you. Enjoy a light breakfast before the first dive/snorkel, followed by a hot cooked meal. This will be accompanied by an in-depth briefing on swim-with-whale guide-lines. Afterwards, travel to your next destination, searching for whales whilst underway. If whales are eager to interact, don your wetsuit and enter the water, ready for the experience of a lifetime. Watch as their confidence and curiosity grows, bringing them eye to eye with you. If no whales are found, continue your dive/snorkel adventure on beautiful coral gardens and pinnacles. In the evening, attend an interpretive talk (and power point presentation) by researchers on whale biology, behaviour and the history behind the Minke Whale Project.
DAY 3:
Depending on the events of previous day, focus upon either diving/snorkeling on the reef, or spotting whales. Dive site will be selected based on weather conditions and seasonal marine highlights. Night dives are offered most evenings. During mealtime, enjoy informal talks with onboard biologists and researchers.
DAYS 4 - 5:
Spend the day looking for whales (very often the whales will find us!) and exploring the northern Ribbon Reefs and visiting famous dive sites including the Cod Hole, Pixie Pinnacle and Steve’s Bommie. During encounters help researchers identify individuals and key behaviours and be sure to keep an ear out for the minke’s unique acoustic repertoire. Increase your marine knowledge and enthusiasm by attending another interpretive talk offered by our onboard biologists.
DAY 6: Final day
snorkeling, diving and we hope
interacting with whales one last
time as we steam south along the
Ribbon Reefs! Steam overnight
arriving back in Cairns on 13 July.
DAY 7: After a light breakfast,
photos and goodbyes, disembark at
Cairns Trinity Wharf at 7am.
Complimentary transfers to
accommodation or airport will be
provided.
4 & 5 Day Trip :
Our 4
and 5 day day itineraries are
flexible and will be similar to that
of the 6-day trip (including
interpretive talks on board). The
focus will be on whale interactions
(both above and below water) but we
also include snorkeling and diving
at some of the Great Barrier Reef's
best dive sites such as the
world-famous Cod Hole, Pixie’s
Pinnacle and Steve’s Bommie.
Eye to Eye also
offers private swim-with
Minke whale charters
across a range of
vessels.
Why choose us?
John Rumney and his dedicated team of researchers and crew have been running swim with minke whale trips for 17 years and pioneered the swim with whale experience in Queensland. They were also instrumental in the development of guidelines that ensures
all encounters are carried out on the whales’ terms and have now been adopted by industry as World’s Best Practice.
We believe in connecting people with nature in a profound and meaningful way. Our aim is to create the best minke experience along with excellent reef snorkelling and diving.
What make Eye to Eye Marine Encounters unique?
-
Minkes are our priority. We maintain a flexible itinerary in order to maximise the time and quality of whale encounters.
-
Dive sites are selected based on weather conditions and seasonal marine attractions, not on a predetermined timeframe
-
Researcher presence. Our scientists actively conduct field work while on board and appreciate and encourage guest involvement (i.e. by contributing photographs and behavioural observations to the Minke Whale Project)
-
Our dedicated and highly skilled crew has worked with us for years and shares our passion, values and thirst for adventure and fun.
-
We believe in the exchange of ideas and sharing of knowledge as a means of enriching the marine experience.
We want to give YOU the best wildlife experience possible in the hope that it will inspire you to protect our marine treasures. Our ethos and reputation has made us the first point of call for documentary film crews, universities and marine institutes around the world. We have been fortunate enough to introduce the beautiful minke whales to IMAX, Galatee (Oceans), National Geographic and the BBC and wish to continue sharing one of world’s most incredible wildlife experiences with others.
YOUR PARTICIPATION HELPS SUPPORT THE MINKE WHALE PROJECT
THANK YOU!
Eye to Eye Marine
Encounters is still
available for private,
whole boat Minke whale
charters on a variety of
vessels.
Please contact us for
more details including
prices, dates and your
custom itinerary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For private yachts, Eye
to Eye offers the
highest level of Great
Barrier Reef and Coral
Sea guides including the
Swim with Minke Whale
experience.
For more information,
please don't hesitate to
contact us. |
