DOCSLIB.ORG

Far Northern Great Barrier Reef, and Osprey Reef, Coral Sea 11 Day/ 10 Night: 03 - 13 DEC 2018

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Far Northern Great Barrier Reef, and Osprey Reef, Coral Sea 11 Day/ 10 Night: 03 - 13 DEC 2018 Far Northern Great Barrier Reef, and Osprey Reef, Coral Sea 11 Day/ 10 Night: 03 - 13 DEC 2018 Join Spirit of Freedom for a rare opportunity to dive both the Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, and the very Far Northern Great Barrier Reefs that stretch along the eastern edge of Cape York Peninsular. Osprey Reef is an old volcanic atoll lying 220 km off the coast, far beyond the edge of the continental shelf of Australia. Known for its spectacular 1000 metre walls, Osprey Reef also offers massive soft corals, amazing shark action, and exceptional visibility. ‘North Horn’ at the tip of Osprey is a site where grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the occasional oceanic congregate. Two days will be spent diving this reef system, including a shark attraction dive. The Far North offers some of the most remote diving in Australia, with many of the regions hundreds of reefs yet to be fully explored. Here we will combine exploratory diving with our favorite dive sites. You can expect an amazing diversity of landscapes including deep oceanic walls laced with massive gorgonians and soft corals, gardens of impressive coral formations, and isolated pinnacles, caves and canyons. Marine life encounters may include a variety of species of sharks, rays, turtles, and schools of pelagic fish, as well as incredible amount of diverse macro life. We will also dive the waters surrounding Raine Island, the largest and most important green turtle nesting area in the world. While the island is totally protected from public access, the surrounding waters will be alive with turtles at this time of year. Depart Cairns: Ex Trinity Wharf, Monday 03 December 2018 at 4.00pm Return Cairns: To Trinity Wharf, Thursday 13 December 2018 at 06.30am Day 1: 4.00pm departure. Dinner on board and overnight travel. No diving this day. Day 2: Diving Osprey Reef, Coral Sea Day 3: Diving Osprey Reef, Coral Sea Overnight travel. Day 4: Diving Mantis Reef region. Overnight travel Day 5: Diving Great Detached region Day 6: Diving Great Detached & Raine Island region Day 7: Diving the Yule and Wishbone Reef area Day 8: Diving Northern Small Detached Reef region. Day 9: Diving the Tijou Reef/ Black Rock area. Overnight travel Day 10: Diving around No. 3 Ribbon Reef at sites such as Steve’s Bommie. Overnight Travel Day 11: Return to Cairns approximately 06.30am. Breakfast and hotel transfer at 07.30am Horn Island 11 Day Coral Sea & Far Northern Expedition 03 - 13 December 2018 Cabin Type No. of Places Price per Marine Total per person AUD Cabins per cabin person AUD Park Levy AUD Quad Share 1 4 $5625 $20 $5645 Capacity: 24 passengers *** 3 Places still available in qUad share as of 03 October 2018 *** INCLUDES: 10 Nights on board Spirit of Freedom, 9 dive days, around 36 dives, tanks & weights, all meals, Australian wine, soft drinks and beers with the evening meal, tea & coffee, daily cabin service, bed linen, bath and deck towels, Cairns City hotel transfers DOES NOT INCLUDE: - Marine Park Levy, Port and Admin Fee AU$20 per person, payable on board - Gear Hire. - Nitrox fills at AU$10 per fill or AU$240 for the trip. - Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks outside of the evening meal. Diver Safety & Recommendations: Advanced Type Diving. - Diver experience recommendation: Advanced Diver Certification with minimum of 50 ocean dives including 5 dives within the last 12 months. Less experience may result in limited diving due to environmental conditions and remote isolation of dive site. - Diver Health: If you have a medical condition or are currently taking prescription medication, or are 70 years plus, you will need a medical clearance. For further details refer to our Diver Information Form or contact our Reservations team. - Diver Fitness: A good degree of fitness may be required for many of the dives. Special Note: Spirit of Freedom will endeavour to keep to the itinerary, however sites may vary or the sequence may change in accordance to the weather and the accessibility. Payments and Cancellations As of 03 October 2018, full payment will be due with your booking. As of 03 October 2018, no refund applies for your cancellation. Reservations: Ph: + 61 7 4047 9150 [email protected] www.spiritoffreedom.coma.u .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Australia's Coral Sea - How Much Do We Know?
    Proceedings of the 12 th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns, Australia, 9-13 July 2012 18E The management of the Coral Sea reefs and sea mounts Australia's Coral Sea - how much do we know? Daniela M. Ceccarelli 1 1PO Box 215, Magnetic Island QLD 4819 Australia Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract. Recent efforts to implement management zoning to Australia’s portion of the Coral Sea have highlighted the need for a synthesis of information about the area’s physical structure, oceanography and ecology. Current knowledge is hampered by large geographic and temporal gaps in existing research, but nevertheless underpins the determination of areas of ecological value and conservation significance. This review draws together existing research on the Coral Sea’s coral reefs and seamounts and evaluates their potential function at a regional scale. Only four coral reefs, out of a potential 36, have been studied to the point of providing information at a community level; this information exists for none of the 14 mapped seamounts. However, the research volume has increased exponentially in the last decade, allowing a more general analysis of likely patterns and processes. Clear habitat associations are emerging and each new study adds to the’ Coral Sea species list’. Broader research suggests that the reefs and seamounts serve as dispersal stepping stones, potential refugia from disturbances and aggregation hotspots for pelagic predators. Key words: Isolated reefs, Dispersal, Community structure, Refugia. Introduction Australia’s Coral Sea lies to the east of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) within the Australian EEZ boundaries. Geologically, it is dominated by large plateaux that rise from the abyssal plain and cover approximately half of the seabed area (Harris et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Distinct Benthic Trajectories Call for Monitoring of Mesophotic Reefs
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.01.454664; this version posted August 2, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 1 Hidden in the deep: distinct benthic trajectories 2 call for monitoring of mesophotic reefs 3 4 5 Hernandez-Agreda A1*, Sahit FM2, Englebert N2, Hoegh-Guldberg O2, Bongaerts P1* 6 7 1 California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, 94118, CA, USA 8 2 Global Change Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St 9 Lucia, 4067 QLD, Australia 10 11 * Corresponding authors: [email protected], [email protected] 12 13 14 15 Running title: Urgent call for mesophotic reefs monitoring 16 17 Keywords: benthic communities, coral bleaching, coral reefs, disturbances, ecosystem 18 recovery, long-term monitoring, Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) 19 20 Abstract: 150 words 21 Whole manuscript: 2859 words 22 References: 40 23 Number of figures: 3 24 Number of tables: NA 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.01.454664; this version posted August 2, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea 20 Tom C.L
    The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea 20 Tom C.L. Bridge, Robin J. Beaman, Pim Bongaerts, Paul R. Muir, Merrick Ekins, and Tiffany Sih Abstract agement approaches that explicitly considered latitudinal The Coral Sea lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, bor- and cross-shelf gradients in the environment resulted in dered by Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon mesophotic reefs being well-represented in no-take areas in Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the Tasman Sea. The the GBR. In contrast, mesophotic reefs in the Coral Sea Great Barrier Reef (GBR) constitutes the western margin currently receive little protection. of the Coral Sea and supports extensive submerged reef systems in mesophotic depths. The majority of research on Keywords the GBR has focused on Scleractinian corals, although Mesophotic coral ecosystems · Coral · Reef other taxa (e.g., fishes) are receiving increasing attention. · Queensland · Australia To date, 192 coral species (44% of the GBR total) are recorded from mesophotic depths, most of which occur shallower than 60 m. East of the Australian continental 20.1 Introduction margin, the Queensland Plateau contains many large, oce- anic reefs. Due to their isolated location, Australia’s Coral The Coral Sea lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, cover- Sea reefs remain poorly studied; however, preliminary ing an area of approximately 4.8 million square kilometers investigations have confirmed the presence of mesophotic between latitudes 8° and 30° S (Fig. 20.1a). The Coral Sea is coral ecosystems, and the clear, oligotrophic waters of the bordered by the Australian continent on the west, Papua New Coral Sea likely support extensive mesophotic reefs.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2019 Annual Report2019
    ANNUAL REPORT 2019 ANNUAL REPORT2019 CONTENTS 2 2 2 3 36 38 40 42 Vision Mission Aims Overview Article: ‘Bright white National Priority Case Article: The Great Graduate and Early skeletons’: some Study: Great Barrier Barrier Reef outlook is Career Training Western Australian Reef Governance ‘very poor’. We have one reefs have the lowest last chance to save it coral cover on record 5 6 8 9 51 52 56 62 Director’s Report Research Impact and Recognition of 2019 Australian Graduate Profile: Article: “You easily National and Communications, Media Engagement Excellence of Centre Research Council Emmanuel Mbaru feel helpless and International Linkages and Public Outreach Researchers Fellowships overwhelmed”: What it’s like being a young person studying the Great Barrier Reef 10 16 17 18 66 69 73 87 Research Program 1: Researcher Profile: Article: The Cure to Research Program 2: Governance Membership Publications 2020 Activity Plan People and Ecosystems Danika Kleiber the Tragedy of the Ecosystem Dynamics, Commons? Cooperation Past, Present and Future 24 26 28 34 88 89 90 92 Researcher Profile: Article: The Great Research Program 3: Researcher Profile: Ove Financial Statement Financial Outlook Key Performance Acknowledgements Yves-Marie Bozec Barrier Reef was seen a Responding to a Hoegh-Guldberg Indicators ‘too big to fail.’ A study Changing World suggests it isn’t. At the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies we acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and sea where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and future.
    [Show full text]
  • Research and Monitoring in Australia's Coral Sea: a Review
    Review of Research in Australia’s Coral Sea D. Ceccarelli DSEWPaC Final Report – 21 Jan 2011 _______________________________________________________________________ Research and Monitoring in Australia’s Coral Sea: A Review Report to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities By Daniela Ceccarelli, Oceania Maritime Consultants January 21st, 2011 1 Review of Research in Australia’s Coral Sea D. Ceccarelli DSEWPaC Final Report – 21 Jan 2011 _______________________________________________________________________ Research and Monitoring in Australia’s Coral Sea: A Review By: Oceania Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd Author: Dr. Daniela M. Ceccarelli Internal Review: Libby Evans-Illidge Cover Photo: Image of the author installing a temperature logger in the Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve, by Zoe Richards. Preferred Citation: Ceccarelli, D. M. (2010) Research and Monitoring in Australia’s Coral Sea: A Review. Report for DSEWPaC by Oceania Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd, Magnetic Island. Oceania Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd 3 Warboys Street, Nelly Bay, 4819 Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia. Ph: 0407930412 [email protected] ABN 25 123 674 733 2 Review of Research in Australia’s Coral Sea D. Ceccarelli DSEWPaC Final Report – 21 Jan 2011 _______________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Coral Sea is an international body of water that lies between the east coast of Australia, the south coasts of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, extends to Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island to the east and is bounded by the Tasman Front to the south. The portion of the Coral Sea within Australian waters is the area of ocean between the seaward edge of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), the limit of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to the east, the eastern boundary of the Torres Strait and the line between the Solitary Islands and Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs to the south.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Re Report Title
    ASSESSMENT OF CORAL REEF BIODIVERSITY IN THE CORAL SEA Edgar GJ, Ceccarelli DM, Stuart-Smith RD March 2015 Report for the Department of Environment Citation Edgar GJ, Ceccarelli DM, Stuart-Smith RD, (2015) Reef Life Survey Assessment of Coral Reef Biodiversity in the Coral Sea. Report for the Department of the Environment. The Reef Life Survey Foundation Inc. and Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies. Copyright and disclaimer © 2015 RLSF To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of RLSF. Important disclaimer RLSF advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, RLSF (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. Cover Image: Wreck Reef, Rick Stuart-Smith Back image: Cato Reef, Rick Stuart-Smith Catalogue in publishing details ISBN ……. printed version ISBN ……. web version Chilcott Island Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................ iv Executive summary........................................................................................................................................ v 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • December 2008 Milestone Report
    MTSRF Milestone Report Project 1.1.2 – December 2008 Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) December 2008 Milestone Report Project 1.1.2– Status and Trends of Species and Ecosystems in the Great Barrier Reef. Project Leader: Jos Hill, Reef Check Australia. Summary This report summarises the dive operator interpretation materials developed. For reference: Milestone extracted from Project Schedule The milestone task is to report on finalised operator interpretation materials (with appropriate attribution of MTSRF funding)Project Results Description of the results achieved for this milestone This section should include a short statement assessing whether the project is ‘on track’ or not. If not on track then the details of the issues for the project can be elaborated in the section below on ‘Forecast Variations to Milestones’. This project is currently on track. Activities include Finalisation of interpretation materials for the dive operators that are contained within an Operator Information Pack which is a folder on board the supporting dive boats that contains information about Reef Check, sites monitored and a back catalogue of newsletters: Information brochure: this brochure was funded by Envirofund (pdf attached). Brochures will be available for tourists to take home from their dive trip. Information booklet: the information booklet was in part funded by MTSRF (RRRC) and GBRMPA (see link: http://andrewharvey.xsmail.com/Reef%20Check%20flip%20chart.pdf Content for the information booklet has been finalised. It is currently being reviewed and will have typos fixed mid December in time for printing and distribution during 2009. Volunteers will also update the Operator Information Packs with copies of the latest Reef Check Australia newsletters as requested by dive operator managers in the 2008 feedback survey.
    [Show full text]
  • Coral Sea Expeditions
    The remote Coral Sea reefs bordering the Great Barrier Reef are famous for their incredible fishing and world renowned diving. These destinations are only accessible by well equipped long-range vessels and are weather dependent. The most consistent fair weather conditions are between September & January. Our Coral Sea expedition trips are based on a minimum 7 day itinerary & also typically include popular GBR locations. Coral sea expeditions Osprey reef Osprey Reef is a submerged atoll in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Northwestern Group of the Coral Sea Islands. Osprey Reef is roughly oval in shape and covers around 195 square kilometres. Itineraries depart from Lizard island or Port Douglas and require a 75NM steam from the northern Ribbon reefs to reach the destination. Due to the open water crossing, weather conditions need to be forecasted to below 15knots over the expedition period. DIVING: Osprey Reef diving is best known for BIG FISH! Up to 40 metre visibility, expect to encounter pelagics, sharks, manta rays and experience sheer walls with both soft and hard corals. Osprey reef is arguably one of the best diving locations in the world. FISHING: Osprey reef is now a protected green zone, however nearby Shark ridge & Vema reef are favourable for deep water jigging and trolling for dogtooth tuna, blue and black marlin and other trophy-sized pelagic species. Bougainville Reef is a small reef in the Northern Coral Sea surrounded by some amazing dive Bougainville reef sites. Only four kilometres in diameter, and offering no shelter in rough weather, Bougainville Reef is usually only visited on a stop-off between other reefs in this remote area.
    [Show full text]
  • MEPC 68/10/1 COMMITTEE 6 February 2015 68Th Session Original: ENGLISH Agenda Item 10
    E MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION MEPC 68/10/1 COMMITTEE 6 February 2015 68th session Original: ENGLISH Agenda item 10 IDENTIFICATION AND PROTECTION OF SPECIAL AREAS AND PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREAS Extension of the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait PSSA to include the south west part of the Coral Sea Submitted by Australia SUMMARY Executive summary: This document is a proposal to extend the eastern boundary of the existing Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) to include an area of the south west Coral Sea that is vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities. The Coral Sea is a remote ocean ecosystem recognized for its unique physical, ecological and heritage values. The proposal includes the implementation of new ships routeing systems in the proposed extended area, with the aim of minimising the risk of damage to the fragile coral reef ecosystem from shipping, taking into account projected increases in shipping activity throughout the area.1 Strategic direction: 7.1 High-level action: 7.1.2 Planned output: 7.1.2.2 Action to be taken: Paragraph 16 Related documents: Resolutions A.1061(28) and A.982(24); MEPC.44(30); MEPC.133(53); NCSR 2/3/3 and NCSR 2/3/4 Introduction 1 Australia proposes to extend the boundary of the existing Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA), to include an area of the south west Coral Sea (figure 1). Further details of the proposal are provided in the annex, in accordance with the criteria set out in the Revised Guidelines for the identification and designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (Assembly resolution A.982(24)).
    [Show full text]
  • [Thesis Title]
    ABSTRACT Transgressive reef morphology evolution: A qualitative and quantitative comparison of Uppermost Pleistocene and Upper Cambrian reefs in offshore and Central Texas (USA) by Pankaj Khanna A better understanding of the morphological evolution of modern coralgal reefs can potentially help to decipher the forcing mechanisms that influence the evolution of ancient carbonate reefs. In this study, a comparison is made between the characteristics and interpreted evolution of Uppermost Pleistocene drowned coralgal reefs stretching along the south Texas shelf edge and Upper Cambrian microbial reefs outcropping in Central Texas. The similarities and differences between the two settings make an interesting comparison, and the description of their morphology provides “models” that can be used to better understand other reef examples. Among the major similarities, both settings represent low-latitude, shallow water settings within the photic zone and near the shelf edge, and are mixed carbonate siliciclastic systems, whereas the nature of the reef builders in each case is a main difference. A primary forcing mechanism for the modern example - sea level fluctuation – is well constrained, as the most recent transgression following the Last Glacial Maximum can be directly tied to the morphological evolution of the Uppermost Pleistocene coralgal reefs. The initial transgression triggered a clear switch from shallow coastal siliciclastics to neritic coralgal reefs on the south Texas shelf edge banks. A similar switch is also observed at the base of the Upper Cambrian microbial reefs where the system changes from mixed carbonate-clastic to pure carbonate system. Based on these comparisons, it is demonstrated that an Upper Cambrian transgression led to the establishment of microbial reefs upon a broad ramp-like setting by providing enough accommodation and sufficient water quality (minimal turbidity, good circulation) for buildup growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Australia's Coral
    Australia’s Coral Sea: A Biophysical Profile 2011 Dr Daniela Ceccarelli 2011 Dr Daniela Ceccarelli Coral Sea: A Biophysical Profile Australia’s Australia’s Coral Sea A Biophysical Profile Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli August 2011 Australia’s Coral Sea: A Biophysical Profile Photography credits Author: Dr. Daniela M. Ceccarelli Front and back cover: Schooling great barracuda © Jurgen Freund Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli is an independent marine ecology Page 1: South West Herald Cay, Coringa-Herald Nature Reserve © Australian Customs consultant with extensive training and experience in tropical marine ecosystems. She completed a PhD in coral reef ecology Page 2: Coral Sea © Lucy Trippett at James Cook University in 2004. Her fieldwork has taken Page 7: Masked booby © Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli her to the Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea, and to remote reefs of northwest Western Australia, the Coral Sea Page 12: Humphead wrasse © Tyrone Canning and Tuvalu. In recent years she has worked as a consultant for government, non-governmental organisations, industry, Page 15: Pink anemonefish © Lucy Trippett education and research institutions on diverse projects requiring field surveys, monitoring programs, data analysis, Page 19: Hawksbill turtle © Jurgen Freund reporting, teaching, literature reviews and management recommendations. Her research and review projects have Page 21: Striped marlin © Doug Perrine SeaPics.com included studies on coral reef fish and invertebrates, Page 22: Shark and divers © Undersea Explorer seagrass beds and mangroves, and have required a good understanding of topics such as commercial shipping Page 25: Corals © Mark Spencer impacts, the effects of marine debris, the importance of apex predators, and the physical and biological attributes Page 27: Grey reef sharks © Jurgen Freund of large marine regions such as the Coral Sea.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Full Article As Pdf ⬇︎
    shark tales Great white shark during a cage dive in South Africa Text and photos by Brandi Mueller It was seven in the morning and my coffee hadn’t kicked in yet. The dive guide was giving me a slightly more thorough dive briefing than normal. I wasn’t supposed to wear anything col- orful or shiny and black gloves and a hood were required. Also covered in black neoprene, he was putting on chainmail gloves and told me he’d have a pole with him. He said it was more for the potato cods though, not the sharks. Taking a giant stride off the back on the boat, the chill of the water snapped me out of my early-morning haze. Below me, the sharks were already there; at least ten were circling below the boat. The food wasn’t even in the water yet, but To Shark Dive or Not to Shark Dive the sharks knew the drill: The boat shows up, divers jump in, and eventually, they — The Controversy Around Shark Feeds get a snack. Settling into a rocky area where I could shark snacks was placed, the sharks port a positive image of sharks instead eventually lead to accidents. experiences and find out more about stabilize myself to photograph without seemed to emerge from everywhere. of the aggressive, man-eating image There is no doubt that observing wild- what they observed. damaging coral, I looked around and created by movies and television. On the life in their natural habitat usually leads This is where conservation starts.
    [Show full text]