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Cairns, Australia

Minke Whales adventure - 8-13 July 2025

Minke Whales adventure - 8-13 July 2025

$6,091.00 AUD
$6,091.00 AUD
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Introduction

Your hosts - Matt, Nicolas, and Martin - bring an unparalleled wealth of experience to your journey, ensuring that every aspect of your trip exceeds expectations. Their primary goal is your satisfaction, creating unforgettable memories while helping you achieve your photography and videography ambitions. With decades of combined expertise in their respective fields, these seasoned professionals are dedicated to providing personalized guidance, insightful advice, and hands-on support throughout the adventure.

Minke Whales are extremely inquisitive by nature, as such, most interactions occur at the back of the boat as the animals will approach swimmers and have been known to hang around for up to 10 hours. Our trip is open to diving and non-diving guests alike and during times when the Minke Whales are not present, we will dive and/or snorkel on sites that are suitable for all to enjoy.

Features

Highlights

✓  Max number of guests: 12

✓  Photography assistance - Nicolas Remy

✓  Dive assistance - Matt Waters & Martin Connolly

✓  Open-deck means no in-water time limits

✓  Unique swim and scuba diving itinerary

✓  All meals and snacks

✓  All dive/ snorkel equipment included

✓ 50 years of experienced professionals on board

Dive services

Fully guided service for all dives and surface cover

Itinerary

8th July – Embarkation at 6 pm for an 8 pm departure

9th-11th July – Focussing on the Minke Whales we will plan swims and dives around their movements each day.  A fully flexible itinerary with up to 4 dives per day including night dives

12th July – Final swims in the morning prior to departure for Cairns

13th July - Arrive Marlin Marina, Cairns

Included

✓  Presentation & assistance - Nicolas Remy

✓  All chef-prepared meals on board

✓ Snacks, water, tea & coffee

✓ Daily maid service

✓  Accommodation as requested

✓  Dive & snorkel equipment included

✓ 50 years of experienced professionals on board

Excluded & Additional Fees

✓ Dive or travel insurance*

✓ Camera rental

✓ Flights or accommodation

✓ Additional purchases made on the dive boat

*Dive and travel insurance is advised prior to booking

Payment Plan

0% - Now

30% - 48 hours after the reservation is made

70% - 95 days before the embarkation date

Note: If the embarkation date is within 90 days of the booking request, full payment will be required to secure the reservation.

Cancellation Fees

0% - Free cancellation for 48 hours

Loss of deposits made - If a cancellation is made more than 90 days before the embarkation date*

100% fee if a cancellation is 90 days or less before the embarkation date

Note:Certain bookings are non-refundable and may be subject to a 100% fee. Please ensure you have obtained travel insurance to cover cancellations and financial loss. We recommend using DiveAssure for your insurance requirements.

*Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to embarkation will incur an admin fee of USD200.

More information

Snorkelling & swimming

Minke Whales are extremely inquisitive by nature, as such, most interactions
occur at the back of the boat as the animals will approach swimmers and may
hang around for up to 10 hours. Our trip is open to diving and non-diving
guests alike and during times when the Minke Whales are not present, we will
dive and/or snorkel on sites that are suitable for all.

Scuba diving

Our unique itinerary is completely flexible to maximise the time in the
water with the Minke Whales, that said, they may appear during a dive (which
would be a bonus) and we estimate up to 10 dives per trip plus the opportunity
to conduct 3 night dives and witness White Tip Reef Sharks hunting in packs.

Avoid the crowds

There are 9 operators in Cairns with permits to conduct similar excursions,
however, the guest numbers are much larger, some more than 30.  We know
that the best interactions with wild animals are when we have minimal
disturbance and numbers, hence we are taking a maximum of 12 guests.

Defining "Best Value"

Determining the "best value" for a trip can be challenging due to the variety of factors involved—trip duration, guest numbers, dive opportunities, time in the water, dive guides, boat type, comfort, and dining options. To simplify this, we’ve calculated the median cost per day for time in the water on Minke trips, which is $1,227. Our trip is priced slightly higher at $1,375, and here's why:

Unrestricted Water Time: With a maximum of 12 guests, you can stay in the water as long as you like, unlike larger vessels where time is rotated among guests, effectively halving your opportunities.

Enhanced Whale Interaction: Smaller groups mean minimal disruption, encouraging increased Minke Whale activity.

Flexible Itinerary: Our schedule adapts to maximize Minke Whale sightings, rather than being bound to a rigid plan.

Peace & Quiet: Fewer guests create a more relaxing, noise-free environment.

Expert Support: Professional guidance is available throughout to assist with your dive, photography and videography goals.

These unique features ensure a superior and more personalized experience, making our trip exceptional value for the price.

Matt Waters

As the founder of Nomadic Scuba and the Scuba GOAT Podcast, Matt takes care of the expedition logistics and organisation. A multi-agency dive instructor he is passionate about our blue world and is at his happiest when diving with a camera in hand. A semi-professional photographer Matt has accrued over 4 million views on Pexels and is extremely adept at post-shot editing via Lightroom and Photoshop. As a pastime, he also employs his editing skills to repair images through various online forums.

Nicolas Remy

Nicolas Remy, a French-Australian professional underwater photographer based in Sydney, is the founder of The Underwater Club—an online photography school and community with members spanning 18 countries. As an ambassador for Mares and Nauticam and the Chair of the Jury for the prestigious DPG Masters Photography Competition, Nicolas brings unparalleled expertise and insight to this journey.


Throughout the trip, Nicolas will be on hand to ensure you capture incredible images of your underwater encounters. Whether you’re seeking feedback on your photos, tips on post-processing, troubleshooting assistance with your gear, or advice on perfecting your underwater photography techniques, Nicolas is there to help you every step of the way. As he says, “This is a one-of-a-kind trip, and my goal is to help every underwater photographer bring home visual memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.”

Martin Connolly

Originally from New Zealand, Martin Connolly spent a few years in the navy and then saw the light, jumped into a wetsuit and spent the next 20 years as a multi-agency dive instructor working in various locations such as Tonga, Spain, Turkey and Thailand. Martin now owns Scuba IQ operating out of Port Douglas, Cairns and has accrued more than a decade of diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Martin is our go-to guru guide of the Ribbon Reefs.

Schedule

Double en-suite cabin

✓  King-sized double bed

✓  En-suite bathroom

✓  Air conditioning

✓  Australian power sockets

✓  Ample storage

✓  2 Cabins on board

✓  Max 2 guests per cabin

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Triple cabin

✓  Queen-sized Double & 2 single bunks

✓  Shared bathroom

✓  Air conditioning

✓  Australian power sockets

✓  Ample storage

✓  2 Cabins on board

✓  Max 3 guests

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Twin cabin

✓  Twin bunk beds

✓  Shared Bathroom

✓  Air conditioning

✓  Australian power sockets

✓  Ample storage

✓  1 Cabin on board

✓  Max 2 guests per cabin

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The booking process

  • Initial planning

    Found the perfect trip, or interested in recommendations? Submit a query and we’ll tailor something for you

  • Email proposal

    We’ll coordinate with the operators and collate the relevant information for you; to make selecting your next dive adventure easy

  • Invoice and deposit

    When you want to proceed, we’ll secure your spot and issue an invoice.Deposits usually due within 48hrs, then once we receive your deposit your booking is confirmed

Know before you go

How do I get there?

Embarks & Disembarks: Marina Point, Cairns harbour

Nearest International Airport: Cairns

Cairns International Airport is a short drive from the city with regular domestic and international flights arriving daily.

Do I need a visa for this trip?

There are different Australian visa types available for travellers to Australia. Knowing which Australian visa to apply for depends on the length of your stay, your passport and the purpose of your visit. You’ll also need to meet certain financial and medical requirements, be outside of Australia when applying and maintain health insurance for the duration of your stay. 

Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601)

This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is here.

All ETA-eligible passport holders must apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. Agents can assist you in the application process, but you must be physically present as a live facial image is required.

eVisitor (subclass 651)

This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.

Visitor visa (subclass 600)

The Visitor visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes. It is open to all nationalities. Generally, a period of stay of up to three months is granted, but up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. Applicants will have to pay a fee to submit their application.

What level of dive training do I need for this trip?

Swimming with Minke Whales involves several regulations, with the primary practice being to stay still on the surface to enhance interactions. Therefore, all Minke swims are conducted by holding onto a line extended from the dive deck. Minkes, being naturally curious, are more likely to approach swimmers who remain on the line. Local regulations allow no more than 12 guests in the water at once, which aligns perfectly with our policy of having a maximum of 12 guests. This means our guests can spend as much time in the water as they like, unlike larger operators who must rotate their guests.

Outside of Minke swims, we will also provide dive services for qualified divers. To dive with us you only need to be Open Water Divers or equivalent to do so.

What is the climate and weather like?

A comfortable 28°C, mainly sunny with the odd chance of a shower.

MONEY - Can I pay by card/ phone on the trip?

The local currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD).

Most established hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards. There are banks and ATMs with various maximum withdrawal limits and fees dependant on the card you are using.

TOP TIP: Nomadic Scuba uses WISE for our transactions, and we save hundreds on pointless fees and exchange rates. If you haven't opened an account yet, we strongly urge you to do so (it takes 5 minutes). Link: Show me how to be WISE

Do I need dive and travel insurance?

Absolutely, without a doubt! Comprehensive travel and diving insurance is essential for planning any scuba diving trip. Many operators require proof of both before allowing you to participate in their activities or use their services here's why.

We recommend DiveAssure for both dive and travel insurance. You can choose between single-trip or annual coverage.

To arrange your insurance now, please use this link -DiveAssure registration.

Are there any medical reasons why I cannot dive?

Operators providing dive services will require you to complete an RSTC medical declaration. Should you need to answer ‘YES’ to any of the questions then you will need a doctor to sign as authorizing you to be medically fit to dive. You can find an example of the RSTC medical questionnaire here.

What are the dive conditions like?

Water temperature and exposure suits:

The water temperature is a relatively warm 27º–29ºC (80º-84ºF)

We recommend:

Rash guard and board shorts for those who do not get cold

3mm shorty wetsuits for those that do

Do we need to use dive guides?

As a general rule, guides in Australia come at an additional cost, however, we provide snorkel/ swim and dive guides for the duration of the expedition.

Can I extend my stay?

Of course! Some of our guests like to try a couple of locations or operators within the same trip. If this is of interest to you, get in touch today and we can discuss various bespoke options with you.

  • Expert navigation

    We know diving and we know travel.  Leverage off our extensive experience, insights and recommendations when planning your next scuba adventure

  • Hand-picked operators

    We are proud to work with professional and dedicated operators around the world that have the expertise and resources to deliver unforgettable diving and travel adventures

  • Bookings made easy

    With a straightforward booking process and flexible payment plans, we aim to simplify the logistics so you can focus on the fun stuff

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Disclaimer: Prices are subject to change without notice. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions