Raine Island Australia?

[Travelnsj]

Anyone been to Raine Island? Known for Turtles and Tigers....It is on the outer most part of the Northern GBR.....Looks like the only way to get there is via a Liveaboard...I am looking at the Undersea Explorer...Any info is appreciated.

 

[blatter]

Went to Raine Island on Undersea Explorer a few years ago on one of their far northern trips. Had some great dives - saw some turtles but no tiger sharks - although these trips are a bit weather dependent and the group before us had even better dives - saw whales and mantas.

Actually - if I remember correctly - some of the small bommies we dived on the way back were more interesting than Raine Island itself. Some great sea snakes, coral gardens as wel as the usual fish.

Undersea Explorer is a great boat - not the most luxurious but has small number of divers, really excellent crew.

We have been on Undersea Explorer about 10 times and enjoyed every trip. The Coral Sea trips are really good - if you go to Queensland to dive the Great Barrier Reef - make sure you dive the outer reef and the Coral Sea - the inshore reefs - ther ones you can reach on day boats - are mostly nothing special in comparison. The boat is pretty laid back and usually an interesting scientific program if you are into that - you don't have to participate - but it is real science - seeing chambered nautilus on regular surveys at Osprey Reef trips is always a highlight for me.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Blatter,

Raine Island is absolutely only accessable by liveaboard. And, only a very few trips are made each year and these occur during a very limited time window, typically mid-Oct to early Dec.

Was there this past Nov/Dec aboard the Nimrod Explorer http://www.explorerventures.com/nexhtml/australiaindex.html. It's quite an extended adventure just getting to remote Portland Roads, QLD where the liveaboard departs. In 8 days on the water saw only one other dive boat, the Undersea Explorer (only other boat that does the itinerary) http://www.undersea.com.au/, and it was returning to port. At Raine Island saw lots of turtles, but no tigers. Did see whitetips, silvertips and tawnys. Coral is pristine and temps and visibility are most agreeable. Super macro photo action.

Can read all about it in my feature travel report in this month's (Jun '06) issue of Undercurrent http://www.undercurrent.org/

Have fun.

DocVikingo

 

[Travelnsj]

Hi Doc,

I read your report on undercurrent..thus my post and interest...I have checked out the Undersea Explorer...seen some great writeups but the boat looks a little old....and no in room bathrooms. I am concerned about the problems you encountered on the Nimrod from the meals to the mis-understanding with the park rangers.....Looks like the Nimrod has the better boat and the Undersea Explorer has the better staff.

Still researching. Thanks for your writeup.

Scott