Shark Explorer Weekend | North Stradbroke Island

Dive with the fascinating Grey Nurse Sharks on North Stradbroke Island and help the team from Grey Nurse Shark Watch by contributing ID Shots. This is a great opportunity to combine scuba diving with a relaxing island getaway.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 4 boat dives with in water dive guides
• Snacks and hot soup during surface intervals
• 1 night accommodation
• Grey Nurse Shark info night with picture show and videos
• All transfers included ex Cleveland
• Hire gear at cheap all weekend rates (on checkout page)

BACKGROUND

There are only approximately 500 Grey Nurse Sharks remaining on the east coast of Australia, and Flat Rock Marine Park is one of the premier sites to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat every year during the winter months.

THE DIVE SITE

Shark Alley is located on the eastern edge of the Flat Rock and is one of our most favoured dive sites due to the endangered Grey Nurse shark population that inhabit this site from June – October. The dive site consists of two large sand bottom channels running parallel to each other, separated by rocky reef and some adjoining channels. Other attractions of this site include schools of rays (sometimes in the hundreds), large turtles, wobbegongs, pelagics, groupers, crayfish and crustaceans, plus hundreds of tropical fish varieties.

DIVER REQUIREMENTS
This weekend is open to all levels but it is recommended to be an Advanced Open Water Diver as Shark Alley is up to 28m deep. If you are not an Advanced Open Water Diver then you have the following options to safely participate:
1.Stay on top of the shallower rock walls within your 18m limit and watch the sharks from above.
2.Sign up for guided deep dive with a Scuba Instructor (at additional cost).
3.Sign up for your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course and make the 4 dives part of your training dives (at additional cost)

ABOUT THE TRIP
This is a great mix of diving and having an island gateway to relax and recharge your batteries. We will be taking advantage of Manta Lodge and Scuba Centre, who are the only PADI dive centre on the island, and located right at the beach at Point Lookout. We are glad to benefit from their experience, professionalism, and friendliness which ensures we will have a fantastic and smooth running weekend. Manta Lodge is a YHA backpacker and offers shared facilities to prepare food.

This trip runs ex Cleveland from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon (2pm). If you prefer, you can stay an extra night at the hostel and already arrive on Friday night. The last Water Taxi on Friday leaves Cleveland at 6:25pm.

-Upgrade from dorm to private room.
-Gear hire at discounted all-weekend rates.
-Guided deep dive with PADI Instructor.
-PADI AOW Course with Online Learning.

EXCLUSIONS
-Drinks (soft drinks and/or alcohol)
-Personal spending money

-Hire Equipment unless booked as an extra

-If you decide to arrive on Friday night, no free shuttle is available to the hostel. Simply catch the local bus.

BOOKING AND PAYMENT
- Full payment is required at time of booking

ITINERARY (Guide only)
-OPTIONAL: Arrive on Friday night. The last Water Taxi departs Cleveland at 6:25pm
-Saturday – 5:45am meet at Cleveland Gold Cats Ferry Terminal (Stradbroke Flyer)
-Water Taxi ride to Dunwich (20min)
-Transfer from Dunwich to Point Lookout, the home of Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre
-Saturday, 7:30am leave for a double dive. Return by 11:45pm
-Saturday, Relax in the afternoon or explore the island. Great things to see in walking distance.
-Saturday, 6:30pm dinner BBQ at Manta Lodge followed by GN Shark presentation
-Sunday morning, 7:15am leave for the final 2 dives. Return by 11:45pm
-Sunday, 12:15pm, meet for lunch at the Straddie Roadhouse (additional cost)
-Sunday, 1pm, transfer from Manta Lodge to Dunwich
-Sunday, 1:25pm, Water Taxi Ride to Cleveland. Arrival by 2pm

DIVER REQUIREMENTS

• Be qualified and confident Open Water diver with any agency
• You must present your diving certification card on the day
• You must use a dive computer
• You must carry a snorkel and Safety Sausage

SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Whilst the aim of the weekend is to dive with sharks, there is no guarantee that you will actually see sharks as the ocean is not a zoo :-). We have picked the time to be the middle of the Grey Nurse Shark season, which will combined with the calmer winter weather maximise the chance of shark encounters. Past experiences have proven Flat Rock to be a reliable shark diving destination. There are no refunds if no sharks are sighted or if weather conditions do not allow diving at Flat Rock (Shark Alley). Simply follow the booking process to view our standard and trip specific Terms and Conditions including our cancellation policy. Please ensure you read all the fine print prior to completing your purchase.