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Cairns, Australia

Minke Whales adventure - 8-13 July 2025

Minke Whales adventure - 8-13 July 2025

$5,312.00 AUD
$5,312.00 AUD
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Introduction

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, and this trip is a perfect example of that philosophy in action. Aboard the MV Argo, we’re crafting a once-in-a-lifetime experience for 12 lucky guests. Here’s why you need to be part of this exclusive adventure:

Avoid the Crowds
Each year, Minke Whales migrate through the Great Barrier Reef, drawing significant attention from tourists. To manage this, local regulations limit each vessel to a maximum of 12 people in the water at any time when these curious creatures come by to interact. Larger vessels must rotate guests in and out of the water to comply with this rule. But with only 12 guests on board, we offer an open-deck policy allowing you to enter and exit the water as you please, maximizing your time with the whales.

Swimming and Scuba Diving
While many tours offer only snorkelling experiences, we’re taking it further by including scuba diving. Minke Whales are famously inquisitive, and the best encounters often happen while swimming. However, when the whales aren’t nearby, we’ll use the time to explore the reef through scuba diving or snorkelling. With Martin’s local expertise, we’ll uncover the stunning underwater treasures of the Great Barrier Reef and also conduct some outstanding night dives.

Expert Guidance
Joining this adventure are Matt Waters, Nicolas Remy, and Martin Connolly - seasoned professionals in diving, photography, and marine exploration. They’ll share their insights on dive configurations, equipment setups, global travel, and perfecting your underwater photography. With the flexibility to adjust our itinerary based on conditions, you’ll get the best possible experience in and out of the water.

Safety First
The MV Argo is an ocean-going vessel renowned for its safety standards and meticulous protocols. To enhance this focus on safety, Nomadic Scuba has partnered with The Human Diver to provide every guest with FREE access to Gareth Lock’s online course, Essentials of Human Factors in Diving.

This exclusive trip blends extraordinary wildlife encounters, expert-led experiences, and world-class safety for an unforgettable journey. Don’t miss your chance to join us!

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

✓  Swims with Minke Whales

✓  Flexible scuba diving itinerary

✓  Open-deck all-day swims

✓  All dive/ snorkel equipment included

✓ 50 years of experienced professionals on board

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.

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 loves to share his knowledge about photography and animal interaction with all who share the same passion.

Nicolas Remy

Nicolas Remy, a French-Australian freelance underwater photographer based in Sydney, Australia, is the founder of The Underwater Club, an online photography school and community with members across 18 countries. An ambassador for Mares and Nauticam, Nicolas also serves as Chair of the Jury for the prestigious DPG Masters photography competition. Nico is joining us to not only enjoy this epic adventure but to be on hand and lend his knowledge to any guests wishing to advance their skills with underwater photography.

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.

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

RESERVE NOW

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