Coral Sea Island Territory Expedition
You are invited to take part in a Coral Sea
Island scientific expedition, departing Mackay Queensland on the 11 December
2006 and returning on 20 December 2006. This 9-day cruise with Tura Charters
(www.turacharters.com.au) will cost
$2,495.00 per person*. The aim is to relax, enjoy the tropical ocean and
document cetaceans and pelagic seabirds occurring in the
Coral Sea Island Territory.
The expedition will take us out beyond the
Great Barrier Reef and along the outer reef edge (for maps, email
before turning east and heading out to Flinders Reef and thereafter cruising
around the Coral Sea islands.
The Territory's exquisite environment is likely to support
concentrations of tropical cetacean species, as well as other sealife including
several species of turtle, many seabirds and reef fish. The shallow atolls are
set atop steep-sided seamounts and the shelf is excised by deep ocean canyons,
providing habitat for elusive beaked whales. Longman?s beaked whale was first
discovered from a beach-washed skull in Mackay in
the late 1800s and has never since been seen in
Australia - it is now known to be locally common in other parts of the Pacific.
Other species of cetacean regularly seen in tropical reef areas of Australia
include rough-toothed dolphin , spinner dolphin and melon-headed whale. There is
also a chance of seeing pygmy / dwarf sperm whale, Fraser?s dolphin, striped
dolphin, Risso?s dolphin, short-finned pilot whale, Cuvier?s beaked whale and
Blainville?s beaked whale. On the trip out and back, inshore species occur
including indo-pacific humpback dolphin, Irrawaddy dolphin and
Dugong.
The Tura is a fully licensed 78 foot
motorised vessel. She has a cruising speed of approximately 10 knots, is
air-conditioned and comfortably berthed. There will be plenty of time for rest
and relaxation. We plan to cruise mainly during the day between islands,
departing at a reasonable hour and making landfall mid to late-afternoon. The
Tura is equipped with dive facilities and for those with the relevant dive
certificates, this service is offered. There may be a
nominal hire charge for equipment if required.
We
are taking reservations for this trip now. Spaces are limited, so please reply promptly as they will be
offered strictly on a first-come first-served basis and this email will be
circulated more widely in a weeks time if the spaces are not reserved by then.
Late expressions will be added to a waiting list. Those with the first 14
reserved spaces will be contacted for a $350.00 non-refundable deposit by
mid-December 2006. Failure to pay a deposit will result in the space being
offered to the next person on the waiting list.
See www.turacharters.com for more
information on the vessel and contact Simon Mustoe on 03 9752 6398 (W) 03 9754
6083 (H) / 0405 220830 (M) if you have any queries.
*note, price does not include
flights or travel insurance. It is full board (excluding
alcohol) and based on twin-share cabins
and a minimum of 14 people.
