Join us for our NEW Marine Biologist led diving tours.

Kalinda - northern Great Barrier Reef - Detached Reef dive trip. Great Detached Reef We had a great trip to this remote reef, skippered by Dave Stewart We had 10 days of amazing diving around this remote area off cape York. We did possibly 35 x dives seeing Corals with such colour, Coral Trout, Dog Tooth Tuna, Sharks, all species of Trevally, Turtles, Nudibranks you name it we saw it! We never got hungry, meals were basic but good, I don’t need yuppy 5 star, I slept well, the Air fills were always 200 bar, the dive briefs and safety were professional and detailed, the Crew are accomplished marine scientists and great friends to spend this time with. Dave is a funny bugger, a wealth of experience with hidden sincerity. This trip of a lifetime was topped off when we dived the RMS Quetta and a few hours wandering around Thursday Island before flying home so happy with exceptional memories.

Disappointing cruise What could have been. That's the question that comes to mind having spent six hours on the most uncomfortable boat I've had the misfortune to be on. The Kalinda may have been great once, but lack of any real attention to her shows in every corner. Rust, rotten timbers, daggy pipes, bare wiring, loose fittings. The biggest downside is that the cushions are all "dead". They look and feel like the originals from the days when it was launched. Surely some respect for the paying clients backsides isn't to much to ask. The deck crew were great though, no complaint there. The food was great as well and plenty of it. Snacks, tea and bikkies, and a nice spread for lunch. However, the skipper needs to have a rethink about what he's doing and why. It's a long way between points of interest and so a little commentary would be nice. Having taken a good hour to reach our first POI, the turtles under the light house, we literally had a drive by and then left. Maybe there are rules about not annoying the animals, but surely a slow about turn and drive by the other way could be done. So that's my first disappointment. An hour on my aching backside through a roughish sea for a 2-minute come-by-chance viewing of a turtle's head. This is not customer satisfaction. Then we headed toward Magnetic Island, or rather out to seaward from the Island, chasing whales. We passed under the lee of several large cargo vessels, a couple of interesting comments about them and the Port of Townsville would be nice, but no, just silence. One of the other customers said they thought that the captain had been on the radio to the ships and they had seen whales, and that we had a radar and would soon find them. Now the thing is, this is not a place where whales play or nurture their young, they too, are just cruising by. Yes we did come along side a few whales for a few minutes, but the weather had turned and the sea was now decidedly rough. All energy was now exerted on just hanging on for dear life as we pitched and rolled and corkscrewed our way through the swell and the building waves. People on board were dropping like flies, spewing their guts out over the side, laying prostrate in their hell as this circus just went on and on. Any sane person wold know that there is a line between exciting adventure and an uncomfortable hell of seasickness and danger. We had crossed over from having a fun cruise to a nightmare. Our skipper seemed possessed on finding a whale, and I began to suspect that the tour was all about him, his boat and his research undertakings, and that we, the paying punters were only there to pay for the fuel to enable him to follow his dream. Finally we headed for one of the sheltered bays of the island and the tension was relived a little. But then at the last moment when it looked like we would all be saved, we did a u-turn and headed straight back out again. Somehow sanity prevailed and we returned to the bay, lunch was served, people started getting some colour back and we all relaxed a little. The assumption was that we would anchor in the bay and have some time to digest or lunch, but no, we kept moving. Fortunately we more or less hot-footed it back to Townsville where I for one was extremely grateful to disembark.

Great diving 9 days, great weather, great diving. Many dives on the Yongala and out as far as Jupiter reef doing various reef hops along the way including the MOUA. 4 dives a day, if you were up to it. Experienced skipper and crew. Food was good and plenty of it. It is an older boat, so it rocks and rolls a bit depending on the swell direction and backpacker style accommodation, but diving is what it is all about.

Great trip in September 2022, 8 great dives on the Yongala wreck. I had a great trip on the Kalinda with 13 other experienced divers, agree the Kalinda is an older boat. The crew were welcoming and personable and I enjoyed all their company, it felt like home after 10 days, the food was never ending, a highlight in the food to me was fresh lobster and coral trout when we were in the blue zone. Dave runs a tight ship, safety was always paramount, on one dawn dive of the Yongala, Dave highlighted the strength of the current and how strong compared to a prior dive and suggested divers only dive if they were comfortable, it was a great dive. You are always in the lap of the gods with what you see with all diving a stand out for me was the rare Small Eyed Ray that Kye pointed out on the Yongalla, magnificent with a 3 metre wing span and half a dozen smaller (say 4 foot wide rays) nestled virtually on its back. The hunting White Tip Reef sharks were also highlights for me, with the sharks checking you out briefly on the night dive. If you haven't dived the Great Barrier Reef and the the Yongalla I would recommend Kalinda, I think it is great value for money. I have done this trip and would be keen to dive again with the trips they do going further North, which would be a different experience again.

Great Barrier reef exploration on-board the M.V Kalinda 14-highly experienced divers from Melbourne chartered the Kalinda for a 10-day "discovery tour" of the Great Barrier Reef PLUS some dives on a local significant historical shipwreck called the Yongala that turned out to be the over-welming highlight of the trip. The below notes are one divers perspective and may not represent all 13-other divers? 1. Regarding the boat: Its long / long overdue for a total refit. - Nails and screws that were projecting into the bunk areas in the below deck area presented a real hazard and danger! ...... The Shipwright must have used nails and screws that were longer than timber being screwed into ..... really amaturish! - One toilet didn't work properly and was designated as a urinal ("Piss only" hand scrawled on the door) - Drinking water taste was tainted but still OK and safe to drink - Drinking water is warm in the morning due to the storage tank being in the engine room so its warmed overnight and made for a horrible drink in the morning. - Two of the dive members on the trip slipped with one having to be evacuated with suspected broken ribs (and the sea was only slight). - Heads bumps were frequent because of low clearances and a number of us being over 6-foot tall. - Lounge-room was tastefully appointed and very comfortable and beer fridge was always cold. - Upper Poop-Deck gave magnificent views across the sea and made a splendid viewing area to watch the sun sink in the west (magnificent sunsets to be seen). 2. Regarding Great Barrier Reef diving - It's nothing like the shows you see on T.V (Eg: Sir David Attenbourgh series). Bio-mass was way smaller than expected but of course we are experienced enough to realise that the fish don't always play the game. - But in general over the 10-days that we were roaming and diving the reef (4-dives per day), we were disappointed with the bio-mass. - In discussions with the crew, I think we misunderstood the difference between Coral Sea diving and Great Barrier Reef diving. I think we should have booked Coral Sea Diving as all 14-of us were after big fish, walls and drop-offs synonomous with Coral Sea Diving and not shallow lagoon diving synonomous with Barrier Reef Diving. 3. Regarding the crew - The Skipper has a vast and very thorough knowledge of the Great Barrier Reef and really went out of his way to show it to us often getting himself and the crew out of bed in the wee-hours to ensure that we were on a new site when we arose at 6.00 am in the morning. - The support crew were all very focussed in helping us out and when there was a clear and present risk to the dive (eg: Strong current or night dive), one would accompany us on the dive. - The food was basic but loads of it and none of us went hungry. Would I do it again, No is the answer, I think I'd stick with Northern New Guinea (Kaviang) where there are loads of big fish and sharks, steep drop-offs and water is much warmer in winter and spring time and a wet suit is not required. Alternatively, request the Kalinda to take you on Coral Sea diving and keep ducking your head when moving about the boat.

Kalinda will get you to the best sites on the GBR Another great dive trip completed on the Kalinda. The boat is basic and this is reflected in the price what you get is Dave who is an experienced skipper with many years of experience diving the GBR who will put you on the best sites when conditions allow as safety is paramount. The food is basic but good and plentiful. Accommodation is basic but clean and comfortable but I would definitely bring a pillow. Looking forward to my next trip on the Kalinda.

Very low budget experience. Low budget backpacker level trip. Very rundown and grubby vessel. Food on par with budget. A few nice meals but on the whole poor. Leftovers, pasta and rice featured heavily. The cook did the best with the supplies he had to work with. Brining your own snacks. Understaffed. Three crew; skipper, deckhand and cook, all of whom had to multi-task. No Nitrox available however that wasn’t a problem as most dives are relatively shallow and we managed four dives a day. No fresh water available to rinse dive gear for a whole week which isn’t good, only a camera tub, so as a consequence a couple of us were covered in bites by the end of the week, possibly from sea lice?

Best Great Detached Reef Charter November 2019 Visit was Da Phat! Dave and his crew were wicked. We had an absolutely fantastic time away from the world and out on the Great Detatched Reef! We left via Horn Island and returned via Horn Island, managing to get a dive in on the Quetta which was an absolute dream dive of my Husbands. Dave provided years of experience and this was very clear to see when we dived the Quetta and his knowledge of the Detached was 👌🏻👌🏻 Raine Island was also a huge dream of mine to dive and we did 2 dives there 😍🔥 Cathedrals was also STUNNING. Hands down one of the best trips we have done. We loved the simplicity and good times on the boat. Nothing fancy. Spent a lot of time chilling on the deck catching a tan, slathered in sunscreen. Reading books. Sleeping between dives. 4 dives a day. What a way to live. We got to see the Milkyway when all the lights were turned down and it was just so serene. Can't wait to come back in the coming years, once our small human can be away from us for 10 days as COVID changed plans, we will be back 😅

MV Kalinda Nov 2020 Far North QLD Dive Trip Dove Cairns to Thursday Is from Nov 1-14, 2020 on the MV Kalinda liveaboard ably skippered by Dave Stewart. Great value for money dive tour. Did 40 dives at many of the great bucket list dive sites on the FNQ part of the GBR in a group of 10 divers. Basic, safely operated liveaboard. Thoroughly recommended. Second trip and hope to do again in 2021.

Excellent Whale Watching A great experience with a lovely crew with the added benefit of seeing a pod of whales throughoutthe day!