Mike Ball Diving Expeditions

6 and 8 Day Great White Shark Expeditions

• The focus of this expedition is to have as much time as possible photographing and observing great white sharks.
• Expeditions are led by Rodney Fox, Australia's most successful leader of great white shark expeditions
• Experience a different kind of liveaboard, a 140 ft historic tall ship .. an adventure in itself
• Witness 1000's of seals and sea lions eating, sleeping mating and fighting territorial disputes.

Itinerary

6:30 Evening prior to departure.....special welcome gathering with Rodney Fox at Rodney's Shark Museum at 14 Augusta St (Not applicable March 2 expedition)

• Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' great white shark adventures are all organised by Rodney Fox , the world's leading exponent of great white shark expeditions. Since narrowly escaping death from the jaws of a great white in 1963, Rodney and his son, Andrew, have led over 100 expeditions to the Neptune Islands from Adelaide and been involved in 54 major great white shark film documentaries.

• 11 am Following morning. You embark 'Falie', a one hundred and forty foot ketch rigged "tall ship"and cruise 150 miles overnight to the Great White Shark feeding grounds at the Neptune Islands.(March 2nd expedition requires flight to Port Lincoln.)
• Whilst we wait for our first shark to arrive you test dive the cages to get used to cage diving and to become familiar with entry and exit with the extra weights required and without diving fins. The Falie's 9 crew will launch 3x4 man cages to accommodate all guests.
• You make cage dives 40 feet to 100 feet below the boat to view the huge stingrays and local fish life and to check if great whites are swimming around on the bottom.

• Large quantities of specially prepared bait is used to attract the great whites. The wait can range from 20 minutes to days. Shore parties are arranged to experience the unique and interesting wildlife of the Neptune islands. You experience nature at its best and can photograph hundreds of sealions and their new-born along the rocky island shores.
• When the great whites arrive and start feeding on our baits you will be awed by the appearance and spectacle of these "last dinosaurs", one of the great predators of this world. Come with us on a grand adventure to search for this exciting and rare predator.
• The focus of this expedition is to have as much time as possible photographing and observing great white sharks. Rodney Fox's expeditions have had a 94% success rate over 30 years. Last season, sharks between 10 and 17 feet were photographed with a 100% success rate.

*Itinerary subject to change. Great White Shark sightings not guaranteed.

Special Services

• Expeditions led by Rodney Fox

• Complimentary Welcome gathering at Rodney Fox's Shark Museum - 6.30pm

• 14 Augusta St, Glenelg - Including light refreshments (not applicable with Port Lincoln departure)

• Complimentary beer, wines and soft drinks

Year 2000 departures are:

• Falie- beautifully restored historic tall ship

• Huge dining room

• Three bathrooms

• Length 140 ft, beam 30ft, speed 9 knots, Maximum guests 13

Accommodation Falie

• 1 x Twin - Tour leaders cabin

• 3 x Twin Recommended couples 9(room assignments made close to departure)

• 2 x Quad - Recommended triple

Adelaide

• Stamford Grand Hotel - This hotel is close to airport and Falie Wharf

Hire Gear

• Available through Adelaide dive shops.

• Need warm full length 5/16 wetsuit with farmer John pants, hood and hard soled boots in cages.

• Water temperature 57 F- to - 66 F (14C - 19C)

Falie

During her extensive restoration for her role in the SA Jubilee 150 celebrations, the Directors of Falie Project Limited were mindful of the ships future life as a charter vessel. Falie has refitted to the high standards required to meet the passenger 1B survey. This standard of safety and and accommodation makes Falie arguably the best dive vessel available in South Australia

Consider the following advantages

1. Access to South Australian waters, in a vessel large enough (140" long, 250 tonnes gross) to be comfortable in extreme weather

2. Excellent accommodation facilities for 15 divers in 2 and 4 berth cabins. Three toilets and showers.

3. A restaurant quality galley, providing and excellent standard of catering.

4. Dinghies used to carry excursions away from the ship Two tonne lifting gear for launching dinghies and 3 x 4 man shark cages.

5. A professional crew off 9 , whose duties include manning of the vessel, launching dinghies, helping with tank filling, gear stowage, all cooking (including you catch if required), stewardess service for beer , wine, soft drinks (included in charter fee)

Falie is a unique vessel, and provides many pleasurable options for the non-diving partner. Sailing, relaxing, sun backing and fishing. There's much to offer the couple where one is a diver and the other is just looking foe a relaxing holiday.

Provided

• The ship supplies all meals (for any special dietary considerations please advise in advance)

• Beer, red and white wines, soft drinks, tea and coffee

• Bed linen (bunks are made on arrival)

• Sea sick medication (not including patches)

• Scuba tanks, weights and belts.

What to Bring

• Ear patches for sea sickness if necessary

• Light spray jacket and warm jacket

• Casual clothing (informal) and toiletries

• Flat rubber soled shoes

• Shoes suitable for Island rock hopping

• Extra towel and lots of jolly humour

• Sprits, rum, whisky, if required

We suggest you bring warm clothing ( jeans & jacket) as well as T shirts and shorts as it can get quite cool at night even though it is our Australian summer.