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Description
Boat
Rodney Fox is a 32 meters long, 7.6 meters wide spacious steel liveaboard vessel, it has the exclusive rights to go ashore on the Neptune Islands in South Australia and feature the only Ocean Floor Dive Cage in the world.
Rodney Fox has 3 decks in total, with an cozy lounge with bar where meals are served, an open sundeck where guests can watch the shark action or relax under the Oz sun. The brand new tender boat is for island tours and sea lion snorkels and dives.
Rodney Fox will get most of the sailing is done at night, providing maximum exposure to the sharks and the stunning Neptune Islands. You’ll have more time to dive, explore, observe other wildlife, and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow passengers and crew. In between the thrill of the sharks, the tours are relaxed, with plenty of opportunities to unwind or find out more about shark research.
Story Behind
It began in 1963 when Rodney Fox was savagely attacked by a Great White while defending his Spear Fishing Champion title off Aldinga Beach, South Australia. The fact that Rodney survived is amazing, and due to an incredible set of events that aligned fortuitously in his favour. To this day, his attack is regarded as one of the most severe ever to be survived. In total, Rodney had 462 stitches in his chest, right hand and arm. It changed his life, and he became fascinated with the primeval creature that had almost killed him.
In 1976, shortly after JAWS was released, Rodney received a request from an American dive travel company wanting to bring their clients on a Great White shark expedition. Rodney happily obliged, and it became the world’s first Shark Cage Diving Tour – the first of very many as it turned out.
Rodney continued to run tours and make films until 1999. By this time, his son, Andrew had become an integral part of the operation. Educated with a science degree, he is a world-renowned underwater photographer and a highly regarded advocate of the Great White Shark.
The Rodney family will give you an experience you're looking for. In many months they do enjoy a success rate approaching 100% seeing the great white sharks most years.
Cabin
Rodney Fox provides 9 guest cabins, accommodating 18 guests per trip.
All cabins oonboard have a TV with DVD player, storage area, and 240-volt plug sockets.
1 Master Cabin :
Located on the upper deck, this cabin comes with a plush double bed, desk and chair, private bathroom, window.
6 Double/Twin Cabins :
Located on the upper deck, each cabin comes with a double bed bottom bunk and a single bunk on top, use shared bathrooms.
2 Twin Cabins :
Located on the lower deck, each cabin comes with two full-size single beds(bunk style), use shared bathroom.
Diving
- Surface Cage dive: No Dive Qualifications Needed
- Surface Cage dive is suitable for anyone over the age of 8
- Ocean Floor Cage dive: OW certification Needed
- Ocean Floor Cage is for 3 guests with 1 guide
- Ocean Floor Cage will descend approximately 20 metres
- Both Cages offer unlimited cage dives, chance for everyone
- A warm 7mm full-length wetsuit, hood, and boots is needed
Other Informations
- Nitrox：Not available at the moment
- 15L Tanks：Not available at the moment
- REBREATHER Dive：Not available at the moment
- Dive Equipment Rental：Available with additional charge
- Dive insurance：Divers must have valid dive insurance
- Wi-Fi Internet ：Complimentary for all guests
- Laundry Service：Not available at the moment
- Massage Service：Not available at the moment
- Payment on board：By cash (AUD)
- Crew Number：7, include 2 dive guides
Itineraries
About the trips
With daylight saving (October to March) in Spring and Summer, we offer tours as short as 2-3 nights long. Typically the weather is more favourable at this time of year and the beautiful long summer nights are just a joy!
The BIGGEST sharks of the year are often seen in Autumn and Winter - April into June is usually the best time to witness giant mature female great whites. As we head deeper into this season the tours have a longer itinerary. This takes the shorter days and typical weather in to account, so to give best chance of success we run our various 4 to 10 day expeditions. This additional time onboard gives us flexibility as to when we get down to and get back between the shelter of the mainland and the sheltered anchorage of the Neptune Islands. Such tours are relatively less expensive to reflect the relative time spent with great white sharks. We only choose the most productive days to spend with the sharks, and look for alternative diving or shore based activities on other days.
Depending on the season, some longer itineraries also target inshore coastal species including the world largest giant cuttlefish aggregation, Australian sea lions, and leafy sea dragons.
Great White Shark Expedition (5 Nights)
A special six-day live-aboard expedition includes 5 days of peak great white shark diving, an Australian sea lion dive or two, plus other extras in this comprehensive expedition package.
Great White Shark Expedition (3 Nights)
The Great White Expedition gives 3 days diving and 3 nights onboard the Rodney Fox. This is the perfect trip for anyone who has ever wanted to jump into the cage and experience the thrill of seeing Great White Sharks up close. Even watching them from the boat is amazing. It is an Expedition for all ages, although we recommend children are at least 8 years old, and able to cope in an adult environment.
Great White Adventure (2 Nights)
Our award winning 2-Night Great White Adventure is back running again! This tour now includes OCEAN FLOOR CAGE DIVING for our qualified SCUBA divers. This trip is ideal for anyone who, a little pressed for time, has ever wanted to jump into the cage and experience the thrill of seeing Great White Sharks up close. Even watching them from the boat is amazing. You’ll also learn about the Great White’s habitat and see, first hand, how they interact with their environment. It is an Adventure for all ages, although we recommend children are at least 8 years old, and able to cope in an adult environment.
Lions, Dragons, Giants and Sharks (9 Nights)
This 9-night itinerary allows 9 dive days on location with a variety of dive sites showcasing the underwater wonders of South Australia including Hopkins Islands for the playful Australian sea lions, Kangaroo Island for weedy sea dragons and stunning reef, often with dolphins, and local jetty dives to observe the rare and beautifully ornate leafy sea dragon.
A beautiful tour around the pretty Neptune Islands in our tender boat saying G’day to all the Long-Nosed Fur Seals. You will also have the chance to experience exclusive walking tours on the islands.
How to get there
Rodney Fox operates from Port Lincoln in South Australia.
Port Lincoln is easily accessed by air from Adelaide International Airport by QANTAS Link and Regional Express with a short 40 minute flight.
Adelaide is accessible from all main Australian cities and many international countries with direct global flights increasing every year.
For those with a little more time, Premier Stateliner offer a return bus service from Adelaide to Port Lincoln.
For those driving, it is an approx. 7 hour drive from Adelaide to Port Lincoln. Between the months of May to August, those driving can stop off at Whyalla to dive and witness the worlds largest spawning of mating cuttlefish.
Schedules & routes
Prices & conditions
Included
- Fuel surcharge
- Full-board meal plan (including snacks)
- Complimentary beverages (water, tea, coffee)
- Diving activity (incl. tanks, weights, weight belts)
- Dive guide service
- Naturalist guide
- Land excursions and activities throughout the trip
- Boat accident insurance
- Cabin towels and complimentary toiletries
- Cabin cleaning service
- Wi-Fi
Not included
- Domestic flights in destination country
- Transfers from airport and/or hotel to the yacht
- Marine park fees & Port fees
- VAT and local taxes
- Alcoholic beverage
- Soft drinks
- Dive equipment rentals
- Dive insurance (mandatory requirement)
- Travel insurance (trip cancellation insurance)
- Crew gratuity
Useful information
Australia
Best time for diving
No matter where is your destination, Australia offers great diving all year round.
The Great Barrier Reef : The best is from May - December. Manta rays and hammerheads usually visit the Coral Sea from April to September, In June and July divers can swim with the Dwarf Minke Whale around the Ribbon Reefs. Green turtle mating happens between late October to February. Coral spawning usually occurs in early November approx. from the 2nd and 6th day after the full moon.
Neptune Islands - Great White Cage Diving : Best time is in late autumn till winter (April into June) for the highest shark reliability and the largest female sharks. Between September and May you can dive with the sea lions, also have higher chances of seeing mako sharks, bronze whaler sharks while looking at the Great Whites from the ocean floor cage.
About temperatures
Air - The Great Barrier Reef : winter months are between 18°C - 25°C, summer months are between 23°C - 29°C.
Sea - The Great Barrier Reef : winter months are between 24°C - 26°C, summer months are between 27°C - 29°C.
Air - Neptune Islands : winter months are between 12°C - 17°C, summer months are between 15°C - 23°C.
Sea - Neptune Islands : winter months are between 15°C - 17°C, summer months are between 18°C - 19°C.
Wetsuit Recommendation
For the Great Barrier Reef liveaboard, we recommend a 3mm full wetsuit in the warmer months (Nov – Feb) and a 5mm full wetsuit in the cooler months (Mar – Oct).
For watching the Great White sharks in Neptune Islands, we recommend a 7mm full-length wetsuit with hood and maybe a vest all year round.
Diver requirement
For the Great Barrier Reef is suitable for all levels, however, nearly all the liveaboards in this region do not offer divemaster to led, all dives are self-guided with buddy team (complimentary orientation dives and deep briefs will be provided), so divers should be confident enough to make the dive. Otherwise, you may need to hire a private guide.
For watching the Great White sharks in Neptune Islands, if you use only the surface cage, then you can be a non-diver. If you want to go down 20 meters to the ocean floor, then OW certification is required.
You can find out more information about diving in Australia here : Australia
Embarkation / Disembarkation
The Great Barrier Reef trip : Guests need to fly in/out from Cairns Airport (CNS). On the embarkation day depends on the liveaboard you chose, our agent will tell you the details.
For watching the Great White sharks in Neptune Islands, please find information on Rodney Fox, under the Itineraries section - "How to get there" for details.
Visa Requirements
Travellers of all nationalities, except citizens of Australia and New Zealand, must have a valid visa before they to travel to Australia. Please refer to Visa Requirements for details. Certain passport holders may be able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via the Australian ETA app. Further information can be found at: Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).
Vaccinations
People who are one year of age or older must hold an international yellow fever vaccination certificate if, within six days before arriving in Australia, they have stayed overnight or longer in a declared yellow fever infected country.
Money Matters
The local currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD), Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Unionpay are widely accepted.
Drones
Drones can be brought into Australia with pre-registration. To apply for registration please visit Travelling with your drone in Australia for more details.
Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such service.
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