coral coast cruises

We will cruise out of the Exmouth Marina while you enjoy a hearty breakfast either inside the dining room or in fresh air – alfresco style.  After breakfast you can enjoy the sea air and views from the fly bridge or have a nap in your cabin as we cruise north for about two hours towards our first stop at the Muiron Islands.  Here we have morning tea and view a major turtle breeding and nesting ground.  Relax and spend the morning enjoying your choice of activity – Be it diving, snorkelling, beach walking, fishing, surfing or photography.

North and South Muiron hold a number of great dive sites for us to enjoy. The Muiron’s separate the cloudy Exmouth Gulf waters from the clear fresh oceanic waters. Your Dive Master has some spectacular options to choose from for your first underwater discovery.  Working with the tides and wind we choose from The Cod Spot in the South or the Gap between the two islands or The Bastions or Fragile Rock.

After lunch we cruise further north towards Barrow Island.  On our way 70Nm north we pass along the edge of the continental shelf where on a good day we can spot all manner of pelagic species including manta rays, dolphins, feeding frenzies of sharks, tuna, mackerel and feeding sea birds.  We should arrive at our safe overnight anchorage off the bottom end of Barrow Island by dusk.   Tonight, we have a chance to spot the feeding tawny nurse sharks in the evening light.

Up early for a morning snorkel or fish on Barrow Island shoals.  Swim with countless tropical fish over beautiful coral outcrops throughout the shallows around Barrow island or try your lure choice, on the many monster coral trout.  Very tasty on the BBQ.

After an invigorating morning we cruise north towards the Montebello’s.  On the way a high speed lure or two might pick up a trout or tuna or even a big Spanish mackerel.

For those wanting to make the most of our stay in this amazing group of islands we can start the day with an early morning swim.  Then a trip ashore to one of the many perfect beaches for a walk and a dip in safe, calm, clear waters.

The Montes hold many attractions for us – from fishing the shallows and the tidal inlets to the deep water for Emperor.  There will be daily snorkeling and diving expeditions to the beautiful coral gardens, giving us the chance to extract a tropical cray for the dinner table. Top off the day with a sun-downer on the beach and greet the many female turtles as they lumber up the beach to lay their eggs.  Or perhaps walk to the sites of the three 1952 atomic bomb tests.  We can look at the relics that were left by the British army to test the impact of these massive blasts, then wonder as to how nature has returned the islands to their former glory.

A fresh morning dip at another beautiful untouched beach before we head off to the Mackerel Islands.  We can trawl a lure as we head south.  We should pull in a few coral trout from the shallows and mackerel from the deeper waters.  Then an overnight anchorage in the shelter of one of the many islands.

We discover several perfect beaches, coral reefs to snorkel and new sites to explore and fish as we cruise our way through the Mackerel Islands.  We plan to arrive at Serrurier Island by about 5pm.   A trip ashore to enjoy swimming pool like conditions or watch from a distance as Turtles lumber ashore.  In the evening we’ll enjoy a glass of our favourite while the crew cook us a very tasty BBQ dinner.  Back to our floating home for another good night’s sleep.

A hearty breakfast to start the day before our cruise director takes us ashore to the sheltered beaches of Long Island.  Relax in the sands and reflect on the last eight days of your “1000 Island Discovery”.

Swim or walk these white sandy beaches.  We’ll board our vessel for the last time and make our way to Exmouth.  Now is the time to swap your details with the crew and new friends aboard Reef Prince.  We should arrive at sleepy Exmouth Marina mid-afternoon.

The Abrolhos Islands lie in the flowing Leeuwin current which provides the perfect environment for spectacular coral outcrops and marine life. Watch the Australian sea lions frolic in the waters alongside bottle nose dolphins and huge Samson fish.

The birdlife is amazing with over 90 specific and rare species identified and often cited as the world’s most important sea bird breeding colony. September & October is the peak breeding season and the best time to witness hatchlings.

Migratory whales such as the humpback whale, are frequent visitors and can often be seen breaching, and at play in the warm waters and are a site to behold. Whales typically migrate for breeding in the months from May through December.

Discover the fascinating and gruesome history of the Batavia shipwreck - the mutiny, the savagery, the maritime skill, and the rescue. We visit up to 4 different locations!

Learn about the rich history based around Crayfishing & fishing, visit the fishing camps and meet the locals. Try your hand at catching the iconic Baldchin Groper!

Our onboard chef prepares the freshly caught local crayfish & reef fish for you to enjoy. Eco Abrolhos serves buffet style meals & dietary requirements can be catered for.