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FULLY CATERED DIVE TRIPS

...Includes all meal and airfills.

Commercial Diving Platform

Previous Commercial Jobs

Big Cat Reality has been utilized as a Surface Support Vessel on many different commercial diving operations in South East Queensland. Jobs include:

  • The scuttling of the war ship "ex HMAS Brisbane"
  • Grey nurse shark tagging with CSRIO
  • Construction of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant
  • Buoy mooring load testing and inspection
  • Search and recovery of lost equipment
  • Anode replacement and repair to underwater structures

Experience

Founding director of Reality Cruises James McVeigh, gained experience as master on 60ft dive charter boat "Esperance Star" from 1991 – 1997. In this time he ran local dive charters in the Brisbane area and also operated out of Bundaberg and Gladstone going to the Capricorn Bunker Group and as far out as the Swain Reefs. In 1993 he joined the commercial dive team for Queensland Transport which involved extensive coverage of the South East Queensland area.

In this role, he was involved in planning and organising large operations which included laying and retrieval of navigational aids, cleaning and inspection of marine structures and search and recovery of many nav aids and other obstructions. During this time he gained a wealth of experience and knowledge about the commercial dive industry and its standards and local weather conditions of South East Queensland.

In 2001 he established the Marine Charter business called "Reality Cruises". Its core business is overnight diving operations in the local Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast areas. This is conducted on our 25m vessel "Big Cat Reality" which takes 24 divers and 11 crew. Reality Cruises is in its ninth year of operation and has established a good reputation and an excellent safety record within the dive and marine industries.

Accommodate dive team of 12 divers up to 10 days

"Big Cat Reality" is well set up for diving operations; we currently operate dive charters, catering for 24 recreational divers and 11 crew for up to 6 days.

We comply with all the relevant legislation including;

  • Marine Safety Queensland;
  • Environment Protection Agency;
  • Moreton Bay Marine Park Permit;
  • GBRMP Permit;
  • Workplace Health & Safety;
  • Offshore Dive Platform Emergency Plans;
  • Rescue and Resuscitation equipment and procedures;
  • Oxygen equipment and supply;
  • 21cfm & 11cfm Compressor, compliant with AS/NZS 2299.1;

Our 25m vessel is specifically set up for diving operations with a large dive deck on the stern with good duckboard entry and a 4.3m rigid inflatable. Large dive lights also on the stern will allow for 24hour operation if required. Given the dimensions of the vessel (25m x 10m & 164 ton) it provides a very stable static platform.

Loading of plant and equipment

"Big Cat Reality" is a large vessel and has the room and stability to load and carry large plant and other equipment as required. The upper aft deck is load rated to 2 ton and is easily loaded with shore side cranes. The upper deck also provides a covered area for the storage of other large equipment like hoses and spare gear. The lower dive deck can be kept clear for diving operations, umbilicals and communications equipment. A large A frame on the stern can be utilised to lower and recover equipment in and out of the water.

Mooring System

"Big Cat Reality" has two separate bow anchor winches with 110m of chain and 170kg anchors. Both winches have chain gypsies and capstans which allows the use of stern mooring lines. The two large 415v anchor winches and capstans give us the ability to control all points.

24 Hour Operation

We have an 85kva generator which operates 24 hours a day with a 50kva standby set. Full lighting with large dive lights allow for safe work areas. AC accommodation for 28 persons and large catering facilities are well setup to cater for all your needs including briefing and planning areas with TV/DVD and white boards.

Insurances

Reality Cruises holds full and current insurance policies to cover our vessel and our dive platform operations. (Certificate of Currency available on request.)

Area of operation

"Big Cat Reality" is based in Brisbane however can operate anywhere in South East Queensland. We regularly travel to Bundaberg and the Gold Coast and can relocate to regional ports as required.

Survey Details

"Big Cat Reality" Technical Details:

Length

24.30m

Beam: 9.14m

Draft: 2.0m

Construction

Steel

Gross Tonnes: 164.90 g.r.t.

Builder

North Qld Engineers & Agents (NQEA)

Launched

1973 (Cairns)

Main Engines

2 x 3406T Caterpillars

Auxiliary

1 x Perkins (85 kva Gen Set) 1 x Isuzu (50 kva Gen Set)

Speed

Cruise @ 9 kts

Max:  @ 12 kts

Range

1,600 NM

Fresh Water

13, 500 lts

Survey

35 persons within 50 NM of the Coast (24 Passengers and 11 crew over night)
232 persons within Smooth and Partially Smooth Waters of the Coast, i.e. Moreton Bay. (200 Passengers)

Dive Equipment

  • K180 Bauer Compressor - 3 phase Electric - 660 l/min - 21 cfm;
  • K14 Bauer Compressor - 3 phase Electric - 360 l/min - 11.5 cfm;
  • Large tank rack with seats, which take 24 divers comfortably and has 5 x filling whips for easy refilling;
  • 4 x entry points and a submersible duck-board with full hand rails for easy recovery;
  • 4.2 metre high speed rigid inflatable Rescue Vessel with centre console, depth sounder and GPS;
  • Large Diving lights, for night dives:
  • Medical Oxygen equipment with 1x Large G, 1x D size Medical O2, 1x C size O2;
  • First Aid equipment;
  • 2x shot lines, 30m J line and float line to anchor chain and Safety bar @ 5 metres;
  • Camera area with table, 240v and 3x wash/drying tubs;
  • Two areas with large white boards for onboard training in between dives.
  • TV & DVD for viewing and editing job footage;
  • Nitrox mixing panel, O2 and cylinders available;

Navigation Equipment

  • 64 NM Radar;
  • 2x Global Positioning Systems;
  • 2x Electronic Chart Plotting System;
  • Colour Depth Sounder;
  • Radios: HF, VHF & UHF;
  • Next G phone system;
  • Internet

Other Facilities

  • Fully Air Conditioned;
  • Lounge area;
  • 2 x dining areas;
  • Large Galley with oven, stove, microwave oven, hot water urn and fridge;
  • Fully Licenced Bar with large walk-in cold room;
  • PA system, MP3, CD / Players, Stereo to all decks:
  • TV, DVD;
  • Large Barbecue;
  • Freezer capacity;
  • 4 x good toilets;
  • 5 x Showers;
  • 28 x Air Conditioned berths;
  • Huge covered-in top deck,

Deck Plans

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Commercial Diving Gallery

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