Great Barrier Reef Dive Cruise Vessel Delivered
Incat Crowther announced the delivery of the 33m Catamaran Dive Cruise Vessel, Evolution. Built by Marine Engineering Consultants on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Evolution was recently delivered to Down Under Dive.
Designed from the ground up to provide a sleek and modern feature-packed vessel, Evolution blends motor yacht style with commercial vessel efficiency and ruggedness. Featuring a high level of glazing and modern fit out.
While Evolution promises to be the most comfortable vessel transiting to and from the reef, it truly comes into its own when stationed on the reef. The traditional lifting dive platform, pioneered by Incat Crowther in the 1980s, has been taken to the next level with port and starboard fold-down platforms adding to the stern platform to completely encircle the aft end of the vessel and provide an expanse of space to access the water safely. All three platforms feature stair access with ample hand rails and ladders into the water.
Adjacent to the ramps and stairs is a large aft main deck with toilets and storage for wetsuits, snorkels and dive tanks. Overlooking this space, at the aft end of the upper deck, is a lifeguard lookout station, with an uninterrupted view of the platforms and water.
Passengers board Evolution through gates aft on the main deck, doors midship on the main deck or via additional gates on the upper deck. Once aboard, they are greeted with high-quality yet durable lounges, seats and teak-look flooring.
The main cabin seats 148 in a mixture of booth configurations. Passengers are served by two large catering counters aft – a bar to port and a kiosk to starboard – with ample milling space for passengers to line up for the signature barbecue buffet.
A large set of stairs on the aft main deck leads to the upper deck, with outdoor seating for 35. Inside the upper deck cabin, there’s booth seating for 46 passengers, as well as a Gold Class room aft, allowing the operator to offer a premium experience to a select 10 passengers.
