Undersea Explorer is no more - trading ceases immediately

Our thoughts are with Louise and Grant, the owners of one of our favourite liveaboards in the world. The below release is from the GAZETTE, today 5 February:

UNDERSEA Explorer, widely recognised as one of the world’s best liveaboard dive boats, has closed its doors after more than ten years. Owner Louise Bernstein told the Gazette economic conditions had forced her to shut the company down. “Due to the current economic climate, Undersea is ceasing operations effective immediately,” she told the Gazette on Wednesday.

The company was previously owned by Victorian-based developer Rino Grollo, who sold it to Ms Bernstein three years ago. “I would like to thank all of our staff, guests, researchers, interns and agents for their support over the years,” Ms Bernstein said.

The staff were informed of Ms Bernstein’s decision on Tuesday afternoon. “We’re all very sad to see it go,” one staff member told the Gazette.

“The crew were all very committed and very passionate. “It’s not just any old boat.” Undersea Explorer has consistently won awards in diving magazines for its extended dive trips, which combine research with pleasure diving. Two seats on the boat were often dedicated to researchers studying sharks, minke whales and nautilus, deep-sea creatures related to octopus and squid.

Ms Bernstein said she has not yet decided what to do with the company.

Contributed by Tim Hochgrebe added 2009-02-04

Replies of 1

PeterN added 2009-02-23

This is a real shame that the Undersea Explorer is no more. I have been on the boat a number of times(pre Child) and found that the whole boat and staff were great, They knew the type of diving each individual was after and always tried to cater for those needs. We were never constrained by over the top, protective rules which allowed us to achieve our objectives and get the images we were after. It was this that in a way attracted a client base that were very experienced thus allowing a true diving experience, especially with the science programs that they ran. With the talk of the Barrier Reef being in dire straight we need to have vessels such as this to allow researchers to study and fine solutions to the numerous issues the reef faces. Maybe Mr Rudd should help donate some of the billions of dollars he is giving away to help keep her afloat. In return Undersea Explorer would help the economy with tourist dollars not to mention the employment of Researchers, dive and crew staff plus all those associated industries that supply the fuel,food and much more.

PeterNic

Replies of 1

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