Owners Dan and Jo Lippiatt have poured their heart and soul into the stunning vessel, SV Summer Jo. Following a million-dollar refit completed at the beginning of 2023, the Lippiatt's pride themselves on ensuring safety, professionalism, comfort, and providing guests with a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the beautiful Whitsundays and along the Great Barrier Reef systems on the north Queensland coastline. Dan wears many hats, often found at the helm as the vessel's master, in the water as one of the dive instructors, or organizing onboard activities as the cruise director. Jo primarily supports guests from shore, ensuring all questions and requirements are met prior to arrival, facilitating a seamless boarding experience. The SV Summer Jo offers unparalleled expedition voyages. Besides its impressive size, Summer Jo is perfect for those seeking comfort and an array of water activities, including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, research, commercial diving, scientific studies, and all live-aboard requirements. We are one of only two overnight trips within the Whitsundays that venture to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, offering an unforgettable itinerary. During our Whitsunday voyages, guests will have ample time to explore iconic spots such as Whitehaven Beach, Hook Island, Maureen's Cove, Langford Reef, Butterfly Bay, Bait Reef, Black Reef, and more. With the opportunity for up to eight dives, both beginners and certified divers can enjoy onboard scuba diving. For non-divers, there are plenty of snorkeling opportunities along the fringing reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The SV Summer Jo comfortably accommodates 33 guests and 7 crew members with various cabin options, from shared accommodation to private, twin/double, and queen cabins for those seeking privacy. The saloon and bar area provide ample seating, while the spacious decks offer additional seating, tables, hammocks, and bean bag lounges—perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sea breeze after a day of activities. Diving Equipment: We can store 45 dive cylinders with full scuba sets and are equipped with a 20 cfm dive compressor and a 12 cfm auxiliary dive compressor. Guests can also complete their SSI or PADI Open Water, Advanced, and Rescue courses onboard, making us an excellent choice for those wishing to become certified divers in this stunning reef paradise. The experienced crew of up to 7 members, including the vessel master, engineer, dive instructors, dive master, deckhands, and a private chef catering to all dietary requirements, ensures guests are well taken care of. Power and Range: Powered by twin Perkins Sabre engines, & 500 square meter sail area our vessel cruises at speeds up to 10 knots. We have two auxiliary Isuzu generators running 60 kVa alternators, providing both 240V and 415V AC power. The vessel has a range of over 1,000 nautical miles under motor and additional 6000 nautical miles under sail. Water and Waste Management: We carry 6,000 liters of fresh water and can produce an additional 5,500 liters per day through our desalination plant. Our vessel also holds 6,000 liters of black and grey water, processed through an onboard wastewater treatment plant. Additional Assets: We have four tenders available to accompany the mothership, 2 x 4.2 meter inflatables with 30 & 40 hp outboard engines with ladders, we also have 2 larger custom aluminium dive tenders these vessels are high speed and carry larger groups further away from the mother ship to enable us to get our guests to the perfect locations safety, comfortably and efficiently. Our vessel’s capabilities ensure we are a suitable option for various operations in QLD waters including tourism, commercial diving, research, private charters and long range expeditions. Contact us now to join the SV Summer Jo and explore this piece of paradise.
