ss Yongala and Navy Pier? Why are the operators charging so much!!!!

[TSandM]

I was really surprised by what I was reading about prices, so I went and checked the website for the operator we used when we dove in Byron Bay. They still charge $55 a dive to go out to Julian Rocks, and that includes tanks and weights. That's quite comparable to charter costs here -- we pay $85 a day for two dives in Puget Sound, and $110 to $125 for charter boats in Southern California, which do three or four dives.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Yes diving in Australia can be ridiculously expensive and generally you are treated like a baby. If you can get access to a private boat you are in a much better position, dive when you want, for as long as you want and as deep as you want. Diving with a charter crew is like being processed as cattle at the abattoir.

At Christmas time I went for a day trip out of Cairns. First you have to sign all of your waiver forms and get them to accept your qualifications. As a commercial diver they tried to refuse to accept my commercial qualifications. When I assured the young lady that I was a much more capable diver than her and had done many more dives than her, she tried to tell me that she sometimes has to teach Navy clearance divers how to dive on the reef because they are only used to diving in high stress situations. Then I informed her that in order to even start a commercial course you need to be an open water diver minimum so obviously I was qualified. She had no idea what I was talking about but eventually accepted what I was saying.

The next adventure is the dive brief where they droll on for half the boat ride rehearsing their one liners. Clearly they realise that they will never amount to anything in the diving industry so they must figure that they can fall back on becoming comedians, or is the other way around?

Next is the **** fight trying to get geared up on the cramped deck while you are surrounded by what could be mistaken for a whole boat load of epileptic tourists, most of whom have never dived before or haven't dived in years, trying to figure out how to set their gear up. Cue regulators purging uncontrollably, gear getting stood on, gear getting dropped on your toes, people swinging around to chat to their mates and smashing you with their tanks, etc.

If you survive all this you get to make your way to the dive platform where you are not permitted to put your own fins on, heaven forbid you haven't completely gotten over your epileptic fit trying to get your dive gear on.

In the water you can finally relax and enjoy the reef, although usually they take you places where a million tourists have been before you, kicking corals and destroying the reef. But of course you can't completely relax because they only give you a pony bottle to breath off to limit your dive time. Just in case you aren't an overweight tourist who chews through his tank in 10 minutes, they also give you very short time limit.

Now you head back to the boat, finning hard because you went a couple of minutes over the dive time trying to get that one last shot. Back on the boat you get a lecture for being such a naughty boy and either going over your dive time or going under 50bar in your tank or both. Then you have to sit in the naughty corner and be the last diver in on the next dive.

On the third dive, you get halfway through your tank and they send out the tender boat to buzz over you and signal you to come back to the main boat because the crew want to get back to the pub before happy hour finishes.

Welcome to diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Wow that does sound awful:consolation: I am sure glad I haven't dived with that operator. I haven't had any of those problems when I have dived the reef.

Yes they did explain the Workplace safety laws that require you carry a snorkel and surface with 50bar in Queensland. I have also had to sign waivers but that has been the case on every boat I have dived around the world I have also had to prove my qualification in a number of places as a safety issue.

It really is unfortunate that you and the staff seemed to have rubbed each other the wrong way but before you tar and feather the entire industry diving the entire GBR I suggest you try a few more operators

 

[ocdiver1]

I was really surprised by what I was reading about prices, so I went and checked the website for the operator we used when we dove in Byron Bay. They still charge $55 a dive to go out to Julian Rocks, and that includes tanks and weights. That's quite comparable to charter costs here -- we pay $85 a day for two dives in Puget Sound, and $110 to $125 for charter boats in Southern California, which do three or four dives.

I've dove with Sundive several times in BB, and they charge not too much more than that...but what you've mentioned would be a rock bottom price in Aus, not an average...and JR is just a ten minute boat ride. Dive around Australia and you'll find that what most have mentioned with regards to prices in Australia is completely the case. Sadly, i'd also agree with Aussie Pro's comments about being treated like a child..that was my experience in several places (although not with Sundive, they were great). It's unfortunate that, as great as the diving is, you'll pay a ton for it and quite possibly feel like you're an open water student all over again.

 

[Wingy]

Also agree with Aussie Pros comments. Try living on the west coast and wanting to dive your old stomping ground of Ningaloo! Absolutely cost prohibitive but then we have a mining boom, our economy is raging and the north west is remote and full to the brim of FIFO mine workers so the cost of living reflects that. Cost of diving even more. I spent January diving French Polynesia, the 2 tank dives in Bora Bora are the same price as a 2 tank dive at Rottnest island. Some of the best diving in the remoter Tuomotos - Rangiroa - was actually cheaper by $20AUD. Its far cheaper for me to grab a $99 jetstar cheapy flight to Bali then head to Sulawesi than flying to ningaloo and paying for accommodation and hiring a car. Bora Bora has its share of twit dive guides with ego too.

 

[AussiePro]

No, my experience was not a one off. It was the first time that I have had a DM give me grief over my qualifications though. Every boat I have been on in the GBR has been over priced, over crowded and with staff that treat you like a baby. I appreciate that they have to cater for people of all experience levels, but why bother asking you to fill out your number of dives, depth etc if they won't treat you according to your experience?

The most amusing experience was being asked to sign a form declaring that I would not stand on or otherwise damage any coral while I was diving. Seems reasonable enough, except for the fact that the boat in question has struck the reef three times, causing far more damage than an epileptic tourist divers wayward fin.

 

[fbk]

AussiePro that was gold... so true and not just in GBR.

Last time I went to Ningaloo on a charter I got asked to lead the dive by the DM whose "regs were in getting serviced, so he didn't have a compass today". I'm not even a DM and had never dived the site before but I had more dives than all their DM's put together so I was the man for the job apparently. I'm not kidding.

So I am on the marlin board and nod to the nazi with the clipboard as she checks off my name and I jump in behind a few others who are already in the water. I then get berated because she "hadn't checked that my air was on and given the ok" and am made to swim back so that she can fiddle with my valve because I clearly don't know left from right.

We do the dive (out and back through a canyon so easy enough), get back on board and the compass-less DM tells me how great it was to enjoy the dive for once instead of having to worry about which way to go. I asked when could I get my refund ($180ish from memory, I got discount for having all my own gear) and paycheck, they thought I was just being funny. And that's just one of many bad experiences I've had up there.

F you Exmouth and especially EDC. Some of the best diving in the country but I'm never going back unless its on a private boat. I don't know how close you can anchor to the Navy Pier.. scooters might get you the rest of the way though

 

[ozzydamo]

This is suppose to be a recreational activity

I wish, I could afford $800/day live-aboards, so I can be treated like "a know nothing" grub, by some Psyche degree-d, Y-gene, fema-nazi (who's second cousin's father owns the boat and is best mates with the head of the Marine park authority).
......maybe they are trying to make the scene "exclusive" for the filthy rich with a midlife crisis, vis-a-vis regulation and finance.

The filthy rich must hate having to share a deck with potty mouffed bogans, who can lift their own tank and know which way is up..........

Yes..... owning your boat is the only way to do the reef without all this grief!

---------- Post added April 13th, 2013 at 08:49 AM ----------



---------- Post added April 13th, 2013 at 08:55 AM ----------

One thing none of you have realised or taken into consideration is the compulsory liability insurances operators have to pay.
The premiums got hiked about 8 years ago and were astronomical. caused a LOT of small businesses to go out of business (I am talking general tourism now not just diving).
Also there are minimum numbers of staff we have to have on the boats. Number of surface lookouts (and these have to be JUST lookouts not doing anyhting else at the time of the dive) for certain numbers of people.
It sucks but its why we have the safest diving in the world. Look at Australian stats compared to the US.
Its a shame and teh profit margin is not that good and us Instructors get paid a pittance for the hours and what we do.
I can't speak for WA and the Navy Pier but being QLD based its hard

Housing is the same- 40% of cost are taxes, fees, insurances and other government charges.

It's a symptom of the bloated bureaucracy, a degree for everything and finally our democracy being owned by the banking/insurance/legal fraternity.....it's doesn't work, this is a golden goose story happening here, got everything going for the place, but it's had its throat cut politically and finacially. Their all in it for the money and their own fat life.

It is in a state of decomposition at the foundation now. Your kids will pay for this selfish, ego-driven craziness.

It's interesting to see who was the "independent" experts involved in the OH&S regulatory law drafting (Cli*sal made a fortune out of OH&S laws, wonder who the major share holder was???). This is not limited to any one industry

Lucky country???? only for it's population size and natural resources. The corruption here is "cutting edge" sleazy........LETS STOP PRETENDING IT'S SOMETHING ELSE! (or talk about gay marriage...again).

 

[Wingy]

The big fat golden goose turned up its feet and died yesterday with Woodside canning James Price Point. OSH/HES is a goldmine in itself..but dont worry...they get caught out too. Had an interesting convo with someone in compliance in OSH at an upper government level who was discussing the speculators who paid over a million for a block of land in Broome assuming the project was going to go ahead and then bought a few more with a group of speculators (all HSE or Mining exec level people) and is now sitting there with interests in 7 million dollars of land and a whole lot of debt and his head in his hands.
FWIW diving and grocery prices in Bora Bora are the same as they are in Perth. Taxis are cheaper.....
Anyone feel like a road trip to dive Broome? I know of some land we can camp on

 

[ozzydamo]

The big fat golden goose turned up its feet and died yesterday with Woodside canning James Price Point. OSH/HES is a goldmine in itself..but dont worry...they get caught out too. Had an interesting convo with someone in compliance in OSH at an upper government level who was discussing the speculators who paid over a million for a block of land in Broome assuming the project was going to go ahead and then bought a few more with a group of speculators (all HSE or Mining exec level people) and is now sitting there with interests in 7 million dollars of land and a whole lot of debt and his head in his hands.
FWIW diving and grocery prices in Bora Bora are the same as they are in Perth. Taxis are cheaper.....
Anyone feel like a road trip to dive Broome? I know of some land we can camp on

Maybe they could start an eco-resort on that land with scuba diving, $800/day! They'll have a Ball!
BoP better start saving her aluminum cans!

 

[Wingy]

Maybe croc diving tours??????