Liveaboard - Cairns or PortDouglas? Yongala?

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fidelinho

Registered
Messages
28
Reaction score
2
Location
Mannheim
# of dives
500 - 999
Hi,
I've just told that I have to go to Australia to work the first two weeks of December. So I will take a couple of weeks off and will try to do some things there, but not much time to plan. I've seen some threads here and I will read them later. Meanwhile I have some quick questions to start planning

If possible I'd like to do a liveaboard, been recommended to depart from Port Douglas. Is it really better than Cairns? any advice on which operation to choose (or try) on any of the sites?

Before I had checked Cairns Discount Dive Trips - About us - Scuba Diving but now I cannot connect :( do not know why.

My plan is drive up from Sydney and stop on the way. Of course, I have not decided where to stop (if I#m lucky I will dive :D) but I am interested also on the Yongala. I thought the only way was departing from Townsville but seems that there is a posibility from another place nearer. Currently I cannot find the place, anyone can help?

I apologize in advance for not doing "my" work, but Currently I'm in the office and I will "hit google" and the forum properly tonight when I'm finished. If I'm lucky I can have some advice before than can help me (or too many choices)

Thanks
Fidel
 
Went to a cruise Cairns to Lizard island and another one to yongala wreck. Both were unbelievably great experiences.
 
There's currently no regularly scheduled liveaboard to the Yongala. One operates on what is a seemingly random basis every now and then, but if you're travelling, chances are their randomness won't match up with your dates.

If you want to dive the Yongala, I strongly recommend doing it from Alva Beach with Yongala Dive. The trip is far more likely to go ahead than the one from Townsville (which is regularly cancelled due to the weather), and for those with limited time up their sleeves, is the more reliable option. Alva Beach is about 20 minutes drive from the turnoff near Ayr, which you'll have to pass through on the highway north to Townsville.

The weather around here is pretty good at the moment - I was out on the weekend for the coral spawning, so the viz was down a bit because of the spawn in the water, but that will have cleared up by now. Otherwise the forecast is pretty much sunny and warm. Bring sunscreen. Lots and lots of sunscreen.
 
Hi Fidelinho That was my site you were trying to connect to so not sure why you could not connect as the link is working.

PM me if you still have problems.

There are plenty of options for live aboards out of Cairns but December is looking very busy so what dates did you want?

Out of Port Douglas there is only really 1 over night boat - Blue Dive which runs twice a week and is pricey compared to Cairns.

For the Outer Reef trips look at Ocean Quest and Kangaroo Explorer which stay out on the Reef and use daily transfer vessels. They move from site to site so you can do 2 day 1 night or 3 day 2 nigh trips. Scubapro offers daily departures of 3 day 2 night but is virtually booked out for December.

Yongala has been covered above and I agree - look to do it out of Ayr as its got accommodation above the dive shop, and is a quicker trip with great service.
 
Hi,
Thanks for the information. It was a problem with my phone or the hotel wifi, I was able to connect later.
I already contacted a couple of places and the plans are being built :)

Enviado desde mi Aquaris A4.5 mediante Tapatalk
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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