Any recommendations /Dive companies and sites in Cronulla Australia, and Cairns GBR

[Peter Dufresne]

Will be in Cronulla Australia for 4 weeks in March 2012 and will be heading to Cairns to dive GBR for a few days. Looking at different options for 2 day/night out of Cairnes. Does anyone have suggestions or companies to recommend?
Also interested in suggestions for day trips out of Cronulla.

:cool2:Thanks!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Cairns - only 2 boats do 2 day 1 night trips as they stay on the Reef and have daily transfer vessels.

Kangaroo Explorer (budget option but good) and Ocean Quest (bit more upmarket and luxurious). Both have decent sites, but you get one more dive on Ocean Quest.

Both have specials on at moment (see links above).

More choices if you go 3 day 2 night, and far better diving if you can stretch out for a trip that goes to the Ribbon Reef areas (4 day) like spirit of Freedom, Mike Ball and Taka.

 

[JoBro]

Lookup Abyss Scuba

278 Rocky Point Road, Ramsgate NSW 2217
(02)9583 9662
Scuba Diving Sydney | PADI Scuba Diving School

 

[bryce1993]

Definately have to recommend St George Underwater, I am doing AOW with Sydney Dive Acadamy but purchased all my gear from St George Underwater because their centre is literally 4 times bigger, and so range is good and the owner Kell is a top bloke with loads of experience. I got my fins, mask, semidry, hooded vest and boots at a great price and will be diving in them this weekend

There are two dive shops in Cronulla, one in the main mall and one in between the petrol station and Maccas on the main road. I did my OW with Cronulla Prodive (the one in the mall main street strip thing) and it was actually quite a thorough course (as far as OW goes... :/ ) but nowadays its quite expensive for day trips.I went once out the back of Cronulla (this was years ago now) and my wetsuit didn't really fit. Water temp was 17 Celsius and long story short was the worst dive I have experienced. This was due to my inexperience. However they really didn't choose a good dive site. There were 2 Gropers.
So..
St George Underwater have a club which dive every weekend and to join is only like 50 bucks. Then if you need gear as well its a bit cheaper than competitors at around $50 for everything. If you wanna join the club on a dive you just ring them up and let them know what gear you want. Then you go meet at the shop grab your gear and go with the people. (They're really friendly, at least when I was buying gear ((and i spend ages in the shop..)) they would all say hello n stuff)
I'm only 18 and recently getting back into Scuba (got OW at like 13) after a trip to Fiji. Shopping around various LDS to see where my loyalty should go has led me to St George because being the biggest shows they are successful for a reason.

Let us know how your experience goes!

P.S. Here's their facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-George-Underwater-Centre/128674053887699

 

[scuba_max]

Both have specials on at moment (see links above).
More choices if you go 3 day 2 night, and far better diving if you can stretch out for a trip that goes to the Ribbon Reef areas (4 day) like spirit of Freedom, Mike Ball and Taka.

Thanks for the info! I was just about to ask the same thing when I found this thread.

Is there any option re sailing liveaboards i.e. sailing vessels or at least motor sailors, like the Indonesian Phinisis? I am in Townsville right now, northbound, looking for a decent opportunity to hop on a liveaboard in Cairns or Port Douglas. Problem is, I read a lot of mixed reviews in the Cairns area which makes me wary not to end up on a full-service entertainment vessel, ponton-style ... I'd prefer the focus on diving. Btw, maybe any operator has some kind of DM discounts?

Any recommendations, updates or insights would be highly appreciated!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Quick update on my post above and also to answer scuba_max.

OceanQuest is not running any more as it got hired for private charter for a year, and Taka has taken its place.

For overnight sailin gboats there is only really one - Coral Sea Dreaming. Low numbers and pretty good sites.

You mentioned pontoons but only the day trips go to these and overnight boats dont use them.

Best diving trips is to go on Spirit of Freedom or Mike Ball that go to the Ribbon Reef areas. Plently of post here about these, or check out links here. But these are longer than 1 night trips. Limited if just want to go for 2 day 1 night.

Peak season now so no DM discounts, as boats very full. Write PM or check out our site for an idea of costs.