Australia trip in December

[naughtyrn]

We would like to do a dive trip in December. I would love to spend the whole time on a liveaboard and do nothing but scuba dive for the whole vacation. HOWEVER... the family is not so keen on that.

So this is kinda what I had in mind... 4 days on a liveaboard (and by doing research on this site, most people have said mike ball's liveaboards are the best with the best destinations). So we are going to most likely do a mike ball liveaboard for 4 nights going to the coral sea.

Anyway. It seems like I am having a hard time finding any dive resorts in Australia. Just a lot of liveaboards. What are some good resorts that are close to where ever the Mike Ball company is, so that I don't have to take a plane to get there. But that has good diving.... and maybe close to something cool to do on our last day where we can't dive... You know?

Thank you so very much in advance.

 

[almitywife]

:happywave

australia is a HUGE country so where would you like to base yoursef???

im guessing the liveaboard would be via queensland/gbr but then???

for a dive resort i would suggest Lady Elliot Island; http://www.ladyelliot.com.au/ or http://www.ladyelliotisland.com.au/ (transfer a small hopper flight via Bunderberg).

or lord howe island (VERY eco with lots of non diving stuff for the family); http://www.visitnsw.com.au/Destination.aspx?DProductID=9017174&gclid=CPPW55-xso4CFSNnbwod5CQlwQ (transfer via brisbane or sydney)

Heron Island; http://www.heronisland.com/

otherwise..... i would suggest Byron Bay which is on the qld/nsw border; http://www.sundive.com.au/

but i will warn you..... mid december is when school holidays start so prices will go thru the roof (hence why my family is going to vanuatu for christmas)

sorry i cant give advise about liveaboards.... i dont do boats and GBR is too expensive for most of the locals

cheers and good luck!!!!!!!

will be interested in hearing about what you think my country is like

 

[naughtyrn]

Wow! That was SO SWEET of you to take the time out to answer me! And so much detail too!
I am going to check these links out right away!

The only time I can go is during a school holiday since I work at a school. I guess I just have to suck it up and face the bill!

 

[Doubles]

You didn't mention if it was this December or next?? If it's this December you may find that the availability on live aboards is slim. We always use Spirit of Freedom out of Cairns and find it necessary to book a year in advance. They are just a tad popular.

http://www.spiritoffreedom.com.au/

SOF is the largest live aboard in Oz. We have never dove on Mike Ball's operation but know that SOF has been going to the Coral Sea a few years longer than Mike's operation. We do have a friend here in Florida that dove both operations, and he preferred SOF. Evidently the crew on SOF is allowed to be a bit more personal with the guests. After a few trips on SOF, we now have quite a few Aussie friends that were crew.

There are other live aboards as well - catering to most everyone's needs. There is an Aussie bulletin board where many of the locals discuss diving down under. I can't seem to find it, but if I figure out where it is I will post a link a little later

It's great diving - but we found that after diving reefs there, diving Florida reefs just makes us want to go back...

Cheers

Steve

 

[Ravzie]

We absolutely loved the Spirit of Freedom. The hubster and I did the 4 day trip in Jan 2003. I'd go back in a heartbeat! One of the best things I've ever done in my life.

 

[almitywife]

annddddd - if you dont have the time or money for the big buget GBR liveaboards

bit cat reality that runs out of brisbane for a 3 day weekend does Morton Bay/Straddie and its great diving for good value for money

during chrismtas/new year they also run a 7 day trip into the very isolated and pristine brunker group!

www.bigcatreality.com

 

[georoc01]

I'm flying down from Nov 29th to December 12th and we are doing the Nimrod Explorer out of Cairns. Two days in Sydney, a couple of days in Cairns and a week on the liveaboard. Its a group trip though single divers...

 

[almitywife]

Geo.... those dates are very similar to the ones Fairy Basslet has given me...... wreck wench's trip???

 

[georoc01]

Geo.... those dates are very similar to the ones Fairy Basslet has given me...... wreck wench's trip???

Yep..that's the one..Going to come down to Sydney from the 1-3, then to Cairns for a day, up to Cooktown to board the liveaboard for a week down to Cairns, one more day there, then fly back to the states..

I'd love to dive with you guys prior to the liveaboard, but the time is too short for any kind of real surface intervals between flights as we are only in Sydney for 49 hours.

 

[almitywife]

yep - you didnt leave yourself any time for sydney!!!

Fairy is actually coming back to sydney on the 12th and staying with us until the 17th... i promised her weedy sea dragons