Coral Sea (North Horn) or Cod Hole

[jeremyhuang]

Hi all,

I am planning a trip to GBR in Sep 2013 and would like to dive either the Coral Sea (4Days) or Cod Hole (3Days). I am not able to do both due to the lack of time. Would really appreciate recommendations and experiences that any of you can share.

Also, on liveaboards organized by SoF or Mike Ball, are we expected to just dive with our buddies without an instructor leading the group (e.g. Self-navigation...self-safety stop..etc)?

 

[recd]

Personal preference is for Coral Sea (osprey reef). Big wall dives, more sharks, more chance of pealgics; but the overnight crossing may rough, though not always. Cod Hole/ Ribbon reefs includes some "pretty" dives like Steve's Bommie.

In my experience, Mike Ball's doesn't run instructor lead group dives. However there is often crew in the water. Dive briefs are comprehensive, as are safety procedures ( eg all divers are issued with Lifeline VHF radios). You can hire a personal dive guide

 

[Tool Belt]

Got back 6 weeks ago from the “3 day Cod Hole Adventure” on the Spirit of Freedom

If I had a bucket list, I could now scratch the Great Barrier Reef off. Diving the reef in and of itself was truly amazing. But overall the diving was a little underwhelming………………………..
The Spirit of Freedom has a great crew, including an exceptional chef ( YAY Jack!!), but is starting to show her age, perhaps just a bit.
Ordinarily one does two dives the first day, five the second, four the third. It was never really explained why (other than we had to leave to get to the next spot (Pixie Pinnacle) in the morning….yet the seas were totally flat and steaming should have been a breeze) we only got one dive in Monday at Jorgies Place (?). I realize it was the southernmost point of our sojourn but the reef life and the reef were ho-hum.
Never made it to Pixie P, but we did make it to Vertical Gardens. Granted, I had my sights set HIGH. I expected each dive to be in my top ten. While Vertical Garden easily made my top 10…..probably 5….most of the other dives were no better, and more likely not as good, as CoCo View in Roatan, Cane Bay and Salt River Canyon in St. Croix, a wall dive in Dominica, the deep walls of Turks and Caicos.
My buddy and I have 140 and 195 dives, and we were nearly the most experienced on the boat. One diver had 6 dives. As we were “hard-cores” we were left without a guide on nearly all dives. Navigation was a breeze, but it is always nice to have a DM point a few things out.
We had a full complement of 22 (or so divers) and the dive deck was overcrowded. It is rare I have been on a boat where everyone can’t kit up at the same time. Having said that the diving, including the briefings and refilling of the tanks was well organized and smooth.
In conclusion, we are glad we went. The SOF was well run, the staff very good. The diving just wasn’t up to what I had dreamed. We had been leading a group of college students for two weeks in Sydney, and had the third week on our own so headed up to Cairns. There is a chance we will lead another study abroad there in a few years. If were are that fortunate we will spend the third week in New Zealand rather than doing the GBR again.

 

[MA]

Coral sea. That is spectacular. And you will still get to dive cod hole (most if the time) and other ribbon reef sites. Diving in aust is generally unguided, but there will always be a DM in the water and you can opt to dive with them.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Both excellent and if you can stretch to the Coral Sea trip then as MA says you will also be likely to dive the Cod Hole as well.
Was suprised at hearing Spirit was showing her age as Spoilsport is far older and would have put SOF over Spoilsport, but great review by Tool Belt.
Always plenty of people to follow and usually 2 crew in the water at any one time. Mike Ball also offers solo diving for those Rescue and above.
It is hard to get lost on these dives and ther are plenty of lookouts with dive tender to come and pick you up if you stray too far.
Septemebr is one of the best months for vizability. Sept / Oct can usually have glass like seas and it's not too hot. Also the end of the Minke whale season so you could be lucky.
If you are not bothered about the shark feed and 30m + visabity then dont worry about Coral Sea. But they are a great experience.

 

[Tool Belt]

Yeah, SOF is still in good shape, just not the "glam" shots you see on the web......but what is? As to Cod Hole, I just don't get the whole "feed" thing. I would much rather encounter critters in a more natural and unstaged way.....same reason I don't like zoos. Our second dive at Cod Hole was very good.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

As to Cod Hole, I just don't get the whole "feed" thing. I would much rather encounter critters in a more natural and unstaged way

Yes, but the whole idea of this is that it offers a lot of people some great photo opportunities and close encounters. Only fed once by one person from each of the 2 licenced boats (MB and SOF) and limited amount of food too. Its strictly controlled.
Know what you mean about zoos but for most its a great buzz

 

[MA]

I actually just like cod hole as a dive site! - the feed doesn't really do it for me. Whenever I've dived it my buddy and are have tended to wander off after 10 mins or so of checking out the cod.

 

[Damselfish]

The feed didn't do anything for me either.

 

[recd]

Don't think MB has done the cod feed for the last few years, but still do the shark feed at Osprey, which I don't agree with either.

Prefered the old Undersea Explorer method.