Coral Sea or Cod Hole

[nevennett]

Hello

I've decided to fly to Cairns in late September and dive the GBR on a liveaboard. I have only one week off work, and am faced between a choice between the 3 day Cod Hole trip and the 4 day Coral Sea trip. I'm certainly leaning towards Spirit of Freedom as my charter of choice.

On the face of it the choice should be simple - the Coral Sea trip seems the pick and is only marginally more expensive. However, the timing is far less than ideal (arriving back on a Monday). I can do it, just, but it would be a tight squeeze to be back at work in NZ on the Tuesday. Why, oh why couldn't the two big players alternate their Coral Sea trips?

In terms of my diving background, I have only a modest 50 or so dives thus far, AOW qualification. The vast majority have been in temperate NZ waters, mainly around the Poor Knights.

The question I have is, given that I will probably only dive the GBR once in my lifetime, will I forever regret NOT diving Osprey reef? Or should I lean towards practicality and do the 3 day Cod Hole trip, and enjoy a more laid back schedule? It is, after all, a holiday Specific questions I have are (1) Will I get enough out of the Coral Sea trip at my experience level and (2) what are the actual chances that SOF actually makes it out there at that time of year?

Thanks in advance. Kinda looking forward to a reply from Aquapro Dive Services

 

[globalbabe]

Hello to a fellow kiwi! While I can't comment on the weather conditions on the GBR (Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea) in September, having just been on the Spirit of Freedom for the 4-day Coral Sea trip in June 2011, I can confirm that there are indeed times when the weather conditions are too poor to make the crossing out to the Osprey Reef - that is what happened to us and we had to stay on the the Ribbon Reefs for the entire trip (powering south from Lizard Island to Cairns). We pretty much only had high winds (30-40 knots), rain, and huge swells the entire trip (making for quite unpleasant entries and exits) - with tiny spells of sun - and quite a number of the passengers remained sea sick for the duration. Honestly, it was probably some of the least enjoyable diving I have done to date - but that's just me. That said, I have heard very good things about diving on the Osprey Reef, especially if you're into seeing the pelagics, not to mention the shark feed. If you do make it out to the Coral Sea, make sure you pack good seasickness meds as it can be a rockin', rollin' ride out there, so I'm told! Whatever you decide, hope you have a better experience than we did.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Good question and happy to post

Basically the Coral Sea trip is the Cod Hole trip with an extra day tagged on to motor out to Osprey. The main pull of the Coral Sea is the amazing viz. 30m +. Usually around 50m. This is because of the vast depths (1000m deep around the edge of the Reef) and you are way outside the Barrier Reef protection (waters inside the Reef do not get the tidal flows to offer high viz, so most are 15m on average).

So first off, great visibility. Next is the sharks. Lots and lots! The key dive is the shark feed offered by all operators at North Horn dive site. Its where you get to sit in a natural amphitheatre (around 12m) and watch as one of the dive crew lower down a chain full of tuna frames. Its safe and great to watch, as you just swim around with them afterwards.

So viz and sharks…

However if the time doesn’t allow then the Cod Hole trips still get to show you the best of the Ribbon Reefs and this is where the corals are far better than Coral Se and the smaller, more colourful life lives. Great photo opportunities.

Taka does leave on a different day but its Fridays which I guess don’t work for you.

Spirit gets back in around 1pm on the Monday.

You are travelling September and September and October usually have the flattest seas, so it is unlikely you will get the weather that poor old globalbabe got. That would have been tough! Nowhere to hide when its like that as you are out of the protection of the Reef.

 

[MA]

I've done about 8 trips out there. Just for fun. Coral sea!!! You get a nice mix of coral sea znd the best of gbr. Weather should be good in sep.

 

[nevennett]

Thanks for your replies.

Globalbabe I am gutted to hear that, what terrible luck

Given I like both sharks and great vis, the decision is still far from easy. I loved diving Wolf Rock earlier this year, where I got dozens and dozens of cuddly grey nurse sharks but terrible vis; to combine these two would be amazing. I do also like the adrenaline factor about diving essentially in the middle of the Pacific Ocean too.

Nevertheless, I have a suspicion I will yield to practicality and do the 3 day trip. Do you get to see any sharks at all around the Ribbon Reefs?

 

[eytokyo]

hello... also planning a quick trip to GBF end of September and would like to do a liveaboard in the coral sea.

Aquapro...can you tell me which boats go to that region? Can you recommend a 4 or 5 star boat? Most likely will arrive Cairns early morning on Sept 18 and stay through the 24th.

 

[globalbabe]

Yes, we saw a few sharks - grey reef, white tip, black tip - on at least half of our dives on the Ribbon Reefs.

Another couple of points to add about my trip: SOF was my third liveaboard and I think I realised that the max. no. of divers (24) was too many for me (12-15 divers seems optimal) and I also found the 4-5 dives/day to be too many, given the context of our weather and diving conditions.

Of course, let me add some positives: the crew are great (service-oriented, good dive briefings, friendly and professional), the ship itself is very nice (although not quite in the luxury class you get in places like the Maldives), well-maintained and comfortable, and the cabins are pretty good, although a bit tiny. The food was absolutely fantastic!

Good luck with your decision.

 

[muddiver]

Hi all,

This is a nice post.

I am considering divning the GBR in a few years. I noticed Aquapro Dive Service stated the seas are typically flat in September up in the Coral Sea. What is it like in November, closer to December? Up here it's usually colder than a witch's bum.

Thanks

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Do you get to see any sharks at all around the Ribbon Reefs?

Yes you do, just not as many as at the feed, as this is what draws them in. Most of the ones you get on the Ribbon Reefs are smaller Reef sharks (1.5m or so).

Aquapro...can you tell me which boats go to that region? Can you recommend a 4 or 5 star boat? Most likely will arrive Cairns early morning on Sept 18 and stay through the 24th.

Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom (4 star) leave for the Cod Hole / Ribbon Reefs on Mondays and Taka (3 star) on Tuesdays. For the Coral Sea trips MB and SOF leave Thursdays and Taka Fridays. See here for more details of these trips Cairns Live Aboard Over Night Dive Trips To The Outer Barrier Reef, Cod Hole And Coral Sea.

I am considering diving the GBR in a few years. I noticed Aquapro Dive Service stated the seas are typically flat in September up in the Coral Sea. What is it like in November, closer to December? Up here it's usually colder than a witch's bum.

Here is link to climate throughout the year Cairns Dive Trips Visitor Information
November is peak season and getting hot and humid. December is traditionally the start of the rainy season which can be associated with cyclonic weather. Although we do get the odd cyclone up here (and are quite used to them) trips may get cancelled. Not often, but a possibility. Sea nice and warm (around 28 deg C or 90 Deg F). Inside the Reef seas don’t get much about 1- 1.5m swells (3- 5ft), but outside the reef can be twice as much as you leave the protection of the Reef itself. The boats and handle it and al the dive spots are protected. Remember you will not be taken to sites which may be unsuitable to dive due to weather conditions. November and December are very popular months.

 

[muddiver]

Thanks Mate