Cyclone Season & non-divers on GBR Liveaboards

[Driznik]

Hi,

My wife and I are planning a trip to Australia in late December / early January. As part of that trip, I was hoping to do a 7 day liveaboard that will cover both Cod Hole and the Coral Sea. I've seen in a couple of places that January is the start of Cyclone season. Does anyone know how often are these trips washed out in January?

I've searched through the threads here, and they're a huge help. Based on those and what I've found on other sites, I think we're looking at Mike Ball, Spirit of Freedom and Taka.

My wife isn't a huge diver. Is she still going to have a good time on a 7 night liveaboard? Is there any company that is better for non-divers than others?

Thanks,

D

 

[Darnold9999]

If your wife loves boats, snorkling, or talking to divers about diving then she will love it. Otherwise there is pretty much nothing but ocean to see on these trips. A stop at Lizard Island perhaps, depending on the trip, but that's it.

The trips are very international i.e. people are from everywhere so the conversation can be interesting. On the trip I was on we had Canada, US, Aus, UK, Russia, Japan, France and Czech divers on board. One non diver only because she was seasick the entire trip.

I left my partner on shore - works for us - she would have been bored. YMMV

 

[slipslop]

i went on taka in march 2005 a week after cyclone ingrid. I thoroughly enjoyed it. i have previously done some 3 day liveaboards (on pro dive and down under dive) as a snorkeller. the reefs are ideal for snorkeling. Im not sure about cod hole and osprey, i dont know if they are suitable for snorkeling. the sea was too rough to snorkel when i went. also the crossing from the gbr to osprey took 10 hours (at night)and the sea was very rough. i had to hold onto my bunk to stop myself being thrown out. the crossing back was just as bad. luckily im not prone to sea sickness. I ended up sleeping on one of the sofas on the main deck. The taka boat was new and the food and crew were great. i wouldnt hestitate to go again.

 

[pigletfish]

I was on an Osprey reef liveaboard the first week of April 2005 -- probably just a couple of weeks after slipslop -- and the sea conditions were ROUGH. Too rough for snorkeling, I think - too much current and swell, and out in the open ocean. If your wife doesn't mind spending a week on a swaying boat, and loves to read and, as Darnold says, "talk to divers about diving", she'll be OK. But it's probably not exactly a dream vacation for her...

 

[R.Soper]

I will probably be going on the four night Coral Sea livaboard in July, i will let you know what it is like.

Cheers - Bob

 

[Driznik]

Thanks. I think we've compromised on one of the 4 night Cod Hole / Coral Sea trips. It'll be interesting to see how she reacts.

We're only going to be in Australia for 2.5 weeks, but I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if I didn't do one of these trips. My wife knows how much it means to me, so she's being a good sport about it. I've given her all the information and we discussed her stay onshore in Sydney or Cairns but she wants to give it a shot.

Turns out Mike Ball (already sold out for the January 4th departure we need), Taka and Spirit of Freedom. I've got an availability inquiry for Taka out right now.

Looking forward to your trip report in July Bob.

D

 

[likelite]

"only" 2.5 weeks? You realize it's, like, the best place on Earth, right?

You know, I'm just about serious. My husband and I went to Oz in September '03 for our honeymoon, and I went back to do the GBR on Spirit of Freedom in November '05. It is so, so worth the time it takes to get there, and the expense and everything...and I WILL be back. If you get a little time you may want to take a side trip to New Zealand, which is also perfectly fabulous but in different ways.

SoF couldn't have been better, and I'm saying that as a person who sat out on deck jetlagged AND seasick most of the way out to Osprey. I'd still do it again in a minute.

Invest in a good camera and housing, as you will see many sights (the reef stonefish, Pacific lionfish, cod long as a Volkswagen). Only thing is, if you fly Qantas be prepared - you can take two carryons going over, but they WILL weigh your baggage and carryons on the flight back and you won't be permitted to carry more than one bag. The one you carry can't weigh more than 14 pounds. We had to pack, repack and throw things away right there in the airport, and the Qantas agents were so rude that I will go to great lengths to avoid that airline in the future - but their prices are right, so many Americans will continue to take them, I suspect. I've heard mixed reviews on Air New Zealand.

I rented a BCD and fins on SoF and had no trouble with the gear at all. That did help with the weight limits.

(One more bit of advice on flights - when you book your ticket be sure to get a good seat assignment, since flying coach on Qantas is very cramped. There are rows in the back of the plane that are only two seats across, so you and your companion can sit in peace without someone between you, or one of you wedged into a center seat.)

I'd echo the advice to stay in Port Douglas. Cairns is more like Panama City to P.D.'s Cape Cod. Depends on what you're looking for, I guess.

 

[Driznik]

Thanks, I'll look into Port Douglas.

Believe me we tried to make it longer. We started out planning for a month, then the $ and time off work realities sunk in and we ended up at 2.5 weeks - a little less than a week around Sydney, the 4 day liveaboard with a day on either side around Cairns or Port Douglas, and a half week around Melbourne to drive the Great Ocean Road.

Given the time constraints we had to knock off New Zealand, and we're not even getting to the Gold Coast, Uluru / the interior or the West. We had to knock so much off this trip, I'm sure we'll be back to Australia - though probably not before the Galapagos, PNG, Fiji, Bali, Indonesia and New Zealand.

Thanks for mentioning the baggage restrictions - I had been planning on taking my gear. How are the weight restrictions for checked baggage? Ack. Just checked. What kind of plane do they use for the Sydney to Cairns flight? Apparently regular economy flights limit you to 1 piece, 70 lbs. Dash 8 flights limit you to 1 piece, 44 lbs. Maybe I'll leave the BCD and reg at home and just take my wetsuit, mask and fins.

 

[Darnold9999]

Second Port Douglas over Cairns. We did 5 weeks just Port Douglas to Sydney and still didn't see everything we wanted to. Its a big country.

 

[seiz]

I have just returned from a live aboard with Taka, we set out to the GBR days after Larry hit and I must say it was a bumpy journey, But the diving couldn't be faulted. Definately get out to Osprey Reef if you can. It is unreal.
I know Taka take there staff out for a snorkel while we dived. The conditions at the time gauge if this is viable.
Just to let you know, I did a day trip upon my return from the Taka dive (I hadn't had enough of diving yet ) And the day trip was far inferior to the Live Aboard.
Hope this helps.
Check out my Journal if you want an idea of what the dives were like.