Day Diving the GBR

[Driznik]

I'm in the early stages of planning a trip to Australia in Apr / May 2006, and I want to get in at least a weeks worth of diving on the GBR.

What is the best location to base ourselves out of for day diving? I'd love to do a liveaboard, but I'll be travelling with my GF, who while making great strides snorkeling, really doesn't have the sea legs for it yet.

From my inititial research, it looked like Cairns was the best bet, but I've seen a post or two here that suggests the day diving isn't that good - which may well mean that it isn't that good compared to the liveaboard diving, but in the overall scope of things, it's still pretty terrific.

Thanks for your input.

D

 

[Valwood1]

If at all possible, you should dive the "Yongala" wreck, south of Townsville; it's a great dive for marine life, and the site can be reached either from Townsville or from Alva Beach (near Ayr -- about 1.5 hours south of Townsville, which itself is a long drive from Cairns, though). I understand that there also is some good diving on an island near Townsville, but I can't recall the name. It's an all-day trip from Townsville, or about 1/2 half day trip if you use Yongala Dive in Alva Beach. In either case, though, I imagine your GF should stay on land.

 

[Tom Winters]

Ok Driznik - here's the straight stuff on diving the GBR. Get on a good liveaboard. I have my own choices, but you do your own research. You can take the GF with you - get her some books to read. If she's not into reading, well, you'll both heal after the split.
You can also park her at Hayman Island for the week that you explore underwater. If she comes back to you, well, that's good. If not, you'll both heal.
The Yongala is a great starter dive to a magical week afloat. If she was your wife, well, my advice might be a little different. If she really loves you, she'll understand.
If not, ...........
You probably already knew this.

 

[Driznik]

Actually, we're getting married in December, so I guess when we go she will be my wife. Does that change your advice?

My research says the same thing as you - go liveaboard. Given a choice, that's definitely what I'd do - and I'm definitely planning on going back to do a liveaboard or two down the road, but this trip we're spending about a month and really trying to see a lot of the country to decide if we want to try and move down for a year or two, so I'm probably only going to have two or three days diving.

If you only had two or three days shore diving, where would you dive from? Two or three days is better than nothing right?

 

[shep]

you wrote.....

"If you only had two or three days shore diving, where would you dive from? Two or three days is better than nothing right?"

Actually, no. You're getting good advice here.

My wife and I are Americans currently living in Australia for 2 years. We have been diving as far north as the Agincourt Reef (remember Open Water? It happended there).

Agincourt is offshore of Port Douglas, an hour north of Cairns. From there we have dived many locations as far south as Merimbula and the "Tugs of Eden" (about 3,000 kms south).

We've also been diving in Western Australia from Perth to as far north as Ningaloo Reef and Coral Bay. We've seen a bit of underwater territory so far in Australia.

My research on the GBR told me the same thing you are reading.

There are a few liveaboards that that are 4 day, not a week, that will take you to some good reef. You have to be careful though, some of the short stay liveaboards just take you to "day trip" locations- and it's not worth it!

If you want to save yourself some serious disappointment (IMO), I'd suggest taking a day boat out of Cairns to Green Island (something like $49AUD) on one of the 400 passenger cattle boats and snorkel on the island with your new wife. She can snorkel with you, and you'll be saving a good amount of money. My wife thought the Green Island snorkeling was better than any of the off- shore reef we dived during our week in Cairns/ Port Douglas. I'd have to agree.

With the money you save you two can do a 4WD day trip to the Daintree Rain Forest, or something similar.

I have not been diving on the Yongala as I'm not really a fan of the "wreck dive", so I can't speak to that, but IMO there is much more interesting diving south of the GBR on day boats out of say, Coffs Harbour, much closer to Sydney. Check out the Solitary Islands or Southwest Rocks far south of Cairns.

It was my wish to dive the GBR while I was here too, and for my money, the only "diving bummer" we've had in the last 16 months here was the day trips we took out on the GBR.

I knew what to expect, based on my reading about the GBR, and it was more diappointing than that! I can't tell you where I live because the Cairns Chamber of Commerce will send a hit squad to my house.

I can tell you that Australia is an amazing adventure otherwise with lots of great diving and other adventures- you can PM me and I can elaborate.



shep

 

[slipslop]

if you are in Cairns, Quicksmart (run by quicksilver) is a good option for both diving & snorkeling. they leave from port douglas but they will pick you up from your accommodation in Cairns. They visit 3 sites on agincourt reef.

 

[SaltyKSue]

When I dove the GBR, we did day trips out of Cairns. We dove with Tusa dive. I thought they were a good company to dive with.
It took a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours on the boat to get to the dive sites but, I sure think it was worth it. What a fabulous place to dive. the water was so crystal clear that your GF/Wife could probably snorkle while you dive.
Then you still have the evening on shore to wine and dine your sweetie, see the sights, and get a taste of Australia.

 

[Driznik]

Wow. This is crazy. Given 3-5 days set aside for diving North East Australia, never in a million years did I imagine this many divers would tell me I was better off not diving than diving.

I'm not a huge wreck fan or student of maritime history, so for me it's all about the seascapes and aquatic life.

What areas of Australia are better for day diving? I really don't think I'd be able to forgive myself if I spend a month in Australia and don't spend at least a couple of days blowing bubbles.

Shep - thanks for your offer. I'll probably drop you a line in th next couple of days.

 

[sharkmasterbc]

I've been based in Townsville now for 4 months instructing for a company that specializes in day trips to one of the most pristine of the reefs on the inside of the barrier and also day trips to the SS Yongala. Wheeler reef is only used by a few select operators and has a mooring to minimize reef damage from boats. Tropical Diving in Townsville goes to the reef 4 times a week and the Yongala 3 times. There are a few other operators in town who do the Yongala and various other reefs but most are liveaboard. There is also a company in town called Sun Ferries who take out a "cattle boat" to John Brewer reef which due to the sheer # of people diving on it has been almost totally devistated.
Although the Yongala is technically a "wreck" dive it is non penetration diving to a max of 29m. It is a marine park and also protected by the historical shipwrecks act. I have been diving for a few years now and the Yongala is one of the best dives to date. The diversity and size of marine life is amazing. It is situated about 2-3 hours from Townsville and almost right in the east australian current which provides it with a great amount of nutrient rich water. There are grouper on the wreck the size of small cars and schools of barracuda which are so big they block out the sun. There are at least 4 resident turtles upwards of 50 years old and also guitar sharks (shovelnose rays), eagle rays, bull sharks, nurse sharks, sea snakes, nudibranchs and cobia. It is honestly a dive worth doing. If we were able to penetrate the wreck I recon it would be one of the top in the world for marine life but as 121 people died on her it does deserve respect and from what I know the last person to try and penetrate was fined and jailed. It is an old wood steamship 100m long and I belive penetration would also be very dangerous due to her age. Theres speculation that the next cyclone will flatten her so there is some talk about recovering certain artifacts to be displayed before we loose her to the sea completly. The name is still legible on her bow and you can still get a good look into the first class dining area, the toilets and the anchors in their holds on the bow.
If you are short for time and can't do a liveaboard I would definetly recommend comming out for a day trip to Wheeler and also the Yongala. If you want some more info PM me. Also we do take snorkellers out to the reef at the same time as divers so your wife would be welcome aboard.

Mark

 

[Travelnsj]

Somewhere I have been too three times which no one has mentioned is Heron Island. For your GF it has great Accommodations, Dining, Spa, walking etc. One of the most beautiful Islands I have been too!

The diving is Good to Excellent....mostly very good diving. Water may be in the low to mid 70's in May.