Dive Trip: Yongala & Navy Pier

[finbob]

Greetings from Canada!

I have 9-days free on a business trip out east and was wondering if it is possible to dive Yongala and Navy Pier in that time period? The flight to Australia & return within those 9-days could either be from Manila or Singapore, which is better? Also internal flights, any advice? Any suggestions of dive operators? Is November a good time? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Cant offer much advice on Navy Peir other than it is the other side of the country! But Yongala see here Yongala Wreck Dives From Ayr Or Townsville

The Ayr trip better (personal opinion only) as quicker travel time.

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Cairns Discount Dive And Snorkel Trips. Live Aboard And Day Trips To The Great Barrier Reef

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[JB]

That's a lot of flying between dives. Yongala- Townsville, Navy Pier-Exmouth. Just if you do take the trouble to come to WA, Navy Pier is $165.00 for a 50 minute guided shore entry dive, which takes the best part of a morning with at least 5 typed pages of waivers and releases, and an hour's briefing, I would spend my time diving Ningaloo Reef out of Coral Bay (100km down the road from Exmouth). If you want to see Grey Nurse sharks, A short trip to Aliwal Shoal, East Coast of south Africa is the go!!
Seriously, out of Coral Bay, could hear whales while diving, then on the boat ride between dive sites, followed a pod of whales for 90 minutes, dived with Mantas, saw dugong and tiger shark, all for an average price for 2 dives ($100.00). In contrast tried to book a day trip from Exmouth, snorkel with whale sharks, and 1 dive, don't forget lunch, $430.00 per person, and $300.00 per child (who would only snorkel). Navy Pier tripping over other divers, did the same 20 meter circuit 3 times and managed to find the same grey nurse shark 3 times (it hadn't moved).
Just my take on Exmouth being a rip off geared to exploit foreign tourists.
Try this company great attitude excellent service, fun.
http://www.ningalooreefdive.com/

 

[diver257a]

Greetings from Canada!

I have 9-days free on a business trip out east and was wondering if it is possible to dive Yongala and Navy Pier in that time period? The flight to Australia & return within those 9-days could either be from Manila or Singapore, which is better? Also internal flights, any advice? Any suggestions of dive operators? Is November a good time? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Navy Pier - I suggest you contact the Exmouth Visitors Centre ( Diving - Exmouth Visitor Centre, Exmouth Accommodation, Exmouth Western Australia, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth Tourism, Exmouth Accommodation, Exmouth Tours, Exmouth Events, Exmouth Activities, Hire, Car Hire, Businesses, Ningaloo, Ningaloo Reef, Snorkel ) for information such as dive operators & best times.

Internal flights - direct flights to Exmouth from Perth are offered by both national & regional carriers. Suggest you google 'airlines, australia' & look at results for carriers such as Qantas, Virgin Blue and Skywest.

 

[alcina]

With only 9 days I'd concentrate on one area and not try to do both sides of the country - nothing connects very well so you'd end up spending a lot of time in airports and "wasting" a day waiting for the connecting flight.

Qantas and Skywest are the only airlines to offer service to the Ningaloo Reef and you can book at their online sites. Q only flies a few times a week and Skywest flies daily.

I won't comment on some of the things said about Exmouth as I've lived in Exy since 1999 and in Coral Bay for three years before that and may have a different view on things Both offer wonderful diving on the Ningaloo Reef and each section of the reef is quite different so it's worth doing both if you have time.

 

[Ste Wart]

Despite the distance, I would say go for it.

I did the Yongala and The Navy Pier in my first year of diving. Since then I've racked up about 2000+ dives, but these 2 dives still sit in my top ten (Yongala is still my number 1 diver).
I remember sitting around in Exmouth for 5 days waiting for the wind to drop enough for so that I could dive the pier and it was magical This was heightened by the fact that it was then closed for about 5 years due to the fact the pier is on American soil and the US were 'at war' with somebody or other.

Do it, you won't regret it.

 

[finbob]

the wart: Thanks for the encouragement. If I can get the flights worked out I will try for both. If not, I'll focus on Yongala!

 

[colin.wen]

For the Yongala dive,
I will suggest if you don't have a car or rent a car here, its easier to departure from Townsville than Ayr.
Its another one hour drive from Townsville to Ayr to take the boat over there (Yongala Express).