Diving on GBR in July-2010

[perodona]

Hi all, we're looking for Your advice.

We're planning a vacation to Australia in July-2010. We're a familiy of 4 and all divers, so we want to spent ~5-6 days diving on GBR.

1. We would prefer a liveaboard, but my wife is not that "sea-strong", is mid-july a good time for liveaboard out of Cairns ? knowing that we're talking about the weather is july in general a calm and stable period wrt weather ?

2. As an alternative we have been looking at Lizard Island. Do You think lizard island is ok for 5-6 days of (3-4 dives/day) diving experience ?

3. As yet an alternative we have looked at Heron Island on the southern part of GBR. As this is the "cold" period at Heron Island, do You consider that a problem ? As most diving seems to concentrate around Cairns, is diving in the southern part of GBR as reprensentative as diving in the Northern part ?

4. We're a family (45+45 years old with kids at 15 and 17 years old), we all started diving 3 years ago, we have all taken rescue diver certificate and we have between 40-50 dives - i guess thats appropriate for diving on GBR ?

If You have feedback/suggestions/recommendation we would really appreciate that.

Thanks
- per (denmark)

 

[OnTheSpot]

Hi Per,
Go north...July is great for viz and marine life - minke whales, hammerheads and manta rays.
Spoilsport is more stable but conditions should be pretty good, maybe a little bit of wind.
Do a minimum of a four night trip to dive Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea.
Have a few days on land after the dive trip.
I hope you all have a great Aussie experience.

 

[Maddog59]

Hi Peradona,
Great time to come to Oz. Good weather, great vis, water temp about 24 -25 degrees C and so much to see. The Minke Whales are to die for out of Cairns and the Ribbon reefs and the area around Lizard Island is well catered for by the dive charter boats. Another spot to look at is the area out of Townsville (The best wreck dive you'll ever do is the Yongalla Wreck) or you could try the Dive Charters that cater to the Swains Reefs out of Gladstone and Rockhampton. Here are a few web sites to look at:

Undersea Explorer

Liveaboard scuba diving Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns

Bianca Fishing Charters Port Douglas Sydney - Home

http://www.mytourpal.com/divingGuide/countries/australia/greatBarrierReefMackayCapricorn.htm

Tusa Dive - Cairns Diving Courses PADI & SSI Diving Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Cairns

I personally think that Heron Island is great diving but it can be a lttle repetative, but has the advantage of being land based.

This is but a small fraction of the diving that is available here in the greatest country on this Blue Planet!


Maddog59

 

[perodona]

Thanks for Your feedback.

We decided for a 4-day coral sea trip with Spirit of Freedom. If we want to do more dives we will take trips from Port Douglas where we will stay for 5-6 days after the liveaboard.

Hoping for good weather

best regards
per

 

[Maddog59]

Thanks for Your feedback.

We decided for a 4-day coral sea trip with Spirit of Freedom. If we want to do more dives we will take trips from Port Douglas where we will stay for 5-6 days after the liveaboard.

Hoping for good weather

best regards
per

Have a great Trip and enjoy the diving and keep your eyes open if you dive North Horn at Osprey Reef you just may see an Orca or a Big Black Marlin. (saw both on one dive)


Maddog59:mooner: