Hi! I'm planning a trip to Australia in December, and I'm flying into Cairns. Has anyone ever gone there in December, and do you think the heat and humidity is going to drive me away despite the lure of diving?? Any other suggestions about great places to dive in Queensland ON A BUDGET??
Diving Queensland in December on a BUDGET
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Hello and well done on organising a trip to Australia. It's bound to be great.
You didn't indicate your level of experience or the type of diving you are interested in doing so I'll just throw out some ideas.
Yes December is the hot and humid season in Queensland but if you're out diving most of the time, it might not be too much of a problem. There are many liveaboards out of Cairns that'll do the Barrier Reef. I would not do the dayboats as they don't go that far out and many of them do their dives around courses.
If you're at Advanced level (with minimum 30 dives is what some shops stipulate), you could do the Yongala in Townsville. The dive's on a wreck with loads of marine life and it definitely is worthwhile if you're into fish and corals. It's in the heart of backpacker territory so there are many hostels and cheap accommodation in town. Beware though, that because of the location of the wreck and conditions, dives are often cancelled due to weather so you need to plan and have contingency plans
I also loved doing the Grey Nurse Shark dives in Byron Bay. Again, the town is backpacker territory so you'll have options for cheap dwellings.
Have fun!
You didn't indicate your level of experience or the type of diving you are interested in doing so I'll just throw out some ideas.
Yes December is the hot and humid season in Queensland but if you're out diving most of the time, it might not be too much of a problem. There are many liveaboards out of Cairns that'll do the Barrier Reef. I would not do the dayboats as they don't go that far out and many of them do their dives around courses.
If you're at Advanced level (with minimum 30 dives is what some shops stipulate), you could do the Yongala in Townsville. The dive's on a wreck with loads of marine life and it definitely is worthwhile if you're into fish and corals. It's in the heart of backpacker territory so there are many hostels and cheap accommodation in town. Beware though, that because of the location of the wreck and conditions, dives are often cancelled due to weather so you need to plan and have contingency plans
I also loved doing the Grey Nurse Shark dives in Byron Bay. Again, the town is backpacker territory so you'll have options for cheap dwellings.
Have fun!
I'm just Open Water certified but I've done a lot of diving. Some of the friends I'm going with are novice divers, though, so easy dives would be best. So far we want to do a 3 day/2 night liveaboard on the Kangaroo Explorer through Cairns Dive Center, but I'd like to find another affordable liveaboard because like you said, liveaboards are the way to go.
I've did a couple dives at Julian Rocks when I was in Byron Bay a few years ago, but alas, I didn't see any nurse sharks. I'm looking forward to getting back out there...I'm a shark-aholic!
I've did a couple dives at Julian Rocks when I was in Byron Bay a few years ago, but alas, I didn't see any nurse sharks. I'm looking forward to getting back out there...I'm a shark-aholic!
fredaroony
Contributor
I did Julian Rocks about 3 weeks ago and saw 13 Grey Nurse sharks 
Thinking about doing a liveaboard on the Reef in the next month or so but its about the same as going to Fiji so not sure what to do.
Thinking about doing a liveaboard on the Reef in the next month or so but its about the same as going to Fiji so not sure what to do.When you choose your liveaboard, make sure you don't go with an Open Water course trip. You will be at the mercy of the course dives and you won't go out to the more interesting sites. :depressed:
Hi there. I live and work in Cairns as a dive instructor (since 1991) and have experience with most of the trips there. Also I run a small web booking site that offers discount on the trips there for divers from these forums.
There are some great trips out of Cairns, and as mentioed above the humidity is not bad when you ar on the boat. Just the land its tough!
Check out the link below for some of the better trips. Remember you really do get what you pay for up there, and some of the cheper boats are old,slow and dont get to the Outer Reef areas. (there are soem threads on this site warning about some of the dodgy operators).
If you want to go live aboard out of Cairns and cant go fo rthe Cod Hole boats like Taka, Spirit of Freedom etc, I recommend Ocean Quest.
Have a look below and feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.
Kev
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Discount dive travel to the Barrier Reef and Coral Sea - live aboard and day trips.
Cairns Discount Scuba Diving Trips - Great Barrier Reef
There are some great trips out of Cairns, and as mentioed above the humidity is not bad when you ar on the boat. Just the land its tough!
Check out the link below for some of the better trips. Remember you really do get what you pay for up there, and some of the cheper boats are old,slow and dont get to the Outer Reef areas. (there are soem threads on this site warning about some of the dodgy operators).
If you want to go live aboard out of Cairns and cant go fo rthe Cod Hole boats like Taka, Spirit of Freedom etc, I recommend Ocean Quest.
Have a look below and feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.
Kev
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Discount dive travel to the Barrier Reef and Coral Sea - live aboard and day trips.
Cairns Discount Scuba Diving Trips - Great Barrier Reef
uminchu
Contributor
If you are talking about the whole of Queensland, there is some killer diving off of Moreton Island! It's closer to Brisbane. The island itself is a huge sand island... You need a 4wd to go over, but I think you can get tours from Brisbane to hit Flinders Reef.
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