First time dive in Aus

[reaver]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to get some insights about diving here in Australia. I've mostly dived in SE Asia and is used to having dive guides accompanying divers.

Is it the same here in Australia? Do live aboard operators provide dive guides or do they just give a dive briefing and let you go on your own (with a buddy of course)?

The reason I'm asking is because I haven't dove (dived?) in Australia and am unfamiliar with the dive sites.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Where are you in Australian?
Your location will determine the type of diving, dive protocol and there will probably be someone on here who can give you specific local advice.

 

[altaskier]

I've been on a couple of boats out of Carins; the day boats, the overnight boats on the nearby reefs that you can transfer to using the day boats, and a fantastic five-day liveaboard. On those boats the standard procedure is for you to be noted on a checklist before you enter the water, and you have to sign in when you return, but beyond that you and your buddy are on your own. That was a bit unnerving the first trip I made, because these were my first dives after certification! But it's also quite nice and liberating once you have some experience.

You can usually hire a dive guide from the boat if you want. My son and I did this on our very first night dive (dive #4 post-certification), and boy was that a good idea! You can probably ask in advance about that when you book the trip, especially for the first dive.

P.S. I've been pretty happy with the pre-dive briefings on the overnight boats. They usually have a reasonably informative chalkboard map of the site, and give some good pointers.

 

[Sas]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to get some insights about diving here in Australia. I've mostly dived in SE Asia and is used to having dive guides accompanying divers.

Is it the same here in Australia? Do live aboard operators provide dive guides or do they just give a dive briefing and let you go on your own (with a buddy of course)?

The reason I'm asking is because I haven't dove (dived?) in Australia and am unfamiliar with the dive sites.

I think it really depends on where you dive so more info would be nice . I don't think most places require you to dive with a dive guide, but I believe they have them for hire if you need up North. But I am basing this on my buddy's experience, not my own, as he has done liveaboard trips and I have not!

Where I dive (Melbourne), there are no dive guides provided on the charter I go on. And I have never seen anybody on the boat with a dive guide from a charter though you do see dive clubs with guides and their groups. You get a briefing usually, though often it can be rushed (so limited to what directions to go in, lost buddy procedures, how you'll be picked up - safety info really, rather than details of the dive site) depending if slack water is early So it is worthwhile reading up on a dive site first when you book so you know what the site is like. But they never mind if you ask them for more detailed advice about sites. You don't necessarily need a buddy either, if you have a solo certification you can dive on your own.