GBR LOB diving as a beginner

[Muriloth]

Dear ScubaBoard community,

My name is Murilo, and I have just completed my OW certification in southern area of Brazil and I am completely hooked by diving.

Later this year, mid-october, I will have a chance to go to Australia - Sydney for work and then I can take a few weeks off after that. I am planning to use my days off and go to North QLD (Cairns_ and taking a liveabord from there.
Since its very unlikely that I will come back to Australia for a while, I would like to have the best experience I can, so I am strongly considering Mike Ball or Spirit of Freedom, preference for 3D2N.

While I do feel comfortable on water and have an OK buyoancy for someone at my level, my main concern is that I am very much inexperienced and these boats seem to be aimed for more experienced people.

I could go for AOW locally before the trip and get some more dives in, I am not sure if that makes a diference. Or should I take AOW locally, make sure I have a guide and don't ruin anyones else diving?

Anywhere else in QLD would you recommend me to try to dive?
- I have about 10-12 days to spend in there. I hear good things about Yongala, will I manage the dive though?

PS: My wife is non-diver, and she would be fine staying in Cairns or maybe in the boat with me doing her own thing, so longer liveabords are a no-go.

Thank you for your time.

Best,
Murilo

 

[MB NZ]

Do as much diving/training as possible before your trip for your own benefit as much as anything else. The passengers are always mixed in ability, so don't worry about it, but the fact that you are thinking in advance is very positive!

 

[Muriloth]

Thank you for being so supportive. I love your country and will certainly get a few weeks to visit aswell.

Do as much diving/training as possible before your trip for your own benefit as much as anything else. The passengers are always mixed in ability, so don't worry about it, but the fact that you are thinking in advance is very positive!

 

[SteveCapnK]

I did the shorter Spirit of Freedom trip late last year and at the time had completed less than 40 dives. Similar to what MB NZ suggested, I did as many dives as I could beforehand, and also worked on fitness/core strength/belly breathing.

Doing your AOW could be useful as some of the Ribbon Reef/Cod Hole dives go beyond 18m. In any case, that’s more time in the water!

The SoF staff use the checkout dive to create buddy pairs with similar gas consumption.

As for the SoF trip itself, I was very happy. Great boat, great memories.

If you have a few weeks in Sydney you can get some more time in the water at one of our dive sites. .
Check out Michael McFadyens website: Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site

 

[Muriloth]

Thank you for your repply, I've seen some great spots from Sydney any in particular you would recommend. I have a feeling I will need to use Sydney as a rest from diving. Otherwise my non-diver wife is going to kill me.

PS: I already convinced her on adding 10ish-day trip to Ningaloo.

I did the shorter Spirit of Freedom trip late last year and at the time had completed less than 40 dives. Similar to what MB NZ suggested, I did as many dives as I could beforehand, and also worked on fitness/core strength/belly breathing.

Doing your AOW could be useful as some of the Ribbon Reef/Cod Hole dives go beyond 18m. In any case, that’s more time in the water!

The SoF staff use the checkout dive to create buddy pairs with similar gas consumption.

As for the SoF trip itself, I was very happy. Great boat, great memories.

If you have a few weeks in Sydney you can get some more time in the water at one of our dive sites. .
Check out Michael McFadyens website: Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site

 

[boulderjohn]

Most of the diving in the GBR is not difficult. I have done two LOB trips there, and each one had very new divers who had no trouble. On the last trip, two of the divers were only scuba certified, meaning they had not completed the full OW course and were required to dive with a professional. I was next to them when they checked in, and when they were told this, they were surprised and had to have it explained. It had been so long since their course they had forgotten that.

They did fine.

 

[Muriloth]

That's good to know, thank you. I will work on getting some dives in and improve my skills a bit before going

Most of the diving in the GBR is not difficult. I have done two LOB trips there, and each one had very new divers who had no trouble. On the last trip, two of the divers were only scuba certified, meaning they had not completed the full OW course and were required to dive with a professional. I was next to them when they checked in, and when they were told this, they were surprised and had to have it explained. It had been so long since their course they had forgotten that.

They did fine.