GBR vs. outer reef liveaboards vs. land-based, small fishies vs. pelagics

[tamarinera]

Hi there,

I'm arriving in Sydney by tall ship in early October. I want to dive the Great Barrier Reef (traveling solitary), as I'm from the western hemisphere and only once have dived elsewhere (The Red Sea, liveaboard, which was pretty darn spectacular). I know very little about the GBR, although I have snorkeled the 2nd largest reef in Belize and will dive the 3rd largest in Mauritius before getting to Australia.

I'm someone with a lot of dive experience (Rescue Diver) and tend to prefer the small details/lots of Pretty Colorful Reef Fishies and Cool Coral Architecture over the Big Scary Sharks and Pelagics. That said, I haven't ever had any spectacular pelagic dives...Pacific American diving has variable visibility, and the Caribbean has minimal sharks/big schools. So maybe I just haven't been wowed yet by huge silver creatures in the right setting.

I've read the posts here about the liveaboard options, with most saying Mike Ball or Spirit of Freedom are the best. Cost is somewhat of a factor, but I'm willing to splurge if it makes that big a difference. I can change my schedule based on what's available, as long as I'm done by the end of October. I did see the special 10-day options they are offering at the end of October, but $5000 is not worth it, in my budget/priorities. I'm more of the $1500 or less type...

So, QUESTIONS:

Is the Coral Sea diving considered to be on the Great Barrier Reef? Or technically not?

Does it make sense to do a liveaboard out to Coral Sea, and then some day trips to actually be on the GBR? Or is the sealife basically the same enough that just the liveaboard is enough? Are the closer parts of the GBR ruined at all? Or siltier or something? Is there coral bleaching there like the norther Caribbean is experiencing? Why the excitement about getting out to the Coral Sea area?

Are there spots on the GBR itself that are particularly special, that I should know about? I saw some folks mentioned particular reefs...it looks so huge, does it make sense to land-travel to various take-off points to see different sections?

How is the vis in October? Water temps?

Thanks tons for any advice/specifics you can offer. It's so great to have a place where regular folks can offer information.

Cheers!

Tamarinera

 

[slingshot]

I can't give you advice, though I will be diving with Mike Ball this summer if all goes to plan. But I love the visual idea of arriving in Sydney by tall ship. What vessel, and will you be crew or passenger?

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

There are many posts about this on Scubaboard, but to try and summarise:

The Ribbon Reefs (Mike Ball and Spirit) do offer the better dive sites. Deeper sites (30m +), pinnacles, drop offs, stronger currents for drift dives, and much more technically advanced diving. Also more variety of sea life. Coral Sea has average corals, but amazing visibility (30m +) and lots of sharks (shark feed diving).

More expensive because of the distances you have to travel. You fly up one leg and motor back.

Outer Reef dives are still good, but offer good dives for students and snorkelers. You do not get learn to dive students on Mike Ball (only Advanced) and rarely snorkelers.

The Outer Reef dive trips still offer great value for money and a great variety of sites. Depths usually average 15m and have some nice smaller life and wider variety of corals.

If it’s a once in a lifetime trip go Ribbon Reef (MB or SOF)

---------- Post added May 7th, 2013 at 08:08 PM ----------

Should have added this above, but to give you an example of dive sites, see these 2 links to show Outer Reef sites (Taka) and Ribbon Reef sites (Spirit and Mike Ball).

 

[tamarinera]

Thanks for clarifying the bit about new divers on board...I meant to ask that and forgot. It's a good thing to consider.

Now I want to do both!

 

[MA]

I would probably consider a corsl sea liveaboard ccombined with a stay on lady Elliot island or perhaps a trip to the yongala. Outer reefs - if you do a coral sea or ribbon reefs I would pass on the outer reefs.