I have tentative plans to dive the Great Barrier Reef during the first week of December. Is this a good time to go? I know it's the beginning of the wet season as well as stinger season but I've also heard that visibility can be excellent at this time. Any advice or past experiences? Also, I only have one week so what are the must-see dive sites? Thanks so much!
Great Barrier Reef in December?
- Thread starter darcieo
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Check out mike Ball's Spoilsport. It is a liveaboard and has the advantage of providing dives on the outside area of the barrier reef. As I recall the really scary box jellies spawn in freshwater rivers so they are not much of a concern out further. The ribbon reefs are excellent and the potato cod hole is a world famous dive. As far as wet season? Who cares? 
The best trips are the ones that visit the Ribbon Reef like Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom. If these are a bit out of your budget then look at some of the trips that visit the Outer Reef. Plenty to choose from. Book in advance as these trips do book out very quickly as its peak season.
As for the wet season, its not the wet that's the problem it the cyclones! Monsoon weather is no real burden to be honest as its warm rain and mainly concentrated over the land masses. Its still around 34 deg C surface and 27 deg C in the top 10m of the water.
Stingers are more coastal and rarer as you go out to sea. Stinger (lycra body suits) are provided if necessary, but I would not worry about stingers. Farside1 had it right above.
Cyclones cancel maybe one trip a year and in December its unlikely. We get most of them around Jan and Feb.
As for the wet season, its not the wet that's the problem it the cyclones! Monsoon weather is no real burden to be honest as its warm rain and mainly concentrated over the land masses. Its still around 34 deg C surface and 27 deg C in the top 10m of the water.
Stingers are more coastal and rarer as you go out to sea. Stinger (lycra body suits) are provided if necessary, but I would not worry about stingers. Farside1 had it right above.
Cyclones cancel maybe one trip a year and in December its unlikely. We get most of them around Jan and Feb.
reef-diver
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The best conditions for diving on the GBR are between August and January. The annual coral spawning is an impressive sight and occurs around October/November.For a detailed guide to diving on the Great Barrier Reef and various tips, see the following booklet:
Amazon.com: Ten Best Things To Do On The Great Barrier Reef eBook: Michael Southon: Kindle Store
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