Great Barrier Reef

[Bubbles02]

Hi,

I am going to Cairns in August and would love to dive on the Great Barrier Reef. To cut a long story short, although I am AOW and have been diving over 12 years and have over 100 dives, I no longer have a buddy and so I have only dived once (4 months ago) in the last 2 years. Me and my new partner (who doesn't dive) were thinking of booking Green Island and I asked them if it would be possible to have a private one to one dive with one of their staff (I was, off course, willing to pay more). They told me that they normally operate with 8 divers to one member of staff and that may be I would prefer an introductory dive (which includes pool instruction instead). Does anyone know of a dive operator who may offer what I want. I really don't want to buddy with another paying guest as I don't know how good my air consumption might be! I did explain this to them and am only thinking of their other paying guests! If anyone knows of any dive centre who would offer me such a dive or can offer any other advice I would be very grateful. Thank you.

Shame I can't persuade my new partner to learn to dive - this would be a dream come true but sadly he is too scared. He doesn't even like snorkelling.

 

[Illi]

There are heaps of dive operators in Cairns, so try contacting a few companies to see what they can offer you.

I wouldn't worry about your air consumption. You'll probably find the boat you head out on will have a lot of new divers and operators will generally buddy the less experienced divers (i.e. faster consumers of air) together. Also you can never guess which diver in the group will be the air pig. I dived the Yongala (near Townsville) last week and was by far the least experienced diver on the boat. My air consumption is usually pretty average, but one of the more experienced divers in my group (200+ dives) used up his air fastest. I really wouldn't worry about your air consumption. Just relax and enjoy the reef

 

[whaylonsmithers]

I assume that you want a single dive to sort things out before progressing to diving with the herd? If so you could try:
1. Get a Scuba Review done at home before you leave on the holiday? I shudder to think of the water temperature in your fair isle but it doesn't have to be a long dive, would help you sort out anything like buoyancy/trim AND make you appreciate the Reef even more. Your buoyancy will be very different if you go from UK (cold, thick suit, steel tank) to tropics (warm, thins suit, ally tank) but anything's better than nothing.
2. Take the introductory dive. Sounds like a shore dive and if you tell them you just want to potter around at the back. I don't know the operator but a full-paying customer who wants a gear check dive might get a tag-along shore dive for free if they're doing something else already. Perhaps a phone call to the shop?

Alternatively, if money is no object I will fly to Qld and accompany you on these dives at your own expense, at your beck and call, pointing out interesting creatures to photograph, prepping and cleaning your gear, fetching your baggage, a myriad of useful things.........sigh. I hasten to add I'm not a DM or Instructor.

 

[Bubbles02]

Thank you both of you for your advice and reassurance - very much appreciated. Sadly, money is an object but thank you for the offer. LOL

 

[markmantei]

First, I'd agree with Illi, there are likely going to be divers of various skill levels on the boat. Talk to the DM and make sure they are aware of your skill/comfort level, particularly as it relates to your relative inactivity in scuba as of late, and I'm sure they will buddy you up with someone else with a similar comfort level.

Second, relax, the more you worry about your air consumption the worse it will be, or you will end up skip breathing trying to "fix" your issue, which can come with another whole host of issues. Just let the dive take its course, monitor your air and depth regularly and focus on enjoying the time you do have underwater.

On our boat out of Cairns, they also had the option of diving with the DM and arrangements were made on the boat. Granted that this was a DM leading the dive, you still had your own buddy, but if that increases your comfort level definitely make sure that it an option with the op you choose (I used Diver's Den out of Cairns).

If it is at all possible, try and spend some time in the pool to prep before your big trip. My wife is a warm water diver and so she only dives a couple of weeks a year when we get away on vacation. I know it is absolutely critical in helping her prepare for her diving to just get back in the water and get comfortable with her gear, refresh the memory on skills, etc. On any given dive her air consumption is as good as mine and I dive as much as possible throughout the year. We are lucky enough that a local leisure center opens their dive tank to scuba once a week, but even a small 12 foot pool at a LDS is good enough to do some work on skills.

Most importantly enjoy your trip!!!!

Mark

 

[DanMont]

I am going to be in Cairns in July, and as I am travelling alone am going to have the same problem. I decided to book a day trip out to the Agincourt reefs in order to get a few dives under my belt (guided dives, so people of similar experience would be grouped together) before going out on a liveaboard for 3 days when I will have to find a buddy.

 

[Bubbles02]

Thank you everyone for all your advice - you have all been very kind.