Has Anyone Dived With Oceana Dive / Whitsunday's / Australia?

[R.Soper]

Hi there,

My partner and me are considering diving with this company, i was just wondering if anyone has any experience of them?

In short, we are looking for some good quality diving, no sheep herding, dive feedom (within reason,) no screaming kids (its our honeymoon,) and an operation which is not like some of the big dive factory's that seem to be prevelant in Queensland. We would like to try and avoid a livaboard which runs open water certification courses at the same time, as i would have thought this would limiting in respect of the dive sites (same goes for snorkelers.) Not trying to be too picky but just want a livaboard that does good quality diving.

Cheers - Bob

 

[markieb]

Is this operation based at Airlie Beach at 257 Shute Harbour Road?

 

[R.Soper]

Mark,

Yes it is.

Cheers - Bob

 

[markieb]

Just checking as this would appear to be the same outfit as Oceania Dive which operates from the same building as Pro Dive, the large Franchise operation.

I have not dived with these guys. I was supposed to but cyclone Larry put paid to this.

If this is the same outfit and I suggest you check with them, then I would ask a lot of questions before you dive with them as all of the points you want to avoid would seem to apply to them.

Quite a lot has been said about Pro Dive, both on this site and the web in general. On the basis that more people will write and moan about a dive operator than praise them, the jury is still out on them. As I said, I had hoped to have a first-hand account of my experience with them but I don't so all of this is second-hand and should therefore be taken with a 'pinch of salt'.

Hope this helps!

 

[donnyb]

Aloha Bob:
I dove with them a Loooooong tima ago, 1997. We took a motorsailer named Anaconda III (maxi-yacht) out to Elizabeth Reef. The bad news is that there are very few (if any) operators that are not offering teaching aboard. Usually its an advanced course, but could be checkout dives for OW. The only other negatives I remember were boat specific. The boat did not ever rinse our gear in fresh water, so the purple accents of my BCD ended up pink (hahhahha) from the sun & salt, and the boat was not really set up too well for couples. We had about 50% Japanese on our boat and they were difficult for the DM's to communicate with. We never hoisted a sail either, which seems like a sin in the Whitsundays. The good news: we went to Elizabeth Reef, an all night motor to get there, way out on the hard line. They dropped anchor in a sand patch and we sat there for 3 days. The diving was fannnnnn-tastic. Glassy water and great dives full of life of all sizes. Excellent coral formations, much nicer than the inner lagoon areas often dived by the day boats. Once they saw we were good they left us alone to dive as we liked. Advice: I would ask about the boat, its amenities, the reefs you will be visiting (out on the Hard line??) and what the typical scenario is for students & teaching. If you don't like what you hear, head north for the more serious liveaboards out of Townsville or Cairns. Be aware of the Cyclone situation, there could be a lot of damage & infrastructure problems up there.

 

[rickydazla]

I worked in Airlie for a year...
[with a Jedi hand sweep:] Oceania are not what you are looking for.

They run courses on the boat and the diving is average. You should try MV Blue Angel from Townsville (a couple of hours North) - no courses, infinitely better diving and you get a couple of dives on the SS Yongala on the way out/back.

 

[Star de Mer]

why do you want to dive there. this is not exactly the best place for diving in Australia

 

[rickydazla]

That's a bit of a misguided, sweeping statement. There's some quality diving there, don't be mistaken. Bait, Marion and Oublier Reefs are all outstanding. I have had some of my all time best dives on the Stepping Stones at Bait Reef. My only real moment with God was on a night dive there!

The diveboats around there don't necessarily go to the greatest reefs but that is because the majority of tourists that visit are either backpackers who want courses and want it cheap or are yachties who just want to do the odd dive here and there.

The SS Yongala (Google it) is an extraordinary wreck dive and is visited by Mike Ball's boats amongst others.

The GBR is 2500km in length - there are beautiful and not so beautiful spots all the way up and down it.

 

[R.Soper]

Ricky,

Do you know of a website for the MV Blue Angel?

Cheers - Bob

 

[rickydazla]

Hmmm... no. I went after picking up a brochure in Airlie Beach. It was in 2003 admittedly but it was a newly converted ex-customs boat. Can't find any sign of it on t'interweb either. Very strange. I was going to say that Mike Ball would be your only option but as of this month it would appear that Spoil Sport has relocated...

To dive the Yongala as a day trip I would recommend http://yongaladive.com.au/

As far as operators that now visit Flinders Reef complex goes (there must be some doing it) you're on your own...