Hi from Sydney

[Hocky]

Hi Everyone

Reciently I was on a dive liveaboard in the Coral Sea (300km off east of Townsville, Australia). There were a number of Americans on the 8 day trip, who had flown over especially just to dive the Flinders Reef system.
We had an amazing week, the weather was crook, but by all accounts the diving was fantastic, and the people on the trip certainly made it for me. They also informed me about this great web site.......so just a hello from Australia. If anyone has any questions about the diving in this part of the world, please don't hesitate to ask, and I'll happily answer them for you.
Congrats on a great, interesting, informative site. keep the good work up.
Hooroo
Hocky

 

[Maggie]

Hi Hocky

Welcome to the best site on the web. I will look forward to your postings from Australia. I havent been there yet- its a long way from the UK. Maybe one day.

 

[gozumutti]

Welcome Hocky

You will love it here at this site. The water is warm, and the sharks are harmless, if slightly batty....

gozumutti

 

[Mick]

Welcome Hocky.

I think you are the third Aussie to join

I am in Adelaide and Peter is in Brisbane.

Enjoy !!


Mick

 

[Mario S Caner]

The world is a truely small place isn't it! The site is growing sooo fast, we will actually succeed in making even smaller. Welcome to the family Hocky, nice to have you aboard.

 

[Natasha]

Hocky,
Welcome!
I would like to ask you, and Mick, and Peter a question.
Seems the air fare from the states to your great land under has dropped considerably this month.
Is this a good time to come there to dive? The fares for March are almost half the price they are in December and January.
I know it's the end of your summer, but I'm expecting the water is still warm.
Please advise.
Dive the Planet!
:sunny:

 

[Mick]

Natasha, it depends on where you want to dive.
I am assuming you would want to go the the GBR ???
It is never really cold in north Queensland and you can pretty much dive there all year.

The further south you get the colder it gets. This year it has been vey hot in the south, we had 17 days in a row over 35C and quite a few days over 40C.

Most people get by with a 7mm with possibly a second skin in the colder parts during winter.

Our summer officially ended yesterday and so for Autumn(Fall in American speak!) the temps in the South are around 25 to 30 C while on queensland it would be still in the 30 to 35C.

June, July and August would be our coldest time with Queensland sometimes getting some good tropical storms.

Peter should be able to give you a more accurate description of the Queensland weather.

Come to OZ and enjoy, it's all good !!!

Mick

 

[Natasha]

Thanks Mick. And yes, you're right. I would want to play in the GBR.
I'm quite booked up with trips this year, but I'm already planning for 2002. I was thinking of bringing a group there this time in 2002 since the air fares are so low, to go in March.
I'm seeing $750.00 round trip from Chicago.
I was thinking of doing the diving with the Mike Ball Live Aboard outfit.
Any thoughts on this? With 'Survivor' there and the Olympics recently there, all trips for groups need to be booked well in advance, since so many are interested in going with all the new TV coverage.
:sunny:

 

[Mick]

Natasha, I am not really sure about any of the dive services as I am just a newbie. But, I do know that Mike's is a big operation. The only thing that would concern me is that it might be too big. If it were me, I would look for a smaller operation. The reason is that some people have commented on too many divers in the water or hanging around the boat, which can be a pain. I guess it depends on the numbers.

It is a good time for Americans to visit because of the Australian dollar being so bad ( 5 x Aussie Dollars = 1 Monopoly Dollar !!!).

My brother is in the travel business so I might ask him, he might know somebody in Queensland that has refered divers to various operations up there.

Mike eace:

 

[Mario S Caner]

Hey everyone, let me know when you plan on hitting the Great Barrier Reef too! I've been diving in Perth and Tasmania but never made it to that part of the country ;-0