I want to dive.. The great barrier reef

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I dont like strict luggage rules as im definetly going to bring and dive my own gear. Not tanks and lead of course, imagine the price to get that on the plane, but fins, mask, bc and regs im certainly bringing with me
 
GBR is certainly full of excellent dives. The Fishbowl area of the reef is great to get a taste of what you'll see. I can personally recommend the Cairns Dive Centre - my liveaboard with them was great, and they're quite competitive. My first dive was at the GBR and when I returned after a year of diving, it made me realise just how beautiful it is.

If you're working your way down the Queensland coast, I can recommend Wolf Rock (Tin Can Bay) - it's a pretty good shark dive (think grey nurse). There's also the HMAS Brisbane, which is about half an hour out of Mooloolaba. It's a pretty good dive site - the wreck is penetrable and there are usually plenty of fish! Julian Rocks at Byron Bay (northern New South Wales) is pretty good too...
 
Cairns is quite the tourist hub, and thus is very easy to get to. You can fly into Brisbane (capital of Queensland) and then up to Cairns. It takes about 2.5 hours. There may be direct flights from the other capital cities but you'd have to check. There are also lots and lots of dive stores and therefore it's very competitive. Backpackers tend to offer really good deals too.

If you want big, you'll have to talk to a few dive companies. Most cater for the beginner tourist market, and thus go to relatively easy dive locations. Now I'm starting to get envious!
 
Good Morning ,

T.M... hows the weather in Norway, ha I already know brrrrrrrrrr.

Yongalla Townsville is good, however there are somethings to consider.

1. No International Airport and flights in and out from Cairns are a little expensive. To hire a car round trip 500 miles will take 3 days if the weather is good. Trip price for 1 day / 2 dives is $260 AUD with one nights accomm.

2. There is no shelter around the wreck, so if the winds go over 20 knots there is no diving. Closest township is Ayr which is not the place you want to get stuck for a couple of days.

3. The wreck itself is sensational with a great history about her. Large pelagics hang around. Must have Advanced cert minimum.

CAIRNS - Great Barrier Reef.

The Northern Expeditions get busy with the arrival of Whales - Minke - Humpback at end of May, June , July.

Most boats have Minke permits however snorkelling not diving is what happens around the whales. Yes you dive, however the whales, when found become the centre of attention and quite rightly so. Last year my partner drop in on a Pod of 6 and 2 calves after the 2.00pm dive... and she was on her own with them for about 2 hours. Well FM, it doesnt get any better than that.

We have an Albino ( white Humpback ) who has been travelling up the coast for the last 5 years. Last year she brought a White Calf with her, and we are looking forward to seeing them again. It has been of great concern to us here that the Japanese Whaling Ships will take them.

If you are into the Osprey shark Feed, do not come during whale season, because this is dropped from most itineries like Mike's.

September, October gives you the best of both worlds, marvelous weather and shark feeds, with the probability of still getting a Standby here and there for price relief.

Cheers Andy.

P.S Very sad to here about the Great White Tragedy in South Africa. My condolences go out to the 4 divers who lost their lives doing what they love best.
 
Yeah, the incident in South Africa was tragic, but as far as Ive been able to find out, for what its worth is that the boat was flipped over by a wave and the people drowned althought the media here has made a big case of them being on a shark safari..
 
I know you have a lot of info already but just to reinforce, DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. Liveaboard out of Cairns would probably be you best option... That is all :)
 
Good Morning Almighty, on the keyboard again. You are a real legend.

TG... a good evening to you I think, hows that snow going over their fella ?

Rightio, lets start shall we.

Firstly, conditions all up the Eastern Coast of Australia have been 30 knot winds for the last 2 weeks, and that is quite consistent with this time of the Year. Ouch.

Secondly "stingers" as they have been called must be conguring up some weird images of what are we talking about hey??

Jellyfish is what is being referred to. These nasty creatures that invade our beaches during the best months of the year. After living here my whole life in Tropical North Queensland, and Diving for at least half of it I have come to the following conclusions. The box jellyfish ( large ) like warm calm water and invade our beaches, diving is done 35 miles off the coast in deep water and I am yet to see one when diving, but have seen many in Inlets and Estuaries. The second Iranganji's. are see through, as big as your little finger nail and dangerous to persons with little body weight. I have bad habits, one of them being I only dive in shorts and a rashy. Having little regard for either of these creatures in deep water.

Thirdly..... HOT UP HERE, thats why we have airconditioning. I would even go as far to say that even during our hottest months that I have yet to see someone invent a boat airconditioning system that didnt emulate the South Pole.

Cairns .... Minke's in July verses Sharks in September. All boats are outstanding just comes down to personalising to your expectations.

Yongalla, we have been dealing with the 3 operations for over 10 years, Pro- Dive 3 day/ 2 night....the boat leaves a bit to be desired but given the weather exposure to the wreck, at least guarantee's you will get there. ( Currently if you were planning a day trip with either Adrenaline or Yongalla Dive, you would have been waiting 6 days without a dive ).

Note: Watch regional flight pricing between small towns because it can certainly burn through the cash. Check out the flight pricing Internally from entry point into Australia, to say Hamilton Island for access to Whitsundays or Townsville/ or Townsville to Cairns to get an idea.

Finally, the Whitsunday Islands. Situated of Airlie Beach they are a group of approx 74 Islands close to the coast. Sailing is the priority over a couple of days. Of the 20 or so boats I have done over the years, and the many dives I consider Kianna to be the best for experienced divers because it not only does the fringeing coral around the islands but also travels the extra distance to the G.B.R. Down side, not nearly enough dives for the time and cost.

Hope this generates some more questions which I am happy to answer.

Cheers Andy
 
On the subject of the GBR I will be in OZ next year March 18th to 30th to be based in Sydney. I will visit Nelson Bay area as a dive pal of mine lives there..

Would seem daft not to visit the GBR, so I have been investigating.

One dive centre said
Please note that your visit will fall into our tropical wetseason and cyclones can occur then. Our wetseason is from January to March each year. During this time you will have plenty of rain, winds, high seas and reduced visibility. The best time to dive in our region is from late August to early December.
Does that mean I'm stuffed or go (Sydney and Nelson Bay) and see the weather before hand and head up to Cairns if weather OK ?

Orrr change my trip dates entirely ?? I have a changable ticket..

I had presumed March would be good as that would be the end (ish) of the OZ summer
 

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