Ideas for Diving the GBR not Cairns?

[uminchu]

Hey, i know this is a topic i could probably dig and dig and dig to find stuff on... but i didn't find anything yet...

So, i'm bringing my wife up to see the Great Barrier Reef and i've done Cairns and would be happy to do it again. However, I was wondering if there were any other great jumping off points/places to stay (not liveaboards) that might be worth looking into. Money is a slight concern so nothing super expensive.

If it really needs to be Cairns, that's fine... i just wanted to put it out there!!!

Thanks in advance...

 

[uminchu]

Anyone ever gone out of Port Douglas? I think i'd like it there... Know of any good LDS or guides that operate there? Just looking for a 2-3 dive day trip... How do you get to Port Douglas? Can you fly? Or is it by bus from Cairns?

Thanks

 

[cawhite]

I'm doing research for our upcoming trip. Port Douglas is approx. a 1 hour drive North of Cairns. You can take a bus or rent a car. Here are some bus companies I listed in my notes:

Sun Palm Transport | Port Douglas Australia | Airport Transfers | Private Luxury Vehicle Charters
Port Douglas Coaches
Express Chauffeured Coaches and Limousines

We're renting a car so that we can travel around the area ourselves.

Carole

 

[uminchu]

Any have recommendations about the Whitsundays? How's the diving? Anyone know any good dive operators that aren't mondo expensive? (Oh and i don't need the minisub/buffet lunch/etc... Not my scene

How's the above water stuff too?

 

[Tinytechie]

Come down to the Southern Barrier Reef out of 1770/ Agnes Water (just north of Bundaberg, South of Rockhampton) The reefs down here are absolutely pristine and we get WAY less divers than Cairns so its never EVER crowded and everything is practically untouched. Just the other day we had 6 or 7 manta rays swimming around us, sea snakes, sting rays, sharks and every type of reef fish you can name I've only just arrived here recently myself but I dived up in Cairns before and its deffinately better down here, just great to get out of the school of divers and into some schools of fish! check out 1770 Undersea Adventures - Dive the Southern Great Barrier Reef from 1770 & Agnes Water and give them a ring if you want some more info.. or just ask me!!

kels