Livaboard Cairns in October

[phasechange]

I will be traveling to Cairns on the 21st and flying out on the 25th. After researching on here I found the two that I can afford are Scubapro and Ocean Quest (would like to take Mike B and cod tour but money is not there). We will have around 50 dives in by the time we go. Will it be busy during this time?

For a 3 day 2 night – which of these two is better.
Are the reefs about the same?
Noticed that Scubapro that you stay on the same boat no transfers (is this a big deal)? On Ocean Quest you have transfers. Do you get kicked out of your room or any inconveniences?
Ocean quest has showers in each room while Scubapro does not – does everyone fight for showers after a dive?

Do either of these allow for open gate (free dive times)? Can you swim around and snorkel after you are done diving or between dives?



My flight is scheduled 25hrs after the last dive is this too close I know the recommended is 24hrs?


Thanks

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

October is busy season so both boats do get booked up pretty quickly. Advisable to book a month in advance.

With the Cod Hole trips, Mike Ball may be expensive, but have you looked at Taka (Cairns Live Aboard Dive Trips With Taka To The Cod Hole And Coral Sea) ? This is a budget version, in that it doesn’t fly one leg of the trip and motors up both ways. Not a bad deal and at the end of the day they all go to pretty much the same sites.

As for Ocean Quest and Scubapro both are excellent boats. Scubapro does indeed leave with its full complement of passengers, as opposed to Ocean Quest who stays on the Reef and use a smaller transfer vessel to do your first couple of dives off of, before transferring at around 14:30.

The transfers don’t inconvenience you at all if you are already on the boat. Once in your cabin, it is yours until you leave. Only if you are sharing with someone else there may be a change of roommate.

The time of transfer is timed to be during the surface interval before the after noon dive at around 3.30.

Neither do open gate diving, and there is set times to dive, which do give you around an hour at each site.

You can sometimes have a snorkel in between dives (on both boats) but you have to get OK from the dive supervisor so he can arrange a lookout for you. This is normally not a problem, but for safety there must be a crew member available and sometimes this may not be the case.

Sites are very similar although on different reefs and I wouldn’t say one was better then the other.

Personally I prefer Ocean Quest as a boat as it is nicer interior and has better “après dive” lounges and bar etc. You get served your dinner as opposed to buffet. But the breakfast and lunches are still buffet help yourself stuff.

OQ just a bit more spacious and although they take the similar of passengers (OQ 48 and Scubapro 32) OQ is bigger.

Having a shower in your room is a definite plus as there are people queuing for showers after some dives. Especially the night dive. There are plenty of showers on Scubapro, but the convenience of your own is nice.

Lastly 24 hours is recommended for flying after diving (its actually “an extended surface interval greater than 18 hours” if you follow PADI, but Workplace regulations state 24. So you should be fine with 25 hours. Last dive is lunchtime anyway.

There are a few more details on our site if you want to look at the itineraries. Cairns Live Aboard Over Night Dive Trips To The Outer Barrier Reef, Cod Hole And Coral Sea.

Either way you will have a great trip whichever you choose.

 

[mattoau]

I've dived on Ocean Quest and Taka and would definitely suggest Taka if funds allow. It goes to the same sites as Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom but for much less money, the dive sites are generally in better condition than those that Scubapro and Ocean Quest go to, but of course this will depend on conditions at the time. If you would prefer more privacy and service then Ocean Quest, as already mentioned, offers smaller en-suite cabins and facilities.