I am going to PNG in November and was thinking of matching it up with a three, four or five day liveaboard based out of Cairns, Australia. I am looking for info on any of the operations based out of Cairns and was wondering if anyone has done any of these and how they were. I have been diving the Aggressor and Dancer fleet liveaboards and was wondering how they compared with them. Any info would be appreciated.. Also, whick trip is better, the coral sea or great barrier reef?
Ask me in about 3 years - hopefully I'll know from experience. BUT....I personally would do the Coral Sea but my understanding is that if you go there you'll be doing more than a 3-4 day trip. Mike Ball for example will do the GBR for the first few days then go out to the Coral Sea for those guests staying on the boat for a full week.
I just did the Star Dancer in PNG, WHAT AN EXPERIENCE - you will NOT be disappointed. The reefs are awesome, the macro life was like nothing I'd ever seen (stick with the dive guides - Joe, Martin and Yuki rock!), and the muck diving was amazing as well. I'd never went muck diving before, and though I thought this would be a "side thought", like a type of diving I'd try but not like that much, I thought the muck sites were some of MY personal favorite. Other divers liked them but were not ready to call them their favorites, but I personally loved the muck dives. If you go in November you'll probably hit the Witu Islands, don't miss Witu Crater - it's a great anchorage at night and the muck dive there is the best muck dive we had in my opinion!
If I had the opportunity to do some diving on the way there or back, I'd actually stop in Sydney, Australia for a few days and do some colder water diving. You'll be there in the start of the Austral summer so the water might not be as cold. They apparently have great muck diving and a chance to see the Leafy Sea Dragon!
I love that type of diving, after getting drysuit certified in the Puget Sound on vacation last year I never miss an opportunity to try it. I would have hit Sydney on this trip but just didn't have time, I was running short on time off from work as it was!
Another option, and this is WAY out of left field, but if I was flying from Florida - I would think about stopping in southern California for a couple days. Dive the Channel Islands while you're there on a 2 day liveaboard. It will be cheaper, PLUS....you could book your airfare originating from and returning to Los Angeles, most flights across the Pacific are cheaper from LA as opposed to most other places. Just do your Florida to California flights seperately with a day or so of leeway on both ends of the trip. California or Sydney is what I'd do to get some temperate diving while I'm on vacation. You'd definitely be mixing it up by doing that and then going to PNG!
Have a great trip and PM me if you have any questions about PNG.
If you DO hit the GBR or Coral Sea, look up Mike Ball diving expeditions. That liveaboard offers guests the option of staying on the boat the whole week or part of the week.
--T-minus about 365 days until Palau!!--
