Planning a trip to Aus. from Okinawa Japan.

[Mustangfreak]

Hello, Im stationed here in Okinawa Japan. The reefs are absolutly beautifull here, but I want to dive the GBR. I've alwayswanted to visit Australia, and now I have more reason to do so, and a cheaper oppertunity. I have a few questions though.

1. Where should I stay? I can't afford the most luxorius though. I need some fair priced, but I also know that I get what I pay for. Are there hotels that work with PADI/dive shops?

2. Do I need a car? I won't be diving everyday I'm there (shock to some I know hehe)

3. Where can I book a flight for a good price? I've been to expedia, and it'll cost $5-7K for flight and hotel right now.

Also, is Oct or Nov a good time to dive?

Thank you

 

[almitywife]

hi, a good site to look out for flights is www.webjet.com.au

as far as diving, where will you be staying???

cheers

 

[Mustangfreak]

hi, a good site to look out for flights is www.webjet.com.au

as far as diving, where will you be staying???

cheers

I don't know, thats part of the question haha. Where should I stay?

 

[almitywife]

ok, alot of people i know say to it as a liveaboard and not as a day trip. the day trips are cattle ships becuase their market is the tourists

i really suggest you ask some locals at www.diveoz.com.au

i also suggest do more than the GBR. Julian Rocks in Byron Bay (NSW) or Nth Stradbroke Island (QLD) also worth it.

by memory, Oct or Nov might be when the coral spawning occurs also so you might be in luck

 

[Pro Dive]

G'day Mustangfreak

You can opt to go along the coast diving, which is what most visitors do. Most fly into Sydney and work their way up the coast to places like Cairns or Townsville.

In Oct/ Nov, you find it is the start of the season, so it will not be as busy as the height of the summer, thats said, almitywife is right, it is around the time of the greatspawn and the GBR is teeming with life.

Hope this helps?

 

[almitywife]

if youre going to do Byron Bay, then i recommend http://www.sundive.com.au/

 

[RonDawg]

1. Where should I stay? I can't afford the most luxorius though. I need some fair priced, but I also know that I get what I pay for. Are there hotels that work with PADI/dive shops?

2. Do I need a car? I won't be diving everyday I'm there (shock to some I know hehe)

3. Where can I book a flight for a good price? I've been to expedia, and it'll cost $5-7K for flight and hotel right now.

1. Depends where you go. If you want to dive the GBR, Cairns has the most "budget" accomodations. While I haven't personally stayed at them, when I was there I noticed that there were numerous backpacker-style accomodations. I ended up staying at the Comfort Inn Queenslander North which is at the north end of town. I paid US$75/night back in late September.

2. Depends on where you stay. I can't speak for any other areas along the GBR, but in Cairns if you are staying in town, many of the dive operators will pick you up from your hotel. Cairns is small enough that you won't need a car, but if you want to explore the regions outside of town you may want to consider renting, if even for a day.

3. That seems rather high, but remember that this time of year is considered Australia's summer so airfares are rather high. Airfare is going to be your single most expensive component, so shop around carefully. Sometimes QANTAS has good bargains that combine international airfare with up to 3 intra-Australian trips for a set price. I ended up using Air New Zealand as they were even cheaper, though I had to switch planes in Auckland. There are many places that sell cheap flights but I can't vouch for them.