Port Douglas in July - Advice?

[mangus]

Hey everyone -- we're a family of four traveling from US to Australia+Fiji for most of July. We will be in Port Douglas from 17 July - 21 July, and plan to dive with ABC. I'd do live-aboard if I could, but only two of us (my 13 y.o. daugter and I) will be diving, so we need to do day trips this time around. I'm AOW+Nitrox with ~300 dives, and she's newly minted OW with under 15 dives, but very comfortable underwater (Belize and Maui so far, deeps and drifts OK, long on air).

I'm planning to bring mask, booties, reg and computer (maybe a hood?), and my daughter will bring her mask and booties. She's picky with wetsuit, but doubt her 3mm shorty will be enough. I'd love to bring all my gear, but given duration of trip and everything else we're doing it just isn't practical, and it sounds like these shops have good rental gear. I am going to bring my underwater camera gear which is around 8kg with case.

We're then headed to Fiji from 22 July to 28 July, and plan to dive with Whitetip out of Denauru (staying at the Sheraton). I'll post in Pacific Islands for feedback on that one to keep this limited to Australia (let me know if there's a better way to do this).

Thanks in advance, really looking forward to this trip!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

So out of Port there are only really day trip options anyway. Most of the Reef trips depart from Cairns about an hours drive south. (There is only 1 over night boat out of Port and its quite expensive running twice a week - Blue Dive).

I have never heard of ABC and it looks like they are very new on the scene so it would be good to get your opinion after the trip.

Of the day trip options there are 2 smaller dive / snorkel boats (apart from ABC) - Silver swift or Poseidon. Silverswift is or of a dedicated dive boat whilst Poseidon is generally a bit more geared up for families. Larer groups that ABC though by the looks of it.

The other reason I would look at Poseidon is that it is the only vessel to have a Minke Whale interaction license, and July is smack in the middle of their migration season.

You normally have to take an overnight boat further north to see them, but there is a chance on day trips and if they are spotted it would be a great encounter.

Not sure what your wife and other child want to do, but also look at Quicksilver as its a bigger boat that goes out to a pontoon so you can get off of the boat. Lots of options for non divers or snorkelers as it has glass bottom boats, underwater observatory etc as well as the chance to go diving. Its a more expensive option if you don't want to use these extras though