Short time liveaboard or day trips for family (dive and snorkel)

[kckid]

Family members split 2 divers and 2 snorkellers. Looking for the best short time option (2-3 day) that won't break the bank account. My son and I plan on going on a dive only liveaboard, hopefully for 7 days if I can convience the wife to let us go that long.

Would it be better to do the day trip boats daily out of Cairns / Port Douglas, or jump on a short time cheaper liveaboard out of Cairns?

Question #1 If you had to choose between day trips out of Cairns or Port Douglas, which would you choose?

Question #2 If you had to choose between day trips out of Cairns or short term liveaboard out of Cairns, which would you choose?

Question #3 If you had to choose between day trips out of Port Douglas or short term liveaboard out of Cairns, which would you choose?

Based upon your previous answers, which operators would you choose for that trip and why?

 

[MatWill]

Question #1 If you had to choose between day trips out of Cairns or Port Douglas, which would you choose?

go to agincourt on a day boat as a diver.

Question #2 If you had to choose between day trips out of Cairns or short term liveaboard out of Cairns, which would you choose?
Question #3 If you had to choose between day trips out of Port? or short term liveaboard out of Port?, which would you choose?

both of these questions are irrelevant

decide how long you want to go for. if its a day boat for diving and snorkaling then go to agincourt or go out on a quicksilver boat to there pontoons, they cater for both divers and snorklers

for a livaboard go to the northern reefs including the ribbon and cod hole etc.. there are boats that are out there permenty and you get transfered to them and there are boats that leave from both Cairns and port.. does this affect which reefs you will see? no.. leaving from port or cairns has no real effect on what reefs you see if you decide to see the northern reefs.. cause they all go there.. in the end its just a budget choice between carriers, some offer pontoons based at the reef, some offer 4-5 star luxury, and some are pure dive boats with very little frills.

i dont know your budget or what you expect so i cant really help you with that..

also there a cyclone brewing atm so its not a good time to be anywhere near the reefs atm!

 

[MatWill]

and i'll be DM ing on Mike Ball for 2 trips departing 12 apr and 19 apr

 

[kckid]

#3 was supposed to be day trips out of Port Douglas vs liveaboards out of Cairns. I fixed the post...

When I referr to "liveaboards out of Cairns", I mean the following type of operators:
Divers Sea Divers
Cairns Dive Centre
Pro Dive Cairns
etc... something that doesn't cost like $1000 US per person

 

[MatWill]

so what is your budget?

 

[kckid]

Anywhere from free to almost unlimited. Could I take everyone on a Cod Hole trip... sure, but I don't think that make sense for snorkeling.

I am looking for a good experience and a good value.

Of the divers only trip, I'm looking at the 7 day Spirit of Freedom or similar.

 

[MatWill]

with snorklers i wouldnt recommend anything above the ribbon reefs.. which means pretty much agincourt is your best bet..

reason being.. is the coral sea reefs are too deep for general snorkaling

SoF is a nice boat with good service, but they are all good boats.. (we are spoiled in Cairns)

just work out if your going with snorklers or not.. if you are i wouldnt recomemend a coral sea trip..too deep and too much boat time for snorklers, agincourt or further south will be fine, for a pure dive trip, i can assure you you will be happy with any of the coral sea boats. they are all priced well for what they offer..

if your comparing trips its all a matter of comfort.. the more money the nicer the boat.. the rest is all the same.

 

[hership]

kckid - did you every find a solution. I am in a similar situation. Trying to find a solution for my family (3 divers, 1 snorkeler) for this June. I think your question is exactly what I am trying to get answered. Curious if you ever found a trip to meet your needs.

 

[Andrew Jones]

OK... OK, just came upon this one, so lets give it a go hey kc

Lots of Open ended questions that are all relevant, however not being addressed correctly.

Firstly, I know that you have approx 50 logged dives, but you do not say how many dives or age of your son. This would help.

Secondly the 2 snorkellers... one is your partner and I presume the other is another child/ teenager. If so how old , and how comfortable are they in the water. ( waterbabies or no great interest in spending a lot of time in the water ).

Some accurate information regarding your questions.

All your questions are very relevant I think, however the answers are not that simple because of factors such as weather, how well everyone travels on boats, access to certain reef locations are effected by wind.

# 1

Well its all about specific reefs. Out of Cairns reef locations like Milne, Briggs, Tetford are stunning however do not have alot of shelter. Equal to Port Douglas for both Snorkel and Divers. Same price as Port because vessell numbers are restricted to these locations. Cost the same as port however less travel time IF you are based in Cairns.

Agincourt Reefs off Port, Tongue, Batt and Opal are good and far more protected, however no drop offs. Rough weather they protect snorkellers somewhat better.

Boats, Quicksilver, Poseidon, Calypso, Haba all are fine... I have my personal favourite of these however they all come close.

The region I believe any seasoned diver or snorkeller should avoid is Hastings , Saxon and Michaelmus. To put it another way, every time some one walks into my office and looks at the 60 brochures and say " which one is for me? " , my response is what have you seen to compare the GBR 2. Red Sea e.g... I know you need great locations otherwise you will come back and say WELL that wasnt very good.

# 2
Day trips verses liveaboards.

Its about exposure. If you do a day trip you have between 10.45 and 3.45 to see the reef. Five hours, thats it.

A 2 day liveaboard means you get there at 10.45 ( same) however you leave at 3.45 the next day. 11 till 6.00pm + 7.00am till 3.45 = 15 hours of exposure to satisfy snorkellers and divers who can also snorkel between dives.

7.00am, the reef life wakes up..... turtles feeding, activity, sharks bedding down.

7.00pm, changeover..... sharks come out, different experience

MORE TIME EXPOSED means more likely to see more.

# 3... there is no short term liveaboard out of Port, however depending on when you are planning your trip, Undersea are considering a 3 day trip to start very soon.

Now finally.... having done every liveaboard countless times I have witnessed many a snorkeller / dive combo family enjoy the reef, and that includes the Spirits etc. To even consider what is best for your trip I need to understand better the expectation from the whole party and those questions I raisd earlier answered.

Cheers and Kind regards Andy.

P.S What is with this burning chicken... can anyone answer that because I would dearly love my running lobster back