Thanks for the great report!
We did SOF in 2006; good to see they are still a first-rate liveaboard.
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August 2, 2010
The boat docked back at the port of Cairns at about 6:00 a.m. We disembarked a couple of hours later. Jackey and I went back the All Season Cairns Hotel. Exhausted, we did very little except sleep and laundry.
REFLECTIONS
My only other extensive reef diving experience has been in the Florida Keys and Cozumel. Clearly, the Great Barrier Reef is the place to see large animals such as sharks, whales and giant clams. However, both Jackey and I felt that the reefs at Cozumel were much prettier than the Great Barrier Reef.
The night dives in Cozumel were much better, too. On the Great Barrier Reef you are followed around by large fish such as trevally, who gobble up everything within reach of your light. We really didnt see much at night on the Great Barrier Reef except trevally. Contrast that with the dozens of sea horses, squid, crabs, and octopus that we usually see in Cozumel at night.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience and both Jackey and I will repeat the adventure in the future.
Why is there no choice once you decide at the beginning?
Thanks Harry! Very helpful. Couple more questions... hope you don't mind.
Were you allowed to dive on your own (w/buddy of course) to your own profiles and not follow a DM? Were you allowed to dive mostly at any time you wanted or were there set times to dive and were you allowed to do as many dives as you wanted?