Suggestions for 3-Day Trip and Operator on GBR Mid March

[Carl E. Osborn]

Greetings:

My first posting on Scubaboard so please forgive any clumsiness.

I'm a retired NAUI Instructor and Nitrox certified diver from California with 30 years diving experience and I'm traveling to Australia for the first time in March. I'm looking for recommendations about how best to organize a 3-day dive trip to the GBR from my sister's place in Sydney during the second or third week in March. Online reviews I've seen are all over the place and most don't seem fact-based.

I'm diving alone and don't want to be buddied-up with a rookie because I'm an ex-instructor. Just want to relax, see the GBR's sights/sites and dive without somebody telling me I need to follow them around at 10 meters. Luxury not desired but no scows, either.

Thanks for your time and effort.

Carl

 

[ozzydamo]

Greetings:

My first posting on Scubaboard so please forgive any clumsiness.

I'm a retired NAUI Instructor and Nitrox certified diver from California with 30 years diving experience and I'm traveling to Australia for the first time in March. I'm looking for recommendations about how best to organize a 3-day dive trip to the GBR from my sister's place in Sydney during the second or third week in March. Online reviews I've seen are all over the place and most don't seem fact-based.

I'm diving alone and don't want to be buddied-up with a rookie because I'm an ex-instructor. Just want to relax, see the GBR's sights/sites and dive without somebody telling me I need to follow them around at 10 meters. Luxury not desired but no scows, either.

Thanks for your time and effort.

Carl

Fly to Cairns or Townsville and organize a charter from there- spend a week there. Aqua pro will give you the run down on operates, port Douglas is worth going to see Daintree river, croc's and reef stuff- even feral pig hunting tours.
Sydney is worth a shore dive or two, try shelly beach marine reserve at Manly or Bare Island on the south side.

 

[Carl E. Osborn]

Thanks Ozzydamo. I like the idea of spending a week up there and looking around. Is Aqua Pro an operator based in in Cairns? I especially appreciate the recommendations around Sydney as I had no idea there was decent diving thereabouts. Cheers

---------- Post added February 8th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ----------

Ozzydomo:

Sorry to hassle you, but I cannot find "Aqua Pro" through my computer searches. Can you give me a little more info on them?

Carl

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Hi Carl (thanks Ozzydamo )

We can help out and you will find us on any Google search.

Best diving is Spirit of Freedom and Mike Ball who go to the Ribbon Reefs (not for beginners so you will be well suited).

If you prefer cheaper options then look at Taka or Scubapro for Outer Reef trips.

All details on the links above. Here is summary of live aboard trips.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

There are some great shore dives here in Sydney. Check out the Australia threads
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/australia/445757-aussie-diving-february-2013-a.html#post6635505

and
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/australia/442930-aussie-diving-january-2013-a.html

for an idea of the local critters. When will you be in Sydney?

 

[Carl E. Osborn]

Senor Petunia:

Excellent info- exactly what I was looking for. Many thanks.

Landing in Sydney at about 7:30am on March 6th, Departing Sydney afternoon of March 27th. Fitting a roughly one-week trip to NZ in there, probably second week of the three. I'm an avid freediver-spearfisher here in California (my ethic is "one day, one fish") and still climb up and down the cliffs for shore dives but I also do a fair bit of winter scuba diving for lobster. Don't own an underwater camera but I'll probably pick up a GoPro3 to play with on this trip as I get bored looking at coral. Like wreck diving but no technical penetrations into wrecks or caves.

BTW - What is "Invade the Rock"? Might work out with my timing....

Carl

---------- Post added February 9th, 2013 at 09:33 AM ----------

Ye gods I DO love the internet! Thanks for the referral Ozzydomo and thanks for the links Aquapro - I was searching your firm's name using two words instead of one. I know it is smart to book well ahead of time but my side trip to NZ is still in flux. If I simply come to Cairns with my dive bag, will I be able to hop a decent boat to the outer reef? If I do, might I regret not booking ahead? Do you folks have a brick-and-mortar shop I could walk into to chat when I get there?

Carl

 

[bowlofpetunias]

I don't think there will be an Invade the Rock this year. We have been pretty busy with other stuff and haven't been able to organize it. The usual people who go have also been busy with other things as well. Maybe in 2014?

One thing you need to know about diving here. It is illegal to spear fish on scuba. In NSW strictly enforced Divers are only allowed to collect a specified number of live abalone at the right size. Just a friendly heads up on that one. Don't want you to get in trouble and of course there are a number of protected fish fines of $5K to $10K on average but even higher on some things. Lobsters are also a no-go we don't see that many of them either. Strongly suggest you check local rules for where you are diving.

When you have solid dive dates in Sydney pop a message in here or PM me and I will see what I can do to be of assistance. Work commitments may mean we can't actually meet up to dive, if that is the case I should still be able to point you in the right direction for a good dive site or maybe even a local buddy

 

[ozzydamo]

Senor Petunia:

Excellent info- exactly what I was looking for. Many thanks.

Landing in Sydney at about 7:30am on March 6th, Departing Sydney afternoon of March 27th. Fitting a roughly one-week trip to NZ in there, probably second week of the three. I'm an avid freediver-spearfisher here in California (my ethic is "one day, one fish") and still climb up and down the cliffs for shore dives but I also do a fair bit of winter scuba diving for lobster. Don't own an underwater camera but I'll probably pick up a GoPro3 to play with on this trip as I get bored looking at coral. Like wreck diving but no technical penetrations into wrecks or caves.

BTW - What is "Invade the Rock"? Might work out with my timing....

Carl

---------- Post added February 9th, 2013 at 09:33 AM ----------

Ye gods I DO love the internet! Thanks for the referral Ozzydomo and thanks for the links Aquapro - I was searching your firm's name using two words instead of one. I know it is smart to book well ahead of time but my side trip to NZ is still in flux. If I simply come to Cairns with my dive bag, will I be able to hop a decent boat to the outer reef? If I do, might I regret not booking ahead? Do you folks have a brick-and-mortar shop I could walk into to chat when I get there?

Carl

You can legally collect crays on scuba gear in NZ, Western Australia and Tazmainia......check laws before you do anything always!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

I know it is smart to book well ahead of time but my side trip to NZ is still in flux. If I simply come to Cairns with my dive bag, will I be able to hop a decent boat to the outer reef? If I do, might I regret not booking ahead? Do you folks have a brick-and-mortar shop I could walk into to chat when I get there?

Carl

Book in advance. It really depends on the time of year, but we take a deposit to hold the place (dates etc can be changed at no charge) and its all refundable etc. But its risky to just turn up and hope you will get on a boat in the cabin you want with a few days notice.

Just stay in touch if you like and check availbility. If it looks like getting busy then just put deposit on to hold a spot. March you should be OK.

Live and work in town so just give me a call if you want closer to the time. (Drop me a PM)

 

[Carl E. Osborn]

Excellent advice. I will contact you when the dates for our NZ side trip are booked. What water temps should I expect? Does the outer reef normally have substantial thermoclines?

One more thing if you don't mind. My sister and wife have decided they're coming to Cairns during the period that I'm diving the reef but they are putter-about type snorkelers with maybe one brief water excursion in them. Can you point me to an info source for them to start investigating regarding things to do around the Cairns region besides diving?

Carl