Suggestions for Dec 2013 Diving on GBR

[knucklebusted]

My daughter will graduate from college in Dec 2013 and she wants a trip to Australia for the effort. My daughter and I are certified divers for about 6 years now but my wife is not. We are thinking of at least a week, maybe two if it all lays out properly.

I'll have more questions as these are answered so be patient with me.

1) Do we go straight to Cairns first or do something else in Oz before we head to the GBR, like Sydney?

2) Who are the better dive operations for GBR excursions? Maybe a few days of diving?

3) Having driven in UK and Ireland, the left side of the road isn't a problem. Is a car worth renting?

4) My daughter thinks we can squeak in a New Zealand visit while on this side of the globe, good idea or two little time?

5) Suggestions of things I have no idea about?

Thanks

 

[nimoh]

When I went to Australia a few years ago, we rented a motorhome in Sydney and dropped it off in Cairns. I think that was a great way to see the east coast, but of course that was most of the trip, and only got in about 4 dives total. Unfortunately, can't remember the names of the dive ops, even though I found them to be pretty good.

I think a stopover in New Zealand is a great idea, if for nothing more than to break up a long flight.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Plenty of great diving opportunities all the way up the east Coast.
Cairns is considered the Gateway to the Barrier Reef" and consequently has the most variety and choices available.
The best dive trips are the over light ones that visit the Ribbon Reef and Coral Sea areas (Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom), but if your wife is not a certified diver, it is probably nt the best trip for her to o on. Not really geared up for snorkelers.

If you all wanted to go together then there are 3 live aboards that visit the Outer Reef from Cairns and are great snorkeling too. Taka, Scubapro and Kangaroo Explorer.

Lots of day trips as well.

The Yongala wreck can be done in a day from Ayr if your wife is happy to be land based for a day. Its a quick trip (7am and back by mid afternoon).

Also quite a few decent land based trips (rainforest, Tjapukai aboriginal centre) etc to do up there.

The campervan idea is a great option and plenty of places to stop on teh awy. get a Lonley Planet Guide book and use it to see all the goo stops on the way. Bear in mind its a long drive from Sydney to Cairns. A week will not be enough to drive and se all the things you want to do as well as take a decent dive trip.

Even 2 weks is pushing it, so rent a car for short legs (maybe whlst in Sydney and again in Cairns for a few days.

Internal flights can be cheap and you have to kep an eye out for the specials. Buy internal (domestic) flights here not overseas. Much cheaper here and frequent.

Hope that helps a bit!

 

[knucklebusted]

When I went to Australia a few years ago, we rented a motorhome in Sydney and dropped it off in Cairns. I think that was a great way to see the east coast, but of course that was most of the trip, and only got in about 4 dives total. Unfortunately, can't remember the names of the dive ops, even though I found them to be pretty good.

I think a stopover in New Zealand is a great idea, if for nothing more than to break up a long flight.

If I had a month, I'd surely give that a try. We are limited to what I can fit between 10 consecutive work days. If I can manage it include Christmas and/or New Years Day, I'll get those to extend it. I like the outside the box thinking, too!

Plenty of great diving opportunities all the way up the east Coast.
Cairns is considered the Gateway to the Barrier Reef" and consequently has the most variety and choices available.
The best dive trips are the over light ones that visit the Ribbon Reef and Coral Sea areas (Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom), but if your wife is not a certified diver, it is probably nt the best trip for her to o on. Not really geared up for snorkelers.

If you all wanted to go together then there are 3 live aboards that visit the Outer Reef from Cairns and are great snorkeling too. Taka, Scubapro and Kangaroo Explorer.

Lots of day trips as well.

The Yongala wreck can be done in a day from Ayr if your wife is happy to be land based for a day. Its a quick trip (7am and back by mid afternoon).

Also quite a few decent land based trips (rainforest, Tjapukai aboriginal centre) etc to do up there.

The campervan idea is a great option and plenty of places to stop on teh awy. get a Lonley Planet Guide book and use it to see all the goo stops on the way. Bear in mind its a long drive from Sydney to Cairns. A week will not be enough to drive and se all the things you want to do as well as take a decent dive trip.

Even 2 weks is pushing it, so rent a car for short legs (maybe whlst in Sydney and again in Cairns for a few days.

Internal flights can be cheap and you have to kep an eye out for the specials. Buy internal (domestic) flights here not overseas. Much cheaper here and frequent.

Hope that helps a bit!

Wow, that's the kind of really specific and interesting info I'm looking for. Once I have figured out some more details of the trip, I'll certainly entertain those options. I'd love to do a live aboard for a few days if my wife wouldn't go stir crazy.

 

[knucklebusted]

If I had a month, I'd surely give that a try. We are limited to what I can fit between 10 consecutive work days. If I can manage it include Christmas and/or New Years Day, I'll get those to extend it. I like the outside the box thinking, too!



Wow, that's the kind of really specific and interesting info I'm looking for. Once I have figured out some more details of the trip, I'll certainly entertain those options. I'd love to do a live aboard for a few days if my wife wouldn't go stir crazy.

OK, getting closer and we've been visiting a travel agent as my diver daughter and non-diver wife don't want to spend the whole two weeks in Cairns. I don't know why?

We will be taking a Monograms independent travel tour and fly into Melbourne around Dec 19th, spend 3 nights there. Then fly to Cairns and spend 3 nights there before flying to Sydney and spending 3 nights there. Is there diving elsewhere along my path besides Cairns? Does Sydney or Melbourne have much of a diving scene?

 

[bracko]

Sydney has some great diving, a lot of it is shore diving as well, so you can hook up with a local dive master (or a friendly member here perhaps) and just go for a dive.

unless you're going on a Mike Ball / Spirit of Freedom trip, 2 days on the Great Barrier reef is probably enough.

If someone hasn't told you already, it's stinger season in FNQ. Some basic info below, don't be too concerned about it but it's something visitors should know about.

Marine Stingers - Box Jellyfish - Queensland Beaches - Australia

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

If you are going to Sydney or Melbourne there are some great coastal dives and most is dive club orientated.

Google local dive shops and clubs and be specific at where you will be staying in Sydney and Melbourne - it’s a big area!

Lots of the local shops organise dive trips mid-week or weekends and offer some great diving. I don’t know Sydney well, but I do know the Victorian coast and there are some superb off the beach dives under piers (Portsea, Sorrento), small boat trips (Port Phillip Bay or Popes Eye) where you can dive with seals, or under piers with sea horses and leafy sea dragons etc. Well worth a look. So research them and get in contact to see what their monthly itinerary is.

You can find dive buddies on this site as well.

 

[New Moons]

My husband and I are planning a month long trip to Australia early next year. First we thought of January, but heard that is monsoon time, so may push it to March or April. We are definitely planning to dive the Great Barrier Reef, but want something closer in to shore....not 100 miles out. What's best? Also we are thinking of renting an RV for the trip up from Sydney....would love to hear from anyone who has done this. thanks!

 

[bracko]

The reef isn't 100 miles out, it's 40min on the faster boats.

there is no shore diving. it's mangroves and shallow beaches.


I've not done the drive, but it is 3,000km with 2,000km of those being not the best roads and not that much to see. If you really want to travel on land you can catch the train.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

If your starting point is Sydney ..don't miss out on the local diving. Sydney is a under-appreciated dive destination. We have some unique and very interesting creatures here. Heaps of options for really good shore dives. You can get a lot of bang for your buck when you do the shore dives.