Kingscrab
Registered
That sounds amazing! I'm totally stoked. Be there in about 10 days to confirm your story. 
Thanks for the report, man!
Thanks for the report, man!
Volunteer Hostie on Ocean Quest L.A.
- Thread starter Blackrock
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Kingscrab
Registered
Well, sadly, I have returned from OZ and it's back to work... sigh.
My GBR report is such:
Company: Deep Sea Divers Den. The live aboard (OceanQuest) was fantastic. The staff was VERY helpful and professional. Even the ride out there, on their "smaller" ship was good. I've been on a lot of dive boats and this operation had no cheese factor at all, as is common on some cattle boats. This trip is a no brainer for anyone trying to decide on whether or not to try a live aboard trip. DO IT. The ride is SO long to get out to the reef from Cairns that I think you almost have to do a live aboard to make it easier on yourself. Unless you only want to do 2 dives, the live aboard is the only way to go. Multiple day trips would have been harsh. I don't think I would have made the 1.5 hour (each way) journey more than once. Anway, the experience of living on the ship for a night was great. Roll out of bed, pop down for a briefing and hop in the water. No real need to hire a guide. I couldn't name any of the sites, but they were all very simple. We just stayed shallow and if we got lost, we just popped up quick to get out bearings.
The diving itself was pretty good but not the stellar experience I envisioned. I hate to say it. I'll chalk it up to crappy weather since it was VERY windy/choppy and there was poor vis. 50' would be generous. We skipped the night dive since the weather took a nasty turn, and those that went on it said the vis was crap anyhow. We did see some cool creatures though in the day. Couple of sharks, several turtles, nice fish schools... including a decent school of about 30 Maori Wrasse that were pretty huge. We also met Wally, a resident. I believe he was a Maori Wrasse too.
Overall, it was a great experience and worth spending the cash on. As a ex-dive shop worker, the staff really tipped the scales for me. Their friendliness and professionalism sealed the deal.
My GBR report is such:
Company: Deep Sea Divers Den. The live aboard (OceanQuest) was fantastic. The staff was VERY helpful and professional. Even the ride out there, on their "smaller" ship was good. I've been on a lot of dive boats and this operation had no cheese factor at all, as is common on some cattle boats. This trip is a no brainer for anyone trying to decide on whether or not to try a live aboard trip. DO IT. The ride is SO long to get out to the reef from Cairns that I think you almost have to do a live aboard to make it easier on yourself. Unless you only want to do 2 dives, the live aboard is the only way to go. Multiple day trips would have been harsh. I don't think I would have made the 1.5 hour (each way) journey more than once. Anway, the experience of living on the ship for a night was great. Roll out of bed, pop down for a briefing and hop in the water. No real need to hire a guide. I couldn't name any of the sites, but they were all very simple. We just stayed shallow and if we got lost, we just popped up quick to get out bearings.
The diving itself was pretty good but not the stellar experience I envisioned. I hate to say it. I'll chalk it up to crappy weather since it was VERY windy/choppy and there was poor vis. 50' would be generous. We skipped the night dive since the weather took a nasty turn, and those that went on it said the vis was crap anyhow. We did see some cool creatures though in the day. Couple of sharks, several turtles, nice fish schools... including a decent school of about 30 Maori Wrasse that were pretty huge. We also met Wally, a resident. I believe he was a Maori Wrasse too.
Overall, it was a great experience and worth spending the cash on. As a ex-dive shop worker, the staff really tipped the scales for me. Their friendliness and professionalism sealed the deal.
LeeParrish
Contributor
Glad to hear your safely back, sorry to hear the weather wasn't very good. That's one thing that is always a risk almost anywhere you go no matter what season it is. I agree that the crew was top notch, and I was never hungry, I may have actually gained weight while there. I was lucky and we only had one afternoon that was a bit cloudy and breezy, otherwise it was pretty much clear and sunny. Vis when I was there was variable, with a few sites less than others, but overall it wasn't too bad. Sorry the night dive didn't work out, it was fun, and there were usually more sharks out at night, especially areound the boat.
And as for back to work, I feel your pain, it's hard to concentrate when I've got my computer background rotating through photos of the GBR and all I can think of is going back.
And as for back to work, I feel your pain, it's hard to concentrate when I've got my computer background rotating through photos of the GBR and all I can think of is going back.
hmoffatt
Contributor
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Sorry you were unlucky with the weather Kingscrab.. I had good weather on both my trips with Ocean Quest with great viz etc. It's a risk with diving trips unfortunately.
Hi guys. I worked as an instructor for Deep Sea Divers Den for 5 years, and it is sooo nice to get great feedback from these forums.
Thanks to all of you for making our job easier. Oceranquest is a great boat, and I have worked for most of the boats up there (we all move around for a change) OQ is definately the best for "local" short trip diving.
Hope you all come back!
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Discount dive travel to the Barrier Reef and Coral Sea - live aboard and day trips.
Cairns Discount Scuba Diving Trips - Great Barrier Reef
Thanks to all of you for making our job easier. Oceranquest is a great boat, and I have worked for most of the boats up there (we all move around for a change) OQ is definately the best for "local" short trip diving.
Hope you all come back!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Discount dive travel to the Barrier Reef and Coral Sea - live aboard and day trips.
Cairns Discount Scuba Diving Trips - Great Barrier Reef
Kingscrab
Registered
@ hmo & Lee: Thanks for all your tips, guys! It was a great experience. I got nabbed on bad weather, but I guess that's the way it goes. Sigh...
Ah well. Time to start planning the next trip. Central America maybe... SO much closer.
Ah well. Time to start planning the next trip. Central America maybe... SO much closer.
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