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Joined on
5/15/2011
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Hi everyone,
I am completely new to diving and I am going to go to the great barrier reef in Australia this summer. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice for when I go diving there. Any information would be awesome!
Thanks!
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Joined on
12/27/2009
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I've been diving out of Cairns two different times. From Cairns, there are a number of day boat operators that go to the nearby GBR reefs. It's something like a 80 minute trip on a fast boat to get out there. Most operators take a mix of snorkelers and divers, and in most cases you can do two dives though at least one outfit lets you get 3 dives in on a 8 am departure and 5 pm return. Another option is to take a day boat out and transfer to a sort-of-liveaboard run by the same company; Deep Sea Divers Den does this with their Ocean Quest II boat. This boat travels among the various reefs that are all in reasonable proximity to Cairns. This is what I did my first trip there, which was right after I got certified, and I had a great time.
The other option is to take a trip to the northern ribbon reefs on a liveaboard; Mike Ball, Spirit of Freedom, and Taka are the three boats that make this trip. One of the options is to leave Cairns on the boat on an overnight cruise to the northern reefs, and then after some days you can take a low-altitude flight back from Lizard Island. Another option is to spend a whole week and return with the boat.
On the day boats, you'll have 30 snorkelers and a dozen divers dumped in at the same spot, though the divers are able to get away from the crowd pretty quickly. Still, the condition of the northern ribbon reefs is much better and the sea life is more abundant, so if you can spring for Mike Ball, Spirit of Freedom, or Taka, go for it! (Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom have a slightly higher-end reputation than Taka, but I know people who have had a great time on Taka).
The way diving is done in Australia is that (unless you specifically request it) you and your buddy dive on your own, without a divemaster. You get a site briefing, and then you have to get checked off on a list when you jump in, and when you return. They also want to see how much air you have in your tank when you get back on the boat, and they reserve the right to cut you off if you get on the deck with much less than 500 psi.
When I went on Mike Ball, I was traveling alone and it was no problem to buddy up on the boat. I had a really great time, and am sure I'll return again when work next brings me back to Australia!
You can simply show up in Cairns and do the day boats with no advance planning. However, the liveaboards can get booked out, so advance planning is quite helpful. I booked my trip through www.divecairns.com.au which is a broker for several dive outfits, and I thought they gave me great advice and I got a slight discount on my trip. A good plan can be to see if you can set up a skype call with them to get their advice and assistance.
Finally, there are other places to dive in Australia too! The SS Yongala is a bit farther south of Cairns, but is supposed to be spectacular. On the west coast, I have a friend who had a fantastic time diving in the Ningaloo Reef area near Exmouth. Melbourne is said to have good diving too though the water is colder than the GBR (but warmer than Lake Michigan!).
Happy diving!
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