Qs on Diving the Great Barrier Reef

[krak256]

I just had a few questions in regards to diving the Great Barrier Reef. I'm thinking of visiting Australia at the end of the year, probably in Sydney. I would need to take a flight from Sydney to get to the GBR, correct? I have my Open Water PADI license, but some friends I'm going with don't. Can they still go out to the GBR and snorkel? I'm thinking of using one of those tour boats, like Cairns.

Additionally, is there a place where I can rent an underwater camera? Would love to capture my dive! Thanks in advance.

 

[Luiz Rocha]

Your best bet will be Cairns. Most dive operators there have underwater cameras that you can rent and go to very shallow areas that are great for snorkeling too. Last time I was there I used ProDive and liked it a lot, but there are many others. Their website:

http://www.prodivecairns.com/

Either 3days/2nights or 2days/1night liveaboards are the best option for short trips to the GBR, which one to chose will depend on your budget and time. The boat ride (even from Cairns) is too long to go and come back on the same day.

 

[islesfan4lyf]

Your best bet will be Cairns. Most dive operators there have underwater cameras that you can rent and go to very shallow areas that are great for snorkeling too. Last time I was there I used ProDive and liked it a lot, but there are many others. Their website:

http://www.prodivecairns.com/

Either 3days/2nights or 2days/1night liveaboards are the best option for short trips to the GBR, which one to chose will depend on your budget and time. The boat ride (even from Cairns) is too long to go and come back on the same day.

Although the boat ride is long, its about 2 hours, I wouldn't say its too long to do in one day. I, infact, did exactly that. Took the boat out early in the morning, dove all day, and then travelled back around 5pm. So to say its too long to come back on the same day is wrong.

I would rather do the liveaboard that you posted though.

 

[islesfan4lyf]

Also, regarding the underwater photo equipment. They were renting out underwater digital cameras. Basically, you put your memory card into this thing, and shoot away.

 

[krak256]

is liveaboard much better than doing just a day trip?

 

[ousnakebyte]

If you really want to see the GBR I would recommend a liveaboard. As has been mentioned, you could possibly get there and back in a single day, but to get to the outer reaches of the reef it will be best to stay a few days, if only a couple.

It looks like you will be going from NYC to Australia. Why go all that way and not see the best parts of the reef? Now, you mentioned snorkelers (yawn... ) so that does probably affect your trip. So, ask the dive operator if they have snorkeling packages.

Cheers
Mike

 

[islesfan4lyf]

You get a lot more dives in on the liveaboard.

 

[krak256]

thanks for the tip. yea, going to australia and seeing the GBR is one of the top things i wanna do in life. hopefully i can get my friends to go diving with me haha. if not, i may just go myself. probably cant convince them to get a scuba license.

 

[Patwa]

thanks for the tip. yea, going to australia and seeing the GBR is one of the top things i wanna do in life. hopefully i can get my friends to go diving with me haha. if not, i may just go myself. probably cant convince them to get a scuba license.

yup...don't let your friends dictate how you'll experience the GBR....it's one helluva good time, make it 100% yours.....and yeah, liveaboard all the way! more dives....you get to see the sun rise and set over the reef....it's worth it, dude.

day trips out from cairns are very doable, as other have said....in fact, you'll find MANY options for day trips as you walk the main strip in Cairns.

and yeah, ProDive Cairns was the outfit i dove with...very decent prices and their liveaboards are modern and super clean.

Z

 

[Namnuta]

I did a live aboard on the Atlantic Clipper out of Carins. It was awesome and quite affordable. We did like 4 - 5 dives a day, and i snorkeled the rest of the time. We had many snorkeler on board as well. Food was good, crew was amazing.

Also look into Lady Elliot Island. I flew there from Hervey Bay. The entire island is a fringe reef. It was amazing. Island is just big enough for a small landing strip.

Cheers

 

[krak256]

thanks for the ideas everyone. looks like i have to do a liveaboard!

 

[snorvich]

is liveaboard much better than doing just a day trip?

MUCH better.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Liveaboard all the way! We went on the Spirit of Freedom out of Cairns last December and had the time of our life! As a matter of fact, this thread just inspired me to upload some long overdue pictures of the amazing critters we saw diving the GBR.