Hi all,
I'm traveling to Australia for work in August and have extended my trip to do some scuba diving and other adventures out of Cairns from the 10th to the 17th. My boyfriend will be traveling with me and we're both new to the sport--recently certified in Monterey, CA and have done several weekend dives since. It looks like everyone recommends the liveaboard 4+ day trips that go out to the Northern reefs, including Cod Hole, etc. Those trips seem a little out of our price range (and maybe out of our experience range?). So we were thinking of taking one of the 3 day, 2 night trips that are in the $500/person range. We're not particularly interested in seeing sharks or anything, just lots and lots of coral, inverts and other creatures. Soft corals would be awesome. We've also been snorkeling in Belize off Caye Caulker and Tobacco Caye (possibly the most layed back place on earth) and loved it.
Here are my questions.
1) Anyone have any good recommendations for a liveaboard in this price range? The Mike Ball 3 day trip looks to be about double.
2) Any liveaboards or other trips that will give us the opportunity to just hover above the reefs at our own pace?
3) Any recommendations for areas that we can hike/camp/snorkel off the beach for a couple of days.
I'm traveling to Australia for work in August and have extended my trip to do some scuba diving and other adventures out of Cairns from the 10th to the 17th. My boyfriend will be traveling with me and we're both new to the sport--recently certified in Monterey, CA and have done several weekend dives since. It looks like everyone recommends the liveaboard 4+ day trips that go out to the Northern reefs, including Cod Hole, etc. Those trips seem a little out of our price range (and maybe out of our experience range?). So we were thinking of taking one of the 3 day, 2 night trips that are in the $500/person range. We're not particularly interested in seeing sharks or anything, just lots and lots of coral, inverts and other creatures. Soft corals would be awesome. We've also been snorkeling in Belize off Caye Caulker and Tobacco Caye (possibly the most layed back place on earth) and loved it.
Here are my questions.
1) Anyone have any good recommendations for a liveaboard in this price range? The Mike Ball 3 day trip looks to be about double.
2) Any liveaboards or other trips that will give us the opportunity to just hover above the reefs at our own pace?
3) Any recommendations for areas that we can hike/camp/snorkel off the beach for a couple of days.