twatto
Registered
Hey Ya.
I lived in Cairns for a while - started diving up there - so if Cairns is a possibility (you'll have to get there via one of the major cities, unless travelling from asia) - here's my two cents worth.
Think I liked about Cairns was the ability to make a decision to dive, and have the ability to be on a boat in 10-20 mins for a day trip should the weather be nice.
Coral Sea and Cod Hole are great dive spots - fewer boats head out there as it's a fair distance to some dive spots, and you need to travel in deep seas - I've been on the Spirit of Freedom a couple times (3d, 4d, or 7d trip) - excellent boat, small numbers, very comfortable - and as a consequence more $$ - still I highly recommend it and want to return for yet another trip in the future when time permits. I have friends who have been on Taka - more divers, less comfort, slower boat, but still a good trip and great diving.
I've been on the pro-dive boat liveaboard a number of times - they tend to travel about 3-4h out from the coast then move around various reefs over the days - nice crew and boat. You will have a population of people doing their diving course plus snorkellers, and consequently there is a little more sense of 'urgency' as the staff understandably need to try to stick to a tight schedule to fit the multiple dives in each day. All in all the crew and boat were a pleasure to dive and travel with.
You essentially pay more for creature comforts, and getting to the distant dive sites - however all in all they're all pretty good - and safe....
Good luck....
I lived in Cairns for a while - started diving up there - so if Cairns is a possibility (you'll have to get there via one of the major cities, unless travelling from asia) - here's my two cents worth.
Think I liked about Cairns was the ability to make a decision to dive, and have the ability to be on a boat in 10-20 mins for a day trip should the weather be nice.
Coral Sea and Cod Hole are great dive spots - fewer boats head out there as it's a fair distance to some dive spots, and you need to travel in deep seas - I've been on the Spirit of Freedom a couple times (3d, 4d, or 7d trip) - excellent boat, small numbers, very comfortable - and as a consequence more $$ - still I highly recommend it and want to return for yet another trip in the future when time permits. I have friends who have been on Taka - more divers, less comfort, slower boat, but still a good trip and great diving.
I've been on the pro-dive boat liveaboard a number of times - they tend to travel about 3-4h out from the coast then move around various reefs over the days - nice crew and boat. You will have a population of people doing their diving course plus snorkellers, and consequently there is a little more sense of 'urgency' as the staff understandably need to try to stick to a tight schedule to fit the multiple dives in each day. All in all the crew and boat were a pleasure to dive and travel with.
You essentially pay more for creature comforts, and getting to the distant dive sites - however all in all they're all pretty good - and safe....
Good luck....
