divebrasil
Contributor
Just got back after 1 week in Cairns. Unfortunately I could not go on a live aboard this time, but still had some great dives off Cairns and Pt Douglas. I tried 4 different boats and had good experience on all of them. Yes, be aware that all boats cater not only to divers, but also to intro divers and snorkelers. So there are a bunch of people on the boat, but the crew/guides did a good job at separating the divers and buddying people and groups based on experience. Overall, the boats were very big, super confortable, organized. The crew and guides were very attentive and helpful. 2 hour ride to/from each way is very long.
I went out of Cairns with Passion of Paradise, Tusa, Silver Swift, and out of Pt Douglas with Poseidon. I got lucky with Tusa going out on 1st of January with small amount of people on the boat. Dives off Port Douglas were the best in terms of visibility, fish life and to see sharks. Saw 6 or 7 on that day.
Out of Cairns saw tons of turtles, morays, murray wrasses, rock cod, clown fish, etc...
For the ultimate experience, of couse, take a live aboard and go out further to Ribbon and Osprey Reefs.
I am putting some videos on my youtube channel here:
skooooobas Channel - YouTube
They were all shot with GoPro Hero 2 in 720p with flat lens and red filter. Unfortunately, I did not notice the red filter was not completely centralized and that created some vignetting.
Please comment.
Thanks
[video=youtube;wcEtg3PVtG4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEtg3PVtG4&list=PLA797BA5CA6BAE8B6&index= 5&feature=plcp[/video]
[video=youtube;hx77AGseCYE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx77AGseCYE&list=PLA797BA5CA6BAE8B6&index= 6&feature=plcp[/video]
I went out of Cairns with Passion of Paradise, Tusa, Silver Swift, and out of Pt Douglas with Poseidon. I got lucky with Tusa going out on 1st of January with small amount of people on the boat. Dives off Port Douglas were the best in terms of visibility, fish life and to see sharks. Saw 6 or 7 on that day.
Out of Cairns saw tons of turtles, morays, murray wrasses, rock cod, clown fish, etc...
For the ultimate experience, of couse, take a live aboard and go out further to Ribbon and Osprey Reefs.
I am putting some videos on my youtube channel here:
skooooobas Channel - YouTube
They were all shot with GoPro Hero 2 in 720p with flat lens and red filter. Unfortunately, I did not notice the red filter was not completely centralized and that created some vignetting.
Please comment.
Thanks
[video=youtube;wcEtg3PVtG4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEtg3PVtG4&list=PLA797BA5CA6BAE8B6&index= 5&feature=plcp[/video]
[video=youtube;hx77AGseCYE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx77AGseCYE&list=PLA797BA5CA6BAE8B6&index= 6&feature=plcp[/video]