New To Australia

[afdgf]

We may be going to a conference in Queensland (last week of June) and it looks like we would fly into Brisbane. My question is where would we go after the conference for good warm-water diving? what airport would we fly into from Brisbane or take a smaller flight from Queensland and where is the best place to go? We are looking for warm water and good visibility. We are advanced PADI with over 100 dives. Would the weather be better before or after the conference?

 

[WetPup]

How much time will you have up your sleeve?

Bear in mind that June in Australia is winter, there's not much "warm" water around, just varying degrees of cold. Your best bet will be to head north to Cairns to dive, which will be the warmest, but consider that you'll potentially be facing water temps of 20-21C even there.

 

[Tbar]

As above, what do you mean by warm?

What do you like to dive? Off Brisbane there are wrecks, coral, sharks... I would expect the water to be 20-22C. July/August its 19-20C.

Maybe dive Brisbane and Cairns. I love diving with the Gray Nurse, but that is only in 'winter'.

It will be warmer earlier, but not a lot!

 

[clownfishsydney]

Get a car and drive to Byron Bay (2 hours max) and do a couple of days diving there, grey nurse sharks should be out in force. Water should be still over 20C and winter is best time in NSW for visibility generally. Then drive back to Brisbane to fly home.

 

[MA]

Coral sea liveaboard (osprey) from cairns is the best opportunity for warm water and good viz if you have sufficient time.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Cairns is considered the Gateway to the Barrier Reef and has a vast selection of day and over night trips to suit all levels.

Being June you are at the start of the Minke Whale migration, so the trips to the Far North Ribbon Reef areas and Coral Sea would be the pick. Best diving the GBR has to offer, and dive with the whales. Word of caution is that these trips book up many months in advance so if you want to do it look to book now.

The 3 main trips on offer for this depart Mondays and Thursdays (Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom), although Ocean Quest is running special trips from Fridays during the migration. These tend to be 4 days trips so not sure how your schedule works.

If you wanted over night, the Outer Reef trips can work offering 2 day 1 night, or 3 days 2 night.

See here for a list of the over night trips and here for day trips (long way to go just for a day trip though)