rough seas in GBR vs. other places?

[mich327]

Hi All,

Trying to plan my next trip and I'm thinking a liveaboard in the GBR. I often get sick, even when diving from day trips from land, and am wondering if GBR is really bad. (thinking of going on the spoilsport)

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much!
Mich

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Most live aboard boats are going to travel from site to site, and that’s where most get sea sick. Generally the larger the vessel, the less likely you will be to get sick.

Mike Ball’s Spoilsport is a good size boat (same goes for Spirit of Freedom), but you are still going to get some movement. Can’t be avoided. Take sea sick tablet before you set off helps.

Benefit of Mike Bal is you fly up one way, so travel is minimized. Also because you are behind the Reef the seas are calmer. Coral Sea trips go outside the protection of the Reef so for that period (day or so) it will be far rougher.

Time of year also has effect. September and October are calmest, whilst rainy season (cyclone season) December – March can have seas getting very rough at times.

On average, over the year, seas inside the Reef get to 1-1.5m swells and outside the Reef up to 2-3m swells.

When are you thinking of travelling?

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Cairns Discount Dive Trips - Australia Diving - Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

 

[mich327]

Thanks so much Aquapro! Was thinking of going late Jan.

I did day trips from Port Douglas 7 yrs ago and was really ill, but the diving on day trips wasn't that interesting...

 

[fredaroony]

I just got back from a 3 day live a board and it was very calm.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

If you are going to go this month then you should be OK. There are no predicted cyclones in neaxt few weeks. If we do get a big low pressure coming in, it does rogh up the seas, and hat takes 3 or 4 days to go down.
As fredaroony says avove it is very calm at present. But most boats are already full as they are also trying to take advantage of the good weather. So take a chance and see if you can get something now.
Check out the Bureau of meteorology site for updates.

Bureau of Meteorology - Home Page

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Cairns Discount Dive Trips - Australia Diving - Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

 

[mich327]

Thanks Fredarooney and Aquapro!

 

[love2godeep]

Just got back from a liveaboard on the Spoilsport, Jan. 18-21. It was quite rough and rainy. THe last two nights were miserable. There was usually quite a current, and getting back on the boat was often an adventure.

Anyway, the crew was great, the food was good, and the dives were spectacular. It would be phenomenal on calmer seas.