Seeking info/advice for honeymoon

[2 Bar]

The death of my bachelorhood comes in September 2005. As of now Australia is #1 on the honeymoon destinations. The ball and chain will be certified this May w/ some dives in Cozumel and whatever we do over the summer.

Any suggestions on 1) travel packages to Australis, 2) Dive Operators, 3) weather expectations, 4) diving the GBR, 5) other diving options in the area, 6) any related info.?

I have no more specific info, since NOTHING is decided or planned as of yet. I am just doing a little probe for info at this stage.

Thanks!

[caymaniac]

The death of my bachelorhood comes in September 2005. As of now Australia is #1 on the honeymoon destinations. The ball and chain will be certified this May w/ some dives in Cozumel and whatever we do over the summer.

Any suggestions on 1) travel packages to Australis, 2) Dive Operators, 3) weather expectations, 4) diving the GBR, 5) other diving options in the area, 6) any related info.?

I have no more specific info, since NOTHING is decided or planned as of yet. I am just doing a little probe for info at this stage.

Thanks!

Try "Trip-n-tour"

Caymaniac

[ShakaZulu]

My condolences to your bachelorhood, may it RIP..........

[alcina]

Australia is HUGE and has incredibly diverse diving, so your first decisions should be along the lines of 1) how long we will stay and 2) which type of diving/location do we want.

September will be the beginning, more or less, of dive season in the more southerly areas so you might want to check that out, too. Basically you'll be able to some great dives in anywhere, so you need to have a think about what you want
-water temps
-marine life
-live aboard
-resort
-night life
-remote
-which State
etc...

[2 Bar]

ShakaZulu, thanks for the consolation. No offense, but your avatar is much nicer than your picture.

alcina, the trip won't be based on diving, I will dive based on the trip. Live aboard is out. I assume we will travel south east by Sydney and north east by Cairns. Maybe stay at a resort, but definitley near the water. We would be near the GBR at some point. Otherwise, I prefer warmer water.

I need general advice like, "If you go to Cairns dive with..." or "The GBR is only for divers with at least 60 dives." Or "The best diving is here"

This way as we start planning, I will have my notes of interest to look at.

[caymaniac]

The death of my bachelorhood comes in September 2005. As of now Australia is #1 on the honeymoon destinations. The ball and chain will be certified this May w/ some dives in Cozumel and whatever we do over the summer.

Any suggestions on 1) travel packages to Australis, 2) Dive Operators, 3) weather expectations, 4) diving the GBR, 5) other diving options in the area, 6) any related info.?

I have no more specific info, since NOTHING is decided or planned as of yet. I am just doing a little probe for info at this stage.

Thanks!

Try Palm Cove for beach style quiet accomodations. Port Douglas is near to Ribbons, and has the marina that some liveabords use. Check with Pro-Dive for short liveaboard trips. Cairns is nice but a bit south to get to the best diving. If money is no object then go to Lizard Island where you can have the best land based GBR diving with nice beach. Being north from Cairns the weather is usaully great.

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

[2 Bar]

Try Palm Cove for beach style quiet accomodations. Port Douglas is near to Ribbons, and has the marina that some liveabords use. Check with Pro-Dive for short liveaboard trips. Cairns is nice but a bit south to get to the best diving. If money is no object then go to Lizard Island where you can have the best land based GBR diving with nice beach. Being north from Cairns the weather is usaully great.

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

Thanks!

[underwater]

You are confronted with a very hard choice as diving ALL AROUND Australia is awesome, not just the Barrier Reef.

Looking forward to see you there !

Tim :10:

[drbill]

I can't give any advice on a honeymoon... never been even close (whew!). I traveled Australia for two weeks four years ago and wish I'd had two months (or more). Of course I was doing it as a backpacker so I won't try to advise you re: lodging, etc.

I dove GBR on an "anchored liveaboard" (stays on the outer reef but does move to different local dive sites in its area). Went with Deep Sea Diver's Den in Cairns and was quite satisfied with the experience. Thought they were a good shop (their head instructor was also the only personal who immediately recognized the validity of my Los Angeles County c-card). Would recommend them (check their web site for shorter-term diving options).

Also found that if I waited til I got there to book, I could get great last minute deals (like $300 US for a week-long liveaboard trip to the Coral Sea).

Didn't dive elsewhere but have heard great things about western Australia (including Ninngaloo and Dangerous Reefs).

Dr. Bill

[2 Bar]

Thanks for the suggestions. I could use all the info I could get. The better I can make this honeymoon, hopefully the easier it will be to forget I am getting married.

[jakubson]

If money is TRULY no object, look into Heron Island. It is in the southernmost part of GBR, and is a tiny island with only one resort on it. My wife and I spent part of our honeymoon there 18 years ago, then went back 7 or 8 years later and still enjoyed it!




Try Palm Cove for beach style quiet accomodations. Port Douglas is near to Ribbons, and has the marina that some liveabords use. Check with Pro-Dive for short liveaboard trips. Cairns is nice but a bit south to get to the best diving. If money is no object then go to Lizard Island where you can have the best land based GBR diving with nice beach. Being north from Cairns the weather is usaully great.

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

[JulieannevZ]

If you're going anywhere near Brisbane, (about halfway between Sydney and Cairns), Moreton Bay Marine Park, has great diving - they have Reef, Wrecks and Rock, whereas the GBR only has the reef.

One of the reefs at Moreton Bay - Flinders Reef has more species of choral than the GBR too. And, not so many tourists know about Moreton Bay, so it's unspoiled.

There's a video here, of some of Moreton Bay.

http://www.bigcatreality.com/


I gather your wife to be dives as well?

[AmyJ]

Thanks for the suggestions. I could use all the info I could get. The better I can make this honeymoon, hopefully the easier it will be to forget I am getting married.

Not to hijack, but ifyou're really feeling this squeamish, maybe you should rethink it.... ;)

[2 Bar]

Thanks all. We will definitely look into all of your ideas.

My fiance went from an adamant NO to getting certified to now actually looking foward to it. Not from me pushing her, but from all the parties through my scuba shop. She met so many cool people and girls who encouraged her to do it.

Now we will be diving together on our honeymoon and, not me running off for a few hours in the morning. It will be a great time, and if we could be doing all this in Australia that would be off the hook!

Rock on, metals!

[saildiver]

Thanks for the suggestions. I could use all the info I could get. The better I can make this honeymoon, hopefully the easier it will be to forget I am getting married.
If you are not totally stuck on Austrailia-I'd suggest Fiji (its close by)-particularly Moodys Namena Island-Incredibly romantic,great diving(some of the best in Fiji),and the whole island is reserved for only 12 guests max. at a time-you'll have your own beautiful Bure ;) ( very nice fijian hut)near the top of the island overlooking your own beach.The food is tremendous-doesn't get any better. Check out the web site. Bula.....Saildiver