1-day of diving when staying in Cairns- recommendations!

[cagrace]

Hello all!
I will be heading to Cairns in July for work. I will only have 1 day that I can go diving for fun.
Where should I go? What company should I go with?
Any info and recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
CGM

[drbill]

One day to dive while in Cairns? I suggest you miss your flight.

When I was there I dove with Deep Sea Divers Den, but was on one of the "liveaboards" out on the GBR. I chose them because their DM/instructor was the only one on my three month trip around the Pacific that recognized my ancient Los Angeles County c-card (he called it a museum piece). I'm pretty sure they do day trips out there as well.

[phuonguyen]

Down Under - Cruise & Dive with the MV Osprey V is pretty good, they can get 3 dives in one outing. (The Great Barrier Reef)
Alternatively, if you want to breathe Nitrox, TUSA Dive's TUSA 6 catamaran is pretty good too!(Tusa Dive - Certified Diving On The Great Barrier Reef)

I really like the middle reefs as oppose to the outer reefs just because I've dived the middle reefs more.

[ozzydamo]

I was at Julian rocks the other day talking to an instructor from port Douglas, I asked him personally what is the best day dive charter in the cairns region.
1 day?
Silver sonic-on the Agincourt reef system.
Silversonic - Scuba Diving & Snorkelling Tours
Fast and they dive further out.
You would of then seen port Douglas as well(20 minute drive north of cairns) ticking another box!!!!! :P

[dancollyer]

Deep Sea Divers Den has a couple of options to have a look at for day trips.
Cairns Day Reef Trip Great Barrier Reef with Deep Sea Divers Den - Cairns Diving | Cairns Dive Courses

[elan]

Down Under - Cruise & Dive with the MV Osprey V is pretty good, they can get 3 dives in one outing. (The Great Barrier Reef)
Alternatively, if you want to breathe Nitrox, TUSA Dive's TUSA 6 catamaran is pretty good too!(Tusa Dive - Certified Diving On The Great Barrier Reef)

I really like the middle reefs as oppose to the outer reefs just because I've dived the middle reefs more.

Another vote for Down Under, You can make 3 dives on one trip. We dove with them 3 days for that very reason. (we had a baby with 3 of us and one person was taking care of her while the other 2 were diving)

[bracko]

You would of then seen port Douglas as well(20 minute drive north of cairns) ticking another box!!!!! :P

I'm not sure how you drive, but it's sure as hell not at the speed limit.

70km drive up along the coast, it's a lovely scenic drive and takes about 1 and 1/4 hours. just remember that it's a big day out on the reef and the drive home might be a struggle. I'm sure there would be bus transfers though.

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Nearly all the day trip boats out of Cairns offer 3 dives. Right now Reef Quest (Deep Sea Divers Den) doing specials and also Tusa (very nice, brand new boat) are offereing 3 for the price of 2.

Here is a link to the better ones, but Port Douglas is (as Bracko said) nearly an hours dive away, so for one day trip to Cairns why go so far?

[elan]

I'm not sure how you drive, but it's sure as hell not at the speed limit.

70km drive up along the coast, it's a lovely scenic drive and takes about 1 and 1/4 hours. just remember that it's a big day out on the reef and the drive home might be a struggle. I'm sure there would be bus transfers though.

Double that, it takes 20 mins just to clear all the runabouts

[mattoau]

You'll probably find that trying to do 3 dives on a dayboat from Cairns will be hurried. The crew will be is a rush to get you in and out of the water, surface intervals and NDLs will be short, oh and it will cost more than two dives (except for the offer APS mentioned). I'd recommend going for the 2 dive option, you'll be more relaxed and there is a good chance the boats will only visit 2 locations anyway.