Advice...first trip to Australia

[WetPup]

Yongala is also a strict no penetration wreck dive. It's been classed as a grave site. You dive the outside of the wreck, not inside. You used to be allowed in, but it's been banned for many years now. Yes, I know Attenborough got special permission from the govt to film inside for the GBR doco a couple of years ago. We are not Attenborough.

Adrenalin Dive who operate out of Townsville are a good mob, but the trip is cancelled regularly due to weather. They make a call at 4pm the afternoon before the Yongala trips to decide whether to go. I've seen it cancelled 6 weeks straight. You are better off going to Yongala Dive at Alva Beach (near ayr) unless you are a local with time up your sleeve.

 

[MelissaKay]

Where were the fish?

This is my kind of wreck diving:

I am going to get to those North Carolina wrecks!

 

[Dan]

I am going to get to those North Carolina wrecks!

It's in your neighboring states. You can do it for a long weekend trip as checkout dives before going to a big trip, half around the world.

Check out my trip report for more detail, here:
Gill & Hyde Wreck Diving on Sep 3-4, 2017, Trip report

 

[Bubblesong]

When I go to Australia I will include Perth area for the weedy and the leafy sea dragons.

 

[Spudlet]

When I go to Australia I will include Perth area for the weedy and the leafy sea dragons.

Plenty of weedy's in Sydney

 

[diver0008]

Yongala is high on my bucket list for wreck diving in Australia, after Minke whale diving with Spoilsport.

I'm not fond of wreck diving in a new wreck, going in / out of rusty empty chambers, risking entanglement, getting cut from rusty walls, blinded by the silt mucked up by newbies swimming in / out of the empty chambers in front of you.

Yongala is different. It's an over 100-year old wreck full of lifes (coral, fish, etc.). It is probably the best wreck in the world to dive in. So, while you are in Australia, take advantage of diving it, if possible. Just check out this video:

That is one heck of a video!

 

[Chris Ross]

February is the peak of the wet season in Cairns, so it'll be hot and humid and starting the peak cyclone season. If you do go most dive boats actually leave from Port Douglas as it's closer to the outer reef.

Sydney has excellent diving a lot of it shore dives, Have a look at Abyss dive in Sydney's south they dive Fri/Sat/Sun with a choice of free guided shore dive (plus tanks/gear) and boat dives. If you want weedies check their website for dives at The Leap or The Steps, generally scheduled when the incoming high tide peaks sometime after midday. Plenty of other great shore dives around Sydney. In February, water temp should be around 20°C so a 5mm wetsuit should do it for most people. North of Sydney Fish Rock is a must do dive site, Brisbane you can do the reefs off the Sunshine coast.

If there's two of you there are plenty of sites in Sydney you could do yourself during the week, like Oak Park and Bare Island if you are confident with navigation and read up on the site conditions.

If you're going to Alice Springs in February expect 40°C and flies,

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

February is the peak of the wet season in Cairns, so it'll be hot and humid and starting the peak cyclone season. If you do go most dive boats actually leave from Port Douglas as it's closer to the outer reef.

Sydney has excellent diving a lot of it shore dives, Have a look at Abyss dive in Sydney's south they dive Fri/Sat/Sun with a choice of free guided shore dive (plus tanks/gear) and boat dives. If you want weedies check their website for dives at The Leap or The Steps, generally scheduled when the incoming high tide peaks sometime after midday. Plenty of other great shore dives around Sydney. In February, water temp should be around 20°C so a 5mm wetsuit should do it for most people. North of Sydney Fish Rock is a must do dive site, Brisbane you can do the reefs off the Sunshine coast.

If there's two of you there are plenty of sites in Sydney you could do yourself during the week, like Oak Park and Bare Island if you are confident with navigation and read up on the site conditions.

If you're going to Alice Springs in February expect 40°C and flies,

Just to clarify, we live in Cairns. Port Douglas has about 5 dive trips to the outer reef and no overnight boats while Cairns has numerous boats. Travel time to the outer reef is actually the same departing from Cairns or Port Douglas.

 

[Chris Ross]

Really should research before relying on memory, 10 or more years ago I'm sure there were quite a few more boats leaving Port Douglas back then. They do however go to different reefs and remembered being quite impressed with the water and marine life right out on the edge of the shelf.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Really should research before relying on memory, 10 or more years ago I'm sure there were quite a few more boats leaving Port Douglas back then. They do however go to different reefs and remembered being quite impressed with the water and marine life right out on the edge of the shelf.

Tourism has changed quite a bit up here in the last few years, they are different sites you're right but the travel time is the same