Live Aboard - December (2017) - 4 days min - Recommendations

[1979nnila]

Hi all,
I am currently in Australia and want to do a live aboard diving trip while here.
I would ideally like to do minimum 4 days up to a possible of 7 total.
I want to see as much unique and exotic marine life as I can - Sharks, Stingrays, Whales, etc. all desired if possible.

Looking for recommendations of good dives and hopefully some cheaper options as the ones I've seen so far are thousands. Hoping to find something a bit cheaper that is also good.

Thanks

Nila

 

[1979nnila]

And I'm 'advanced diver' level although haven't dived in a couple of years.

Thanks

 

[WetPup]

Wrong time of year for whales.

Where in Australia are you? It's a big country...

If you're considering liveaboards on the GBR for 4-7 days, yes, they will cost thousands. There's a few overnight options that you should be able to pick up for under $1000, but certainly not the longer ones that go out to the Cod Hole or Osprey. Best options for 4-7 night trips to the Coral Sea are with either Mike Ball or Spirit of Freedom.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Hi Nila,

Departing Cairns, the world famous Cod Hole and Ribbons reefs trips have shark dives, Potato Cod feeding, sheer walls laced with massive soft corals, manta-rays, and abundant healthy tropical reefs. Spectacular!!

Cheers

 

[recd]

If you want to dive some of the less visited far northern reefs, Kalinda has atrip in December 11-23. Not the most luxurious boat, but priced accordingly.
Kalinda Far North December Trip 2017 – Kalinda

 

[TravisD]

I did a 4-day cruise on Spoilsport a few years ago and had a great time. Once you factor in what you'd be paying for food and lodging on short, the liveaboard wasn't that much more expensive (at the time I did it at least, 2011 timeframe). Food was great, and the catamaran is a wonderful dive platform. The low-level flight back over the reef (if you do a half-week trip) was pretty neat too. (In a very small plane - I was sitting right behind where the co-pilot would have sat - I could reach out and touch the dashboard. )

I shared the "budget" room with an instabuddy. It has bunk beds, and lacks the ensuite bathroom that the normal rooms have, but frankly it didn't bother me at all - there's a shower and lavatory (separate rooms) just outside.

As a solo traveler, it made the most sense even though cost was surely higher than what I could have probably done land-based, but I didn't have to worry about stuff back in hotel room while out on a day boat. I happened to go during Minke season which was very cool - it cut into the total # of dives a little, but snorkeling with whales was awesome.

For me, I love the liveaboard thing. Especially traveling solo, I'm not really interested in shore nightlife or such, I'd rather be stuck on a nice boat talking to other divers. YMMV.