Better to dive in Cairns or Townsville?

[watersprite]

some people already posted who know the area much better than I do...

this is my 2cts worth!

If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef, I wouldn't go to Townsville (boring town too by the way) or Magnetic island (which is closer to the dive locations such as the Yongala (sp?) wreck). As someone else said, most diving there is to the Yongala wreck. I don't believe you can dive at the Great Barrier Reef from Townsville. I haven't dived there but heard it's quite a nice wreck.

I did so some diving from Cairns. I liked Cairns and went on a relatively cheap and a small diving tour operator called "Noah's ark". I recommend them! Friendly people and they're not big which I really liked. There are huge boats going out on the reef. You don't want to be on one of those huge boats!!

anyhow... HAVE FUN!!

watersprite

 

[ChrisM]

From Townsville, the Yongala and Wheeler Reef are nice and available for day trips.

From Cairns you can get to the GBR, but the day trip sites leave something to be desired. At least ty to do a 3 day livaboard, out to the Coral Sea is even better.

From Cairns, make sure you go up to the Daintree Rainforest, preferably for a nite or two. There is a GREAT hostel called Crocodylus, not your typical hostel.

I've got a trip report for the area at underwaterplanet.com
Chris

 

[watersprite]

I also stayed at Crocodylus!! I can recommend it too, it's great!!!
That area is indeed BEAUTIFUL!! Make sure you won't miss it!

watersprite