We took the 3.5 day trip out of Port Douglas, AU on Diversity, a Quicksilver liveaboard, leaving October 3 and returning October 7. Dive sites were Osprey Reefs various sites, Cod Hole, Steves Bommie, and Agincourt Reef. Only six passengers (out of twelve spots) and six crew on board, but I can see where twelve passengers might be a bit crowded.
The weather was wonderful, and the crew said that the seas were the calmest in many months. This did not prevent my bride from becoming seasick on the first day, though, and I found the constant rocking to be very tiring. Once inside the GBR, the sea was much smoother than at Osprey (which is in the Coral Sea about 200 miles or so off the coast).
The other passengers -- a couple from the Netherlands, and two Aussies on holiday -- were delightful, without exception. And in those close quarters, cheerfulness and good humor mean a lot.
I really cannot say enough good things about the crew of this vessel. The chef (Susi) was truly outstanding -- I never imagined that we'd enjoy food of that quality and diversity (no play intended). The non-cooking crew also was great, and consisted on Tim, Fiona, and Carrie, with Jeff (Geoff?) as our ships captain, and Andy as the "big boss" of the vessel. All of them clearly enjoyed their jobs, and it shows. All were unfailingly cheerful and helpful, even when nagging us to get ready to dive so we'd meet the schedule. I especially appreciated the efforts of Tim (and Fiona and the others to a lesser extent) to point out and identify various fish and plants.
In addition, I found that the crew was very helpful underwater, almost always (one exception -- see below) with at least two DM-types in the water, and usually three or four, and very attentive at any special needs of the divers. Typically, one crew member would lead, and one or two would bring up the rear of our group; I found it comforting to know that I wasnt last in line!
I defer completely to Caymaniac's excellent and complete posting on his trip on Diversity for a complete description of fish life and the like. I could never equal his commentary, and do agree completely that Osprey and GBR have loads more and coral fish, types and quantity, than my only Caribbean siye (Cozumel and I think that Coz is very very nice).
A few of my dive opinions (and thats all they are) are:
(1) four dives a day is exhausting (maybe, thats old age speaking), and a four dive day, at different sites, means running a tight schedule. The first dive began about 7am, and the last at 6-7pm. I managed four dives the first day, and was just too tired to make the fourth/night dive on the next two days.
(2) Steves Bommie was my most enjoyable dive the quantity and variety of fish life is unbelievable, and the dive itself is relaxing and interesting (one can easily get out of any current by going to the other side of the bommie).
(3) Challenger Bay (northern Ribbon Reefs) and The Point (Agincourt Reef) had the prettiest and best selection of corals, but much less fish life.
(4) it was a new thing for me to dive with fish who have been named but, several of the potato cods enjoy that recognition, as well as a large Napoleon maori wrasse that answers to Humphrey.
Ill likely remember more after I look at the photos (some mine, but the good ones from Tim and Andy).
My only dive-related complaint was the post-cod-feed return to the ship. During the feed, we had, I believe, three crew members on the bottom at the feeding site. One of the passengers surfaced after the feed. The remaining five divers were lead into an underwater swim against a very strong current (and, I found later, such view of the current was held by all of the divers, three of whom are young and strong, and one of those has 500+ dives); it was one occasion where we had only the one DM leading us, and no one behind. Thankfully, the DM finally turned around and came back to help my wife and me, and he took her to the boat. Cod Hole has the reputation of having strong currents and there have been divers lost there and I would have thought that site would be one time when special attention should be paid.
The above notwithstanding, the Diversity offers a great dive trip. The boat is comfortable, the crew is truly outstanding, and the diving is great. Id certainly recommend it to anyone seeking a first class liveaboard.
The weather was wonderful, and the crew said that the seas were the calmest in many months. This did not prevent my bride from becoming seasick on the first day, though, and I found the constant rocking to be very tiring. Once inside the GBR, the sea was much smoother than at Osprey (which is in the Coral Sea about 200 miles or so off the coast).
The other passengers -- a couple from the Netherlands, and two Aussies on holiday -- were delightful, without exception. And in those close quarters, cheerfulness and good humor mean a lot.
I really cannot say enough good things about the crew of this vessel. The chef (Susi) was truly outstanding -- I never imagined that we'd enjoy food of that quality and diversity (no play intended). The non-cooking crew also was great, and consisted on Tim, Fiona, and Carrie, with Jeff (Geoff?) as our ships captain, and Andy as the "big boss" of the vessel. All of them clearly enjoyed their jobs, and it shows. All were unfailingly cheerful and helpful, even when nagging us to get ready to dive so we'd meet the schedule. I especially appreciated the efforts of Tim (and Fiona and the others to a lesser extent) to point out and identify various fish and plants.
In addition, I found that the crew was very helpful underwater, almost always (one exception -- see below) with at least two DM-types in the water, and usually three or four, and very attentive at any special needs of the divers. Typically, one crew member would lead, and one or two would bring up the rear of our group; I found it comforting to know that I wasnt last in line!
I defer completely to Caymaniac's excellent and complete posting on his trip on Diversity for a complete description of fish life and the like. I could never equal his commentary, and do agree completely that Osprey and GBR have loads more and coral fish, types and quantity, than my only Caribbean siye (Cozumel and I think that Coz is very very nice).
A few of my dive opinions (and thats all they are) are:
(1) four dives a day is exhausting (maybe, thats old age speaking), and a four dive day, at different sites, means running a tight schedule. The first dive began about 7am, and the last at 6-7pm. I managed four dives the first day, and was just too tired to make the fourth/night dive on the next two days.
(2) Steves Bommie was my most enjoyable dive the quantity and variety of fish life is unbelievable, and the dive itself is relaxing and interesting (one can easily get out of any current by going to the other side of the bommie).
(3) Challenger Bay (northern Ribbon Reefs) and The Point (Agincourt Reef) had the prettiest and best selection of corals, but much less fish life.
(4) it was a new thing for me to dive with fish who have been named but, several of the potato cods enjoy that recognition, as well as a large Napoleon maori wrasse that answers to Humphrey.
Ill likely remember more after I look at the photos (some mine, but the good ones from Tim and Andy).
My only dive-related complaint was the post-cod-feed return to the ship. During the feed, we had, I believe, three crew members on the bottom at the feeding site. One of the passengers surfaced after the feed. The remaining five divers were lead into an underwater swim against a very strong current (and, I found later, such view of the current was held by all of the divers, three of whom are young and strong, and one of those has 500+ dives); it was one occasion where we had only the one DM leading us, and no one behind. Thankfully, the DM finally turned around and came back to help my wife and me, and he took her to the boat. Cod Hole has the reputation of having strong currents and there have been divers lost there and I would have thought that site would be one time when special attention should be paid.
The above notwithstanding, the Diversity offers a great dive trip. The boat is comfortable, the crew is truly outstanding, and the diving is great. Id certainly recommend it to anyone seeking a first class liveaboard.
