Come across this post when I'm looking for some information about diving in Cairns.
Few people are local and even students from JCU.
Since I have also been stayed here for three years, try to clarify and help out some info too.
For diving in Yongala,
If you don't have a car, its easier to departure from Townsville than take the bus (or whatever public transportation) down to ayr.
For picking a dive shop.
Can not see if there is a lot of different between them, but from my own and friend experience.
Adrenaline: well-equipped and experienced staff, but the boss/manager is a 100% businessman, hear some rip-off thing happened to my friend.
Salt water: pretty enthusiastic skipper and boss/dive guide, love to know and talk about the marine environment and animals. Cons: the boat is pretty small and ill-equipped.
For JCU dive club (I am not member or anything relative)
I still feel they are cheaper than the shop, only thing is you need to pay the registration fee to be a member.(still cheaper than normal inc. registration fee).
They did not have their own boat, they cooperate with a boat owner/skipper name David. its a pretty sweet charter.
What surprise me is even its a student club, it works like a business. They will ask you to pay over pricy parts of diving gear.
I end up got some from internet is far cheaper than they asked.
JCU(school) do have their own boat under faculty of Marine Biology and Environmental science.
They are 7 meter long, southwind.
Associated research center like Orpheus island and Lizard island equip few dingy and southwind.
Its a great experience to operate the boat for research.
And for the qualified, you need to be a rescue diver + scientific specialty to volunteer others's field trip.
Its easier if you can upgrade to divemaster, it will save some troubles.
