How To Choose A Liveaboard on The Great Barrier Reef in Australia

[@edwingonzalez5011]

Thank you so much for the video, it's super informative. I'm am planning my trip to Australia next year, and want to go on a liveaboard. I was considering either Pro dive Cairns or Ocean Quest because they are affordable, would you recommend one over the other? My second question is about the dates... I guess the most important thing for my girlfriend if water temperature and mine is visibility... was thinking about the first week of August.. any thoughts about diving in August vs other months? thanks very much!!

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Hello, Edwin thank you for your feedback! Yes please note both Pro-Dive Cairns and Ocean Quest are wonderful boats. As for the time of year, AUGUST is a fantastic time to dive generally the winter months have the best underwater visibility. Water temp is around 23/22 degrees Celcius but all companies have 5mm short-sleeve wetsuits so this generally is no problem. If you are worried about being cold we always recommend purchasing what is called a SharkSkin these have lambswool on the inside and are about 1mm thick you wear these under your wetsuit this will keep you toastie warm. If are interested we have a detailed guide on the dive seasons in Cairns please see here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/diving-tours-cairns/dive-seasons-in-cairns-month-by-month-guide/ Also if you are trying to decide between Pro-Dive and Ocean Quest one of the leading deciders is on the Pro-Dive liveaboard all dives are unguided so you need to buddy up and explore the reef by yourself. Both Ocean Quest and another fantastic liveaboard Reef Encounter all have guided dive options. We also have a detailed guide on how to choose between those three liveaboards here - Ocean Quest vs Reef Encounter vs ProDive Cairns - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/liveaboard-diving-cairns/ocean-quest-vs-reef-encounter-vs-pro-dive-cairns-best-cairns-liveaboard/ Also, remember if you book your liveaboard with us we do send you out with our 1 x FREE Digital Underwater Camera Hire please see full details here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/reef-info/cairns-underwater-camera-hire/ All the very best and let us know if you have any further questions! Happy Diving and thank you again for your feedback on our video.

[@shirolee]

Wow such amazing information!!! Thank you so much for making this video!!!

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Thank you for your feedback we try our best! Please let us know if you have any further questions! :)🌞🐢🐠🐟

[@chrisSea1346]

Super informative video. I’m just starting my research on a future visit to the Great Barrier Reef and this gives me some excellent info on what to look for. Thank you!

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Hi, Chris thank you very much for your feedback! Please note if there is anything else you would really like to know leave a comment and we can try to make a video about it!

[@lmlmd2714]

Thank you so much for this - really useful for getting ideas together. We're coming up from NSW in May and it's our first time up on the GBR and really were struggling to get our head around how it all works up there!

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Thank you very much for your feedback that's great! Yes please note if you have any further questions feel free to get in touch with our dive crazy team here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/what-is-the-best-cairns-reef-tour-for-you/

[@zahirulhafiz8065]

Very informative, thanks for sharing!

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Thank you, hopefully, something helpful in there! All the best!

[@pavlinarehola349]

Great video :)

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Thank you, Pavlina .... hopefully, some really helpful information in there for everyone. All the best!

[@55Unicum]

Interesting good to know !

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Glad it was helpful!

[@divewithpraveen]

hi thanks very much for such a informative video. Actully I am planing to come to cairns to see GBR during end Oct- Biginning NOV. Is this good season with calm sea conditions with good Visibility for a diver with 60 dives. Hopefully there are solo diviers like me to buddy up during dives. Also pl let me know how to choose between pro- dive and Ocean Quest which one better with respect safety and comfort. Since most dives are unguided diver safety is most important. Also is it safe to dive without any guide in barrier reef unlike in other places there is always some one will be there to guide a group of 5 to 6 divers.

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Hello yes that is fantastic you are planning to come and dive OCT / NOV in fact in our opinion those are the two best months of the entire year to come and dive in Cairns. Generally very low wind, beautiful warm water and no rain with blue skies and sunshine. Yes you will be able to buddy up with another certified diver on the boat, and if you are looking for comfort in your boat and the chance to get a dive guide then you should look at the Ocean Quest - they have TWIN share cabins with private bathrooms and the boat is a large TWIN hull vessel so nice and stable in the water. See full trip details here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/tour/deep-sea-divers-den-liveaboard/

[@user-bc8vk7gd4x]

How much is the chance to see minke whale in late of June? Which program is recommended for this purpose?

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Hi thanks for getting in touch, yes please note late JUNE and JULY are the perfect time to try to interact with Minke Whales in Cairns. At the moment there are still spaces available for the Friday - 05th JULY 2024 please see here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/tour/cairns-minke-whale-dive-trips/

[@hannahzhang7849]

I didn’t realise and am surprised many of them don’t do guided dives.

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Hi Hannah yes most of them do not offer guides but there are two boats that you can buy guided dives while out on the boat, they usually charge $15 per dive per person check them out here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/tour/reef-encounter/ and also here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/tour/deep-sea-divers-den-liveaboard/

[@sukkyoungjeon7524]

I think we will try to dive at Flynn reef we are intermediate divers?

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Thank you Sukkyoung, yes if have dived by yourself and have navigated underwater back to the boat by yourself, Flynn reef is perfect!

[@hannahzhang7849]

Are there particularly areas or diving/snorkeling sites easier to spot Maori Wrasse and Potato Cod? Thanks ahead.

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Hi Hannah, yes in general the most famous place for giant cod is the cod hole on the ribbon reefs see here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/tour/mike-ball-dive-expeditions-fly-dive-cod-hole/ but you can often see reasonably large Malabar cod diving on day trips from Port Douglas see here - instagram.com/p/BzQH8zdpd4f/ that photo was taken on the day boat Silversonic here - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/tour/silversonic/

[@hannahzhang7849]

Which months are kind of best season? Dry season? It said a lot of jelly fish in wet season.

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Well there is nice diving all year round but if you would like to try and time it as best you can then I always recommend October / November / December. Its true late November is the start of the jelly fish season but in general these are a mainland problem at the beaches on the coast. Generally not an issue diving 45klm to 65 klm offshore on the reef. All companies will give you a Lyra suit just in case. But the reason I like diving in the later part of the year is the wind tends to drop down to 5 /10 knots (calm seas) and it is still nice and sunny before the wetseason rains. The water is also starting to warm up at around 26 degrees Celsius. See the two article here form more in on Jellyfish - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/reef-info/cairns-jellyfish/ and here for the best time of year to dive - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/diving-tours-cairns/dive-seasons-in-cairns-month-by-month-guide/

[@hannahzhang7849]

@@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia Thank you so much for the reply and the information.

[@AJ_Evo]

Good video mate. I'm a Cairns local and want to get my open water certification. Never dived before so I'm looking at certification centres in either Cairns or Port Douglas. A friend of mine (advanced diver) recommended Pro Dive Cairns for the open water course. Would you agree?

[@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia]

Hey Andrew yes Pro-Dive are a fantastic operation that's who I originally learned to dive with! Beautiful dive sites and very good instructors. We have them listed on our website here if you need anymore info - cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/tour/pro-dive-open-water/

[@AJ_Evo]

@@CairnsDiveAdventuresAustralia perfect thanks mate!

[@divewithpraveen]

hi thanks very much for such a informative video. Actully I am planing to come to cairns to see GBR during end Oct- Biginning NOV. Is this good season with calm sea conditions with good Visibility for a diver with 60 dives. Hopefully there are solo diviers like me to buddy up during dives. Also pl let me know how to choose between pro- dive and Ocean Quest which one better with respect safety and comfort. Since most dives are unguided diver safety is most important. Also is it safe to dive without any guide in barrier reef unlike in other places there is always some one will be there to guide a group of 5 to 6 divers.