Island Dreams' Ken Knezick has conducted multiple dive tours to Australia. The most recent visit included group of 18 divers from around the U.S.A. The itinerary had them flying to Cairns on scheduled air service, connecting with a charter flight to Lizard Island, where they boarded the M/V Nimrod III for a dive cruise to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. The following information and impressions are based on that trip and Ken's, as well as the group's experiences.
Australian Diving and Queensland - Australia is an immense country with a variety of options for divers. Intrepid dive travelers may enjoy high-voltage Whale Shark trips in Western Australia, or even Great White Shark expeditions in the cold southern waters. For most traveling divers though, the epitome of Australian diving is found on the Great Barrier Reef. This immense divers' paradise, the longest barrier reef in the world, is located off the northeastern coast of Australia and the state of Queensland. Gateway to this region is the burgeoning city of Cairns (pronounced "cans"), as well as the more diminutive town of Port Douglas to the North.
Getting to Cairns - Of the world's exotic scuba diving destinations, Australia is certainly one of the easiest to reach. Travelers may select from a broad array of the world's finest airlines, including Qantas, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, United Airlines, etc. In most cases, the travel will be via Sydney, though some airlines offer connections directly into Cairns' International Airport. Once in Australia, a domestic carrier such as Ansett Airlines offers excellent connections throughout the vast country. There is also good train service, and an effective network of charter flights enabling travelers to reach even remote outposts. Island Dreams has the experience to help you arrange the travel connections most effective for your particular itinerary and requirements.
Easy Living - Australia is not just easy to get to - it's a great place to be. You will find that the people are relaxed and friendly, the food is good and varied, prices are relatively reasonable, the local wines are excellent, and a refreshingly creative form of English is spoken. So what's the downside? An immense and diverse country, it could take a tourist months to scratch the surface of all there is to see and do. The only danger is that , after you've begun to immerse yourself in the Australian experience, you might not want to go home!
Queensland - Once in Queensland, a diver still has some choices to make. It is possible to lodge in a Cairns or Port Douglas hotel, and just make day trips to the closer portions of the Barrier Reef. Snorkelers or neophyte divers might find this of interest, but for the serious diver, a live-aboard boat trip will unquestionably offer superior diving. The prime operators here are Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and Nimrod Dive Adventures. A long time supplier of diving services in this region, Mike Ball's reputation for quality of boats and customer service is excellent. Likewise I have enjoyed the services of Nimrod Dive Adventures aboard the Nimrod III. Island Dreams represents and sells both Mike Ball and Nimrod and we have experienced consistently satisfied customers with both operators. Let us know what you are looking for, and we'll help you to select the operator that best matches your requirements.
Great Barrier Reef vs. the Coral Sea - Day trips and short duration cruises will concentrate on the Barrier Reef, where there are many justly famous dive sites, such as Cod Hole and the Yongala Wreck. Longer duration trips, and/or full boat charters, will enable divers to sail farther offshore to the more remote and less dived reefs of the Coral Sea. If you can arrange to get out to the Coral Sea, I highly recommend that you do so. The steep walls, bottomless drop-offs, enhanced visibility and consistent pelagic action are well worth the trip.
Barrier Reef Diving - On the Barrier Reef the diving is generally relatively shallow, with an immense variety of terrain and a huge density and diversity of fish life. On a single dive at Pixie Pinnacle, for instance, we saw leaf fish, pipe fish, lionfish, anthias, mantis shrimp, chocolate grouper, travally, fusiliers, clown fish, various nudibranchs, coral trout, barramundi cod, angelfish, damsel fish, sharp-nosed puffer, moorish idols, gobies, potato cod, crabs, king mackerel, etc. The Great Barrier Reef is a macro photographer's delight and is easily accessible for both short and long-term trip durations.
Coral Sea Diving - Farther offshore, rising out of deep water, the reefs of the Coral Sea offer big visibility, and big fishes. You'll enjoy steep drop-offs, giant soft coral trees, sea fans wreathed in crinoids, giant tridacna clams, big tuna, schooling jacks, snapper, pompano, barracuda, unicorn fish, huge potato cod, and (friendly, smiling) sharks on every dive. As for the sharks, let me accentuate that you have nothing to fear. The great white sharks are not in this region. Predominantly, you will see white tip reef sharks and majestic, pelagic gray whalers. They have no interest in divers and keep a respectful distance. The only downside to Coral Sea Diving is the additional distance from shore. It requires a longer duration trip, and often a full-boat charter to get there.
Topside Touring - Originally founded as a penal colony for British deportees, contemporary Australia is nothing less than a tourism paradise, with attractions for all tastes and styles. The major cities, such as Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne offer luxury lodging, fine dining, various cultural outlets, and a look into the unique history of the country. Three thousand miles removed, Western Australia is like a country unto itself. The interior of Australia, the "outback," is like no other region on earth, and a visit to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock will remain in one's memory forever. In the northeast, the Queensland region has its own special charm. A city of 400,000 Cairns extends a welcoming hand and a tropical climate, with everything from casino gambling to rain forest trekking and interaction with the Aboriginal peoples. An hour north of Cairns, the much smaller city of Port Douglas gives access to both the Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest preserve. Its array of interesting shops, fine dining, and assortment of accommodations from simple to luxurious recently attracted none other that Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton on a family holiday.
The Bottom Line - Australia is an immense, diverse, and vibrant country. It's very easily accessible for tourism, welcoming travelers with open arms, and a cold beer! Whether scuba diving, or exploring on land, Australia provides the traveler equally broad, varied, and exciting opportunities. The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea are places every diver should see. If you would like to learn more about Australia, a good first step would to be contact the Australian Tourism Office in Los Angeles at (805) 775-2000, ext. 00. Any good book store will stock an extensive array of informative travel guides and photo essays. Of course, should you also wish to have the benefit of first-hand knowledge and years of experience, I, and the entire staff of Island Dreams Travel, stand ready to assist you in making your Australian Island Dreams come true.
Wishing you great diving, and a world of adventure... Ken
Kenneth Knezick
President, Island Dreams Travel
1309 Antoine Drive
Houston, Texas 77055
(800) 346-6116 ** (713) 973-9300
info@divetrip.com ** http://www.divetrip.com
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