DIR on the Great Barrier Reef, AUS???

anders · October 3rd, 2006, 07:11 AM

Hi everyone,

I'll be off to the Great Barrier Reef later this year, and was hoping to do some recreational diving while there.

Does anyone know of DIR-friendly operators in that area?

Preferably, I was hoping to find a place that rents out gear and conducts its dives in straight DIR-style, but thats probably asking too much...

Best,
Anders

cameron · October 4th, 2006, 01:33 AM

Asking for anything other then a cattle boat is asking alot....
I tried to get some rebreather support out there to do the yongala, and it was less then succesfull...

Hybrid · October 4th, 2006, 01:59 AM

I see that you're going to NZ after xmas, while I can't help you on the Australian front, I know that if you want to dive DIR in NZ, there is one place.

www.innerrealm.co.nz

simonn · October 4th, 2006, 07:30 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by anders)

Hi everyone,
Does anyone know of DIR-friendly operators in that area?

Nope.

Quote:

Preferably, I was hoping to find a place that rents out gear and conducts its dives in straight DIR-style, but thats probably asking too much...

Yep.

I think there are a couple of DIR divers in Townsville.

Outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane I doubt you would be able to hire DIR gear. It is not so easy in the aforementioned places either.

GBR is overrated anyway. Coral Sea is a lot better, but you need to take a liveaboard trip.

Spirit Of Freedom seems to be the choice for DIR divers - I have not been on it myself.

LCF · October 4th, 2006, 08:04 AM

When we went to Australia last November, I was warned away from any operators that go from shore to the GBR. I was told that the reefs that close in are too damaged and would be disappointing, and the only way to enjoy the GBR would be to do a liveaboard to the outer reef, something we had neither the time nor the budget to do.

We ended up diving at a small town called Byron Bay, which has a marine park just offshore. The diving was phenomenal -- still ranks as one of the best places I've been (even after Indonesia). I took my own gear (DIR), and got a few odd comments, like, "Do you dive wrecks? Wreck divers use those long hoses, don't they?" But there was no negativity.

I believe there's a bit of a DIR community in the vicinity of Sydney, where most of the people are, but not in the areas where most of the best tourist diving is.

Dibbler · October 4th, 2006, 08:49 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by anders)

Hi everyone,

I'll be off to the Great Barrier Reef later this year, and was hoping to do some recreational diving while there.

Its pretty unlikely, however I suggest your best avenue of exploration would be Liam at Dive centre bondi (GUE Instr), I reckon if anyone knows he would

Dive Centre Bondi - Contact

HTH
Simon

***Fiona*** · October 4th, 2006, 01:37 PM

I have a friend who owns Undersea Explorer www.undersea.com.au they are a liveaboard / research type boat they don't do the usual GBR type dives, I went on it before she bought it in 2001 we did the coral sea trip with shark and nautilus research. You don't have to get involved in the research side.

They have recently installed nitrox and have taken a trimix group out recently to do some deeper dives.

I am not sure what you require as "DIR" divers but I am sure they would be able to access trimix if you required that.

They will be at the dive show if you want to pop along and see us.

anders · October 4th, 2006, 02:26 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Fiona)

I have a friend who owns Undersea Explorer www.undersea.com.au they are a liveaboard / research type boat they don't do the usual GBR type dives, I went on it before she bought it in 2001 we did the coral sea trip with shark and nautilus research. You don't have to get involved in the research side.

Thanks Fiona, UE seem to be popular! A couple I recently met in Sydney also spoke very enthusiastic about their operation, I think they go diving with UE at least once every year! Liveaboards on GBR seems to be anything but cheap though, so it seems like I will have to rob a bank within the next month so I too can go and have fun. Being a student sucks

Best,
Anders

October 3rd, 2006, 07:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
anders(Offline) andersbomholdt.dk Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 156	DIR on the Great Barrier Reef, AUS??? Hi everyone, I'll be off to the Great Barrier Reef later this year, and was hoping to do some recreational diving while there. Does anyone know of DIR-friendly operators in that area? Preferably, I was hoping to find a place that rents out gear and conducts its dives in straight DIR-style, but thats probably asking too much... Best, Anders

October 4th, 2006, 08:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dibbler(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 13	Quote: (Originally Posted by anders) Hi everyone, I'll be off to the Great Barrier Reef later this year, and was hoping to do some recreational diving while there. Its pretty unlikely, however I suggest your best avenue of exploration would be Liam at Dive centre bondi (GUE Instr), I reckon if anyone knows he would Dive Centre Bondi - Contact HTH Simon __________________ Simon Ashmore 'I don't approve of political jokes, I've seen too many of them get elected'

October 4th, 2006, 01:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
cameron(Offline) New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 18	Asking for anything other then a cattle boat is asking alot.... I tried to get some rebreather support out there to do the yongala, and it was less then succesfull...

October 4th, 2006, 01:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
Hybrid(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 54	I see that you're going to NZ after xmas, while I can't help you on the Australian front, I know that if you want to dive DIR in NZ, there is one place. www.innerrealm.co.nz

October 4th, 2006, 07:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
simonn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 10	Quote: (Originally Posted by anders) Hi everyone, Does anyone know of DIR-friendly operators in that area? Nope. Quote: Preferably, I was hoping to find a place that rents out gear and conducts its dives in straight DIR-style, but thats probably asking too much... Yep. I think there are a couple of DIR divers in Townsville. Outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane I doubt you would be able to hire DIR gear. It is not so easy in the aforementioned places either. GBR is overrated anyway. Coral Sea is a lot better, but you need to take a liveaboard trip. Spirit Of Freedom seems to be the choice for DIR divers - I have not been on it myself.

October 4th, 2006, 08:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
LCF(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 622	When we went to Australia last November, I was warned away from any operators that go from shore to the GBR. I was told that the reefs that close in are too damaged and would be disappointing, and the only way to enjoy the GBR would be to do a liveaboard to the outer reef, something we had neither the time nor the budget to do. We ended up diving at a small town called Byron Bay, which has a marine park just offshore. The diving was phenomenal -- still ranks as one of the best places I've been (even after Indonesia). I took my own gear (DIR), and got a few odd comments, like, "Do you dive wrecks? Wreck divers use those long hoses, don't they?" But there was no negativity. I believe there's a bit of a DIR community in the vicinity of Sydney, where most of the people are, but not in the areas where most of the best tourist diving is.

October 4th, 2006, 01:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,202	I have a friend who owns Undersea Explorer www.undersea.com.au they are a liveaboard / research type boat they don't do the usual GBR type dives, I went on it before she bought it in 2001 we did the coral sea trip with shark and nautilus research. You don't have to get involved in the research side. They have recently installed nitrox and have taken a trimix group out recently to do some deeper dives. I am not sure what you require as "DIR" divers but I am sure they would be able to access trimix if you required that. They will be at the dive show if you want to pop along and see us.

October 4th, 2006, 02:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
anders(Offline) andersbomholdt.dk Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 156	Quote: (Originally Posted by Fiona) I have a friend who owns Undersea Explorer www.undersea.com.au they are a liveaboard / research type boat they don't do the usual GBR type dives, I went on it before she bought it in 2001 we did the coral sea trip with shark and nautilus research. You don't have to get involved in the research side. Thanks Fiona, UE seem to be popular! A couple I recently met in Sydney also spoke very enthusiastic about their operation, I think they go diving with UE at least once every year! Liveaboards on GBR seems to be anything but cheap though, so it seems like I will have to rob a bank within the next month so I too can go and have fun. Being a student sucks Best, Anders