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Liveaboard diving at some of the world's greatest sites

Diving on the Great Barrier Reef: Frequently-Asked Questions about Down Under

Experience the underwater magic of the Great Barrier Reef.

This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page.

Contents:

• When does the trip start and end?
  
• What's the earliest flight I should book, to leave Cairns?
  
• I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
  
• How many days are there in an 8-day trip?
  
• Can I get my PADI or NAUI scuba diving certification this week?
  
• How many dives can I do Down Under?
  
• Is seasickness a problem on a live-aboard boat?
  
• Do you really mean that ALL equipment is included, except computers?
  
• What's this live-aboard boat like?
  
• Four of us are traveling together. Can we get into the same cabin?
  
• Are double cabins available?
  
• Are single rooms available for this trip?
  
• Will I need cash for anything aboard the boat?
  
• Am I expected to tip the crew?
  
• What's the food like?
  
• What water temperatures should I expect along the Great Barrier Reef?
  
• Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
  

When does the trip start and end?
As for most of our trips, the official starting time is 6:00 pm on the "start date", but if you can be at our hotel by 5:30, there will be a chance to meet and talk with others informally. At 6:00 pm we'll learn a few things about the reef, then have dinner. If you arrive earlier, you can typically check into our hotel by mid-afternoon.

On the last day of the trip, we should be back in Cairns by noon or earlier, though it would be best not to schedule any flights before 3:00 p.m. Also keep in mind that you need 24 hours between your last dive, and your first high-altitude flight.

What's the earliest flight I should book, to leave Cairns?
Scuba diving safety experts suggest a minimum of 24 hours between your last dive, and any high-altitude flights. So if you want to do all the dives on our last diving day (the next-to-the-last day of the trip), including the night dive, the earliest you could fly out of Cairns would be mid-evening. You may prefer to spend a night in Cairns and fly out the next day.

If you need to depart earlier, you can simply skip the last few dives, to give yourself the full 24 hours. You'll still get in plenty of diving.

I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it's usually because they're looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn't have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you'll be traveling with friends.

You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself.

How many days are there in an 8-day trip?
Our trip officially begins at 6:00 p.m., with a reception and orientation, followed by dinner. We officially end after breakfast on the last day, although you can leave as early as you like. Or stick around all day, for sightseeing with your new friends.

Our "8-day" trip thus consists of 7 full days and two partial days. And no, this question isn't analogous to asking "Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" Some companies promote a trip of this length as being 9 days since it includes pieces of 9 different days. We feel it's more accurate to refer to this as 8 days.

Can I get my PADI or NAUI scuba diving certification this week?
You cannot take the full PADI or NAUI scuba certification courses on the liveaboard, nor would you want to; you'd miss out on too much diving.

However, you can complete the open-water diving portion of the certification process, and if you're not yet certified, that's an excellent way to learn to dive. Essentially, it means you do your classroom and pool practice with a PADI operator where you live, then finish up (with open-water diving) on the liveaboard. (It may be possible to make the same referral arrangement to complete a NAUI course, but please confirm with us in advance.)

There is a charge for the instructor on the boat, but you should have some savings at the other end, since you're not taking the full certification course. Just be sure to let us know on our pre-trip questionnaire that you'd like to do this.

You can also take many of the specialized PADI courses, such as getting your Advanced Open Water certification.

How many dives can I do Down Under?
We have 6 full days on the boat, with 5 dives planned for each day. On trips when we fly out to the boat, there's also time for three dives that day. When we meet the boat in Cairns, there's no diving our first day on the boat. So: Unless weather or other factors interfere, there's a total maximum of 30-33 dives during the week.

These figures include one night dive each evening we're on the boat.

Is seasickness a problem on a live-aboard boat?
There are no guarantees, of course, about when a storm or rough seas could move in. On a typical trip, however, we'll spend most of our time in waters that are sufficiently calm, few people would experience discomfort.

As we cross open water from one island to another, several times during the trip, we can hit rougher seas. Over-the-counter remedies are effective at preventing seasickness. We suggest taking a standard dose about noon on the day the trip starts, in case our crossing that evening hits rough water, then continue or discontinue it during the week, based on weather, and whether you feel susceptible. Or have your doctor prescribe a patch, which you wear all week, to dispense a low, steady dose of medication. You'll find more advice on the seasickness page of our diving site.

Do you really mean that ALL equipment is included, except computers?
Yes. Many people add a week of diving on the Great Barrier Reef to a longer vacation in Australia, and it would be difficult for them to lug their scuba gear around for the whole trip.

BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, air tanks, weight belts, lights for night diving, mask, and fins are all included. If you have a dive computer, we encourage you to bring it. If you do not, you can rent one on the boat.

What's this live-aboard boat like?
A sturdy 20 meter (65 foot) steel-hulled catamaran, the Nimrod Explorer accommodates 18 guests in 6 cabins, all with private facilities, as well as the 6 crew members. The salon includes TV, video, and stereo. As a catamaran, the Nimrod Explorer is spacious and stable, and offers an excellent way to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

The dive deck has a freshwater shower and freshwater rinse bins for equipment. Gear lockers are located beneath the tank rack for easy storage of equipment. Two ladders access the dive platform, where two additional in-water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water.

Four of us are traveling together. Can we get into the same cabin?
Yes. To help us be sure we get you all assigned right, please just do the following:

Designate someone as the Room Captain (or Room Czar, if you prefer, depending just what the duties will be...) That person should let us know who else should be put into the same cabin.

Then, to be sure there are no misunderstandings, each of the other three, on their application, should indicate, "Put me in [Room Captain]'s cabin."

Are double cabins available?
Most berths on this board are in quad rooms, for four people. Three double rooms are available for a surcharge: One has a king bed, one has two twins, one has a twin and a double. If you'd like one of these upgrades, it's best to reserve it when you sign up to ensure availability.

Are single rooms available for this trip?
Officially yes -- but they'll be expensive.

Most beds on this boat are in rooms for 4 people. We have a few upgrades available for double rooms. We save very little when there's just one person in a room. So to get a single room, you'd have to pay more than double the basic trip price. The exact amount will depend on whether a double room is still open. You'll also have to pay a deposit, and a cancellation fee if you can't make it, for each of the extra spots you're taking.

But if you still want a single, please call or email to see what's available, and what the price will be.

Will I need cash for anything aboard the boat?
While all meals and drinks are included in your trip payment, there are additional items which you may charge to your on board bill. These include retail items (shirts, scuba accessories, etc.), scuba instruction, and dive computer rentals rentals.

Payments for services on the boat can be made with Australian cash, travelers checks in Australian currency, or credit cards. You'll also need cash for crew gratuities at the end of the trip.

We suggest you simply get some Australian currency on arrival, at an ATM machine or an airport kiosk. If you get it through a kiosk, save your receipt; some kiosks will buy back any currency you don't use, at the same rate as you paid.

Am I expected to tip the crew?
If they provide good service (and we're confident they will!) then yes, a gratuity at the end of the week is customary. In Australia, however, a dive crew is less dependent on tips than in the U.S. or Caribbean. Around $75-$100 from each diver is customary, proportionately more if you've taken a cabin upgrade.

What's the food like?
Those of you who have been on our others trips will know that we wouldn't have booked this boat without making sure the meals would be as superb as the diving.

Breakfasts will include eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffins, danish and fresh fruits. Lunches vary from soup and sandwiches, burgers, pasta, assorted salads, and quiche. For dinner we'll have lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, turkey, pork, and fish. Homemade baked breads, cookies and brownies are offered between dives. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please let us know on the questionnaire we send out about two months before the trip starts.

What water temperatures should I expect along the Great Barrier Reef?
Water temperatures range from 84 degrees F (28 C) in February to 72 F (22 C) in July. (Remember, seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere.)

Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
We encourage you to do so. Outside magazine says that talking to people who have taken a trip previously is one of the best ways to evaluate whether it will be right for you, and we agree.

Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.

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