From Cairns where to go then ??

[simonn]

PNG is expensive for everything. I grew up there and first learned to dive there at the tender age of 13. My GF and I are planning on spending a couple of weeks there in May (Madang, Kavieng and Rabaul) which is going to cost us about AU$5000 (~GBP2000) each of which only ~AU$1000 is flights and only ~30 dives. There are direct flights from Cairns to Port Moresby. See http://www.diversionoz.com. Loloata might be a good idea? If your other half likes lying on beaches there is something for a non-diver to do.

Vanuatu is a lot cheaper, far more geared up for tourism and the locals are the friendliest people in the world. The President Coolidge is well worth lots of dives - although all deep air as helium, if available, is VERY exxy. Santo is not a good place for new divers though. Need to fly via Brissie or Sydney.

New Zealand? The Poor Knights out of Tutukaka, about 160km north of Auckland, has some of the best diving I have ever done. There is also the Rainbow Warrior out of Paihia - only an ok dive but great for unadulterated French bashing on the 2 hour or so trip out there. It's a very beutiful part of the world. Not sure if there are direct flights from Cairns. NOTE: If you do book flights from Oz to NZ you'll probably get an E-Ticket. You NEED to print out your schedule for NZ immigration though, if you don't you will not be able to board in Oz - ridiculous I know!

There is lots of excellent diving in NSW too - Byron Bay (http://www.sundive.com.au), Solitary Islands (http://www.woolidive.com.au/ http://www.divequest.com.au/ http://www.jettydive.com.au), South West Rocks (http://www.fishrock.com.au), Forster (http://www.diveforster.com.au http://www.actiondivers.com.au), Sydney has good diving, but it is hard to do boat dives during the week. Do you want me to keep going?

I've only done two dives there, but Tassie is very good. You need to take your own buddy though http://www.eaglehawkdive.com.au.

Except Byron Bay (fly into Coolangatta) and possible Coffs Harbour i.e. Jetty Dive (Coffs has an airport), you would really need to hire a car to get to places.

If you are looking for flights goto http://www.webjet.com.au and do a search... then go to the individual airline's site (I know, but hey it's a dog eat dog world).

[Chardy]

Been looking at a liveaboard out of Cairns to Cod Hole and the Coral Sea,

any thoughts

[Brian Donaghy]

Originally Posted by Chardy

Been looking at a liveaboard out of Cairns to Cod Hole and the Coral Sea,

any thoughts

Have you read through this thread ?

I agree with Simon that the North island of New Zealand might make a nice trip. Not quite PNG or somewhere exotic in Micronesia but with its own attractions. In summer it should be nice and warm and the Poor Knights is a reasonable destination for a novice diver. White Island is also good. When we were there we didn't get to do the Rainbow Warrior or the Michael Lermontov due to conditions but as I understand it they wold not be suitable dives for your other half much like most of the wrecks in Chuuk you selfish git.

[cdiver2]

Originally Posted by Chardy

Been looking at a liveaboard out of Cairns to Cod Hole and the Coral Sea,

any thoughts

Last year we did PNG for a week and then a live aboard to GBR and coral sea, If I had know then what I know now I would have done two weeks in PNG.

[simonn]

Originally Posted by Chardy

Been looking at a liveaboard out of Cairns to Cod Hole and the Coral Sea,

any thoughts

I'm not big fan of the GBR (I think it it thoroughly overrated), but the Coral Sea is good (can't compare against PNG until June though).

Would be a simple option for you to get a lot of diving in as you would not have to knock off a couple of days due to flying, and if you haven't dived the GBR/Coral Sea, then why not.

Check out http://www.spiritoffreedom.com.au. I haven't dived with them, but they spend 3 days out on the Coral Sea, which is more than the other operators, and someone who I know as very reliable has dived with them and said they are very good. They also have nitrox, which is probably a good idea if you are doing 4+ dives a day.