Welcome to Super-Scuba.com. This is a forum for all scuba divers about the topics that interest you from diving equipment, great locations to planning your next diving holiday. Most will be scuba diving related, but we’ll go into other areas of Adventure Travel and just about anything related to enjoying this planets incredible oceans ans waterways. Enjoy!
The Cairns marina is home to a fleet which consists of quite a few pretty remarkable dive boats. The newest member of the fleet is the Seastar, pretty much unveiled this previous month.
This unique fabulous new vessel is ninety ft long, and would make the trip out there to Seastar’s scuba dive sites in under an hour or so. The boat is certainly quick and also stable, along with loads of shaded and air-conditioned cabin space.
Seastar Cruises also has constantly prided themselves on supplying an incredibly exclusive and individual voyage, and they are altering their own experditions to be able to greatly enhance the smaller group experience that they have normally offered.
We tend to really like the particular straightforward fact that their owners control the actual levels aboard to exactly 40 individuals, incredibly well below the actual total capacity of the particular boat; which would mean that there is definitely a lot of breathing space on board. Using a swifter boat they can leave a little less earlier, and yet still end up being the first vessel to head over to Michaelmas Cay, therefore snorkelers and birdwatchers get it all to themselves. This particular getaway is usually the A-list trip for birdwatchers that really want to combine a superb reef escape which also has a possible opportunity to watch exotic seabird varieties.
A faster cruise out also will mean even more time could possibly be spent at Michaelmas Cay and in addition Seastar’s different dive mooring in Hastings Reef; tourists will today spend more than 5 hours out on the reef.
Last but not least, as soon as the Japanese people return to the annual fall/winter research whale hunt, they might anticipate the multitude of admirers as well as protectors connected with Migaloo to be protesting the hunt. While the Japanese proposal to be able to go back to industrial whaling was knocked back, for the very first time in a great many years the suspect scientific quest can include the executing of 50 Humpback whales, so Migaloo might be at risk any time this individual hits Antarctic seas the following springtime as well as summer. The Great Barrier Reef was also been accorded the world wide Travel and leisure for Future honor for Very best Vacation location during this seasons Tourism with regard to Tomorrow Awards held in Lisbon, Italy. The honor, given by the World Holiday and Tourism Council, is regarded one of the “oscars” within the travel sector.
With all of the news on the subject of the risks connected with global warming to the Great Barrier Reef it’s indeed nice that the reef has received an award that has a subject that includes the term “Tourism with regard to Tomorrow” and now we maintain great hope for international projects truly being made to reduce the volume of carbon that is caused by people’s lifestyle. The major conclusions, hardships, in addition to planning still has yet to occur, nevertheless most people keep on being optimists on the subject of proper protection of the reef.
Over the previous ten years excellent progress were made to safeguard the reef, by using synchronised management plan that experts claim will look at recreational pursuits both about the reef like angling and also tourisms, as well as in neighboring coastal areas. In excess of 30% of the Great Barrier Reef is completely shielded from offshore fishing as well as other extractive activities in the past 10 years.
The honor came with this Judges’ decision: “Enormous progression has been recently made to be able to include the very specialized tourism market in the management of quite substantial maritime conservation area.”
The threat of climate change stretches well outside of the Great Barrier Reef, in addition to it’s causes consist of people and also industries al over the world, not just Queensland. Many of us hope to successfully see a powerful coalition of nations acting to lower greenhouse gasses effectively, and also to see that group involve both Australia plus the United States.
Departing normality behind at Cairns, we ventured along the Peninsula Developmental Road. This further deteriorated right into a deep corrugated track which wound along the way of the telegraph line, between giant rainforest trees along with across innumerable rivers up to the little Aboriginal town of Bamaga on Cape York. “The Entrance to HELL — get back if you can”, proclaimed an amusing handpainted sign once we headed off into the true wilderness!
River crossings of just about all manner and form punctuated the journey — with axle-deep red dirt, decrepit log bridges (your odd log missing every now and then to add to the challenge), deep sand or fast flowing water to keep you on your toes. It was a classic four wheel drive adventure. The grandest challenge, however, was the crossing of the Jardine River.
Even in the dry season, the Jardine River, just 35 km to the south of Bamaga, is a wide, not too deep, quick-flowing river. In 1985, the luxury of a tiny punt had just become open to carry the vehicles owned by the less brave across this famous barrier for the princely sum of $25. Many marital battles then erupted around the banks of the Jardine as cautious wives and thrill-seeking husbands debated the relative merits of the challenging river crossing plus the tame punt ride. As newlyweds, we too had our dispute here, but in our case it turned out the thrill-seeking wife who desired the river experience!
To drive across a river this way requires substantial preparation. A diesel motor such as ours requires a long air snorkel to draw in air from well over any possible water level. Tyres must be deflated, waterproof covers packed round the engine and openings including fuel tanks and doors must be securely sealed. We watched with interest as many vehicles attempted the crossing — and many failed, becoming stranded mid-river with the waters swirling round the driver’s feet and camping gear floating in the back of the vehicle!
Finally the adventure-seeking partner prevailed. A group of fellow Patrol travellers came to our aid and loaned us a snorkel and also covers which fitted our vehicle. So with our vehicle decorated like a Christmas lunch, we drove down into the muddy waters of the heaving Jardine.
Across the river we drove, pushing a significant bow-wave just before us. Mick said it felt so great he wanted to change direction and keep driving in the river! Then through a heart-stopping very deep hole at the end and up the steep bank we drove, masters of the Jardine. I bet they do not have this much fun when doing one of the organised Cape York Tours.
Our dripping wet vehicle on the other side seemed little the worse due to the adventure. However, it cost us more to change the differential oils which had become waterlogged compared to little punt ride would’ve cost. So sanity prevailed on our return journey 30 days later and the Landcruiser required a drier ride across the Jardine on the car ferry!
If уоu аrе аmоng thе people whо аrе rеаllу passionate аbоut traveling, hаvе уоu bееn rеаllу thinking аbоut enjoying іt cost-effectively? Or уоu јuѕt prepare thе money tо gеt аll thе luxurious pleasure nо matter hоw muсh іt wіll be?
Well, уоu рrоbаblу dо hаvе а lot оf money, but it’s nоt rеаllу а bad thіng іf уоu соuld save mоrе уеt ѕtіll hаvе thе enjoyment you’ve bееn dreaming of. It іѕ true. Yоu hаvе thе ѕаmе excitement уеt wіth spending lеѕѕ money thаt you’ve calculated before. Hоw dо уоu dо it?
Here аrе 5 top tips уоu ѕhоuld tаkе іntо account
1. Find оut alternate routes tо уоur destination.
Sometimes, а combination оf twо flights іѕ cheaper thаn оnе flight. Or, уоu саn аlѕо ѕау thаt thе direct route іѕ nоt аlwауѕ thе cheapest. Fоr example, іf you’re planning tо gо overseas, іt wіll bе muсh cheaper іf you’re wіllіng tо mаkе а domestic flight fіrѕt prior tо switching tо аn international one.
2. Reduce thе food costs durіng уоur trip bу shopping іn local supermarkets rаthеr thаn dining out.
You саn buy ѕоmе healthy snacks аnd fresh food frоm а market tо eat durіng уоur outings. It іѕ а fаr bеttеr idea іnѕtеаd оf stopping fоr lunch аt а touristy restaurant. However, іf уоu ѕtіll wаnt tо dine out, it’s bеѕt tо dо іt оn trulу local cuisine. Bеѕіdеѕ you’ll save а lot оf money, you’ll experience а mоrе interesting cultural atmosphere аnd gеt muсh cheaper local food.
3. Lооk іntо renting аn apartment.
That’s whаt уоu ѕhоuld dо іf you’re planning tо stay long іn thе place уоu gо to. Why? Bесаuѕе іt іѕ uѕuаllу muсh cheaper thаn еvеn thе cheapest оf hotels. Anоthеr advantage іѕ thаt уоu wіll bе аblе tо cook іn thе apartment.
4. Mаkе уоur trip muсh mоrе affordable bу bеіng flexible.
This іѕ рrоbаblу thе mоѕt important concept оvеrаll іn terms оf discount travel. If уоu саn bе flexible аnd open tо nеw thіngѕ іn rеgаrdѕ tо уоur destinations, уоu hаvе thе opportunity оf tаkіng whісhеvеr іѕ cheap. Thus, уоu wіll оftеn save lots оf money.
Here іѕ оnе example: You’re gоіng tо Cairns Australia, whеrе rum wіll bе incredibly cheap аnd оthеr types оf alcohol wіll bе fаіrlу pricey. Yоu don’t rеаllу lіkе rum, but іn thіѕ situation, уоu dо whеn you’re іn thе country.
5. Cоnѕіdеr thе vаluе оf staying put fоr а while.
Traveling doesn’t аlwауѕ mеаn thе flight tо уоur destination. Yоu wіll nоt оnlу hаvе huge savings оn transportation аnd accommodation, but аlѕо tаkе pleasure іn fаr mоrе exciting аnd valuable occasions аnd experiences.
Of соurѕе іt іѕ vеrу tempting tо trу аnd ѕее аѕ muсh аѕ роѕѕіblе іn а foreign country bу constantly moving. But, it’s dubious thаt уоu wіll аlѕо gеt а good sense оf whаt thе country іѕ like. If you’re wіllіng tо stay fоr а while, fоr instance bу renting аn apartment fоr а fеw weeks іn а раrtісulаr city, уоu саn experience thе culture а bit more, meet аnd indulge wіth ѕоmе locals, dine іn local restaurants, аnd оf course, save mоrе money.
So, hаvе уоu decided whеrе уоu wаnt tо gо now? Hаvе уоu checked оut thе flights аnd thе prices? Hope уоu enjoy уоur traveling!
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world running from the northern tip of the continent to just north of Fraser Island. The great barrier reef stretches over 1600 miles along the east coast.
The Great Barrier Reef is a sanctuary for well over 1000 fish varieties, whales, dugongs. An incredible amount of seabirds live there.
The coral which forms the reef itself is also a living creature. When it dies it turns light grey, and forms the structure for new coral growth. The different species of coral grow at different speeds, while some are quite fast growing, some varieties take well over a hundred years to mature. The colours are not because of the coral but by the growth of algae on it.
The reef lives in a tropical climate relying on warm nutrient rich waters to thrive. Nutrient rich water and plenty of light is needed to maintain the health of the coral.
With hundreds of thousands of square miles of reef it is a diving and snorkelling paradise. Lots of quality diving tours are available from the towns up and down the east coast. Even if you don’t go in the ocean you can see the wonders of the reefs wonders through glass bottom boat tours.
The reef is world heritage listed and large sections are protected from fishing and the taking of coral from the reef isn’t allowed to preserve it for generations to come.
The tropical and friendly capital of the far north, Cairns is full of things to do. Situated in the middle of some of the most photographically beautiful and ecologically important areas on the planet, Cairns is the obvious gateway to the natural riches of rainforest, tablelands, outback, and The Great Barrier Reef. The city itself has a plethora of – unbeleivable bargains, theatres, cinemas, museums, botanical gardens, a casino, and fine contemporary cuisine. Cairns is strongly placed as one of the countries must-do tourist destinations, being the centre for numerous outdoor experiences. Cairns reef tours are probably the thing to do for most tourists, although Cairns is fast becoming well-known as the adventure sport capital of Australia.
Are you in the process of organising a holiday? If you are and if your vacation will need air travel, you’ll find that you have various options when booking your holiday arrangements. One of the most popular options is to book a vacation package.
Admittedly Cairns Packages do have their pros and cons, there are many travelers who buy them, as well as raving about them to others. There are 2 main reasons for this. The best part of holiday package deals is that you will receive a discount and that it is easy to book multiple travel options all with the same person, thus reducing the chance of errors. Although you will find some differences, holiday packages should include alot more than airline tickets. Depending on the package deal you have booked, it should include overnight lodgings, a couple of day tours and car rental included.
If you are interested in organising your next travel plans in the form of a Cairns Package Deal, you may be wondering whats the easiest way. The great news is that you have numerous options. Just a few of the varied ways that you can go about finding and purchasing holiday packages that include flight reservations are listed below for you.
The first place that you may want to look at is some of the bigger internet travel sites, like Orbtiz. These are travel stores that focus on the whole world, such as both domestic and international travel. Many of the well known vacation travel stores will give you some great ideas when planning to purchase vacation packages. For instance, if you already have your resort accommodation organised, like if you are staying with friends, you can still book a holiday package that will only include flight reservations and a car rental.
As well as the bigger travel stores, you may also want to have a look at specialty websites. These are travel sites that concentrate on a specific region, like Cairns or Queensland. Many of these regional travel stores are still trustworthy and reputable stores and many also offer vacation package deals. In fact, depending on your luck, you could even find a vacation package that consists of a stay at a vacation rental, like a holiday home. These types of holiday packages can sometimes be hard to find, but they do exist.
If you are going to a holiday destination that is trendy or in peak season, like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Because I am a dive instuctor, Ioften get asked what are my favourite dive sites. Here they are as I rate them.
1. The Maldives
The optimum way to see the Maldives is on a live-aboard dive trip: you get up to four dives each day and it works out good value. From April until September you are almost guaranteed to see manta rays but they are there all year round. North Male Island and South Ari atoll provide reliably good diving around the atoll walls, with good and schooling game species as well as all the small colourful reef life you expect to see. The Maldives arguably has the best all-round diving in the Indian Ocean, and I feel the experience starts the moment I get picked up from the airport for a transfer to the dive boat.
2.Yongala Wreck, Australia
The Yongala is a shipwreck in Queensland, south of
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Tagged Scuba Diving, worlds best
If you like mountain biking and traveling, why don’t you combine the two for your upcoming holiday? There are mountain bike Cairns Tours for every skill level of biker. All you have to do is choose one. Mountain bike tours are simple to find all over the world. An organized mountain bike tour is wonderful for many different reasons. The first reason is that it will offer you the opportunity to visit places in a manner that you never have. It will also provide you with a way to physical exercise, have adventure, and have a lot of fun. The family style mountain bicycle tours are geared towards the kids. Many of these tours are located in national parks and areas which families want to go into the back country and explore. Family mountain bike tours are designed to teach and be fun. The companies will often bring along video games, coloring books and entertainment for that kids during the actual evening hours. Camping with the tours is additionally an option. Kids can ride their own bikes, ride a trail-along or be taken in a Burley trailer. The day features a ride for the entire family and then the kids can be taken to the camp site for scavenger hunts, games and other kid oriented routines. The parents may take additional biking travels or can get back to camp with the youngsters. This type of mountain bike tours is family centered and a great way to incorporate an out-of-doors adventure for the kids and your mother and father. There will also be mountain bike tours that are for the much more adventurous people. These tours are offered in many areas and journey into off road experiences. They can also be set up with camping or even include additional adventures such as white water rafting. The entire package can be put together to represent a vacationers interests and result in an unique and amazing experience. For those that truly enjoy the sport of mountain biking, these can be a memorable experience as a vacation. Mountain bike tours are a booming business, and can be located almost anywhere. Many places even rent bikes for the day and help select routes that will interest the mountain bikers. Mountain bike tours are definitely a fun alternative to the everyday vacation and can bring a whole new perspective to a family trip.. Six years after being employed by a kayaking touring and sales company I’ve finally got around to aquiring myself one. I have spent the last few years learning the areas rivers in an older style whitewater kayak, but this just wasn’t suitable for the coast. I already own some Marine charts as I’m a yachtie, but I figure I’ll just photocopy relevant sections and laminate the individual pages. I have a compass ready to be fitted. The expeditions I have planned in the short term to test everything out are The Frankland Islands, Fitzroy Island for the Fitzroy Island New Years Eve Party, Low Isles Dunk Island and Snapper Island. In the future I want to do Hinchinbrook Island and paddle all the way the island. This is all leading up to the big journey of Cape York. I can fit approximately 100 kg of camping gear and supplies without becoming too unseaworthy, so this should get me a fair way. And I can always tow a fishing line to replace my boring freeze dried diet with some fresh fish. I’ll also be stopping and camping so the lure casting gear will get a good work out too. The Great Barrier Reef, best visited from Cairns Australia is the world’s largest living thing and home to an amazing variety of marine life. There are a large number of tour operators that depart from Cairns, below is a short selection. Reef Encounter is an unique floating hotel offering 1 night or several nights surronded by the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef in style snorkelling, scuba diving and learn to dive packages are all available Compass Cruises is Cairns best value budget trip to the Great Barrier Reef price is $60.00 plus $20.00 for levies, cruise includes snorkelling equipment, lunch, afternoon tea, boomnetting, 2 spectacular reef locations Local Family Owned and Operated. Tusa Dive are a specialist dive boat, but also take snorkellers. They take a small number of guests to the two best dive sites depending on the day’s weather. If you’re a qualified diver, they come highly recommended. Ocean Spirit have two vessels – one that goes to Michaelmas Cay and one that goes to Upolu Cay. If you’re looking for an inexpensive snorkelling day cruise, the Upolu Cay tour is good value for money. Passions of Paradise is a modern catamaran that goes to the reef and Michaelmas Cay and is another inexpensive option. This company recently won the Cairns Tourism Award for Adventure Tourism. Traveling to two different uncrowded destinations you can be sure of a high quality experience. Pro Dive Cairns has boats departing tours non-stop to various places on the reef, catering to divers of all experience levels. They have 3 boats running 3D/2N liveaboard cruises to the Great Barrier reef, as well as expeditions from 3-7 days in various combinations visiting other famous GBR sites such as Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea. Outer Barrier Reef 3D/2N (leaves every day except Tuesday) prices are $604 for certified divers / $507 snorkelling only. This includes all gear hire, accommodation and food/drinks while at sea. Dive courses are available from introductory diving to professional level training, and run on the liveaboard trips, check the website for further information. Deep Blue Divers Den This is an overnight vessel that can best be decribed an a floating 4 star hotel. she is surprisingly spacious. She moves around Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reefs; and visits three sites a day. There are daily transfers to and from the vessel every day so you can stay for as little as one night or as many as you want. A perfect boat for both divers and snorkelers . Pub Crawls have started in all the top tourist destinations lately. And so they should. They make a great night a sure thing. Both party tours happen twice weekly. I’m sure they operate the same in other places such as the Sunshine Coast and Adelaide, but I have only done the Cairns one so I’ll tell you about that one. There’s pizza and party games and most importantly, the operators try to keep the numbers of sexes the same. Lots of people have found the love of their lives on a party tour. It may only last until the sun rises, but as long as everybody has fun it’s all OK isn’t it? Fun for both tourists and locals, these tours also attract Hens parties, football teams and army and navy groups. Basically the evening runs this way; Participants meet at the first venue at a preorganised time, this is where tickets and money is collected and the all important ID bracelet is handed out. This identifying wristband is what gets you in to the evenings pubs & clubs as all cover charges are included in your tour cost, both on the tour and for the rest of the night. This usually saves you $$$ on cover charges alone, without including all the other inclusions. You get special treatment at all the top clubs, pubs and bars. There are also prizes and giveaways including reef trips and skydives. Fun and games are the emphasis of the evening, with the operators experts at how to get the party going. Pub Crawls also run on big nights like Cairns New Years Eve. They’re the only to avoid the crowds and prevent having to pay entry to the Bars. You are guided between each nightspot by bus and if you are lucky it may even be in an roofless double decker bus. We are lucky enough to have 2 popular Party Tours in Cairns,who are doing specdial New Years Eve Parties, Ultimate Party New Years Eve and Fitzroy Island New Years Beach Party. So why not experience a little bit different this New Years Eve. It’s Fun and simple and you’ll meet some like minded travellers. It’s perfect for single tourists.Mountain Biking Destinations In Australia
Well, I Recently Bought A Seakayak
This was getting super frustrative as I live 100 metres from the waterfront at Holloways Beach, a seaside area inside the Great Barrier Reef .
I’d already explored the Mulgrave River numerous times, the Upper Barron River was getting a bit boring also, so I had to get into that ocean.
As Cairns is a smaller country center the buying of a seakayak and the assorted accessories is not the easiest task. You can either go with internet auction sites, wait for somebody to sell it used or just work with what you can get in your area.
Thats what had to do. I made the most of what I could find, with the notion of then turning it into what I need. I found a reasonably affordable chinease made sea kayak brand new. Now I knew that the fittings would be inferior quality, I also knew it probably wouldn’t be totally watertight. Luckily I was pleasantly surprised.
The only things that will need replacing are the shock cord deck lines and shock cord rudder lines. I may substitute the inner rudder lines with stainless wire as soon as needed.
As for setting up the boat with safety equipment my list is as follows
* V Flag for attratring attention
* Emergency tool containing whistle, mini compass, match striker, signalling mirror and small watertight storage for matches.
* Distress flares
* extra paddle (cut into 3 sections for storage)
* Another signalling mirror ( I don’t trust only having one of something that sinks)
* 3 x 1.5 liter containers of water
* 4 snap flouro glow sticks
* small 1st aid kit
* thermal blanketA Selection Of Cairns Diving and Snorkelling Trips
Michaelmas Cay Prices: Snorkelling only: Adult – $179, Child (4-14yrs) – $87.50. Introductory dive: $98 (additional).
Upolu Cay Prices: Snorkelling only: Adult – $119, Child (4-14yrs) – $75.50. Introductory dive: $9 (additional).
Prices: Snorkelling only: Adult – $169, Child (4-14yrs) – $89, Family (2A & 2C) – $407. Introductory or Certified dive: $70 (additional). These prices include $10 reef levy.A Cairns New Years Eve