Dive Review of Pro Dive in
Australia/Cairns - Great Barrier Reef

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Pro Dive: "Three Days Aboard the ScubaPro III on the Great Barrier Reef", Apr, 2019, by Matthew Glass, MA, US ( 2 reports). Report 11275.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Overall, the Great Barrier Reef is in tough condition due to the bleaching events of recent years. This can be seen in the vast areas of damaged corals, and struggling ecosphere. We were fortunate to have our boat mooring on the outer portion of the reef, as the areas closer to shore - those often visited by the dayboats with dozens and dozens of divers - are in even worse shape. "An underwater graveyard" was how it was described to me. But the reef was still unfortunately somewhat of a letdown for us. Perhaps we just expected too much. The coral formations were in many ways incredible - huge tables, large pinnacles, giant mushrooms and other interesting shapes. But for all the eye-catching geometry, the color and vibrancy was not what we were hoping for. Loads of small fish darted in and out of the coral and small schools of other reef fish, like bumphead parrotfish congregated here and there, and we did get to see a number of white-tip reef sharks on the night dives. Despite being so close to the outer edge of the reef, near the continental dropoff, we didn't get to see the larger pelagic fish one might expect there. On the plus side, the crew were fantastic. Super-friendly and eager to help. Our main dive guide gave very helpful and detailed briefings before each dive, so we knew how to best navigate each site to maximize our enjoyment. He would suggest where, for example, one of the regular turtles may be found napping or eating, or where the most interesting swim-throughs could be found. The food was plentiful and decent and the chef was certain to make sure everyone had enough and wasn't going hungry. Given the overall cost for our three days - about $600 per person - the accommodations were as could be expected; not plush, but comfortable and pleasant. The dive deck was a little crowded when everyone was kitting up. Fortunately for the first two days, nearly half the divers were still completing their open water checkout dives, so they weren't on the deck until after we were in the water. The top deck could be crowded with the younger divers hanging out and sunning themselves and doing what young folks do. But only when everyone was obligated to be in the same spaces - the dive deck, the dining room, the top deck - did it feel a little crowded.
Websites	Pro Dive
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	I've dived all over South Florida, New England and parts of the Caribbean.
Closest Airport	Cairns (CNS)	Getting There	Once in Australia, it's an easy flight from major cities (Melbourne, Sydney) to Cairns. We flew Jetstar, a local carrier.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	-°F / -°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	- Ft/ - M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Queensland requires all divers wear a full body skin when in the water.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	The boat wasn't really set up for any serious photography, which is surprising, given that it IS the Great Barrier Reef. There was a single small camera bucket that mostly had a few GoPros and my TG5. As for the subjects - see my comments about the reef in general.

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Dive Review of Pro Dive in Australia/Cairns - Great Barrier Reef

Pro Dive: "Three Days Aboard the ScubaPro III on the Great Barrier Reef", Apr, 2019,

Photos Submitted with this Report

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Pro Dive in
Australia/Cairns - Great Barrier Reef