September 1998 - Great Barrier Reef Dive Trip Cairns Australia

Bill and Anette in front of Super Sport

View from flight to Lizard Island

Bill returning from night dive

The dive deck

Flying over the Barrier Reef

Our Dive Trip to the Great Barrier Reef

In September 1998 Bill and Anette took their first scuba dive vacation (3 nights/11 dives) aboard the Mike Ball Super Sport catamaran to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. We flew into Cairns, Australia and spent a day looking around town. The following morning we flew aboard a small propeller plane to Lizard Island (approximately a 60 minute flight) where we met up with the Super Sport vessel. There were a total of 21 passengers on our trip but I believe the boat holds up to 22 paying passengers. The boat was comfortable, however, on our last evening aboard we experienced rough seas and the boat didn't seem to handle the waves very well. The crew were very friendly and helpful while the food was good and plentiful.

This trip included diving Cod Hole where the dive guides fed the large potato cods. It was quite an experience to see such large fish up so close. We also dived Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Harrier Reef, Steve's Bommie and several other less known sites. Overall the diving was good, but I was a little disappointed as I had high expectations for the Great Barrier Reef. From the time I was a kid I had always heard about how great the Great Barrier Reef was so I guess when it didn't meet these lofty ideals it left me somewhat disappointed. After having dived Bunaken Underwater Park in Manado, Sulawesi I think the diving was as good or better than what I experienced on this trip.