| FAQ
/ Visiting Australia These
FAQ are written as a checklist for your trip preparation. It is not going to replace
a travel guide where you find more in depth information. Some
items like rates or schedules may change without notice. So please don't take
it as gospel and double-check before you travel. Should you find information here
that is outdated or wrong, please e-mail us and let us know.
Is
Australia a safe place to travel?
Australia must be one of the safest
places in the world. People are very friendly, approachable and have a reputation
for their inviting friendliness. If you use common sense and normal caution chances
are good that you will feel safer in Australia then back home.
Do
I need a Passport or Visa?
To travel to Australia (also on stopovers)
you need a valid passport and a "Electronic Travel Authority" (ETA),
which can be issued free of charge on the spot by all airline-ticketing offices
or the Travel Agent that is making your flight arrangements into Australia. If
you purchase your air ticket through DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL, we can also issue
your ETA. Online information regarding your eligibility for an ETA can be found
at: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/tourist.htm
When
is the best time to visit and dive in Australia?
The good thing about
Australia is that it is so big, that there is always a place where it is summer.
Being on the southern half of the planet, our seasons are reversed, Christmas
is our summer, whereas people in South Australia go skiing in July!
So it will depend a lot on your activities to answer this question. In general
Australia is a great year-round travel and dive destination, especially up north
in the tropics at the Great Barrier Reef. The
majority of divers visit the Great Barrier Reef between the Far North (Cooktown)
and the southern Great Barrier Reef section (Townsville). For this reason we have
compiled weather information about this region. Please check directly with us
for other regional info about current weather conditions. Even
in tropical Northern Australia there are 4 seasons! They are not as distinctly
different as in the Northern Hemisphere, but we have them: Spring: Sep-Nov, Summer:
Dec-Feb, Autumn: March-May, Winter: June-Aug Diving
conditions are usually best from late August to early December. The tropical monsoon
season is January-March and cyclones can occur then. Winds: Between May and August
usually strongest.
| Average
Weather Chart for North Queensland |
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Water
Temperature | C
F | 28
84
| 28
84
| 28
84
| 25
80
| 25
80
| 22
72
| 22
72
| 22
72
| 23
74
| 25
79
| 26
80
| 27
82 | | Air
Temperature | Average
1 to 2 degrees higher than water temperature |
| Rain | most
rain
| most
rain
| most
rain
| bit
rain
| least
rain
| least
rain
| least
rain
| least
rain
| least
rain
| least
rain
| bit
rain
| bit
rain | | Least
Wind in FNQ |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
GBR
Best
Visibility
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coral
Sea Best Visibility | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Recommended
Wetsuit Options | 3mm*
1/8 inch
| 3mm*
1/8 inch
| 3mm*
1/8 inch
| 5mm
1/4 inch
| 5mm
1/4 inch
| 5mm
1/4 inch
| 5mm
1/4 inch
| 5mm
1/4 inch
| 5mm
1/4 inch
| 3mm
1/8 inch
| 3mm
1/8 inch
| 3mm*
1/8
inch | *During these months a lycra suit (stinger
suit) might be enough for most divers
Do
I need vaccinations before I travel to Australia?
North Queensland and
the Northern Territories belong to the few tropical areas in the world, where
malaria does not exist. There are isolated cases of dengue fever and other rare
tropical diseases, but there is no need for special prophylactic treatments or
vaccinations. All
other parts of Australia with moderate climates further south don't require any
special attention at all. Just make sure you keep your usual immunisations current,
which you should have anyway (eg. polio, tetanus). It is strongly recommended
to take out travel insurance cover for Australia.
I have heard about the jelly fish in Oct - May. Is it safe
to dive?
Jellyfish
occur in all tropical waters. Thanks to the research efforts
and level of knowledge about jellyfish in the northern Great
Barrier Reef, operators here can offer much better safety
and information about this issue than in other tropical
diving locations.
We
do know that the most lethal species of box jellyfish, (chironex fleckeri) live
in estuaries and coastal waters and do not venture offshore to the areas visited
by most dive vessels. There
are other species of jellyfish, including oceanic and offshore species of box
jellyfish, which occasionally occur and if encountered can have serious health
issues and in extreme instances, cause fatality. These occur in all tropical diving
locations throughout the world, including Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, Thailand,
Fiji and Indonesia especially during the warmer seasons. We
advise the wearing of full body coverage using lycra suits and/or wetsuits to
minimise the already low possibility of jellyfish stings, but equally important
to protect from sunburn, wherever you dive. Suits are not always available for
hire, so it is best to bring your own (cost approx A$ 80.00) as there are many
different body shapes and a hire suit will never fit you as well as your own. Read
the latest information on jellyfish in Australia by the CRC (Nov 04)
What
do I need to know about the currency?
The Australian Dollar is a very stable currency. Traveller
cheques and credit cards are widely accepted. Preferably
Visa and Master cards, AMEX and Diners are not accepted
in some places. If your bank account is linked to the CIRRUS
MAESTRO worldwide ATM network, you can use your bank key-card
to get cash in Australia. Check with your bank for details.
Most banks in Australia are open Mon-Tue 9.30 am to 4 PM,
Fridays until 5 PM. Most tourist centres have currency exchange
locations which are open late into the evenings and on weekends.
Will
my electrical appliances/computer/chargers etc. work in Australia?
Voltage in Australia is 240/250Volt. 220V appliances usually
work without problems. You have to bring a special adaptor
for the 3-pronged sockets used in Australia.
Can
I use my drivers licence to hire a car?
Australians drive their cars on
the left hand side of the road. Most people do get used to it quickly. To legally
hire a car a valid national car drivers licence (in English) or a international
drivers licence is needed. Some hire companies request a minimum age of 21.
Should
I bring any special clothing?
You all might have seen the movie "Crocodile
Dundee" - the khaki safari look has been popular with tourists ever since.
However, unless you are really travelling off the beaten track, comfortable casual
leisurewear is all what is needed. Make sure to check the climate zones - winter
in Melbourne and Tasmania (Jun/Jul) is really cold! All over Australia, you should
be careful with sun exposure. Get a hat with broad rim and make sure you always
protect your skin with sunscreen (15+).
How
much do I need to tip?
Good news: No one in Australia demands any tips
for services rendered. Tips have never been part of the culture. That said, people
always like to be rewarded for very good service. Give as much or little as you
see fit. Tipping on dive boats is appreciated but never expected.
What
time zones does Australia belong to?
On the top right corner of this webpage
you see the current local time in Cairns, Queensland. Just calculate the difference
to your local time. As
in all countries of similar size, Australian cities are located in different time
zones: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are part of the Eastern
Standard Time zone (GMT + 10). Western Australia is 2 hours behind (GMT+8), South
Australia and Northern Territory are ½ hour behind (GMT +9.5). Travel schedules
are always stated in local time.
Are
airport transfers included?
Some hotels, cruises or tour operators do offer complimentary
pick up services from the airport. This will be marked clearly
in the product description. Should there be no pre- arranged
transfer service, all Australian airports offer very reliable
and affordable taxi or regularly scheduled transfer bus
services. Be aware that transfer buses sometimes stop at
other hotels first before reaching your accommodation. Following
is a list of approximate taxi fares from the airport to
downtown for several places you might visit (as of Nov 2004).
| Cairns | Townsville | Brisbane | Sydney | Melbourne | Perth | Exmouth | Alice | Darwin |
| $13 | $13 | $30 | $35-$45 | $45 | $30 | $16
(bus) | $25 | $18 |
|
