Scuba Diving On The Great Barrier Reef?
I’m going to Australia in July and I have the option of either snorkeling or scuba diving on the Reef. I’m not certified yet, but if I wanted to scuba dive I could get certified. I’m not too sure about getting certified, considering I would have to pay for the certification and equipment and that is NOT cheap. Though, I want to scuba dive because it’s the Earth’s largest and most beautiful reef in the world.
I’m not sure what to do. Spend a TON of money to get certified and experience what the Reef has to offer or save my money and snorkel?
Has anyone on here snorkeled or scuba dived on the Great Barrier Reef before and would like to share their opinion on their experience? Please include any information for it would make my decision process far easier. Thanks! 
I’ve done both.
Depends how far you want to dive. You can do a non-certified shallow dive on many of the tours. You only go to about 10m, which gets you into the reef but not down the sides. That is often enough to see some of the good stuff and give you a feel for diving. Some would argue you can see that much snorkeling. But you cannot stay down as long!
You can do some preparation dives in local pool and then dive on the reef when you get there. Cheaper option, probably won’t be as good as a full dive with a group of certified divers but certainly an option.
Personally, that was enough for me and since then I have been happy to snorkel!
If you want to dive elsewhere around the world, then pay your money and get your certificate.
What might cause my scuba regulator to wheeze when getting low on air?
well it can be a once in a lifetime experience..i would pay a ton of money and be able to say i went scuba diving on the great barrier reef. And once you become certified you can do it all the time..
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I have done both and i would also pay and go scuba diving. It is really so much better experience than snorkelling. To be deep down there amongst them instead of watching them from surface. And once you’ve got the licence, you can use it anywhere in the world.
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Ive also done both and scuba diving is well worth it not to mention the license would be great to have but im a bit confused about something. Who told you you needed to be certified to dive on the reef because you dont. If you book through a company(Loads around all along the north eastern coast) they’ll give you a certain amount of training and take down with and instructor which is probably advisable anyway cause they know where to go etc. as part of the price and im sure its not exorbitant, especially compared to a PADI open water course. Have a look around and see what suits you best. Leaving everything aside do the scuba if you can, its spectacular and i went on a bad day .
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Pay the cash you wont regret it. Im a certified diver advanced lvl. Never been to the great barrier "YET". Its definitely something I want to do b4 I die. Snorkeling limits you allot as far as were you can go and what youll see, and honestly would probably just leave you wanting more. Look at it this way, you only live once. How many chances are you going to get to scuba the BIGGEST reef in the world. I say spend the money. The memories will last a life time……..
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I’ve done both.
Depends how far you want to dive. You can do a non-certified shallow dive on many of the tours. You only go to about 10m, which gets you into the reef but not down the sides. That is often enough to see some of the good stuff and give you a feel for diving. Some would argue you can see that much snorkeling. But you cannot stay down as long!
You can do some preparation dives in local pool and then dive on the reef when you get there. Cheaper option, probably won’t be as good as a full dive with a group of certified divers but certainly an option.
Personally, that was enough for me and since then I have been happy to snorkel!
If you want to dive elsewhere around the world, then pay your money and get your certificate.
References :