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 Should you find information here that is outdated or wrong, please e-mail us and let us know.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?
• Do I need a Passport or Visa?
• When is the best time to visit and dive in Australia?
• Do I need vaccinations before I travel to Australia?
• I have heard about the jelly fish in Oct - May. Is it safe to dive?
• What do I need to know about the currency?
• Will my electrical appliances/computer/chargers etc. work in Australia?
• Can I use my drivers' licence to hire a car?
• Should I bring any special clothing?
• How much do I need to tip?
• Which time zones apply to Australia?
• Are airport transfers included?

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/visitors/tourist/

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

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.

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).