Could you let me know the daily routine eg time, length and depth of the dives.
There tended to be two dives a day, the first set off at around 9.30, and the second at 11. We mainly did the second dive only, as we couldn't put our daughter into the kids club until 10. The first dive was the deep one (obviously) and when we went, to the Maverick (about 5 mins away), we went to a depth of about 25m.
Second dives tended to be to about 12m. The dives were until people ran out of air. If people were running our at different times then some pairs went up to the boat when they ran out and the others carried on. The length of the second dive tended to be just less than an hour.
Which sites did you go to and how did you get there?
We got to the sites by boat. We went to Anos Vale, which is a couple of headlands away. We went there 3 times, but to a different reef each time. We also did the Maverick and the Sisters. The Sisters was the only hard slog. We had to pay extra for that one, as it was a long way (about an hour and the seas were rough). You do two dives back to back there.
There is also a trip to speyside, which we didn't do because of our daughter, and I believe that they go by road to that one.
There are also other local reefs that they go to. Most of which are within a 10 min boat trip.
How many was in the dive party?
It varied from 5 to about 12. The lowest was for our friends who went on a night dive, just the two of them.
Was there any problem boarding the dive boat due to swell?
Not too much of a problem, though I did lose a dive knife when knocked over by a wave walking in from the boat.
We dived with a friend who has bad artheritis, and she managed to get in and out of the boat OK, they take the kit first, and you go up the ladder.
Were you lucky with the weather or were there many days you could not dive due to weather?
There weren't any days we couldn't dive, but the day we went to the Sisters it was rough, and they asked us half way if we wanted to continue or go back. We continued, and the dive was good, but didn't see any of the larger fish we were hoping for, as the vis wasn't that great.
What equipment was provided free and what kit would you recommend I bring.
They provided tanks and weights free, the rest was for hire (not sure about wetsuits). I took all my own stuff, and my wife hired regs and bc. If you have a shortie or thin wetsuit I would recommend it, as some people who dived in shirts/shorts ended up getting very cold, especially when we surfaces in a downpour. The quality of the hire kit seemed to be OK, my wife didn't have any problems, and they clean it for you, whereas you have to clean your own. They have a place to clean and store you kit, which was good.
Any other info you have on your day trips or tips about the hotels in general that you left out of your post would be excellent.
We stayed at the Grafton Beach, which is adjoining (from the sea the only way you can tell where one starts and the other ends is from the different colour) so I don't know much about the hotel.
The snorkling is good at the far right of the beach, not right against the rocks, but a little way out under the fishing boat. There is a small reef there, which has lots of eels, parrot fish, surgeon fish etc on it.
If you get a car there is BRILLIANT snorkling just 2 mins down the road at the beach by the Mount Irving Hotel. The beach is free, and there is parking there. The reef, which is extensive, is in front of the hotel beach bar.
Peter
