Oceania – Page 2 – Scuba Splash

When you think about diving in Australia the first thing that comes to your mind is probably The Great Barrier Reef. Rightfully so since it's the largest barrier reef on earth! However, the truth is that Australia is a wonderland for all divers. There are lots of spectacular dive sites beyond The Great Barrier Reef. It's also an ideal place to learn how to dive as the waters are warm and many locations have no current. Visibility is top-notch and you'll feel a bit spoiled being able to see over 100 feet (30m) in every direction. Great Barrier Reef-World's largest Barrier Reef system SS Yongala- 109-year-old shipwreck Ningaloo Reef- Worlds largest fringing reef and whales Christmas Island- 16,000-foot drop-off Neptune Islands- Cage dive with great white sharks Darwin Harbour- 90 shipwrecks Solitary Islands- Nurse sharks and old collapsed crane Osprey Reef- 6-foot high coral and whales Vernon Islands-Marine sinkhole and coral reef HMAS Brisbane- Shipwreck and 300 species of coral No matter what your skill level is there is a dive site in Australia just for you. The Great Barrier Reef is a good representation of what the country has to offer but it's far from the only site. There are over 80,000 shipwrecks in Australian waters which are perfect for adventure divers. The SS Yongala is the most famous of them all. Other noteworthy sites include Ningaloo Reef, Neptune Islands, and Christmas Island. When to Go Australia is open for diving all year long with only certain regions affected by storms. The waters are almost always warm and wetsuits are optional in shallow dives. Minke whales can be seen in the northern sections of the Great Barrier Reef from June to July. Summer is from December to February with temperatures normally above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38C). Winter is from June to August with temperatures ranging from 37-68 degrees Fahrenheit (3-20C). January-March: Rainy season March-June: Whale sharks (Ningaloo Reef) May-November: Whale migration season June-July: Minke whales (Great Barrier Reef) August-December: Best visibility November-April: Cyclone season (only affects the Northern regions) Great Barrier Reef Queensland Coast Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Expect to See: Coral reef, tropical fish, minke whales (June-August), dolphins, turtles, carpet sharks, sea snakes, parrotfish, octopus The Great Barrier Reef is easily the most popular dive site in Australia. There are at least 2 million visitors to the reef each year and you should definitely be one of them. It's the largest barrier reef at 1,429 miles (2,300 km) long. There are a huge number of dive sites to explore so you will never feel crowded by other boats. You can choose to do daily trips or try going out on a live-aboard. Expect clear waters and lots of marine life. It truly is like nothing else and an experience you will always remember. The reef is open year-round for diving and the waters are always warm. For many sites a wetsuit is optional. The best chance of seeing minke whales is during June and July along Ribbon Reef #10 near Cairnes. During May-August humpback whales migrate through the northern section of the reef as they make their way back to Antarctic waters. It's also an ideal place to learn how to scuba dive. The waters are clear, warm and there is almost no current. It showcases some of the best diving in the world with colors and marine life far beyond anyone could imagine. Live-aboard trips are popular and allow divers to explore the farther portions of the Great Barrier Reef. It's easy to book everything from shore dives to long liveaboard trip from Coffs Harbour all the way up to Cairns. SS Yongala Townsville, Queensland Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Expect to See: Shipwreck, tropical fish, grouper, barracuda, turtles, sea snakes, rays, bull sharks, coral reef The SS Yongala sank on March 24, 1911, when it was overcome by a cyclone. There were 122 passengers on board the steamship with no survivors. This wreck wasn't discovered until 1958 and has been a top dive site for shipwrecks ever since. The mostly intact ship lays between 46-92 feet (14-28 m) beneath the ocean's surface. The SS Yogala is 361 feet (110m) long and is the largest, most intact shipwreck in Australian waters. The ship is one of the world's largest and most intact wrecks and draws in over 10,000 divers a year. It's common to see schools of barracuda, sea turtles, and lots of rays gliding through and around the wreck. Trips can easily be organized in Townsville, Queensland. Don't expect much visibility since it's always between 33-49 feet (10-15m). The current is known to be a little strong combined with the deep depths that make this dive best suited for advanced divers. Ningaloo Reef Ningaloo, Western Australia Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate Expect to See: Humpback whales (July-October), manta rays, tropical fish, turtles, whale sharks (March-August) Ningaloo Reef is the world's largest fringing reef. This reef is 160 miles (260 km) long and located on the Western side of Australia. Dive shops in Exmouth are the most popular jumping-off points to explore this reef. The waters are crystal clear and the reef is abundant with colorful coral and marine life. Ningaloo Reef is made up of over 260 species of hard coral and there are 6 species of turtles that inhabit the area. Aside from turtles, there is also a large population of reef sharks so you're almost guaranteed to see a few. Whale sharks pass through the region from March to August for an incredibly unique experience. Christmas Island Christmas Island, Western Australia Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Expect to See: Coral reef, caves, drop-offs, reef sharks, rays, tropical fish, dolphins, eels, sea cucumbers Halfway between Asia and Australia lays remote Christmas Island. The island is actually the tip of an extinct volcano. Two-thirds of the island is National park. The island has a massive crab migration that happens every year that involves over 60 million red land crabs. The coral reefs are some of the most pristine in the world. This is because the waters are not fished or impacted by land pollutants. Besides that this area is known to have some of the longest ocean drop-offs in the world. At Java Trench, the drop-offs are up to 16,400 feet (5,000m) deep. There are well over 60 different dive sites around Christmas Island with waters always clear and warm. From the city of Perth, you can catch a flight to Christmas Island. There are two dive shops located on the island and both can quickly organize dive trips. Neptune Islands Port Lincoln, South Australia Skill Level: Beginner Expect to See: Great white sharks The Neptune Islands offer a very rare and unique diving experience. It is the only location in Australia where you can cage dive with great white sharks. The Neptune Islands are two separate islands that have been made into a conservation park. The islands are used to protect the breeding grounds of New Zealand fur seals, Australian sea lions along with several species of birds. The sharks are lured by either bait or special acoustic sounds as they swim around the cages. It's a heart-pumping experience unlike anything else. Visibility normally maxes out at 67 feet (20m) with waters ranging from 57-72 degrees Fahrenheit (14-22C). The best months to go are from May to October. To get up close and personal with great white sharks you can make arrangements with dive shops in the town of Port Lincoln. Darwin Harbour Darwin, Northern Territory Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Expect to See: Shipwrecks, sea sponges, coral gardens, artificial reefs, cod, barracuda, grouper, tropical fish During WWII there were bombings in the town of Darwin. This sank many ships where they still remain today. There are over 90 shipwrecks off the coast of Darwin and many divers come here to explore. Some of the types of ships include freight, destroyers, passenger, hull, and flying boats. As of today, there are still many wrecks that have not been located. Divers are able to swim through several ships making for some truly unique vacation photos. There is a lot of life growing on and around the wrecks including coral, sea sponges, trout, and barracuda. Visibility is not always the best, and waters are cold but the trip is well worth it. The waters are rough in this area and trips are scheduled around the conditions of the ocean. Contact one of the dive shops in Darwin to find out when the next trip is. Solitary Islands Coffs Harbour, New South Wales Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Expect to See: Nurse sharks, kingfish, turtles, rays, groper, cod, lobsters, cuttlefish, tropical fish There are over 10 different dive sites around the islands with each offering something unique. For shark enthusiasts, there are at least 2 sites, Manta Arch and Grey Nurse Gutter, that have heavy nurse shark populations. It's normal to see up to 30 sharks at these locations. Boulder Wall has a vast tropical fish population along with sea turtles. The majority of the turtles hang out at The Gantry where an old crane collapsed in the water. Anemones are everywhere so you'll definitely see at least one clownfish. Trips can be booked through dive shops in Coffs Harbour. Osprey Reef Cairns, Queensland Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Expect to See: Coral reef, drop-offs, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales (June-November), turtles, rays, tropical fish, barracuda, tuna Osprey Reef is an atoll located 217 miles (350km) off the coast of Cairns. It's an isolated reef but that isolation makes for spectacular diving. The reef is thriving with soft coral over 6 feet (2m) high along with vast populations of fish. Visibility is always very good at nearly 200 feet (60m). Humpback whales can be seen from June to November. Since this location is far out to sea the only way to visit it is through a live-aboard ship. Divers can bask in several multi-dive days and fully experience the region. The best town to inquire about a trip is in Cairns. Vernon Islands Darwin, Northern Territory Skill Level: Beginner Expect to See: Coral reef, mackerel, trout, parrotfish, turtles, tropical fish, reef sharks The Vernon islands are located off the northern coast of Darwin. There are lots of colorful reefs filled with the usual marine life including sea turtles and tropical fish. Dive trips out to the islands also include a visit to the Blue Holes. This site is a marine sinkhole that is different from others because it's surrounded by sandy banks. The banks are only exposed during low tide revealing a network of lagoons surrounded by reefs. It's a unique experience and well worth the 2-hour boat ride to the islands. Inquire about a trip in the town if Darwin. HMAS Brisbane Shipwreck Mooloolaba, Queensland Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate Expect to See: Shipwreck, turtles, rays, grouper, octopus, coral In 2005 the HMAS was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef. The vessel is a former Australian warship that's 436 feet (133m) long. It's actually the largest divable wreck in the state of Queensland. There are many open areas that divers can swim through including the boiler and engine rooms. Divers will delight in the array of over 300 species of both hard and soft coral. What's more, an astounding 200 species of fish have been documented at this site including lionfish, scorpionfish, octopus, and pufferfish. The wreck is a quick 20-minute boat ride from the shore. There is no current and visibility close to 70 feet (21m) making it a great spot for beginners. The depth of the dive ranges from 20-92 feet (6-28m) depending on your diving certifications. You can organize a trip in Mooloolaba, Queensland. The site is protected so you will need to organize your trip with a dive shop.