6 Reason To Dive In Australia

As Australia begins to recover from the double whammy of Covid-19 lockdowns and the worst bushfire season in history, now more than ever is a good time to spend your tourism dollars right here and discover Australia’s amazing underwater world. Here are 6 (other) good reasons to book an Australian diving holiday!

1 SWIM WITH WHALESHARKS ON NINGALOO REEF

Whalesharks can grow up to 16 metres in length, with a mouth over a metre wide. So-named because it is as big as many whales and like many whales, a filter feeder. On Australia’s west coast, Ningaloo is the place to go for a whaleshark encounter. Between mid-March and mid-July, whaleshark swimming tours are operated from the towns of Coral Bay and Exmouth.

Top Tip: Pick a package that includes some dives on another world-class site in Exmouth - Navy Pier.

2 Dive the wreck of the SS Yongala

One of the world’s great wrecks, this adrenalin-pumping dive is absolutely teeming with pelagic life, including several species of rays, sharks, large schools of jacks, giant trevally, and barracuda, and the site’s signature species - olive sea snakes.

Top Tip: Spirit of Freedom has a special expedition to the Yongala in November – but with only two trips this year, you’ll need to get in quick. Another monthly liveaboard option for the SS Yongala is Townsville-based Adrenalin Dive, who run two and three-day trips.

3 SWIM WITH MINKE WHALES ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

The dwarf minke whale is the smallest member of the baleen whales, growing to only eight metres in length. This species is only found in the Southern Hemisphere, spending the summer months feeding in sub-Antarctic waters and migrating to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef over winter to breed and give birth. These small whales are very different to their larger cousins, as when in reef waters they are strangely attracted to stationary boats, often hanging around for hours and even days. Dwarf minke whales travel through the Great Barrier Reef each winter, with most sightings occurring during June and July. The Great Barrier Reef is the only location where snorkel and dive tours with minke whales are available.

Top Tip: Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is running special fiveday expeditions in July – but you need to get in quick, these trips are very popular.

4 DISCOVER THE ROWLEY SHOALS

Discover Australia’s remote Rowley Shoals, a chain of three pristine coral atolls located on the edge of the widest continental shelf in the world, a day’s sailing north west of Western Australia’s Kimberley Coast. Discover over 200 species of coral and over 650 species of fish. With visibility in excess of 60 metres and a warm tropical climate.

Top Tip: Trips are only possible in October, with liveaboard trips on The Great Escape and The Odyssey.

5 SWIM WITH MANTA RAYS ON THE SOUTHERN GREAT BARRIER REEF

There are mantas at Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands all year, with numbers peaking between mid-May and mid-August. Mantas can be seen while snorkelling as well as diving, and there are a couple of known cleaning stations, at Lighthouse Bommie and Fairfax Island where mantas are reliably sighted.

Top Tip: Contact the team at Diveplanit about a brand new liveaboard option for groups in the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

6 DIVE WITH GREAT WHITE SHARKS

To come face to face with a great white shark underwater is one of the mostexciting experiences available to divers today. This trip has been described as the ultimate adventure that Australia has to offer. Adventure Bay Charters run one- to three-day charters to the Neptune Islands to dive with great whites and snorkel with sea lions, while Rodney Fox Expeditions run four- and five-day trips departing Port Lincoln, South Australia.

Top Tip: while they can be seen year-round, the best time of year for viewing great white sharks is from April through to June. n

To find out more about any of these amazing marine experiences, visit diveplanit.com/specials.