Scuba Diving in Australia

1. The Great Barrier Reef: Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef is always on the bucket list of every scuba diver as it gives you an experience of a lifetime. The Great Barrier reef is the largest coral reef on the planet and UNESCO reserved site for its rich aquatic flora and fauna. This reef is home to around 400 varieties of coral,1500 breeds of fishes, and 4000 varieties of mollusk. The water here is very clear, which gives a vibrant view of the underwater world.

Location: The reef is located in Queensland, Australia.
Best Time for diving: The best time to dive is between June to October as the temperature is favorable and there are fewer chances of rain during this time which makes it ideal for pondering into water.

2. Townsville: Townsville provides the best Scuba diving in Australia. As you dive into deep water, you get to gaze at some rare species, including giant groupers, sea snakes, and even chevron barracudas. The best part here is you get to dive even in the night and get to see some amazing fauna like eagle rays and hawksbill turtles in an untamed manner.

Location: It is located in Queensland, Australia.
Best Time for diving: The best time to dive here is from November to February because the weather here is pretty good.

3. Ningaloo Reef: If you’re in Australia for scuba diving, then Ningaloo reef should definitely be on your itinerary as it’s the only fringing reef in the country. This reef is known for its vast aquatic wildlife, which includes 260 varieties of hard corals. Most people come here for Scuba Diving as it lets you swim with whales, sharks, turtles, humpback whales, and manta rays.

Location: It is located in the northwestern coastal region of North America.
Best Time for diving: The best time to dive in the Ningaloo Reef is April to May, where you get to feed the Plankton.

4. Whitsunday Island: Whitsunday Island is the most common island for Scuba Diving in Australia. Even for those trying scuba diving for the first time, this island is ideal as the water here is shallow and gives a clear view of the underwater world. Since the island is located close to the Great Barrier Reef, the coastline is covered with beautiful corals and massive rock formations. The island lets you swim with sea turtles and rainbow-colored fishes.

Location- It lies between the northern coast of Queensland.
Best Time for diving: The best time to scuba dive in Whitsunday Island is during September.

5. Port Douglas: Port Douglas has its arm open for all kinds of Scuba divers as it has around 45 diving sites, so you can choose one according to your expertise level. Port Douglas was once known to be a central coast, but later on, the fishing community started fishing here, and then soon, it became a ground for scuba diving. The pristine blue waters here offer an extravaganza experience of the underwater aquatic world.

Location: It is located in Queensland.
Best Time for diving: The best time scuba diving here is October to November.

6. South West Rocks: The diving sites of South West Rocks offer the most picturesque scene as the underwater world here as beautiful caves. The center of attraction here is the loggerhead turtles, Moorish idols, and even the elusive grey nurse sharks. The fish rock cave is known for its unique flora and fauna, including resident black cod, large wobbegong sharks, black rays, and giant cuttlefish.

Location It is located near Macleay River.
Best Time for diving: The best time to dive here is during summers when the temperature is warm, and it’s easier to dive in as the water isn’t that cold.

7. Rowley Shoals: This place is known for its unique ring-shaped reefs. The 3 reefs named Clerke Reef, Imperieuse Reef, and Mermaid Reef are mingled together, giving it a picturesque view. The tides here are strong, which makes it an excellent site for experienced scuba divers. The common species found here are sea turtles, manta rays, whales, and dolphins. The most unique wildlife species found here include marlin and sailfish. You can also dive here during the night, depending on the climatic conditions.

Location: It is located on the northwestern Australian coast, around 260km away from Broome.
Best Time for diving: The best time to visit is from September to December.

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The Great Barrier Reef: The Great Barrier Reef is the top site to experience the best scuba diving in Australia. Stretching across an expanse of over 2300 kilometres, the Great Barrier Reef interconnects several islands and coral reefs, and boasts of numerous diving spots, from Cairns to Port Douglas and more. You can also chance upon sightings of dwarf minke whales while diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

Townsville: Another one of the popular sites for scuba diving in Australia is Townsville. It is here where you can witness the shipwreck of the SS Yongala, which is one of the most spectacular shipwrecks in the entire country, and sat in the ocean floors for five decades before it was discovered. Besides the shipwreck, Townsville is also known for offering sights of giant groupers, chevron barracudas, eagle rays, hawksbill turtles as well as sea snakes.

Ningaloo Reef: Amongst the best spots to enjoy scuba diving in Australia is the Ningaloo Reef, which is also the country’s only fringing reef, located in western Australia. There are more than 260 species of hard corals, in addition to many hundreds of tropical sea species here. While scuba diving in the Ningaloo Reef, you can also get a chance to enjoy swimming with whale sharks, or see turtles, humpback whales and manta rays.

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The best time to do scuba diving in Australia is during the month of October as the temperature here is warmer and provides a lucid view of the aquatic world.

Australia is a great place to dive because of its many excellent dive sites. The country is also well-equipped with dive facilities, making it a popular destination for diving enthusiasts from around the world. Some of the best places to scuba dive in Australia include the Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Reef, and the Rowley Shoals. These dive sites offer a variety of different diving experiences, from beginner-friendly reefs to more challenging deep-water dives. All of these sites are also great to enjoy sights of a myriad of marine species, both common and exotic, including whales, rays, sharks, sea snakes, molluscs and more.

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Yes, scuba diving in Australia is entirely safe as they offer you all the safety equipment, and most of the tours here provide an expert guide or trainer to assist you while you dive into the water.

In order to go scuba diving in Australia, you must be certified as a diver first. To get the certification, you can undergo a basic training, such as the PADI, or the Professional Association of Dive Instructor Specialty Diver Course, which will allow you to explore the depths of the water.

Scuba diving in Australia costs around 200 Australian dollars for a person. However, this price may vary a bit depending upon which beach you are surfing on.

While you can experience scuba diving all through the year in Australia, one of the best times to indulge in this adventure is during the months of May to October, which is away from the cyclone season in the country. To catch sights of Minke and Humpback Whales, you can also dive during the months of June to August.

Once learnt, scuba diving is one of the easiest underwater activities that you can do, even as a beginner. All you need to do is be completely relaxed in the water, control your breathing and learn all the tricks taught by the instructor, as you float and glide in the water.