 |
| . |
|
Scuba Diving Holidays Australia Head for Queensland and the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef or lose the crowds by diving off Western Australia - there's something to suit everyone in this wonderful country.  Country Description Think Australia and chances are you'll picture of hot, sandy beaches and the Great Barrier Reef. In reality though the country is so large that it has a much more varied climate. And there is far more to the diving than the infamous barrier Reef. Indeed the variable climate has resulted in a country that can offer quite different dive experiences from cost to coast. The best dive destinations can be found off the coast of Queensland and along western Australia. Queensland is the most popular destination for British tourists. The main attraction being the Great Barrier Reef that stretches 1,600 miles along the coast and a number of miles out to sea. There are many choices of destination for a dive holiday. From coastal and town resorts to islands off the coast. Inland Queensland's vast area includes rainforests, mountains, deserts and a number of national parks. In fact it would probably take a lifetime to experience everything Queensland has to offer. Western Australia on the other hand is sparsely populated. It also covers an area about ten times the size of the UK, so it is possible to truly get away from it all in this part of the world. However, the main city of Perth is a cosmopolitan haven offering all of the benefits of a truly modern city. The diving in Western Australia is as varied as it is excellent. Should you fancy a diversion from diving though, why not check out Monkey Lia in the Shark Bay World Heritage and marine Park where you can swim with bottlenose dolphins. Scuba Diving Australia Queensland The largest natural structure on Earth, The Great Barrier Reef is designated a World Heritage site. Ironically it isn't actually one long reef, but a series of large reefs, ribbon reefs and coral islands. The inshore reefs are ideal for beginners to gain confidence with their diving technique thanks to the sheltered coral gardens and hard coral growths covering gentle slopes. The outer reefs however are wider and offer steep drop-offs. The fish life is more varied and large with more pelagics like jacks, barracuda and sharks. In order to preserve these areas they are regularly tagged as being 'off limits'. So you should check before aiming for your destination. One cautionary note however. Should you choose to visit the eco-resorts near Cairns be careful not to go between December and March. This is the time of year when the deadly box-jellyfish swim the coastal waters. The offshore islands are not effect though. Best Destinations - Queensland Cod Hole, Pixie Pinnacle and Watanabe Bommie Very popular, so occasionally a little crowded these outer reefs can be reached by larger day boat and liveaboards. Despite the numbers of divers, the dive experience here can still be thrilling thanks to the breathtaking coral formations and sea life. At Cod Hole the population of coral groupers known as potato cod have become so used to divers that it is possible to hand feed them. SS Yongala A passenger liner that sank in a cyclone in 1903, this wreck is home to several large fish - mainly grouper, which have been tamed through over diving. However legislation prevents divers from harming the fish so if you are into swimming up close to grouper fish, then this dive is for you. Watch the forecast though, as this destination is very weather dependent. Coral Sea This largely untouched region is where you will discover the most adventurous dives. Getting there will require a liveaboard, which tend to leave from Cairns, Port Douglas or Townsville. It'll take about one night to reach the edges of this huge area, which covers hundreds of thousands of square miles. Here sharks patrol waters in which reef structures rise up hundreds of meters from the seabed creating a wealth of walls dives. Lizard, Heron, Dunk and Green Islands These islands make excellent destinations for diving holidays. Here you are closer to the reefs and further away from the crowds Western Australia The majority of visitors to Western Australia come for the whalesharks however the region has far more to offer than that. Apart from offering some spectacular sites it is also one of the few places on earth that you have the opportunity to swim with great white sharks. Best Destinations - Western Australia Ningaloo Reef Snorkel and diving trips go from the main town of Exmouth to Ningaloo Reef, the largest fringing reef to be found close to shore. The best time to visit is between March and April when the corals spawn and the reef attracts whalesharks. Usually the operators use small planes to locate the whalesharks before the hugely popular whaleshark-watching trips embark. Other times of the year this reef is still worth a visit. The 260km-reef system boasts numerous species of reef fish and coral. Neptune Islands A large colony of seals love here throughout the year. During the pupping season great white sharks come into the shallow waters to prey on the young seals. The reef here has been given the somewhat apt name of Dangerous Reef! HMAS Swan The largest ship to have been deliberately capsized in the southern hemisphere, she now lies in 30m within the no-fishing area around Cape Naturaliste, close to Dunsborough (south of Perth) Navy Point Navy Point at Port Murat is considered to be in the top ten dives in Australia. It promises a series of pylons covered in life. Huge grouper are regular visitors. Other info Queensland and Western Australia may be the two major diving regions but Oz promises excellent sites along almost every cost. For example, Kangaroo Island just south of Adelaide offers great cold-water diving with leafy and seedy seadragons, big grouper and stunning coral a guaranteed feature. Botany Bay is a fantastic location for observing seahorses, while the bays of the New South Wales region also offer great dive experiences. In fact, so plentiful are the dive opportunities in Australia that is a shame to just stick to the well-known sites. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Site Design by |