Australian Scuba Diving Overview… Aussies generally have a huge affinity for the sea and some 85% of the 25m citizens live within 50 km of the coast.
With its 36,000 km coastline, Australia has an incredible mix of vibrant and biodiverse regions. With the rich Pacific, Indian and Southern Ocean currents the life-source for those marine ecosystems.
And, of course, the most famous ecosystem is the Great Barrier Reef on the north-east coast of Queensland.
While over on the north-west coast of Western Australia is the incredible, but much less well-known Ningaloo Reef. Then there are the south-east and south-west coasts with their own bio-diversity hot spots.
It’s basically impossible to properly and knowledgeably explain (single-handedly) all those locations. A few people, such as the late Neville Colman, have certainly tried. But my approach has been to try and dive the very best locations – mainly on word of mouth from people I trust. So the overviews below and all the related pages are based on my personal experience.
Australian Scuba Diving – The Great Barrier Reef
When most visitors think of Australian scuba diving for their next vacation. In all probability the warm tropical waters of Queensland and its famous Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are what come to mind.
The numbers say it all about the Great Barrier Reef. 2300km long and stretching down the Queensland coast from Bramble Cay in the north to Lady Elliot Island in the south. It is the world’s largest coral reef system with over 2,900 reefs and 900 islands. Plus it is visible from outer space and a World Heritage site!
But… don’t lose sight of the fact that the “Great” in the Great Barrier Reef refers to quantity, not quality. And the whole dive industry that services the GBR needs tourists. So there is a huge amount of hype and leverage of the word Great!
I have personally dived many locations on the GBR during the seven years we lived in Brisbane. But, then I discovered the diving in Papua New Guinea…
There is certainly some excellent diving to be had on the GBR. But it tends to be a long way out on the edge of the continental shelf and out into the Coral Sea.
And, at the risk of being accused as unpatriotic towards my adopted country, not to mention my former home in Queensland… The sad reality is that things are really not well on the Great Barrier Reef.
It is basically suffering from a horrendous combination of circumstances. All of which seem to be happening at the same time – not least of which is climate change. And then there is the huge run-off from the massive Queensland sugar industry. Plus dredging and the recurring plague of crown of thorns starfish.
The overall situation has been well documented globally. Back in October 2012 the National Academy of Sciences in the USA published a report stating that the reef has lost more than half its coral cover since 1985. Then in October 2016 Outside published an obituary for the reef. Followed in March 2017 by the journal Nature’s paper showing that huge areas of the reef ad died in 2016.
You can be sure that things are pretty bad when government’s agree to spend significant amounts of money. With the Australian Federal Government joining with the Queensland State Government to implement a long-term plan. One can only hope that it is not too late to turn the situation around!
South Australia
I personally think that South Australia has some of the country’s most interesting diving – for three main reasons. First of all the state’s jetties, which are verging on being a national living treasure!
Originally built to support the state’s farming and mining industries. Time and the powerful currents that sweep SA’s coastline have turned them into wonderful, almost unique, ecosystems.
The shelter they provide has made them host to an amazing variety of creatures, not least of which is the splendid Leafy Sea Dragon. Which are simply a joy to encounter underwater!
Then there is the amazing and totally unique annual aggregation of Giant Australian Cuttlefish at Whyalla in the Spencer Gulf.
Finally, no discussion about South Australia would be complete without mentioning the Great White Shark. Hugely feared, but greatly misunderstood, Great Whites are basically part of the landscape down south…
New South Wales
NSW has a coastline of some 2100 kms. It starts up in the north at Tweed Heads, on the border with Queensland, with sub-tropical diving. And ends in the south, at Eden with decidedly temperate water diving.
Famous locations like the Solitary Islands Marine Park, South West Rocks and Jervis Bay are some of the many highlights of New South Wales diving. And there is no doubt, on the right day with the right conditions, the diving in those locations can be superb!
But if you want to experience the essence of that sub-tropical and temperate water diving, then look no farther than Nelson Bay Just three hours north of Sydney, Nelson Bay is a wonderful diving location.
Diving there is not without its challenges, but it comes with some significant bonuses!
Nelson Bay is Australian shore diving at its best and is definitely one of the best shore dives in NSW. But you need to understand the tides to dive when it is at its best and also when it is safe to do so!
But get those tides right and you will be richly rewarded. Get it wrong and it could turn into a really bad day!
Tasmania
The “Apple Isle” is probably the best kept secret of Australian scuba diving. It truly has some astounding things to see and experience. But… it’s not the easiest place to get to. The “must-do” diving locations spread out around the island. Plus any of the dives are boat-only, so it can get expensive.
Tasmania’s location off the south-east coast of continental Australia means that it is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and its cool, nutrient-rich waters. And those cold waters support a rich ecosystem. Which include kelp forests, seagrass meadows, extensive coral reefs and sponge gardens.
Plus, to the north-east of the island the Southern Ocean meets the East Australian Current. Creating a mixing zone where both warm and cold-water species coexist and further enhancing the already high level of species biodiversity.
To date, over 4,000 marine species have been identified in Tasmanian waters, with many more yet to be discovered.
To understand why Tasmania deserves a spot on your bucket list check out my Guide to diving Tasmania.
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