Australia is rated the world’s top scuba destination perhaps due to the Great Barrier Reef among other top diving sites in the country. Being surrounded by water masses and rich islands as well as reefs, diving in Australia is any diver’s dream. The ocean surface acts as a shelter to thousands of marine species like fish and dolphins. Divers get the opportunity to with alongside large and gentle whale sharks, the sea lions and the friendly dolphins. The waters are temperate making it enjoyable and excellent for divers. The top 5 best diving destinations in Australia:
Great Barrier Reef
Every real diver would Fancy Diving in this excellent site found in Queens Island. Being the world’s largest, most adventurous and healthiest coral reef system, it supports a dizzying array of marine species. Most of these species along the entire 2300 km stretch are believed to be endemic. What even makes this attraction arguably the best in the world is that it is the breeding ground of turtles due to the variety of sea-grass in the reef. The breeds of turtle divers get to see are the olive ridley, Hawksbill, Green, Loggerhead, Flatback and leatherback.
Another eye-catching attraction in the reef is the presence of the dolphins, porpoises and whales. The minke whales, as well as the indo-pacific humpback dolphins, are part of the Great Barrier Reef. Apart from that, there are at least 125 species of sharks and stingray that lurk about the reef especially on the sandy bottoms.
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is at a distance of 100km away from the southwest of Adelaide. With the largest population of leafy sea dragons, it has both the Australian Sea Lions And the New Zealand fur seals. The sea lion is one of the most entertaining underwater characters today. On meeting these characters, they seem amazingly curious and playful. They have been dubbed as the puppies of the sea.’
The real fun and attraction to divers come as a result of the Seadragon. The entertaining creatures found in the western parts of Australia are notoriously shy. It’s hard to see them often due to their ability to camouflage. Most divers employ guides who are experts at spotting them. However, the sea dragons get stressed easily hence it’s recommended for the divers to keep a moderate distance.
The wreck island of the SS Yongala
This site offers real fascinating and ghostly history to be discovered under water. The yongala claimed the lives of 122 people in 1911 when it sank. It remained an undiscovered site for more than 50 years but now, it’s one the most visited site by divers. It supports a variety of sea life. The shipwreck is situated 90 km to the southeast of Townville, 10 km away from Cape bowling green. The ship is arguably the best in the world. Its name was derived from a small town in Australia, Yongala originally pronounced as Yonggluh. Divers will get to see Sea snakes, turtles, octopuses, tiger sharks clouds of fish as well as bull sharks. You may even come across the tiger sharks and the barracudas.
Fish Rock Caves
It is located just near Smoky Cape at South West Rocks roughly 2kms off the New South Wales coast. It acts as a home to most endangered species. The 125m cave is a good site for divers and the only true cave in Australia. The site houses the grey nurse sharks that are just left in few numbers in the eastern part of Australia. Watching the gentle giants swim in the environment is a privilege. The more the diver enters the cave; the water becomes clearer and warmer than the surrounding of the ocean. The opening of the cave is a meeting point of hundreds of fishes that are fun to swim next to. This town has attractions like the Trial Bay Gaol.
Rye Pier
It is located 80KMs south of Melbourne’s CBD. Introductory and experienced divers can fit here due to its shallow depth the fact that it’s temperate. This site offers a wide array of species. What stands out in Rye Pier is when discarded tires reveal more intriguing permanent residents. The blue-ringed octopuses and calamari squid tend to communicate through via their changes in the body reflecting brilliantly through divers’ torchlight. In every year particularly in autumn season, a large number spider crabs gather at this point whereas the pylons stay beneath the pier offer a home to the pot-bellied seahorse, nudibranchs and the beautiful soft sponges. Watching the view is quite fascinating.
Being the best place to scuba dive, Australia will fulfil any diver’s’ dream. Divers experience the best ocean in the world and the wide selection of the sites starting with the Great Barrier Reef.