Best Place to Dive in Australia
Australia offers some of the best diving in the world, mainly in Queensland famous for the amazing Great Barrier Reef. It is the largest rock on Earth that spans over 2000 km! It is home to a full range of amazing biodiversity and here you can see various species of sharks, sea turtles, giant groups, whales and dolphins.
Australia is the best scuba diving spot and is not limited to Whitsundays scuba diving; There are many other best dive spots around the country. It is entirely up to you which diving spot you enjoy your vacation the most and enjoy scuba diving.
Therefore, today, we have prepared a list of the best scuba diving sites that you must visit. Here, you will not only enjoy, but also gather loads of unforgettable memories. So, let’s take a look at those fantastic destinations and plan the next trip.
1) THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
The Great Barrier Reef is the heart and soul of diving in Australia. This 2,300-kilometre (1429-mile) stretch of interconnected reefs and islands has a huge selection of dive sites. From Cairns or Port Douglas, you can access the exclusive Outer Great Barrier Reef on a liveaboard dive boat with Pro Dive Cairns. In the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island has more than 20 nearby dive sites to choose from, all of which have an abundance of tropical fish and corals. Lady Elliot Island gives you the opportunity to swim with manta rays, and nearly all the resorts on the Whitsunday Islands will offer diving trips out to see the natural beauty of the reef. Take your pick of destination and get diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
2) SS YONGALA WRECK
You might be surprised to know that Queensland’s coast offers more to dive enthusiasts than the reef. From Townsville, you can do an exciting dive out to the Steam Ship Yongala shipwreck, which sunk during a cyclone in 1911. The wreck, which is still mostly intact and lies 14–28 metres (46–92 feet) below the surface, wasn’t found until 1958. It’s been an attraction for divers ever since. A day trip with Yongala Dive will allow you to do two dives to explore the historic underwater remains.
3) TANGALOOMA WRECKS
The Tangalooma Wrecks are another great option for shipwreck exploration. Located just off the shore of Moreton Island, this long chain of ships were deliberately sunk in 1963 to create a safe mooring area for boats. Dive tours and equipment hire are available to book through Tangalooma Island Resort, which is only an hour away from the city of Brisbane via ferry.
4) NINGALOO REEF
Australia’s second largest coral reef, Ningaloo Marine Park, sits just off the coast of Western Australia. This reef offers a unique opportunity to swim alongside whale sharks, which pass through this area between March and August each year. Daily dive tours depart from the town of Exmouth with Dive Ningaloo.
5) ROWLEY SHOALS
If you’re looking for an exclusive dive experience, this is it. Rowley Shoals is a group of three ring-shaped reefs located about 300 kilometres (186 miles) off the coast of Western Australia. Divers who are keen to explore these pristine and remote reefs must take a charter cruise from Broome, which generally last between four and eight days.
