Scuba Diving in Australia

Located below the equator, Australia is commonly referred to as "The Land down Under." This unique place is popular for its diving areas because of its diverse marine life. Diving destinations can be generally divided into these major areas: Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and South Australia.

The Queensland state in Australia has a thriving dive industry and it is where the famous "Great Barrier Reef" is located. Its east coast is probably the busiest diving area, which caters to travelers and professional scuba divers alike. Because of its geographical location, the climate is subtropical, usually consisting of wet and dry seasons. During winter, tourists flock this destination because of its unique climate. The Great Barrier Reef, home to the largest collection of marine life in the world, is the most popular diving attraction.

Located along the Pacific Coast of Queensland, this diving site has many tropical reefs and local communities that offer services such as diving lessons and diving certifications for amateurs and professionals. Another dive site located in Queensland is the Sunshine Coast. Mainly a collection of beach side towns two hours away from north of Brisbane, Queensland is a perfect destination for travelers who wish to not only scuba dive, but to relax and have fun. Currently, there are more than 60 diving sites in Queensland, ranging in depth and level of diving difficulty.

New South Wales is also a popular diving area which has more than 80 diving sites, several of which are: Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Stephens, Sydney, and Jervis Bay. Traveling to this area is not difficult since two of Australia's major cities -- Sydney and Canberra, are situated here. Buses, trains, and car rentals offer easy access to local and foreign travelers. Known as the second most popular diving site next to Queensland, New South Wales is where tropical species such as Grey Nurse sharks and Anemone fishes thrive. At the same time, it is an excellent training ground for professional scuba divers.

Travelers who are looking for more challenging diving opportunities can go to the Ningaloo Reef, situated along the Western Coast of Australia. This diving site caters to travelers who wish to snorkel and see fascinating marine species such as Manta Rays, Whale Sharks and Humpback whales. Only 10 minutes from Coral Bay, it is easily reached by boats. More than 30 diving sites are found in this area, and many of them cater to amateur divers.

The Southern Coast of Australia offers the most challenging diving experience. Travelers can experience cage diving, wherein scuba divers are placed inside cages underwater to see Great White sharks. The rocky reefs in this area are mostly covered by seaweeds and animals, which live on plants for support. Other diving sites, on the other hand, such as Cafe Jaffa and Marion Bay, are accessible to beginners.

The diving industry in Australia is also popular among scuba diving instructors from abroad. Although the Land Down Under has its own pool of professional instructors, short-term working opportunities for foreign instructors are available especially during peak season.