If you’re a seasoned diver, or looking to become one, there’s no better place to stretch your sea legs than Australia.
The jewel of this island nation is the Great Barrier Reef, but there are plenty of other marine havens to explore.
Newcomers might like to venture out with Ocean Spirit Cruises. Their one-day Great Barrier Reef Sail and Dive Trip allows guests to snorkel or take an introductory dive at Oyster or Arlington Reef. From there you’ll head to Upolu Cay, which offers sheltered conditions and a sandy bottom for novices.
More experienced divers may want to try the three-night Yalonga Wreck and Great Barrier Reef dive trip from Adrenalin Dive. You’ll need open water certification and at least six logged dives with deep dive training to participate, but it’s worth getting involved. The Yalonga wreck site is known around the world for attracting some of the biggest fish in the reef.
Further south there’s Indepth Scuba, which has dive centers in Canberra and Batemans Bay.
A starfish on coral in the Great Barrier Reef
It offers a diverse range of PADI courses, including wreck diving, Nitrox diving, and deep cavern diving.
To the west, look to Dolphin Dive Fremantle. This Western Australia dive shop runs diving and snorkeling trips to idyllic Rottnest Island. This nature reserve has deep crevices, caverns, and caves for divers to explore. Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife too: in spring you’ll likely spot humpback whales, while gray nurse sharks like to visit the Western waters in fall.
