East Coast Scuba Diving

EAST COAST DIVING

DIVING & SNORKELLING

Scuba diving is one of the most exciting adventures out and Australia is one of the world's best diving destinations. If you don’t already know how, now’s the time to learn!

Diving is not difficult and anyone who is over ten years old and physically fit can learn. Dive operators require certification before they will allow you to dive, but training courses are widely available all the way up the east coast.

Scuba diving certification courses

A diving certification course usually takes between 4 - 6 days. These courses have two main components – technical knowledge and practical skills.

Technical knowledge includes learning about scuba equipment and dive suits, about the effects of water temperature, visibility, and depth, and the basic rules about swimming with underwater critters. You will also learn about decompression, ‘the bends,’ and the essentials of diving first-aid.

The practical component includes diving in open water with a diving master. If you’re a confident swimmer, you won't have any problems in becoming comfortable in an underwater environment. Those who are not so confident in the water may need some extra tuition in the basics of swimming and floating. For certification you must be able to swim 200 metres and float for about 15 minutes.

Cairns

Cairns is the perfect base from which to dive the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, a living masterpiece so big it can be seen from outer space. It stretches more than 2,000 kilometres along the Queensland coast, from the mainland towns of Port Douglas to Bundaberg. If you’ve always wanted to learn to dive, this is surely the best place on the planet to do it.

Cairns Dive Centre

1800 642 591 cairnsdive.com.au

Townsville

One of the highlights of diving in Townsville is the opportunity to dive the SS Yongala Wreck – locatied on the Great Barrier Reef and voted one of the best 10 wreck dives in the world. The Yongala sank in 1911 and, due to its remote location, was not dived until 1958. The wreck begins 14m below the surface and extends to 28m. As the only reef structure in the area, the marine life that gathers around it includes gropers, eagle rays, manta rays, giant trevally, bull sharks, and a multitude of tropical fish.

Adrenaline Dive

07 4724 0600 adrenalindive.com.au

Manly

Oceanworld Manly’s Shark Dive Xtreme gets divers up close and personal with sharks and stingrays. With three levels of dive programs available, it’s an unmissable and heart-stopping adventure just a ferry ride away from Circular Quay. If diving isn't for you the Shark Tunnel will allow you to walk beneath the tank, getting a good look at its inhabitants.

Oceanworld Manly

02 8251 7877 oceanworld.myfun.com.au

Forster

Forster’s waters contain caves, archways ,and shipwrecks, but the main draw-card is the opportunity to dive with the many Grey Nurse Sharks that inhabit the area. The clear waters offer great opportunity for photos and video to prove it all to your friends and family. PADI dive courses are available locally.

Forster Dive Centre

02 6555 4477 forsterdivecentre.com.au

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and the gateway to the Solitary Islands Marine Park. It’s here that warm tropical northern waters meet clear southern temperate waters, creating a home for a diverse range of species including turtles, moray eels, clown fish, stingrays, lion fish, cuttlefish, huge cod, and the Grey Nurse Shark. Head to the Jetty Dive Centre for PADI certification in just four days!