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Australasia

Home to one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef . . . and it's so big, its visible from space!
Overview:

Australia is one of the best known diving location in the world and is undoubtedly unique.  The continent is situated between the tropics and more temperate climbs and between the Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans which gives rise to a massive diversity of sea life. 

Australia's diving areas are vast.  Although the Great Barrier Reef gets most of the press, better by far is the Coral Sea, whose outlying atolls and pinnacles such as Marion Reef offer some of the best diving in the world.

Cyclone season is January through March; April, May, and June see heavy trade winds.  Northern Queensland (Great Barrier Reef) could be worth avoiding during the early part of the year.

The best way to dive Australia is on a liveaboard from July to November. Best visibility at Osprey, in the northern Coral Sea, is between June and September. The other hot spots for Australian diving is on the remote west coast, and it's famous for one reason: whale sharks congregate at Ningaloo Reef during March and April.

Then there's New Zealand where you can dive a live volcano, fresh water caverns and see the black coral of Milford Sound.

What to see:

January: Green and Loggerhead turtles hatchling season begins at Ningaloo Reef.
March: Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.
April: Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.
South Australia: Great White Sharks.
May: Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.
June: Minke Whales off Queensland.
Humpback whales and Whale Sharks off Ningaloo Reef.
South Australia: Great White Sharks.
July/October: Queensland: Minke Whales and Humpback whales.
New South Wales: - Southern Right Whales.
Ningaloo Reef: Humpback Whales.
South Australia: Great White Sharks.
November: Green and Leatherback turtles nesting.
Need to know:

In Australia, you must have a Recreational scuba diving medical to Australian Standard 4005.1 2000 (AS4005.1 2000).  The South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society lists doctors who have completed a Diving Medical Course and will be able to perform these Medicals. Medicals incur a fee which you pay directly to the doctor.

Australasia: Latest User Reviews

Professional and fun  Fish Rock Dive Centre, New South Wales 5 Star Rating Added: 29th April 2013 by nickc744
John and his team run a wonderful operation. Based in two old squash courts that have been revamped, their facilities are good but it is the personal touch that makes the Fish Rock Dive Centre worth seeking out. From the cheery greeting when you walk in to the fond farewell, sometimes...
Absolutely Terrible!  Nautilus Scuba Centre, Queensland 1 Star Rating Added: 15th January 2013 by Mailman
Nautilus is the worst dive company I have ever used. Between me and my partner we have almost 80 dives and have dived all over the world including developing countries. The experience began when we got on the boat and started filling out the disclaimer sheet to read that if...
Ready and waiting  Forster Dive Centre, New South Wales 1 Star Rating Added: 29th October 2012 by Crispytip
You call up you book on and get ready to dive, you prepare yourself with excitement. You wake the morning of the dive and wait to be picked up only to get a call telling you its off because of numbers. Your not important enough. You then try the next...
Don't bother  Dive Forster at Fisherman's Wharf, New South Wales 1 Star Rating Added: 29th October 2012 by Crispytip
There is nothing worse than a beautiful day and no one to dive with. These guys advertise that they dive everyday but I tried everyday for 3 days with not a breath of wind and flat seas. But no diving. All I can say is if you contact these guys...
Like diving during100km/h gusts?  Eaglehawk Dive Centre, Tasmania 1 Star Rating Added: 8th October 2012 by fullbottle
I've dived all around Australia. I stupidly thought no dive shop would go out in the weather conditions that presented themselves on the day. Despite the incredibly bad weather (see BOM weather report below) Karen @ Eaglehawk Dive Centre told me they still went diving. Amazing! Recommendation: don't put down a...
Reef Experience of a Lifetime!  Reef Experience, Queensland 5 Star Rating Added: 27th July 2012 by re78
Our Reef Experience Dive trip was a present to our daughter, Leann, who at the age of 11 passed her PADI OW course...we couldn't think of a better 1st official dive than off the Great Barrier Reef. Our two dives were guided by two wonderful dive masters who made the...
TOP MARKS FOR PROFESSIONALLY RUN DIVE SHOP AND COURSES  Diving Frontiers, Balcatta, Western Australia 5 Star Rating Added: 27th July 2012 by digbybp
I recently completed my PADI open water dive coarse with Dive Frontiers in Perth W.A I am writing this review to advise other people thinking of doing their dive course to seriously consider Dive Frontiers as the best people to learn from . The course was professionally handled from start to finish...
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