Southern Ocean Diving - from Perth?

[Ahoy]

Hi folks.
I'm going to be in Perth (Oz, that is) this summer and one of ambitions is to dive the Southern Ocean. Anyone know of anywhere I can do this within reasonable travelling distance of Perth?

Cheers,
S.

[Keith Whittaker]

Hi!
First off, what do you mean by reasonable travel from Perth. It is a long way from just about anywhere.
However, I think that there is a diving operation in Albany, down on the south coast. That's only about a 16hr drive. Note most Aussie Hire car firms recommend that you do not drive at night due to all the wee beasties that stand in the road come the dark, you do not want to hit a 'roo at 60mph, that can really put a dampener on your whole day.
Try the Aussie dive forums, they'll probably be able to help.

Have fun though. Perth is a cracking place

Keith

[triplefin]

Originally Posted by Ahoy

Hi folks.
I'm going to be in Perth (Oz, that is) this summer and one of ambitions is to dive the Southern Ocean. Anyone know of anywhere I can do this within reasonable travelling distance of Perth?

Cheers,
S.

I'm curious, why do you want to particularly dive the Southern Ocean? As has been mentioned there are a few big dive places in Albany, if you wanted to pop down to the south coast.
If your going to Perth theres loads of fantastic diving all up and down that coast and less chance of meeting a great white, they do come in from time to time but not often.

[Ahoy]

Thanks folks, Albany does seem to be the best choice - it is only 250miles and the route planner says 4.5h! I want to do a fair bit of varied diving when there (am off to Ningaloo and the GBR later on). However, a childhood ambition of mine is to have at least one dive in each of the oceans! So that's why I want to do this!

Thanks again for comments.
S.

[triplefin]

I understand now!
Albany is probably your best bet dont know where Keith gets 16hrs from unless he went all round the coast road!, just shoot across the middle you'll be there in no time.
If your going up to dive Ningaloo (which is great) made sure you also dive the Navy Pier in Exmouth. Exmouth dive are the only people with the liecense at the moment but I wouldnt particularly recommend them for any other diving you do, they're a bit serious. Try Village Dive, nice group of people, professional and a good fun day.
Dont bother with the inner GBR, overdived and very damaged, try and get out into the Coral Sea and Osprey Reef is the dogs.
If you are around Perth, couple of hours south is Busselton Jetty and The Dive Shed in Busselton are ace people.
http://www.travel-dive.com/its-just-...-jetty-isnt-it
Have a great trip hope to hear lots about it.

[Ahoy]

Thanks Jane. We are going to do a 4d liveaboard out of Townsville, taking in the Yongala, amongst other sites. I will look and see how to fit Osprey in too - might as well do it properly, after all!

S.

[Keith Whittaker]

Yep Sorry 'bout that.
i did indeed do the coast road, via Busselton, bunbury et al. I am also a f'ing slow driver. Especially in a Wicked campervan. I actually took about 3 days to get from Perth to Albany, stopping to see the sights on the way. I extrapolated from the time/distance to Ningaloo and forgot the better roads/more direct routes available in the southern bit.

Best to ignore me. Age and alcohol have impaired my facilities beyond help!

Keith

PS: A possible alternative to Exmouth is Coral Bay. Ningaloo is a shore dive from there. Fantastic reef, loads of life and a good craic at night.

[Richard Mason]

Summer here in Oz or in the UK?

If you are flying West-East or East West even (especially if you are heading via Melbourne), well Hobart Tasmania is only a bit over an hours flight away and it's then only an hours drive from the airport on a good road to the Tasman Peninsula, which boasts excellent cool water diving.

Eaglehawk Dive Centre offer some excellent diving and cheap ($20 a night) accomodation with views to die for.

http://www.eaglehawkdive.com.au/

The area has a single diveable depth wreck, The SS Nord, upright in 42M, a good kelp forest dive, lots of sea caves (Cathedral Cave is my favourite of all time and it's rated as OW) and lots of other very scenic areas under sea stacks and cliffs. 10M vis is a pretty bad day here.

That's Southern Ocean for you (well technically I guess it's Tasman Sea but the Southern Ocean starts about 15Km down the coast from there.

There's a description of the place here:

http://www.xray-mag.com/pdfs/Xray02u...2_uk_01_21.pdf (if it works)

and here:

http://www.divernet.com/travel2/0205tasmania.shtml/

If you are coming in the UK summer, (our Winter),m well 30M vis is fairly usual, it's too cold for the algae so it gets very clear. The weather systems here in Winter are predominantly westerly, so most of the dive sites on the Tasman Peninsula (which sit under big cliffs) and East Coast, are often very sheltered. Sea temperatures in August are aroundv 11 degrees, so 7mm wetsuit weather or else drysuit. (I dive dry all year round)

If you fancy a diversion to the Deep South, give me a hoy, I won't mind going diving for a couple of days; after first establishing that you aren't a crazed axe-murderer. (I on the other hand, will remain choose to remain an international man of mystery)

Richard M

[Ahoy]

Hi Richard. My axe skills are limited but I do enjoy stabbing people with sharp instruments on a routine basis! But that's medical training for you...

I am liminted in my trip (June - Aug) to Perth Region, Exmouth area and Townsville / Cairns. A pity, as the diving you describe sounds top.

Thanks anyway,
S.

[Kalahari Diver]

Sounds as if you will have a great trip! They aren't kidding about the distances though. When I was in Sydney a few years back someone told me, and they weren't kidding, that Perth is actually closer to Cape Town than Sydney!