10 days on OZ - near Sydney - March 09

[Lord Melch]

I'm planning to be in Oz - based in Sydney and having a long weekend near Salamander Bay next March for 10 days.

Any tips on the BEST places to dive ?? in the area - or wider afield if necessary

A friend of mine is an OZ dive instructor who I will be diving with near Salamander Bay (Nelson Bay) over a long weekend, but I don't want to miss anything, if I can help it as it's such a LONG way... to fly..

(Sorry posted this also in the How was your Aussie diving 29th & 30th March?) thread

Any tips to get the BEST diving appreciated.

Maybe I will say Gidday next year

 

[Eau_Girl]

Take a look at the thread a few down the list "Good Dive Companies in Sydney" That will give you some of the local operators.

I just did a weekend in Forster -- about 2 hours north of Newcastle which was great. But since I'm not a local, I can't give a view on any of the sites closer to Sydney.

If the diving around Sydney is like Forster/Seal Rocks, take gloves with you. I never dive with gloves in warm water. On the GBR/Coral Seal boats they asked us not to wear gloves as they believe it increases the risk of people touching the reef. However, in Forster you needed gloves because you needed to be able to crawl along the bottom, grab onto things to stay in position (don't worry no coral to damage). I bought a cheap pair for the second day of diving.

 

[Lord Melch]

Eau,

Take a look at the thread a few down the list "Good Dive Companies in Sydney" That will give you some of the local operators.

I just did a weekend in Forster -- about 2 hours north of Newcastle which was great. But since I'm not a local, I can't give a view on any of the sites closer to Sydney.

All good tips, I saw that post, thanks.

 

[almitywife]

march 08 :huh:

anyways....

Nelson Bay ROCKS so as long as the tides are right you should have a couple of great dives!

Nelson Bay shore dives are tide dependant and ProDive run boat dives that are also excellent. If you want to get some idea of what you can see up there, check out The Underwater Photo Gallery - Dave Harasti Dave lives and works up there (click on gallaries and then nelson bay)

sydney diving on the other hand, the question is what do you want to see?? if you want weedy seadragons & lots of fish go to Kurnell (on incoming tide), if you want pygmie pipehorses and lots of other fishlife you go to Bare Island, if you want wobbygongs & dusky sharks you go to Shelley, if you want Grey Nurse Sharks you go to Magic Point/Maroubra, if you want angler fish you do a muck dive at Clifton Garden, if you want sea horses and lots of sea horses you go to either Manly nets or Balmoral nets and this is just a start

see what i mean - sydney is a big place and has alot of choices

cheers

 

[Lord Melch]

Almitywife,

Thanks for the tips, got Nelson Bay covered as my Dive Instructor friend lives there.
Was told my by Sis an Ex Dive Instructor to go to Cairns as well - catch a flight up ? If I'm coming all that way...

 

[almitywife]

the only way to get to cairns quickly is by flight, otherwise its a 14hr+ drive up there

just remember if you dont do a liveaboard, you would have to do day trips and its about an hour or so out to the reef and chances are you will be on a cattleboat

cheers

 

[colbar]

Salamander Bay = Nelson Bay = Broughton Island - sorted. If you have wheels from Sydney - get to Jervis Bay about 2.5 hrs south. Sydneys been covered by ano. Recommend Laurieton (4 hrs north) for the GNS at the Cod Grounds, Titan wreck and generally good diving. Peter at Scubhaven will sort you out. If you are driving north, check out the Solitary Islands off Coffs Harbour, my preference are the North Solitaries, diving out of Wooli and if you get a chance dive Pimpernel Rock.

 

[Lord Melch]

the only way to get to cairns quickly is by flight, otherwise its a 14hr+ drive up there

just remember if you dont do a liveaboard, you would have to do day trips and its about an hour or so out to the reef and chances are you will be on a cattleboat

cheers

Yep fly is the way..

Moooo ! Cattleboat ???? Lots of people crammed on ???? Liveaboad sounds a plan then..

Salamander Bay = Nelson Bay = Broughton Island - sorted.

Sounds good thanks.

 

[Eau_Girl]

LM,

you said you'd be there for 10 days. Anyway you can extend to at least 2 weeks?? It's a long way to get there so the more time you can spend in Australia the better. With 2 weeks you could easily do a 7 day liveaboard out of Cairns or Port Douglas. IMHO definitely worth it!!

Internal flights are pretty cheap (especially if you convert back into GBP) especially if you book in advance. If you have your own dive gear remember to check out the luggage allowance on the low cost carriers (Virgin Blue & Jetstar) vs. Qantas. I've never had to pay on Qantas but did have to pay on Jetstar. I think Almity Wife commented on this in a post earlier in the year and it's definitely worth considering!

 

[almitywife]

jetstar.. aka pornstar or crapstar or deathstar... dont get me started!!!

webjet, Cheap Flights, Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar - Cheap Flights & Airfares - Compare Flights at Webjet - Webjet.com.au is a good site for checking out all airline flights

virgin blue is a good airline if carrying gear... they have a sports gear = 5kgs policy

i have not probs with qantas, i just dont trust them on the smaller routes (like tassie or hervey bay) as they always cancelling the qantas, shoving you on crapstar and then not giving you any of the benefits you paid for when orginally booking - see, i told you not to get me started!