Deciding between Adelaide seadragons and New Zealand Poor Knight Island

[loyalhero90]

Hello all,
I am kind of a new diver (have had 6 dives so far). I am studying abroad in Australia and I'm trying to decide what other diving places would be good. I've already shore dived the Great Barrier at Magnetic Island. I am trying to figure out if scuba diving with the seadragons in Adelaide would be a good trip or if the Poor Knights islands in New Zealand would be best. I have to make the best of my so far only educational (no fun) study abroad to Australia lol. Any one have any experience or ideas?

 

[ozzydamo]

Gidday'

Both areas will be very cold, compared to Magnetic island- Nz would be cheaper to dive and stay, but it doesn't have leafy sea dragons.


I would instead recommend Byron bay(shark dives) or fish rock at sw rocks, because the diving is very affordable $55/dive and you could party it up a bit while you break from your study, same with Adelaide but the water temps are shockers in winter like under 15*c.

Nz I have dived there at Cuvier Is., greater & red merc, the aldermans and White Island(live volcano)- they don't have a massive variety of fish, but lovely kelp gardens and seascapes, they do get some really good pelagic action with Kahawai, Kingies and Striped marlin(but to be straight with you, I think that stuff is more advanced then 7th dive, same with the leafies and weedies in kangaroo island SA- you'll end up kill em with lack of BC control).

Another idea is shore dives in Sydney good prices, but accommodation is more expensive.....I have seen weedy sea dragons in Sydney(port hacking).

Where are you based now??

 

[loyalhero90]

Gidday'

Both areas will be very cold, compared to Magnetic island- Nz would be cheaper to dive and stay, but it doesn't have leafy sea dragons.


I would instead recommend Byron bay(shark dives) or fish rock at sw rocks, because the diving is very affordable $55/dive and you could party it up a bit while you break from your study, same with Adelaide but the water temps are shockers in winter like under 15*c.

Nz I have dived there at Cuvier Is., greater & red merc, the aldermans and White Island(live volcano)- they don't have a massive variety of fish, but lovely kelp gardens and seascapes, they do get some really good pelagic action with Kahawai, Kingies and Striped marlin(but to be straight with you, I think that stuff is more advanced then 7th dive, same with the leafies and weedies in kangaroo island SA- you'll end up kill em with lack of BC control).

Another idea is shore dives in Sydney good prices, but accommodation is more expensive.....I have seen weedy sea dragons in Sydney(port hacking).

Where are you based now??

I am based in Gold Coast (going to Bond University). I have heard of the southwest rocks and it sounds really cool especially since I will be diving with sharks. I was worried about the winter temperatures especially since I don't really have experience with winter diving. It is not completely winter yet so I was hoping it wouldn't be too cold. I guess since I have already seen the Great Barrier reef (even saw a small shark) I wanted to see something different so seadragons or kelp forests was something I was hoping for. I also don't know what NZ diving is like or what I will see. I have looked at New Zealand and it is cheaper to dive. The tough thing is that I have to pick one place .

 

[clownfishsydney]

If you are talking about now, then the Poor Knights will have water temperatures of about 20C give or take. Wait a month and it will get colder and be far less than it will ever get in Sydney. I assume that by sea dragons in Adelaide you mean leafy sea dragons, not common (weedy) sea dragons. Far better diving in the Poor Knights from personal experience.

South West Rocks at this time of the year will be warmish (23+C) and is magnificent However, I really think that you need to get a lot more experience before considering any of these locations to get your value for money.

 

[ozzydamo]

Maybe this might be good for you to get some cheap dives under your belt- Unidive

 

[diver257a]

Hello all,
I am kind of a new diver (have had 6 dives so far). I am studying abroad in Australia and I'm trying to decide what other diving places would be good. I've already shore dived the Great Barrier at Magnetic Island. I am trying to figure out if scuba diving with the seadragons in Adelaide would be a good trip or if the Poor Knights islands in New Zealand would be best. I have to make the best of my so far only educational (no fun) study abroad to Australia lol. Any one have any experience or ideas?

Hi loyalhero90,

I live in South Australia (SA) and regularly see Leafy Seadragons (LSDs). Your stated circumstances suggest that you probably need more dives to gain experience and competency, and probably cannot spend a lot of $ (& time) on travel. Therefore, diving local to where you live is probably better for you at the moment.

If you want to see LSDs in SA, I would suggest that you package this trip with something that you would like to do in SA in order to maximise the benefit of the expense to travel here. Please remember that there is no guarantee that you will see a LSD on a dive. Also, if you do not like cold water temperatures, suggest that you do not come between May and November as the water temperature will be below 15 degrees C.

---------- Post added April 12th, 2013 at 06:30 AM ----------

Nz I have dived there at Cuvier Is., greater & red merc, the aldermans and White Island(live volcano)- they don't have a massive variety of fish, but lovely kelp gardens and seascapes, they do get some really good pelagic action with Kahawai, Kingies and Striped marlin(but to be straight with you, I think that stuff is more advanced then 7th dive, same with the leafies and weedies in kangaroo island SA- you'll end up kill em with lack of BC control).

Hi ozzydamo,

One does not have to go to Kangaroo Island (KI) to see Leafy Seadragons as this fish enjoys a wide distribution along the southern coastline of the Australian continent. There is a number of shore diving sites within 2 to 3 hours drive from Adelaide where this fish can be seen. In fact, travel to/from KI and diving there can be quite expensive.

 

[ozzydamo]

Thanks for your advise, diver257 you words are very high velocity. I would love to come down there and check out your Dragons one summertime.

There is no substitute for local knowledge is there?

Below 15*c isn't to be taken lightly, I wouldn't do it without a drysuit and proper underpants on, as I wouldn't want to scare anyone....

Local hero would be better off going to Byron bay, holding hands with a dive master a few more times- sundive is such nice operation, it is without a doubt the most diver friendly charter mob I have ever had the pleasure to dive with......

The, the place is a great intro to the marine world, here this is 2.38minutes you count the "goodies" in this little clip!!!!!

https://vimeo.com/63876004

The bottom structure there is very noob friendly too, being either rock or sand and not too much corals; you can practice your buoyancy and get correctly weighted with the dive master/guide to pass weights off to.




RANT WARNING!!!!!- Marine park protection zones need to multiply- Governments need to make artificial reefs for spearos and fishermen(increasing fish stocks to supplement their take)- get them off our fragile natural marine habitats......it's a big ocean!!!!

 

[Wingy]

While NZ may advertise cheaper dives - the entire country is massively more expensive to drive around or buy food in..and I live in perth so thats saying something. I fuelled up a friends car there (tiny little hyundai hatch) - $77 for 3/4 of a tank.....my commodore from empty to full costs me that here..id hate to fuel that up in NZ. And yes Poor Knights is COLD.