Diving Instructor Moving to Melbourne

[Ziad]

Hi all,I will move from Switzerland to Melbourne for my non-diving job early next year for 2-3 years and I'd like to have a few information about diving in this area.


Is it most common/recommended to find a dive buddy and do shore dives or instead go by boat with a dive shop?


I'm a PADI IDC Staff Instructor with Trimix and CCR qualifications. By the time I move to Melbourne I will probably also be a TDI instructor. I enjoy any type of diving, from 5 to 100 meters, and I like to alternate between recreational and technical diving.

At first I will be diving for fun but it would be great if once I know the area a bit better I can start teaching again.


I will soon contact some dive shops I found randomly on google but I'd like to know if someone as some advice about specific dive shops that might correspond to my profile.


Also what's the law regarding tanks servicing there? For instance in Switzerland a pressure test is mandatory every three years and tanks that are not CE certified are prohibited. So I don't know if Australia as similar restrictions. As I have around 10 tanks (twinset, sidemount kit, decos, stages, rebreather tanks... etc) I'm debating whether I should leave them in Switzerland or take them with me to Melbourne.



Thanks for taking the time to read this

 

[Edward3c]

Hi all,I will move from Switzerland to Melbourne for my non-diving job early next year for 2-3 years and I'd like to have a few information about diving in this area.


Is it most common/recommended to find a dive buddy and do shore dives or instead go by boat with a dive shop?


I'm a PADI IDC Staff Instructor with Trimix and CCR qualifications. By the time I move to Melbourne I will probably also be a TDI instructor. I enjoy any type of diving, from 5 to 100 meters, and I like to alternate between recreational and technical diving.

At first I will be diving for fun but it would be great if once I know the area a bit better I can start teaching again.


I will soon contact some dive shops I found randomly on google but I'd like to know if someone as some advice about specific dive shops that might correspond to my profile.


Also what's the law regarding tanks servicing there? For instance in Switzerland a pressure test is mandatory every three years and tanks that are not CE certified are prohibited. So I don't know if Australia as similar restrictions. As I have around 10 tanks (twinset, sidemount kit, decos, stages, rebreather tanks... etc) I'm debating whether I should leave them in Switzerland or take them with me to Melbourne.



Thanks for taking the time to read this

See here for BSAC Melbourne diving club.

 

[MA]

You are going to love melb diving. A very big tec diving community. I'll hazard a guess you will end up cave diving as that is also popular amongst the melb divers.

BSAC as mentioned above. Or jump on the dive Vic boats and you'll meet plenty of divers. There's a a growing rebreather lot. AOS (academy of scuba)also have a large tec diver community. IDC scuba have chat to them.

To geta feel for the range of sites for boat diving, jump on the dive victoria website.

bring your tanks you will be using them every weekend. Unfortunately it's a test annually here though.

 

[hypnodiver]

I wouldn't bother bringing tanks with you. Between the cost and hassle of shipping, getting tanks tested and certified so that they can be filled, and the probable expense of replacing all the valves and manifolds to comply with Australian standards, it's just as cheap to buy new tanks in Australia.

It's very easy to be a very active diver in Melbourne. There's a strong culture of shore diving around Port Phillip Bay, and if you get out on the boats, there's a lot to see in the southern part of the bay and in the Ship's Graveyard just outside the heads. Just be prepared that boat diving practices in Victoria are very particular, can be irritatingly bureaucratic, and the boats can be crowded and chaotic at busy times. I'd strongly recommend hooking up with a shop or a club to find dive buddies, since booking with dive a charter operator and finding a buddy on the boat doesn't usually work out well.

 

[bracko]

Like every city, shop around for a shop. Some are relaxed some some are not as much. The Aussie stereotype of 'No worries mate' isn't universal.

When I moved to Adelaide it took me 18 months to find a shop and service centre I liked (which incidentally were not the same company)

 

[elmo]

Welcome to Melbourne,

If you can cope with non-tropical conditions, and being Swiss I dare say you can, we have some brilliant diving here. From shallow piers with fish, weedy seadragons, seahorses, octopuses, fish, crabs, nudibranches, sponges and soft corals to deep walls and of course the ships' graveyard.

If you're interested in freshwater caverns, sinkholes and caves, it's worth the drive to Mt Gambier (halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide) for diving and training.

Hi all,I will move from Switzerland to Melbourne for my non-diving job early next year for 2-3 years and I'd like to have a few information about diving in this area.


Is it most common/recommended to find a dive buddy and do shore dives or instead go by boat with a dive shop?

Either is fine. I'm a DM and regularly guide shore (mostly pier) dives. I also really enjoy going for dives with just one or two others. Less experienced divers will usually dive in a guided group while they become more confident. Experienced divers might choose to too if:

• they haven't organized a buddy for the weekend
• they're new here and want someone to show them the best sites and best parts of sites
• they like the social aspect of diving in a group.

There is brilliant diving here, but it isn't usually considered a dive tourism destination. As such, most divers live here and dive on weekends, and know other local divers. Hang around a while and you'll find plenty of buddies.

Guided boat dives exist but are less common. Most people on boats have either organized their buddy, they're insta-buddying (buddying up on the boat and hoping for the best), or they're on a course.

PM me if you want to go for a dive or if you want to come to my dive shop's club night to meet a few people. Currently, my deco training is being rudely interrupted by the weather, but I'll be well and truly qualified by the time you're here.

Also what's the law regarding tanks servicing there? For instance in Switzerland a pressure test is mandatory every three years and tanks that are not CE certified are prohibited. So I don't know if Australia as similar restrictions. As I have around 10 tanks (twinset, sidemount kit, decos, stages, rebreather tanks... etc) I'm debating whether I should leave them in Switzerland or take them with me to Melbourne.

It's worth sending an email to places that test tanks, but it's probably best to leave them at home. We have the strictest regulations of anywhere. To be filled in Australia, they need to have passed an Australian Standards test, and overseas equivalents aren't recognized. You'll also need to get them all hydro tested EVERY YEAR. Add that to the cost of transporting them (with valves removed) here and back. It's not cheap, but you are most likely better off buying or hiring tanks here.

Do bring your regs, BC, drysuit, etc.

 

[Ziad]

Wow I didn't realize that people took the time to answer, my e-mail notifications settings must have been turned off... Anyway, thanks guys for your replies!


My moving date is getting closer, looking forward to dive in Melbourne!

---------- Post added January 5th, 2016 at 12:10 AM ----------

If you can cope with non-tropical conditions, and being Swiss I dare say you can, we have some brilliant diving here. From shallow piers with fish, weedy seadragons, seahorses, octopuses, fish, crabs, nudibranches, sponges and soft corals to deep walls and of course the ships' graveyard.

Anything can seem tropical compared to Lake Geneva where temperatures of 6-7C and vis of 1-2m are not uncommon. So I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy diving there

it isn't usually considered a dive tourism destination. As such, most divers live here and dive on weekends, and know other local divers.

Same here in Switzerland. And that's exactly what I'll be looking for, a few buddies to go diving on weekends!

PM me if you want to go for a dive or if you want to come to my dive shop's club night to meet a few people. Currently, my deco training is being rudely interrupted by the weather, but I'll be well and truly qualified by the time you're here.

Ok I'll PM you soon so we can go for a dive when I get there. It's ok if your deco training is not complete yet. I love technical diving but I can have as much fun with recreational dives.

Cheers

 

[bergersau]

Melbourne water temps are 10* to 22*C.
Sell your tanks and buy once you arrive in Melbourne.
Dive Victoria is the largest charter boat operator and have locations in Portsea and Queenscliff. Also check out the not for profit clubs under the Scuba Divers Federation of Victoria banner. These include Get Under, Black Rock, VSAG and others.

Some great diving to be had from Melbourne. Just be prepared for a 90 minute drive each way to get to the better end of the bay...

 

[lorolla678]

Hi all,I will move from Switzerland to Melbourne for my non-diving job early next year for 2-3 years and I'd like to have a few information about diving in this area.


Is it most common/recommended to find a dive buddy and do shore dives or instead go by boat with a dive shop?


I'm a PADI IDC Staff Instructor with Trimix and CCR qualifications. By the time I move to Melbourne I will probably also be a TDI instructor. I enjoy any type of diving, from 5 to 100 meters, and I like to alternate between recreational and technical diving.

At first I will be diving for fun but it would be great if once I know the area a bit better I can start teaching again.


I will soon contact some dive shops I found randomly on google but I'd like to know if someone as some advice about specific dive shops that might correspond to my profile.


Also what's the law regarding tanks servicing there? For instance in Switzerland a pressure test is mandatory every three years and tanks that are not CE certified are prohibited. So I don't know if Australia as similar restrictions. As I have around 10 tanks (twinset, sidemount kit, decos, stages, rebreather tanks... etc) I'm debating whether I should leave them in Switzerland or take them with me to Melbourne.



Thanks for taking the time to read this

Hi if you are looking for instructor work Extreme water sport is always looking for instructors they specialise in sdi/tdi courses give steve a call 59823432 or email steve@extremewatersport.com.au
or go to the following link http://extremewatersport.com.au/join-our-team/

Regards William,

 

[soneth]

I work part time for Dive Victoria, a quick google search will find our website. We are Victorias biggest dive charter operation and run dives every weekend. We also have an active dive club that meets for shore/boat dives once a month. If you contact one of our stores via email then they will give you further details. I also meet up with people for deeper dives. If you are interested then send me a pm.
Welcome to Melbourne, the diving is awesome.