Moving to Melbourne - Dry or Wet?

[Diver Rick]

I am about to move to Melbourne for 6 months and have seen that I will be close to the Portsea diving area. I've been diving in Canada (Ontario) for 24 years, and am quite used to diving deep, cold, wrecks. My wife and I have also done a fair amount of warm Caribbean & South Pacific diving.

From what I have read, I can't figure out if we should bring our dry suits or not.

It would appear my wife will be comfortable (February through May) using her full 7mm suit. But I only have a dry suit or a 3mm (full length), but nothing in between. If I buy a 5mm vest with hood to put on over my 3mm what do people think of my chances of being comfortable down there?

I don't get chilled all that easily, and seem to tolerate a 3mm shorty in warmer waters when most others are wearing full 3mm or even 5mm....

I am also a Divemaster with lots of experience assisting with teaching and leading dive groups. What are my chances of some part time employment in the area while I am down there (I will have full work Visa privileges,)

My wife leaves in a few days, and I join her at the end of January, so any responses would be appreciated!

See you when I get there!

.....Rick

 

[dmblack58]

You can definitely dive Melbourne wet all year round. Coldest the water got when I was there was 11C. That being said you'll be more comfortable diving dry. The DS is more for the service intervals than the actual water temps. There are some great dive sites around Melbourne.

I did most of my diving with the Melbourne University Underwater Club (www.muuc.org.au) and with AB Ocean Divers (www.abocean.com.au).

Have fun and enjoy.

David

PS - For a Canadian, winter down there will last for about an hour. It's from 2:00a to 3:00a on July 15 or so.

 

[Diver Rick]

.....That being said you'll be more comfortable diving dry. The DS is more for the service intervals than the actual water temps. There are some great dive sites around Melbourne........

Many thanks.....

And for the record, I am leaving behind the warmest winter on record here, and it doesn't look like there will be any snow whatsoever in my area!! (Toronto).

And its not all snow and igloos either!! I wear a 3mm shorty at many dive sites around here (during the summer at least!)

Looks like I should go to the trouble of the extra baggage and bring all the dry suit gear down as well.... *sigh*

 

[dmblack58]

Diving in Port Philip Bay or outside the heads would be similar in temp to diving Tobermory in the Spring or early Fall.

 

[Diver Rick]

Ahhh, that helps! Something I can relate too!!

I've gotten enough feedback to convince us to take all the dry suit gear with us. We are stopping in British Columbia during our return trip in June, so now we'll be ready to dive there as well!

Had to take the 3mils too though, as we are doing 10 days in Fiji in June as well!!

Can hardly wait!

Thanks for the info.

.....Rick

 

[work4mike]

Ahhh, that helps! Something I can relate too!!

I've gotten enough feedback to convince us to take all the dry suit gear with us. We are stopping in British Columbia during our return trip in June, so now we'll be ready to dive there as well!

Had to take the 3mils too though, as we are doing 10 days in Fiji in June as well!!

Can hardly wait!

Thanks for the info.

.....Rick

We're from Melbourne and did our OW cert off the Portsea/Sorrento area. Your drysuit will work well in the cold waters, particularly at deeper dives where the wrecks are. In fact, there is another website where the Aussie divers congregate: diveoz.com.au

Many divers who hang out there often go "off the beaten path" to some cool dive sites. I never liked diving in Melbourne... But, if you are in Australia, make sure you dive these areas:
1. outer Great Barrier Reef
2. Jervis Bay, off the coast of NSW
3. if you like diving with great white sharks, there are some off the coast of South Australia.

A note about sharks; Australia has tons of them particularly off Moreton Island near Brisbane, Eden-Merimbula area, NSW, and all of the south coast of South Australia.

Here's yet another one:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/01/22/australia.shark.reut/
;-)

Seriously tho, Australia is a wonderful place to dive!