1. Find a local dive shop and ask them where are some locations for beginners / low difficulty dives or get a book that explains a few locations. These are usually in protected bays or other sheltered areas protected from currents and / or swell.
2. Once you know a few locations look at them from google earth. Consider if they are exposed to swell or current. Use the weather forcasts to determine which location is suitable on a given day. A good location has more than one dive site, so on the day you can change the site depending on the weather and your comfort level.
3. Visit the site.
Watch other divers if any. Where do they enter and exit and how?
If there are no other divers, have a closer look at where you would enter and exit safely.
4. Last step dive it
Begin with a simple reciprocal heading or use natural features like a wall to guide you, but until your familiar with the area, explore small amounts at a time (150 ft from entry / exit point) and plan to return with some extra air just incase.
If given some good description of a site steps 3 and 4 can be done on the dive day
At each step consider if you or your buddy can safely do the dive.
This is the method I use when I have no buddy with local experience. Most of my diving is done this way. Alternatives would be join a club and dive with them.
Here is an example of an ideal location-
Shellharbour Scuba: Local Diving
Note the various sites-
Bushrangers Bay - protected from currents and northerly/ southerly swell Low difficulty
The gutter - Protected from southerly swell and typically low currents Medium difficulty
The arch - Very exposed to swell and current. A difficult site to shore dive
This location is ideal as you can choose the site depending on the weather and your experience.
Good luck and enjoy
