Australiais a beautiful place to snorkel and dive. Here are some of the best spots to get wet and dive down under.
1. The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef, one of seven natural wonders in the world, is one of Earth’s best diving and snorkeling spots.
The reef is resilient despite the fact that climate change is affecting it. Rehabilitation programs help to maintain the health of the coral and its beauty. The reef is 2300km long, so there are many places to explore and find Nemo.
Visit Low Isles, a four-acre cay of coral surrounded by 55 acres of reef off the coast of Port Douglas. Or, head south along the Queensland coastline to the Whitsundays, where brilliant turquoise waters cover 74 islands of white sand.
Fitzroy Island is a great place to swim with green sea turtles. Fitzroy Island also features a Turtle Rehabilitation Center where you can learn about turtle care and release and see injured or ill turtles up close.
If you visit the Great Barrier Reef in late spring or early in summer, you’ll be in for an amazing experience. A time when coral releases masses of sperm and egg bundles to fertilize. It’s almost like diving in a giant snow globe.
2. Julian Rocks, New South Wales
Shark enthusiasts will love Julian Rocks. Some may be scared of the idea of coming into contact with these toothy sharks, but those who know better understand that they are timid and often misunderstood. The convergence of cool and warm waters and the marine life that lives there makes this area one of Australia’sAbest dive and snorkeling spots.
Divers of all levels can enjoy a dip or dive in the Nursery. Here, a variety of turtles and fish live. Experienced divers will want to explore the Cod Hole, an underwater cave where grey nurse sharks are protected, as well as wobbegongs, moray eels, and wobbegongs. Year-round, rays can be seen.
Julian Rocks is just off the coast of Byron Bay. So, after you’veyhung up your fins and cooled down, relax with a cocktail and live music at one of Australia’sA’coolest coolest beach towns.
Read More: Ten Reasons You’llYLove Byron Bay
3. Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Ningaloo Marine Park is Australia’s second-largest coral reef and also the home of the world’s biggest fringing reef. Ningaloo Marine Park’s reputation as one of the top snorkeling and diving spots in the world and a place to swim with whale sharks (the largest fish in the ocean) is fueled by these credentials. From April to July, these gentle giants gather in record numbers near the coast of Exmouth. From July to October, visitors have the option to join the massive mammals in the water. The whales are protected by strict laws that limit the number of people allowed to swim at once and the distance between swimmers.
You can also spot dugongs, dolphins, rays, and up to 500 different species of fish if you have the time.
4. Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
The whale is my Favorite marine animal, but on South Australia’s entire peninsula, the cuttlefish is. Divers and snorkelers can enjoy this spectacle between May and August when thousands of alien-like creatures with arms growing from their heads make a beeline for the Whyalla rocky coast to breed. You can observe these strange creatures, which look more like squids than fish, flitting through the water, changing color, texture, and shape, as well as engaging in mouth-to-mouth reproduction.
The great white sharks of Eyre Peninsula are the least friendly. You can still dive with them from the safety and security of a cage.
This region is known for its seafood, both on the plate and in the ocean. Use your visit to Whyalla to start a road trip through South Australia’s Asian frontier to Ceduna. The rock lobsters, oysters, prawns, and tuna are all delicious.
5. Bicheno, Tasmania
Tasmania is home to some of Australia’s most spectacular deep-water diving sites. These are located around Bicheno in the north of Tassie, near its beach-hugging Freycinet National Park. The small fishing village is home to sites with irresistible names like Paradise Reef or Magic Garden. The latter is a 38-metre wall that is run by marine wildlife. Golden Bommies is another popular dive site for scuba diving enthusiasts who like a challenge. The site includes two 10-meter bommies and coral columns covered with sea whips. Yellow zoanthids give the site its name. Butterfly perch is common in these waters. Tasmania’s spotted hands are not as common.
