Learn to Scuba Dive

Category: Shark Diving

  • Minke Whales and the Trip of a Lifetime, a week aboard Australia’s most famous Liveaboard – Mike Ball’s Spoilsport

    Minke Whales and the Trip of a Lifetime, a week aboard Australia’s most famous Liveaboard – Mike Ball’s Spoilsport

    The Trip

    8 days/ 7 nights, 450 mile Coral Sea Safari includes some of the best dive sites on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea featuring:

    • spectacular first dive at Challenger Bay,
    • diver size fish at the Cod Hole,
    • plummeting Coral Sea wall dives in gin clear water,
    • exciting shark action in the Coral Sea,
    • schooling trevally and barracuda in the Coral Sea,
    • exploration of Lizard Island,
    • the Cod Wall, outer edge big fish dive,
    • the prime Ribbon Reef sites,
    • all dives north of Cooktown, dive site guarantee!

    What awaits you?
    Imagine yourself as a feeling of excitement arises as you cruise north in the shelter of the Great Barrier Reef. On deck you are greeted by the fabulous turquoise waters of the Ribbon Reefs. To port is historic Cooktown to starboard is the vastness of the Coral Sea

    Shallow but fantastic – Challenger Bay!
    Challenger Bay is a spectacular introduction to the Great Barrier Reef. Gliding along, surrounded by schools of silver trevally, surgeon fish, diagonally lined sweetilp and yellow striped bream you explore pristine coral gardens in excellent visibility. You will understand why the ‘Great’ is in Great Barrier Reef.

    Diver size fish at the Cod Hole!
    One of the Great Barrier Reefs most amazing phenomenons’s awaiting you at the Cod Hole. Swim with, ‘small diver size’ or ‘giant fish size’ potato cod. Spend the dive amongst shallow sunlit coral gardens of acropora coral or venture deeper into the parallel gullies forming the front of the reef where huge Queensland groupers face into the current.

    SPOILSPORT (Vessel)
    In between dives you enjoy Spoilsports luxurious motor yacht atmosphere and attentive crew. Spoilsport is the Great Barrier Reef’s most awarded live aboard. Spoilsport was designed to provide divers with a new level of comfort and convenience. You get less rock’n’roll with more space and comfort. She has received 11 prestigious Rodale’s Reader Choice awards including Best Live aboard and Most Environmentally Sensitive.

    Dive Information

    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)
    Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive this site
    Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience
    Snorkelling is limited to Ribbon Reef sites, Coral Sea sites not suitable.


     Trip Date

    Thursday, 10 – Thursday, 17 July 2014- EXTRA Release of spots available as of 27/03/2014

    Price
    $4987 per person- Premium Cabin- (Double bed, private ensuite, ocean views) – SOLD OUT                

    $4530 per person- Standard Cabin- Twin bunk beds & private ensuite & Ocean views – 1 SPOT AVAILABLE              

    $3909 per person- Club Cabin – Twin beds, private ensuite – SOLD OUT    

    $3322 per person- Budget Cabin- Twin bunk beds & shared bathroom- SOLD OUT

    What’s Included
    7 nights accommodation onboard the spacious Spoilsport
    All deluxe chef- prepared meals and Australian wine on the Spoilsport
    Unlimited dives including tanks and weights
    Snorkelling with Minke Whales
    Professional Dive Services Tour Leader to look after you above and below the water

    Spoilsport Dive Services:
    Complimentary Reef Ecology Program
    Low key photo comp on every expedition
    Huge dive deck with convenient entry/exit platforms
    Photographer friendly with 3 large camera tables
    ‘Open dive deck’ allows flexible dive planning
    3 dive sites per day is normal
    Underwater photography and video services
    PADI instruction: Advanced, Nitrox, Naturalist and Photo/Video
    Dry towel after each dive
    Solo diving as per Mike Ball Safe Solo System
    2 large inflatable’s for personalised dive service.

    What’s Excluded
    Return flights to Cairns
    Travel Insurance
    Nitrox fills and pony bottles
    Personal spending money
    Gratuities
    $20 per person reef tax payable on board

    Gear Hire
    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator and computer for the trip and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. These items will need to be given to you prior to the trip and will need to be included in your luggage allowance. Alternatively gear can be hired from the operator in Cairns and we are happy to quote upon request.

    Itinerary

    Embark: Thursday 6pm – Trinity Wharf, Cairns.
    Disembark: Thursday 8am – Trinity Wharf, Cairns. (courtesy inner city hotel transfers)

    Plummeting walls in gin clear water.
    Early morning dives on sheer walls that plummet to 1000 metres. Glide pass huge black coral trees, diver size soft coral trees and golden gorgonian fans. Observe or be observed by curious sharks cruising in the clear water.

    Exciting shark action in the Coral Sea!
    Your Osprey Reef adventure builds to a climax with a spectacular shark dive at North Horn. You will see 10-30 grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks as well as other species. You can photograph these sleek high order predators at close- range, or not so close, you choose! Off the deep wall solitary hammerheads are regularly seen, schools are occasionally seen.

    Schooling trevally & barracuda in the Coral Sea!
    Also observe the perimeter of the shark dive. You will see a queue for the scraps! Potato cod, Napoleon wrasse and moray eels forage the reef while trevally, barracuda and red bass control the mid-water.

    Lizard Island.
    Here the famous English navigator James Cook climbed to its summit in 1770 to find a way out of the labyrinth of reefs. Naturalist Joseph Banks lamented in his journal that he had too little time to study the wealth of strange creatures he saw in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

    Off gas and hike into history!
    Divers can off-gas and take some unique photographs on Lizard Island. Includes: walk of Watson’s Bay; visiting the historic ruins of Mrs Watson’s Cottage and exploring the Pandanus Swamp and Chinaman’s Ridge.

    Cod Wall and Cod Hole.
    A short steam to the top of Ribbon Reef #10 permits an exciting alternative to the Cod Hole. At the reef’s outer edge the deep, pristine, Cod Wall, is a series of stepped ledges to 60 metres. Grey reef sharks, bull sharks, flowery cod and diver size Queensland groper roam this deep wall. The Cod Hole can be repeated if preferred!

    The turquoise chain of Ribbon Reefs.
    This 55 mile chain of reefs from Lizard Island to Cooktown is the most prized dive region of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This is where you can see more of the Great Barrier Reefs 1500 fish and 400 coral species than elsewhere. The currents that channel between the ribbon reefs attract large fish populations. Marine life encounters range from pygmy seahorses to manta rays and whales.

    Challenger Bay’s Baza!
    Another highlight is a night dive at Challenger Bay, home of Baza the barracuda and of many moray eels and clever lionfish, who, are very active at night and have learnt how to use the light of your torch to find their supper.

    Lighthouse Bommie & Acropolis
    Lighthouse Bommie is a pinnacle rising from the sand at 30 metres. June/July this is the world’s hotspot for Minke Whale encounters. Acropolis Plateau is the new hot site shrouded in spectacular corals and festooned with baitfish, predatory fish and critters

    Pixie Pinnacle, Vertical Gardens.
    You may find harlequin ghost pipefish, leafy scorpion fish and lace scorpion fish. Vertical Gardens is a natural amphitheatre, and home to a herd of large green bump head parrotfish. They make an awesome procession crunching their way through the reef!

    Clam Beds, Andy’s Postcard.
    Clam Beds is a beautiful shallow coral garden where dozens of giant clams show off their majestic mantles. Andy’s Postcard is an isolated bommie rising from 80 metres. Fluorescent purple and orange anthias attract trevally and barracuda to these photogenic sites.

    Steve’s Bommie, Flare Point.
    At Steve’s Bommie, hiding amongst the coral you can find lion fish, frog fish and leaf scorpion fish. Fluorescent anthias amass on the reef edge while lined snapper, big eye trevally and barracuda circumnavigate the pinnacle. Flare Point has beautiful pristine coral gardens where cuttle fish are regularly seen.

    Dive Site Guarantee!
    All your dives will be north of Cooktown including ‘prime’ Ribbon Reef sites that have restricted access. If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best diving available. Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimizes disruption to your itinerary and your diving experience.

    Dive Freedom!
    You will notice there is no rush or limit placed on your dive time. Spoilsport’s itineraries normally provide 3 dive sites per day with opportunity for relaxed or unlimited diving. At sites like Challenger Bay some photographers do 2 hour dives to capture special fish behaviour photographs.

    PADI Specialities Suitable for this trip
    Advanced Open Water
    Under water Navigation
    Nitrox
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Underwater Navigation
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    This is the perfect way to complete a specialty course as you have already paid for the dives!!

    HOW TO BOOK
    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to     [email protected].

     

  • Get your Grey Nurse Shark on during Shark Fest at Shark Alley, North Stradbroke Island

    Get your Grey Nurse Shark on during Shark Fest at Shark Alley, North Stradbroke Island

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE DIVE SITE

    North Stradbroke Island is a pristine, secluded island paradise – a hidden treasure only one hour from central Brisbane.  Diving off Stradbroke Island can only be described as exhilarating! The dive sites you will explore are only a 10- 15 minute boat ride from shore and Manta Bommie has been rated in the top 10 dive sites in Australia.

    Straddie’s reefs are teeming with various marine life like Manta Rays and Leopard Sharks during Summer (Oct- Apr), endangered Grey Nurse Sharks and Humpback Whales during Winter (May- Sept), plus Bull and Eagle Rays, guitar and Wobbegong Sharks, Turtles, Dolphins, Octopus, Pelagics, hard and soft corals, Nudibranchs plus hundreds of tropical fish species.

    Up to 8 fabulous dives getting up close and personal with the labradors of the sea, Grey Nurse Sharks. Flat Rock in winter is a melting pot of pelagic life. Grey Nurse sharks patrolling the sand gutters whilst you are serenaded by the haunting melodies of the southern humpback whales. Literally anything could swim past!

    There is a choice of 12 varying dive sites to choose from and we can plan your trip based around your experience level which include the most popular sites of Manta Bommie, Flat Rock and Shag Rock.

    As we are able to dive with Grey Nurse Sharks over the entire weekend, every effort will be made to dive Shark Alley at Flat Rock.

    North Stradbroke Island Map

     


     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)

    Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres

    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

    TRIP DATES

    TBA

    Grey Nurse Shark

     

     

     

    PRICE

    $750 includes –  8 dives,  2 nights’ accommodation at Manta Lodge, tanks, weights, return transport from Woolloongabba to Cleveland, ferry transfers, Divemaster services if required and photos as a momento of your trip.

    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip

    Advanced Open Water Course @ $250 per person
    PADI Deep Diver speciality Course @ $195 per person
    Peak Performance Buoyancy @ $195 per
    Shark Awareness @ $195 per person
    Enriched Air / Nitrox @ $245 per person (includes 2 nitrox fills)

    NITROX NOW AVAILABLE!! Nitrox fills are $20 per double dive i.e. $40 for the day or $80 for the weekend.

     WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All Meals are at leisure

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the day and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available if arranged in advance and are subject to availability. Gear hire is available from the dive operator on North Stradbroke, however this maybe at a higher rate.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ITINERARY

    The timings for this weekend of diving will be dependant on the number of dives you do over the weekend. If you choose to do the full weekend of diving; I have noted the timings below. A more detailed itinerary will be sent to the divers closer to the date.

    You have the option of meeting the group either at the ferry terminal in Cleveland or in Woolloongabba where John will drive you to Cleveland in our van.

    Departing Woolloongabba

    We will meet at 4pm sharp at Adreno, 54 Deshon Street, Woolloongabba. You are able to park your car here for the weekend, either off street parking or at the rear of Adreno.

    Departing Cleveland

    We will be catching the Big Red Cat car and passenger ferry which will depart Toondah Harbour (1 Emmett Drv, Cleveland) at 5pm sharp . Please meet John at the ferry by 4:45 pm.

    We will aim to catch the 5:55 pm ferry from Dunwich (North Stradbroke Island) and should be back at Cleveland by 6:30pm on Sunday. If you are travelling back to Adreno with John, we should have you back there around 7:30pm. There maybe a possibility that we could catch an earlier ferry back to the mainland, however this will all be dependant on the running of the day.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    COURSES & SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Under water Navigation
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Deep Diver * Site dependant
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    Note- Some specialties are site and conditions dependant. All efforts will be made to complete course dives on a booked trip, however if conditions do not allow it the diver will have to book onto another trip to complete the course requirements.

    * Site dependant

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    HOW TO BOOK

    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

  • Satisfy your lust for rust and watch history come alive at Truk/Chuuk Lagoon

    Satisfy your lust for rust and watch history come alive at Truk/Chuuk Lagoon

    Diver with gun

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Join us as we dive one of our world’s meccas of wreck diving!

    Chuuk Lagoon, formerly known as Truk Lagoon, is a sheltered body of water in the central Pacific. About 1800 km north-east of New Guinea, it is located mid-ocean at 7 degrees North latitude, and is part of Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia. The atoll consists of a protective reef, 225 kilometres (140 mi) around, enclosing a natural harbour 79 by 50 kilometres (49 by 30 mi), with an area of 2,130 square kilometres (820 sq mi).[1] It has a land area of 127.4 square kilometres (49.2 sq mi), with a population of 47,871 people.

     

    wrecks of chuuk lagoon

    During World War II, Truk Lagoon was the Empire of Japan‘s main base in the South Pacific theatre. The Japanese garrison consisted of 27,856 IJN men under the command of Vice Admiral Masami Kobayashi then Vice Admiral Chuichi Hara and 16,737 IJA men under the command of Major General Kanenobu Ishuin.[4] A significant portion of the Japanese fleet was based there, with its administrative center on Tonoas (south of Weno). Truk was the base for Japanese operations against Allied forces in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Due to its heavy fortifications, both natural and manmade, the base at Truk was known to Allied forces as “the Gibraltar of the Pacific”.[5]

     

     

     

    Reflections of a former time in Chuuk

     

    Operation Hailstone, executed by the United States in 1944,[6] culminated in one of the most important naval airstrikes of the war at Truk. Twelve Japanese warships, thirty-two merchant ships and 249 aircraft were destroyed, although the larger warships had moved to Palau a week earlier.

     

     

     

    Wrecks to explore are endlessDuring WWII Truk Lagoon served as the forward anchorage for the Japanese Imperial Fleet. The place was considered the most formidable of all Japanese strongholds in the Pacific. On the various islands, the Japanese Civil Engineering Department and Naval Construction Department had built roads, trenches, bunkers and caves. Five airstrips, seaplane bases, a torpedo boat station, submarine repair shops, a communications center and a radar station were constructed during the war. Protecting these various facilities were coastal defense guns and mortar emplacements. At anchor in the lagoon were the Imperial Japanese Navy‘s giant battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, tankers, cargo ships, tugboats, gunboats, minesweepers, landing craft, and submarines. Some have described it as Japan’s equivalent of the Americans’ Pearl Harbor.

     

    Cargo still intactOnce the American forces captured the Marshall Islands, they used it as a base from which they launched an early morning attack on February 17, 1944 against Truk Lagoon. The Japanese withdrew most of their heavy units. Operation Hailstone lasted for three days, with an American bombardment of the Japanese wiping out almost anything of value – 60 ships and 275 airplanes were sent to the bottom of the lagoon. The superior force of United States ships and planes made the Truk lagoon the biggest graveyard of ships in the world.[7]*

    *Information sourced from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuuk_Lagoon

     

    PRICE

    Twin Share Diver Cost : $4249.00

    Single Diver Cost : $4899.00

     

    Price Includes:

    Air and Taxes
    Return Airfares Ex Brisbane to Truk via Port Moresby flying Air Niugini
    Checked luggage allowance of 45kg per person
    Australian departure taxes and applicable airline taxes (subject to change)

    Accommodation and Transfers
    11 nights twin share accommodation at The Blue Lagoon Resort
    Return airport transfers- Truk

    Diving Packages
    20 boat dives with Blue Lagoon Dive Shop
    Includes: tanks, weights and dive guide services, dive locker

    Group Bonus Inclusions (minimum 8 divers):
    1 x Extra dive (if timing and weather conditions allow)
    Complimentary lunch on last day (provided by dive shop)

    Accommodation

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cost Does Not Include:

    Truk Lagoon Dive Permit US$50 – to be purchased on arrival
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending monies and Excess Luggage Surcharges

    Accommodation

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Conditions Apply:
    Prices are subject to change at any time without notice due to supplier rate changes. See other terms and conditions as per the Dive Adventures website- www.diveadventures.com.au

    Booking Requirements:

    To secure your place on this trip you need to complete a booking form and return it together with a non refundable deposit of $500

    Want to just fill it out online now?! Click on this link to book on straight away!

     

     

     

     

  • Grey Nurse Shark Overload at Seal Rocks, Forster, N.S.W.

    Grey Nurse Shark Overload at Seal Rocks, Forster, N.S.W.

    IMG_0016

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

    A dive at Big Seal Rock, when the grey nurse sharks are in, is the most unforgettable experience. Descending the rock wall, you will come upon a wide gutter at 21 m, which has a small cave cutting into the rock face. Usually schools of kingfish, drummer and trevally circle the gutter, while turtles, wobbegongs, stingrays and Port Jackson sharks can be seen resting on the bottom.

    Between summer and winter the gutter is often filled with dozens of grey nurse sharks. You can sit on the edge of the gutter and watch these large sharks swim in figure-of-eight patterns. Grey nurse sharks are encountered on most of the reefs off Forster/Tuncurry and Seal Rocks at almost any time of the year.

    There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of hidden reefs off the twin towns of Forster/Tuncurry located 300 km north of Sydney. Divers have explored the reefs in the area for over 40 years, and in that time have only scratched the surface.

    There are many dive sites at Seal Rocks of which we will most probably be diving the following site (based on conditions)

    Port Jackson Shark

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Breaker and Jimmys Cave- An extensive reef system covering over 200 square metres, responsible for sinking the SS Satara on 20 April 1910. Jimmy’s cave is a substantial and mostly fully enclosed cave penetration dive.

    Statis Rock aka Skeleton Rock- The home reef at Seal Rocks, the perfect second dive after one of the local rocks or wrecks. Generally a calm, sheltered dive with Grey Nurse Sharks and lots of schooling fish species.

    Big Seal Rock- The focus of Greay Nurse Shark aggregation in the Seal Rocks Complex, at times there may be more than 40 individual sharks gathered in the Eastern Gutter.

    Little Seal Rock- Complex rock reef structure with Grey Nurse Sharks, bull rays and plenty of schooling fish. This is the rock that sunk the Catterthun on 8 August 1895.

    Idol Bay- An excellent second dive just West of Latitude Rock. Plenty of bommies on a mixed rock and sand bottom. Full of big and small marine species. One of the most enjoyable shallow reef dives on the mid Coast of NSW.

    Bennetts Head Bommie Rock reef just off Bennetts Head featuring a swim through cave. This site can be done as a shore dive in calm conditions or as a boat dive. Plenty of macro life, anemones and large bull rays on the sand.

    The Barge Forster- an old Barge upside down in nutrient rich water near the Forster estuary opening, teeming with big critters and macro photography opportunities.

    The Pinnacle Forster Isolated Rock- the pinnacle dive near Forster, a favourite hang-out for big critters including rays, jewfish and grey nurse sharks.

    Latitude Rock- An isolated rock reef feature near Forster teaming with life.

    SS Catterthum- Another Steamer trying to shortcut the 5 miles around the small rock outcrops and hit one. One of the most rewarding, yet difficult to actually dive wrecks on the East Coast of Australia. Lost on 8 August 1895 with 9,000 gold sovereigns aboard. A genuine treasure hunting dive.

    Satara Shipwreck- The SS Satara, a 120 m long cargo steamer which foundered off Seal Rocks in 1910, now rests on its port side in 42 m of water.  The stern section sits in an upright position, displaying the enormous prop, as well as portholes, boilers, the engine, propeller shaft, piles of chains and hundreds of plates. The wreck is covered in sponges, ascidians, anemones and black coral trees. Schools of reef and pelagic fish swarm about the wreck, and Port Jackson, grey nurse sharks, wobbegongs and the occasional bronze whaler are often sighted.

    Bat Fish

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Must be Advanced Open Water Certified and Deep Diver qualified to dive this dive site.  You can do your Deep Diver Speciality whilst diving this site.
    Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive this site
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

     TRIP DATES

    Thursday, 2 – Monday, 6 May 2019

    PRICE

    $850 per person

    OR

    $950 per person including your PADI Deep Diver specialty

    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip

    Diving on Nitrox@ $ 30 per dive or $120 for the weekend
    *PADI Deep Diver specialty Course @ $100 per person (reduced price for this trip ONLY)
    PADI Enriched Air specialty Course @ $275 per person for manual learning or $475 per person for on-line learning (both prices include 6 Nitrox fills)

    To book online click HERE

    Forster House Reef

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    6 Dives and a bonus dive at Forster Dives house site
    4 Nights accommodation
    Return transport to and from Brisbane
    Tanks and weights

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All Meals are at leisure

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to provide with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the weekend and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available and are subject to availability.

    ITINERARY

    We will departing Brisbane (Woolloongabba) mid-afternoon on Thursday and from here you will be driven in our company van to Forster, NSW. Upon arrival you will check in to our accommodation and get a good night sleep ready to dive with the sharks in the morning (2 dives), Saturday and on Sunday. On Monday, we will head back to Brisbane before lunch. An itinerary with timings will be sent to you closer to the date of the trip.

    PADI SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Under water Navigation
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Deep Diver (perfect for this trip)
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Underwater Navigation
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    This is the perfect way to complete a specialty course as you have already paid for the dives!!

    HOW TO BOOK

    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

    OR

    To book online please click HERE

  • North Stradbroke Island – Expect the Unexpected!

    North Stradbroke Island – Expect the Unexpected!

    Hawksbill turtle

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Dive Site

    North Stradbroke Island is a pristine, secluded island paradise – a hidden treasure only one hour from central Brisbane.  Diving off Stradbroke Island can only be described as exhilarating! The dive sites you will explore are only a 10- 15 minute boat ride from shore and Manta Bommie has been rated in the top 10 dive sites in Australia.

    Straddie’s reefs are teeming with various marine life like Manta Rays and Leopard Sharks during Summer (Oct- Apr), endangered Grey Nurse Sharks and Humpback Whales during Winter (May- Sept), plus Bull and Eagle Rays, guitar and Wobbegong Sharks, Turtles, Dolphins, Octopus, Pelagics, hard and soft corals, Nudibranchs plus hundreds of tropical fish species.

    There are a choice of 12 varying dive sites to choose from and we can plan your trip based around your experience level which include the most popular sites of Manta Bommie, Flat Rock and Shag Rock.

     

    Anenome Clownfish

     

     

     

     

     

    Dive Information

    -Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)
    -Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres
    -EAN (nitrox) is available upon request
    -Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

    Trip Dates

    Saturday, 10 March 2018

    Saturday, 17 March 2018

    Sunday, 18 March 2018

    To book online for one of these day dive trips click HERE

    White Eyed Moray Eel

     

     

     

     

    Price

    4 dive Day Trip- $350 per person

    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip

    Diving on Nitrox@ $ 20 per double dive
    PADI Deep Diver speciality Course @ $195 per person
    PADI Enriched Air speciality Course @ $255 per person for manual learning or $395 for on-line learning (both prices include 2 Nitrox fills)
    Peak Performance Buoyancy @ $195 per person
    Shark Awareness @ $195 per person

    Grey Nurse Shark

     

     

     

     

     

     

    What’s Included

    4 dives
    Return ferry transfers to Stradbroke Island
    Land transfers whilst on Straddie
    Tanks Weights
    Return transport from Woolloongabba to Cleveland (6 spots only)

    What’s Excluded
    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All Meals are at leisure

    Manta Ray - Manta Bommie, North Stradbroke Island

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Gear Hire

    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the day and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available if arranged in advance and are subject to availability.

    Itinerary

    You have the option of meeting the group either at the ferry terminal in Cleveland or in Woolloongabba where John will drive you to Cleveland in our van.

    Departing Woolloongabba

    We will meet at 5 am sharp at Adreno, 54 Deshon Street, Woolloongabba. You are able to park your car here for the day, either off street parking or at the rear of Adreno.

    Departing Cleveland

    We will be catching the Gold Cat passenger ferry which will depart Toondah Harbour (1 Emmett Drv, Cleveland) at 5:50 am sharp . Please meet John at the ferry by 5:40 am.

    We will aim to catch the 5:55 pm ferry from Dunwich (North Stradbroke Island) and should be back at Cleveland by 6:30pm. If you are travelling back to Adreno with John, we should have you back there around 7:30pm. There maybe a possibility that we could catch an earlier ferry back to the mainland, however this will all be dependant on the running of the day.

    IMG_0076

     

     


     

     

     

    Courses & Specialities Suitable for this trip

    Advanced Open Water
    Under water Navigation
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Deep Diver *
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    Note- Some specialties are site and conditions dependant. All efforts will be made to complete course dives on a booked trip, however if conditions do not allow it the diver will have to book onto another trip to complete the course requirements.

    * Site dependant

    HOW TO BOOK

    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

    OR

    Click here to book online

     

    IMG_0019

     

     

     

  • Dive the Magnificent South Solitary Islands Marine Park

    Dive the Magnificent South Solitary Islands Marine Park

    South Solitary Islands

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

    The Solitary Islands Marine Park runs for 90 km north of Coffs Harbour; which is centrally located between Sydney and Brisbane, on the NSW north coast. This is where the warm Great Barrier reef waters from the north, meet the cooler southern waters from Sydney and below. The sheltered Island havens are warmer than the coastal waters producing a unique blend of tropical and sub-tropical fish life, hard and soft corals, and spectacular marine life. With over 25 exciting dive sites we will not be limited in our choices of dive site! Dive with the endangered Grey Nurse Sharks – sure to get your adrenalin pumping as these stunning creatures glide close to you in the water. In season, you will also get the chance to see Humpback Whales on the trip out and back. The Solitary Island Marine Park – Why not join us and discover the Jetty Dive Difference on one of their world class dive boats – dive in small groups with either John or one of the knowledgeable Dive masters and Dive Leaders from Jetty Dive, we are all passionate about our marine life and scuba diving.

    Season of the Year. Which is better??

    This is an extremely difficult question to answer; in the Summer months (November to April) the water temperature rises from 19c to peak in March at between 24c and 26c. During that time we see tropical varieties breeze thru with the East Australian Current, with the larger fish like Manta Rays andLeopard Sharks thru to the smaller critters like the Ornate Ghost-Pipefish.

    Then from May thru to the end of June the water temperature stays above 20c. Then it drops to about 19-18c for the rest of Winter months. The Winter brings us a more abundant number of Grey Nurse Sharks and the special appearance of Giant Cuttlefish. We really like the diving in the winter, and at the temperature it is, it compares to the southern tropical waters of the Barrier reef.

    Grey Nurse Shark

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)
    Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres
    EAN (nitrox) is available upon request at an additional cost
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

     TRIP DATES

    Friday, 3 – Sunday, 4 August 2018

    PRICE

    $650 per person

    Divers with Grey Nurse Sharks at Manta Arch, South Solitary Islands

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    6 dives
    2 night’s accommodation
    Return private transport from Woolloongabba to Coffs Harbour
    Dive Master services
    Tanks and weights.

    Nitrox is available at an additional $20 per tank

     WHAT’S EXCLUDED

     All Dive Gear
    travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All meals are at your leisure (with the exception of breakfast)

     GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the weekend and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available and are subject to availability.

    ITINERARY

    We will departing Brisbane (Woolloongabba) at mid-afternoon on first day of the trip and from here you will be driven in our company van to Coffs Harbour. Upon arrival we will check in to our accommodation and get a good night sleep ready to dive in the morning. On Sunday, we will do 2 dives in the morning before heading back to Brisbane after lunch. We expect to have you back in Brisbane (Woolloongabba) by mid- evening. An itinerary with more accurate timings will be sent to the divers prior to the dive trip.

    IMG_1328

     

     

     

     

     

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

     Advanced Open Water
    Under water Navigation
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Underwater Navigation
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    HOW TO BOOK

    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

     

  • Dive Australia’s Most Historic Shipwreck the SS Yongala!

    Dive Australia’s Most Historic Shipwreck the SS Yongala!

    THE SS YONGALA

     

    The Dive Site

    The S.S. YONGALA sank in a cyclone on the 23rd March 1911 and remained undiscovered for almost 50 years, not being positively identified until 1958. The wreck now lies on its starboard side in 14-28 metres of water and at 109m long is the largest and most intact, historic shipwreck in Australian waters.

    She sank just 12 nautical miles off the coast of Cape Bowling Green in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with the loss of all 122 passengers.  Exactly what happened we will never know – although research indicates the vessel was steaming, the fact no life rafts were found indicate the loss of the Yongala was sudden and tragic.

    It has now become known as one of the world’s top wreck dives and certainly one of Australia’s best dive sites due to the prolific variety of marine life. Giant Queensland gropers hang beneath the stern while schools of trevally and cobia congregate around the depths of the wreck. Queenfish, barracuda, turtles, sea snakes, eagle rays and clown fish are just some of the other incredible life inhabiting the coral encrusted structure.

    The Great Barrier Reef is the most bio-diverse ecosystem on the planet including over 1500 species of fish and 350 different types of coral. The Yongala wreck has now become an artificial reef with more varieties of coral growing on it than most natural reef systems. It is also host to a huge diversity of pelagic and reef species found in the Coral Sea. You will see more fish in one dive on the wreck than ten on the reef. It’s certainly a dive experience you will never forget.

    Dive Information

    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres) but Advanced Open Water is an advantage.

    Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive this site

    Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres

    EAN (nitrox) is included!

    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience


    Trip Dates

    Australia Day long weekend  Thursday, 23 – Monday, 27 January 2020

    Price

    $2,500 per diver with flights included  ($550 for flights including additional bag as of 26/06/2019)

    $1,950 per diver without flights 

     

    What’s Included
    Return flights from Brisbane to Townsville – if flights included
    4 nights accommodation at Alva Beach/ Alva Beach Tourist Park
    3 triple boat dives (9 dives) on Australia’s most iconic shipwreck and at Stanley Reef including a night dive on the Yongala! Lunch on all dive days
    2 bags per person (1 clothes and 1 dive gear) – if flights included
    Private van transfers from Townsville to Ayr and transport for the duration of the trip
    Personal Divemaster and PDS tour leader for the group
    Nitrox fills for all dives and weights

     

    What’s Excluded

    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    Excess luggage surcharge
    All Meals apart from lunch on dive days

    Gear Hire
    PDS is able to with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the weekend and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available and are subject to availability.

    The hire gear will be part of your luggage allowance and will travel with you and we will need to arrange to give this to you prior to the trip. Alternatively, gear hire can be arranged from the operator.

    Itinerary

    Day 1
    The group will travel on the same flight unless alternate arrangements have been made. Upon arriving in Townsville we will be collected and our group whisked away to Alva Beach and Yongala Dive, where we will stay for the duration of the trip.

     Day 2 , 3 & 4

    3 dives in the morning each day and then you will return to Yongala Dive. Lunch is included on all dive days. We will mainly be diving the Yongala wreck but we will also be diving at Stanley Reef. A VERY rarely dived pristine reef within an hour’s travel of the Yongala wreck. Will will also be doing a night dive (conditions dependent) which is truly incredible! A world famous wreck, pristine healthy reef and nitrox for all of your dives!

     Day 5
    Morning at leisure. We will leave Alva Beach to be back at Townsville Airport by 12.30pm to check in for any departing flights.

    (Due to the depths you will be diving at, we must leave 18 hours between your last dive and your departing flight. Due to our last dive on Sunday we are unable to depart Townsville any earlier)

     Specialities Suitable for this trip
    Advanced Open Water
    Nitrox
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Self Reliant Diver
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Underwater Naturalist

    HOW TO BOOK
    Click here to be taken to our shopping cart where you can book online.

  • The Ultimate Easter Eggstravaganza – The Best of New South Wales!

    The Ultimate Easter Eggstravaganza – The Best of New South Wales!

    Fish Rock Cave

     

     

     

     

    This trip sold out quickly last year and was talked about for months after! So why would we change the winning formula?! Well we have! You get an extra two dives at South West Rocks! Given the action in Shark Alley at the moment I am sure the extra two dives will be used getting up close and personal with these marvellous sharks! Escape the craziness of Brisbane and head south for a weekend that you will replay on your deathbed! Starting off the Easter long weekend we are heading down to South West Rocks to dive at Fish Rock Cave, hitting up the South Solitary Islands and if the conditions prove right, the North Solitary Islands. THREE of the BEST dive sites in New South Wales in one weekend!!

     

    Fish Rock and Solitary Islands –  ONLY 6 SPOTS TOTAL!!
    Fish Rock Cave sharksDeparting Brisbane at 5:00am on Friday you will be chauffeur driven down to South West Rocks where we will check in at midday to dive the world famous Fish Rock Cave and play with the Grey Nurse Sharks at Shark Alley. These are two phenomenal dives!! For what you can expect check out Leigh Workman of Moist Multimedia’s video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg01KV_TWhM ! After two dives we will then head back to Coffs Harbour for a relaxed evening.

     

     

     

    We have two air conditioned family suites in Coffs Harbour close to shops and amenities were we will be staying for the weekend. With multiple restaurant options in close proximity and more importantly within walking distance to the latest opening bar in the area!  After a sleep in on Saturday we will then venture back to South West Rocks to do two more dives at Fish Rock. Whether you have another crack at the cave or savor the opportunity for another dive with the magnificent Grey Nurse Sharks, it is up to you!

     

    South Solitary IslandsSolitary Islands Marine Park MAPSunday morning we will then to do more dives with Grey Nurse sharks at the South Solitary Islands which is a MACRO photographers paradise. There are nudibranchs galore, cuttlefish, and then there of course the big boys and girls – Grey Nurse sharks! We will have a leisurely dinner on Sunday night before getting up early the next morning where if the weather is in our favour we will be looking to get out to the North Solitary Islands. The conditions have to be perfect to make it there from Coffs so if the heavens are not on our side we will continue to explore the plethora of dive sites that the South Solitary Islands have to offer! I will then drive everyone back to Brisbane after we return on Monday.

     

    This is a unique opportunity to dive three of the most desirable dive sites in Australia in one weekend ALL for ONLY $850! This amazing weekend which includes:

    • 8 dives at 3 of Australia’s BEST dive sites!
    • 3 nights accommodation in a family suite
    • Return private transport
    • Tanks
    • Weights

     

    Wobbegong in Fish Rock CavePADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER Course can also be done this weekend for only an additional $220! This includes online learning! No boring classrooms! Do all of the learning in the comfort of your own home with a glass of wine or beer in hand. The best part of the AOW is that there are NO exams!! Just practical knowledge and 5 dives to challenge and improve your skill set. If you would like to do your Advanced Open Water on this weekend please mark the box on the booking form and we will get the online learning pass to you ASAP!

     

    I can organise all gear requirements for the weekend for $80 (with the exception of mask, snorkel and fins – every diver must provide their own) which is very reasonable as most dive shops in Brisbane charge $80 a day! If anyone needs to buy gear I am more than happy to assist and ensure that they get the best value and quality. If you are interested in joining us for the weekend please fill in the attached booking form and make sure your don’t miss out on this trip of a lifetime!

    As always if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact John on 0457 007 040 , [email protected] or Lisa on 07 3204 5857 ,  [email protected] .

    ** Please note whilst it is not compulsory in New South Wales to dive with a snorkel, safety sausage, knife or whistle, Professional Dive Services highly recommends that all divers dive with these items in the interest of their own safety.**

     

  • Advanced Digital Underwater Photography Techniques with U/W Photography Legend Ross Gudgeon!

    Advanced Digital Underwater Photography Techniques with U/W Photography Legend Ross Gudgeon!

    RossGudgeon

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    4 to 6 July 2014

    Ross Gudgeon has been running digital photography workshops at Sundive for years but this is the FIRST time he will run one on one of our favourite dive locations, the North Solitary Islands at Wooli, NSW! This is an opportunity you WON’T want to miss! Most published photographers will agree that the turning point in their photography was a course with an industry expert and Ross is at the top of his game! I have seen first hand the significant improvements that have come with attending one of Ross’s courses. Always generously willing to give of his time, knowledge and expertise you will not only be getting Ross for one weekend but a mentor for life!

     

    RossGudgeonRossGudgeonAvailability on this AMAZING weekend is strictly limited so make sure you don’t delay and secure your spot TODAY! Fill out the booking form and send it back to secure your spot! The course is $800 and is PACKED FULL of value!

     

    Aside from the phenomenal course that Ross runs (details below of the format for the weekend) the weekend also includes:

    • 4 dives
    • Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
    • BBQ dinner on Saturday night
    • 2 nights accommodation
    • Tanks
    • Weights
    • A weekend of picking the brain of one of the world’s foremost U/W photographers improving your Macro and Wide Angle photography!

     

    RossGudgeon-01Ross Gudgeon learned to dive in December 1979 and still remembers the thought that went through his head on his first dive clearly, “I’ve gotta get a camera, no one is going to believe this!”. Three months later he got his first underwater camera, a second hand Nikonos III and has been taking photos underwater ever since.  After shooting film underwater for 18 years Ross made the switch to digital underwater photography with in 2002 and currently uses a Canon 7D in a Nauticam housing.  When not diving there is nothing more he likes to do than pass on his 30+ years of underwater photography knowledge and experience to help others improve their underwater photography skills and currently runs underwater photography courses at Sundive in Byron Bay, Australia.

    Ross has won awards in many major underwater photographic competitions including:

    He has been published in several magazines including Scuba Diving Magazine (USA), Asian Diver and Ocean Geographic.   In 2010 Ross had one of his shots included in an article published in the Guardian and Telegraph newspapers (UK) titled IThe World’s Best Underwater Photographs 2010

    This 2 Day course designed for those who have their own camera, have been shooting for while and are frustrated with not getting
    the results they want and/or want to learn new techniques to improve their UW photography.

    RossGudgeon

     

    Course structure:

    Friday Night

    Welcome from Ross and start absorbing his wealth of information!

    Camera knowledge & settings
    Taking better UW photos
    Composition

    Saturday

    2 dives to set the bar – Where your photography is up to

    Lighting
    Wide Angle Photography
    Macro Photography
    Q&A session

    Sunday
    2 dives to practice skills
    Post Processing
    Critique and Q&A session

  • Weekend on North Stradbroke Island – MANTA FEST !!

    Weekend on North Stradbroke Island – MANTA FEST !!

    THE TRIP
    North Stradbroke Island is a pristine, secluded island paradise – a hidden treasure only one hour from central Brisbane.  Diving off Stradbroke Island can only be described as exhilarating! The dive sites you will explore are only a 10- 15 minute boat ride from shore and Manta Bommie has been rated in the top 10 dive sites in Australia.

    Straddie’s reefs are teeming with various marine life like Manta Rays and Leopard Sharks during Summer (Oct- Apr), endangered Grey Nurse Sharks and Humpback Whales during Winter (May- Sept), plus Bull and Eagle Rays, guitar and Wobbegong Sharks, Turtles, Dolphins, Octopus, Pelagics, hard and soft corals, Nudibranchs plus hundreds of tropical fish species.

    We will be right in the middle of Manta Season then with an average of 6 manta rays sighted per dive!

    There is a choice of 12 varying dive sites to choose from and we can plan your trip based around your experience level which include the most popular sites of Manta Bommie, Flat Rock and Shag Rock.

    Manta at Manta Bommie

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION
    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)

    Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres

    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

    TRIP DATES

    Friday, 16- 18 March 2018

    To book online for this weekend of diving click HERE

    PRICE

    $750 per person

    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip
     Advanced Open Water Course @ $275 per person
    PADI Deep Diver speciality Course @ $245 per person
    PADI Enriched Air speciality Course @ $245 per person for manual learning or $390 for on-line learning (both prices include 2 Nitrox fills)
    Peak Performance Buoyancy @ $245 per person

    WHAT’S INCLUDED
    2 night’s accommodation at Manta Lodge
    8 dives
    Return Ferry transfers to North Stradbroke Island
    Land transfers on Stradbroke Island
    Tanks and weights
    Transport to and from Woolloongabba if required
    WHAT’S EXCLUDED
    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All Meals are at leisure

    GEAR HIRE
    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the day and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. If you do not have your own mask, snorkel, fins and boots these items are available for hire through the operator. Underwater camera and torches are also available if arranged in advance and are subject to availability.

     

    The quintessential diver and manta pic. This famous photo was taken by Manta's very own David Biddulph.
    The quintessential diver and manta pic. This famous photo was taken by Manta’s very own David Biddulph.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ITINERARY
    The timings for this weekend of diving will be dependant on the number of dives you do over the weekend. If you choose to do the full weekend of diving; I have noted the timings below. A more detailed itinerary will be sent to the divers closer to the date.

    You have the option of meeting the group either at the ferry terminal in Cleveland or in Woolloongabba where John will drive you to Cleveland in our van.

    Departing Woolloongabba

    We will meet at 4pm sharp at Adreno, 54 Deshon Street, Woolloongabba. You are able to park your car here for the weekend, either off street parking or at the rear of Adreno.

    Departing Cleveland

    We will be catching the Big Red Cat car and passenger ferry which will depart Toondah Harbour (1 Emmett Drv, Cleveland) at 5pm sharp . Please meet John at the ferry by 4:45 pm.

    We will aim to catch the 5:55 pm ferry from Dunwich (North Stradbroke Island) and should be back at Cleveland by 6:30pm on Sunday. If you are travelling back to Adreno with John, we should have you back there around 7:30pm. There maybe a possibility that we could catch an earlier ferry back to the mainland, however this will all be dependant on the running of the day.

     

    Manta Bommie
    Another great photo from the Manta Whisperer – David “Biddy” Biddulph

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP
    Advanced Open Water
    Nitrox
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Underwater Naturalist

    HOW TO BOOK
    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

    OR

    To book online click HERE

     

     

     

  • Explore Windarra Banks – The Cod Grounds and find out what all the fuss is about!

    Explore Windarra Banks – The Cod Grounds and find out what all the fuss is about!

    Divers at Windarra Banks

    Windarra Banks – The Cod Grounds

    Upcoming Dives at Windarra Banks – 8 May 2013

    Probably the most legendary dive site near Byron Bay and definitely the most requested by divers venturing out with Blue Bay, Windarra Banks is located 16 km North-East of the Brunswick Heads bar. Divers who are fortunate enough to have visited Windarra Banks in the past, rate it as one of Australia’s best dive sites. Being so far out, diving at Windarra Banks is extremely subject to sea conditions and very hard to plan. Not only do sea conditions have to be favourable on the day to make the 16 km journey acceptable for our customers, we also have to take into account the ocean currents that run along the East Coast of Australia. The strength of the current can’t be predicted from shore and is independent of the weather pattern, so the only way to know is to go out and check it.

    The Bommies

    The dive site consists of two enormous bommies or sea mountains approximately 500 metres apart and a lot of rocky country rising up to about 25 metres depth with the sandy bottom at about 45 to 50 metres. Due to it’s location and depth, Windarra Banks is a truly challenging dive site for the more experienced diver.

    You can see several types of shark including Grey Nurse Sharks, Bronze Whalers, Tiger Sharks and Hammerheads as well as big schools of large pelagics including Kingfish, Tuna, Trevally, Barracuda, Wahoo and Mackerel when in season. Since Windarra Banks is not dived frequently, most marine life is not used to scuba divers and especially sharks can be quite inquisitive. Throughout February and March of 2012, we saw big schools of Hammerhead Sharks swimming past. There has been a friendly dolphin hanging around the boat during surface intervals, and even a Whale Shark was seen out there earlier in the year. This is why the saying goes: “You could see ANYTHING out there”.

    Ray at Windarra Banks

    Cost of the Day – $180 inclusive of two dives, fuel surcharge, tanks, weights, tea, coffee, snacks, exclusive use of the Bay Warrior and for the first 6 people who book on… return transport.

    **Please note that every effort will be made to make it to Windarra Banks but it is VERY dependent on ocean and weather conditions. It is a challenging site which is very prone to current so it will only be attempted if the conditions allow. If the weather or ocean don’t play ball, we will be diving Spot X or the Mackerel Boulder off of Julian Rocks (two other dives sites VERY rarely dived by the shops in Byron).

     

     

    Mackerel Boulder

    The Mackerel Boulder is a beautiful rocky area surrounding a giant boulder that rises from the sandy bottom at about 25 metres up to 15 metres below the surface. The shallower areas consist of deep cracks in the rocks, big enough for divers to swim through and explore. In winter, Grey Nurse Sharks visit the Mackerel Boulder, in summer Leopard Sharks and Manta Rays can be seen here. All year round, the area is best known for large pelagics, so keep your eyes open when you first start your descent and make sure you look up into the blue every now and then to make sure you’re not missing anything.

    Spot X

    Spot X was named by Rod of Blue Bay Divers (former owner of Sundive). It’s a great dive site only about 800 metres from Julian Rocks. It consists of two big bommies that rise up to about 17 metres. The sandy bottom is at about 25 metres. Spot X is a good spot for large pelagics such as Kingfish, Trevally, Mackerel and Wahoo, especially when there is a bit of current. Grey Nurse Sharks can be seen here from June to December, Bronze Whalers cruise by frequently all year round. The marine life at Spot X is very similar to Julian Rocks, but more concentrated in a smaller area especially with current.

  • Amazing structure and Big pelagics – Experience the Awe of Cherubs Cave and Henderson Rock Moreton Island.

    Amazing structure and Big pelagics – Experience the Awe of Cherubs Cave and Henderson Rock Moreton Island.

    Grey Nurse at Cherubs Cave

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cherubs Cave and Henderson Rock are two of the most popular and least scuba dived sites in South East Queensland.

    Just the very mention of diving here will send pangs of jealousy into any experienced Queensland diver!

    Next Trip – A MIDWEEK two day two night trip on Wednesday 4 September to Friday 6 September 2013.

    Cost – $650 includes 6 dives (2 dives at Cherub’s and Henderson’s, 4 dives at Shark Alley), fuel surcharge, tanks, weights, return ferry transfers, 2 nights accommodation and transport on Moreton Island.

    Michael O'Sullivan at Cherubs CaveThis is a unique opportunity to dive one of South East Queenslands hidden gems!! Hendersons Rock/Cherubs Cave is on the Eastern side of Moreton but due to it’s location and travel time is not often dived. If you are in ANY position to join us for this trip, schedule a day in lieu, call in sick, you don’t want to miss this!

    A small concrete cherub, last seen near the engine of the wreck of the “St Paul” 6 miles north, once marked the main entrance to this fantastic hidden cave off Moreton Island. The large circular shaped cave roughly measures 20m x 15m and has six exits. The entire area is surrounded by rocky gullies, small caves, overhangs and can be filled with some SPECTACULAR pelagic action. Cherubs Cave has a large resident Queensland groper and during winter grey nurse sharks enjoying patrolling the waters in this area.

    Check out this fantastic video from Ben Murray http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pg13iCGodY

    Depth Range : 12 – 40m+
    Visibility averages 20m

    IMG_3228-2**Please note that due it it’s location and position on the windward side of Moreton Island, it is not always possible to dive on Cherubs and Henderson Rock. Every effort will always be made to reach the sites but if conditions do not allow us to do so we will ensure that you will dive the best sites that North Stradbroke has to offer be it Shark Alley, Shag Rock, Manta Bommie e.t.c. Divers who are prone to sea sickness are strongly advised to take medication as it is a 40min to an hour boat ride to the sites from North Stradbroke. Divers with recurrent back problems are also warned that it can be bumpy in any swell.


  • Spend a Day at Julian Rocks in Byron Bay

    Spend a Day at Julian Rocks in Byron Bay

    Grey Nurse Shark at the Cod Hole

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE DIVE SITE

    Discover the Magic of Julian Rocks in Byron Bay – One of the Top 10 dive sites in Australia!

    According to a story from the Bundjalung people a jealous husband threw his spear at the canoe of his wife and her lover. The canoe broke in two and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Only the back and the front of the boat stuck out of the water, creating a rock formation just 2.5 km off shore.

    Named by Captain Cook in 1776, Julian Rocks in Byron Bay consists of ancient sedimentary rock, remains of a volcanic eruption more than 20 million years ago. It is an extension of Cape Byron separated by water and forms a most unique marine reserve, providing shelter and food for more than 500 tropical and temperate fish species alone!

    From the 1st of December 2002 Julian Rocks has become part of the Cape Byron Marine Park and in May 2006 the new Marine Park zoning plan has come into action which amongst other things means that an area of 1500m around Julian Rocks has become a Sanctuary Zone for most of the year. This will hopefully see fish stocks replenish and give the critically endangered Grey Nurse Sharks some well-deserved additional protection.

     

    Grey Nurse Sharks come to Julian Rocks during the winter months, presumably to breed. Although these sharks look ferocious with their mouths slightly opened and their teeth sticking out, it is perfectly safe to dive with them. The most commonly dived sites during the winter months are the Cod Hole, Turtle trench and Hugo’s Trench as these are where the Grey Nurse sharks like to patrol the sand trenches. An absolutely incredible sight as they are not shy about approaching divers and making sure that they put on a performance you will never forget!

    In spring the blue tang pays Julian Rocks a visit. This is a fish, which can be easily distinguished by its blue body and bright yellow tail. Schools of big-eye trevally are most common in summer. The docile leopard sharks can be seen on almost every dive during mid-summer when the waters are warmest. The spotted patterns on their skin gives them their name. Most of the time they lie resting on the sand, but if you are lucky you can see them swimming, moving their long tail slowly. During the Summer months the biggest draw card to the rocks are definitely the Leopard sharks (also known as Zebra sharks) and the main stars… Manta Rays!! These gorgeous graceful creatures glide effortlessly through the water dazzling divers with their somersaults and back flips, twisting and changing direction with the slightest bend of a fin. These magnificent creatures will keep you enthralled and begging for more as they soar from view

     

    IMG_8674And then there are of course the ‘regulars’ like different species of wobbegong sharks, turtles, cuttlefish (family of the octopus), schools of white spotted eagle rays, egg-cowry shells, moray eels, banner fish, giant guitar fish and shovel-nose rays. Sometimes there are so many fish around, you can hardly see where you are going. Not to mention all sessile animals (attached to substrate) like tunicates, colourful sponges, both hard and soft corals, giving you the feeling you are floating through some beautifully landscaped underwater garden.

    The Rock also forms a home for rare species such as the leaf scorpion fish, the pineapple fish with bioluminescent organs under its eyes, the shy blue devil fish, white banded anemone fish and a species of nudibranch previously thought not present in Australian waters: Noumea labouti. (A nudibranch is a colourful underwater snail without a shell, carrying its respiratory organ on its back)

    The interaction of tropical and temperate species makes every dive an exhilarating adventure. The three minute boat trip to the rock is almost as exciting: surfing the waves sometimes accompanied by playful dolphins. From May till September the Humpback whales come past Byron Bay and can easily be spotted from the boat. With water temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius and visibility of 20 meters at most times there is really nothing to complain about.

     

     

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    Dive Information

    -Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)
    -Depth ranges from 4 – 28 metres
    -EAN (nitrox) is available if arranged prior to the trip
    -Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

    Trip Dates

    Sunday, 22 March 2020

     

    To book online click HERE

    Price

    Weekend Day Trip– $300 per person and includes 3 dives, return transport from Woolloongabba, tanks and weights.

    Weekday Day Trip -$250 per person and includes 2 dives, return transport from Woolloongabba, tanks and weights.

    Weekend Away -$700 per person and includes 6 dives, 2 night’s accommodation return transport from Woolloongabba, tanks and weights.

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    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip

    Diving on Nitrox@ $ 30 per dive
    PADI Deep Diver speciality Course @ $245 per person
    PADI Enriched Air speciality Course @ $295 per person for manual learning or $445 on-line learning (both prices include 2x Nitrox fills)

    What’s Excluded

    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All Meals are at leisure

    Gear Hire

    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the day and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available and are subject to availability.

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    Itinerary

    If you are travelling to Byron Bay in the Professional Dive Services van, which will leave from Adreno (54 Deshon Street, Woolloongabba) bright and early in the morning. There is parking available for the day either at the rear of the shop or off street parking.

    A confirmation with all timings will be sent to you closer to the dive date.

    Specialities Suitable for this trip

    Advanced Open Water
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Underwater Navigation
    Dry Suit
    Diver Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    Note- Some specialties are site and conditions dependant. All efforts will be made to complete course dives on a booked trip, however if conditions do not allow it the diver will have to book onto another trip to complete the course requirements.

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    HOW TO BOOK
    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

    OR

    Click HERE to book online

     

     

  • Galapagos Islands in luxury on the Penguino Explorer, 7 to 16 September 2015

    Galapagos Islands in luxury on the Penguino Explorer, 7 to 16 September 2015

    Scuba Dive one of the most untouched and influential locations on the planet…

    The Galapagos Islands!!! Come with us as we follow Darwin’s path and dive with whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks…. the list of pelagics is endless! Meet a century old tortoise, dive with an iguana, all the while living it up in style aboard the Penguino Explorer. This is a trip worth saving for!

    10 nights Ex Brisbane

    From $9,891

     

    Price Includes:

    Return flights ex. Brisbane to San Cristobal via Santiago and Guayaquil flying with Qantas , LAN Airlines and Aero Gal Airlines
    1 Nights twin share acc. Chile, Includes : Buffet Breakfast and return airport transfers
    2 Nights twin share acc. Guayaquil, Includes: Buffet Breakfast & Return airport transfers
    7 night Galapagos diving expedition aboard the Humboldt Explorer Twin share cabin accommodation & Breakfast
    3 meals daily, plus daily snacks ( except Sunday night dinner ), Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, Towels and linen
    Up to 4 dives per day : Including Wolf and Darwin
    Use of tanks and weights
    Return airport transfers Ex San Cristobal
    Land visit to Santa Cruz on last day to visit the highlands, lava tubes and town
    Australian Departure tax

    Cost Does Not Include:

    Travel Insurance & Personal spending monies, Excess Luggage Surcharges
    Passport and visa fee’s
    Santiago tourist card $95.00 USD
    Nitrox $150.00 USD per person / per week
    Sunday meal approx $15.00 USD pp
    Galapagos National park fee $100.00 USD pp
    Guayaquil Tourist card $10.00 USD pp
    Chamber fee $35.00 USD pp
    Fuel surcharge $150.00 USD pp

    Conditions Apply: Prices are subject to change due to 2014 rates increases, schedule changes and fluctuations in USD exchange rates without notice.

    Booking Requirements:
    To secure your place on this expedition, you will need to complete a booking form and return it together with a non refundable deposit amount of $500.00 per person. Additional payment installments will be required throughout the duration of this booking. These will be confirmed at the time of booking.

     

    Itinerary:

    Penguino ExplorerDays aboard the Penguino Explorer generally involve a 6:30 a.m. dive followed by breakfast, a dive at 9:30, lunch at 12:00, and afternoon dives at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. Dinner is served at approximately 7:00 p.m. Under current National Parks guidelines, no night dives are allowed by any vessels within the Galapagos National Park.

    Please note that this itinerary is an example only, and will change depending on local regulation, weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion. Currently, each week the itinerary includes the same islands. The number of dives and the dive sites may vary depending on sea conditions, crossing times and currents.

     

    Monday 25th August 2014 : San Cristobal

    Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the Galapagos islands mid-day. Guests are met at the airport and taken to the vessel. Boarding the vessel after 12:00 noon, guests will depart for a short crossing to the a calm site for a
    check out dive and safety briefing. Lunch will be served before the dive and dinner will be served after the check out dive. The vessel will make a late day departure to the next destination.

    Tuesday 26th August 2014 : North Seymour – North Seymour Canal, North Seymour Point

    6:30, 9:30, dives. Sightings include turtles, hammerheads, sea lions. Afternoon/overnight transit to Darwin (20 hours).

    Wednesday 27th August 2014 : Darwin – Darwin’s Arch

    6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Night at anchor.

    Thursday 28th August 2014 : Darwin – Darwin’s Arch

    6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, and silky sharks. Evening crossing to Wolf Island (2.5 hrs).

    Friday 29th August 2014 : Wolf Island – Landslide, Shark Bay, Pinaculo

    6:30, 9:30, 1:30 and 4:00 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles and silky sharks. Overnight transit to Isabela Island (15 hours).

     

     

    Saturday 30th August 2014 : Isabela Island – Cabo Marshall

    6:30 and 9:30 dives. Sightings include giant manta rays, mobula rays, turtles, hammerheads, black-striped salema. Overnight transit Cousins Rock (8 hours).

    Sunday 31st August 2014 : Cousin’s Rock

    6:30, 8:30 dives – wall and macro diving with excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions, eagle rays. Breakfast and transit back to Santa Cruz (3 hrs). Land trip to see the giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz, and transit to Puerto Ayora for shopping and possible visit to Darwin Centre on your own. 7 p.m. return to the boat, dinner and crossing to San Cristobal.


    Monday 1st September 2014 : Baltra/San Cristobal

    Breakfast; depart the vessel by 8:30 am . Trip to the interpretive centre and time to visit the beach in town to see sea lions and marine iguanas. Transfer back to the airport for flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

     

    WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Download the booking form here

     

     

     

  • Wooli – Pimpernel Rock and the North Solitary Islands!

    Wooli – Pimpernel Rock and the North Solitary Islands!

     

    THE TRIP

    The islands are just a short 20 minute ride away and will provide you with some absolutely world class diving. The islands are not only home to the temperate species, but being the southernmost limit of permanent colonies of tropical species.

    North Solitary Island is only 7 nautical miles from Wooli. The marine park reserve is famous for a diverse variety of marine life, thickly populated at different dive locations around the island.

    At the north eastern end is a small sheltered inlet called Anemone Bay. The boulder strewn site is carpeted with anemones and numerous Anemone fish, cowries, rays, turtles and hard and soft corals.

    The Step, is a rocky drop-off; the wall drops from 15m to 45m and numerous sharks, giant Manta Ray, cod, eagle and bull rays patrol this section.

    The Canyons is another popular spot best described as a multi-coloured aquarium with a few southern species thrown in. Also famous for Painted Cray’s and large dive able depressions in the ocean floor.

    The Bubble Cave near a spot called Southern Anchorage. The cave is very dark and a torch is required to appreciate it. There are air bubbles trapped at the top of the cave. Fish life includes Lion Fish, large schools of White Bait and Spanish Dancers at times cling to the walls of the cave.

    Fish Soup is one of the most requested dive locations. Located at a group of wave washed rocks called North West Rock. It is renowned for a variety of larger fish species such as Black Cod, Mangrove Jack’s , Jew Fish, Spangled Emperor, Snapper, Red Mowong, Tarwhine just to name a few.


    Pimpernel Rock Site Plan

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pimpernel Rock

    The depth of this site is 40 metres and features steep pinnacles and a large tunnel.

    Pimpernel Rock is one of the finest scuba diving locations along the entire New South Wales Coast.  This site is also isolated, doesn’t break the surface and is some distance from solid earth.  There is an enormous cavern approximately 12m high and 15m wide in the centre of the vast main structure some 40 metres from the surface. All manner of sea life including sharks inhabit the giant shelter.

    Sponge gardens decorate a reef spreading from the base of each of the three pinnacles. Large rocky bolders, small trenches and overhangs, flat areas and step overs host seafans, seawhips and anemones.

    Tom Byron arguably one of the most prolific divers in Australia and one of the godfather’s of East coast diving rates this as his number 1 site. Two Pinnacles with an underwater cavern connecting them surrounded by Grey Nurse sharks and prolific sea life.

     

    Pimpernel Rock

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Advanced Open Water Diver only
    Depth ranges from 6 – 40 metres
    EAN (nitrox) is available upon request at an additional cost
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

    TRIP DATES

    Friday, 24 – Sunday, 26 June 2016

    PRICE & INCLUSIONS

    Midweek Trip @ $400 per person and includes 3 dives, 1 nights’ accommodation, return transport from Brisbane to Wooli, BBQ dinner of arrival and continental breakfast in the morning, tanks and weights.

    Weekend Trip @ $600 per person and includes 4 dives, 2 nights’ accommodation, return transport from Brisbane to Wooli, BBQ dinner on Saturday night and continental breakfast each morning, tanks and weights.

     

    Peppermint shrimp

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED
    All Dive Gear
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All meals are at your leisure (with the exception of meals otherwise specified)

     GEAR HIRE
    PDS is able to rent you a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the weekend and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available and are subject to availability. All gear must be arranged prior to the trip.

     

    Clown Fish, Anenome Bay, North Solitary Islands, NSW

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ITINERARY
    The group travelling in the PDS van will be departing Brisbane (Woolloongabba) late in the afternoon on first day of the trip and from here you will be driven in our company van to Wooli. Upon arrival we will check in to our accommodation, have a BBQ dinner and get a good night sleep ready to dive in the morning.

    Depending on the trip and the number of dives will determine the return time to Brisbane at the end of the trip. A full itinerary with more accurate timings  and details will be sent to the divers prior to the dive trip.

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THE TRIP
    Advanced Open Water
    Nitrox(Enriched Air)
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    HOW TO BOOK
    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

     

     

     

  • Wolf Rock – Grey Nurse Sharks All Year Round!!

    Wolf Rock – Grey Nurse Sharks All Year Round!!

    THE DIVE SITE

    Wolf Rock at Rainbow Beach is one of the few places in Australia where you can see Grey Nurse Sharks all year round and they are HUGE! Compare Wolf Rock to other dive sites where Grey Nurse Sharks are only seen in winter, this site is truly unique. Wolf Rock is also the ONLY known aggregation site for pregnant female grey nurse shark on the whole east coast of Australia.

    At the end of mating season (Oct- Dec) the numbers of grey nurse shark found at Wolf Rock increases dramatically; meaning that you will be diving with mainly female sharks. It is understood that Wolf Rock receives 50% of the pregnant females and no-one knows where the other 50% go. This has triggered scientists to research their movements and find other aggregation site/s. They suspect it is somewhere in southeast Queensland, perhaps even at the top end of Fraser Island.

    Wolf Rock – Video by Simon Walkden-Brown

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    DIVE INFORMATION

    -Suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers or Open Water Divers doing their Advanced Open Water Course
    -Depth ranges from 10 – 35 metres
    -EAN (nitrox) is available upon request
    -Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

     

     

     

     

    TRIP DATES

    DAY TRIPS

    Thursday 31 December 2020

    To book online for one of our Wolf Rock day trips click HERE 

    WEEKEND TRIPS

    11 to 13 December 2020

    Day Trip – $300 per person- 2 dives, tanks, weights, surface interval snacks, lunch, photos from your trip and return transport to Rainbow Beach.

    Midweek Overnight Trip – $600 per person- 4 dives, 1 night accommodation, tanks, weights, surface interval snacks, lunch, photos from your trip  and return transport to Rainbow Beach.

    Weekend Trip – $650 per person 4 dives, 2 nights accommodation, tanks, weights, surface interval snacks, lunch, photos from your trip and return transport to Rainbow Beach.

    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip

    Diving on Nitrox@ $ 40 per double dive
    PADI Advanced Open Water Course @ $275 per person
    PADI Deep Diver speciality Course @ $245 per person
    PADI Enriched Air speciality Course @ $295 per person for manual or $445 for on-line learning. These prices include 2 nitrox fills

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    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All Meals are at lesiure

     GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the weekend and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available and are subject to availability.

    Alternatively, gear hire can be arranged from the operator, however this could be at a much higher cost.

    COURSES & SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP 

    Advanced Open Water
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    HOW TO BOOK

    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to [email protected].

    OR

    Book online via one of the following links:

    Day Dive Trip- To book online for one of our Wolf Rock day trips click HERE 

    Weekend Dive Trip- To book online for a weekend trip click HERE

  • Australian Giant Cuttlefish, Leafy Seadragons and Great White Sharks!

    Australian Giant Cuttlefish, Leafy Seadragons and Great White Sharks!

    THE TRIP

    OPTION ONE- Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions Only

    Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions want you to see Great White Sharks! And not just a quick flashing pass of grey, they want you to really see and experience the wonder and amazement of Great White Sharks. Get that tickle down your spine as one of the world’s prehistoric, amazing and definitely misunderstood fish swims by you.

    After nearly 50 years, Rodney and Andrew Fox are the world’s foremost cage operators and they can hold their heads up high knowing that their combination of more time on location, more cages and less people makes them the South Australian shark viewing company with the most successful shark encounters.

    Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions are the most established and respected cage diving operation in the world. They are the ONLY operators worldwide to put the cage on the sea floor so you can truly see the sharks in their natural environment. They react entirely different at depth than they do at the surface when they are predating. YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!!

    The RFSE only leg begins in Port Lincoln where you will fly in and meet the rest of the group. After a good night sleep we will then board the MV Rodney Fox. We will then secure our bunks on board and steam out of Port. We will then journey to just short of Hopkins Island to jump in the water with Australian Sealions. These creatures are incredible and you will be amazed how quickly the time passes as you watch them pirouette and glide past you! We then head to the Neptune Islands to anchor for the night ready for the main event and in search of the main star, the Great White shark.

    Once we arrive on site we put the surface cage and start the surface cage rotation. This trip is normally predominantly filled with SCUBA divers so if you aren’t certified as soon as the bottom cage rotations begin you will pretty much have the surface cage to yourself! We will return from our incredible adventure on the evening of the 10th for disembarkation where we will stay the night at the Marina Hotel before leaving the next morning to  head back to Adelaide. You can either join us for the bus ride back to Adelaide or fly back from Port Lincoln (please ensure to take no fly times in to account before booking your flights.).

    OPTION TWO – The Best of South Australia

    On day one we will meet in Adelaide at the baggage claim and from here the group will be some of the first visitors to view the newly established Rodney Fox Great White Shark Museum. This incredible exhibit used to be housed in Glenelg when the Failie was the vessel that RFSE used for their tours. The exhibition has been substantially expanded and given a new home to be the BEST great white shark exhibit in the world! Even more exciting is we will be doing a meet and greet with the man himself Rodney Fox! We will then begin our road trip to Whyalla, where we will stay for the night. On day two the group will head to the best site in South Australia to dive with the LARGEST cephalopod aggregation in the world with mating Giant Australian Cuttlefish. The numbers of cuttlefish have dropped over the years and were continuing to significantly decline with only an estimated 25,000 returning each year. Twenty years ago the numbers were around 1 million. We are pleased to say that after four years of gradually increasing the population is the largest it has been in over 8 years as of June 2017! Don’t miss the opportunity to see these stunning creatures.

    After our dive with the cuttlefish, we will then drive to Port Lincoln, where we will get a good night sleep ready to dive with another of South Australia’s most iconic creatures, Leafy Seadragons. In the morning we then head to Tumby Bay to dive with the largest seahorse in the world, the Leafy Seadragon! Endemic to Australia these incredible animals are truly fascinating. The largest of the seahorse family they are absolutely stunning creatures and masters of camouflage! It is not just the seadragons that will have you captivated! You will be mesmerised by the kaleidoscope of colour on the pylons, a hallmark of temperate water jetty/pier diving! Our group will then meet any members joining us just for the liveaboard at the Marina Hotel to stay the night ready to board the MV Rodney Fox the next morning. On Monday morning we begin the RFSE portion of our epic adventure starting off with playful Australian sealions before powering out to the Neptune islands in search of the Great Whites.

    We can take up to a maximum of 18 divers for the Best of South Australia tour.

    Great White Shark - Bottom Cage, Neptune Islands, South Australia

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions
    You do not need to be dive certified to join this trip

    The Best of South Australia
    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)
    Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

     

    TRIP DATES & PRICES

    The Best of South Australia- Friday, 4 – Friday, 11 June 2021 – $3,950 per person

     Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions Only- Sunday, 6 – Friday, 11 June 2018- $2,950 per person

    To book a spot on this trip online click HERE

     

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    WHAT’S INCLUDED 

    Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions Only
    3 nights accommodation aboard MV Rodney Fox
    A dive with Australian Sea Lions aboard MV Rodney Fox
    3 days of boat diving with Great White Sharks with Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions aboard the MV Rodney Fox
    All meals on the MV Rodney Fox
    2 nights accommodation at the Marina Hotel, Port Lincoln
    Transport (van) from Port Lincoln to Adelaide (final day)

    The Best of South Australia
    Entry in to the Rodney Fox Great White Shark Museum
    Meet and greet with Rodney Fox himelf!
    1 nights accommodation in Whyalla
    Transport to various dive locations in South Australia
    A shore dive with the mating Australian Giant Cuttlefish at Whyalla
    3 nights accommodation aboard MV Rodney Fox
    A dive with the Leafy Sea Dragons at Tumby Bay
    A dive with Australian Sea Lions aboard MV Rodney Fox
    3 days of boat diving with Great White Sharks with Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions aboard the MV Rodney Fox
    All meals on the MV Rodney Fox
    3 nights accommodation at the Marina Hotel, Port Lincoln
    Return Transport (van) from Port Lincoln to Adelaide

    Australian Sea Lion - Hopkins Island, South Australia

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions Only
    Flights to and from Adelaide
    Flight to Port Lincoln (option to travel back to Adelaide with the rest of the group at the trip cost)
    Travel Insurance
    Excess luggage charges
    Spending money

    The Best of South Australia
    Flights to and from Adelaide
    Travel Insurance
    Excess luggage charges
    Spending money and gratuities
    All meals when not on board MV Rodney Fox

    GEAR REQUIREMENTS
    Regular dive gear is all you require for this trip with a minimum of a 5mm semi dry wetsuit, hood and gloves as the water can be very cold. Gear can also be hired from the Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions for the Great White Sharks only leg of the journey and please contact us for pricing.

    ITINERARY
    Upon booking or upon request, PDS can send you the recommended flights to Adelaide and To Port Lincoln. A full itinerary will be sent to all divers prior to the trip.

    HOW TO BOOK
    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields scan and email to [email protected].

    OR

    To book online click HERE

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