Learn to Scuba Dive

Category: Wreck Diving

  • Dive the EX-HMAS Tobruk – Australia’s newest wreck site!

    Dive the EX-HMAS Tobruk – Australia’s newest wreck site!

     

     

    THE DIVE SITE

    HMAS Tobruk (L 50) was a Landing Ship Heavy (LSH) of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), based on the design of the Round Table-class of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Planning for the ship began in the 1970s to provide the Australian Army with a permanent sealift capability. She was laid down by Carrington Slipways in 1979, launched in 1980, and commissioned in 1981. She was a multi-purpose, roll-on/roll-off heavy lift ship capable of transporting soldiers, APCs, and tanks, and delivering them to shore via landing craft or directly by beaching.

    The ship experienced problems during her early career with her engines (which differed from the British base design) and sewerage system (leading to the death of a cadet in 1981). During the 1980s, the ship delivered supplies to the Multinational Force and Observers on the Sinai Peninsula, assisted in the withdrawal from RAAF Base Butterworth, provided support and accommodation for delegates to the South Pacific Forum, and was part of the Australian response to the 1987 Fijian coups d’état. In the early 1990s, Tobruk was part of ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove, then after a refit, participated in peacekeeping efforts in Somalia. She was used for many humanitarian missions including peace keeping in Bougainville, the Solomons, Samoa after the earthquake and tsunami, assisting after cyclones Yasi and Pam and border protection detail under Operation Resolute.

    Tobruk was decommissioned in Sydney on 31 July 2015. During her 34-year operational history, Tobruk sailed over 947,000 nautical miles (1,754,000 km; 1,090,000 mi), and was deployed on 26 major operations (more than any other ADF unit), leading to a reputation as the “workhorse of the RAN”.

    Several entities called for the ship to be scuttled as a dive wreck. Federal Member of Parliament Keith Pitt spent several years campaigning for the scuttling of a warship in Hervey Bay as a tourist attraction, with Tobruk his preferred vessel. Another proposal came from the community of St Helens, Tasmania, for the ship to be sunk in Skeleton Bay. North Stradbroke Island (Redland Bay Council) and the Gold Coast also expressed interest.

    On 2 December 2016 it was announced that Tobruk would be scuttled off the Fraser Coast, at a location halfway between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, by late 2018. As the ship awaited its scuttling, Tobruk was located between the Australian Navy Cadet Base TS Bundaberg and the Burnett Heads Marina. The ship was transported to this area in late 2016 and was used as a tourist attraction whilst undergoing preparations for scuttling.

    She was sunk off the coast between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay on 29 June 2018 although instead of coming to rest upright on her keel, the ship instead rolled 90 degrees to starboard (right) and came to rest on her side like so many wrecks that were not purpose sunk. Already the sea life that has been attracted to the wreck is absolutely incredible! Come and dive a piece of Australian history with us!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Must have your own dive torch to do these dives (rentals available) Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)
    Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive this site
    Depth ranges from 11 – 28.5 metres
    EAN (nitrox) is included for those who are certified – Must be ordered the Wednesday prior to the trip
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

     TRIP DATES

    Friday, 25 June to Sunday, 27 June 2021

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PRICE

    Weekend Trip

    $750 per person – 4 dives, nitrox (for those who are certified) and weights, 2 nights accommodation, Divemaster services if desired, return transport to Hervey Bay from Brisbane.

    Enriched Air Speciality– additional $245 (total $995) – course materials (manual learning) and the services of your dive instructor

    PADI Wreck diver speciality course – additional $195 (total $945 per person ) – includes course materials, 4 led dives over 2 days, and the services of your dive instructor.

    PADI Wreck diver and Enriched Air speciality courses @ $1,140 per person total- includes course materials, 4 led dives over 2 days, and the services of your dive instructor.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    All Dive Gear
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All meals are at your 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. All hire gear must be organised prior to the trip date.

    ITINERARY

    You will be doing a maximum of 2 dives each day and these dives are usually done in the morning, allowing you to have your afternoon free. An itinerary with timings will be sent to those booked onto the trip closer to the trip date.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PADI COURSES & SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Enriched Air (Nitrox) (perfect for this trip)*
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist
    Wreck Diver (perfect for this trip)

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

    * The Nitrox specialty is the only specialty that you can do at the same time as another qualifying dive so this is the perfect opportunity to do two specialties in one go!

    Note- Some specialties are site and conditions dependent. 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.

    HOW TO BOOK

     

    To book online click HERE

  • TULAMBEN – INDONESIA

    TULAMBEN – INDONESIA

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

    Tulamben, is a little village on the northeast coast of Bail. The beach is covered in black sand and fist size rocks. Diving the Tulamben’s coast, which boasts colourful coral gardens, plunging walls, fantastic macros sites and Tulamben’s renowned wreck dive, the USAT Liberty. The Liberty is located just off shore ; she is 120m long and rests on a 90 degree angle with the deck facing the open sea! Hit by a torpedo in World War II she is now festooned in coral making a fantastic artificial reef home to diverse marine life. Be it pelagic species or macro there is something on the Liberty wreck to captivate and enthrall every diver.

    USAT Liberty Wreck
    Just 30 metres from the beach at Tulamben, is a WWII cargo ship broken up, but still a large wreck stretching 120 metres long on a sloping sandy bottom. The top of the wreckage is just 3 metres below the waters surface and the bottom is 29 metres. On January 11, 1942, the ship was hit by torpedoes from a Japanese submarine while crossing Lombok Strait carrying rubber and railroad parts. Badly damaged, two destoyer ships towed the USAT Liberty up onto the beach at Tulamben. The volcanic explosion of Gunung Agung in 1963 rolled Liberty off the beach to its present location, in the process the USAT Liberty broke into pieces. The wreck is now covered with a variety of corals and it is estimated that some 400 species of reef fish live on the wreck.

    Visibility averages 15- 20 metres and water temperature is roughly 28- 29 degrees.

    Coral Garden
    This shallow patch reef us delightful and richly covered more than 200 metres and lies in 5- 15 metres of water. This reef is dominated by Acropora, hard corals, some large table corals and bushes of Hydroids and supports a diversity of fish population such as Parrotfish, Wrasse, Snapper, as well as Ribbon Eels, Frogfish and Scorpionfish. Photographers and divers who like macro sea life, this will be a favourite.

    Drop-off (Rugged Wall)
    The reef wall descends down over 70 metres. Black, soft and hard corals grow well on the crannies and overhangs. At 18 metres there live an abundance of Cleaner Shrimp and large fish are waiting at the overhangs to be cleaned. The hook of the wall at 28 metres where the reef extends to the sloping eastern reef stands a huge purple sea fan Gorgonian, which is over 2 metres wide and is the landmark on the reef wall. A prolific variety of schooling fish swim around the corner of the wall and even invertebrate animals are often encountered at this rugged wall reef.

     

    INFORMATION

     

    TRIP DATES

    4- 15 April 2018 (during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games)

    PRICE

    Diver- $3050

    Non-diver- $2,390

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    FLY
    Virgin Australia ex Brisbane to Denpasar
    Airline taxes & fuel surcharges

    SLEEP
    Tulamben Wreck Divers
    Standard twin share room- 10 nights
    Daily Breakfast
    Return airport transfers

     

    DIVE
    Tulamben Diving
    10 boat dives per diver
    3 dives in Amed
    3 dives in Padang Bai
    Tanks, weights, air fills and dive guide

     

     

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED
    Gear rental
    Gratuities
    Bar purchases
    Food and other items not mentioned above

     

     

    ITINERARY
    Wednesday, 4 April
    10:05am- Depart Brisbane on Virgin Australia flight and arrive in Denpasar at 2:45pm

    4 April- 14 April 2018
    10 nights accommodation in standard twin share room at Tulamben Wreck Divers
    10 dives per diver in the Tulamben Area
    3 dives per diver in Amed
    3 dives per diver in Padang Bali

    Saturday, 14 April 2018
    10:10 pm- Depart Denpasar on Virgin Australia Flight

    Sunday, 15 April 2018
    5:45am- arrive in Brisbane

    Please also refer to the attached document for a more detailed itinerary

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator set, computer and hire pricing for the week will be provided upon application. Please note that you will need to arrange to collect the gear from us (Brisbane based customers) prior to the trip and this gear must be incorporated into your own luggage allowance for your flights. Hire costs will apply. Alternatively, gear hire can be hired from the operator in Bali.

     

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Self Reliant Diver
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Shark Awareness
    Boat Diver
    Underwater Naturalist

    *** Many more specialties can be done on this trip. John is an Instructor in 32 different specialties. Did you have a specialty in mind? Call John on 0457 007 040 to discuss***

    HOW TO BOOK

    Download the booking form attached to the page. Complete the required fields, scan and email to info@professionaldiveservice

  • SOLOMON ISLANDS – MUNDA

    SOLOMON ISLANDS – MUNDA

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE DIVE ADVENTURE

    0890-Barracuda-diving-at-Munda-Solomon-Islands-with-Dive-Munda-and-SIDE

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    MUNDA

    Join us on this incredible trip to Munda in the Solomon Islands where the diving will leave you speechless! The warm, tropical waters will have you begging to return to this tranquil paradise year after year! For anyone who loves their elasmobranchs such as BIG sharks and rays, Munda has these in abundance along its fantastic walls. There are also stunning coral gardens and slopes for macro fanatics where you will find pygmy seahorses and other elusive critters!The brightly coloured hard and soft corals are untocuhed and accessible to both divers and snorkellers alike. With such spectacular diving this is definitely a bucket list destinaation!
    The diving is relatively unexplored with new sites being discovered regularly. Majestic wall dives and virgin reefs are specialties. The soft coral overhangs of Mushroom Island, the 4km drop off at Shark Point and the amazing colourful corals of Rainbow Passage are fast becoming renowned as world class dive sites with intense big fish and shark action. The Cave of the Kastom shark is a MUST as well. Where else in the world can you drop in to a sinkhole in the jungle only to navigate the corridors and be spat out on to a magnificent wall dive with pelagics?!

     

    plane editedSome of the popular dive sites include:
    Casi Maru:     a 700 tonne Japanese freighter lying at 16 metres.
    Mushroom Island: is perched on an extinct volcano withsoft coral overhangs, fantastic visibility and big fish action.
    Custom Shark Cave: An amazing cave system that extends from a fresh water pool at the centre of the island to a cavern that opens onto an 800 metre reef wall that’s ablaze with soft corals, whips, sponges and myriad of fish life.
    Rainbow Passage: A colourful dive with an array of corals, gorgoniansand invertebrates teeming with fish life that includes sharks and turtles.
    Douglas Dive Bomber: This historical wreck lies intact in 12m of water.

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION
    Suitable for open water divers (certified to 18 metres)
    Depth ranges from 6- 40 metres
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver of similar experience.

     

    TRIP DATES

    14- 21 March 2020

    8 days/ 7 nights ex Brisbane

    PRICE

    Diver- $2,800

    non-diver- $2000

     

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    Airfares and Taxes
    Return airfares ex Brisbane to Munda, returning via Honiara
    Includes airline taxes and fuel surcharges

    Agnes Lodge - Naru room

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Accommodation and Transfers
    7 nights, Ibibu Room- twin share
    Retuen airport Transfers
    **Meal packages – half board and full board are available as an optional upgrade as well**

    Gizo 024

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Diving Package
    10 Dives – includes tanks, weights and airfills (upgrade for another 5 dives [3 dives per day] is available as well)

    mantas edited

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

    Equipment hire
    Travel insurance, meals, personal spending money and excess luggage surcharges
    Local custom fees in Munda: $20 AUD per person per dive

     

    BOOKING CONDITIONS APPLY
    Prices are subject to change at any time without notice due to supplier rate changes. See other terms and conditions as per Allways Dive Expeditions:

    ttps://allwaysdive.com.au/booking-form/?ref=ADE1774

    TO BOOK: 

    To secure your place on this trip, you will need to complete an online booking form and return it together with a non-refundable deposit.

    ttps://allwaysdive.com.au/booking-form/?ref=ADE1774

     

     

     

  • Explore Australia’s Far North – Diving the Torres Strait and Ribbon Reefs aboard the MV Kalinda

    Explore Australia’s Far North – Diving the Torres Strait and Ribbon Reefs aboard the MV Kalinda

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    THE TRIP

    This is truly an incredible trip and VERY few divers on the planet have had the opportunity to dive the Torres Strait. Some of the most spectacular diving in the Coral Sea and reefs dived so rarely that you will likely see something that no person has ever seen before! This is the Great Barrier Reef at it’s healthiest. Incredible untouched reef systems with abundant fish life and huge varieties of pelagic life. Regardless of whether you love macro or wide angle subjects there is something here for everyone!

    The Far Northern Reefs are some of the most isolated reefs north of Lizard Island and extend to the east the tip of Cape York peninsular about 500 nautical miles north of Cairns. So many of these reef systems have not even been explored before! Our skipper Dave Stewart has been leading expeditions to this region and has found dive sites and reef systems that no one else has. The Far Northern reefs are famous for their fantastic wall dives, world class drift diving, pinnacles teeming with plethoras of fish, enormous coral bommies, and reef fish and invertebrates of incredible variety and colour. The nesting season for the green sea turtle runs from October through February, and November and December sees thousands upon thousands of turtles descending on the many small coral cays in the region.

    img_3231None are as well known though as Raine Island which has been featured in numerous National Geographic and David Attenborough documentaries as in peak season up to 250 turtles and hour drag themselves up onto the beach to lay the next generation. Raine Island is the LARGEST green sea turtle rookery in the word! Aside from the enormous turtles in their incredible numbers this is particularly impressive as there are typically roaming tiger sharks waiting for an easy meal of an exhausted mother who has just laid her clutch. This is a world class opportunity to witness nature in it’s purest and rawest form.

    Check out this incredible footage from Bio Pixel for what is in store for you if you join us :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4iIV-80eMc

    img_3019It is not just the spectacular Far Northern Reefs that we will be exploring. We will also be diving the most iconic sites of the Ribbon Reefs including two sites which are consistently rated in the top 10 dives in Australia, Steve’s Bommie and The Cod Hole! Aside from the famous Cod Hole you will also have a very unique opportunity to dive the sites around Lizard Island which are renowned for nudibranchs and macro life as well as their huge resident potato cod. The only other way to get to these sites is to pay a minimum of $1,500 a night!

     

    The other big draw card is the wreck of the RMS Quetta. The wreck of the RMS Quetta is one of Australia’s oldest and best known shipwrecks and is on the list of one of the few dive able historic wrecks. Located just South of Adolphus Island, this 116 metre long Scottish passenger liner sank on the 28th of February 1890 after striking a coral mount at low tide with 133 of her 290 crew perishing. At the time she was Queensland’s worst maritime disaster. This site requires a permit to dive, experience and significant planning. Huge currents and variable tides make her a difficult dive but very rewarding for those who do it! The Quetta lies in only 6 to 18m of water and is home to literally millions of fish. Thankfully many of the historic relics / “souvenirs” have been removed from the wreck and preserved in museums to stop them ending up in the hands of private collectors and irresponsible divers and so they can be admired by all for generation to come. She is still an incredible wreck though on par if not better than the SS Yongala and so rarely dived it is truly a remarkable opportunity.

    img_3670

     

    Here is some footage taken by Chris Miller for Coast Australia to give you an idea of what awaits you on the RMS Quetta : https://vimeo.com/127999670

    ***This dive trip can be very challenging with a lot of sites prone to current so it is only recommended for experienced divers.***

    Want a better idea of what is in store for you for the entire trip? Check out this great highlight video from a previous Far North trip showing all of the residents that are waiting for you to come and play! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vakW7BpkHGk

     

     

     

     

    Suggested passage plan :

    Nov 2018

    2 – Board in Cairns @ 1400

    3 – Ribbon Reefs/Steve’s Bommie

    4 – Cod Hole/Lizard Island

    5-    Scooterboot

    6-   Small Southern Detached/ Ferguson Reef

    7-   Mantis/Wishbone Reef

    8-   Woody’s/ The Drop (Wood Reef)

    9-   Captain Blood’s Wall of Terror/ The Anchors (Greater Detached Reefs)

    10 –   Da Phat/6mp / Turle Farm (Greater Detached Reefs)

    11 –   OMG Spot / Cow Bommie (Greater Detached Reefs)

    12 –   Raine Island (Turtles & Tiger sharks)

    13 –  Transit Day

    14 – RMS Quetta / Thursday Island

    15-  Disembark Horn Island @ 9am

     

    img_3440

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers (certified to 30 metres)

    Depth ranges from 6 – 40+ metres

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

     

    TRIP DATES

    2 to 15 November 2018

    To book onto this trip please click HERE

     

    PRICE

    $3,900 per diver ex Cairns   ***There are ONLY 12 divers on this trip!!****

     

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    Opportunity for up to 40 dives (12 days of diving)
    13 nights berthed accommodation on board the MV Kalinda
    All meals and snacks whilst on board
    Tanks, weights & air fills
    RMS Quetta fees and GBRMP fees
    Divemaster services if required

     

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    Flights to and from Cairns
    Flight from Horn island to Cairns
    Beer, wine & soft drinks (available on board)
    Travel Insurance (We also highly recommend DAN insurance)
    Personal spending money
    Dive Gear

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator set, computer and hire pricing for the week will be provided upon application. Please note that you will need to arrange to collect the gear from us (Brisbane based customers) prior to the trip and this gear must be incorporated into your own luggage allowance for your flights.

     

    MV Kalinda 2

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Our Vessel

    The MV Kalinda was constructed in 1973 and is a solid, cravel planked timber monohull. Thoughtful design by boat builders Thompson & Thompson and refit modifications have created an amazing sense of space and modern convenience without loss of charm and character. She is not a luxury boat by any means but is practical and functional. The MV Kalinda sleeps up to 30 people including crew but aside from the crew we have reduced this number to ONLY 12 divers to make it as comfortable for you as possible. Don’t miss out!

    Dave Stewart is our fearless leader. owner and manager of the MV Kalinda, skipper (master class 4.), engineer (marine engine driver grade 2.), Marine Biologist (BSc(hons) JCU), SCUBA Instructor (PADI) 700+ certified students, 2500+ dives worldwide, Underwater photographer & Videographer, & specialty instructor. Dave has more than 20 years experience (at over 150 days a year) exploring the Great Barrier Reefs and a large number of these sites that we will be diving are sites he has discovered! Dave is renowned for his down to earth nature and detailed dive briefs.

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    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Self Reliant Diver
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Shark Awareness
    Boat Diver
    Underwater Naturalist

    *** Many more specialties can be done on this trip. John is an Instructor in 32 different specialties. Did you have a specialty in mind? Call John on 0457 007 040 to discuss***

     

     

    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

  • SS YONGALA & MINKE WHALES- WRECKS, WHALES & REEF ABOARD THE MV KALINDA

    SS YONGALA & MINKE WHALES- WRECKS, WHALES & REEF ABOARD THE MV KALINDA

    THE TRIP

    Humpback whale encounters are common during the months of July, August and September. Unlike the Dwarf Minke Whales who love the crystal clear waters of the outer reefs, Humpback whales are seen more at inshore sections of the Great Barrier Reef, often during a surface interval in between dive at sites like the SS Yongala and while cruising around Magnetic Island or the Palms Group.

    Townsville outer reefs are visited by the Dwarf Minke Whales far more frequently than the Ribbon Reefs from Cairns. Our dive operator is the only operator to visit (or know) these sites.

    IMG_3934

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    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.

    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.

    IMG_7197

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    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.

    IMG_9826

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE SS GOTHENBURG was a steamship that operated along the British and then later Australian and New Zealand coastlines. In February 1875, she left Darwin enroute to Adelaide when she encountered a cyclone- strength storm off the north Queensland coast. The ship was wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef north-west of Holbourne Island. Twenty- two men survived, while between 98- 112 others died, including a number of high profile civil servants and dignitaries.

    Today, only parts of the deteriorated iron hull and the coal fired square boilers remain. The wreck lies in approximately 9- 16 metres of water, 130 kms southeast of Townsville. The reef around the wreck provides good diving with an extensive coral garden. Pelagic fish and reef sharks frequent the wreck.

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)

    Depth ranges from 6 – 38 metres

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

    TRIP DATES

    24- 31 July 2017- 8 days/ 7 nights

    PRICE

    $1,600 per diver ex Townsville

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    Opportunity for up to 22 dives (5.5 days of diving)
    7 nights berthed accommodation on board the MV Kalinda
    All meals and snacks whilst on board
    Up to 2 days of diving on the SS Yongala (including a night dive and dawn dive)
    Up to 1 day of diving on the SS Gothenberg wreck
    The chance to snorkel with Minke Whales and Humpbacks when encountered
    Tanks, weights & air fills
    Yongala mooring fees and GBRMP reef fees

     

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    Flights to and from Townsville
    Beer, wine & soft drinks (available on board)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    Dive Gear

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to provide you with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks for the trip and hire pricing for the week will be provided upon application. Please note that you will need to arrange to collect the gear from us (Brisbane based customers) prior to the trip and this gear must be incorporated into your own luggage allowance for your flights.

    Alternatively gear hire can be arranged directly through the operator, with prior notice.

    MV Kalinda 2

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ITINERARY

    Day 1

    The first evening a board the MV Kalinda the group will secure their bunks, orient ourselves around the boat and setting up our gear before retiring.  The Kalinda is not a luxury vessel but she is very accommodating, safe and comfortable.

    Days 2- 7

    The next 5 and a half days of diving aboard the MV Kalinda will have us exploring the rarely dived outer reefs between Townsville and past Alva Beach including 2 full days of diving on the SS Yongala including a night dive, up to two days of diving on the SS Gothenburg wreck and snorkelling with humpbacks and Dwarf Minke whales when encountered. Five full days of diving and two dives on the last day.

    IMG_7107

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Day 8

    This morning you will enjoy breakfast on the MV Kalinda prior to disembarking. For those of you flying home, please do not book your flights any earlier than 6 pm. Due to the high number of dives that you will be doing over the week, it is strongly recommended that you leave 18 to 24 hours between your last dive and when you fly.

     

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery

    Self Reliant Diver
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    Wreck Diver

     

     

    HOW TO BOOK

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

  • JAPAN- DISCOVER YONAGUNI AND EXPLORE THE MONUMENT

    JAPAN- DISCOVER YONAGUNI AND EXPLORE THE MONUMENT

     

    Dog Tooth Tuna / Gymnosarda unicolor
    Dog Tooth Tuna / Gymnosarda unicolor

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

     

    OKINAWA is the southernmost prefecture of Japan. The Ryukyu Islands consists of approximately 160 islands (48 of which are inhabited) of varying sizes stretching for 1,000 kilometres from east to west and from north to south in between the Philippine Sea and the East China Sea, from Kyushu (in the southwest of Japan) all the way to Taiwan.

     

    Hawksbill Sea Turtle / Eretmochelys imbricata
    Hawksbill Sea Turtle / Eretmochelys imbricata

     

    YONAGUNI-JIMA DIVING-
    Yonaguni Island is Japans most westerly point located 110 km off the coast of Taiwan and a 2 hour flightfrom Naha, Okinawa’s capital. Yonaguni is a small, remote, untouched island with a population of less than2,000 people. Most dive around Yonaguni are drift dives. Throughout the year there are schools of big eye trevally and barracuda, dogtooth tuna, turtles, large cuttlefish and more. There are many large rock formations, caverns and tunnels to explore. January to March is the main time for schooling Hammerhead sharks!

    Yonaguni Monument- Yonaguni’s unique attraction for both archaeologists and divers alike are the mysterious underwater ruins which lie off the south coast of the island. Discovered in 1986. The megalith structures have sparked much debate as to whether they were completely naturally formed, were naturally formed the modified by man or are man-made structures created by an ancient civilisation dating back to the last Ice Age (around 10,000 BC) which would make the Monument the oldest man-made artefact on earth, pre-dating the pyramids in Egypt.

    Military Barracuda, Sphyraena putnamae
    Military Barracuda, Sphyraena putnamae

    It is hard to believe that the Monument was formed by completely natural processes. Key features include an archway entrance; twin megaliths standing perfectly side by side; a staircase; the main monument measuring some 100 metres long x 50 metres wide and 25 metres tall, with perfectly carved perpendicular terracing; a triangular shaped pool with a drainage channel; decorative rock carvings; a formation which looks distinctly like a face; and evidence of a cobbled loop road around the structures. Could this be the mythical lost continent Mu?

     

    DIVE INFORMATION
    Depth- 5- 40 metres

     

    TRIP DATES

    10 days/ 8 Nights Ex Brisbane

    17- 27 January 2017

    PRICE

     $4,990 per person

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    Return Airfares Ex Brisbane to Okinawa flying with China Airlines
    Return Airfares Ex Okinawa to Yonaguni
    1 nights twin share accommodation- Loisir Hotel, Naha City, Okinawa – includes breakfast
    7 nights twin share accommodation- The Hotel Irifune- Yonaguni- includes breakfast and dinner daily
    15 boat dives with Sou- Wes Yonaguni- includes tanks, weights and dive guide services (3 boat dives per day)
    Lunch & Refreshments on diving days
    Return Airport taxes throughout
    Australian Departure Tax

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending monies
    Excess Luggage surcharges

    CONDITIONS APPLY

    Prices are subject to change without notice due to fluctuations in YEN exchange rates and 2017 operator, hotelier and airline rates.

    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 per person. Click HERE

    An additional payment of $750 per person will be required 6 months prior to travel as the airfares from Okinawa to Yonaguni will need to be ticketed at this time.

     PADI SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Underwater 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

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

  • DISCOVER The Sunken Secrets of New Zealand’s North Island!!

    DISCOVER The Sunken Secrets of New Zealand’s North Island!!

    dry-aorangia-island

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

    Join us for a truly incredible dive adventure as we explore some of the best diving that New Zealand has to offer. In one trip you will explore two of New Zealand’s diving jewels and 4 of their most famous wrecks! We will be exploring the Poor Knights Islands, Bay of Islands, HMNZS Waikato, MHNZS Tui, HMNZS Canterbury and the famous Rainbow Warrior!   We have timed our trip perfectly to ensure that the water temps are a little more comfortable for Brisbane diving regulars!  This incredible trip is strictly limited to 7 divers as that is the maximum loading for the MV Acheron live aboard.  Here is a brief run down of each site we will be exploring and a video of what you can expect:

     

    poor-knights-mapThe Poor Knights Islands : The Poor Knights Islands are a complete marine reserve and rated in the top ten dive sites in the world by diving pioneer Jacques Cousteau. The Poor Knights Islands are the eroded remnants of a 4 million year old volcano. Ten million years ago a series of violent eruptions created a large land mass off New Zealand’s north east coast. Constant erosion by wind and wave action, combined with sea level changes have created the stunningly dramatic cluster of islands and rock formations that are now known as the Poor Knights. With dense kelp forests, sand channels, vertical walls, giant sea caves, archways and underwater caverns, it is no wonder that divers come from all over the world to dive in the Poor Knights. Add to this a subtropical current that carries marine life from tropical waters and you have a diver’s heaven.

    Check out this awesome video from the Everything Travel Group about the incredible array of sea creatures waiting for you:   http://www.youtube.comwatch?v=eanp29FwDZw

     

     

    WaikatoHMNZS Waikato – The frigate ex HMNZS Waikato was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Ireland, launched on February 18 1966, and commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on September 5, 1966. At 113.4m long, 12.5m beam and a draft of 5.5m she was the first of the Leander class frigates built for the navy. She had a top speed of 30 knots, and was powered by twin steam turbines developing 30,000hp. The Waikato was armed to the teeth, sporting twin 4.5in guns in the turret, two 20mm Orlikeon machine guns on the wings, a quad Seacat anti-aircraft missile launcher, six 12.75m anti-submarine torpedo tubes, one anti-submarine warfare Limbo mortar Mark 10 and a Wasp Helicopter capable of delivering depth charges and the Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedo. She served the RNZ Navy until decommissioning in 1998. Tutukaka Coast won the tender and prepared the ship for divers during 1999/2000. Finally the ship was sent to her final resting place on the 25th of November 2000 in a world record time of 2 min 40 seconds. She now rests in 28m of water. The Waikato was the only purpose-sunk frigate in the Southern Hemisphere before the HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide were sunk in Australia. Her turret and one propeller were left on the ship.

    Check out this awesome video of the HMNZS Waikato by Pelagic Productions UW – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZg18A53IY

     

    TuiHMNZS Tui – Formerly USNS Charles H. Davis (T-AGOR-5), was one of nine Conrad class oceanographic ships built for the United States Navy (USN), that later saw service in the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Serving with the USN from 1963 to 1970, these ships were designed to perform acoustic experiments on sound transmission underwater, and for gravity, magnetism and deep-ocean floor studies. For the last 17 years of her working life she was leased out by the United States Navy to become the HMNZS Tui, deployed on naval hydrographic work. She was also sent to Mururoa to observe the last series of French Nuclear bomb tests in the South Pacific, and became the unofficial mothership to a large international protest fleet.The Tui was gifted to Tutukaka Coast Promotions after long negotiations, prepared for her new role as a dive attraction and sunk off Tutukaka on the 20th of February 1999.In 1999, the ship was scuttled as a dive wreck. In February 1999, Tui was scuttled 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Tutukaka Heads to serve as a tourist attraction and wreck for divers, following a period of work on her which removed any objects in danger of breaking free and welding shut any areas that may have posed a hazard for wreck diver. She was sunk at a depth of 32m of water.

    Sinking of the Tui in 1999 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44TGP461IF0#t=23

    The wrecks of the Tui and the Waikato after 5 years on the seabed – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDw_Er4gEwk

     

    MV Acheron

    Our Vessel : The MV Acheron diving vessel will be our home for the first 5 nights of our adventure. Acheron is a 23m wooden launch with luxurious accommodation for up to 8 guests in 4 twin berth with ensuite cabins. The well-equipped boat offers a high level of diving convenience on the covered back deck and has been designed to suit the needs of all divers. She will be our diving platform to explore the Poor Knights Islands and the wrecks of the Tui and Waikato.

    More about our boat here : https://www.facebook.com/pg/RVAcheron/photos/?ref=page_internal

     

    Bay of IslandsBay of Islands – The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is about 210 km by road to Cape Reinga at the northern tip of the country. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for its big-game fishing since American author Zane Grey publicised it in the 1930s.

    A full list of the dive sites that will be available to us at the Bay of Islands can be found here: http://www.northlanddive.com/diving/sites.html

     

     

    New_Zealand_Navy_-_frigate_HMNZS_Canterbury_-_3HMNZS Canterbury –  (F421) was one of two broad beam Leander class frigates operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) from 1971 to 2005. HMNZS Canterbury was laid down on 12 June 1969 by Yarrow Shipbuilders and launched 11 months later on 6 May 1970. Commissioned on 22 October 1971, Canterbury went on to see operational service in much of Australasia and other regions like the Persian Gulf, undertaking operations like supporting UN sanctions against Iraq and peace-keeping in East Timor. In addition, Canterbury and her sister ship HMNZS Waikato relieved the Royal Navy frigate HMS Amazon in the Indian Ocean during the Falklands War, and later on her own, relieved the frigate HMNZS Otago at Moruroa during anti-nuclear protests. Canterbury was decommissioned in

    Canterbury2005 and after extensive works to remove potentially toxic materials, she was scuttled on 3 November 2007 at Deep Water Cove in the Bay of Islands to provide a dive wreck. She lies in 38 metres (125 ft) of water

    Here is a  fantastic video of the HMNZS Canterbury as she lies on the seafloor today filmed by Axel Busch : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz_O9tTA6AA

     

    rainbow-warrior-059Rainbow Warrior – The Rainbow Warrior (sometimes informally called Rainbow Warrior I) was a former UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) trawler later purchased by the environmental organization Greenpeace. The ship was active in supporting a number of Greenpeace protest activities against seal hunting, whaling and nuclear weapons testing during the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was sunk whilst in harbour in New Zealand by operatives of the French intelligence service (DGSE) on 10 July 1985, killing one of the activists. The wreck of the Rainbow Warrior was refloated on 21 August 1985 and moved to a naval harbour for forensic examination. Although the hull had been recovered, the

    damage was too extensive for economic repair and the vessel was scuttled in warrior1

    Matauri Bay in the Cavalli Islands, New Zealand, on 12 December 1987, to serve as a dive wreck and artificial reef to promote marine life.

    Check out this sensational video of the Rainbow Warrior filmed by D M Larsson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEIAjwCg-Fo
     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers but preferably with Deep certification  (certified to 40 metres)
    Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive these sites but is highly recommended
    Depth ranges from 6 – 40 metres
    EAN (nitrox) is included for the whole trip (certification is required)
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

     TRIP DATES

    5 to 14 March 2017

    PRICE

    $3,000 per person

    WHAT’S INCLUDED 

    Private van transfers for the trip

    4 nights twin share accommodation aboard the MV Acheron
    4 Days of unlimited diving at the Poor Knights Islands (16 + dives)
    All food aboard MV Acheron

    4 nights accommodation at Northland Dive Lodge
    3 days of diving with Northland Dive (6 dives), including the Canterbury wreck, Rainbow Warrior wreck, Waikato wreck and the Bay of Islands
    All food whilst at Northland Dive Lodge
    Nitrox fills for the whole trip

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    Flights to and from Auckland
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending monies
    Excess luggage surcharges
    Meals other than those already noted

     

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to rent you a wetsuit, BCD, regulator and computer for the trip.  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 and we will arrange to get the gear to you so you can pack it in your luggage for the trip.

    ITINERARY

    To be confirmed

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Self Reliant
    Advanced Open Water (perfect for this trip)
    Underwater Navigation
    Nitrox (Enriched Air)
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit
    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].

  • A Spectacular Weekend Away at Nelson Bay, NSW.

    A Spectacular Weekend Away at Nelson Bay, NSW.

    Jim Dodd Looking Glass (4)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE DIVE SITE
    Nelson Bay at Port Stephens is one of the hidden gems of diving on the Eastern seaboard of Australia. Whilst it’s secrets are well known to the divers of Sydney and the central coast the majority of Australia is yet to discover the amazing encounters waiting for them below the waters of Nelson Bay. You can encounter Grey Nurse sharks in large numbers, Port Jackson sharks,pipe fish, sea horses, seals, endemic nudibranchs, turtles, rays, and a myriad of fish. A true wide angle and macro photographer’s paradise with enough sea life to keep any diver struggling with which direction to look next!

     

    Jim Dodd NE CabbageTree Is (3)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Boat diving in Nelson Bay with Lets Go Adventures is a fun, exciting and memorable experience. Whether you want to dive with grey nurse sharks at Broughton Island, or prefer exploring some of the unique local islands, Lets Go Adventures caters for all experience levels. Their site selection on the day of our dive is determined by us and the most experienced dive skippers in Port Stephens; Chris Norman, Adam Shorter, Pete Jensen & Jimmy Dodd who individually hold over 20-30+ years each, skippering/diving in the stunning waters of Port Stephens. They also offer a free guide service to everyone also with Nelson Bay’s Most experienced dive master crew.

    “MV Tomaree” is the most comfortable dive boat in Nelson Bay. The MV Tomaree has fast new engines, a twin hull for stability, a large dive deck area, and onboard toilet. You just need to come for a dive with them to see why local divers of Nelson Bay voted them winners in the Boating, Fishing & Camping Category of the Port Stephens Business Awards. Dive sites include :

    Broughton Island : Looking Glass, Shark Gutters, Elephant Rock, North Rock, Cod Rock, East Head, Bubble Cave & Spider Cave.

    Local island and wreck dives : Little wreck, North East Cabbagetree Island, The Pinnacle, Safety Cove Boondelbah Island, Little Island Gutters, The Oakland Wreck, The Macleay Wreck, Government Wharf, Fingal Sponges & Red Patch.

    Shore Dives : Fly Point, Halifax, Little Beach, The Pipeline & Seahorse Gardens.

    For what you can expect check out Dave Harasti’s video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGgr2n1ec-s

    Jim Dodd NE CabbageTree Is

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    -Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres), however Advanced Open Water Certification is advised to ensure all sites are accessible to you
    -Depth ranges from 6 – 34 metres
    -EAN (nitrox) is available at $10 extra per dive.
    -Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

    TRIP DATES

    Friday, 16- Sunday, 18 December 2016

    Jim Dodd North Rock Gutters (8)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PRICE
     $600 per person

    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip
    Diving on Nitrox@ $ 10 per dive or $50 for the weekend
    PADI Advanced Open Water Course @ $250 per person
    PADI Deep Diver speciality Course @ $195 per person
    PADI Enriched Air speciality Course @ $245 per person for manual learning or $345 per person for on-line learning (both prices include 2 Nitrox fills)

    Jim Dodd North Rock Gutters (9)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    All air fills
    5 dives – 4 boat dives (double at North Broughton Island, double at Oakland wreck and local island site and a shore dive)
    2 night’s accommodation
    Return private transport
    Tanks & Weights

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED 

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

    Jim Dodd Pipeline

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    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.

    ITINERARY

    We will departing Brisbane (Woolloongabba) just on midday on Friday and from here you will be driven in our company van to Nelson Bay. Upon arrival we will check in to our accommodation and get a good night sleep ready to dive the Broughton Island on Saturday (double dive and a shore dive in the afternoon). On Sunday, we will do 2 boat dives in the morning to the Oakland wreck and another local island site before heading back to Brisbane after lunch. An itinerary with timings will be sent to you closer to the date of the trip.

    Jim Dodd SS Oakland (2)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP
    Advanced Open Water (highly recommended on this weekend)
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    Note- Some specialties are site and conditions dependent. 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.

    Extra Special Note – Thank you to Jim Dodd of UW Photography.com.au for allowing us to use these incredible images for promotion. We hope to try and emulate them.

  • Palau – The world’s first national marine sanctuary / An unspoilt tropical island paradise

    Palau – The world’s first national marine sanctuary / An unspoilt tropical island paradise

    Dive Information

    Palau’s warm tropical waters are legendary amongst divers for their dramatic sheer walls rising from the depths to within inches of the surface and capped with thriving coral reefs. Palau is home to over 1,300 species of fish and more than 700 species of coral. World renowned for its’ marine bio-diversity and abundance of large pelagic animals. Palau also offers avid wreck divers one of Micronesia’s largest collections of WWII shipwrecks.

    Check out this incredible video from Lee Burghard to see what you can expect!

    Palau is a divers dream! A true one stop shop when it comes to diving! Healthy reefs, stunning walls, beautiful hard corals and soft corals, lots of sharks, huge mantas, turtles on every dive and huge schools of fish, tiny seahorses, elusive mandarin fish and lots and lots of tiny critters, all topped off with an amazing collection of WWII wrecks!

    For more information on Palau and the diving in Palau, please view the attach information sheet on this page- Palau- Micronesia.


    palau-island-map

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Palau Siren

    The 40 metre luxury liveaboard was launched in July 2012 and offers either fixed double or twin bed cabins (2 cabins can be converted from twin to double). The dining area is very spacious offering a great setting for all your meals. The dive deck is perhaps the most spacious and comfortable you would have experience.

    The Palau Siren has designated indoor and outdoor workstations for charging, preparation and maintenance of your camera and video equipment. Large storage drawers for your peripheral items are avaliable, as well as numerous charging points, with adapters. Large rinse tanks, soley available for camera and video equipement are also available.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Trip Dates

    21 September – 5 October 2018

    14 days/ 13 nights ex Brisbane

    Price

    $6,684 per diver

    What’s Included

    Airfares and Taxes
    Return airfares ex Brisbane to Koror flying via Taipei with China Airlines
    Australian departure taxes and applicable airline taxes (subject to change)

    Accommodation, Meals, Transfers and Diving
    1 night twin share accommodation at Palasia Hotel- Palau
    3 nights twin share accommodation at The Rose Garden Resort- Palau
    Breakfast daily whilst in Palau
    3 days diving (2 dives per day) with Sams Dive Tours- Includes use of tanks, weights and dive guide services
    Transfers in Palau
    1 night twin share accommodation at The Hotel Manka- Taipei

    Liveaboard
    7 nights twin share cabin accommodation aboard the Palau Siren
    All meals, tea, coffee, juices, soft drinks, water and beer whilst aboard
    Free nitrox for nitrox certified divers
    Free use of diving equipment (excludes dive computers and torches)
    up to 4 dives per day (except on arrival and departure days)- includes use of tanks, weights and dive guide services


    Palau Reef

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    What’s Excluded
    Travel Insurance, personal spending monies, excess luggage fees
    Marine park fee of $200 USD- payable on arrival
    Government permits: Rock Island permit $50 USD/ Jellyfish Lake $100 USD
    Koror departure tax and environmental fee $120 USD per person
    Koror visa fee $50 USD per person

    PALAU-Mandarin-Fish

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Palau-Shark

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Booking Requirements

    To secure your place on this trip, please complete an online booking form (see link below) and return it together with a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person to Dive Adventure. Payment installments will be required throughout the duration of the booking. Details of the payment plan will be confirmed at the time of booking confirmation.

    https://www.diveadventures.com.au/pages/contact.php

    PADI Specialities Suitable for this trip
    echeng-jellyfish-lake-palau

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Advanced Open Water
    Underwater Navigation
    Nitrox
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Night Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

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

  • JERVIS BAY – The Cream of Southern NSW Diving Aboard Oceantrek

    JERVIS BAY – The Cream of Southern NSW Diving Aboard Oceantrek

    Australian Fur Seals

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

    Located approximately 2.5 hours drive south of Sydney. Jervis Bay is consistently ranked as one of the best dive locations to dive in NSW. Jervis Bay has crystal clear water with viz. ranging from 10-25m. The dive sites at Jervis Bay are numerous and each site offers something different. Dive sites usually range in depth, so divers can set their own depth limit in accordance with their experience. The giant sandstone cliffs that ring the entrance to the bay have over millions of years collapsed into the sea forming caves, tunnels, archways, drop offs and terraces providing homes to the many and varied sea creatures that live in and around the bay.

    The best way to dive Jervis Bay is on the18m live aboard Ocean Trek. Ocean Trek accommodation is for up to 23 guests in ten rooms. Ocean Trek has a spacious dive deck  and when you are not diving you can relax in the large dining and saloon area with CD deck ,video ,TV and tape deck. A marine reference library is available for divers reference while on board. Oceantrek is a sister to ship to Big Cat Reality so you will find her similar in style larger and more spacious accommodation.

    Diving from Ocean Trek gives you the unique opportunity in that you can do as much or as little diving as you want. Have a dive after breakfast, again after lunch and why not hit the water again for a late afternoon dive. After dinner there is always the chance to experience the magic of a night dive as well.

    The diving in Jervis Bay is special and the Ocean Trek gives you access to the best of it. With over 30 sites to choose from there ranging from 4m to 40m+ there is no reason why you would have to do the same dive twice! Unless it was just so amazing you had to! You will see underwater life is abundant, with big schools of yellowtail and old wives. The sponge gardens support a vast array of life including Sea Baskets, Starfish, Seastars, Nudibranchs, Pygmy Leatherjackets, Red Indianfish, Weedy Seadragons, Seahorses, numerous rays, Blue Grouper and much more.

    The movement of water into the sheltered bay means that there are giant underwater bommies/boulders that have weathered slowly over time, which hide giant cuttlefish, Port Jackson sharks, Blue Devil Fish, Wobbegongs and southern rock lobster . There are underwater cliffs and cracks, there are drop offs and large caves to explore and these are home to grey nurse sharks (Carcharias Taurus).

     

    Dolphins.

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)

    Depth ranges from 4 – 40 metres

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

     

    TRIP DATES & PRICES

    Ex Jervis Bay- Thursday, 23- Tuesday, 28 April 2015 @ $960 per person

    Ex Brisbane- Thursday, 23- Monday, 27 April 2015 @ $1,500 per person

     

    Oceantrek - Image : Tom Davis

     

     

     

     

     

     

    INCLUDES

    14 scheduled dives
    4 night’s accommodation on board Oceantrek
    All air fills
    Tanks and weights
    All meals aboard Oceantrek

     EX-Brisbane Also Includes:

    Return flights from Brisbane to Sydney
    Additional night in a motel in Huskisson on Monday
    2 Bag allowance – one for dry gear, one for dive gear
    Return private bus transfer from Sydney to Jervis Bay

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    Travel Insurance
    Personal Spending Monies
    Excess Luggage surcharges
    Meals unless otherwise indicated
    Personal dive gear unless otherwise indicated

     

    Giant Cuttlefish

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the live aboard, however this must be communicated prior to the trip. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire from PDS, however is available from the operator). Torches are also available and are subject to availability.

    If you are travelling from Brisbane, the gear hired must be collected from us prior to the trip and included in your luggage allowance.

    If you are meeting us in Jervis Bay, it is advised to hire your gear directly from the operator. Please contact us for hire rates.

    ITINERARY
    For those departing Brisbane, we fly to Sydney onThursday afternoon where the group will be greeted by a private bus to drive you down to our awaiting Oceantrek at her dock in Huskisson. We will stay on her on Thursday evening and secure our berths ready for departure on Friday morning. We then enjoy the cream of Southern NSW diving until Monday afternoon where we will return to Port and check into our motel for the night in Huskisson before catching our bus back to Sydney airport to meet our return flight to Brisbane early Tuesday afternoon.

    For those meeting us in Jervis Bay, we will meet you- TBC

    Exact timings and details will be communicated to the divers booked onto this trip closer to the date.

    PADI SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Under water Navigation
    Nitrox (Enriched Air)
    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!!

    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.

    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!

     

     

     

     

  • Dive Australia’s newest wreck, the Ex-HMAS Adelaide!

    Dive Australia’s newest wreck, the Ex-HMAS Adelaide!

     

     

    HMAS Adelaide ready to be sunk

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

    HMAS Adelaide was the lead ship of the Adelaide class of guided missile frigates built for the Royal Australian Navy, based on the United States Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates. She was built in the United States of America and commissioned into the RAN in 1980.

    During her career, Adelaide was part of Australian responses or contributions to the 1987 Fijian coups d’état, the Iraq invasion of Kuwait, the Indonesian riots of May 1998, the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, the  War in Afghanistan, and the United States- led invasion of Iraq. In 1997, the frigate rescued two competitors in the 1996- 97 Vendee Globe solo, round-the-world yacht race. In 2001, a boat carrying suspected illegal immigrants was intercepted by Adelaide; the events of this interception became the centre of the children overboard affair.

    In 2008, Adelaide was the second ship of the class to be decommissioned, in order to offset the cost of an upgrade to the other four vessels. This ship was to be sunk off Avoca Beach, NSW as a dive wreck on 27 March 2010, until an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by protest groups led to a postponement of the scuttling until additional clean-up work was completed. Despite further attempts to delay or cancel the scuttling, Adelaide was sunk off Avoca on 13 April 2011.

    Located approximately 1.8km off Avoca Beach near Terrigal on the Central Coast of New South Wales, in 38 meters of water this site has been prepared and optimally located to make it attractive to divers of all levels of experience.

    The ship measures 138.1 meters from bow to stern, with a beam of 14.3 metres and original displacement of 4100 tonnes. Diver access holes are strategically placed throughout the vessel to allow easy access to explore the key features of the wreck.  Divers will recognise the captain’s chair, console and chart table from the bridge, the helicopter hangars, the operations room complete with the shells of weapons and sensor consoles, the crew’s cafeteria and a limited number of bunks and amenities.

    There are plenty of areas for us to explore and with 4 dives it will be a matter of deciding which areas of the wreck you want to investigate!

    The Ex-HMAS Adelaide is already  home to an establishing healthy marine community, where along with encrusting  “first settlers”, the shipwreck is now home to a growing marine community which  includes the giant eastern cuttlefish, eastern blue groper, kingfish, blennies,  yellowtail, octopus, banner fish and bat fish to name a few.

    Bow of Ex-HMAS Adelaide

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers (certified to 30 metres)

    Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive this site

    Depth ranges from 18 – 30 metres

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

    TRIP DATES

    Friday, 29 – Sunday, 31 April 2016

    PRICE

    $650 per person

    The following are recommended upgrades for this trip
    PADI Deep Diver speciality Course @ $195 per person
    PADI Enriched Air speciality Course @ $195 per person for manual learning or $395 for on-line learning
    Boat Diver @ $195 per person Wreck Diver @ $195 per person

    Joe chcks out the gauges on the Ex-HMAS Adelaide

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    4 dives
    2 nights accommodation
    Return transport from Brisbane to Terrigal
    Tanks and weights (including nitrox fills if desired, however you must be nitrox certified)
    Continental  breakfast on both mornings
    Government permit

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All Meals are at leisure (with the exception of breakfast)

    Hmas Adelaide and diver

     

     

     

     

     

     

    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. All hire gear must be arranged in advance.

    ITINERARY

    We will departing Brisbane (Woolloongabba) at 12 pm on Friday and from here you will be driven in our company van to Terrigal (approximately 10 hour drive). Upon arrival we will check in to our accommodation and get a good night sleep ready for your 4 dives on Saturday. We will be doing 3 dives on the EX-HMAS Adelaide and one shore dive in the Haven with the resident Port Jackson sharks and hopefully some Grey Nurse sharks as well!  On Sunday we will drive you back to Brisbane and we plan 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.

    HMAS Adelaide inside

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PADI SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water (perfect for this trip)
    Boat Diver
    Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Wreck Diver

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

    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.

    HOW TO BOOK

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

     

    Octopus in Pylon support

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Dive the EX HMAS Brisbane, Wreck and Nitrox courses

    Dive the EX HMAS Brisbane, Wreck and Nitrox courses

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE DIVE SITE

    Commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1967 the HMAS Brisbane was a 133 metre, Charles F Adams Class DDG, guided missile destroyer of approx 5000 tons. The HMAS BRISBANE served Australia faithfully for 34 years, till she was decommissioned in 2001. She served in both the Vietnam and Gulf wars and assisted on many humanitarian missions such as in Darwin in 1974 after cyclone Tracey.

    In January 2003, the Queensland Government agreed to accept the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane from the Commonwealth Government for sinking off the Sunshine Coast as an artificial reef and dive site.

    On 31 July 2005, with the expertise of a crew who had extensive experience in scuttling ships for artificial reefs at a site 2.9 nautical miles east of Mudjumba Island off the Sunshine Coast these explosives were detonated and in 2 minutes and 10 seconds, the former HMAS BRISBANE was on the bottom in 28 metres of water.

    The HMAS Brisbane offers a great opportunity for you to complete your enriched air and wreck diving specialities.
    The wreck now serves as a world-class artificial reef and diving site. Sitting bolt upright the HMAS Brisbane has 15 metres of water over her forward decks and 18 metres over her stern.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Must have your own dive torch to do these dives (rentals available) 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
    EAN (nitrox) is available upon request
    Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

     TRIP DATES

    Sunday, 22 November 2020

    Friday, 27 November 2020

    Wreck course : Sunday 22 and Friday 27 November 2020

    To book online for a day or weekend dive trip click HERE

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PRICE

    Day Trip

    $250 per person – 2 dives, tanks and weights, return transport to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane

    Enriched Air Speciality– additional $245 (total $495) – course materials (manual learning), nitrox fills and the services of your dive instructor

     (2 day trip)

    $500 per person – 4 dives, tanks and weights, return transport to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane

    PADI Wreck diver speciality course @ $675 per person- includes course materials, 4 dives over 2 days, tanks and weights, the services of your dive instructor and transport to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane

    PADI Wreck diver and Enriched Air speciality courses @ $850 per person- includes course materials, 4 dives over 2 days, Nitrox fills and weights, the services of your dive instructor and transport to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    All Dive Gear
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All meals are at your 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. All hire gear must be organised prior to the trip date.

    ITINERARY

    You will be doing a maximum of 2 dives each day and these dives are usually done in the morning, allowing you to have your afternoon free. An itinerary with timings will be sent to those booked onto the trip closer to the trip date.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PADI COURSES & SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Enriched Air (Nitrox) (perfect for this trip)*
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Search and Recovery
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist
    Wreck Diver (perfect for this trip)

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

    * The Nitrox specialty is the only specialty that you can do at the same time as another qualifying dive so this is the perfect opportunity to do two specialties in one go!

    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.

    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

  • Come and explore the President Coolidge in Vanuatu!

    Come and explore the President Coolidge in Vanuatu!

    THE TRIP

    Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of 3,955.5 km2 (1,527.2 sq mi) and a population of around 40,000.It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu. The town of Luganville, on Espiritu Santo’s southeast coast, is Vanuatu’s second-largest settlement and the provincial capital.

    A Spanish expedition led by Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, established a settlement in 1606 at Big Bay on the north side of the island. Espiritu Santo takes its name from Queirós, who named the entire island group La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo believing he had arrived in the Great Southern Continent, Terra Australis.

    The main draw card to the diving tourism of the island is off course the SS President Coolidge. Considered by many divers to be the best wreck dive in the world, the SS President Coolidge was a luxury passenger liner converted to a troop carrier during WWII. While entering Santo harbor she contacted friendly mines, providing divers with a remarkable underwater playground.

    Port Hole on the SS President CoolidgeAlmost completely intact, you can swim through the numerous holds and decks viewing the reminders of her glorious days as a cruise liner and the remnants of her days as a troop ship. There are guns, cannons, jeeps, helmets, trucks and personal supplies left by some of the soldiers, as well as the beautiful porcelain statue of “The Lady,” chandeliers, engine room, the swimming pool and a mosaic tile fountain. The wreck is covered in coral and is the home to a plethora of sea life such including barracuda, lion fish, and a host of reef fish. To see the whole wreck you will need ten to fifteen divess as she’s 200 metres in length and rests in 20 to 69 metres of water!

     

    Medicine bottles, SS President Coolidge

    Come and be awed by one of the most famous wrecks in the world. Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu is home to arguably (aside from the Titanic of course) the most famous wreck in the world… the President Coolidge! This trip includes 12 dives with Aore Adventure Sports and Lodge, 6 nights accommodation at Aore Adventure Sports and Lodge, unlimited shore diving on Aore island, return airport transfers and much more!
    This is all about the Coolidge! If you have ever wanted to dive her or wanted to go back… this is THE TRIP!!

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

    Depth- 5- 69 metres

     

    TRIP DATES

    7 days/ 6 Nights Ex Brisbane

    2 to 8 January 2018- SOLD OUT!

    PRICE

    $3,000* (includes flights ex Brisbane to Santo via Air Vanuatu + 2 bags)

    * Based on current flight prices and subject to change

    $2,200—prices do not include return flights to Vanuatu. These will need to be organised by the individual.

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    6 nights in our own private beach front villa– Aore Adventure Sports and Lodge
    5 double boat dives of local reefs, Coolidge & million Dollar Point
    2 night dives on the Coolidge
    Unlimited shore diving on Aore Island
    Tanks, weights & guide services
    Morning tea and lunch provided on boat dives
    A tour of WII bunkers and the jungle on Aore
    A shopping stop on arrival into Santo
    Return airport transfers to Aore

    WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending monies

    All meals unless otherwise indictaed
    Excess Luggage surcharges

    CONDITIONS APPLY

    Prices are subject to change without notice due to fluctuations in exchange rates and 2016 operator, hotelier and airline rates.

    BOOKING REQUIREMENTS

    To secure your place on this trip; if you are arranging your own flights, you need to complete a booking form and return it together with a non refundable deposit of $500 per person. If you would prefer the flights included price please pay $700 deposit so that we can immediately secure them on your behalf. Current price including flights is based as of 21  July 2015. There may be an increase in flight price so please check with Lisa on the current price by calling her on 07 3204 5857.

     

    PADI SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Advanced Open Water
    Underwater Navigation
    Enriched Air/ Nitrox
    Deep Diver
    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Underwater Naturalist

    Self Reliant Diver

    Wreck Diver

     

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