Tag: seal diving

  • Dive with Fur Seals at Narooma this Easter!

    Dive with Fur Seals at Narooma this Easter!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THE TRIP

    Located in Narooma on the South Coast of New South Wales, Montague Island provides a home for over 1000 Fur Seals; the playful puppies of the ocean.

    Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals are at home on Montague Island. After being hunted for their furs during the 18th and 19th centuries, thankfully these charismatic and lovely sea mammals are now protected in Australia and their numbers are increasing. Fur Seals have large eyes, a pointed face with whiskers and sharp teeth. Both Australian and New Zealand fur seals have two layers of fur.

    Seals are on the island all year round, so you will be guaranteed of seeing them. As your boat approaches the island, look out for the seals at the northern end of the island as they haul out and cool down in the water and frolic and fish. It may look as if they are waving a friendly flipper in the air as they cool down by rolling on their side on the surface of the water.

    On your dive trip you will board Dallas, a PADI authorised dive vessel, where you can explore dive spots that will see you dive with these Seals, you also have the prospect of viewing Stringrays and Grey Nurse Sharks (November to April). There is also the prospect of diving on the SS Lady Darling wreck.  You will be amazed at how clear the water is at Montague Island with 20- 30 metre visibility most of the time. Whilst diving you will have the opportunity to view the playful Fur Seals romp with millions of fish. You may also see graceful gliding Stingrays and Bullrays as well as Blue Gropers, Wobbegongs and Port Jacksons just to name a few. Great diving for all!

     

     

     

     

     

    DIVE INFORMATION

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

     TRIP DATES

    Thursday, 29 March – Monday, 2 April 2018 (Easter Monday)

    PRICE

    With Flights ex Brisbane- $1650

    Without Flights- $1175

    To book online please click HERE

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    WHAT’S INCLUDED

    6 dives
    4 Nights accommodation
    Van transport from Sydney airport to Narooma
    Van transfers around Narooma
    Tanks and Weights
    Flights (if you choose this option)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     WHAT’S EXCLUDED

    All Dive Gear
    Travel Insurance
    Personal spending money
    All meals are at your leisure
    Flights to Sydney + allowance for 2 checked in bags (if you have chosen the without flights package)

    GEAR HIRE

    PDS is able to with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the trip, however you will need to arrange to collect the gear from us and make allowances in your luggage for this gear. There is also the option of hiring gear directly from the operator, which is advised.

    ITINERARY

    Thursday, 29 March
    For those who have chosen the ‘with flights’ option, you will be flying QF517 from Brisbane to Sydney, departing Brisbane at 10:05am and arriving in Sydney at 12:40 pm. For those who are booking their own flights, we will meet you at Sydney airport at 12:45 pm. From here we will travel together as a group down to Narooma on the South Coast of NSW. No diving today, but we will get ourselves settled into our accomoodation; get a good nights rest and then ready for a morning of diving with fur seals!

    Friday, 30 March- Sunday, 1 April 
    2 dives per day and all meals at leisure.

    Monday, 2 April
    We will check-out of our accommodation and travel in our van back to Sydney airport. For those who have chosen the ‘with flights’ package, we will be travelling on QF536 to Brisbane departing at 16:00 (4pm) and arriving in Brisbane at 17:30 (5:30pm). For those booking their own flights, please do not book your flights any earlier than 4pm.

     

    SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

    Digital Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Photographer
    Underwater Videographer
    Peak Performance Buoyancy
    Dry Suit Diver
    Shark Awareness
    Underwater Naturalist

    HOW TO BOOK

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

    OR

    To book online please click HERE

  • 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].