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New South Wales
SYDNEY, NSW
Despite being a city with millions of inhabitants Sydney's waters are surprisingly rich in marine life. The dive sites are quite close to the city, this is great for any non divers about since, as you can imagine, there is quite a bit to see and do in Sydney. From waking up to arriving at a great dive site should not take you longer than an hour since most beaches, coves and bays in the heart of the city offer easy access to great dive and snorkel sites. There are rocky reefs and kelp beds teeming with life, such as Port Jackson sharks, Eastern Blue Gropers, Giant Cuttlefish, Weedy Seadragons and Moray Eels.
Some dive charters ( e.g. Eve ) pick up from Rose Bay Wharf which is about a 10 minute taxi ride from the CBD (Central Business District) , some trips pick up at Balmain ( which is about 20 minutes away ) and others at Long Reef (about 30 minutes drive ). Most Sydney diving trips take place in the mornings before the wind picks; trips to the deep wrecks tend to depart between 7am and 8am and will be back about 2 hours later; Frog dive, runs dives at 8am 10am and Noon. Given the close proximity of the dive sites to the City, going diving and you'll likely be back by lunchtime.
For those that have decompression procedures training there is some great wreck diving; there are a lot of wrecks in Sydney though they tend to be at 46m+ in depth. Michael McFadyen has produced an excellent website with details of most of the Sydney Wrecks Sydney Wrecks
Boat dives provide access to deeper or more challenging dive spots where you can explore beautiful sponge gardens and many different wrecks.
The Sydney North Shore has plenty on offer for divers. There are boat dives, shore dives, deep dives, shallow dives and great spots to do night dives. Depths vary from 5 metres to 40 and deeper. The Valiant, Duckenfield and Dee Why are only three of the numerous shipwrecks you can explore.
For the beginner there are plenty of small coves, such as Fairlight and Shelly Beach, that offer calm shallow water with plenty to see and easy entry and exit points.
For a dive with a difference try diving Manly Oceanarium where you can experience Grey Nurse Sharks and large Rays up close.
SOUTH WEST ROCKS, NSW
South West Rocks is where the Macleay River's journey ends as it meets the sea. This beautiful area has clear aquamarine waters; tiny coves; a peaceful bay and is surrounded by lush green forest, fringed by light-coloured sands.
There is plenty of fish life to be found at Fish Rock and the dive sites in the area, including Queensland Groupers, Batfish, Wobbegong sharks, Bullseyes and Lionfish. In good conditions the wreck of the Agnes Irving can be dived. The highlight however, must be Fish Rock Cave. This is an adventurous dive through a more than 100 metre long tunnel teeming with life such as crayfish, more wobbegongs, sponges and Gorgonian fans.
There are a number of wrecks at Long Reef in the 45-52m range and these were intentionally scuttled to create an artificial reef; there are other "genuine" wrecks such as the Annie Miller, Tuggarah and Undola. The wrecks are covered in fish life, on visiting the Annie Miller recently, it looked less like a wreck, more like a mass of fish which had arranged themselves into the shape of a boat.
For those not qualified to >40m depths there are few intact wrecks, though there is one which can really be recommended if the opportunity arises; The wreck of the Currajong lies in 27m of water inside Sydney Harbour. It is fully intact and is about 70m long. It has one drawback to visiting it though since it is situated right under the path of the Manly Ferry; there is a dive boat charter which visits it on the last Friday night of the month, departing from Rose Bay at 00:30 on Saturday morning (excellent for those arriving in from UK still with body clocks screwed up :)) ; phone 0412 407641 and speak to "Yves". He also regularly runs trips on Fridays-Sundays and can be booked, I believe, at other times. As long as he has 2 passengers the trips will operate. He charges $40 per dive (Approx £16)
Other operators in the area are Frog Dive Website who use a very fast rib type boat; the time from shore to dive site is normally around 6 minutes.
For those interested in very deep diving try Website, since they will go to the 60-80m wrecks as well as the 40-50m locations.
Visibility seems to be quite variable; 'The Currajong', due to its location has only a 2m visibility typically, at Long Reef it can be anything up to 33m visibility on a good day when visiting the wrecks.
For shallower diving, try the "The Apartments"; it is at long reef and is around the 10-20m in depth and again has a swarm of fish life including blue gropers and, recently, spotted some Grey Nurse Sharks.
COFFS HARBOUR, NSW
From Coffs Harbour, South Solitary, South West Solitary and Split Solitary, all part of the Solitary Islands Marine Park, can be easily reached. A high variety of marine life can be found around the islands. Here you'll find tropical species live amongst temperate ones.
At the islands you can find turtles, Blue Groupers, cuttle fish, cowries, black coral and table corals and anemone fish. Also the Grey Nurse Sharks do visit this area. These sharks and their important habitats are protected by the Park's comprehensive zoning plan.
Sydney Fact File
Getting there
All major airlines and tour operators service Sydney, so you are spoilt for choice about how to reach it. Packages will offer the best value as they often include accommodation at bargain prices, if your intention is to stay in Sydney. From Perth it's a 4 hour flight or a 3 and a 1/2 day train journey, if you are travelling from almost any other major city in Australia expect to catch a plane unless you have plenty of time on your hands.
Getting Around
Sydney has a good network of buses, trains and ferries, which are easy to navigate. The trains bring commuters from all the outlying suburbs and function in much the same way as the UK with travel passes and cheap saver deals. For something different, try one of the many ferries that criss-cross the harbour and provide a great view of the city.
When to Go
Summer (Dec-Feb) in the city can be unbearable with temperatures regularly topping 30°C. Conversely winters, although not comparable to temperatures in England, mean you need a few layers and an umbrella, so somewhere in between is the optimum time, when it is pleasantly warm.
Summer water temperatures are around 23°C on the surface dropping to about 21°C at 48m. In the winter this can drop to around 16°C.
Accommodation in Sydney & its environs
There is a wide range on offer depending on your budget. Downtown hotels cost the proverbial arm and leg but you don't have to go too far out to find something more affordable and with such great bus, train and ferry links it isn't too much of a hardship to base yourself out of the city centre.
For cheaper but still in town, try areas such as Kings Cross or Bondi, both well known as travellers enclaves or a little further a field but still on the beach, Manly is picturesque and you can dive from the beach there.
Booking on-line you can find some great deals but check out the area you are going to, there are some places that you'd be wise to stay clear of. If money is no object then The Rocks is the place to be, with stunning views of the harbour and the Opera House and a short walking distance to the trendy restaurants and bars around the harbour area.
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Non Divers and other things to do
Sydney is the party town of Australia, great nightlife but also culturally the most progressive with more museums and galleries than you'll have time to visit. The Darling Harbour area had a massive revamp before the Olympics hit town, and with its water side cafes and museums, it's a great place to base yourself for a day of sightseeing. The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are two 'must-see' locations, and if your feeling brave, you can take a guided climb of the bridge but expect to pay a steep price for the 'pleasure'!
The Olympic village can be reached easily by train, most of the facilities are open for pubic use, there's a driving range, aqua centre or you can take a tour of the stadium. At weekends there are often events such as Aussie Rules Football and Rugby games and outside in the grounds, craft and food stalls.
There's great shopping in the city centre, with arcades and department stores throughout the central area, you can be forgiven for thinking you are back in the UK when you enter some of the older buildings such as the Queen Victoria Arcade on George Street. For more ideas on things to do in Sydney have a look at: Sydney Website
If you want to get out of the city head either north or south to find beautiful beaches with great surfing and swimming. Lots of beaches have tidepools which fill with the waves but protect swimmers from the lurking 'nasties'. For real Australian beach culture head to Bondi where the Lifeguards patrol through bikini-clad babes - just like the telly! Beware of Jellyfish season around Christmas, signs are posted warning of dangers, and pay attention to information on rips and currents. Finally if you hear a siren wailing and the water clears around you, then a shark has been spotted, you may want to think twice about charging after it for a better look, in Australia they grow them BIG!
Inland, are the two tourist hot spots of the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley Wine region. If you are feeling decadent, take a sea plane from Rose Bay in the city, for a tour for the wine region followed by lunch on the river. Or if your budget won't stretch to that, how about a drive into the blue mountains and tea at one of the many quaint tea houses around the area. Local coach companies and hotels can organise day trips to both destinations if you don't have your own car.
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