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South Australia
As a place to dive, it can be argued that South Australia is uniquely blessed. The combination of being centred located on the world's only south facing temperate coastline, the 2 large gulfs (Spencer and St Vincent) and a large offshore island (Kangaroo Island) sheltering part of its long coastline creates a range of diverse marine environments that are home to many unique species. Additionally, there is a large number of diveable jetties and shipwrecks as well as a major cave diving region.
Full details of diving opportunities can be found at Dive South Australia. Some highlights follow. Distances expressed below in relation to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, in all cases is the shortest distance (as 'the crow flies') between Adelaide and the particular location. Actual travelling distance will generally be greater.
LEAFY SEA DRAGONS
The Leafy Sea Dragon (Phycodurus eques) is a very bizarre looking fish. On first encounter, it may be mistaken as being a piece of drifting algae. It and the Weedy Sea Dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) belong to the Family Syngnathidae which includes seahorses and pipefish. It has been adopted as the official marine emblem for South Australia (refer Website). While being frequently encountered throughout South Australian waters, the most reliable sites for sightings in South Australia include the jetties at Rapid Bay (85 km south of Adelaide), Wool Bay and Edithburgh (both 65 km west of Adelaide). More information - Dragonsearch Website.
FLEURIEU ARTIFICIAL REEF (EX HMAS HOBART)
The former HMAS Hobart, a decommissioned Adams class guided missile destroyer, was sunk in late 2002 in 30 metres of water in Yankalilla Bay (100 km south of Adelaide) to create a spectacular dive site. More info - Dive HMASHOBART.
KANGAROO ISLAND
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island with a length of 150 km and a width of 55 kilometres. It is popular destination because of its isolation and pristine nature when compared to the mainland.
As a diving destination, its north coast offers clear water, abundant marine life, reefs, walls and a number of shipwrecks. It is a popular location to view Leafy Sea Dragons, Australian Sea lions and Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Sites such as Snapper Point in Backstairs Passage have spectacular areas of soft coral, sponges and gorgonians. The jetty at Penneshaw is highly-regarded by some as a site for underwater photography. It is also a good venue for lobster (aka crayfish in SA) and abalone hunting. All diving is from boat - a number of operators provide dive charters.
Above the water, there is a wide variety of things to do. The following places are of potential interest to divers
Flinders Chase National Park which occupies a large portion of the west end of the island is home to the dramatic landforms of Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch as well as wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, echidnas and Cape Barren geese.
Penguins can be viewed at Kingscote and Penneshaw. The Kangaroo Island Marine Centre in Kingscote runs nightly tours which include its saltwater aquariums that contain animals such as seahorses, cuttlefish and reef fish.
Seal Bay Conservation Park which is Australia's third largest and most accessible colony of Australian Sea Lions.
Kangaroo Island is a 30-minute flight south of Adelaide, or less than two-and-a-half hours by car and ferry. Kangaroo Island Sealink runs ferries between Cape Jervis (90 km south of Adelaide) and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. More info: South Australia Website and Dive South Australia
MATING OF THE GIANT CUTTLEFISH
Every year, between the months of May and August, large groups of Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia apama) gather at sites near the regional city of Whyalla (235 km NW of Adelaide) to mate. More info - Website and Website.
GREAT WHITE SHARKS
Great White Sharks are frequently sighted throughout South Australia waters. A number of shark-watching charters are available to sites in southern Spencer Gulf. More info: - Calypso Charter and Rodney Fox.
Getting there
There are daily flights to Adelaide from all major cities in Australia. From there you can reach Kangaroo Island by ferry, from Glenelg to Kingscote, or from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw. There are also daily flights. There is no public transport on Kangaroo Island but you can hire a car in Adelaide and take it on the ferry, or take a bus to KI and rent a car there. Book both ferry and car well in advance during the peak season, from mid-December until late January.
CAVE DIVING AT MT GAMBIER
The Mt Gambier region in the south eastern South Australia is famous for its spectacular freshwater sinkhole and cave diving. While cave diving certification is required for most sites, entry level scuba divers can dive in Ewen's Ponds and snorkellers can dive in Piccaninnie Ponds. More info - Dive South Australia and Australian Cave Divers
GETTING THERE
There are daily flights to Adelaide from all Australian capital cities and international flights are available from some cities in Europe and Asia. Travel beyond Adelaide can be done by hire car, bus or plane. Access to Kangaroo Island is available via a ferry operating between Cape Jervis to Penneshaw or by daily flights. There is no public transport on Kangaroo Island, although a coach service runs twice daily between the towns of Kingscote, American River and Penneshaw to connect with ferry services (but bookings are necessary). You can hire a car in Adelaide and take it on the ferry, or take a bus to Kangaroo Island (via ferry) and rent a car there. Book both ferry and car well in advance during the peak season, from mid-December until late January.
WHEN TO GO
While it is possible to dive all year in South Australia due to the availability of dive sites sheltered from most wind directions and freshwater sites at Mt Gambier, most local divers usually dive from November to May when the water temperature is above 15 degrees C. Water temperature exceeds 20 degrees C from January to early April. The best months are usually January to April when the wind is mild and blows mainly from the SE-NE sectors
ACCOMMODATION
There is large range of accommodation available in Adelaide, including some of the big name hotel chains. Accommodation outside of Adelaide, particularly Kangaroo Island and other rural destinations, is not as plentiful, so if you are intending to travel independently, it is wise to book in advance.
Travel Australia
Oz Stays
Rates to Go
Oz B&B
NON DIVER AND OTHER THINGS TO DO
Voted by the Economist Intelligence Unit as one of the top 10 places in the world to live in 2002; declared by New Yorker magazine as "possibly the last well planned and contented metropolis on earth"; and acclaimed by Lonely Planet as "civilised and calm in a way that no other Australian state capital can match". Adelaide bills itself as the wine and festival capital of Australia. The combination of long white sandy beaches, a lively nightlife, galleries, cafes, pubs, antique stores, cellar doors (shops representing local vineyards where you can taste and purchase wine) and National Parks, all within Adelaide's boundaries, means there are plenty of alternatives to diving. Check out Adelaide Tourist Info for local listings and news of current events and festivals.
Whale-watching at Victor Harbor (70 km south of Adelaide) - since the 1980s, Southern Right Whales have been returning during the winter months (June to August) and can be regularly seen from the shoreline. More info - SA Whale Centre.
The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary was created in late 2005 to protect the large population of bottlenose dolphins living in the waters around and north of Port Adelaide (the 'Port'). These can be observed from charter boats and canoes. More info: Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.
Garden Island Ships' Graveyard - this is a large dumping ground north of Port Adelaide where old ships including several of heritage significance were abandoned as late as the 1930s. The 'ships graveyard' can be visited by foot or canoe. More info: Ship's Graveyard. Port Adelaide is also home to the State's Maritime Museum Maritime Museum Website.
Australian Sea-lions - while this (and other species) are frequently encountered throughout South Australian waters, Baird Bay (425 km west-north west of Adelaide) is one place which offers easy access to view Australian Sea-lions including the opportunity of swimming and snorkelling with these animals.
More info: Baird Bay.
Further information
South Australia
Australia Tourist Information - SA
Adelaide
Australia main page
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