|
|
|
Julian Rocks,Byron Bay (by Helen Buteux)
The Rocks has a number of dive areas depending on current etc. The max depth is 24m and there's a swim through called the Cod Hole that often has a 3m bull ray lurking in it and big schools of surgeon and jewfish and black kingfish. Other excellent areas are Hugos Trench, a sandy area with walls where there's usually 3-6 wobbegong sharks hanging out, eagle rays, plenty of gropers and tropicals such as stripeys. The area here has some very narrow crack swim throughs and over hang caves/ledges which we only take seasoned divers through and to for fear of novices getting stuck! At the entrance here is the spot to see turtles and leopard sharks. We see them nearly every dive at this time of year and they interact at about 2 metres away from divers quite happily.
There's also areas called the Needles and Nursery where you'll see plenty of smaller fish. Other than julian Rocks there's a snorkel site on a wreck called the Tassie II, about 10 metres off the beach and you can see the mast/leftovers sticking out of the water at low tide. When there's not too much surge its a good site and goes to about 9 metres. Sometimes its shore and night dived by the locals but not by charter companies. The dive centre I always use is Byron Bay Dive Centre, 9 Marvel Street - tel 02 66 858333 or email them at byronbaydive@Yahoo.com. They operate 3 boats up to 4 times a day and have an amazing facility including pool for student training. They have always been professional and fun and their Dive Masters and instructors come from all over the world. Its always a great experience and I have never failed to be overwhelmed by the amount of marine life we encounter every dive. I can recommend both Byron Bay and this diving to everyone. And on the way further down south check out the cave dive at South West Rocks and the Solitary Islands, two more superb dive spots often overlooked by visiting divers.
|
||
|
|
|
|
After
the tropical delights of the Great Barrier Reef, many divers do not dive
again on their way down the east coast to Sydney. This is a mistake! Byron
Bay has a famous laid-back lifestyle, beautiful white sand beaches
and lush sub-troipcal hinterland. But it also has excellent diving. IN
my opinion above and beyond that on offer from Cairns. At Julian Rocks
Marine Reserve, just a five minute boat ride launched off the beach,
tropical warmer waters mix with cooler nutrient-rich waters. These conditions
result in over 400 species of fish and resident loggerhead turtles,
wobbegong sharks and friendly Blue Gropers, which all seen
on almost every dive. Plus huge schools of snapper and many species
of rays including manta, eagle, bull and blue-spotted
rays. Seasonal visitors I have seen include grey nurse sharks
and leopard sharks (many!)