| As an instructor I have been scuba diving in Sydney | | | | Dugongs, a tropical species that occasionally ends up |
| since 1993 and have over 4000 logged dives. In that | | | | on this end of the EAC. The Australian salmon run at |
| time, I have had some of the best dives in Sydney. | | | | Shark Point, Clovelly, was filled with adrenaline; we |
| In fact it would be safe to say I have enjoyed some | | | | were just waiting to see some sleek silver beasts |
| of the best scuba diving Sydney has to offer. | | | | hone in for a feed. I have experienced 45m visibility |
| Sydney diving has some of the most diverse and | | | | at Long Reef (I was doing an Advanced course and |
| enjoyable diving to be had. Sydney harbour is well | | | | had a 50m reel so I knew it was 45m!). Sydney |
| known for being one of the most spectacular | | | | diving can even offer close encounters with |
| harbours in the world but many people do not get to | | | | humpback whales or discoveries of old wrecks for |
| experience what goes on underneath. | | | | something a little different. I have a client that |
| It was not until I met Sylvia Earle that I really started | | | | collects bottles underwater who told me that this |
| to appreciate diving in Sydney. Here was a dive | | | | year he had over 30m visibility under the harbour |
| Goddess, and well renowned marine scientist, that | | | | bridge! |
| has dived in some of the most amazing places yet in | | | | I have also seen Sydney diving at its worst with |
| conversation she could not wait to see the weedy | | | | huge seas, massive rainfall and putrid water from |
| sea dragon, well known for making a regular | | | | surge and storm water runoff. But I am pleased to |
| appearance on most Sydney dives. Sylvia was in | | | | say this is definitely on the improvement. I used to |
| Sydney for the launch of Harbourkeepers, an | | | | work for Sydney Water at North Head Sewage |
| incentive to get divers to help look after the harbour. | | | | Treatment Plant and would see first hand the effort |
| She had heard about our famous Magic Point dive | | | | to treat water before it hits the ocean. Even back |
| where, only 10kms from the middle of Sydney, you | | | | then (1992) management of effluent was a priority |
| can dive with the critically endangered Grey Nurse | | | | and this is evident in the water quality of the harbour |
| sharks. | | | | and surrounding coastal waters today. |
| There's no doubt Sydney diving offers some of the | | | | So my advice is to get out there and dive Sydney. In |
| most convenient, accessible and spectacular diving in | | | | some parts of the world you pay good money to |
| a large metropolitan city. You have to be in it to see | | | | dive in a quarry or go muck diving only to see zero |
| it, that's for sure. My highlights would be seeing a | | | | sea life, only because there's nowhere else to go. |
| Thresher shark at North Head, juvenile weedy sea | | | | Here we have diving paradise on our doorstep so |
| dragons, bronze Whalers at North Bondi, Grey Nurse | | | | book a dive and get out and enjoy scuba diving in |
| sharks at their usual domain of Magic Point. Mating | | | | Sydney today. |
| Port Jacksons is quite a spectacle. I've even seen | | | | |