Fleurieu Reef offers divers some of the most spectacular sites the Pacific has to offer. Not far off the Australian shore, these sites feature more than just amazing topography. They're also home to some of the most beautiful species of marine life anywhere. Let’s take a quick trip to just a few of these sites – no matter who you are, you’ll find something here that grabs your attention.
The HMAS Hobart
Not far from Rapid Bay, thirty meters below the surface of the ocean, lies the HMAS Hobart. This vessel was part of the Australian Navy's fleet in the sixties. Originally built in the United States, the ship completed three Vietnamese tours of duty in 1968. Tragically, two of her crewmen died when she accidentally encountered friendly fire. But, don’t worry about diving an underwater tomb, as the rest of Hobart’s days were relatively serene. In 2002, Ex-HMAS Hobart was added as an artificial reef, where she serves her final mission. Today, she is lying in thirty meters of water, with her decks, guns, and bridge accessible at 15 and 22 meters, and her stacks in an easy five to seven meters. Penetration is possible, if you are qualified.
The Rapid Bay Jetty
If you launch out from the boat ramp at Sunset Cove, you'll get access to what many divers call the best jetty in Australia. One of the many reasons for this distinction is the fact that this is one of the easiest places to spot a leafy sea dragon, which are rarer than the more common weedy sea dragons. This attractive species happens to be the “official marine emblem” of the state of South Australia. Every two years, that state even holds a festival to honor it, along with other aspects of the culture of the region. This is a very easy dive for all, with a maximum depth of only 10 meters, and plenty of fish and invertebrates all along the jetty – a great site for photography!
The Blowhole
“The Blowhole,” which is also referred to as Blowhole Creek, is a little harder to get to than some of the other sites here, but it’s well worth it. You'll need to take a four wheel drive vehicle to the Deep Creek Conservation Park, which is located about eighty kilometers south of Adelaide. Once you get to the parking lot, keep driving down a very steep hill. When you get to the end of that dirt road, a walking path will lead you to the beach. Because of the strong currents and irregular wave patterns, this dive isn't for beginners, and it is best to employ a local guide for a fun and safe dive. There are plenty of seals and sea dragons to see here! Maximum depth here is about ten meters, and it is best to dive during slack tide.
The Aldinga Drop Off
To get to the Aldinga drop off, you'll need to take a boat. You can either launch it from the southern end of Aldinga beach or from O'Sullivan's beach ramp; or, to make things easier on yourself, you can hire a charter. Aldinga Drop Off features a wall, which is well coated in soft coral and sponges, where there is a veritable maze of swimthroughs and of caverns to explore. Dive operators normally do not visit this site during the snapper runs, as things can be a little wild - one of the snapper's predators is the white pointer shark, and these sharks often follow the snappers here. Maximum depth is 21 meters, and visibility is good. There is a bit of a current, so this is not a site for new divers.
Whale Bones
If exploring caverns and passages interest you, then you’re sure to find Whale Bones appealing. It gets its name from the fact that whalers used to dump their carcasses here. While that is no longer true, (thankfully) there are plenty of undercuts and caves to captivate your imagination. You’ll find Whale Bones in Victor Harbor's Encounter Bay, and maximum depth is only 8 meters. This site is a great place to work up to deeper cave dives!
Fleurieu Reef, with its exotic species, caverns to explore, and even a sunken ship, has virtually everything you probably imagined you would see when you first dreamed of becoming a diver, f and Adelaide’s dive operators will be happy to help you plan what may very well be the trip of a lifetime.