Melbourne in Jan, where and with whom?

Hi,

We're planning on a few days in Melbourne for Aus Open (late Jan), and I figure we'll be able

to get 2-3 of days diving. I have looked at the past posts, and it seems there should be

some good photo-friendly sites..

Any kind Victorians with advise ? Particularly:

(a) Which dive op should we use (for couple of days diving, I'm only carrying the photo stuff,

and will rent gear);

(b) Which dive sites are must do (Flinders Pier? others ?)

© What's the water temp and Viz like in Jan ?

Any other advise ?

Thanks!

ajay

For boat stuff there's not a great diversity of operators around here, especially if you want to hire gear. Dive Victoria has close to a monopoly, with waterside shops on both sides of the bay in Portsea and Queenscliff. They have a lot of boats and hire gear.

Must do dive sites depend on if you're wide angle or macro a bit, and on the weather. Weedy seadragons are guaranteed at Flinders Pier (other side of the Peninsula from Portsea). For stunning reef dropoff most bits of the walls between the Heads is fantastic following a flood tide - lots of colour. There's also the J class submarines, the newly sunk wreck of the Canberra and the deeper (45m - 85m) wrecks out in the Ship's Graveyard.

Water temp will be about 18-20 degrees C, vis could be up to 20m, could be less than 2m...Melbourne weather is notoriously changeable.

My shots from diving in Melbourne on Saturday (26m submarine, the wall, the seal colony) are up here: http://photographyunderpressure.com/galler...rt-phillip-bay/

On the Portsea side of the bay Rye, Blairgowrie and Portsea Piers are all worth doing. On the Queenscliff side of the bay St Leonards Pier and Cottage Reef are good.

Some info on Queenscliff side shore dives here http://users.ncable.net.au/~anewton/bellarinedivesites.html

Thanks for the info Liz, Panda. Between your two linked sites, there's enough

data for us to plan for the perhaps two days we'll get to dive.

I was afraid the water would be colder, at 18-20deg, do you think we could

survive with 3mil suits (plus hooded shorty) ? Or do people mostly use 5mil?

Best,

Ajay.

I wear a drysuit all year round...

Dive Vic will hire two piece 7mm wetsuits, which are pretty standard here. Late Jan and early Feb is our warmest time of year, and land temperatures may get up to 40 degrees (as you would know from watching the Open). Personally I would be very cold in a 3mm, and probably slightly cold in a 5mm, but you may be hardier than me...there's a reason I went dry!

I wear a drysuit all year round...

 

Dive Vic will hire two piece 7mm wetsuits, which are pretty standard here. Late Jan and early Feb is our warmest time of year, and land temperatures may get up to 40 degrees (as you would know from watching the Open). Personally I would be very cold in a 3mm, and probably slightly cold in a 5mm, but you may be hardier than me...there's a reason I went dry!

oh.. that'd explain the "brr" part of your name. When it comes to cold water, I am hardier than none. It was 22deg in S Africa,

and I needed 5mm plus hood; so it'll have to be 7mm.

If you have the time, I would suggest you take a drive to Adelaide and hit the seadragons and squid areas. And extra warmth is always a good idea. For an hour+ shore dive, I had to go to dry suit @ 17°. I thought I could handle it with a 7mm semi-dry... I thought wrong! If you want seals, go to Kangaroo Island.

Oh and for Rod Laver Arena, choose your seats for the day session carefully. Afternoon soon means sunny side up when it gets hot! But since Melbourne is known for 4 seasons in a day, bring a jacket just in case. Sunblock and hat are highly recommended!

If you have the time, I would suggest you take a drive to Adelaide ...

 

Oh and for Rod Laver Arena, choose your seats for the day session carefully...

Hi Drew,

Adelaide is a great idea, except I would need to have 4-5 extra days to do it.

Perhaps next trip.

Great tip about seating in Rod Laver! By the way, I am assuming taking the day pass for

Rod Laver automatically works also as a ground pass, right ? It'd be great to catch some

action on the outside courts.

By the way, may I ask a tangential question, since I know you are familiar: is there a

decent liveaboard that covers both, Raja Ampat and Caderwasih in the same trip in

Jan or in July-Aug? Any recommendations?

thanks,

ajay.