Any tips on where to dive on the Sunshine Coast - Australia

Going to be visiting wife's family for a few weeks in Feb. for our yearly trip.

Will be spending a week based in Mooloolaba, then a few days in Byron (dive Julian Rocks), and then Sydney area (HMAS Adelaide).

Plan on taking my new Canon 7D , Aquatica, with Tokina wide angle (ambient light) to practice.

Will probably do a few photo dives on the HMAS Brisbane. Any recommendations on dive operators?

Any other recommendations on other dives spots on the Sunshine coast.

Any info or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Andy

Welcome to my region! I'm based 8 mins from Mooloolaba in Buderim and have done many dives on the HMAS Brisbane. The people I dive with are Scubaworld - http://scubaworld.com.au/ ask for Rob or Mike, and mention my name (if you dare). Very competent - nice launch and good dive leaders. The conditions on the wreck are variable, we had 12m over the New Year which is considered pretty good. It's a great wreck though and depending on weather etc there is lots to photograph. Frankly I haven't found any totally awesome diving on the Sunshine Coast yet (I am a bit spoiled on Asia and further afield), although further south Julian Rocks is meant to be a very good dive - raggies there if you are lucky. I see you have that on your itinerary. Other locations Wolf Rock, South West Rocks, Seal Rock, they are spread up and down the coast - also into New South Wales - like Byron.

The other dive shop in Mooloolaba is Sunreef http://www.sunreef.com.au/ and although I haven't dived with them I was in their shop recently and chatted a while. The seem like a good bunch too. They seem to organise dives further south too although there are good shops in Byron as well.

A good resource is http://underwater.com.au/dive_shops/location/sunshine_coast.

Let me know your dates and I'll dive with you - I've not got round to diving Julian Rocks yet!

When you get to Byron Bay to dive Julian Rocks I'd recommend going with Sundive:

http://www.sundive.com.au/

What Gudge said - the guys at Sundive just make it easy and are very photo friendly.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Very appreciated.

Nick, once I get our itinerary firmed up I will let you know. It would be great to have someone to dive with if you are available.

Thanks

Andy

Hey Andy, I guess the Sunshine Coast diving didn't really come off with all the muddy pouroff into the sea after a really wet February. Did you manage to get into the water at all?

lol... i have been here for three months now and i have yet to get into the water.... hoping that with some dryer water things will improve.

Nick do you know of any kid freindly dive resorts/shops that might help look after kids while i am away diving?

Heya Alastair /Andy (?) sorry for lateness of response, but I have literally just arrived home after nearly a month away - three weeks diving at Misool Eco Resort + travel - and not really had the opportunity to log on. In any event I'd not be much use for babysitters, although I'd try the hotels in the area first (like the Novotel Twin Waters etc)

More on my (amazing) trip later in separate posts once I've had time to sort the video out a bit ...