As an instructor I have been scuba diving in Sydney since 1993 and have over 4000 logged dives. In that time, I have had some of the best dives in Sydney. In fact it would be safe to say I have enjoyed some of the best scuba diving Sydney has to offer. Sydney diving has some of the most diverse and enjoyable diving to be had. Sydney harbour is well known for being one of the most spectacular harbours in the world but many people do not get to experience what goes on underneath.
It was not until I met Sylvia Earle that I really started to appreciate diving in Sydney. Here was a dive Goddess, and well renowned marine scientist, that has dived in some of the most amazing places yet in conversation she could not wait to see the weedy sea dragon, Mister babache well known for making a regular appearance on most Sydney dives. Sylvia was in Sydney for the launch of Harbourkeepers, an incentive to get divers to help look after the harbour. She had heard about our famous Magic Point dive where, only 10kms from the middle of Sydney, you can dive with the critically endangered Grey Nurse sharks.
There's no doubt Sydney diving offers some of the most convenient, accessible and spectacular diving in a large metropolitan city. You have to be in it to see it, that's for sure. My highlights would be seeing a Thresher shark at North Head, juvenile weedy sea dragons, bronze Whalers at North Bondi, Grey Nurse sharks at their usual domain of Magic Point. Mating Port Jacksons is quite a spectacle. I've even seen Dugongs, a tropical species that occasionally ends up on this end of the EAC. The Australian salmon run at Shark Point, Clovelly, was filled with adrenaline; we were just waiting to see some sleek silver beasts hone in for a feed. I have experienced 45m visibility at Long Reef (I was doing an Advanced course and had a 50m reel so I knew it was 45m!). Sydney diving can even offer close encounters with humpback whales or discoveries of old wrecks for something a little different. I have a client that collects bottles underwater who told me that this year he had over 30m visibility under the harbour bridge!
I have also seen Sydney diving at its worst with huge seas, massive rainfall and putrid water from surge and storm water runoff. But I am pleased to say this is definitely on the improvement. I used to work for Sydney Water at North Head Sewage Treatment Plant and would see first hand the effort to treat water before it hits the ocean. Even back then (1992) management of effluent was a priority and this is evident in the water quality of the harbour and surrounding coastal waters today.
So my advice is to get out there and dive Sydney. In some parts of the world you pay good money to dive in a quarry or go muck diving only to see zero sea life, only because there's nowhere else to go. Here we have diving paradise on our doorstep so book a dive and get out and enjoy scuba diving in Sydney today.
Brad Greentree has been a working in the dive industry full time since 1995
PADI Master Instructor, with over 12 years experience in the diving industry. He is known for his incredible patience. Along with his expertise in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Hypnotherapy and Time Line Therapy® , Brad will make make sure you have a safe and enjoyable time as well as help you overcome any fears you may have of the ocean. Brad has certified 1000's of students and completed over 3500 dives and travelled extensively though out the Pacific. His passion is underwater photography and has had success in a number of underwater competitions. When he is not diving he is coaching or training people using his experience in life changing technique
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