Resort Diving

Updated January 12, 2023

This is the one hundred and fifty-first in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Brisbane, Australia.  In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Brisbane before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving Brisbane Australia

Background

With a population of 2.5 million (3.4 million in the metropolitan area), Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third-largest city.  It is situated on the flood plain of the Brisbane River to the east of the Great Dividing Range and 15 kilometers (9.375 miles) from the river’s mouth at Moreton Bay.

Human inhabitation of the area goes back 22,000 years. When the first western exploration saw Matthew Flinders arrive in Moreton Bay in 1799 there were 6,000-10,000 indigenous people already living in the area.  The major western settlement started in 1824 when New South Wales Governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, established a penal colony.  From that inauspicious start, Brisbane has become a rapidly developing new-age city.

With an already strong diverse economy, the government is pushing an emphasis on biotech and research and international exposure which has included hosting the 1982 Commonwealth Games, the 1988 World Expo, the 2001 Goodwill Games, and the 2014 G-20 Summit.

The strong international flavor is further evidenced by 32% of citizens being born overseas and 51% having at least one parent born overseas.

For further historical and demographic information please go to Wikipedia-Brisbane.

Undersea World

The Brisbane scuba diving takes place in Moreton Bay, around the islands including the big ones, North Stradbroke and Moreton, and beyond, up to 2-3 hours boat ride away.

Covering such a broad area there is a great variety of undersea topography with fringing coral reefs, shoals, boulders, caves, walls, swim-throughs, cracks, and crevices that provide rich habitat for marine life.  The sub-tropical climate has encouraged a rich reef system of hard and soft corals, big sea fans and gorgonians, sponges, sea whips, and a variety of other encrusting invertebrates.

Currents bring with them nutrients to satisfy pelagics like tuna, mackerel, kingfish, and barracuda and the seasonal visitors, eagle rays, manta rays, and leopard sharks in summer, and grey nurse sharks and humpback whales in winter.

Other reef highlights include turtles, wobbegongs, shovelnose sharks, bull rays, stingrays, Queensland, and giant groupers, octopus, nudibranchs, crayfish, mantis shrimps, scorpionfish, and a vast array of other reef tropicals and macro critters.

In addition, there are numerous wrecks including the HMAS Brisbane and the Tangalooma wrecks which are suitable for freedivers and snorkelers.

Seasons and Conditions

Diving is possible all year in Brisbane.

• Air temperature average daily highs reach 30°C (86°F) in January and February and dip to 22°C (72°F) in June and July.
• Brisbane has a dry season when it rains 4 days a month or less from July through September.  The rainy season is from December through March when it rains 8-9 days a month.
• The water temperature reaches highs of 26-28°C (79-82°F) in February with lows in August of 20-23°C (68-73°F).  During the warmest times, a 3mm wetsuit is probably the most protection needed.  When the water is at its coolest, many will use a 5-7mm wetsuit.
• Currents are often mild but moderate to strong drift is possible on some sites.
• Visibility ranges from 15-25 meters (50-82 feet).
• There are sites suitable for all levels of divers from beginner to advanced levels.  A number of dive shops are in operation that can provide a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding, and boat cruises.

For information about cold water gear, please check out my review:

• Best Cold Water Scuba Diving Equipment

Australian Liveaboard Diving

There are no major liveaboard yachts cruising Brisbane but there are some going to other areas in Australia including the Great Barrier Reef, Rowley Shoals, Neptune Island, and Ningaloo Reef.  Here are my reviews on Australian diving and some of the liveaboard yachts diving Australian sites:

• Townsville Australia Diving
• Scuba Diving the Whitsundays Australia
• Scuba Diving Port Douglas Australia
• Scuba Diving Cairns Australia
• Scuba Diving Adelaide South Australia
• Gold Coast Scuba Diving Australia
• Scuba Diving in Melbourne Australia
• Best Scuba Diving Sydney Australia
• Best Scuba Diving Perth Australia
• Scuba Diving Tasmania
• Scuba Diving Western Australia Ningaloo Reef Liveaboard
• Best Diving Australia Liveaboards

MV Scubapro I, Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard – Check the Price

MV Odyssey, Rowley Shoals Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

Princess II, Neptune Island Shark Cage Diving Liveaboard – Check the Price

Shore Thing, Ningaloo Reef Liveaboard – Check the Price

 

Selected Brisbane Diving Sites

HMAS Brisbane Wreck: 15-27 meters (50-90 feet), 133-meter (436-foot) missile destroyer scuttled to become an artificial reef  off Moreton Island in 2005,  prepared before sinking with many access holes cut in the hull, sitting upright largely intact with many great penetration opportunities, rich marine life with lots of soft corals and some hard corals getting established, frogfish, blennies, nudibranchs, sea hares, squid, schools of snappers and red emperors, resident schools of kingfish, bull, eagle, and shovelnose rays, greasy cod, Queensland groupers, and turtles, suitable for experienced level divers, check out the video below

Flinders Reef: 3-28 meters (6-92 feet), north of Moreton Island, diverse reef of 175 species of fish and 112 species of hard and soft coral, terrain includes pinnacles, swim-throughs, caverns, and a sunken trawler, highlights are a turtle cleaning station in 5 meters (16 feet) of water, stingrays and wobbegongs, eagle rays and nurse sharks in summer, grey nurse sharks and humpback whales in winter, and the occasional manta ray, strong current is possible, suitable for all levels of diver, check out the top video

Cementco Wreck: 25-35 meters (82-115 feet), near Flinders Reef, originally an Australian Army support ship, the Crusader, it later became the Cementco used as a self-propelled coral barge, scuttled in 1986 to become an artificial reef, resting upside down, encrusted in corals, marine life includes rays, groupers, crayfish, and large schools of fish, penetration is appropriate for divers with wreck training due to massive machinery hanging inside, suitable for experienced level divers

Cherub’s Cave: 15-30 meters (50-100 feet), about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) off the east side of Moreton Island, pinnacle to 15 meters (50 feet) with a cave inside that is a 15-meter square, smaller caves, boulders, and small gullies surround it, some kelp, lots of macro critters, big schools of fish, wobbegongs, turtles, and grey nurse sharks in season, current is possible, suitable for experienced level divers

Manta Ray Bommie: 5-16 meters (16-52 feet), north of North Stradbroke Island, in the summer manta rays linger in great numbers, other highlights are numerous reef tropicals, and macro critters like mantis shrimp, nudibranchs, octopus, scorpionfish, giant clams, crayfish, and moray eels, also shovelnose and leopard sharks, stingrays, bull rays, and loggerhead turtles, suitable for all levels of diver, check out the video above

Flat Rock – Shark Alley: 35 meters (115 feet) maximum depth, north of Stradbroke Island, highlights are schools of rays, wobbegongs, and pelagics, on the eastern edge look for grey nurse sharks in winter, suitable for experienced level divers

Shag Rock: 5-20 meters (16-68 feet), off North Stradbroke Island, highlights include excellent macro life and wobbegongs, shovelnose sharks, catsharks, leopard sharks, turtles, and a possibility of manta rays, suitable for all levels of diver

Things to Do in Brisbane (aside from scuba diving)

As the Capital of Queensland, Brisbane is the regional center of culture with a rich history and natural beauty.  Here are some of the sights and activities to consider:  Story Bridge Climb, The Cube Exhibitions, Triffid (music & beer), City Hopper River Cruise, Gallery of Modern art, James Street (fashion hub), Mount Coot-tha Lookout, Yatala Drive-in, South Bank, New Farm Park, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Powerhouse Farmer’s Markets, Ceder Creek Trail, Golden Pig Cooking Class, La Trobe Terrace Shopping, Eat Street Markets, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Jazz Club, Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, City Botanic Gardens.

This video is a nice introduction and overview of what Brisbane has to offer.

Brisbane Transportation, Hotels, & Diving Services

Transportation

Air – Located 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of the city center at Eagle Farm is Brisbane Airport (BNE).  It has direct international service to most Asian centers, the US, Canada, the Middle East, and New Zealand from the international terminal.  The domestic terminal links to other Australian cities.  To get into the city there are many options including Airtrain, Coach Trans, public buses, limo transfer, and taxis.

Around Town

• Public Transport – Ferries, buses, and trains with a common ticketing system called Translink can conveniently move you to most locations.
• Car rental is available from many top agencies at the airport and around town.  Parking is at a premium downtown.
• Motorcycles/motorbikes/scooters are available with some companies delivering the vehicle to you.  They are a convenient option, especially where parking is at a premium.
• Green Cabs are a sort of rickshaw type of vehicle available on weekends for transit and tours.

For the intricate details related to transportation options and other tourist information, go to Wikitravel-Brisbane.

Hotels and Diving

In Brisbane, there are at least 400 lodging options starting from as low as $10 per night and a number of dive shops in operation.  They offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  The website linked below has the details and can arrange a booking for the lodging.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site.  The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Brisbane Lodging

Photography in Brisbane

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, rays, sharks, whales, wrecks, and intriguing onshore targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Brisbane scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Updated March 9, 2022

This is the twenty-second in a series of reviews of the best scuba diving destinations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Barbados.

In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard dive locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards / Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Barbados?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving Barbados

Background

Situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea, and part of the Lesser Antilles is the 782-square km (294-square mile) coral island of Barbados.  This English-speaking member of the British Commonwealth is a leading tourist destination and home to a well-educated and prosperous population of 285,000.  Originally relying on sugar cane, today’s economy also includes light manufacturing and the aforementioned tourism.

For more demographic, geographical, and cultural information on Barbados, click here: Barbados (Wikipedia)

Undersea World

While not known for a large number of pelagics, Barbados, with its fringing and patch reefs, is recognized for its rich corals, invertebrates, diverse sea life, and a number of interesting and accessible wrecks.

The east coast usually has rough surface conditions and not as much diving is done there in comparison to the primary dive sites on the west and southwest reefs.

Green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles all nest on Barbados and are often seen on dives.

Over 40 mooring buoys are in place to eliminate anchor damage.

Other highlighted wildlife includes frogfish, flying gurnards, seahorses for the macro aficionado, and wider angle attractions like barracuda, stingrays, nurse sharks, batfish, groupers, Bermuda chub, reef squid, very large sea fans, and tube and barrel sponges.  Otherwise, there are lots of reef fish including angelfish, butterflyfish, squirrelfish, soldierfish, parrotfish, and many others.

Seasons and Conditions

It is always warm in Barbados with air temperature in a range from 23-29°C (75-85°F) and water temperature from 26-29°C (79-84°F) year-round.  A breeze of 12-16 kph (7-10 mph) keeps it comfortable.  Visibility is also quite good at 12-21 meters (40-70 feet).

Caribbean Liveaboard Diving

Barbados is not an area renowned for liveaboard diving, but there are many cruises in other areas around the Caribbean.  Click here for details and pricing on a Caribbean liveaboard:

•   Caribbean Liveaboard Holiday

For reviews of diving in eastern Florida and other Caribbean locations, both land-based and liveaboard, please click on these posts:

• Scuba Diving in Islamorada Florida
• Scuba Diving on Key West Florida
• Best Scuba Diving Key Largo Florida
• Scuba Diving West Palm Beach Florida
• Ft. Lauderdale Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving St. Barts
• Scuba Diving St. Eustatius
• Scuba Diving in Saba
• Scuba Diving St Kitts and Nevis
• Best Scuba Diving St. Martin
• Scuba Diving Ambergris Caye Belize
• Best Guadeloupe Scuba Diving
• Anguilla Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving in Antigua and Barbuda
• Best Scuba Diving Jamaica
• Scuba Diving Cuba Best Dive Sites Cuba
• Best Cuba Scuba Diving Liveaboard Jardines de la Reina
• Scuba Diving the Dominican Republic
• Best Scuba Diving Panama
• Banco Chinchorro Diving Mexico
• Scuba Diving Playa Del Carmen
• Scuba Diving Tulum Mexico
• Cozumel Scuba Diving Review
• Scuba Diving Cancun Mexico
• Best Scuba Diving Puerto Rico
• Scuba Diving St Vincent and the Grenadines Review
• St. Lucia Scuba Diving Review
• Turks and Caicos Scuba Diving Review
• Best US Virgin Islands Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Trinidad and Tobago Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Beach Vacations Curacao Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Diving Destinations Aruba
• Best Caribbean Dive Vacations Bonaire
• Best Tropical Island Vacations Dominica Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Scuba Diving Los Roques Venezuela
• Barbados Scuba Dive Vacations
• Grenada Scuba Diving Review
• Best Scuba Diving Caribbean – Martinique
• Best British Virgin Island Diving Liveaboard
• Best Bahamas Liveaboard Scuba Vacations
• Best Belize Dive Trips & Cocos Island Diving

Caribbean Islands Map

Selected Barbados Dive Sites

Barracuda Junction: 18-24 meters (65-80 feet), reef continues to 45 meters (150 feet), colorful corals and sponges, many reef fish, chromis, silversides, barracudas, drift, beginner to experienced level

Cement Factory Pier: shallow, rich macro life, muck diving, lobsters, schooling fish, beginner level

Dottins: 12-18 meters (40-60 feet), creole wrasse, yellowtail snappers, barracuda, resident turtle, groupers, grunts, colorful sponges and corals, drift, beginner level

Village: 21 meters (70 feet), many fish, lobsters, turtles, mackerel, huge barrel sponges, drift, beginner to experienced level

The Finger: 10-24 meters (35-80 feet), finger-shaped projections from the fringing reef, hard corals, sea whips, purple sea fans, peacock flounders, damselfish, yellow and red snappers, grunts, drift, beginner to experienced level

Clarke’s Bank: 18-27 meters (60-90 feet), many reef fish, yellowtail snappers, creole wrasse, parrotfish, hard and soft corals, sea fans, drift, experienced level

Sandy Lane: 27 meters (90 feet), sponges, sea fans, sea plumes, pelagics like bar jacks and mackerel, barracuda, green morays, drift, experienced level

Church Point: 9-15 meters (30-50 feet), small fish, chromis, parrotfish, stingrays, large coral heads, drift, beginner and experienced level

Tropicana: 18-24 meters (60-80 feet), a fringing reef with turtles, blackjacks, groupers, nurse sharks, anemones, many varieties of shrimp, drift, experienced level

Great Ledge: 16-24 meters (55-80 feet), lots of plants and coral, lizard fish, soldierfish, barracuda, filefish, trumpet fish, scorpionfish, spotted eels, drift, experienced level

Bright Ledge:  18-36 meters (60-120 feet), sponges, hard and soft corals, reef fish, pelagics, crabs, lobsters, eels, turtles, drift, experienced level

SS Stavronikita: 43 meters (143 feet) maximum depth, damaged 111-meter (370 foot) Greek freighter scuttled to become an artificial reef in 1976, stern at 30 meters (100 feet), bow at 21 meters (70 feet), part of Folkestone Park Marine Reserve, penetration possible, sponges, sea fans, squirrelfish, soldierfish, mild current, 30 meters (100 feet) visibility, experienced level

Pamir: 18 meters (60 feet) maximum depth, 50 meters (165 foot) scuttled wreck, sitting upright, rich fish and coral life, beginner level

Carlisle Bay Marine Park (Wrecks): 6 wrecks clustered in shallow water suitable for beginners to experienced levels, rich encrusting reef life with frogfish, seahorses, octopus, reef squid, mackerel, moray eels, rays, barracuda, cannons, anchors, and pylons lead divers from wreck to wreck

• Berwyn: 6 meters (20 feet), 21-meter (70-foot) WWI French tugboat sunk in 1919
• Ce-Trek: 13 meters (45 feet), a derelict boat of cement construction scuttled in 1986
• Eillon: 16 meters (55 feet), 33-meter (110-foot) drug boat scuttled in 1986, penetration
• Bajan Queen: 10 meters (35 feet), popular tug and later party boat scuttled in 2002
• Cornwallis: 5 meters (15 feet), Canadian freighter sunk by U-Boat torpedo in WWII, relocated from high boat traffic area in 2003
• Barge: 4 meters (12 feet), naval landing barge

Barbados Transportation, Accommodation, and Dive Shops

Transportation

Grantley Adams International Airport provides service to 14 different airlines from the US, Canada, Britain, Europe, and other countries in the Caribbean.  There are also boats and ferry services from several nearby islands.

Lodging and Dive Shops

In Barbados, there are dozens of hotels, resorts, and condos available.  Pricing runs from around $65/night on up.  As for diving, many of the hotels have their own dive shop.  Otherwise, there are at least a dozen separate dive operations in Barbados.

This website is a good source for the available housing options and can arrange a booking:

• Barbados Hotels, Resorts

Barbados Things To Do (aside from scuba diving)

There is an abundance of interesting activities and events in Barbados to round out a vacation there:  nature/eco tours, Atlantis submarine tours, catamaran, and boat cruises, sailing, museums, historic sites, rum distilleries, beer breweries, sports (horse racing, rugby, cricket, volleyball, polo, basketball), town and village shopping and tours, restaurants, bar scene, hiking, cycling, and many, many others.

Here’s an informative video with some dos and don’ts along with key highlights to take in.

Barbados Photo Opportunities

With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, lots of fish, and wrecks, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Barbados scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Updated August 10, 2022

This is the one hundred and fifty-sixth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Townsville, Australia.  In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Townsville before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving in Townsville

Background

Townsville is a middle-sized city of around 200,000 located on the northeast coast in Queensland, 1,350 kilometers (844 miles) north of Brisbane and 350 kilometers (219 miles) south of Cairns.  Geographically situated on Cleveland Bay with red granite Castle Hill on the west side of the city, the Ross River flowing through it, and Magnolia Island 8 kilometers (5 miles) just offshore, it is opposite the central section of the Great Barrier Reef further to the east.

The area was first visited by Captain Cook in 1770, though he didn’t land.  The serious settlement didn’t begin until the 1860s.  During World War II Townsville was a major staging site for battles in the Southwest Pacific.

Today it has a diverse economy of processing, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, education, and retail with the port in the process of expansion to handle large cargo and passenger ships.  There’s a cosmopolitan atmosphere with lots of bars and restaurants and a more laidback feel for a tourist destination.

Undersea World

Townsville is most known for its access to the spectacular Yongala wreck, which is actually much closer to Ayr to the south.  There is nearby Magnetic Island with many shallow sites and 20 wrecks to be explored, some possible while snorkeling.  Better sites are reachable on the Great Barrier Reef on day trips to Lodestone, Keeper, Wheeler, and Davies Reefs a couple of hours away.

There is a nice variety of undersea terrains like walls, canyons, swim-throughs, gullies, pinnacles, and big coral bommies with a good assortment of the Great Barrier Reef marine life to see.  Megafauna includes Napoleon wrasses, bumphead parrotfish, whitetip, blacktip, and grey reef sharks, bull sharks, stingrays, marble rays, potato cod, and schooling barracuda and pelagics.

Seasonal highlights are possible Minke whales from June through August, humpback whales from June through November, and manta rays from May through September.

Reefs rich in hard and soft corals, sponges, gorgonians, and other encrusting invertebrates provide habitat for many species of macro critters and reef tropicals.  Check out the video below of the Yongala wreck to see the eye-popping volume of life and variety of species in the area.

Seasons and Conditions

Diving is possible all year in the Townsville area.

• Air temperature average daily highs reach 31°C (88°F) from December through February and dip to less than 26°C (79°F) from June through August.
• The rainy season is from January through March.  Rains generally come in the late afternoon.  From May through October is the dry season.
• The water temperature ranges from 22°C (72°F) in summer to 28°C (82°F) in winter.  Most divers will be happy in a 3-5mm wetsuit most of the time.
• Currents can be strong on some sites.
• The visibility runs from 10-60 meters (33-200 feet).  Sites around Magenta Island are usually at the bottom end of the range and those further out on the reef can reach the top end.
• There are sites suitable for all levels of diver from beginner to advanced levels.  Numerous dive shops are in operation that can provide a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding, and boat cruises.  A number of local outfits also conduct short liveaboards.  The Yongala wreck and outer reef sites are reachable on day trips from Townsville.

Australian Liveaboards

There are a number of liveaboard yachts cruising the Great Barrier Reef to sites further north.  Ocean Quest and Coral Sea Dreaming go to the Outer Reef to sites relatively close to Cairns including Flynn, Milln, Thetford, and Pellowe Reefs.  The MV Scubapro I travels a bit further north to sites fairly close to Port Douglas including Norman, Saxon, and Hastings Reefs.  The MV Spirit of Freedom and MV Spoilsport go to the most distant sites like Cod Hole, the Ribbon Reefs, and the Coral Sea.

Ocean Quest, Great Barrier Reef (Outer Reef) Liveaboard – Check the Price

MV Scubapro I, Great Barrier Reef (Outer Reef) Liveaboard – Check the Price

Coral Sea Dreaming, Great Barrier Reef (Outer Reef) Liveaboard – Check the Price

MV Spirit of Freedom, Great Barrier Reef (Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs, Coral Sea) Liveaboard – Check the Price

Spoilsport, Great Barrier Reef (Coral Sea, Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs) Liveaboard – Check the Price

There are several liveaboard yachts cruising to other areas in Australia including Rowley Shoals, Neptune Island, and Ningaloo Reef.  Here are my reviews on Australian diving and some of the liveaboards diving other Australian sites:

• Best Diving Australia Liveaboards
• Scuba Diving Western Australia Ningaloo Reef Liveaboard
• Scuba Diving the Whitsundays Australia
• Scuba Diving Port Douglas Australia
• Scuba Diving Cairns Australia
• Gold Coast Scuba Diving Australia
• Brisbane Australia Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving in Melbourne Australia
• Best Scuba Diving Sydney Australia
• Best Scuba Diving Perth Australia
• Scuba Diving Tasmania

MV Odyssey, Rowley Shoals Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

Princess II, Neptune Island Shark Cage Diving Liveaboard – Check the Price

Shore Thing, Ningaloo Reef Liveaboard – Check the Price

 

Selected Townsville Dive Sites

SS Yongala: 15-33 meters (49-108 feet), located 89 kilometers (48 miles) southeast of Townsville and 22 kilometers (12 miles) east of Cape Bowling Green, 109-meter (357-foot) passenger liner that sank in bad weather in 1911, rediscovered by divers 50 years later it is now one of the most densely packed coral reefs in the world, covered in hard and soft corals, gorgonians, black coral, and many other encrusting invertebrates, marine life includes olive sea snakes, octopus, nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs, giant groupers, Napoleon wrasses, giant trevally, bull sharks, guitar sharks, marble rays, stingrays, and the possibility of a tiger shark, no penetration is allowed, suitable for all levels of diver, check out the video at the top

SS Moltke: 8 meters (25 feet), located in Geoffrey Bay, Magnetic Island, 60-meter (196-foot) 3-masted German barque that was scuttled to become a breakwater in 1913, the owner and explosives expert doing the job were drunk and did the job improperly putting her to rest in an unplanned location, rich in marine life with stonefish, sweetlips, parrotfish, groupers, batfish, barramundi cod, and epaulet sharks, crocodiles have also been spotted, suitable for all levels of diver, check out the video below

Wheeler Reef:  2-18 meters (6-59 feet), on the west side of the outer reef, rich in corals, a lagoon with crevices, canyons, swim-throughs, and caves, big schools of reef tropicals and some pelagics, moray eels, crabs, shrimps, turtles, and whitetip reef sharks, suitable for all levels of diver

Keeper Reef: 18 meters (59 feet), on the outer reef, rich corals with gorgonians and soft corals on a terrain of canyons, swim-throughs, and gullies with caverns, marine life highlights include crayfish, shrimps, rock cod, barramundi cod, squirrelfish, coral trout, rabbitfish, batfish, schools of fusiliers, turtles, and whitetip reef sharks, suitable for all levels of diver

Lodestone Reef: 1-25 meters (3-82 feet), on the outer reef, shallow coral gardens with a sandy bottom, coral bommies, and canyons going deeper with gorgonians, sea whips, and hard and soft corals, macro critters include octopus, nudibranchs, and sea stars, look for anemones and their partners, butterflyfish, angelfish, blue tangs, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, stingrays, groupers, sweetlips, trevally, barracuda, and turtles, suitable for snorkelers all levels of diver

Davies Reef: 6-25 meters (20-82 feet), on the outer reef, several dive sites with pinnacles, small caverns, gullies, and walls, rich corals with soft corals and gorgonians on walls, highlights include parrotfish, wrasses, schools of fusiliers and barracuda, suitable for all levels of diver

Things to Do in Townsville (aside from scuba diving)

With a rich cultural, historical, and military background, shoreside landscapes, and laidback ambiance, Townsville has activities and sights for everyone.  Here are some to consider:  The Strand Beachfront Promenade, Townsville Brewery, Magnetic Island Day Trip, Castle Hill Lookout, Beach Bar, Billabong Sanctuary, Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Jezzine Barracks & the Army Museum, Cowboys Rugby League Club Restaurants, Reef HQ Barrier Reef Aquarium, Queens Garden, Heritage Bar, Riverway, Museum of Tropical Queensland, The Taphouse, Cultural Center, Whale Watching Tour, Botanical Gardens, Harold’s Seafood, Town Common Conservation Park, Townsville 500 Car Race, Charter Towers (Texas Longhorns), Maritime Museum of Townsville, Strand Night Market, Longboard Bar & Grill, Cotters Market, Ville Resort Casino.

This video is a nice glimpse of what Townsville has to offer.

Townsville Transportation, Hotels, & Diving Services

Transportation

• Air – Townsville Airport (TSV), 10 kilometers (6.25 miles) west of town, has regular service to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, MacKay, Cairns, Hamilton Island, and Darwin.  Taxi service can get you to the city from the airport.
• Train – Queensland Rail has services to Cairns and Brisbane 5 times a week.
• Bus – Sunbus runs a public transport service around town with 7 lines.  Several other services run for special events and special routes.
• Taxis operate 24 hours a day servicing the whole of Townsville.
• Car rental is possible through numerous agencies at the airport and around town.
• For ferry transit to Magnetic Island 8 kilometers (5 miles) away, Fantasea Cruising Magnetic and Sunferries both provide service.  Check here for details.

For more specific details related to the transportation options and other tourist information, go to Wikitravel-Townsville.

Hotels and Diving

In the Townsville area, there are at least 60 lodging options ranging from $14-$231 per night and a number of dive shops in operation.  They offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  Several do short liveaboards to sites in the area.

The website linked below has the details and can arrange a booking for the lodging.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site.  The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Townsville Lodging

Photography in Townsville

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, rays, sharks, dolphins, wrecks, and intriguing onshore targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Townsville scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Updated November 16, 2022

This is the one hundred and thirty-third in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations worldwide.  In this post, the focus is on Key West, Florida. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Key West before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving in Key West

Background

Situated at the end of US Route 1 is the southernmost city in the US, Key West.  The county seat of Monroe County, the city includes Key West and the islands of Sigsbee Park, Fleming Key, and Sunset Key.  Only 106 miles (171 kilometers) from Havana, it is actually closer to Cuba than it is to Miami.  The total area of the city is 5.6 square miles (14.5 km2) and it has a population of 25,000.

First visited by Ponce de Leon in 1521, Key West has an unusually rich culture and history from that time through the colonial adventurers, to writers of the 20^th century who made their mark there like Hemingway and Tennesee Williams, to the modern-era treasure hunter, Mel Fisher, to the present day as a nautical tourism and party destination.

Undersea World

Situated at the end of the chain of keys, Key West is on the divide between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.

The third-largest barrier reef in the world is 5 miles offshore to the east.

Under the influence of the Gulf Stream a supply of nutrients baths the local sites that display an undersea terrain of spur and groove formations, walls, ledges, and caverns, and a nice variety of hard and soft corals, gorgonians, sea fans, and sponges, and other encrusting invertebrates.

Marine life attractions include schools of barracuda, jacks, snappers, grunts, the occasional bull shark, nurse and Caribbean reef sharks, turtles, dolphins, southern stingrays, and eagle rays.

Macro critters to look for are nudibranchs, lobster, crabs, and moray eels to go along with colorful reef tropicals like butterflyfish, angelfish, spadefish, porkfish, sergeant majors, surgeonfish, yellowtails, and many others.

All this said the sites around Key West are not as rich in marine life as those further north on Key Largo.  What sets Key West apart (aside from the nightlife) is the wrecks.

Seasons and Conditions

Diving is good all year in Key West.

Average daily air temperature highs hit 89°F (32°C) in July and August and 74°F (23°C) in the coolest month of January.

In the summer, water temperatures are in the range of 84-87°F (29-30.5°C), and in winter 70-75°F (21-24°C).  Some divers will need a 3-5 mm wetsuit when the water is at its coolest.

Current is weak to non-existent on some sites but can be very strong at times on others.

From June to October, it rains more (11-14 rainy days/month) and hurricanes are a consideration.

Visibility ranges from 40-100 feet (12-30 meters) with the best from August to October.

There are conditions suitable for all levels of diver with a number of shallow sites.

More than 40 dive shops operate on Key West offering a complete range of training, equipment rental, guiding, and boat tours.

Liveaboard Diving

None of the major liveaboard yachts travel to Key West.  However, there are quite a few that cruise the nearby Bahamas and other Caribbean dive sites.

Bahamas Master, Bahamas Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

MV Avalon I, Jardines de la Reina, Cuba Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands Liveaboard Diving – Check the Price

For reviews of diving in eastern Florida, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean locations, please check out these posts:

• Scuba Diving the Bahamas Dive Sites
• Scuba Diving Marathon Florida
• Scuba Diving in Islamorada Florida
• Best Scuba Diving Key Largo Florida
• Scuba Diving West Palm Beach Florida
• Ft. Lauderdale Scuba Diving
• Best Bahamas Liveaboard Scuba Vacations
• Scuba Diving Cuba Best Dive Sites Cuba
• Best Cuba Scuba Diving Liveaboard Jardines de la Reina
• Best Scuba Diving Panama
• Scuba Diving Cancun Mexico
• Best Scuba Diving Puerto Rico
• Scuba Diving St Vincent and the Grenadines
• St. Lucia Scuba Diving Review
• Cozumel Scuba Diving Review
• Turks and Caicos Scuba Diving Review
• Best US Virgin Islands Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Trinidad and Tobago Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Beach Vacations Curacao Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Diving Destinations Aruba
• Best Caribbean Dive Vacations Bonaire
• Best Tropical Island Vacations Dominica Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Scuba Diving Los Roques Venezuela
• Barbados Scuba Dive Vacations
• Grenada Scuba Diving Review
• Best Scuba Diving Caribbean – Martinique
• Best British Virgin Island Diving Liveaboard
• Best Roatan Honduras Liveaboard Reviews
• Best Belize Dive Trips & Cocos Island Diving
• Best Caribbean Liveaboard Dive Trips

Selected Key West Dive Sites

USNS Vandenberg: 90-140 feet (27-43 meters), 520-foot (158-meter) military troop transport scuttled to become an artificial reef in 2008, many areas to penetrate and explore, the crow’s nest, dish antenna, weather-balloon hanger, and 20-foot (6-meter) smokestack are all there, home to a variety of marine life with the occasional turtle, shark, or dolphin, suitable for experienced and technical divers (check the video below)

Joe’s Tug: 65 feet (20 meters), 75-foot (23-meter) steel-hulled shrimp boat that sank at the pier in Key West in 1986, raised, cleaned, and resunk by accident under tow to become an artificial reef, Hurricane George tore her in half in 1998, bow and stern are 30 feet (9 meters) apart, resting upright on the seabed surrounded by hard and soft corals and sponges, moray eels and a variety of reef tropicals, suitable for all levels of diver (check the video below)

Cayman Salvage Master: 92 feet (28 meters), 187-foot (57-meter) steel-hulled buoy tender that sunk at dock in the late 70s, was refloated with a plan to sink it in 300 feet (91 meters) of water, it broke loose while being towed and settled at the current depth in 1986, resting upright in the sand, the superstructure was removed prior to scuttling, lots of marine life, currents can get strong, suitable for experienced level divers

Northwind Wreck: 40 feet (12 meters), 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) southwest of the Marquesas, Mel Fisher’s Treasure Salvors company tugboat sunk in an accident in 1975, 3 died including 2 Fishers, left as a memorial, portholes and prop wash have been removed, suitable for all levels of diver

Sambo Reefs: 25-40 feet (8-12 meters), 4 miles south of Boca Chica Channel, divided into Western, Eastern, and Middle Sambo Reefs, parts are a preserved sanctuary, lots of branching coral, rich marine life including reef tropicals, lobster, and shellfish, suitable for snorkeling and all levels of diver (check the video above)

Ten-Fathom Bar: 25-130 feet (8-40 meters), steep drop off, rich corals and sponges including huge barrel sponges in the shallows giving way to black coral going deeper, lots of fish, spiny lobster, porcupine puffers, possible passing manta rays, southern stingrays in the sand at the base of the wall, at Fennel Ridge on this site is a well-encrusted telegraph cable providing habitat for a big congregation of marine life, strong current is possible, suitable for experienced level divers

Marquesas Reef Line: 10-70 feet (3-21 meters) maximum depth, Marquesas Keys are an uninhabited island group 30 miles west of Key West, part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, includes mangroves and shallow reefs, large coral formations, caverns, nooks, and crannies, the islands are situated around Mooney Harbor, a central lagoon, lots of marine life, highlights are snappers and groupers, suitable for snorkelers and all levels of diver

Things to Do in Key West (aside from scuba diving)

For such a tiny location, the historical, cultural, and outdoor activity range is broad.  Here are some sites and activities to look into:  parasailing, jet skiing, boat rentals, sailing, speedboat and dinner cruises, dolphin tours, glass-bottom boat tours, Astro City, Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, Ghosts and Legends of Key West Walking Tour, Conch Tour Train, Fishing, the Ernest Hemingway House, the Harry S Truman Little White House, Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West Pub Crawl, Bike Tour, Numerous Festivals, Shopping, Camping, a full range of bars and restaurants.  Wikitravel-Key West has details.

This video gives you a nice taste.

Key West Transportation, Hotels, & Diving Services

Transportation

• Air – Located southwest of downtown Key West, Key West International Airport (EYW) has flights connecting to numerous Florida airports, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Newark.  It is also possible to fly into Miami International or Fort Lauderdale International Airport, rent a car and drive down US Highway 1 for the 3.5-5 hour journey.  Keys Shuttle is also available from those two airports and can take you anywhere in the Keys.
• Bus – Greyhound and private coaches are available for trips from Miami to Key West.  Public buses operated by Key West Transit have numerous daily trips to destinations in the other keys and around Key West.
• Sea – High-speed 3.5-hour ferries on Key West Express are available from Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island to Key West Bight Ferry Terminal.  Private boaters have numerous marinas to choose from.  Half a million passengers arrive on cruise ships annually at the 3 terminals available for docking.
• Taxis and rideshare services around Key West are numerous and reasonably priced.
• Car rental is available from Enterprise and Alamo at their Truman Avenue locations which are a shuttle bus ride away from the airport in Key West.  Beware, there is not a lot of parking available in Key West.

For fuller details on transportation and tourist matters, go to Wikivoyage-Key West.

Hotels and Diving

In Key West, there are more than 150 lodging options from $47 to $760 per night.  More than 40 dive shops in operation, some located within or associated with hotels, offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.

The website linked below has the details and can arrange a booking for the lodging.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site.  The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Key West Lodging

Photography in Key West

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of reef tropicals, macro critters, sharks, rays, dolphins, and scenic shoreside targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Key West scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Updated August 9, 2022

This is the fifty-eighth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard dive locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Nanaimo before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Nanaimo Scuba Diving

Location and Background

Nanaimo, a name shared with that of the original people living in the area, is situated on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island 110 kilometers (68.75 miles) northwest of Victoria and 55 kilometers (34.375 miles) west of Vancouver across the Strait of Georgia.

It started as a trading post in the early 19^th century and developed into a coal production area by mid-century.  In an interesting and dangerous history, Nanaimo endured two major coal mine explosions killing a total of 250 workers n 1867 and 1868, and the founding and disintegration of 4 separate Chinatowns by 1960.  Lumber harvesting started in the 1940s, and since the 1960s introduction of pulp mills, forestry has become the major economic driver.  Retail and tourism are the other important economic factors.

It has long been known as a hub and is considered the gateway to northern Vancouver Island and to the nearby islands.  There are 3 airports and 3 ferry terminals to facilitate transportation.

A 40 hectare (100 acre) bird sanctuary occupies the center of the city which also has a famous museum and an art gallery highlighting native culture.

All speak English with only 1.4% speaking French as their first tongue.  87% of the population is of European ancestry.

Undersea World

Jacques Cousteau described diving in this area as the best temperate diving in the world, second only to the Red Sea.  You might get some argument about the use of the word “temperate.”  It is though a pretty remarkable cornucopia of underwater life in a varied and interesting habitat.

There are shore entries to a number of sites and around twelve in easy range of a boat.  Several scuttled wrecks have been carefully prepared for safe access at recreational and technical depths and the local dive shops are well equipped to provide training.

The terrain offers variety with deep walls, sandstone formations, boulders, narrow passageways, and small kelp forests.

Surfaces are covered with a rich range of invertebrates like huge white plumose anemones, yellow zoanthids, orange cup corals, lobed ascidians, orange sea pens, and pink corals, among many others.

The visibility is good enough to photograph an array of macro critters including numerous species of nudibranch, octopus, crabs, sea stars, red sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and fish and mammals including cabezon fish, grunt sculpins, several species of rockfish, lingcod, wolf eels, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, and the occasional orca.

Tidal flows bring in rich nutrients that help the reef thrive and set up some pretty exciting drift dives with currents up to 12 knots.

For my reviews of other Pacific Northwest scuba diving areas, please check out these posts:

• Scuba Diving British Columbia – Howe Sound
• Best San Juan Islands Holidays Scuba Diving

For more information about Pacific Northwest marine life, please check out my book review:

• Best Scuba Diving Books – Pacific Northwest Marine Life

Seasons and Conditions

Diving off Nanaimo and the eastern side of Vancouver Island is possible year-round.

Air temperatures are fairly mild with annual average highs of 22°C (72°F) in July and August and 7°C (45°F) in December and January.

Water temperatures range from highs of 12-18°C (54-64°F) in summer to 6-9°C (43-49°F) in winter.  At depth, it can be several degrees Celsius lower.  A few divers will go with a 7 mm wetsuit in summer, but most will choose a dry suit and heavy hoods and gloves year-round.

Visibility is quite variable based on the tide, algal blooms, and wind.  It tends to be best in winter ranging from 7.5-24 meters (25-80 feet).  In summer it may not be quite so good.  At slack tide, visibility tends to be better.

Currents can also be strong based on tidal flows, so it is recommended to get good advice from a dive professional about the best time to do your dive.

There are a number of dive shops operating in Nanaimo that provide a full range of dive courses, equipment rental, and guiding from shore and by boat in the Nanaimo area and can arrange to make trips further north to Nanoose Bay, as well.  Technical and wreck diving instruction is a forte.

For my reviews and information about cold water gear please click on the following post:

• Best Cold Water Scuba Diving Equipment

A Sampling of Nanaimo Dive Sites

HMCS Saskatchewan: 40 meters (130 feet) maximum depth, 111-meter (366-foot) Canadian destroyer scuttled to become an artificial reef in 1997, near Snake Island and HMCS Cape Breton,  superstructure reachable at 12 meters (40 feet), intact and well encrusted with orange and white plumose anemones and sponges, several varieties of rockfish, huge lingcod, good penetration possibilities (extra holes have been cut), current possible, experienced level

HMCS Cape Breton: 43 meters (143 feet) maximum depth, 134-meter (442-foot) WWII Victory Class ship sunk to become an artificial reef in 2001, near Snake Island and HMCS Saskatchewan, deck reachable at 21 meters (70 feet), depth and penetration make this an advanced dive, encrusting life similar to the Saskatchewan’s, cabezon, octopus, rockfish, large lingcod, seals and sea lions, perhaps a pod of orcas, current possible, advanced and technical level

Rivtow Lion: 24 meters (80 feet) maximum depth, 47-meter (150-foot) tugboat sunk to become an artificial reef in 2005, next to Brechin boat ramp of BC ferries, deck reachable at 15 meters (50 feet), plumose anemones, rich encrustation, good macro life, great for night dives, lingcod, all levels

Breakwater Island: 24 meters (80 feet) maximum depth, site on the inside of the island facing Gabriola Island’s Drumbeg Provincial Park, kelp at the anchorage, wall to maximum depth, caves, rocks and boulders, many nooks and crannies for macro life, many rockfish varieties, rock scallops, lingcod, wolf eels, milder current, experienced level

Clark Rock: 24 meters (80 feet) maximum depth, north of Departure Bay by Pipers Lagoon Park, easy dive, little current, rich fish and invertebrate life, wolf eels, all levels

Dodd Narrows: 21 meters (70 feet), to the south, narrows between Cedar and Mudge Island, rich life, but the attraction is the drift which can reach 9 knots, plan well using the tide tables and expert advice, advanced level

Neck Point Park: 21 meters (70 feet) maximum depth, shore access, two rocky outcrops like islands on the bottom, rocky terrain around them, sea pens, feather stars, anemones, rich fish life, wolf eels, possible sea lions, easy dive, all levels

Keel Cove: 21 meters (70 feet), shore entry, a shallow reef with dilapidated sailboat wreck that fish and invertebrates inhabit, adjoining reef, good possibility to see a sea lion, all levels

Snake Island Wall: extends to well deeper than you want to go, the site is on the side facing Nanaimo, on the other side from the Saskatchewan and Cape Breton wrecks, shallow shelf area then the drop-off, many white plumose anemones, rich life on the wall, big lingcod, cabezon, strong possibility of seals and sea lions, strong current possible, experienced level

Nanaimo Photos

With the interesting underwater terrain, wrecks, colorful anemones, sponges, corals, encrusting invertebrates, crabs, octopus, and other macro critters, schools of fish, and fascinating scenery and historical sites on land, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed

Nanaimo Transportation, Dive Shops, & Lodging

Transportation

Nanaimo is supported by 3 airports and 3 ferry terminals.

There is commercial air service to the main airports in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary and a small aircraft harbor service to Vancouver Harbor.

BC Ferries go to Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen in Vancouver and to Gabriola Island.

The marina provides mooring for smaller and larger private vessels.

The city has a public bus service with 17 lines that operate seven days a week.

Car and bike rental is available.

Check out the video below for more details.

Dive Shops & Lodging

Several dive shops operate in Nanaimo year-round that provide a full range of services including equipment rental, dive courses, guiding, and boat dive cruises.

There are at least 22 hotels and resorts available from $22 to $559 per night.  The Buccaneer Inn is one that has an in-house diving operation and a convenient location.

The website linked below is a good source for the available options and can arrange a booking.  Their rates are the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Nanaimo Resorts

Things to Do in Nanaimo (aside from scuba diving)

Nanaimo has fabulous scenery, a rich history, and interesting cultural life.  Here is a sample of some things to do when you are not diving: go on a whale-watching cruise, take a seaplane tour, visit a winery or salmon cannery, try an adventure attraction like ziplining, bungy jumping, or primal swing, examine history and culture of the region at the museum and art gallery, seek some historic sites on a harborfront walking tour, enjoy some craft beer, local cuisine, music, and nightlife  . . . . . .   Check out the video below for a glimpse of life in Vancouver and a few additional leisure options.

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Nanaimo scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<