On the east coast of Australia lies the busy city of Newcastle. With a combination of tourists and local divers, this diving destination has a real mixture of sites.
There are a number of dive centres here offering courses from complete beginner right up to professional levels. There are no dive resorts or liveaboards.
Highlights of diving in Newcastle are varied. There are several wrecks to explore, multiple species of shark for fish lovers, and caves galore. Many of the dive sites are located in nearby Port Stephens or Nelsons Bay but the famous Moon Island is only a few minutes offshore.
There are a number of wrecks in the waters around Newcastle, including the coal transporter Yarra Yarra and the Stockton Breakwall Wrecks, which is actually the remains of five ships, stacked akimbo and protructing from the water.
Moon Island has some lovely topography - there are steep walls, large arches and caves to explore. There are a number of reefs, featuring corals, sponges and seaweeds which are flourishing in the cooler waters. There is a good mixture of beginner and advanced dive sites.
Due to the temperate climate, diving in Newcastle is possible year round. The summer (November - March) temperatures in the water are around 24oC, with humid winds from the north - daytime temperatures sometimes exceed 40oC.
The winters (May - September) are colder and drier, with average lows of about 8oC. The water temperature rarely drops below 10oC. Though cold, the visibility can be very good during winter - you’ll just need a thicker wetsuit.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
