These dive sites are in the pristine waters of Port Stephens, surrounded by
rugged bushland and all within 5 minutes of the central business district of
the town of Nelson Bay.
The Pipeline:
The local night dive site, where you will find a large variety of marine
night life. Easy north south navigation along a pipeline will take you
through a trail of the local night life. Situated on the outer side of the
constructed wall of the marina breakwater this dive will take you to a
maximum depth of 36 feet (12 meters) where you will see small outcrops of
sponges and soft corals on either side, the home of all those little night
critters. The many Basket Stars display their full night glory, enveloping
the orange sponges, sea pens rise up out of the sand to feed.
Burrowing
nudibranchs can be seen making their way across the sand in full view of the
night divers, the visiting sea hares scour the sponges for their meal,
octopus come out of their protective holes to looking for a tasty evening
meal. Stingrays will dance to the moving beam of your torchlight. You can
also interact with the sleeping members of the night, gently rest a sleepy
Pufferfish in your hand, see a blue groper in his bed under a ledge or watch
a family of squid come closer to investigate the source of your light,
giving you the opportunity to see these beautiful creatures at close range.
Cuttlefish will rest in the palm of your hand.
The gobies and fortescues
asleep on the sandy bottom for a perfect photo opportunity. The dwarf
Lionfish hiding under sponges and ledges are not in the least perturbed by
your torchlight. If you still have time then head east from the pipe to the
outer wall of the breakwater to see the odd variety of pelagics just
cruising by in the hope of catching a midnight snack.
Little Beach:
Although this is the training ground for our novice divers this site has a
lot to offer the intermediate to advanced diver. This is a shore dive
entered at a swimming beach. Mainly a sandy bottom linked by a network of
rope systems making for easy navigation from one sponge reef to the next.
The maximum depth is 36 feet (12 metres). The first rope will lead you to
the wreck of a small houseboat and from there to the barge. From these
points you will find a number of other ropes that lead you to the many
artificial reefs. These are artificial reefs have been created over the past
few years by our more enthusiastic local divers. Sinking numerous pieces of
unwanted man made debris such as tyres, odd pieces of machinery and junk
that have now become the luxury homes for our underwater dwellers.
This has
also encouraged the growth and immigration of much marine life. You will see
Blue Groper, Mosaic Eels, many varieties of Nudibranchs, Flying Gurnards,
schools of Stripeys, Flatworms, Sea horses, Ascidians, Manta Shrimp,
Boxfish, Goat Fish, Sea Hares, Sea Spiders, Starfish, Bream, Blackfish,
Ghost Pipe Fish, Hermit Crabs, Mowongs not to mention the miriad of sponges
and soft corals - a photographers heaven! These and many more varieties of
marine life too numerous to mention have found safe homes in this compact
but immensely diverse underwater area of Port Stephens on the East Coast of
Australia.
For more information on diving Australia check out these books