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sites, with sharks often encountered around the entrances, gutters and surrounding reef. Divers can also see wobbegongs, large rays, turtles, schooling fish and an impressive variety of subtropical marine life. Signature species: Grey nurse sharks, wobbegongs, turtles and large rays. For group leaders: South West Rocks is an excellent choice for experienced groups, combining reliable shark encounters with the added adventure of Fish Rock Cave. Dive South West Rocks offer multi-day dive packages, making it easy to build a dedicated long weekend or include South West Rocks as part of a NSW shark-diving road trip with Forster. 5. Neptune Islands, South Australia: Few wildlife encounters generate quite the same anticipation as descending into the blue and seeing a great white shark materialise in front of you. The Neptune Islands off South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula are famous for great whites, drawn to an ecosystem supporting large populations of seals. The experience is primarily cage diving rather than a conventional scuba dive, but for sheer adrenaline it belongs on any list of Australia’s most exciting underwater experiences. Signature species: Great white sharks and Australian sea lions. For group leaders: A Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions live- aboard is the standout option. Multi-day expeditions provide extended time at the Neptune Islands, with both surface and ocean-floor cage experiences available on selected trips. Private charters can also be arranged for groups wanting their own itinerary and photographic opportunities. 6. Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef: Stretching north to- wards Lizard Island, the Ribbon Reefs offer some of the Great Barrier Reef’s most celebrated diving, including the legendary Cod Hole. Here, enormous potato cod approach divers with remarkable confidence, while other sites attract sharks, rays, turtles, giant trevally and huge schools of reef fish. Then there are the dwarf minke whales. During the austral winter, particularly June and July, these inquisitive whales gather along the northern Ribbon Reefs. Unlike most whale encounters, the minkes often choose to approach stationary snorkelers, some- times repeatedly, creating one of Australia’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences. Signature species: Potato cod and dwarf minke whales, plus reef sharks, turtles and schooling fish. For group leaders: Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and Spirit of Freedom liveaboards offer excellent options, with dedicated
minke expeditions during the season as well as Cod Hole itineraries at other times of year. Trips of several nights are particularly suitable for dive clubs wanting to build a group holiday around a signature Great Barrier Reef wildlife en- counter. Which Australian Dive Adventure Should Your Group Choose? For shark enthusiasts, Wolf Rock, Forster and Southwest Rocks deliver superb grey nurse shark encounters, while the Neptune Islands take things to another level with great whites. The SS Yongala combines history with an ex- traordinary concentration of large marine life, while the Ribbon Reefs deliver the classic Great Barrier Reef experience, with the added possibility of dwarf minke whales in winter. For group leaders, the key is choosing an experience strong enough to become the reason for the trip. Whether that’s a Rodney Fox great white expedition, a Mike Ball or Spirit of Freedom Ribbon Reefs liveaboard, a SS Yongala-focused ad- venture, Fish Rock Cave or a shark-diving weekend at Wolf Rock or Forster, Australia has exceptional options for building a memorable group dive vacation around a genuine bucket-list encounter.
Contact the team at Diveplanit Travel Australia to start planning your exciting dive vacation in Australia. Diveplanit.com
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