| Destinations
/ Australia
/ WA / Perth
And The South West
Perth
is a vibrant, cosmopolitan and modern city, pleasantly situated
on the Swan River, with the port of Fremantle a mere 20 kilometres
downstream. Although nowadays considered a suburb, Fremantle
has a much more laid-back feel than the gleaming skyscrapered
Perth and a café culture to match.
Perth
is the sunniest state capital in Australia and the most
isolated capital city in the world. Around 80 % of WA's
1.8 million people live in and around Perth.
Rottnest
Island, just 19 kilometres off the coast of Fremantle
is home to some of the best diving off any Australian capital
city. In the last 30 years, the island has developed as
a popular day trip from Perth, with numerous high-speed
ferries making the trip from Perth and Fremantle everyday.
Dunsborough is a pleasant little country town south
of Perth that makes a great base for visiting nearby beaches
and wineries. Dunsborough is also home to the HMAS Swan,
a navy vessel sunk specifically for diving, upon being decommissioned.
Don't miss it !
Further south, Margaret River is a popular area,
due to its proximity to wonderful surf and swimming beaches,
some of Australia's best wineries and spectacular coastal
scenery.
Travelling southeast, Albany is a beautiful and historic
town. Once a thriving whaling port until the late 1970's,
Albany now boasts whale watching as a major industry. The
HMAS Perth, another decommissioned Australian warship has
been sunk in November 2001 specifically for divers. As marine
life gathers around her superstructure, she is becoming
a wonderful dive.
To the east, Esperance is growing in popularity as
a resort area with its temperate climate, magnificent coastal
scenery, squeaky clean white beaches and blue waters, seasonal
home to Southern Right Whales.
The
Abrolhos Islands or "Islands of Angry Ghosts", as
they are known, are located 40 kilometres west of Geraldton,
which is approximately 300 kilometres north of Perth. The
Islands were so named because of the early explorers who
perished here when there ship was wrecked on the reef. The
area provides excellent diving with fantastic coral gardens
and the best diving visibility on the West Coast.
How
To Get There
Perth is well serviced and best reached by air. Perth has
frequent international connections to major ports in Asia,
the Middle East and Europe. Additionally, many transcontinental
flights arrive daily from the Australian east coast (Flying
time is 4 to 5 hours).
 For
the patient traveller, bus and rail travel to Perth is possible
from the east coast of Australia. Remember to take your
pillow and several good books to survive the 4000 kilometre
(2600 mile) journey that can take up to 3 days.
Connections to regional centres are possible by air and
bus.
Climate
Perth and the southwest regions have a mild Mediterranean
style climate with low humidity and lots of sunshine. Average
daily maximum temperatures range from 32°C (89°F)
in November-March, to 17°C (60°F) from June to September.
July is the coldest month and February is the hottest month.
Rainfall from November to March is low, from May to August
it is heavier.
Diving
- Abrolhos Islands: The "Islands of Angry Ghosts",
as they are known, are located 40 kilometres west of Geraldton,
which is approximately 300 kilometres north of Perth.
The Islands were so named because of the early explorers
who perished here when there ship was wrecked on the reef.
There are three groups of Islands- The Wallabi Group,
The Easter Group and The Pelsart Group. Here at the Abrolhos
Islands you will see magnificent Coral Gardens - undeniably
the best on the West Coast - with visibility up to 45
meters. You might dive on an historical shipwreck or one
of the most beautiful anenome gardens you will ever see.
Enjoy a leisurely Drift Dive and discover this is one
of the easiest places on the coast to explore. At this
time of year (October), you are right in the path of the
migrating Humpback Whales returning from the Ningaloo
Reef and a large population of friendly Sea Lions roam
the area. Unfortunately excursions are offered not on
a regular schedule this year.
- Rottnest Island: October to June is the best
time to dive at Rottnest Island which is only 11 kilometres
from Perth. Sponges, soft and hard corals in all varieties
are the attraction in the water surrounding Rottnest Island.
The island consists of mainly limestone reefs with a combination
of temperate and tropical species of fish, making it a
great location to see many different varieties. You get
to dive historical ship wrecks and also some cavern diving.
Visibility is usually very good in the area. Rottnest
Island is regarded as the best dive location off any capital
city in Australia.
- The Wrecks: The HMAS Swan & the HMAS Perth at
Dunsborough and Albany respectively, are a pioneering
idea in diving. Both specifically sunk for diving, they
provide artificial reefs and shelter for many fish and
marine animals, whilst offering the serious wreck diver
a challenging look into their respective histories and
magnificent structure.
Dive
Operators
- Diving
infrastructure on the West Coast is not so well developed
like on the Australian East Coast. The dive operators
are best contacted locally when you are there. Pre-bookings
through us are not possible at this stage. There are operators
in Perth, Dunsborough and Alabany who service the above
areas.
Hotels
book directly
Perth
|
Margaret
River Wine Region
|
Independent
