Diving in Winter in Perth
Submitted by UnderwaterChad on Thu, 2014-05-29 13:36
Hi All,
I am looking at learning to SCUBA and am after a bit of advice on whether i should wait until September before getting into it? I have read a lot that most divers hang up their fins for a few months from around June to September.
Is this just because of the water temps or because of other conditions also? Or just because it's not cray season?
Can anyone give me info on diving conditions off Perth/Rotto/Mindarie throughout June/July/August? Visibility, Swell, Winds etc?
Cheers,
Chad
lame
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 20/01/10
Visibility
with all the wind and chop Visibility would be the main factor a few get into the prawns ect in the swan during winter but thats about it
beeroclock
Posts: 733
Date Joined: 22/08/12
A few dive clubs dive all year round if weather permits
University WA dive club
Murdoch university dive clud
Underwater explores club
Have alook at their websites. I dived with Underwater explores club, big boat great spots around Rotto $around $60.00 for two dives you supply your own gear, lunch etc. and its always a great day out
They mainly do rotto so can usually find a dive spot out of wind and swell and the prices for diving are cheap also Michael at Western blue devil dive is great to go with he dives off Mindarie also weather permitting of course.
Theres usually a club associated with the dive shop you do your course at. You can go to the "WA Divers" website and theres a "buddy search" forum where guys with boats look for dive buddies etc or shore dive buddies hope this helps
Swompa
Posts: 3783
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Some of the clearest water
Some of the clearest water is in winter. No strong Seabreeze and no swell, just cold.
tiimmbo
Posts: 694
Date Joined: 16/08/09
we have dived all year round
we have dived all year round the past 2 years, cray season ends in July so we used the time to do some searching for new spots. You will get some magic conditions in winter with little wind little swell and good vis, you will also get storms that bring big swells and stir things up. A strong breeze wont affect the conditions under the water, its the swell that will affect the visibility. Strong winds just prevent you from getting out in the boat to get to your dive spots.
UnderwaterChad
Posts: 18
Date Joined: 07/05/14
Cheers for the info guys, I
Cheers for the info guys, I think I'll take the advice and get amongst it despite the season. Gonna get on an open water course with diving frontiers end of June. Fingers crossed for good conditions. Get the confidence up, then hit the Cray season running!
UnderwaterChad
Posts: 18
Date Joined: 07/05/14
Just thought i'd throw up an
Just thought i'd throw up an update - finished my open water course yesterday, during a severe weather warning! ... albeit, was in the river at the coombe!
Not even that cold thankfully :)
Question for you lot, how long does it take for everything to settle down after a big swell? This sunday looks like a great day to get out and under water - Under 1m, but it's following a 4m swell on tuesday. Generally speaking, would/should things have settled down by Sunday, or would visibility still be average?
Cheers,
Chad
UnderwaterChad
Posts: 18
Date Joined: 07/05/14
Just thought i'd throw up an
Just thought i'd throw up an update - finished my open water course yesterday, during a severe weather warning! ... albeit, was in the river at the coombe!
Not even that cold thankfully :)
Question for you lot, how long does it take for everything to settle down after a big swell? This sunday looks like a great day to get out and under water - Under 1m, but it's following a 4m swell on tuesday. Generally speaking, would/should things have settled down by Sunday, or would visibility still be average?
Cheers,
Chad
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
Welcome
Congrats on finishing your course Chad. Welcome to the underwater world.
Sunday is looking sweet. I'd be out diving..if I still had my tub. Offshore would have settled down by then. Shore dives might still be a little stirred up.
When you can't get out on the ocean (like today), don't discount exploring the river more - plenty in there and good spot to get some more dives under your belt.
I'll be hitting the river up tonight for a few prawns.
Cheers Pete