AQUANAUTIC AUSTRALIA

INDIVIDUELLER TAUCHURLAUB IN WEST-AUSTRALIEN
AQUANAUTIC AUSTRALIA
TOURBESCHREIBUNGEN
It started with an idea...
The dive sites in Western Australia rank as some of the best worldwide, but
also the sights on shore including plants and animals, are unique and
breathtaking.
Visiting Australia just for diving would be a shame, but holidays without
diving are also not possible. A combination of both is the answer.
Western Australia alone has a coast line of more than 20.000 km, how
would you know where it is worth diving and what sights are really worth
seeing?
With many years of experience of our native tour- and diveguide, we had
the opportunity to find the varied and unique dive locations and sights
Western Australia has to offer. We hope to show you all these places within
our South-West and North-West tour.
Experience the exclusive tours in close atmosphere under the care of our
German/Australian team.
The Round House, Freemantle
02
DIRECTORY
Page 2 ///////// Aquanautic Australien
Page 4 ///////// The Nort-West Tour
Perth, Rottnest Island, Exmouth,
Ningaloo Riff, Marmion Marine Park
Page 15 /////// Information / contact
DIRECTORY
Page 9 ///////// The South-West Tour
Perth, Rottnest Island, Busselton
Jetty, Dunsborough, Albany,
Esperance, Lucky Bay, Recherche
Archipelago, Marmion Marine Park
03
N
E
W
S
THE NORTH-WEST TOUR
perth _ rottnest island _ exmouth _ ningaloo marine park - lighthouse bay _ perth _ rottnest island _ marmion marine park
After arriving at Perth International Airport
you will be transferred to a city hotel and given the
opportunity to acclimatize to the laidback Perth
live style.
1. DAY
Perth Sightseeing
The day begins with a guided tour of Perth
and surrounding areas. We will look around the city
centre, Kings Park Botanic Gardens that contain
more than 2000 species of plants, wildflowers and
natural bushland. The majestic Swan River that
borders the city and links Perth to the port city of
Fremantle and sandy white beaches of the Indian
Ocean.
2. DAY
Rottnest Island (2 dives)
Located just 19 kilometres and a 45-minute
boat trip off the coast of Fremantle, Rottnest
Island‘s turquoise bays are fed nutrient rich waters
of the Leeuwin current. The Leeuwin current starts
in Indonesia sweeping in a southerly direction
along the coast of Western Australia drawing
marine larvae from the warm tropical waters
to temperate waters of the southern coast and
depositing them in the Southern Ocean. Rottnest
Island is thus able to support temperate water and
sub-tropical marine organisms such as huge sponges, colourful soft corals, ascidians and beautiful
anemones. The West Australian Dhufish can be only
found in this particular area, also frequently sighted
are Baldchin Groper, schools of Buffalo Bream,
Woodwards Pomfret and the strikingly iridescent
Western Blue Devil.
The west coast of Australia is the world‘s
most southern location supporting such a combination of differing eco systems and allowing corals to
thrive in the cooler southern waters.
The reef system is constructed of limestone
formations with many small caves, passages,
NORTH-WEST TOUR
ARRIVAL
Darwin
Cairns
Derby
Broome
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
05
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
Cairns
Derby
Broome
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
06
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
NORTH-WEST TOUR
Darwin
swim throughs and overhangs with sea grasses
growing on the top and corals and sponges on the
protected underside.
During the months from September to
December Humpback whales migrate down the
coast returning to Antarctic waters after spending
the winter months in the warm northern waters.
Rottnest Island is also the resting place of
many historical shipwrecks dating back to 19th
century.
3. DAY
Exmouth flight
Travel to the town Exmouth approximately
1300 kilometres north of Perth. Established in 1967
to support the US naval communications base,
Exmouth is located alongside the Cape Range National Park. The 13 towers that make up the very low
frequency submarine communications dominate
the landscape on the northern tip of the cape.
4.-7. DAY
Exmouth Live-a-board (12 dives)
The Ningaloo Marine Park comprises of a
260 km long fringing reef and is home to some
amazing underwater wildlife. Every year during the
months from March to June whalesharks, the largest shark in the ocean visit Ningaloo Reef. Manta
Rays, while seen all year are especially prominent
during the months of May to September. Dugongs,
while extremely difficult to sight are present all year
as are Green, Loggerhead and Hawksbill turtles
and they nest during the months from November to
January. Humpback whales are frequently sighted
from June to November and Dolphins are sighted
all year round. Over 250 species of coral inhabit
Ningaloo Reef and the spawning occurs from
March to May.
We charter a vessel and head south along the
length of Ningaloo Reef diving the pristine and
untouched reef system not normally accessed by
charter boats.
8.-11. DAY
Exmouth day diving tours (8 dives)
We will be shore based in the Exmouth township and embark on day diving tours to areas such
as Lighthouse Bay, where some of Exmouth‘s best
known dive sites lie. The bay features tropical reef
species, soft and hard corals and pelagic fish.
Further to the north of the Cape are the Muiron
Islands, the waters surrounding the Muiron Islands
make a diving & snorkelling paradise. These
islands offer some of the most colourful hard and
soft coral gardens in the area, you will also see
some amazingly colourful nudibranchs and many
different species of anemone fish along with the
opportunity to view the giant Potato Cod and Manta
Rays sightings are frequent.
The Navy Pier is rated as one of Australia‘s
top 10 shore dives, with over 150 species of fish
living under the Pier ranging from small tropical fish
to Giant Queensland Grouper. Frequently sighted
are schools of Trevally and Barracuda, Frogfish,
Lionfish and Stonefish. White Tip Reef Sharks are
also seen at the Pier. Night dives bring out a whole
new range of creatures including Decorator Crabs,
Feather Stars and Bailer Shells along with Moray
Eels and Wobbegong Sharks.
12. DAY
Return flight to Perth
Leave the township of Exmouth for the
bright lights of Perth.
13. DAY
Rottnest Island (2 dives)
We will explore two further dives sites from
the 100+ sites to choose from around the 11 km
long and 4.5 km wide Rottnest Island.
NORTH-WEST TOUR
At night we pull into the shallow bays and lagoons
and the possibility exists to camp on the beach.
Darwin
Cairns
Derby
Broome
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
07
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
14. DAY
Darwin
Cairns
Derby
Broome
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
08
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
NORTH-WEST TOUR
Marmion Marine Park (2 dives)
After a 30 minute drive from Perth we arrive
at Hillarys Boat Harbour, where a boat takes us to
the Marmion Reef. This Marine Park was the states
first marine parks and famous for its lobsters,
stingrays and nudibraches. Seen in abundance are
gorgonians, hydroids, sea urchins and sea squirts
crowding beneath the ledges and in the caves. The
two species of mammals common to the Marine
Park are the bottlenose Dolphin and the Australian
Sea Lion.
A shallow limestone reef system averaging
depths from the 12 to 18-metres range running
parallel to the coast with many ledges, caves and
overhangs. The eco system supports an abundance
of the western rock lobster, locally know as crayfish
and Wobbegong Sharks are frequently sighted in
many of the caves that make up the reef system.
Humpback whales
N
E
W
S
THE SOUTH-WEST TOUR
perth _ rottnest island _ busselton jetty _ dunsborough _ albany _ esperance _ lucky bay _ recherche archipelago _
marmion marine park _ perth
After arriving at Perth International Airport
you will be transferred to a city hotel and given the
opportunity to acclimatize to the laidback Perth
live style.
borders the city and links Perth to the port city of
Fremantle and sandy white beaches of the Indian
Ocean.
2. DAY
Rottnest Island (2 dives)
1. DAY
Perth Sightseeing
The day begins with a guided tour of Perth
and surrounding areas. We will look around the city
centre, Kings Park Botanic Gardens that contain
more than 2000 species of plants, wildflowers and
natural bushland. The majestic Swan River that
Located just 19 kilometres and a 45-minute
boat trip off the coast of Fremantle, Rottnest
Island‘s turquoise bays are fed nutrient rich waters
of the Leeuwin current. The Leeuwin current starts
in Indonesia sweeping in a southerly direction along
the coast of Western Australia drawing marine
larvae from the warm tropical waters to temperate
waters of the southern coast and depositing them
in the Southern Ocean. Rottnest Island is thus
able to support temperate water and sub-tropical
marine organisms such as huge sponges, colourful
soft corals, ascidians and beautiful anemones. The
West Australian Dhufish can be only found in this
particular area, also frequently sighted are Baldchin
Groper, schools of Buffalo Bream, Woodwards Pomfret and the strikingly iridescent Western Blue Devil.
The west coast of Australia is the world‘s most
southern location supporting such a combination of
differing eco systems and allowing corals to thrive
in the cooler southern waters.
The reef system is constructed of limestone
formations with many small caves, passages,
SOUTH-WEST TOUR
ARRIVAL
Darwin
Cairns
Derby
Broome
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
10
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
Cairns
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
11
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
SOUTH-WEST TOUR
Darwin
Derby
Broome
swim throughs and overhangs with sea grasses
growing on the top and corals and sponges on the
protected underside.
During the months from September to
December Humpback whales migrate down the
coast returning to Antarctic waters after spending
the winter months in the warm northern waters.
Rottnest Island is also the resting place of
many historical shipwrecks dating back to 19th
century.
3. DAY
Busselton Jetty (2 dives)
We drive three hours south of Perth to the
shores of Geographe Bay, which is the popular
holiday resort of Busselton. The Busselton Jetty is
the southern hemispheres longest jetty measuring
1.8 kilometres in length. The wooden jetty,
constructed in 1865 of the local hardwood timber
Karri was to support the whaling industry and
timber ships. Lengthened numerous times during
its lifetime the Busselton Jetty carries a small
train to the underwater fish observatory located
at the end. The jetty has a maximum depth of 8
metres where the bottom is comprised primarily of
southern strapweed; the pylons host an impressive
array of growth of soft corals, sponges, anemone
and sea stars. This jetty is a favourite for macro
photography enthusiasts and provides perfect
diving conditions.
4. DAY
Dunsborough (2 dives)
Also the small town of Dunsborough is a popular tourist destination on the edge of Geographe
Bay and is well known for hard wood forests and
premium wine growing area. The former HMAS
Swan is a decommissioned destroyer escort gifted
to the town by the Royal Australian Navy and sunk
in 1998. The ship measures 113 metres and lies
in 31 metres of water and rises to 7 metres from
the surface.
During the famous treetop walk a 600 metre
long ramp brings you high into the canopy of the
giant tingle trees. 40 metres above the ground you
can enjoy the simply stunning view. You are really
walking through the treetops.
The limestone cliffs aid the formation of a
number of impressive cave systems that can be
found in the area.
5. DAY
6./7. DAY
Margaret River Region Sightseeing
Margaret River region is the home of
Australia‘s best wineries, top surfing beaches and
caves.
Albany (4 dives)
The excellent natural harbour of King George
Sound allowed Albany to become a thriving whaling
port. The whaling station was closed in 1979 and
instead of being brutally harpooned for their oil and
flesh the Humpback and Southern Right Whales are
now photographed by the tourists and locals alike.
The Southern Ocean pounds the rugged
coastline and granite formations such as the
Natural Bridge, The gap and The Blowholes are
found close to Albany.
The former 133 metre long Royal Australian
Navy guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth rests
since 2001 in 38 metres of water as an artificial
reef. The ship served in numerous conflicts from
the Vietnam War to the Gulf War 1 and was the last
Australian ship to come under enemy fire in Vietnam receiving extensive damage, but fortunately
no loss of life.
SOUTH-WEST TOUR
It took 20 months for the ship to be prepared to
environmental standards before it was scuttled and
has access holes cut into the hull allowing easy
and safe penetration and shows visible light from
almost every position.
A no fishing zone has been set up around
the ship allowing an impressive amount of marine
life to thrive in the area.
Darwin
Cairns
Derby
Broome
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
12
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
Cairns
Derb
Broom
O R T H E RN
wnsville
T E R R I T ORY
rt Hedlan
Dampie
Mackay
QUEENSLAN
Exmout
W E S T E RN
Rockhampto
Bundaberg
AUSTRALI
Carnavon
Maryborough
SOUT
Brisbane
Gold Coas
AUSTRALI
Geraldto
Lismor
Coffs Harbou
Ceduna
Pe
NEW SOUT
emantl
Bunbur
Esperanc
WALE
rt Lincol
Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambie
rmambool
13
rt Macquari
Newcastl
Sydne
llongong
Canberra
Melbourn
Bairnsdale
SOUTH-WEST TOUR
Darwin
It also hosts an impressive range of marine
life such as schools of Yellow Tailed Kingfish.
After becoming more familiar with the huge
wreck we can start to penetrate it. Penetration is
easy with the holes cut in the hull allowing light
and free access. No reels are required.
8. DAY
Travel to Esperance
We travel to Esperance along the south Coast
Highway for a distance of 475 kilometres.
9. DAY
10./11. DAY
Lucky Bay is a shore dive to a depth of 21
metres within the Cape Le Grand National Park
searching for the Weedy and Leafy Sea Dragons.
For untrained eyes it is almost impossible to find
those brilliantly disguised Sea Dragons. Therefore
a special guide will be provided for those dives.
During the barbecue lunch you can pat kangaroos
in the Cape Le Grand National Park and visit some
of the remote bays around the area.
The Archipelago consists of more than 100
granite islands, some of which are nature reservoir.
Lucky Bay (2 dives)
Recherche Archipelago (4 dives)
On board a fifteen metre vessel we explore
the granite outcrops producing boulders, caves,
sheer granite walls and swim throughs. Colourful
sponge gardens, hosting an impressive amount
of invertebrates, are also famous for this area. We
look for the delicious Green Lipped Abalone.
Travel to Perth
We return to Perth through a wildlife park.
Expect to encounter such animals as Kangaroos, Wombats, Koalas, Emus, Possums and
Kookaburras.
On our 750 kilometre journey we will also
pass Wave Rock, a 15 metres perfect surfer‘s wave
carved from solid rock.
13. DAY
Rottnest Island (2 dives)
We will explore two further dives sites from
the 100+ sites to choose from around the 11 km
long and 4.5 km wide Rottnest Island.
14. DAY
Marmion Marine Park (2 dives)
After a 30 minute drive from Perth we arrive
at Hillarys Boat Harbour, where a boat takes us to
the Marmion Reef. This Marine Park was the states
first marine parks and famous for its lobsters,
stingrays and nudibranchs. Seen in abundance are
gorgonians, hydroids, sea urchins and sea squirts
crowding beneath the ledges and in the caves. The
two species of mammals common to the Marine
Park are the bottlenose Dolphin and the Australian
Sea Lion.
A shallow limestone reef system averaging
depths from the 12 to 18-metres range running
parallel to the coast with many ledges, caves and
overhangs. The eco system supports an abundance
of the western rock lobster, locally know as crayfish
and Wobbegong Sharks are frequently sighted in
many of the caves that make up the reef system.
SOUTH-WEST TOUR
12. DAY
Darwin
Cairns
Derby
Broome
N O R T H E RN
Townsville
T E R R I T ORY
Port Hedland
Dampier
Mackay
Q U E E N S L A ND
Exmouth
W E S T E RN
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
A U S T R A L IA
Carnavon
Maryborough
S O U TH
Brisbane
Gold Coast
A U S T R A L IA
Geraldton
Lismore
Coffs Harbour
Rottenest Island
Ceduna
Perth
NEW SOUT H
Fremantle
Bunbury
Esperance
W A L ES
Port Lincoln Adelaide
Albany
Mount Gambier
Warmambool
14
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Sydney
Wollongong
Canberra
Melbourne
Bairnsdale
AQUANAUTIC AUSTRALIA
Content responsibility:
Jeff O‘Halloran & Björn Heyduk
Design: Matthias Klegraf, www.SEVN.de
The pictures used in this broucher are owned by Western Australia. © Western Australia Tourism, except Page 7 HMAS Swan:
Geoff Paynter, Page 6 Humpback whales, Page 8 Humpback
whales, Page 9 Sea Dragon: Aquanautic Australia.
Aquanautic Australia
Jeff O‘Halloran, 9 Sexton Court, Kardinya 6163, Perth, Australia
Tel: 0061 (0) 4179 61864
Contact for Germany:
Bjoern Heyduk, Tel: 0049 (0) 179 2738 279
Contact for Japan:
Kinuyo Totsuka, Tel: 0081 90 483 42 427
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.aquanautic-australia.de
Check www.aquanautic-australia.de for further Information.