Fantastic Diving Spots Down Under

Whether you're an amateur diver, or an experienced one looking for a new challenge, you'll want to visit Australia so that you can dive along the Great Barrier Reef. The Barrier Reef is 1,250 miles long and stretches from New Guinea to Queensland. Diving in this area of the world is an experience that you won't forget since it's filled with the wonder of natural elements combined with some of the most amazing sea creatures of the world. The Great Barrier Reef is made up of over 2,000 individual smaller reefs. Islands made of coral are dotted throughout the reef, creating a wonderful spectacle of color and light throughout the ocean. The water is warm and you will literally swim with the fishes when you dive along the Great Barrier Reef. Don't forget an underwater camera to record all the wonders that you see. Australia offers many diving opportunities and a wide variety of places to choose from. When on a dive holiday, it is better to be forearmed with information so as to get the diving experience that you want. Pixie Pinnacle is amongst the most popular diving places in Australia. Pixie Pinnacle is located near Lizard Island and comprises of a large coral that is over ninety feet in height. Some of the sea creatures that you wil see on this dive include clownfish, rabbitfish, lionfish, nudibranches, and honfish. While on this dive you can also see the Coral Sea just beyond the Barrier Reef. Cod Hole is another diving location near Lizard Island. The creatures that inhabit that area are moray eels, the Napoleon wrasse, and large schools of cod. For a diving site that is livelier with sea creatures you might want to head to Yongala Wreck. You can find this diving spot south from Cod Hole by 200 miles. The coral in this area of the Great Barrier Reef is thick, making it a great hiding place for eagle rays, jacks, flowery cod, and the barramundi cod. If you're lucky you may be able to see a turtle or two. Irrespective of your diving spot, it is imperative that you follow all marine rules and dive safely. An important fact to remember is that coral is a living animal and therefore needs to be treated with respect. Additionally, the sand that is displaced from your fin wash can harm both coral and sea animals. Therefore, as a good diving practice, you must always keep an eye on where dive. Another important point to remember is not to feed the animals you run into on your dives. We tend to think of fish as unintelligent, but they can form habits of expecting food any time they see a diver. Soon they will become aggressive toward all divers. As far as souvenirs from the water, take plenty of pictures. Don't ruin the environment by removing any coral, rocks, or shells. About the author: Kristina Jeffreys writes exclusively for You Want Diving?, there's a wealth of knowledge on the website, plus while you're there sign up for the free newsletter. For more quality articles on Diving why not visit: www.uwdiving.com/articles Get your own completely unique content version of this article.