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Shore diving in South Australia: Part 2 – Rapid Bay Jetty
CJ and Mike continue their South Australia shore diving adventures…
Rapid Bay Jetty
The next day the weather forecast was looking a bit better and it was time to check out Rapid Bay Jetty to see if we could find some leafy seadragons! Rapid Bay is an excellent spot for anyone wishing to see leafy seadragons, they seem to thrive here and the dive is shallow and access easy.
We enjoyed the drive and got to see a kangaroo bounding across the road in front of us, having just passed the sign warning us of such. We managed to get a parking space not too far from the jetty and kitted up. The walk was not for the fainthearted, but the return dive route to the ‘Tee’ and right was fantastic. The conditions were good and aside from numerous fish and nudibranchs we got to see two leafy seadragons! We enjoyed it so much we went in for a second dive, to revisit the second leafy and get some more photos.
Rapid Bay Jetty dive details:
- Dive level: Easy.
- Depth: 12m
- Type: Shore dive – Jetty, Photography, Night.
- Vis: 10m
- Marine Life: Invertebrates, schools of fish, rays, leafy seadragons.
- Entry: Steps
- Water temp: 18-21 degrees C (65-70F)
- Facilities: Car park, toilets at nearby campground.
Rapid Bay Jetty is about 1hr 20mins from Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula and has a 450m pier, extending 360m north from shore, then angling to the right for a further 80m and ending in a 200m wharf that used to support ships coming to load up with crushed limestone from the quarry.
The old pier is now in a state of disrepair and is closed to public access, but a new jetty has been built for pedestrians, fishermen and access for divers, 50m away from the original, running parallel for 240m. The new pier has a dedicated entry point for divers at the end, with stairs down to an entry platform and ladder. The stairs have been designed with divers in mind, with nice shallow steps, so its easy to climb them after a dive.
The Jetty is very popular, being a relatively shallow shore dive, protected from prevailing weather for most directions and host to a large variety of fish including the iconic leafy seadragon. The site is very highly regarded for underwater photography and night dives.
Maximum depth at the end of the old jetty is 12 m at high tide while an average depth at the end of the old jetty of 8m. The maximum depth at end of the new jetty is about 5-6m and you can surface swim or descend and swim west across to the old pier, which is better for diving and spotting Leafy Seadragons,.
Vehicles can be parked by the new jetty, but the parking area is long and narrow, so you may have a longer walk if the car park is busy. Public toilets are located in the District Council of Yankalilla campground about 650m to the east. This is a rural area, so it’s best to get food and drink in one of the towns on the way. There is no air filling station, so come with enough tanks for the days diving and a spares kit is useful. The car park is dusty so a ground sheet is useful for setting up equipment in the car park in order to keep equipment clean.
The walk to the entry point is about 240m so some divers like to use a handcart to transport their gear to beside the entry point to kit up. Keep an eye on your air if you want to dive the ‘Tee’ where big schools of fish are known to gather, as the swimming distance is quite long. The old pier is covered in life and so dives can be on any section, depending on your air consumption and fitness. If driving south after your dive, do be aware that the road exceeds 300m in altitude and must be taken into account when considering increased DCI risk after diving.
Next up… Noarlunga Reef.
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EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Goodman interviews Mark Spiers, CEO of New Scuba Diving Training Agency NovoScuba
In a video recorded exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman interviews Mark Spiers, CEO of new scuba diving training agency NovoScuba.
Find out more about NovoScuba at www.novoscuba.com.
News
Charting New Waters; NovoScuba Goes Global with the Launch of their Revolutionary Dive Training Agency!
Discover a New Era of Dive Education: NovoScuba Brings Innovation to the Surface! Fully ISO Certified and Equipped with Cutting-Edge Technology.
With a combined experience spanning over a century in the diving industry, a team of accomplished dive store owners, managers, and professionals unveils NovoScuba, a ground-breaking dive training agency poised to redefine the benchmarks of underwater education. Launching in May 2024, NovoScuba promises a revolutionary approach to dive training. Their vision is to make diving accessible to everyone, share success within the dive community and emphasise positive interactions with the planet.
NovoScuba’s global debut marks a significant milestone in the dive industry. Driven by a vision to challenge convention and harness the power of technology, NovoScuba aims to revolutionise the dive training landscape through its innovative business model, which is digitally native, making it the most technologically advanced dive training agency to date.
“We recognised the need for change in the dive training industry and saw an opportunity to leverage technology, and redefine existing business models to create something truly innovative,” said Mark Spiers, CEO of NovoScuba.
NovoScuba’s platform offers state of the art training programmes ranging from introductory up to professional diving, including various specialties. All programmes meet international standards and ISO certifications are in place. This commitment to shared success, accessibility and positive results for the planet, all at a cost effective and affordable level, is what will make NovoScuba stand out.
“Our deep understanding of traditional pain points for the industry, combined with our digitally native approach positions NovoScuba as a game-changer in dive education. Offering unparalleled initiatives such as student subscription, open access to all course materials, pay as you certify, no stock required, monthly membership payments, payment in local currencies, one-click certifications, and membership freezing, NovoScuba is set to redefine the industry. Available in 13 languages, at launch, the NovoScuba courses are written for the modern divers, with a focus on up-to-date content, interactive learning, and an engaging platform,” Mark Spiers concluded.
NovoScuba is challenging a change in the industry, redefining established traditional systems, and ushering in a new standard of excellence, support, and partnership. Their collaborations with dive stores, pros and underwater enthusiasts won’t demand exclusivity, prioritising earned loyalty, and an understanding that their Member’s success is key to their own.
NovoScuba
Diving Redefined.
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