Diving holidays: Navy Pier, Australia
Each week at activityaway.co.uk, we have been looking at the best diving spots in the world, giving you the best advice, facts and tips so you can experience it for yourself. This week, we look at one of the best dive spots in Australia and maybe even the world - Navy Pier in Exmouth.
Where is it?
Navy Pier is located in Exmouth on the west coast of Australia, along the Ningaloo Reef. It is situated off the coast of the Harold E. Holt Communication centre, which is actually an active navy base. You will need to remember to bring your passport and proper dive ID card with you when you go.
What’s it all about?
The Navy Pier dive is considered to be among the top ten dive sites in the world and it’s not out in the middle of the ocean somewhere, it’s just off the end of a pier! Some even say that you will see more individual fish and species here, than some people will see in their lifetimes. Fishing from the pier is forbidden and the protected ecosystem here thrives.
What’s the diving like?
The maximum depth underneath the pier is 14 metres, and although the water can be a little murky at times, it will still be one of the most spectacular dives of your life. Here you will see many species of fish including elegant lionfish, colourful parrotfish, butterfly fish, strange looking batfish, delicate angelfish and boxfish. Other marine life you may encounter includes, octopus, wobbegong sharks huge groupers, schools of barracudas, and alien looking nudibranchs. The area around Ningaloo Reef is also famous for whalesharks, although you probably won't see any on your pier dive.
Dive equipment rental and dive companies ...
Because of its unique location on the navy base, you can only dive the site with a specially approved dive company. One such company that prides itself on having the most eco-friendly vessel on the Ningaloo Reef and has a marine biologist aboard every trip is Ningaloo Whaleshark-n-Dive.
Accommodation options...
There are many different accommodation options in the area, but if you’re after something special and unique, then try the Golden Chain Sea Breeze Resort, situated next to the historic naval base and the closest resort to Ningaloo Marine Park. It offers 28 fully contained studios and great facilities, including a swimming pool and barbecue area.
Interesting fact... The Navy Pier was constructed for the sole purpose of supplying the huge steel beams that would be used to make the U.S. Navy’s underwater submarine antennae.
Best suited to... Any level of diver who has completed their dive certification.
