Queensland Scuba Diving – Wavebreak Island, QLD, Australia

Location: Wavebreak Island, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Wavebreak Island and the Gold Coast Seaway is a very popular dive site for tourists, locals and marine science students. For many, Wavebreak Island and the Seaway have become a way of life, a place of serenity and for some a livelihood. Many marine studies have been conducted in the Seaway and there is no surprise why, when it is home to over 450 marine species including: dolphins, prawns, eagle rays, sea horse, dugongs, green sea turtles, moray eels, nudibranchs, manta rays, hump back whales and so much more at varying times throughout the year.

The Seaway is located near the open ocean which explains its high level of biodiversity but it is also sheltered providing predictive and calm conditions. This is exactly why eight dive operators have chosen set up shop in close vicinity.

About Queensland Scuba Diving

Queensland Scuba Diving have logged more than 20,000 dives on the Gold Coast in the past 15 years. They provide a comprehensive door to door service, collecting you from your hotel or resort before the dive and dropping you back off after you're done. Queensland Scuba Diving provide a vast array of courses and activities. They often run night dives out to the 'Scottish Prince' shipwreck off the coast where you often see the ocean teeming with life.

Queensland Scuba Diving is run by a fantastic team of well trained dive masters and instructors. It doesn't take long to 'feel at home' and make friends for life! To test them out we sent Dive Flag App member Lauren Nicole Willcocks for her Open Water Dive certification. This blog will include her comments from throughout the course! 

Check out their promotional video available online.  

What Can You Expect to See Whilst Diving with Queensland Scuba Diving?

The conditions in the Seaway and around Wavebreak Island are very good with visibility reaching up to 30 meters. The island has both sheltered and unprotected sides. The sheltered side is along side a sandy beach creating a comfortable learning environment for the most cautious of learners. The less protected side has coral reef which at times can have strong current for 'drift diving' training. Queensland Scuba appear to have you covered for most courses! 

• Green Sea Turtles, 
• Sea Horse, 
• Common Rays, 
• Kingfish,
• Moray Eels, 
• Nudibranchs, 
• Humpback Whales, 
• Leopard Sharks, 
• Eagle Rays, 
• Lion Fish, 
• Manta Rays, 
• Jellyfish, 
• Starfish, 
• Wobbegongs, and so much more. 

Dive Flag App Rating

Queensland Scuba Diving is a fine example of a dive shop that is fun, full of energy and remains professional. They comprise of a team of dive masters and instructors who take their jobs seriously and live to dive. This is  a short review from Lauren Nicole Willcock's:

"I was a little late to the dive shop and it was a very busy day for them. They came out to greet me and walk me in. The shop has a very welcoming Ora with laughter echoing through the shop. 

My instructor (Andrew) introduced himself quickly, sat me down and walked me through what we were going to cover throughout the course. Knowing what was coming up I immediately felt more relaxed. 

Andrew brought me all my gear, helped me to the classroom and allocated us some reading to get started. After the briefing we hopped on the boat and on our way. 

The entire course was taught in a fun, energetic and in-depth manor. I immediately took to scuba diving and the team called me a 'natural' and a 'mermaid'. I put this down to the mood I was in before hopping in the water. I was laughing so much there wasn't any time to feel anxious. 

We floated to the beach and edged our way deeper, ensuring we remained comfortable. Andrew spoke very clearly and demonstrated the skills very well. I returned to the shop for three days until having completed my course. I recommend Queensland Scuba Diving and will be returning as often as I can! 

Thanks Queensland Scuba Diving and Dive Flag App. 

Lauren xx"

• Equipment - 5/5
• Professionalism - 5/5
• Friendliness - 5/5
• Dive Experience - 5/5
• Price - 5/5
• Safety - 5/5

How to Get in Touch With Them

To connect with Queensland Scuba Diving and learn about specials, competitions or simply view some of their exciting photos, add them on Facebook. If you would like more information about their charters including pricing and availability, visit their website.

Leave Us Your Comments

Have you been diving with Queensland Scuba Diving? If so, we would love to hear your opinion, please comment below.

Best regards,

Frank Vorster

Dive Flag App

Email: info@diveflagapp.com

SilverSwift Cairns

SilverSwift – The Great Barrier Reef

Location: Flynn Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Cairns is one of Australia’s largest cities along the Great Barrier Reef with a population around 125,000. As such it comes as no surprise that there are many dive operators based out of the city. Every operator has a point of difference with no direct competition between one another. Each operator also pride themselves on having their own unique dive spots.

The trick to picking a dive operator in Cairns is to know exactly what type of dive experience you’re after, before getting started. Some operators specialize in live-aboard dive trips, some specialize in day trips and others specialize in facility based training. If you’re not quite sure what type of dive experience you’re after then you’re going to have a mountain of information to sort through. Below is why we chose SilverSwift.

About SilverSwift

SilverSwift pride themselves in having a vessel built for comfort. Silverswift is a modern, luxurious and spacious 29 meter high speed catamarans, custom-designed for the best Great Barrier Reef experience. On board control systems ensure the smoothest possible journey out to the Reef. With travelling speeds of up-to 32 knots, diving with SilverSwift ensures you spend less time getting there and more time diving. SilverSwift boast five hours of actual reef time. The vessel is equipped with hydraulic platforms to allow easy water access, the latest dive and snorkel equipment and change rooms and hot freshwater showers.

Upon boarding SilverSwift provide a gourmet breakfast including focaccias, muffins and cakes. Lunch is a delicious hot and cold buffet.

All dives are guided by friendly, helpful and charismatic divers. Although the boats are built to cope with over 130 passengers SilverSwift ensure that passenger numbers never exceed 85 to ensure a comfortable and personalized day.SilverSwift cater to Introductory Divers, Certified Divers and Snorkelers. If you're done diving for the day SilverSwift encourage you to snorkel around the shallow reef formations ensuring that you get the best value for money.

What Can You Expect to See Whilst Diving with SilverSwift?

As explained by our Dive Guide, Sean Messenger, the SilverSwift vessel is a joy to work on. Sean himself has already spent the last 7 years working aboard the vessel and has a very keen knowledge and understanding of SilverSwift’s dive sites. Dive sites include a selection of 16 spectacular outer reef sites at Millen, Flynn, Thetford & Pellowe reefs. SilverSwift day trips ensure you can enjoy one, two or even up to three different environments in one day. Whilst diving with SilverSwift Dive Flag App members saw the following:

• Large Moray Eels,
• Hawkes Bill and Green Turtles,
• Clownfish,
• Maori Wrasse,
• Numerous Coral Species,
• 20m Visibility,
• White Tip Reef Sharks,
• Nudibranchs,
• Turtle Weed,
• Giant Clams,
• Sea Cucumbers, and much more.

If you would like to see photos of what you can expect to find at the reef visit: The Great Barrier Reef Facebook page.

Dive Flag App Rating

SilverSwift come highly recommended by Dive Flag App. If the above information is not enough information for you to pick SilverSwift as your day trip dive operator in Cairns, SilverSwift welcome any questions you may have.

• Equipment - 5/5
• Professionalism - 5/5
• Friendliness - 5/5
• Dive Experience - 5/5
• Price - 5/5
• Safety - 5/5

With SilverSwift - no diver is allowed to dive unguided. Dive Flag App highly recommended that you part-take in a guided dive as the Guides encourage you to interact with some of the marine life, know all the hot spots and provide such a high end service. 

At the end of the day, the on board photographer will put all of his photos on display. You can then  purchase any of the photos as a printed hard copy or a soft copy on CD. 

How to Get in Touch With Them

To connect with SilverSwift and learn about specials, competitions or simply view some of their exciting photos, add them on Facebook. If you would like more information about their charters including pricing and availability, visit their website.

Leave Us Your Comments

Have you been diving with SilverSwift? If so, we would love to hear your opinion, please comment below.

Best regards,

Frank Vorster

Dive Flag App

Email: info@diveflagapp.com