Once you have completed your scuba diving training and have acquired your diving licence, you can begin to explore the ocean. After getting suited up with the required scuba dive gear, you’ll need to consider which Perth dive location you want to explore first. There are many great dive locations found along the Western Australian coastline, some accessible by shore, while other, by boat. Here are some things to consider when choosing whether to go shore diving or boat diving.
Scuba Diving Equipment
If you are entering from a beach or island, the required dive gear may be slightly different from that of a boat dive. Firstly, when travelling to a dive location from the shoreline, you may need to swim a short distance to reach the dive site. Using a snorkel instead of your air tank, will help save your oxygen tank levels and give you more time underwater at the dive site. Secondly, a dive compass will help you correctly navigate to and from the dive site.
Scuba Diving Health and Safety
When you go boat diving, you can leave your equipment on board until you are ready to enter the water. When shore diving, you will need to consider the added physical exertion of carrying all of your scuba gear to and from the water. In addition, you will need to swim short distances to the dive locations, occasionally in surf conditions. So, make sure to take into account your swimming abilities when opting to shore dive. However, shore diving is a perfect solution for keen scuba divers who suffer from seasickness as there is no need for boat travel.
Shore Diving vs Boat Diving
Boat diving is great for getting your confidence up in the water. You can book into group dives and head out for the day to an offshore dive location, exploring the deep with the comfort of being around other divers. Boat diving also allows you to discover offshore dive sites, such as shipwrecks, that are otherwise inaccessible by shore. Shore diving allows you the flexibility to dive at your own schedule and as often as you like, but it definitely isn’t for everyone. It will challenge you to locate, plan and find your own dive sites. When heading out for a shore dive, you will need to organise your own scuba gear, check tidal conditions and currents to ensure your personal safety in the water. Shore diving can be a great cost saver for experienced scuba divers looking to go diving more often, especially if you have already invested in your own dive equipment.
Start your diving trips with Dolphin Scuba
The team at Dolphin Scuba can offer you some great suggestions on dive locations around Perth. They offer the opportunity for new scuba divers to join a fun, experienced dive group who can show you the ropes while you’re still finding your flippers in the water. Dolphin Scuba are a WA based dive gear shop with an extensive range of premium dive gear, dive watches, and dive computers. The Welshpool dive shop is staffed by experienced divers, who can offer advice on gear, equipment and popular dive locations around Perth, check out their active dive calendar, where you can attend free shore dives and scheduled boat dive trips. The shop is pen seven days a week, enquire online or phone 08 9353 2488 to chat with the friendly team about our next dive trip.
