New Zealand’s coastal waters offer some outstanding scuba diving and snorkelling from the subtropical reefs of Northland to the famous Islands of the Poor Knights and Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf whilst at the bottom of the South Island, Stewart Island and Fiordland offer spectacular steep cliff diving.

Sea conditions are at their best in summer and autumn (December-May), when the weather is settled, underwater visibility is good and marine life is abundant.

Amongst abundant fish life on reefs and drop-offs near the Northland coast there is also an artificial reef dive on the Greenpeace Ship ‘Rainbow Warrior’. The ship is beautifully coated with jewel anemones and sponges and is home to a huge variety of fish life.

The former navy frigate F421 HMNZS Canterbury was sunk in Deep Water Cove in late 2007 adding to Northland’s drive trail. It will, in time, become an excellent artificial reef for inshore fish and marine life.

The ‘Poor Knights’ have been rated by the late Jacques Cousteau as being one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. The marine reserve covers a vast range of topography including caves, arches, walls, pinnacles, brightly coloured reefs and sponge gardens where wonderful underwater photographic opportunities abound.

The overpowering rugged beauty of the Fiordland World Heritage Area is not confined to the mountains, lakes and rivers. This special place is also the exciting new frontier of scuba diving in New Zealand. Deep inside the many sheltered fiords along the west coast there is exceptionally good visibility for diving the steep cliff faces.

Heavy rainfall produces a surface layer of fresh water in the fiords. This tannin-coloured layer reduces light levels, deceiving deep water marine life like black coral and groper into believing their habitat is substantially deeper than it actually is. This results in outstanding underwater diving.

Welcome to an underwater wonderland like no other! The clear warm waters that surround Australia offer up a rich diversity of treasures for the complete novice snorkeler and experienced certified divers alike.

For most international visitors, diving in Australia is almost synonymous with Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. And whilst this natural wonder is undoubtedly the jewel in Australia’s underwater crown, there are opportunities to submerge yourself with the many wonders of the deep right around the country: from the giant kelp forests in Tasmania to the coral encrusted wrecks in Darwin’s tropical harbour.

The choice is endless, even when it comes to exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Stretching some 2000km along the length of the Queensland seaboard there are literally hundreds of opportunities to slip on a snorkel or don the diving gear to explore this kaleidoscope of living colour.

Warm and cold currents collide to deliver a unique collection of spectacular marine life in the world’s southern most coral reefs that fringe the World Heritage listed Lord Howe Island. And at Heron Island, you can step straight off the sands to join the brightly coloured fish in an endless garden of coral.

Watch quietly as butterfly, parrot and angel fish dance between the corals of the Whitsunday’s fringing reefs. The island resorts offer opportunities to join a dive course, a marine biologist guided snorkelling tour or day trips to the outer reef.

Further North, Lizard Island’s purpose built dive boat provides access to some of Australia’s most celebrated sites; whilst Haggerstone’s remote coral gardens lie just off the beach and nearby shipwrecks reveal colourful sunken jewels.

Back on the mainland, Cairns and Port Douglas are the natural gateways for a variety of reef expeditions. Half day trips to the picturesque Low Isles offer the opportunity to swim with graceful green turtles. Luxury wave piercing boats jet to the Outer Reef where permanent pontoons offer a wide range of options for exploring the technicolour beauty. Dive, snorkel or cruise the reef on an underwater scooter! Whilst those who prefer to keep their hair dry can try a stroll along the lagoon floor in a sea helmet, grab a snorkeler’s view of the reef from a semi-submersible or watch divers and fish drift past the windows of underwater viewing observatories. Multi-day live aboard cruises deliver avid adventurers to the beautifully decorated caves and drop offs of the Coral Sea Reefs, some 350km from the mainland.

Equally as vibrant, on the other side of the continent, Ningaloo Reef stretches out from the beach offering a year round calendar of breathtaking experiences. Dolphins and dugongs swim in these waters all year round, whilst manta rays and humpback whales visit between June and November. Turtles nest over the summer months and the coral spawns in March; but few experiences can rival swimming with the world’s largest fish, the docile whale sharks (up to 18m long) which visit these waters between April and June.

To the North, the remote coral atolls of Rowley Shoals invite divers on a heart racing adventure drifting on the tides shoulder to fin with schooling fish, reef sharks and giant potato cod through channels of colourful corals.

In the State’s south, visitors can swim through stunning sea grass meadows and explore countless well preserved wrecks with the local wobbegongs and rays. Head to Busselton Jetty’s Underwater Observatory to see vividly coloured corals, sponges and fish without even wetting your toes.

Dip into the deep dark waters off South Australia in a cage to experience the adrenalin pumping thrill of coming face to face with a Great White shark; and along the Limestone Coast divers can explore the freshwater caves and sink holes beneath Mt Gambier’s extinct volcano.

Following the Great Ocean Road, a trail of caves, kelp forests and shipwrecks draw divers into the deep. Whilst snorkelers heading out from Portsea Pier can swim with sea horses and dolphins in Port Philip Bay.

Even in the heart of Australia’s largest metropolis visitors can join a dive course, snorkel with schools of fish and colourful corals or take the plunge to swim with sharks in Sydney’s Oceanworld Aquarium.

Note: Diving in Australia is subject to a number of regulations and requirements that may differ from diving elsewhere in the world. Experienced divers can hire all the necessary equipment locally and are advised to bring details of their qualifications and log book. All Divers – including those who would like to participate in an introductory or resort dive - will need to complete a medical questionnaire and may require medical assessment by an appropriately qualified physician before. The South Pacific Underwater Medical Society (www.spums.org.au) lists doctors who are authorised to perform these medicals. Children must be at least 12 years of age in order to participate in scuba diving activities in Australia and visitors planning to travel by aircraft are advised not to dive within 24 hours of their onward travel.