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3 Best Dive Sites for Macro Life on Australian Reefs

3 Best Dive Sites for Macro Life on Australian Reefs

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on April 28, 2013

Muck diving, critter catching, or macro diving — whatever one calls it, searching out life’s tiniest and strangest creatures can be an extremely rewarding venture. Macro diving is chiefly the hobby of dive photographers, but some divers are just in it for the experience. To capture small-scale life with vibrant colors and sharp detail is the name of the game, and reefs are the prime spots for great macro diving. When looking for macro life on the Great Barrier Reef and other reefs of Australia, remember that small crevices make for plenty of spaces for small animals to live, and shallow waters provide great lighting for photography. Though this reef is widely known for whales, sharks, and other large fish, it is not without its own population of fascinating tiny characters as well. Here are just 3 of the best dive sites for macro life on Australia’s reefs.

Ningaloo Reef

Right off the coast of Western Australia, just near the Navy Pier, there lies the Ningaloo Reef. Perhaps one of the best shore dives of all the coast accessible reef dive sites, the Ningaloo Reef is a perfect spot for macro diving. Shallow, clear waters make for great lighting and a fantastic opportunity to capture smaller macro life. As the pier is still an active defense site, the number of divers allowed on the reef is limited and all dives are guided. Though perhaps a little inconvenient, this makes for an excellent environment to check out smaller, shyer creatures on the reef.

Agincourt Reef

This area of the Great Barrier Reef is actually a series of smaller connected reefs. A treasure trove of action, there are sixteen major attractions along Agincourt including Fish Bowl, Point Break, Three Sisters, and the Cathedral. Broken reef and coral create a unique geography that allows smaller life to thrive in nooks and crannies. Clownfish, crustaceans, and other small creatures make their home all across this area. It may take a little bit of hunting, but colorful fish and bright coral abound along this stretch of the Great Barrier Reef.

Split Bommie

This shallow wall dive is perfect for macro photographers of all levels. Fan coral and sea anemones make perfect homes for small fish and other creatures. Between the cracks of the two bommies live lobster and other small crustaceans. A relaxing dive, macro divers are able to take a breath and seek out the small, often strange creatures of this reef. Great for beginning divers, the shallows of Split Bommie also provide fantastic lighting for photography.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro