Scuba diving in Busselton

Geographe Bay is home to some awesome scuba diving spots.

The warm waters of the Leeuwin current have created the perfect environment for an abundance of colourful tropical and sub-tropical marine life.

Described as Australia's greatest artificial reef, Busselton Jetty is rated as one of the best dive sites in the country.

There's an amazing forest of brightly coloured corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates sheltering beneath the old karri timber supports, making it suitable for novices and expert divers.

The warm currents, shade and protection offered by the jetty structure has resulted in more than 300 individual species of fish and coral being recorded.

You're likely to see schools of yellow fin, old wives and bullseyes, tiny porcupine fish, the striking pineapple fish, as well as rays, octopi and cuttlefish hidden amongst the timbers.

All local dive operators take group tours to the area and some offer night dives at the jetty, as well as to the amazing underwater world surrounding the former HMAS Swan.

This scuttled battleship at nearby Dunsborough was Western Australia's first prepared wreck and offers a real adrenalin rush.

The wreck sits 32 metres below the surface at its deepest point and a minor list to its left side and abundance of colourful fish make it a classic and interesting dive. Other popular dive spots accessible through local charter trips are Four Mile Reef and Wright Bank.

Four Mile Reef, so called because its distance from shore, extends across the width of Geographe Bay and is home to coral, sponges and schools of fish including tuna and samson. It's one of the most popular reef dives sites near Busselton and is perfect for novices, with some operators using this spot as a training site for beginners.

The reef resulted from its position on an earth quake fault line and exists as a large crevice on the ocean bed, some 18 metres below the sea level.

Experienced divers will find Wright Bank the ultimate buzz. Here, the temperate and tropical waters collide creating a kaleidoscope of colour and huge species of marine life.

Located about 4km from Cape Naturaliste the undulating sea bed 55 metres below the surface, strong currents and large swells means Wright Bank is only suitable for skilled divers and accessible between February and April.

Courtesy Internet