Local divers embrace the solitude

Blake Dawson partner Roger Davies may be one of Perth's top corporate lawyers, but it wasn't the business world that attracted him to Perth.

Instead, it was the beauty of Western Australia's dive sites that drew the British expat to these shores 18 years ago.

"My decision to migrate was largely due to the diving, with the hope of going into a diving-related business," the former president of Birmingham University's diving club said.

Despite now devoting less time to diving than he'd like, Mr Davies remains eager to share his enthusiasm.

"This sport exposes you to sights you would simply never otherwise discover. In Perth, you are within a 30-minute drive of a world-class underwater experience. What other capital city offers you that?"

Certainly not Birmingham, where Mr Davies had his first diving experience - in the local swimming pool.

Citing Exmouth and the popular HMAS Swan dive wreck in Dunsborough among his favourite diving destinations, Mr Davies also revealed to Business Class what he considers WA's best-kept diving secret.

"Diving at Rowley Shoals is easily better than the Great Barrier Reef. The marine life is unbeatable, and the place remains isolated and unspoilt," he said.

Also on the list of top WA destinations are the world-renowned Ningaloo Reef, famous for its annual April-May whale-shark season, as well as Cocos and Christmas islands.

WA has about 31 dive sites and 11 wreck sites, with 13 dive clubs and 32 dive shops, according to Diveoz.

"For the true experts, Canada, Thailand, Indonesia and the US are the destinations of choice, catering to the flocking crowds," Allways Dive Expeditions manager Jeff Skinner said. "Those considering a major resort development on these shores find there simply isn't enough of a market in isolated WA."

But this state can still claim to have some of the world's best diving spots.

"The rising cost of fuel, along with the ever-present shortage of time and money, mean many are now looking intra-state for their next getaway," Mr Skinner said.

While the industry has experienced declining diver numbers during the past three years nationally, WA has sustained its rate of dive tourism from both interstate and overseas.

For the local enthusiasts, the lively social scene is an added attraction.

"Our diving club, Manta, has a 6,000-strong membership and organises three WA-based free-to-members dive trips a week, as well as three long-haul trips a year, including to the Antarctic," Perth Scuba dive training academy manager Lee Johnson said.

If diving beneath the ice sounds a little extreme, a basic open-water course is a more sedate introduction to the sport, and starts from $595 for three days at one of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) centres.

"Learning to dive is like learning to drive," Perth Diving Academy director Simon Jones said.

"The more you practice, the more confident you'll be. Learning in WA, with its relatively cool 20-degree waters, trains you well for 95 per cent of open waters in the world.

"Diving is one of the truly great adventures, exploring sites you would never otherwise see, whether your purpose is to fish, take photos, or simply explore."

And you don't need to travel far from home to experience some of the best diving in the world, according to Mr Jones.

"Having dived all over the world, few places beat a day exploring at Rottnest," he said.

With 50 per cent of Perth Diving Academy customers now coming from the corporate sector, the company is looking to capitalise on the growing trend and has already organised team diving courses, designed as a group exercise - and a treat - for staff.

And while only 5 per cent of participants are then likely to continue as regular divers, Mr Jones said "all would have an experience they are unlikely to forget".

Off WA's south coast, Albany is gaining a reputation as a diving destination with its marine life and wrecks, including HMAS Perth.

The wreck of the former whale chaser, Cheynes III, off Michaelmas Island, is popular with beginners.

Scuttled in 1982 to a depth of 22 metres, the Cheynes III was the first prepared dive wreck in the Southern Hemisphere. HMAS Perth (35m) also attracts a large number of divers.

More experienced divers head out to the 'Boneyard', an eerie collection of whale bones best viewed at night.

Uwe Klinge, owner of Albany diving store and school, Albanydive.com, said the south coast had a huge variety of diving sites to suit all levels of experience.

"It's unique in the sense that you'll find a blend of tropical and sub-tropical species of fish. It's such a melting pot of marine life down there,'' he said.