Well the new Rapid Bay Jetty has been open now for a few weeks and I can honestly say it is worth the wait and worth the cost.
I have been diving Rapid Bay Jetty for more years than I care to remember. I remember the long walk to the old T-section and the original diver’s platform. Back then you would cart your day’s diving gear out in the morning, set up camp and dive and enjoy surface intervals right there where you jumped in the water. All that came to an end with the closure of the old jetty some years back.
For many years now diving the jetty has meant an ankle twisting rocky shore entry and exit and a very long swim out and back leaving little strength or enthusiasm for multiple dives. That has all changed now with the opening of the new jetty along side the old one.
The new jetty runs parallel to the old one and for about half the original jetty’s length providing a nice easy walk from the car park to the new divers platform. The divers platform has been staged so that there is ‘walk in’ access over quite a range of tide heights. On a really low tide you might need to use the ladder on the bottom platform. All this beats scrambling over an unstable rocky beach by far.
Rapid Bay Jetty is a wonderful dive and a photographer’s dream when the visibility is good. It is famous as a haunt for Leafy Seadragons and attracts visitors from all over the world who come to see these fantastic creatures. With the new jetty they can now dive in safety and comfort.
Until the next post, take care out there and keep diving ( if that’s what you do! ) …Robert 🙂
Photo: Robert Rath C7070 1/125s at f/2.8 ISO100, Inon D2000 Strobe + Natural Light, Jetty – Courtesy ten.com.au
I certainly remember how scary that ‘jump’ into the water was but also my absolute amazement at the fish life amongst the pylons 🙂
Aaaah, yet another opportunity to love the local leafies!
Yes, the new jetty is fab!
xo
Hi Robert, great shot. Haven’t been in the water since January. Just to busy. At least I can look at your site and keep the lust for another dive going. catch up soon. Paul
Hi Robert,
Amazing photo of Leafy! I realise it’s more than 2 years since you posted it but on the offchance that you see this…
Photos like yours have inspired me to visit Rapid Bay for some diving but I’m only able to come Monday – Friday (in October 2011). Have you any tips for dive operators / travel to Rapid Bay / Accommodation.
Thanks a lot!
Sinead
Thanks Sinead,
We have some fantastic diving here in Adelaide so please don’t just limit yourself to Rapid Bay if you have the time.
Any of the Adelaide dive shops will be able to provide good hire gear. Some also provide ‘Leafy Seadragon Tours’ as do I ;-).
Accomodation really comes down to your other activities and if you are planning to stay close to any one location. From a diving perspective being close to an air-fill location is always important.
… Robert