Dive In And Experience The Magic Of The Ocean
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday October 2, 2004
The underwater world can be a fascinating place and with Leisure Coast Dive you can explore some of the best spots the ocean has to offer.
Leisure Coast Dive in Shellharbour is a retail shop, which specialises in spear fishing and dive equipment, but it also runs scuba diving tours and spear fishing charters."We are one of the few places in the region that runs spear fishing charters," said Julie Duncan, who runs the business with husband Ron.Leisure Coast Dive operates a 24-foot fibreglass shark cat boat, which can accommodate up to eight people plus the driver of the boat."The spear fishing charters are either conducted locally at Bass Point and up around the islands or blue water spear fishing is done out at The Banks," Mrs Duncan said."People have come back from the spear fishing charters with some great fish."The shop hires scuba diving gear and hires some of the equipment for spear fishing.A variety of diving courses are available at Leisure Coast Dive, catering for all levels of interest, ranging from snorkelling to open water and a range of specialty courses including rescue and search and recovery. "We can even take you all the way through to becoming an instructor," Mrs Duncan said.Ron Duncan, the chief instructor certifier, has been diving for the past 27 years and has done around 18,000 dives locally, nationally and internationally.One of the most popular spots for the dive tours is around Bass Point and Bushrangers Bay but dives can been done anywhere from Five Islands in Port Kembla to Jervis Bay."Bass Point offers the best shore diving experience on the NSW Coast," Mrs Duncan said.The area is teeming with sea life including coral and sponges, blue gropers, marlin, kingfish, weedy sea dragons, turtles, rays, seals and in whale season its not uncommon to be in the water and see whales out at sea.Leisure Coast Dive was awarded Australia's Most Popular Regional Dive Centre in 2002/2003.Charters, dive trips and courses are available every weekend; bookings are essential.Leisure Coast Dive is located at Shop 2, 17 Addison St, Shellharbour (at the bottom of the hill). For more information call the shop on 4296 3644 or visit www.leisurecoastdive.com.au
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury
