How do I book and how far in advance shall I book? The easiest way to book a dive, snorkel or whale watching trip is to give us a call on 1800 858 155 or +61-488904411 if calling from overseas and talk to one of our friendly staff. Please note that we will require your credit card details as security for the booking, so please have your card details ready. You can also contact us through the email form on our contact us page or send us an email to info@bluebaydivers.com.au. Please note that bookings are essential for all trips.
What is the water temperature? The water temperature on the Far North Coast of New South Wales ranges from a maximum of 26 degrees at the end of summer (February/ March) to a minimum of 18 degrees in late winter (August/ September).
What will I see on the dive? Diving off Byron Bay changes with the seasons, but is spectacular all year round. The colder water from June to November brings in Grey Nurse Sharks, whereas the warmer water brings lots of Leopard Sharks and Manta Rays to the area (December to May). Marine life is plentiful all year round. On a typical dive, you would see a few turtles, huge schools of big fish such as Jewfish, Kingfish, Snapper and Trevally, Eagle Rays or Bullrays and lots of smaller creatures such as cuttle fish, octopus, nudibranchs and all sorts of shrimps and crabs. If you would like to find out in more detail what you can expect to see at a specific dive site, read through our dive site descriptions.
Which dive site will we go to and what depth will we dive to? Generally, we will pick the best dive sites on the day with regard to weather conditions and divers’ experience levels. If you have any preference, please advice when making your booking and we will try our best to make it happen.
Do I need to bring my own dive gear? At Blue Bay Divers we have a full selection of brand new MARES hire gear in all sizes, so you can travel light and take advantage of our gear hire packages.
Will there be dangerous Jellyfish in the water? Fortunately, there is no dangerous Jellyfish in the waters of Northern NSW. The dangerous Box Jellyfish is found much further North in the tropical waters of Queensland.
What if a trip gets cancelled due to bad weather? If we deem sea or bar conditions to be dangerous or extremely unpleasant for our customers, we will cancel the trip and give you a full refund. To avoid inconvenience, we will try to give you as much notice as possible by studying forecasts and observing sea conditions. However, forecasts can be inaccurate and sea conditions can change unexpectedly. If you have any doubt about the conditions or if you are travelling far, please give us a call on the day before departure.
What if I get seasick? The “Bay Warrior” is an extremely comfortable and stable boat. Even though our cat is much more stable than a regular boat, we highly recommend seasicknes tablets if you haven’t got your “sea legs” yet.
What if I haven’t dived in the last 12 months? Depending on your number of dives and your certification level, a refresher may be required. Please advise our staff when you’re booking in, so we can discuss what’s required. We don’t offer any dive training at Blue Bay Divers, so you would have to organize a refresher beforehand. We can recommend reputable dive schools in the area.
Can I bring a phone or a camera that is not waterproof? The “Bay Warrior” has a dry cabin where you can store items you want to keep dry for the duration of the trip. For cameras that are not waterproof, we recommend that you take photos through the windows of the cabin. When taking the camera outside, be aware that spray from the ocean or the movement of the boat (or a breaching whale…) could damage your camera.
What is your cancellation policy? For individual bookings, we will fully refund any booking that is cancelled at least 48 hours before departure of the trip. For groups of 4 or more, we require 5 days notice.
