Where to go Australia

[redbenn]

I am a college student and I am planning on studying abroad in Australia for a semester. There are many different universities to chose from, but since I am a diver, I want one that would be in close proximity to good diving. Since I have never been to Australia, I really do not know the geography of the country, so I do not know which cities that the U's are in would be closest to good diving. I was wondering if anyone had any recomendations, here are a list of the U's I am looking at:
Bond University - Gold Coast, Queensland.
Griffith University - Brisbane and Gold Coast, Queensland.
James Cook University - Townsville or Cairns, Queensland.
University of Melbourne - Melbourne, Victoria
University of Queensland - Brisbane, Queensland.
University of New South Wales - Sydney, New South Wales.

I am guessing no one has any real knowledge of any of the U's, but if you can tell me some that would be great. What I am mainly looking for is that the college would be in a close proximity to diving. Thanks a lot.

Adam

 

[blacklatexozdiver]

Any of the Queensland universities would be good especially James Cook Uni. They have specialised courses in Marine Biology as the GBR is next door. I'm biased and will say the West Oz unis are the way to go - UWA, Murdoch, Edith Cowan, Curtin or Notre Dame but I'm a West Aussie and we do that. LOL

 

[cdiver2]

I am a college student and I am planning on studying abroad in Aulstralia for a semester. There are many different universities to chose from, but since I am a diver, I want one that would be in close proximity to good diving. Since I have never been to Aulstralia, I really do not know the geography of the country, so I do not know which cities that the U's are in would be closest to good diving. I was wondering if anyone had any recomendations, here are a list of the U's I am looking at:
Bond University - Gold Coast, Queensland.
Griffith University - Brisbane and Gold Coast, Queensland.
James Cook University - Townsville or Cairns, Queensland.
University of Melbourne - Melbourne, Victoria
University of Queensland - Brisbane, Queensland.
University of New South Wales - Sydney, New South Wales.

Or the type of diving you want to do ?. The diving in Oz is very diverse, if you want to do tropical diving the the further north you go in Queensland the better. Hope this helps.

 

[baitedstorm]

Where ever you decide to go to school at, you definetly have to go to Exmouth in W.A. Its the greatest dive I've ever been on. The dive op was the Exmouth Dive Center and I'll tell you, they rocked. They are right behind the PotShot hotel that even offers discounted backpacker accommodations. I missed the whale shark dive, the pod was still to far out, but I had an awesome time and can't wait to go back again next year.

 

[IslandHopper]

I good friend of mine went to JCU for a couple years .... He spent more time diving than studying ... GBR is close, water is warm, Cairns isn't too far away if you feel like going to "the big city"

It's also close to some great "outback" hiking if you like land-based exercise.

 

[underwater]

Hiya,

Whether you go to cold(ish) Melbourne, tropical North Queensland, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney or even Perth, diving all around Australia is GREAT. You will find enthusiastic dive clubs that organise trips away etc at almost every Uni - I have to know I was Prez at Sydney Uni Dive Club for three years and we took loads of international students to our local dive sites - but also up and down the coast on trips away.

For a good idea on what kind of diving awaits you around Australia, check out www.underwater.com.au - Dive Mega Site for Australia. Photos, stories, operators, clubs ...

See you underwater ...

Tim

 

[My-way]

Try the following sites.

www.muuc.org.au Melbourne Uni Dive Club, My club so I am biased.

Plenty of diving, though we have had trouble with our boats of late, thank goodness for insurance and warranties.

http://www.tuu.com.au/club_homepage.asp?clubid=4293 University of Tasmania dive club.

Melbourne is South, in the State of Victoria.

Tasmania is further South, in the State of Tasmania.

There is a huge range of diving in Australia.

I spent more time diving at Uni that going to Uni so it is not just Northern Unis that have that experience.

Also check www.diveoz.com.au go to forums and register there as there are heaps of people that will respond and give honest and usually unaffiliated advice on whats hot and whats not is diving in AU.

Also bear in mind like most US colleges, Universities in Australia also have their own recognised areas of excellence. You will get a great education at them all, but some have better names and more contacts than others.

Cheers.

 

[Koolaidjob]

Youll be satisfied with the diving the further north you go, but if I had to live/study for a while over there I would definitely go with Sydney or Melbourne.