zCanon Collective Photography Double Dive on Local Reefs

From AUD $119.00
  • Duration: 5 Hours
  • Location: Mooloolaba, QLD

Whether a novice or an expert, this day offers any camera enthusiast an opportunity to create fantastic photos and enhance their photographic ability. Join us for our Canon Collective date, where we bring in a Canon representative who can best help you get the most out of your underwater photography. 

Don't have a camera and/or an underwater housing? That's generally okay, as we and Canon provide underwater camera setups for these specific days. We do have limited availability though, so please let us know if these cameras are something you would like to take advantage of. At the end of the day, you can also keep the SD card, containing all of the photos you have taken on the day.

On your day, we begin with a pre-dive briefing at the Sunreef shop with a Canon representative, ensuring your camera settings will get you the most promising result. We then arrange any dive equipment that you need to hire, and if you have your own, you can set this up at this time. 

We'll then depart out to the Ex-HMAS Brisbane. Each diver will be given a thorough briefing about the dive as the boat traverses the calm waters of the Mooloolah River. Depending on the day, your photography focus may change. For instance, some days have better visibility than others. If there is less visibility, you may choose to focus more on macro photography. If the water is clearer, landscape shots may be an option. The day's weather, diving conditions, and recent animal sightings also impact what site we will choose for the day, as we try to give you the best result. Once we anchor the boat, the crew will help get all divers into the water. 

The dive will last for 50 minutes, or as soon as a diver or their buddy reaches 50 bar, whichever comes first. You will have 30 minute surface interval, and the Canon representative will also be diving on the trip, so you are welcome to ask any questions whilst on board the boat. 

After you finish your second dive, you'll return to the shop where there is a post-dive briefing and hot wedges and cold drinks ready for you. During this time, the Canon representative will instruct you on how to best get your desired result. Using Adobe Lightroom, we take a look at how to adjust particular settings to maximise each photo's potential. If you are diving with your own gear, the dive crew can also wash your gear for you. This will happen during the briefing, and then you can collect your drying, freshly washed gear before departing. 

Mooloolaba's local reefs offer an abundance of photographic opportunities. Not only is there some fantastic coral coverage, but there are many different fish sheltering around the different coral and rock structures. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different species of fish to photograph. Because of the Sunshine Coast's position, the reefs tend to get both temperate and tropical fish, with different species here at different times of the year. For instance, the warmer waters of summer tend to bring in more eagle rays and leopard sharks, whereas winter ushers in grey nurse sharks. There are other year-round residents, such as the blue-lipped clownfish and Queensland yellowtail angelfish. There are also many different types of invertebrates one can photograph as well, such as decorator crabs, coral banded shrimp, and nudibranchs. The Sunshine Coast is home to more than 750 different species of nudibranchs, giving photographers many different opportunities with just these critters alone! 

Bear in mind that many of our dive sites are +20 meters deep, and whilst we don't require an advanced diver qualification or a nitrox qualification (also known as enriched air, or EANX), both can be handy to have.  We offer nitrox tank fill upgrades for free, which can be helpful when diving a bit deeper for longer. This can impact your dive time for your second dive as our surface interval time is limited. 

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The dive sites:

Our sites will vary depending on conditions on the day but will include Mudjimba Island, Shellacey Reef, Caves, Fairyland, Wobby Rock, the Trench, and Hanging Rock. These sites have decent coral coverage, many macro opportunities, and cater to both the beginner and advanced diver. Visibility can vary from 10 to 20 meters with the sites' proximity to the coast and recent weather conditions. Depths vary from 10 to up to 30 meters and it is common to find many tropical fish, nudibranchs, and different crustaceans at these locations. 

Night diving on these beautiful locations brings out a lot of different critters too! Lobsters, shrimps, moray eels, giant trevallies and turtles (if you’re lucky)!


Fairyland: This magical site has a maximum depth of 17 meters, accessible for all qualification levels. It is a lovely 5 meter wall, 50 meters in length. The top of the wall sits in 12 meters

of water and boasts some of the largest plate corals you will see on our reefs. It is home to an array of tropical reef fishes including the ever popular clown fish, nudibranch, eagle rays, moray eels, barracuda and turtles.

Mudjimba Island: This sheltered reef is perfect for training dives, snorkelers and even the most experienced divers will enjoy the colours this site has to offer. A lovely wall ranging from 16 meters up to 5 meters homes crayfish, wobbegong sharks, loads of nudibranch, cowries shells and even the occasional turtle, along with all the tropical reef fish and corals you would expect from Mooloolaba reefs.

Wobby Rock: As the name suggests this is the site to see wobbegong sharks. This site also has a lot more to offer. With lovely boulders to explore and small swim throughs, this site is also a good spot to search for the grey nurse sharks that use it as a transitional home. You will also encounter large schools of surgeon fish and the occasional turtle.

Caves: This shallow site is often used for our training dives with a maximum depth of 12 meters and a small 1 to 3 metre ledge which homes schools of surgeonfish, wobbegong sharks, small tropical reef fish and turtles. This is the site that we occasionally see manta rays gliding by or stopping for a clean by the cleaner fish on top of the ledge.

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Reminder for divers:

Please note you will be required to fill out a Divers Statement after booking. This is to be filled out one  time only. If you answer "yes" to taking medication (other than contraception and malaria medication), having an injury or illness that may affect your ability to dive, you will need doctors clearance before diving with us. If you are pregnant/trying to become pregnant, you cannot dive. 

As with all dives, the night dive is subject to weather, and we will send out an email and text the day before at 3:30 pm to confirm the trip and its departure time. 

Please note if you have not dived in the last 2 years you will be required to complete a Scuba Review/Refresher course before you can participate in any diving activities.

These can be arranged on most days at set times provided we have at least 3 days notice. Please contact us on 07 5444 5656 for more information.

This is also in open water and we suggest that you look into seasickness medication to minimize the chance of it impacting your trip.