Diving Stradbroke Island, Australia

Manta rays at Stradbroke Island’s famed Manta Bommie dive website are used to divers and sometimes get very shut—supplied nobody swims onto the cleansing station (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/200s, ISO 160)

 

At the final OzTek/ADEX Australia dive present, I caught up with Dan Fitzgerald and James Griffith from Manta Lodge, a dive heart based mostly on North Stradbroke Island, a brief ferry journey from Brisbane, Queensland. They regaled me with tales of education eagle rays, plenty of spinner sharks, and even security cease humpback whales. To say my curiosity was piqued could be an understatement. This seemed like Galápagos-level motion on the doorstep of Australia’s third-largest metropolis. I needed to see it for myself and, in September 2025, I lastly did.

Manta Lodge sits on the northern tip of North Stradbroke Island—known as “Straddie” by locals. Getting there’s easy: a 25-minute ferry journey from Cleveland, south Brisbane, which is a few 45-minute drive from Brisbane International Airport. The dive heart additionally operates as a youth hostel, the place I stayed in a snug non-public room with a shared rest room. Dorm choices embrace four-bed and six-bed rooms. If you’re after extra privateness or a extra upmarket really feel, there are many lodging decisions elsewhere on Straddie—solely a brief drive away—however I appreciated the comfort of staying proper subsequent to my dive gear.

 

North Stradbroke island on an excellent climate day: The well-liked Manta Bommie dive website sits close to these foreground islets

 

A easy however handy non-public room, simply above the dive heart and a mere 400 ft from a shocking seaside

 

Dive briefings occurred within the shade of eucalyptus timber after the boat was loaded. They had been all the time informative and entertaining—particularly on the morning a koala above us wakened and determined to get on along with his day!

 

Every dive begins off on the sandy seaside—with a tractor used to launch and get well the boat!

Tech-Diving Friendly

My spouse Lena and I had dived with Manta Lodge as soon as earlier than—simply previous to the beginning of the COVID pandemic—and we nonetheless remembered the adrenaline-charged expertise: seaside launches with a tractor, and the exhilarating marine life at Manta Bommie. Back then, Manta Lodge was primarily a leisure dive operation, and our rEvo rebreathers undoubtedly stood out on the boat.

In the years since, they’ve advanced into one among Australia’s most lively tech-diving facilities. They hire and prepare divers on the Mares Horizon SCR and rEvo CCR, and have not too long ago added the Halcyon Symbios CCR to their coaching choices. Twinset and sidemount divers are welcome, too. Drysuits and diver propulsion autos are among the many different “cool toys” you possibly can strive throughout their annual Tech Diving Weekend. (Ladies, take notice: They additionally run a girls-only tech weekend.)

Importantly, Manta Lodge hasn’t dropped its leisure choices. They run guided leisure boat dives nearly each day, however their fleet of three boats offers them flexibility: They can run tech-only boats, the place the usual “two × 50-minute dives” is changed by a single 90–120-minute dive.

 

Manta Lodge is a kind of few dive facilities the place you possibly can have a bubble-free dive information. Here, Taylah is kitted up with a rEvo CCR and confirmed me round throughout an incredible two-hour dive (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/80s, ISO 320)

Manta Bommie

The aptly-named Manta Bommie is commonly ranked amongst Australia’s prime dive websites—and for good motive. Reef mantas are constantly seen right here from October to April after they go to the bommies (an Aussie time period for big underwater coral heads/rock buildings) for parasite cleansing. With solely two dive facilities visiting the positioning, it feels far much less crowded than many well-known manta areas elsewhere on the earth. Divers are allowed to settle close to the cleansing stations, and the mantas stay relaxed, so long as everybody stays low and avoids swimming straight at them.

Once everybody has had their manta fill, your information leads you away from the bommies to a large stretch of white sand that extends so far as the attention can see. This space is often uncovered to a fast-flowing present. It appears like an underwater freeway and also you’re primarily invited to merge into visitors for an exhilarating 700–1,000-feet journey earlier than taking the following exit, and swimming again to the bommies.

 

I used to be comfortable sufficient to identify this cowtail stingray, which I started photographing, solely to be photobombed by two manta rays gliding via the background! Fun reality: Manta season usually begins in October and so they weren’t alleged to be there but. I suppose they didn’t get the memo—we noticed 5 of them on September twenty first! (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/60s, ISO 320)

 

James Griffith, proprietor of Manta Lodge, guiding us on his Symbios CCR. He noticed three big guitarfish proper as we obtained right down to the positioning and one among them is seen on the far left of the picture (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 500)

 

When the present is working, this “highway” reliably delivers an assortment of marine megafauna. On each go to, I’ve encountered the critically endangered big guitarfish, and I’ve additionally had a manta ray and a squadron of mobula rays “fly” over me. On that sandy stretch, leopard sharks are generally seen throughout the summer time months, from December via February, and I even noticed my first reticulate whipray in the identical space. The better part? All of that is accessible to leisure divers, with a most depth of fifty ft—sensible!

 

A reticulate whipray partially buried within the sand. The species is recognizable by the maze-like patterns on its again (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/160s, ISO 250)

 

As I used to be slowly approaching the enormous guitarfish (proper of the picture), a reef manta ray out of the blue appeared above me. Two days later, we had 4 mobula rays swim over us on the identical spot. Manta Bommie definitely ranks amongst my very favourite dive websites (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/100s, ISO 200)

Stradbroke on Rebreather

Over the previous decade and a half, I’ve dived nearly solely with rebreathers. They let you dive in silence and get nearer to marine life, particularly shy species like big guitarfish. That stated, at Manta Bommie itself, the diving is so distinctive that I don’t really feel that I essentially noticed extra animals than open-circuit divers did.

It’s a special story, nevertheless, at a number of the different websites ceaselessly visited by Manta Lodge. At these areas, the crew has noticed encounters that they both don’t see on open circuit—or see in a lot decrease numbers—and that’s precisely what they wished to indicate me throughout my September journey.

 

You will seemingly see big guitarfish at Manta Bommie on open circuit, however a rebreather makes it far simpler to strategy them for a photograph (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 200)

 

On my first go to to Roaring Deep, a website working alongside the underside of Flat Rock Island at round 100 ft, we encountered a swarm of noticed eagle rays. I admired them from a distance, solely to observe them disappear regardless of the silence of our CCRs. I assumed they had been just too cautious to {photograph}, even on rebreathers. However, Dan signaled me to attend—and to stay fully nonetheless. No swimming round to search for different photographic topics, simply keep very nonetheless. I adopted his recommendation, and the adrenaline hit after I noticed one ray return, then two, then three, and at last the whole college, passing proper overhead at touching distance. In reality, they swam over us three separate occasions!

By then, we’d accrued roughly 20 minutes of decompression time and started ascending. On the way in which up, we had been buzzed by a bull shark, then encountered a big marbled ray, then barracudas and education fish within the shallows—even a lone grey nurse shark cruised previous. All on a single dive.

 

Spotted eagle rays are naturally curious however you’d sometimes see one or two glide close to you earlier than disappearing. Having this college come again over us thrice was really particular (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, sinlge Retra Flash Pro Max II strobe, f/14, 1/200s, ISO 500)

 

Barracudas circling above Dan as we began ascending (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, f/13, 1/100s, ISO 400)

 

The writer, getting up shut and private with a leopard shark, courtesy of diving on a rebreather. Leopard shark sightings change into frequent later within the 12 months, however throughout our September keep, we had been the one ones to see them, fairly deep, whereas diving rebreathers (Nikon D500, Nauticam housing, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 Fisheye, twin Backscatter Hybrid Flash strobes, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 500)

 

The second time I dived Roaring Deep, we noticed three leopard sharks lounging at depth. September is sooner than they’re often noticed within the season. Further away, we encountered three massive marbled rays accompanied by a swarm of bannerfish, and as we ascended previous 50 ft, we noticed one thing we’d heard on nearly each dive: a humpback whale leisurely swimming by.

Dan later advised me that an increasing number of humpbacks appear to linger round Stradbroke Island every year in August and September, and a few of them appear to take an curiosity in divers. The employees even run a casual contest to see who racks up essentially the most whale encounters on scuba. My information Taylah was main the pack—this was her sixth whale encounter simply this 12 months!

On our third CCR go to to Roaring Deep, we had a “fever” of cownose rays go by—and after we seemed up, about 50 ft above us, we noticed a faculty of spinner sharks cruising slowly via the blue. They saved their distance, however I’m advised that later within the season, they change into extra assured, and divers drifting throughout prolonged security stops can find yourself with loads of sharky firm. Later on that very same dive, we tacked on a lemon shark and one other grey nurse shark to the elasmobranch tally.

During my fourth dive at Roaring Deep, the whale tune grew louder and louder. I seemed up once more, partly hoping for spinner sharks, and as a substitute noticed an enormous shadow glide previous. My second humpback encounter on scuba—solely two days after the primary!

 

In the final eight years, I’ve spent tons of of hours diving alongside Australia’s east coast and heard singing humpbacks on many dives, however this was the primary time I’d had a whale come inside a photography-friendly distance. The visibility was about 50 ft that day (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 400)

 

Turtles are ceaselessly seen round Flat Rock, too, particularly close to a shallow overhang spot aptly named Turtle Cave (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 320)

 

For my fifth dive there, visibility dropped under 30 ft, and we couldn’t see as a lot within the open water. Still, as Tee (my CCR buddy for the day) and I glided alongside the reef at nightfall, the place felt electrical. Schooling fish had been in every single place, and a number of other occasions we had been buzzed by a sandbar shark and a few curious noticed eagle rays. At one level, we moved away from the sloping reef within the hope of discovering spinner sharks once more. We didn’t get a detailed go, however we did catch the faint glint of some distinctive dorsal fins proper on the fringe of visibility. I used to be advised I’ll have to return round October or November for nearer encounters.

 

The outsized dorsal fin of the sandbar shark is sort of distinctive. This one was curious however wouldn’t come shut sufficient for a real fisheye shot, and the murky water made it unimaginable to get a clear shot that day. That’s the place having the proper gear and software program makes all of the distinction: The Nauticam FCP provides ample zoom-through flexibility, and BackscatterXTerminator made all particles disappear, letting me maintain a usable shot of that first-time encounter (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/80s, ISO 640)

 

I nearly forgot the sizeable potato groupers! We noticed these charismatic fish on each single dive round Flat Rock (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/80s, ISO 500)

Elasmobranch Bonanza

Sharks and rays are amongst my favourite topics to {photograph}, and over six days of diving with Manta Lodge, I noticed a powerful complete: six shark species (bull shark, grey nurse shark, lemon shark, wobbegong, spinner shark, and sandbar shark) and eight ray species (reef manta, mobula ray, cowtail ray, reticulate stingray, big guitarfish, marbled stingray, noticed eagle ray, and cownose ray).

While manta rays, turtles, wobbegongs, and grey nurse sharks are simple sufficient to strategy on open circuit, a rebreather offers a transparent benefit for higher picture alternatives with a number of the different species listed above. And you by no means know, should you occur to look up each now and again, maybe you’ll be rewarded with a humpback whale singing above you.

 

Gray nurse sharks congregate close to Straddie in winter earlier than migrating south because the water will get hotter (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/80s, ISO 400)

 

The group at Manta Lodge should be recommended not just for the standard of the diving, however for the optimistic, energetic, and genuinely welcoming environment. It’s one of many few operations I’ve seen that really blends leisure and technical diving in a approach that makes everybody really feel included and nicely supported. In hindsight, their effort to get extra of their employees rebreather-certified seemingly performs a giant position in that. On that notice, should you’re contemplating finishing your IDC someplace in Australia, Manta Lodge ought to undoubtedly be in your shortlist.

 

My rebreather buddies on my ultimate dive on Straddie: Chelsea (left) flying her Mares Horizon SCR, and Tee diving her KISS Sidewinder CCR (Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nauticam housing, Canon RF 24–50mm f/4.5–6.3, Nauticam FCP, twin Retra Flash Pro Max II strobes, f/13, 1/100s, ISO 320)

 

The writer wish to thank Manta Lodge for his or her hospitality throughout a one-week keep stuffed with memorable diving.

 

About the Author: Nicolas Remy is an Australia-based professional shooter and founding father of on-line underwater images college and group, The Underwater Club, with members in 18 nations. He serves as an envoy for Nauticam and Mares, and chairs the jury of the celebrated DPG Masters picture competitors. Nicolas’ photographs have been broadly revealed in print and digital media, and have received over 40 worldwide picture awards. To see extra photographs by Nicolas and his spouse Léna, go to their web site, www.nicolaslenaremy.com.