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Wind
Wind doesn't affect you much when you're underwater, but can make your surface time pretty uncomfortable--either in a boat or floating on the surface. Although conditions can change, a typical Perth day will start with winds coming from the East (or more usually South-East), then they'll switch to the West about an hour or two before lunch--the Fremantle Doctor. In summer, these winds can be quite strong--which is why I like diving in the morning.
If the winds come for the east, that's when you'll see me licking my lips and getting my dive gear out. However if the winds are from the west, that's when you start seeing some serious 'chop' on the water. If you're diving around Rottnest Island, you can find some of the more sheltered bays to protect you from these winds, but you're going to think twice before shore diving anywhere on the coast (though you can try Bells at Rockingham or Ammo Jetty at Woodman's Point). This is when diving in the river becomes an attractive option.
Swell
Swell comes from storms further away. While wind affects the surface, swell is slower, and goes deeper in the water. This is where you start feeling like you're in a washing machine during a dive--being swept backwards and forwards. The swells around Perth can surprise divers new to our conditions, but when you think that we've got an exposed coastline with nothing between us and Africa, it's no surprise.
You can certainly shelter from swells if you can find some land to put between them and you. Swells usually come from the South West, so look for bays in Rottnest Island, or some of the more sheltered dive sites around places like Rockingham and Woodman's Point. As a rule of thumb I think twice before diving on the coast when swells out at sea are more than 2m, and Sea Lion usually won't go out if the swells are more than 2.5m (or the winds start getting higher than 20 knots).
Scuba Diving in the River
If you're diving in the river, then there's no need to worry about swell, and you'll get at least some shelter from the wind. But you many want to give a quick thought about the tides. The tidal currents in some parts of the river are very strong, though most of my favourite river dive spots are well sheltered.
Finding Information
OK, that's all great--but where can you find weather information? The Bureau of Meteorology has a great website about the weather, and the State Government has a website with cameras so you can actually see the waves on some of the beaches. Go to the links section on our website (www.dolphindiveshop.com/WeatherLinks.htm).
But for my money, the best place to get information is www.seabreeze.com.au. This site was created for windsurfers--but windsurfers and divers are interested in the same things--except that they like strong winds. This site has some great graphs that give you predicted wind direction and speed, and swells up to a week in advance. They've also got tide information for you.
Another great place to get information is from those friendly folks at Dolphin Dive Fremantle. So if you're not sure about your dive site or just want some ideas, then come in and talk to us. And of course if you don't want to have to worry about reading the weather, come and dive with us.
So there it is--a quick guide to Perth's weather for divers. I reckon that autumn is the best time to go diving in Perth--the water is warmer, the swell is down, and the winds are gentler. So get out there and check out some of the great diving around Perth!
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