The Scuba Doctor has an excellent range of complete Hookah diving systems (also known as Surface Supply Diving Systems). Hooka dive systems are an alternative to tank based scuba diving and allow descending underwater for extended periods of time with air supplied from the surface.
Hookah diving systems typically consist of a battery or petrol-powered air compressor that delivers air, through a long hose called a down-line, to the diver under the water. Hookah diving does not require the use of a BCD or a first stage regulator. Divers wear a harness, which is the attachment point for the down-line and optional weight belts. Divers use a second stage regulator that's specifically designed for use with a hookah system. A traditional scuba regulator will not work.
There are two types of hookah dive systems: Dynamic and Static. A Dynamic system uses an air compressor to deliver air at the correct pressure. It has a holding or air reserve tank that provides constant pressure. As the air leaves the tank, more air is added to maintain the pressure. The compressor can be fixed or floating, and petrol or electric. A Static system uses a cylinder of compressed gas (often a scuba tank) as the air source.
A fixed compressor is placed on a dock or on a boat while in use. Floating means that the air source is on a floating platform that the diver pulls along with them.
Hookah systems are available in both petrol and electric-powered versions. Petrol systems typically power a higher output compressor, allowing one or two divers to dive and breathe easily. Most commercial hookah diving systems are petrol systems. Petrol systems do require more maintenance than electric versions. They're also a bit louder.
The more 'green' electric systems require less maintenance than petrol systems. They can be recharged on the boat, are quiet, easy to start and less prone to corrosion.
Electric units are more suited to families and fun, plus boat owners wanting to do some underwater maintenance at shallow depths. The petrol units are better suited for cray (lobster) and abalone hunting, plus commercial diving applications.
Please read Introduction to Hookah Diving for more information about things you need to consider with a hookah diving setup.
Reef Dive | Boat access
Depth: 12 m (39 ft) to 18 m (59 ft)
Discovered and named by one of the great local diving identities, Lonsdale Arches is spectacular. Approximately one kilometre from the Point Lonsdale Light and clear of the shipping channel, just outside Port Phillip Heads in the Bass Strait, Lonsdale Arches is an amazing area of Bommies and underwater rock formations.
The sandstone reef has been carved into intricate structures including arches and tunnels. The water movement feeds a rich covering of encrusting invertebrates inside the structures, while Ecklonia kelp dominates the outside. This a perfect habitat for many of southern Australia's unique critters, and a nature lovers delight.
Lonsdale Arches
from Allie Beckhurst
on Vimeo.
The strong current flow in this area creates a nutrient-rich environment and subsequently prolific marine growth and the associated marine life. But it's the amazing rock formations that make this dive site special. This site has a couple of amazing swim throughs that are very safe easy to enter.
The marine life you'll typically see at Lonsdale Arches includes Southern Blue Devil, Magpie Perch, Silver Sweep, and Longsnout Boarfish.
A favourite spot for catching Southern Rock Lobster (aka Crayfish), possible sightings of Giant Australian Cuttlefish, Draughtboard Shark or Port Jackson Shark sleeping under ledges, and the odd Australian Fur Seals has been known to pop down and check out what is going on here.
Dive charter boats regularly schedule dives at Lonsdale Arches, heading out from Portsea and Queenscliff. Private dive boats usually launch at the Sorrento Boat Ramp or the Queenscliff Boat Ramp.
Bass Strait Warning: Always keep an eye on sea conditions throughout any shore or boat dive in Bass Strait on Victoria's coastline. Please read the warnings on the web page diving-in-bass-strait before diving or snorkelling this site.
Divers have the opportunity to catch Southern Rock Lobster (aka Crayfish) at this dive site. Remember your catch bag, current Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence, rock lobster measure, and cray tags. Once you get back to the dive boat, or shore, make sure you clip the tail and tag your Crayfish as per Fisheries requirements. Please abide by all current fishing regulations if you intend to catch crays. See article-catching-crayfish for practical cray hunting advice from The Scuba Doctor, plus melbourne-cray-dives for a list of other crayfish dive sites near Melbourne. For tips on cooking your Crays, please see article-cooking-crayfish.
Traditional Owners — This dive site is in the traditional Country of the Wathaurong (Wadda-Warrung) people of the Kulin Nation. This truly ancient Country includes the coastline of Port Phillip, from the Werribee River in the north-east, the Bellarine Peninsula, and down to Cape Otway in the south-west. We wish to acknowledge the Wathaurong as Traditional Owners. We pay respect to their Ancestors and their Elders, past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Bunjil the Creator Spirit of this beautiful land, who travels as an eagle, and Waarn, who protects the waterways and travels as a crow, and thank them for continuing to watch over this Country today and beyond.
Lonsdale Arches Location Map
Latitude: 38° 17.989′ S (38.299817° S / 38° 17′ 59.34″ S)
Longitude: 144° 36.587′ E (144.609783° E / 144° 36′ 35.22″ E)
Datum: WGS84 |
Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 09:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-06 18:21:57 GMT
Source: GPS
Nearest Neighbour: Twin Bommies, 83 m, bearing 57°, ENE
Depth: 12 to 18 m.
Dive only on: Ebb.
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DISCLAIMER: No claim is made by The Scuba Doctor as to the accuracy of the dive site coordinates listed here. Should anyone decide to use these GPS marks to locate and dive on a site, they do so entirely at their own risk. Always verify against other sources.
The marks come from numerous sources including commercial operators, independent dive clubs, reference works, and active divers. Some are known to be accurate, while others may not be. Some GPS marks may even have come from maps using the AGD66 datum, and thus may need be converted to the WGS84 datum. To distinguish between the possible accuracy of the dive site marks, we've tried to give each mark a source of GPS, Google Earth, or unknown.
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