$20 a dive fee proposed to dive Grey Nurse Sanctuary Zones!!

Word is now spreading through the NSW diveshops that the NSW Government is looking at introducing a scuba diving TAX in NSW. This tax will apply to diving in NSW Marine Parks and the grey nurse shark critical habitat areas. These are the best diving sites in NSW and include: Byron Bay, Solitary Islands, Fish Rock & Green Island @ SW Rocks, Forster Pinnacle, Seal Rocks, Magic Point, Bass Point, Jervis Bay, Tollgate Islands and Montague Island. And if the rumours are correct that there will be a marine park in the Port Stephens region then it will also include Broughton Island and shore diving at Fly Point and Halifax Park.

The NSW Government is proposing to charge divers $20 per person each day for diving in these sites. This is totally ridiculous and will pretty much cause the demise of the NSW diving industry. For example, your weekend away diving in the Solitaries is going to cost you an extra $40 or a long weekend on Oceantrek will be an extra $60!! A single boat dive will go from $50 to $70 in some places!!!

More info at: http://www.diveoz.com.au/discussion_forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9453

Have your say! Please e-mail sundive and the minister with your thoughts!

This tax has been proposed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. If you are opposed to this diving tax you should write to the NSW DPI Minister Ian McDonald. The email is: office@macdonald.minister.nsw.gov.au