The Kilsby Sinkhole: A Freediving Paradise in South Australia

Eckart Benkenstein

Located in the heart of South Australia's Flinders Ranges, the Kilsby Sinkhole is a stunning underwater paradise that offers some of the best freediving experiences in the country. With crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and an abundance of natural beauty, the Kilsby Sinkhole is a must-visit destination for any seasoned or aspiring freediver. The Kilsby Sinkhole is a natural sinkhole that was formed over thousands of years due to the collapse of the limestone roof. This unique geological formation creates a magnificent underwater environment that is both challenging and breathtaking. The sinkhole is approximately 27 meters deep and is surrounded...

Read more

Freediving with South Bluefin Tuna

Eckart Benkenstein

One of the most magical experiences you can have here while freediving in Melbourne is swimming with wild apex predators. Southern Bluefin Tuna are built for speed and swim effortlessly through the water with barely a tail flick.  They are a pelagic fish which means they are not held to a specific reef or area but instead cover great distances as they swim and look for food. They school together and can be found in incredibly large schools although when they get larger (70kg or more) they tend to swim in smaller schools.  In our summer months here in Melbourne...

Read more

Freedive Equipment in Melbourne

Eckart Benkenstein

What equipment will you need to freedive Melbourne?  The first thing to understand is that the water temperature in Port Phillip Bay varies drastically during the seasons. In the summer months the temperatures can reach a balmy 22 degrees in the northern parts of the bay with the southern parts of the bay being marginally cooler reaching around 19 degrees as it has more of an inflow from the ocean. During the winter months the northern parts of the bay can reach a frigid 9 degrees while the southern parts of the bay (from Frankston south) can be around 13...

Read more

Freediving Courses Melbourne

Eckart Benkenstein

We at Salt Sessions Freediving are passionate about freediving here in Melbourne and up skilling students to enjoy this amazing part of the Australian coastline. We are the largest freedive school in Victoria and run freedive courses here in Melbourne once a month throughout the year. We also host numerous freedive and spearfishing retreats.  We have top of the range hire equipment available on our courses to keep you toasty and warm while completing your skills and requirements on the freedive course. We have some of the best carbon fibre and fibreglass fins available from DiveR and Penetrator fins so...

Read more

Freediving in Melbourne Victoria

Eckart Benkenstein

Melbourne offer's some of the best locations to get into freediving in Australia. Port Philip Bay has so much to offer us. Some of the highlights about freediving in Melbourne: Year round diving Weedy seadragons Spidercrab migration amazing sandstone structures along our back beaches Calamari breeding season Southern Bluefin Tuna aggregations (outside the Port Philip Bay heads) Scallop freediving Once you get to know Melbourne and the weather cycles you will almost always find a spot that you can freedive in Port Philip Bay.  Generally the northern part of the bay will be more impacted by rain run off if...

Read more

Choosing the right spear/shaft

Eckart Benkenstein

Spears and shafts have a few varying factors: tips, barbs, thickness, length, tabs/notches, holes and the rear end of the shaft.  In general most people prefer to have a 40cm overhang on their spearguns, so if you have a 90cm speargun you will be using a 130cm spear. You can also use a slightly shorter spear (30cm longer than the barrel) depending on your muzzle. Most people using roller spearguns prefer a shorter spear but generally a slightly thicker diameter.  If you start using a thicker spear be aware that you might need to redo your rubbers to take into...

Read more