Deep-sea explorer Todd Bond's most memorable dive destinations

This Perth-based marine ecologist jets off to all corners of the world in search of new underwater landscapes.

Self-declared “fish nerd”, avid scuba driver and deep-sea explorer Todd Bond has ventured to some of the deepest parts of the ocean.

“I scuba dive off Perth regularly. These dives are like popping into your corner shop – familiar, comforting, and you know where the food is,” the University of WA scientist says. “Deep dives in a submersible are different. It’s like visiting a local market in a foreign country.”

Todd says his passion for discovering new underwater worlds, whether diving in shallow waters or in a deep-sea submersible, has led him from a trench in Japan to lochs in Scotland.

“Any diving for me – deep-sea or shallow scuba diving – is an escape. It is a non-native world for humans.”

Perth-based marine ecologist Todd Bond.

Here, Todd shares his most memorable dives around the world:

Japan Trench

I wanted to dive the epicentre of 2011’s Tōhoku earthquake off Japan to understand what the sea floor and its environment looked like post-event. I dived the Japan Trench in a submersible and reached 7330m water depth. It was what I expected – big mud blocks, walls, fissures and rifts. Seeing uplifted sea floor with some of the deepest fish in the world swimming around it is not something I’m likely to do again.

Entering a submersible to dive the Japan Trench.

Loch Creran, Scotland

Despite the grey skies, freezing winds and drizzle, Scotland has an avid community of scuba divers. I scuba dived in Loch Creran in northwest Scotland, which was certainly different to what I experience in Australia. The diversity of organisms was fantastic – nudibranchs, fish, anemones, seaweeds – but cold diving in dry suits is not something I had experienced before. It brings another element into diving which I loved and the community of divers I met were hyper-enthusiastic.

Marine ecologist Todd Bond loves discovering new underwater worlds.

South Coast, Western Australia

The south coast of Western Australia is like nowhere else in the world. Yes, it’s a bit cooler and the sharks are a bit larger, but the granite walls, pure white sand, big fish, and luxurious seaweeds make for special diving. Marine science colleagues rate this area highly, too, particularly the Great Southern Reef (out of Albany), Esperance and the Recherche Archipelago.

Taking a break from surveying fish assemblages at the Namena Marine Reserve in Fiji.

Namena Marine Reserve and Vatu-i-Ra Seascape, Fiji

Fiji is exactly how I imagined, with crystal clear water, a huge diversity of coral and fish, and warm, enjoyable dives. I’ve dived through the southern margin of northern Fiji in Vanua Levu, off the Kubulau district. By far the best diving was at the Namena Marine Reserve and through the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape, which runs between the two main islands. The shark dive at Beqa on Viti Levu was crazy.

Beqa Lagoon in Fiji attracts an array of shark species.

Todd Bond’s travel highs and lows

Boat life

My worst experiences have been on boats. I’ve had a hangover from the final night with crew and had to make an early flight, and dealt with rotten bait left in an Esky on the top deck in the sun for two weeks, which destroyed expensive equipment.

Village people

My most memorable travel experience was living in a village in Fiji for three weeks while doing some research on shallow-water fishing communities. Village life is incredible. The locals are so happy-go-lucky. It was good for the soul, heart and mind.

Originally published as Deep-sea explorer Todd Bond's most memorable dive destinations