Scuba Diver Australia New Zealand – 25 June 2026
Summary
Adrian Stacey's June 2026 issue of Scuba Diver Australia and New Zealand opens with tragic news — five divers killed in the Maldives — while Don Silcock explores Batanta Island's running reefs in Raja Ampat and John Magee and Isabel Taylor dive into humpback whale migration routes off Australia. The 70-page issue covers six destinations, gear testing and industry news.
Stacey's editor's note covers both the Maldives tragedy — a recreational dive in an overhead environment that claimed five lives — and the happier outcome of Dan Fitzgerald and a tech student surviving nearly 24 hours at sea after being swept off North Stradbroke Island. The issue leads with the Third Underwater Awards Australasia Imaging Competition, featuring nine categories and prizes worth nearly AUD 70,000. Lewis Burnett spends four days on the Mornington Peninsula, finding perfect conditions for photographers building portfolios. Alex Mustard's masterclass offers camera care and rinsing advice. Josh Richards and Will Passos lead a cave expedition to Japan's Mine-Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau Geopark. Amelie Krestovnikoff completes her PADI Divemaster on Koh Tao. The gear section reviews the Nikon Z6 III, described as professional-grade without the flagship price tag.
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Content Guide
▸ Destinations
p.16 · Mornington Peninsula
Lewis Burnett on four days of Victoria's temperate diving. Piers, endemic species and ideal conditions for portfolio-building photography.
p.22 · Batanta Island, Raja Ampat
Don Silcock explores the running reefs of this lesser-known hotspot. Pygmy seahorses to mantas in waters that see far fewer divers than the main archipelago.
p.54 · Thailand: Koh Tao
Amelie Krestovnikoff completes her PADI Divemaster. The gap-year diver who chose qualification over pure pleasure.
p.60 · Humpback Whales
John Magee and Isabel Taylor on the migration routes up Australia's east and west coasts. The encounter of a lifetime for those who time it right.
▸ Technique / Tech
p.36 · Mustard's Masterclass
Alex Mustard on camera care — thorough fresh-water rinsing and proper drying. The advice that saves more gear than any insurance policy.
p.48 · Tech: Japan Cave Expedition
Josh Richards and Will Passos lead an Australian team through the Mine-Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau Geopark. Cave diving in one of Japan's most geologically unique environments.
▸ Gear
p.66 · Test Extra: Nikon Z6 III
Adrian Stacey reviews the full-frame mirrorless — professional-grade capabilities without flagship pricing. The underwater photographer's crossover body.
▸ Industry News
p.8 · News Round-Up
Third Underwater Awards Australasia Imaging Competition opens (AUD 70,000 in prizes). Maldives tragedy: five dead. Emperor liveaboard destroyed by fire. Turtle hospital opens in the Maldives.
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Editor's Take
Stacey's ANZ edition balances sober industry news with genuine destination variety, and the June issue handles the Maldives tragedy with appropriate gravity while still delivering the travel inspiration readers expect. The Batanta Island feature is the standout destination piece — genuinely off the beaten Raja Ampat track. The Mornington Peninsula coverage serves a local readership that the international titles ignore. The Japan cave expedition is the kind of tech content that sets this title apart from the glossy travel brochures. Weakness: the Koh Tao Divemaster feature reads like a personal blog entry, not magazine journalism. The Nikon Z6 III review is thorough but will date quickly. Best for: ANZ divers planning winter trips and anyone interested in cave-penetration technique.
Strengths
• Batanta Island feature explores genuinely uncrowded waters
• Japan cave expedition coverage is unique editorial content
• Industry news section handles tragedy and opportunity
Weaknesses
• Koh Tao feature lacks journalistic structure
• Nikon review will date faster than destination content
Verdict: Recommended — The essential monthly for serious ANZ divers, balancing destination inspiration with technical depth.
