Scuba dive with the platypus

FEATURE

By Nelson Hall

Published 4 years ago

Sure. We’ve all seen our mate’s brag-worthy pics of them swimming with dolphins, whales and even sharks. But what if I told you I could just about guarantee none of your friends can claim the glory of swimming with an ornithorhynchus anatinus… or in normal talk, the platypus.

In Mackay, in the cute little inland town of Finch Hatton is a lady by the name of Luana Royle. She’s well-loved and well-known for her passion and love for platypuses (yes, platypuses is the correct term). More importantly, Luana is offering budding adventurers the chance to be the first in the world to scuba dive with platypuses. Yep, that’s right folks, Rainforest Scuba is the only place on earth where you have the chance to swim with these little Aussie icons.

Platypus in Eungella National Park, Mackay — Photo by @Jewelszee.

Finch Hatton and Eungella National Park, 90 minutes west of Mackay, is becoming known as the best place in the world to spot platypuses. The crystal clear waters and dedicated viewing platforms give you the easiest and best chance to spot the buggers without the need to get your feet wet. I spied three platypuses from the one viewing platform one afternoon, in the space of 10 minutes. Awesome!

I jumped at the chance throw on a wetsuit in the middle of a forest to try my luck at coming face-to-face with a platypus.