East Australian Current?

Question

Just wondering what is the East Australian Current? What causes these fast flows through the water? and can a person lets say diving flow through these currents?? Thanks!

Answer 1

The East Australia Current is a current that flows southward along the east coast of Australia.  It is ultimately powered by solar induced temperature changes like every other ocean current.  If you dive in the current you will be carried southward over the ground, but be stationary relative to the water.

I have seen the current flow at speeds of up the 3 knots (~6 km/hr), but it is generally slower than this.  Skippers and navigators of offshore racing yachts always take the existence and strength of the current into account when setting a course.