Fairy Bower 23rd February 2008

Dive No. 298. 10.39 am, 22 degrees, 67 mins, 8.5 max, 6.4 av
The tide was high, and the swell was too, with big seas coming from somewhere in the Coral Sea. Waves were reaching halfway up the metal stairs leading to the beach at Fairy Bower and the sea was almost level with the pool. We’d heard that the dusky whalers were back so Liz, Julian and I headed east towards the seagrass beds; I saw one almost straight away and excitedly made the shark sign once I was able to get Liz and Julian’s attention, but the shark quickly disappeared into the sandy vis. Liz and I had another brief sighting not long after. We scanned the seagrass beds carefully and then headed west. We saw a boarfish, schools of yellowtail, drummer, mullet, tarwhine plus some stingarees, a giant cuttlefish, at least four large flatheads and the usual blue gropers, crimson-banded wrasses maori wrasse, hulas, mados, morwongs, old wifes, etc. Julian ran out of air and exited without catching a glimpse of a dusky, a sight he still hasn’t had the pleasure of experiencing (he’s a shark-freak so was bitterly disappointed). Overall it was a nice dive in the warm water though the vis was compromised by the suspended sand caused by the rough seas from the east-north east storm cell (which had been flattened slightly by a gusty sou’wester that morning). I videoed lots of things but missed as great chance to capture a dusky darting past me because I was too preoccupied with getting Liz’s attention. Hopefully we’ll get a good show before summer ends!

Shelly Beach 16th February 2008

Dive No. 297. 11.07 am, 22 degrees, 68 mins, 10.1 max, 6.7 av
Much better vis this week at the same site and a very relaxing dive in the clear, warm water. Liz and I saw a large black cod, there were at least two large wobbegongs, schools of yellowtail, pomfrets, surgeonfish, blackfish (especially in the shallow water at the top of the reef), rock cod, crested morwong, red morwongs, giant cuttlefish and one snapper.

Shelly Beach 9th February 2008

Dive No. 296. 10.52 am, 22 degrees, 48 mins, 12.2 max, 8.8 av
Appalling vis mainly due to sand being churned up rather than dirty water. It was raining and surfable waves were breaking over the point. The only good things about the dive, except for the company of my fellow divers (who included DM Patrick), were the warm water and a very large school of medium-sized yellowtail. When we surfaced near the wall on the walkway between Shelly and FB it was raining very heavily and large waves were breaking against the wall and over the walkway. It was a long swim eastward back to Shelly Beach!

Fish Rock 3rd February 2008

Dive No. 295. 12.16 am, 20 degrees, 46 mins, 23.2 max, 12.2 av
We entered the cave via the shallow, wide entrance, passing a bull ray along the way. There were wobbies everywhere, especially in the cave, including a huge, fat one right inside. The descent to the bottom of the chimney was fun, and the churn at the deep entrance/exit was quite strong. Then we headed up towards where we’d been in the later stages of the first dive and did our safety stop in the surge close to the rock. This was a good dive, despite the bad vis. There were also a lot less cold thermoclines on these two dives and often the water was lovely and warm and this time Liz and I stayed together.

Fish Rock 3rd February 2008

Dive No. 294. 10.19 am, 21 degrees, 45 mins, 17.7 max, 12.2 av
After many delays (one of the boats broke down) and a very rough ride out, we had a nice and interesting dive along the southern face of the rock. We headed towards the aquarium and suddenly came across the other diveboat's divers -- there was a bit of confusion as the vis was still appalling and there were divers everywhere bumping into one another in the strong current. We were getting tossed around but there were grey nurse sharks everywhere, emerging suddenly out of the gloom and getting extremely close. I took my camera and shot only movies. Later in the dive I was most embarrassed to lose my buddy, Liz, without realising!

Fish Rock 2nd February 2008

Dive No. 293. 11.01 am, 21 degrees, 36 mins, 23.8 max, 13.7 av
Much better dive this time, though the conditions weren’t much better. We headed east parallel to the rock and then down to the deep cave entrance. I could make out the shapes of fish in the gloom and then a big school of surgeonfish loomed up; big grey nurse sharks were suddenly everywhere and got very close in the low vis - we were almost bumping into each other! Their big, ominous shapes loomed up in the gloom and suddenly they’d be really close, one of the other divers accidentally whacked one with her fin. At the cave entrance there was incredible churn and the thick shoal of bullseyes swirled around as if being forced from the protection of the cave. The temperature, though the computer recorded it as 21 degrees, fluctuated wildly, as cold as 16 in some of the thermoclines. The churn and low vis made it all a bit hairy but quite exciting.

Fish Rock 2nd February 2008

Dive No 292 9.27 am, 18 degrees, 14 mins, 18.3 max, 11 av
Bit of a disaster this one - very rough conditions and a strong current made it hard for me to get to the mooring line at the bow. Plus my mask was leaking and I quickly got out breath and had trouble getting it back. By the time I was OK everyone had well and truly gone. I got to the bottom but the vis was the worst I’ve ever experienced at Fish Rock, literally like swimming in dirt! It must have been half a metre vis at best. I didn’t trust my ability to leave the mooring line and have a look around and then get back to the boat by myself so I looked at a few passing fusiliers and an anemone just near the anchor and then ascended. No-one else was very impressed by the dive either, though they had a lot longer bottom time than I.