3 January 2025 - Inscription Point
Lots of divers here, at least 50 while we were there. Ron and Donna also dived and saw them a few times underwater. Viz down on recent dives, 4-5 metres but warm 22C. Reasonably strong incoming current and a lot of surge. A few squid at the start. Three honey coloured okenias, one saw one BBSH at the two rocks but the other was apparently down low. I looked but... Two small camouflaged PPHs, a friendly crimson-banded wrasse, the other BBSH was in normal spot. Quick trip back, one sea dragon in kelp. A nice dive but surge made it not as good as it could have been. Visibility poor.
4 January 2025 - M & K Reef
Two boats and nine divers. Went early again because of how crowded ramp was last week. Not as busy. Pretty calm and little wind, although it picked up after I was back on the boat. Anchored on top of reef above smaller cave. Went N and around the corner and a bit more N. A very large wobbegong shark in first cave which moved to a smaller overhang. Another one around the corner and others saw one smaller one. Lots of silver sweep around the corner and yellowtail in cave. Kelly found two pipefish on the way back to the anchor. Past the anchor to the S end and back. I found a very small blue devilfish off wall under a large boulder. Could not get a photo as it kept moving. Later came out and went under another boulder. Could see the boat from 23 metres. Visibility very good.
5 January 2025 - Henry's Sponge Garden
Divers who missed out on yesterday's dive. Went to go N but wind was blowing 12 to 15 knots NNE. Millpond seas at Henry Head, so did sponge garden. Dirty on top, thought a lot about the tiger shark seen here by Rob Cooley yesterday while doing safety stop! Anchored in 12 m and went to sand then S. Only went to almost 20 m. Water heaps colder from yesterday, 18C compared to 22C. Viz was about 10 to 12 metres. No current. Came back past anchor shallower to look for sea dragons but saw none. Did see a small fiddler-ray on the sandy patch. Back to anchor, hung around here for a while after other group descended, then up. A few interesting nudibranchs, no spiders though. A nice dive. Visibility good.
11 January 2025 - Henry's Sponge Garden
Club boat dive, three boats, 13 divers. Was supposed to be M & K Reef but only one boat went there as weather not the greatest, rain threatening but none till after back at the ramp. Anchored shallower again, very dirty till 18 m then much better, over 10 m. Dark though. About 30 large kingfish, a red PPH, a small yellow boxfish, a tiny moray eel and a few nice nudis. All the usual leatherjackets. Went to almost 20 m then back and hung around the anchor looking for sea dragons, but none seen. Despite the conditions, a nice dive. Visibility good deep but very poor shallow.
11 January 2025 - Bare Island Deep Wall
Very high tide, went in off W point, care needed as waves coming right over the platform. Easy in the end. Very dirty, especially shallower, but warm 22C. A bit better on the wall. Went a bit more south than I meant and saw two other divers, but never saw before or after the dive, so no idea which way they were going. Could not find the BBSHs or the BIA. A small fiddler-ray and a small shovelnose ray on sand down here. Not much else till SHC when one USDP. Then back via outer rocks, no RIF but another USDP and a tiny pipefish before SHR. Lots of kelp has grown in the three weeks since I last dived BI. Nothing special seen apart from a couple of octopus. Not the greatest dive, hence only 61 minutes. Visibility poor.
14 January 2025 - Barrens Hut/The Split
Club boat dive. Relatively calm seas, blue water, 20C, about 15 metre viz but overcast so hard to judge. Anchored on sand near S end of Split. A donut nembrotha as we went into Split. Out N end and N, a bit of current from S. No purple ascidians or donuts, although second group saw two more on outer rocks. Back to S into current. Under the gap and back to anchor area then to Cave. Some kingfish here, lots of bastard trumpeters outside cave and some blue morwong. Back to anchor, more trumpeters and red and blue morwong in normal spot. Back to anchor and then on top of reef to under deco weight. A very good dive. Visibility very good.
15 January 2025 - Inscription Point
Weather going to rubbish for next five days, so making the most of it. A little swell but easy in and out. Blue water and got cleaning closer to when tide stopped flowing in (9:11 am but high was said to be 10:08 am). Viz was 12 to 15 m out past LBR, but cooler at 19C. I found two PPH before the 2 BBSHs and Ron a white one, all on rocks within a few metres of BBSHs which were on sand side of normal rock. Ron found 2 more later on. A lionfish, some squid, the other BBSH on way back but no anglerfish or sea dragons. A few interesting nudibranchs too. A very nice dive. Visibility good.
24 January 2025 - Inscription Point
Huge seas and lots of rain the past week and today was the first real opportunity to safely dive any oceanside site and also actually enjoy it. A bit of swell at times, so needed to time entry and exit, no problems. Quite dirty still, perhaps 4 metres viz, little current. Only one BBSH in normal spot but the other shallower one was there on top of the rock. Finally found the grey BIA, first time I have seen it since June 2023, its the same one when I compared photos. A miamara nudibranch near here, one PPH, one Tiger Jorunna nudibranch, a nice pink okenia not on the normal sponge. A very colourful cuttlefish, a large octopus and all the usual leatherjackets. A nice dive despite the visibility and bit of swell. Visibility poor.
25 January 2025 - Whale Watching Platform
Club boat dive, only my boat with 5 divers. Anchored just off the wall, no wind or current but a bit of swell. Viz down from recent months to about 10 metres. Buddies took a long time to come down as one broke a fin strap. They tried to fix but in the end used a spare fin. Meanwhile I found a sea dragon, first one I have seen in the open ocean since the huge rainfall of 2022. It disappeared before the others came down and I could not find it again. Went over to the wall and then N. A large cuttlefish in the first cave, no blue devilfish seen at all. A free swimming numbray seen by both groups. Went N till the alley and then back to boat anchor. Spent time under boat looking for the sea dragon. I went up first and left the others as they were so late coming down. A reasonable dive. Visibility fair.
26 January 2025 - The Monuments
Club Australia Day dive and BBQ, 14 divers and a few non-divers. Went in behind Whale and then headed NW into a reasonably strong outgoing tide. Viz was about 4 m. A couple of dark BBSHs, one sea dragon, one fiddler-ray, a few small moray eels, a tiny lemon-coloued boxfish, a lot of pink okenias (or their lookalike) and a few other things. Hard slog into the current, but quicker coming back. A nice dive with a great BBQ afterwards. Visibility poor.
28 January 2025 - Bare Island 15 Metre Reef
Millpond seas so went in off W point. Headed W to the reef. Viz not great, perhaps 4 m here but got a bit better near the Cave. Strongish current from N, especially near SHC. A tiger jurana nudibranch but my camera would not turn on. Ten minutes later it did. Not a huge amount of life around, a couple of blue gropers who followed us. Four pipefish and two USDP near SHC. Went NW from here and then along the reef edge. Could not find the RIF Vicki said was off Cave. Two more pipefish towards SHR. A small moray eel that had been attacked or hooked, big chunk missing from behind head and tail all scratched. Looked for RIF all over, none, no PPHs either. Shallower dirtier and also lots of small yellowtail. Relaxing dive. Visibility poor.
28 January 2025 - Bare Island Right
This time went in before Carol's Plaque. Very hot now, perhaps 37C. Headed down via the main reef. Mandy found two very nice short-tailed ceratosoma nudibranchs on roof of Cave. Saw pipefish and USDP again. Went to the top of Cave but no spindle cowries, but heaps of cauliflower soft corals, more than before. Also two wobbegong sharks. Lots of yellowtail, some medium and some large, all the way back from around the Cave. Another nice nudi near SHR. Mandy found a RIF near here too. A few small moray eels, a large bream and whiting, nothing much else of great interest. Very nice dive. Visibility poor.
31 January 2025 - Inscription Point
A bit of swell so had to time entry and exit, not too bad though. Went E as normal into a strong incoming tide. Viz started at maybe 6-7 m but past LBR it got to 15 m, brilliant. Saw all three BBSHs, the grey BIA and a single PPH. Could not find the miamara but it was on a very low rock near the BIA. Apparently there is an orange one towards BR. Came back quick but then tide stopped, at least an hour before it should have, weird. Went past exit point to look for sea dragons but none seen at all. A very nice dive with lots of diver friends around. Visibility very good.
1 February 2025 - The Leap Deep
Club boat dive. Supposed to be Bypass Reef but very sloppy there, so concensus was to move here. Anchored on the sand and dragged NNE at least 40 metres. Hard to descend as strong incoming tide, used 25 bar! Then had to move anchor off sand to a nearby rock, hard work. This was about where you meet the sand on a shore-based The Leap dive. Viz was at least 20 metres, could clearly see the surface from 22 m. Went ESE into the current. Not a lot of fish around, other saw a PJ and a very small one too. I found three pink-kneed sea spiders, two were mating. A few pink okenia and some other nudibranchs. Went just past where the anchor originally hit the bottom, could see the drag mark all the way. Back to anchor a bit higher, then around the area where the anchor was. Went up with Reka's TG7 as it flooded. All okay. Lots of yellowtail around us as we did safety stop and heaps of bluebottles on the surface. A very enjoyable dive despite the lack of stuff. Visibility very good.
2 February 2025 - Bare Island Right
Decided to organise a club dive that was not on the calendar. Seven divers. Huge number of divers here, many schools, at least 6 or more. Went in before plaque, very dirty shallow. Headed down to STR where it got a bit better. Also better the deeper we went. Went down the outside route. No RIF despite looking, the short-tailed ceratosoma were not there but Ron found one at SHC and next to it, Donna found a BIA! Only saw the two USDP, no pipefish. Back via the main reef wall. A few octopus, a small moray eel, a large sole, a couple of red-lined flabellinas and lots of pink okenia. Back near SHR thousands of small yellowtail. Got passed twice by a group from a north Shore dive shop, hopeless the lot of them, like being in a dust storm! Only a reasonable dive. Visibility fair deep, but poor for most,
4 February 2025 - Marley Point
What a disaster! Club dive with three boats and 13 divers. A bit more swell than forecast but good run down. Anchored just off the reef. Went down and my BCD had multiple failures. This was one I had from a friend that hardly been used and looked new. However, the two dump valves totally imploded and fell off. I then had no buoyancy on the bottom. Hard to abort dive and pull myself up. Only six minutes. Water of course was very clean and others had a great dive. Disaster! Visibility very good.
7 February 2025 - Inscription Point
John is up from Melbourne for a few weeks so first dive for him since Philippines. I used a rental BCD to test if I want to buy that model. I was happy with it so after the dive I bought a new one. Easy entry and exit, no current despite it being about halfway between high and low. Saw all three BBSHs, one sea dragon in kelp, re-found the grey BIA which had mmoved about 5 metres from last Friday. Could not find the miamara or the other yellow BIA. Lots of yellowtail mid-dive and one large kingfish. Went to BR and turned there, first time this far for ages. On the way back found a fiddler-ray. A very nice dive. Visibility poor.
8 February 2025 - Bare Island Not So Deep Wall
Club dive, Carol Martin Memorial, 14 years since she died. At least 15 divers I think. Water much colder today, 18 or 19 for most of the dive but 22C shallow. Went off W point to wall and then to 15MW. Then across to SHC to look for the BIA anglerfish. Could not find, but it was there apparently. No USDP or pipefish seen. Then back via the normal way. At Angler Rock saw Ron who showed me the tiny orange painted anglerfish. Then Jason showed me a RIF which had a nudibranch on it. From there back slowly, went a bit too quick early. Saw some pink okenia and the similar species, a joruna, a sole and two huge flatheads. Also heaps of yellowtail all the way back from the main cave. A good dive. After we had morning tea and then to Carol's Plaque for sparkling and flower throwing. Nice day. Visibility fair.
Next four dives at Nelson Bay.
10 February 2025 - The Pipeline
Short trip to Port Stephens. Early start to get tide, water a cold 18-19C. Went in and NE to sea horse hotels. A new one with sea horses logs and horse shoes on it. Then NE and N to lots more new ones. Some are double decker and one even bigger. Despite this, no sea horses seen on them at all. Saw one pipefish before there. Then out N to cauliflower soft corals, thousands of them. Then W. A small Whites sea horse on one with a large decorator crab. Some spindle cowries, a few nice nudis including punk. John found a small ornate ghost pipefish, very cute. Later went towards pipeline and saw a turtle. Quite a few small cuttlefish, a couple of octopus, an orange/black pufferfish and more nice nudibranchs. A nice dive. Visibility fair.
11 February 2025 - Fly Point
Overcast but no more rain. Went in 10 mins before high but very little current till change at 55 mins which was also slight. Viz was only 3-4 m at most. Zig-zagged along till we turned about 50 mins into the dive. Saw a few small sea spiders on sponges, some nice nudibranchs, a few blind sharks, lots of fish including a few butterflyfish. On the way back, three enormous jewfish above overhangs, loads of bream, luderick and red morwong. A few large snapper and heaps of small ones. Three large crayfish under overhang but not pineapplefish. Many species of leatherjackets all over the place. A nice relaxing dive. Visibility poor.
12 February 2025 - Little Beach
Went in from beach nearer to the cafe as fishers on the access ramp. Went to the wharf and then to the sea horse hotels, at least 20 or so just in front of the wharf. They go east and west. Many are new with little growth, some have ropes on them for sea horses to grab hold of. As usual, no sea horses on any of them, but lots of fish inside. Dave Harasti was here and we spoke to him for a long time after the dive. Went W and soon lost Ron and Donna. I found a small yellow Whites sea horse on a gorgonia, that was it. Found some spindle cowries and a few nudibranchs. Saw about a dozen large kingfish chasing small yellowtail. Went a bit deeper and past the barge, came upon it from the other side. Lots of fish on and around it and a large wobbegong under. Saw a moray eel as well. Back to the hotels and then wharf and up. Not the best dive I have had here. Visibility poor.
13 February 2025 - Fly Point
Very windy from E but water pretty well protected. Went N and then W as normal. Very slight current and viz better than yesterday, 4-5 m. Lots of the pink spiky nudibranchs, both species. I found a nembrotha after we lost Ron and Donna. Did not see them again till last 10 mins! Went a it deeper this time to 21.7 m. Saw three blind sharks, a large moray eel, lots of butterflyfish. At times some small yellowtail and bream. From deep went to S to the sandy slope. Prolific fishlife here as we turned to E. Bream, ladder-finned pomfret, yellowtail, seapike and at least have a dozen enormous jewfish. Three crayfish under ledge but Ron reckons many more. A few more nudibranchs as well. Back to the tree which is due N of exit. good dive. Visibility poor.
15 February 2025 - Bare Island Isolated Reef 1
Club dive day at Frenchmans cancelled due to forecast but at 7:30 am wind was not too bad. Even when we finished it was okay! Anyway, decided to dive here. Went in before Carols Plaque and down slowly to SHC and then to IR1. A few interesting nudis, including a red flabellina. Could not find the painted anglerfish from last Saturday but we did find the BIA at SHC. Very hard to find. Two USDP under here and one pipefish. Then went over to N side of IR1. Out here very cold, 16C, but viz was 7-8 m or more. Went to start of IR2 and came back and followed the sand edge and then the outside rocks. Found the RIF on Pygmy Rock. Back normal way. A fiddler-ray early in dive, lots of yellowtail in various spots, and plenty of roach shallow. A few moray eels and an octopus swimming around. Very nice but cold dive. Visibility fair.
16 February 2025 - Inscription Point
Windy again and swell up heaps from yesterday, Bare Island getting smashed. Had to time entry and exit, had a bit of problem getting out but okay in the end. Much worse viz than yesterday or last week, but warmer at 20C. Very little current despite incoming tide. Found all three BBSHs, could not find the grey BIA or the orange painted anglerfish. Some nice nudibranchs, a fiddler-ray, no sea dragons, no pygmies, lots of leatherjackets, a tiny yellow boxfish and some yellowtail. A nice relaxing dive. Visibility poor, but very poor at the start.
18 February 2025 - Middle Ground North
Club dive. Very windy and big swell past few days but today W 7 kts and swell dropped to 1.9 m with some 2.8 m. Very smooth run out, anchored first go. Very clean on top but below 12 m dropped away and dark. Went SE but surge meant too close to sand and it was badly stirred up. Did not go as far as normal as one buddy was "walking" on the bottom. He says he adjusted weighting! Then went back to anchor and NW for a bit. Lots of yellowtail and silver sweep around, a fair few leatherjackets. Did not see any sea whips and anemones, second group did, further SE than we went. Despite this, a nice dive. Visibility very poor.
22 February 2025 - Middle Ground North
Club boat dive, three boats and 11 divers. Was supposed to be Middle Ground but half a dozen fishing boats on and around it. Turned out good as blue water all the way to the bottom, at least 10 to 12 m viz. No current or surge. Anchored a bit further SE than normal as Wayne was already anchored. Went SE for a short distance and then back to anchor and NW. Found the sea whips and tiger anemones, hundreds of them. Thousands of yellowtail, hundreds of seapike and also some silver sweep, small leatherjackets and red morwong in amongst them. The yellowtail went almost to the surface. Could see the boat for over 18 m. An excellent dive, heaps better than Tuesday. Visibility good.
23 February 2025 - Desalination Plant Inlet
Went out or Russ and Peta's boat, double dive. Little current but wind picked up from N before we went in. Very clear water, at least 20 m viz. First time here, anchored on the top of the eastern-most structure. There are four in a line west to east. Each one is at least 10 metres across and over 5 metres high. They are round with large openings, mostly with a jail-like bars across them. However, the third one from the east had a few of the bar sections removed as well as the top "lid". This appears to be for cleaning. We went from east to west. The first two are about 12 to 15 metres apart, the next two over 20 m and the fourth one about 12-15m. The western one is located on higher ground than the others, they sort of step up. Lots of fishlife around them, and inside the 3rd one a wobbegong. On the underside of the roof of this one thousands of jewel anemones, many colours. An excellent dive. Visibility very good.
23 February 2025 - Pink Floyd
For second dive we went to this new to me location. It is 300 metres from Minmi Trench and 340 metres from Henry Head normal site. Very dirty on top. Very slight incoming tide. Anchored in 17 m and went SW to the sand. Then S and SE along the sand edge at 24 metres. A very good wall, about 4 metres high, for most of the way. Lots of fish around, especially yellowtail up high. The wall has lots of small overhangs and also it is covered in sea tulips, sponges and some gorgonias. It is very beautiful. I am pretty sure we turned around at the end of Minmi Trench (30 mins), on the way back I saw what I thought was the trench. Came back on the top of the reef as running low on NDT. Back to the anchor, moved it a bit and went up. Another excellent dive. Visibility very good.
25 February 2025 - Bare Island Isolated Reef
Very strong SSE wind but swell small and only some low wave action, a bit of surge. HIgh tide as we entered, but easy. Viz was good as we went down, 10-12 metres, but on the way back it dropped to 4-5 m. Went down to SHC and then to IR1 and back along the outer edge of the reef. Eric found the tiny orange painted anglerfish before The Cave. Could not find the BIA at SHC and only one tiny pipefish there too. A few red-lined flabellina, some tiny. Lots of pink okenia. Huge schools of yellowtail all through the dive! One or two fiddler-rays (may have been the same one seen twice) and perhaps a large silver drummer, although it could have been a large snapper. No PPH or RIF seen. A very nice relaxing dive. Visibility fair on average.
26 February 2025 - JD Artificial Reef North
Anchored right next to one of the middle structures. Viz nowhere near as good as weekend, maybe 10-12 m. A reasonable current from SE made it hard to go to the other points of the compass. Two of the structures are now resting against each other, seems one has moved since we last dived here in early December 2024. Before the others came down I went N and could see the ones there, but current made it unwise to do it fully. So just stayed here. Lots of fine weed in water floating in current and also in piles to NW of these structures. Not a lot of fish, but there were some leatherjackets, a large boarfish inside the W one. There is some rope on one of the structures, white, not sure if I may have put it there as most of the rope I used was blue. A nice dive, pity visibility was not better. Visibility fair.
27 February 2025 - Bare Island Not So Deep Wall
Went in off W point, millpond seas. Unfortunately my (unnamed) buddy descended before me and proceeded to take off to the north thinking I had already headed off. Tried following, but gave up as not going to catch. Surfaced to wait for him but he never came up, bubbles disappeared to the N. After waiting almost 10 mins, I decided to dive alone. Went W as planned and then via 15MR, SHC etc. Lots of crimson-banded wrasse on wall, have been seeing quite a few lately on most dives. Plenty of red-lined flabbelina, some pink okenia, no RIF or PPH. At SHC, only one saw-toothed pipefish but a huge octopus where USDP normally are. No BIA anywhere, checked BR and all over the place. Heaps of yellowtail here and for most of the rest of the dive, various sizes. Some silver sweep too. Found the orange painted anglerfish, but nothing much else apart from a couple of nice nudibranchs. Good dive despite problems. Buddy did a 30 min dive and was waiting for me at exit. Apologetic. Visibility fair.
1 March 2025 - Bare Island Deep Wall
Late organised shore dive for club after I cancelled out of today's boat dive due to forecast and lack of sufficient divers. Went off W point and to wall, saw an eagle ray with no tail on the way. A bit dirty here, perhaps 4-5 m and reasonable incoming current from the tide. On 15MR was closer to 10-12 m but then later back to 4-5 m. 21C whole dive. Found one BBSH, last saw it in April 2024. It was a fair way from where it used to be living. Went normal way, thousands of yellowtail over 15MR and all the way back to OHR. Still only one saw-toothed pipefish at SHC and no BIA. A few red-lined flabellinas, pink okenias and a few other good nudis. The orange painted anglerfish is still in same spot and apparently two striped anglerfish are near it. A RIF back towards STR and also told two BBSHs on STR. A nice relaxing dive. Visibility poor overall.
2 March 2025 - Pink Floyd Drift
Rescheduled club dive from yesterday. Flat seas and no wind, a little incoming tide. Decided to do a drift dive with Greg following us in the boat. Dropped in 220 metres to the east of Pink Floyd mark. Dirty on top but warm, cold 17C but clean and dark, 12-15 m, on bottom. Dropped into 15 metres and swam S to a gully and followed to SW to wall. Then along the wall to north-west. Such a nice dive site. Nothing really special seen apart from lots of stars, they are everywhere here. Ended the dive at the PF GPS mark, went up into the shallows at 16 m and then shot SMB. Went back and dropped second group who ended up in the same spot. Very nice dive. Visibility good.
5 March 2025 - Parsley Bay
Big seas and strong winds, going to be like that for a week. Have not dived here since August 2011. Went in off the wharf, cannot get back on it as the bottom ramp has fallen off. Went down the right side of the bottom, viz got worse till it was only 2 m. No life at all, even on the three moorings we saw. Then E to shallows and then N again. A bit more life, a large moray eel in a large pipe, had a fish hook and line, could not get it to shorten line. Went to the crane, then turned around and back to wharf shallow. Again, little sealife. Even under the wharf not much. Saw four golf balls and hundreds of old bottles. No sea horses under wharf. Then to net, right across, no sea horses. Went over the top of the net to the old one inside, back along it, no sea horses. A few whiting, small fish along here, but that is it. I doubt I will ever dive here again! Shit dive. Visibility very poor deep, but poor shallow.
7 March 2025 - Bare Island Right
Cyclone off Brisbane sending large swells to Sydney and also very strong SE winds, although while we were in the wind dropped to nothing! Was very easy entry and exit. Viz was 3-4 m except at SHC where it was 2 m. Water was 22C. Ended up a nice dive, saw the yellow painted anglerfish but no striped anglerfish. No BIA or pipefish at SHC. Found a large red pygmy pipehorse on reef near SHC. Came back via outer reefs. No RIF seen, but on the way back I found a big belly sea horse on Sea Tulip Rocks, could not find the second one that I was told about last Saturday. Also saw a sole, a small wobbegong on BR, a large flathead and also lots of yellowtail like all recent dives. A nice dive. Visibility poor.
8 March 2025 - Bare Island Right
Forecast was no good for boat diving and club dive at Kurnell cancelled due to NE swell from Cyclone Alfred. Decided to run this dive, only two members interested. Did similar dive to yesterday. Viz was worse, about 2-3 m. Could not find the sea horse from yesterday, but Vicki did when she dived a bit earlier than us (also found the other one). The orange painted anglerfish still there and the red PPH near SHC. Lots of yellowtail in deeper areas. Ran into lots of divers underwater, about the only place to dive this weekend. Back via outer reef. No RIF or pipefish, some large whiting in shallows, the wobbie is still on BR. A nice dive. Visibility very poor.
12 March 2025 - Bare Island Isolated Reef
Millpond seas and sun out, no wind, amazing, first good day for over a week since Cyclone Alfred first appeared. Went in off W point, headed NW to SHC. Found the BIA, back where it was a few weeks ago. One sawtooth pipefish under, the red PPH is still there. Then went to IR1 on N side. Viz was good out here, but cold 17C. Went around IR2 and back. Lots of yellowtail out there. Back to main reef and along past the Cave. More yellowtail here. The painted anglerfish was out on the sand. Back into warmer but dirtier water, but still okay. Found the other BBSH at STR, both were there yesterday apparently, but we could not find the one I saw last week. A few wobbegongs, moray eels, squid, lots of black reef leatherjackets in spots and all the usual things. A very good dive. Visibility good deep, but poor shallow.
13 March 2025 - Bare Island Right
Flat seas but a bit of swell over W point so entered before Carol's Plaque. Much dirtier, especially shallow and at SHC, only 2-3 m. Rest was 3-4 m. Also warmer at 19C. Headed down close to main reef, found both BBSHs on STR. On the smaller rock to SW. When I came back, both were on the same sea tulip, but my camera decided to not work both times. The painted anglerfish was back under the sea tulip. The BIA was in same spot as yesterday. Two wobbegongs, a fiddler-ray and heaps of yellowtail near the cave. At SHC two sawtooth pipefish, one USDP near first cave. Also a RIF on the rock near OHR. Heaps of large octopus, weird as saw only one yesterday. Despite the viz, was still a very nice dive. Visibility mostly poor.
15 March 2025 - Inscription Point
Cancelled club boat dive as blowing 27 kts at Port Botany at 2 am and 17 kts at 5:45 am. Guess what, no wind when we went to Kurnell! Lots of divers here. Easy entry and exit, very cold on bottom, 16C, but 7-8 metres. Tide should not have changed while we were in but it did at 25 mins, so about 50 mins early. Much warmer on way back, 2 or 3 degrees. Saw only one BBSH on the way out, one on the way back. Also three sea dragons, one white PPH and an orange BIA on the second PPH rock on the way back. All the usual fish, a few nudies. Used my TG5 as sent TG7 for warranty repair yesterday. Very nice dive. Visibility fair overall.
19 March 2025 - Inscription Point
A pretty flat sea after huge seas on Monday. However, viz dropped to 3-4 m at the most and a lot of surge. However, water back up to 21C. Did normal dive, only one BBSH on the first rocks, the other one missing for a week, both were attacked by a cuttlefish a few weeks ago and rescued by ATJ. Went not as far as Saturday, then back shallow. One sea dragon on the shallow sand. Saw the other BBSH but the BIA we saw on Saturday was not there, informed has moved about 5 metres towards exit. Not a great dive. Visibility poor.
20 March 2025 - La Perouse Wharf
First dive on the new wharf which opened just under three weeks ago. I think we are the second group to dive (Rox, Jason and Kim did on 3/3). Walked to the end and dropped off, Very dirty, 1-2 m at the most. Went from end of wharf to corner and then as far as 2.8 m depth near shore. Then back. Some pylons have heaps of growth and some none. Four knives, fishing rods, two chairs, two nets and a rental bike. A lot of small yellowtail near the end of the wharf, one moray eel, one octopus and one large leatherjacket. Then went across SW to reef and out a little where we used to dive over 10 years ago, over 5 m deep here. Then back and last few minutes under wharf. Had to take off fins and climb ladder to get out as low tide. Not a dive I will do again for a while. Visibility very poor.
26 March 2025 - Clifton Gardens
Took Eric and Tanya from Kona, Hawaii diving, friends of Bob P. Did the usual route, through pool and out a hole. There are probably half a dozen human (that is shark) sized holes in the net. Did not see any sea horses along the net. Outside found two black striped anglerfish at the corner of the main wharf. Then saw four Whites sea horses on weed or pylons. Lots of large octopus, dozens of small cuttlefish, three wide-bodied pipefish and heaps of fish under the wharf. Bream, small snapper, fan-bellied leatherjackets, yellowtail, seapike and trevally seen. At least two dozen flutemouths here too and more near net. Then back to the anglerfish, across to the bessa block reef, Easter Island head and then to the sea horse hotels. No sea horses of course. Back to inside the pool and towards the corner. Two more sea horses and a nice nudibranch. Then back and out. A very good dive for once. Visibility fair.
27 March 2025 - Inscription Point
My 2,000th shore dive. Outgoing tide which was pretty strong, viz 3-4 m but cooler 19C. Flat seas but a fair bit of surge at times. Saw the one BBSH still near sand and also later two pipefish, one a green robust ghost and the other a red delicate ghost. Also the grey BIA which is near the BBSH. Later a few nice nudibranchs. Also three PPH, one a small white one on outside of LBR. Did not go as far as normal due to current, came back, could not find the orange BIA but the others did as near BR. Came back and went W for a bit, two sea dragons found. A very nice dive. Visibility poor.
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