Went S off Larpa Point and at 5.5 mins came across a large concrete football shaped block and rope. Ended up between OHR and AR. Went to OHR and then worked our way back to AR then to near SHC. No PPHs and only the one USDP. From here went back along IR1 on N side to the painted anglerfish. From there back towards main reef and along to near AR. Then went N. Saw the artificial reef, most of the concrete domes are still the same as last time I saw them in 2006 just after they were installed. A failure as there have never been any fish around them when I have seen them. Back to shore and exit via the same spot as Tuesday. A fair dive. Visibillity very poor.

Club boat dive, only one boat with five divers. Was supposed to be Desalination Plant Inlets, but decided to go here. Not great weather, very overcast and rain threatening. A bit of N wind, but protected here. Dropped in and went W, but no current as only 90 mins after low tide. Viz was probably at least 18 metres, but very hard to tell as it was quite dark. Lots of PJs, at least 30 or more. Quite a lot of old wives, all in pairs. Some silver sweep in two groups, a few crimson-banded wrasse, some different species of nudibranchs, but nothing special. Ended up at the normal exit spot, did a bluewater ascent under the boat. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

Not many here as almost low tide when we entered the water. Virtually no current but a fair bit of surge, viz about 7-8 metres. Lots of nudibranchs, including patchwork tritonia, elyssis species, lined nembrotha and others. At least half a dozen large lion's mane jellyfish, one PPH and a few PJs. At 40 mins started hearing whales singing, stopped at 60 mins. Turned around about 50 mins. A pineapplefish shallower under ledge, the two BBSHs on normal rock. Went back past exit looking for sea drongs, none seen. Lots of divers around once we exited the water. A very nice dive. Visibility fair. 

Club boat dive, two boats and ten divers. Raining, very heavy overcast and sloppy seas, so only went here rather than up off Maroubra. Very dark, hard to take a wide-angle photo. Warmer at 17.1C. Anchored on top of reef, moved it to the bottom. Went N. A blue devilfish in the first cave. Lots of PJs around. Went N more and up the crack and then out to the sandy area. A larger blue devilfish under the first rock, closer. Then back to anchor via the swim-thru. Then S and SE around further than I have been before. Then back to anchor and under boat and then up. Some silver sweep along wall, a few old wives, a small moray eel but not much else. Rain stopped once we went for morning tea and by the time back at ramp, blue sky. Visibility good. 

All the following dives are at Anilao in the Philippines.

First dive of the trip to Anilao in the Philippines. Wind up a little so didn't go to Mainit area, calm here. Dropped down and went to about 20 m and then S with a slight current. A few nudibranchs, a large octopus, two mantis shrimps, one in the open. Turned around at 35 m and went shallower. At 13 m came across a large barge that I had not seen on previous dives here. A very small porcelain crab in an anemone, a cream leaf fish and a large turtle near boat. Last bit under the boat. A nice first dive. Visibility good but less S. 

Wind had dropped so went to Mainit Corner, but current here, so went around the point to Mainit West. Dropped in and went to the SE to a small gorgonia, no pygmy sea horses seen, but later, on the way back found one up in a corner. Got some great photos. From here went W to the other gorgonias where last year we saw pygmies, none. Lots of good nudibranchs, plenty of fish around, including a few Moorish idols and of course, niger triggerfish. A large porcelain crab in anemone, two mantis shrimps, again, one in the open. Back to original gorgonia and the pygmy seen this time. About a metre away was a warty anglerfish, beautiful. Back to boat, a small crocodilefish and a ribbon eel under the boat. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

This is a very colourful siite, so many barrel sponges and featherstars. A small coral wall, lots of larger coral bommies on the sand deeper. Saw a small turtle as soon as we went down and then a banded snake eel. Currenjt from W so went a little into it and then E at 18-22 m. Then turned and headed SW to the wall and then shallower back to the boat. Some moray eels later, a few small mantis shrimps as well. A small lionfish, lots of niger triggerfish of course and a few mooring idols, a small turretfish and some pufferfish and porqupinefish. Highlight were two large nudibranchs, Allens miamira alleni. Fantastic, first time I have seen them! A very good dive. Visibility excellent.

First dive here, near Aphols Point off small village with heaps of coconut trees. Dropped to the bottom, sand with small bits of coral, some mooring ropes and rubbers and a few black coral trees. Went NW and then W into very slight current. A sole with a strange rock looking crab under it, heaps of sexy shrimp on small anemones, some larger anemones with glass shrimp, clowns. Towards the W end before we turned, a small ghost pipefish near some featherstars. Back shallower, some more interesting crabs, a skinny hairy one, a decorator (plants), a head-shield slug, two emperor shrimp on a sea cucumber and a few porcelain crabs. A nice relaxing dive. Visibility good.

Third dive, without Geoff and Jill. A bit rough going around the corner as strong E wind. Wind dropped while we were down. Viz only 7-8 m at best, at N end was more like 3-4 m. Went down slope and straight away saw two robust ghost pipefish. Then deeper and to N at 22 m. Lots of shrimp, a few different squat lobsters, hundreds of the fast moving colourful sea urchins. A tiny sea horse, then at the N end, an ornate ghost pipefish. BAck shallower. A few nudibranchs, a large serpent eel and some decorator crabs and a large mantis shrimp. A great dive. Visibility fair overall.

 

Located SW of Mainit School site. A bit windy but not too bad. A very slight current from NE deeper. Went slowly to 24 m, sand bottom with small coral rocks here and there. A few nice nudibranchs, including purple-lined nembrotha and at the end, a Tenellia species with emperor shrimp on it. Saw a flamboyant cuttlefish, got some nice photos. Then, a mototi octopus, related to blue-ringed octopus. A yellow blenny in a beer bottle and at the end a fish in tin can. Lots of sea whip shrimp, some squat lobsters and a tiny mantis shrimp. A very good dive. Visibility fair but very poor when sand stirred up.

Originally we were diving SE of here but strong current, so moved NW. A huge landslide happened here three weeks ago wiping out over 200 metres of road and taking one house with it. We were at the W end of the slide. Once in the water we headed SW and then SE into a slight current. This way more sand than if you go NW. Some coral outcrops. Lots of sea whips with shrimp and some with gobies. A nice lionfish that I for once could photograph. Not many nudibranchs but a nice red flabellina. A hairy squat lobster on a barrel sponge and some anemones with clownfish and glass shrimp. A nice dive. Visibility good.

17 October 2026 - Dari Laut 

Lots of boats and divers. Went to the electric clam, then to the bottom of the wreck. It has collapsed since last year, the NW corner has dropped to the sand. Lots of nudibranchs and flatworms on the sand and also on the wreck. Two giant anglerfish on a vertical steel support, one grey and one colourful. Then a tiny Lembeh sea dragon, pregnant. Never seen one before. Up on top a small warty anglerfish. More nudibranchs on the way back to the boat. A fantastic dive! Visibility very good.

Dived from very shallow out to the sloping sand and then rubble. Went E. Four mushroom coral pipefish in an anemone and later two more. Some tiger shrimp inside coral, a few nudibranchs, some mantis shrimp, one in the open. A few species of crab and more shrimps. Another very good dive. Visibility good.

Located E of Mainit School off the Welcome to Mainit sign. Sandy slope, very gradual, slight current from E. Went E getting deeper till 23 m at 25 minutes. Saw two ornate ghost pipefish at start and later two more, both by themselves. Two small sea horses on seapens, not near each other. A few nudibranchs, lots of crabs and shrimps. Near the end two tiny Shaun the Sheep nudibranchs. A very good dive. Visibility fair but very poor shallow.