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My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
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    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
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    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "Bare Island has the greatest number of dives of any location in Sydney"
    Pixie Gardens - Ribbon Reef No 10
    Pixie Gardens dive site is located off the western side of the southern end of Ribbon Reef Number 10. It is 173 kilometres north-north-west from Port Douglas. A GPS Reading for the site is S14° 55' 42.9" E145° 40' 39.2'. The dive site consists of a main reef which is broken up into some larger bommies (creating canyons) and some small and large bommies off the main reef. The mooring is located at about 8 metres on the main reef.

    The highlight of this dive site is that you can see leafy scorpionfish here. From the mooring, head north along the wall and after the first larger bommies you will see another smaller coral outcrop a few metres off the main reef. This has coral growth all over it (sort of small finger like corals - see the photograph of the leafy scorpionfish at left below).

    Pixie GardensPixie Gardens
    Two of the leafy scorpionfish at Pixie Gardens

    Look carefully and you should find one or more leafy scorpionfish. On our dive here in November 2006 we found three on this bommie (depth 12 metres).

    Go further north and you will see some more small bommies. Once you see a huge coral outcrop like large broom handles, turn around and head south. Follow the main reef and you will see that there are many small coral bommies and some nooks and crannies in the reef. The depth will come up to about four or five metres. Head back a bit deeper and you will encounter the main wall again. Follow this and you will see a couple of canyons that lead up into the reef. The first one is quite long and then next one not as long. Worth exploring and taking photos.

    Pixie GardensPixie Gardens
    A pipefish at Pixie GardensA vertical photo in one of the caves at Pixie Gardens

    The mooring is attached to the main reef just past here. Take note of its location. There are a couple more canyons further on, all worth examining. Once you have run out of time or air. go up onto the reef wall and spend some time at five metres. There is a lot of nice coral here. Go back to the mooring and ascend.

    The visibility here does not appear to be great. We had about 10 to 12 metres at the best. Fishlife was pretty prolific.

    Pixie GardensPixie Gardens
    A banded shrimp at Pixie GardensThis coral started spawning on our night dive at Pixie Gardens - the pink dots are the eggs
    It was three days after the full moon in November

    It is also a good night dive spot. You will not find the leafy scorpionfish as they appear to hide at night time, but there are lots of tiny crabs, shrimp and other fish to see. On my dive here in November 2006 we saw one coral spawning, releasing eggs into the water (see the photo). This was three days after the full moon. Fantastic.

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