Aussie diving - June 2012

[alcina]

Has anyone been out this month yet? I haven't. Meant to go out later today but have woken with yesterday's headache still in full swing and a very icky tummy so not sure if I'll make it or not. Really want to as I only have three days before I fly out on holidays and the wind is meant to come in strong tomorrow Might just have to live vicariously through you guys!!

 

[clownfishsydney]

Went out diving on Saturday off southern Sydney. As we pulled up at the dive site, we had a fantastic encounter with humpback whales and dolphins. There were three whales, they and the dolphins appeared to be feeding. They came so close to the boat I had to move twice. Here is a video I put together that Kelly shot Humpback Whales and dolphins Pizza Reef Sydney - YouTube.

Also, the dive was brilliant, 17 m viz and lots of fish.

 

[alcina]

Awesome! No one fell in?! I don't think that would have happened here

 

[bfowles]

Great video.

I christened my new nikon d7000 on the weekend. I have been shooting with a NEX 5 but got sick of waiting for lenses. It was weird using a viewfinder but it I was starting to get the hang of it by the end of the dive.


pygmy-squid by Byron.Fowles, on Flickr


tassled-angler by Byron.Fowles, on Flickr

 

[ferris213]

They're great shots bfowles, where were they taken?

I went for a dive on the ex-HMAS Brisbane last weekend, Vis was ok at about 8m and 20deg. Took it very slow along the main deck and was surprised at the amount of life getting around there. There's a big resident octopus who wasn't bothered by all the divers as well as a few nudis and a mantis shrimp that couldn't get back to it's hole fast enough.

We also spotted a couple of little shrimp, one of which was about 5mm long and almost impossible to discern from it's surroundings. Luckily my buddy had a camera and was kind enough to send me her photos.

This was the bigger of the two.

All in all it was a great day with some new people.

Edit: Sorry I haven't loaded these photos properly...

 

[bfowles]

Thanks the photos were taken at blairgowrie marina in Melbourne.

The shrimp is a sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis) they are one of my favourites.

 

[Griffo]

The Fiance got to dive with a pack of juvenile Dusky Whalers in the Cabbage Tree marine park in Sydney. Apparently the dive was pretty awesome, I sat on the sideline with blocked ears. And of course the camera ran out of battery...

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Stayed dry this weekend.... hoep to get wet soon tho. Fish gave me a GoPro for my birthday so I am now dying to try it out!

Love the shots everyone. Clownfishsydney.. I heard the whales are in.. it would be kewl to see them close up! A few years back we had some doing tail slaps and playing around the dive boat at Fishrock during the surface interval... it was magic. Thanks to Kelly for the clip!

bfowles.. love the dumpling squid and the tassled angler. When we went to Melb to dive we missed out on both!

The duskys do seem to be out in spades the last while. That was a nice shot of the harlequin shrimp! They really are shy little things! Well done to get that!

 

[alcina]

Looks like an awesome weekend of diving! As predicted, I didn't get in Was going to head out yesterday arvo but a friend called about noon and so we went out for a 4 hour champagne lunch instead So no diving in June for me as I'm off tomorrow. But will be in Bonaire on Sunday our time so hopefully will get in a lot of dives there!

Have a great month and I'll pop in to see what's happening!

 

[ferris213]

Enjoy your trip Alcina.