Aussie Diving 14th-20th November

[Aardvark]

No camera today, it was cold and it was dim and the vis ordinary so I left it turned off and just had a look around. We nearly squished a large lobster with the anchor, he was hiding the the crevice where the pick lodged. Lots of the usual suspects: morwong, leatherjackets, one spot pullers and white ears plus the friendly blue grouper.

My buddy saw a eastern blue devil fish but he'd hidden under a ledge when he tried to show me Large school of bream on the second dive but no weedy sea dragons (which is what we went to that site for). I've decided I definately prefer 45 mins at 18 metres rather than 12 at 45.

Much better diving than Thursday night, hope everyone else managed to have a good time this weekend

 

[alcina]

Man, where did this week go?? I'm cheating and throwing up some info from my dives last Sunday coz I'm not getting out this weekend and who knows what the week will bring. I have a busy photography schedule starting tomorrow and the dive shop is pretty busy, too, so not sure I'll get out at all...and I've buggered up my wrist so bad I can't move it and am on pain meds while the wrist is in a splint! Ugh!

Last Sunday we popped out early for a couple of dives. The conditions were pretty nice above the water but under was surprisingly dirty, even for us! Didn't diminish the enjoyment of the dives too much as there was a crazy amount of life yet again. The nudis are really rocking and some unusual finds were out and about, so that's always a treat.

This poor anemonefish is just the dumbest looking guy, I reckon, but he's sweet

Eventually I'll get more images up in the UW area LOL

 

[Sas]

Yes I prefer the shallow dives too Aardvark for extra bottom time. However all the wrecks, which are my favourite, aren't so shallow

If you are ever in Melbourne I can show you a spot where you are pretty much guaranteed to see a weedy or six

Haven't seen a blue devil for a while, I like them a lot.

Alcina, that is the cutest fish! I like the dumb looking ones, so puffers are my favourite actually Hope your wrist is ok, what happened??

I'm off to dive tomorrow, for a club dive. People are going to be after crays (season starts today) and I am hoping to get some scallops as I don't particularly fancy catching crayfish. We'll have a BBQ afterwards with our catches However, I don't eat seafood at all so hoping to exchange my scallops for some sausages perhaps! :blinking:

 

[Inalara]

Been diving round Sydney and enjoying every dive so far, bit chilly with most hitting 14 degrees (had to go purchase gloves/hood/thermal shirt as I'm a wimp!), although one was a balmy 19 degrees.

Loads of weedy sea dragons, one of which was pregnant, just a real shame that my camera was refusing to turn on the flash so I failed to get any decent pictures, but I've got tonight to sort it out and 2 more days diving ahead of me.

And Nudi's galore, you guys get some great varieties of them around, including a monster one the same size as a small torch.... I *really* have to get my camera working again.

 

[thanksforallthefish]

Been diving round Sydney and enjoying every dive so far, bit chilly with most hitting 14 degrees (had to go purchase gloves/hood/thermal shirt as I'm a wimp!), although one was a balmy 19 degrees.

Loads of weedy sea dragons, one of which was pregnant, just a real shame that my camera was refusing to turn on the flash so I failed to get any decent pictures, but I've got tonight to sort it out and 2 more days diving ahead of me.

And Nudi's galore, you guys get some great varieties of them around, including a monster one the same size as a small torch.... I *really* have to get my camera working again.

Inalara ... you must have been doing some deep dives for those temps ... we have had temps from 17 to 19 over the last 3 weeks.

Have yoe tried Bare Island or Kurnell for Weedies, lately there have been masses of pleurobranchs at BI (I think they are a form of nudi) ... these are the size of dinner plates, and last monday the temp was 19Ž° ... we dived in our sharkskins.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

you like pictures of dumb looking fish? Here's my contribution

Don't think we will get a dive in this weekend.... it is amazing the things that conspire to keep you out of the water

 

[Inalara]

Inalara ... you must have been doing some deep dives for those temps ... we have had temps from 17 to 19 over the last 3 weeks.

Have yoe tried Bare Island or Kurnell for Weedies, lately there have been masses of pleurobranchs at BI (I think they are a form of nudi) ... these are the size of dinner plates, and last monday the temp was 19Ž° ... we dived in our sharkskins.

Limited to the dive shop I picked for sites I guess, butall the dive sites have been around the 17-26 meter mark, but they said they had the same dives at 19 last week, I guess I just got lucky! (or maybe it was the change in currents?) either way, still very happy as I have seen so much and diving with a friendly people.

Plus, maybe it's just preparing me for Adelaide....

 

[Aardvark]

you like pictures of dumb looking fish? Here's my contribution

Don't think we will get a dive in this weekend.... it is amazing the things that conspire to keep you out of the water

Classic! I really want to know what it was looking at

Temps dropped here last couple of days. First dive yesterday it was down to 14 degrees below about 20m. Second dive was only to 18m and it was a balmy 16 or so. Makes a change from the 19-20 we've had lately.

Yes I prefer the shallow dives too Aardvark for extra bottom time. However all the wrecks, which are my favourite, aren't so shallow

If you are ever in Melbourne I can show you a spot where you are pretty much guaranteed to see a weedy or six

Haven't seen a blue devil for a while, I like them a lot.

Alcina, that is the cutest fish! I like the dumb looking ones, so puffers are my favourite actually Hope your wrist is ok, what happened??

I'm off to dive tomorrow, for a club dive. People are going to be after crays (season starts today) and I am hoping to get some scallops as I don't particularly fancy catching crayfish. We'll have a BBQ afterwards with our catches However, I don't eat seafood at all so hoping to exchange my scallops for some sausages perhaps!

Not allowed to fish on SCUBA up here otherwise we'd have had crayfish for lunch yesterday I've gone off seafood a fair bit; lost the taste for oysters, prawns are too much work for not a lot of result (and I don't like the damage caused to fish them) and I've not been able to look at mussells the same after a bad experience with moules frites in Belgium. Pan fried fresh scallops are still on the menu, though.

There are often weedys at the second spot we dived yesterday, but it's a bit hit and miss.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

OMG No..... stop it...... you guys are scaring me! please tell me it isn't so! The water is warm... the water is warm... I choose my reality..... the water is warm I have made my decision.... I refuse to hear facts that do not support my decision... eepwalla: the water is warm

I do not want to take my wetsuit out of storage till next winter.

 

[Sas]

Not allowed to fish on SCUBA up here otherwise we'd have had crayfish for lunch yesterday I've gone off seafood a fair bit; lost the taste for oysters, prawns are too much work for not a lot of result (and I don't like the damage caused to fish them) and I've not been able to look at mussells the same after a bad experience with moules frites in Belgium. Pan fried fresh scallops are still on the menu, though.

Oic. We can scuba for most fish/crays/abalone/etc if we are happy to use our hands only. Spearfishing must not be on scuba. I don't eat seafood so don't fish at all, but my buddy does. Today, we saw two crays, chilled tried to catch one but he said it vanished as soon as he tried to grab it! I got pictures of another Some people on the boat said "you can't eat pictures" which I responded "well my lobster photo will be around for ever though" We got about 50 scallops, which I imagine chilled is cleaning right now.

The dives were very fun though we learned that we shouldn't be passing the scallop bag back and forth as we prepare to ascend! Paul handed it to me to launch the SMB and I went SPLAT into the ground whilst he started ascending quickly so he grabbed it back off me but I had already started filling my BC so I started to shoot up but managed to grab on to the scallop bag again, phew. One of the scallops I picked up tried to attack me, I didn't realise they open their mouths and swim around clapping the shell together, startled me a bit! :blush:

Two people caught crayfish, one nearly 4kg!

I do not want to take my wetsuit out of storage till next winter.

I totally sympathise!!! Guess who is back in her drysuit next Friday for diving Was too cold today and it makes me feel much less like a third dive when I have been soaking wet and cold all day so we passed on another dive.

I have picked up a book too in the shop today, which has 120 shore dives around Victoria :shocked2:, so we are going to start checking out a lot of new sites soon! Can't wait.