Aussie Diving Dec 27th to 2nd Jan

[C8X]

Made it in to the gap at Looking Glass for the first time this past saturday -- what an incredible place! I think the fact that you can't go in there under typical conditons (south swell) makes it that much more special, this was my best dive in the Nelson Bay area by far.

Besides the shark show, I've never seen so many fish together in one place anywhere around here, there were huge clouds of pomfrets and the sharks just moved through them like bubbles.

A few snapshots from the video that I'll get to soon, first was looking up from the floor of the gutter to see a shark cruising over top and second was spending our remaining air exploring the very cool eastern wall where we found a nice little swimthrough at about 10m depth. The water was dead calm.

 

[C8X]

Almost forgot, from the previous week, this is a nearly final video from the Oakland and Broughton Island. It's technically not that great, but I'm still taking the camera on every dive, working out the kinks, getting used to the workflow etc.

SS Oakland and Broughton Island on Vimeo

 

[almitywife]

nice... i havent dived looking glass for over 10yrs! gotta get back up there sooner rather than later

Sorry I am late in replying -time difference is a challenge.

Fish and Petunia initially loaned me split fins on my dives with them and I liked them so much they gave them to me ( Thanks again guys). I used them on all 18 dives in OZ and they were great :kiss2: Better than my yellow non split Mare fins......

this is why we dont let Petunias and Fishy meet new people... they turn them to the dark side!

i'll start wearing splits when George Clooney is standing at the shore at Bare Island to put them on my feet

 

[bowlofpetunias]

i'll start wearing splits when George Clooney is standing at the shore at Bare Island to put them on my feet [/quote]

I would try to arrange it but I can't risk anything effecting my fills from :worship:Almity1:worship:

 

[bowlofpetunias]

had a great dive with my favourite buddies today! Fish found the Eastern Blue devil! it was too far under the ledge to get any decent shots of it. Man they are so shy... Sas didn't you say the western ones aren't very shy? The colours are so vibrant. The reason I got a camera in the first place was to try to get a shot to show the vibrant blue fish... now I am hooked. Still can't resist chasing the blue fishies!

Fish saw the upsidedown pipefish in the usual spot.:blinking: Something has done some major excavating :shocked2:under the rock. By the time I got there to check things out it had hidden from the light. Fish says it wasn't the baby we have been seeing but one of the adults. They have more room to hide under there now.

I went looking for the golden crested weedfish but the kelpbed it lives in is too big and I couldn't find it.

Saw a big flathead at the end of the dive. We didn't have Almity fills so had a shorter dive... mind you I found it a bit cool after we hit the hour mark.

Gudge .... thanks for that shot but I notice it is still a shot of a tiny critter most us only dream of seeing never mind getting a shot of. Your shot is still in focus! Do you ever get backscatter?????? north end of a fish going south??????? or OMG anything out of focus?????

C8X nice shots... Looking Glass is pretty special all right. Thanks for reminding us of the great spots we have within a day's drive of home. Fresh eyes and insight like yours really are appreciated. You don't have to go to the GBR to get great dives in OZ. The sites you are talking about really are special and fairly cheap since they aren't on the main tourist track. More bang for your buck I think.

Here are my shots from today sorry Sas no boxfish for you today:depressed:

 

[Denis Sydney]

Hi all,

A new poster here. I too had a great dive today with some special buddies. Here is a shot I have of the Eastern Blue Devil. Not sure how it will show up here. It was a little difficult to get as the local jealous groper took a mouthfull of sand and sprayed it all around between me & the fish.

No signature.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Hi all,

A new poster here. I too had a great dive today with some special buddies. Here is a shot I have of the Eastern Blue Devil. Not sure how it will show up here. It was a little difficult to get as the local jealous groper took a mouthfull of sand and sprayed it all around between me & the fish.

No signature.

Welcome aboard SB Denis. Your shot of the EBD sure beats any I got!

That blue grouper is a special friend of Saspotato.... we've been calling it Sas cause she liked it so much.... it was soooooo friendly when she came to visit.... I wonder if we could send it to Melbourne Do you know anyone heading that direction:blinking:

I think she would get pretty fed up with it spitting rubble in front of her new camera and ruining her shots like it does ours!

 

[Gudge]

Do you ever get backscatter?????? north end of a fish going south??????? or OMG anything out of focus?????

Yes, all the time. It's just that nobody but me ever gets to see them. Over the weekend I took about 200 shots on four 75 minute dives, only about a dozen shots will ever see the light of day (or is that computer monitor?).

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Fish noticed this thing on our dive the other day. When a current of water sweeps it or you touch it.... the thing goes from orange red to white then slowly changes back.

These things seem to be around sponge... enough to wonder if it might be parasitic .... it is not soft like sponge... more stiff bristle it seems brittle as well... I haven't been game to take my gloves off and touch it tho.

I took some pictures of some before and after changing from the same angle.

I also got a tiny video clip that Sas was kind enough to post in Youtube for me.
:shocked2: Anyone know what this is? I haven't been able to find it in my books.

I haven't noticed it until recently. I am not sure if it is something that is new or something I just haven't noticed before...

YouTube - Strange underwater sponge/coral?

 

[almitywife]

Hi all,

A new poster here. I too had a great dive today with some special buddies. Here is a shot I have of the Eastern Blue Devil. Not sure how it will show up here. It was a little difficult to get as the local jealous groper took a mouthfull of sand and sprayed it all around between me & the fish.

No signature.

as much as im super excited you have joined us here at :sblogo:... i then see that pic and i think you lucky b*****d!!!