Aussie Diving June 16-30

[Sas]

Another diving fortnight!

I got out for a night dive last night with a friend. We did 90mins in a place called South Road Bommie. Wind has been calm all week so was able to go to this spot again (only 20mins drive from home). Temperature was 10C so a bit chilly and we ended due to the cold at this point (my friend was in a wetsuit). Viz was about 8-9m.

I got some pictures with a non-broken house provided by petunia (thanks )

A blue ring octopus - haven't seen one here before.

Dark looking dumpling squid

Crab in a gillie suit

Very large flathead

Shy anemone

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Nice shots Sas ... thanks for sharing.. They are all very good but I especially like the Anenome.. great colour!

I think if I dive in Melbourne it will be supper... 10C is a bit low for my comfort! I can see why you have drysuits!

 

[Gudge]

I had an RDO on Friday and we got a couple of dives in on Ningaloo Reef while we could as the weather for the weekend wasn't looking too flash diving wise. Despite near perfect conditions on the surface things below weren't too good with less than desirable visibility (but a lot better than we had in Nelson Bay where we did our last dives ), some current and a long and low swell creating some very unpleasant surge. The surge made photography near the bottom in sandy areas difficult to say the least, even the fish were copping a mouthful of sand:

Here's few more of my favourites from the dives:

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Great shots Gudge... but we never expect less than spectacular when you post... Mayes me want to go to Ningaloo if these are from a not so good dive!

 

[almitywife]

look - TURTLE!!!!!

they still get me excited!

 

[alcina]

OK, I got out two days last week and still haven't had time to deal with the photos really! Glad to see Gudge got some up from our dives Friday ... hopefully I'll have a few in a bit, too.

Thursday I went out for my first day of whale sharking in 2009. Pathetic, I know. Here's a thread with a few images and here's one of them for those who don't want to click

We had humpback whales, manta rays, turtles, whale sharks ... omg it was an awesome day out!

 

[bowlofpetunias]

OMG I am so Jealous... but thanks for sharing so we can get some of the vicarious thrills!

 

[roby jeff]

Love the beautifull pics, here's my contribution with our S& S DXG1
50nm out from townsville the reefs beatifull and water temp still 24 C..so nice.

 

[roby jeff]

 

[alcina]

Is it just me or are there no photos, roby?

Like Gudge said, we did get out for some dives on Friday. I only did one thanks to hurting my back again, but I had an excellent time despite the huge surge, sandy swirlies and sparkly food cluttering up the scenes. There were so many turtles it was nutso...I stopped counting after like 16 or so. Ridiculous! And one of my favourite shots ... I wish the surge hadn't been so bad so I could have played more, but you get what you're given Here's the main thread with more photos...

This turtle was hanging totally vertically off the ledge, one flipper thrown over a sea fan and that's all that was holding him up. It was crazy, I can't believe the fan didn't pop right off the wall!

Here's the main thread with more photos...