Aussie Diving - May week 3 (Fri 16th to 22nd)

[almitywife]

woohooo - went diving today!!

dived oak park at Cronulla - first time in about 8yrs that ive dived it and we got 2 dives in.

1st dive 85mins and 2nd dive 90mins

max depth 10mtrs/30ft a warm 20c Degs and viz was about 15 to 20mtrs/45ft to 60ft

critter count:
HUGE bull ray
TWO eagle rays (and thats cool!)
pipe fish
a hand full of nudis and
LOTS of fish

AND

a pod of 3 or 4 dolphins went past while we were chilling out (and that VERY cool!)

Oak Park entry to the right of the ocean pool

dolphins spotted

 

[almitywife]

oh - and to inspire us, i introduce an aussie dive of the week winner :multi:

of couse no hard rules - its all about the dive, the journey and the cool factor

 

[alcina]

Great you got out! I had a day in the office today and I haven't been out again all week - maybe Monday.

We were a bit worried about the whale sharks today as we hadn't seen any by noon - then 8 popped up LOL We're just getting too spoiled this season! I must get out there myself...

 

[Sas]

Well I went diving today and had the best visibility I have had in Melbourne ever so that was awesome! Was about 15 metres and it was great to finally get a sense of a dive site in full rather than just what that murky thing is 3m in front of me.

We dived in Pope's Eye (http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/19/potd25_gallery__600x399.jpg) for the first dive. Was a fairly short dive (35mins) as we were on a boat with OW students who had short dives and we didn't want to hold them up. Depth was about 5m max as we were warned not to go out side the fort wall due to strong currents. HEAPS of fish including many blue devils, leatherjackets and many more I don't know the names of yet. Swum to the top of the wall and saw a *giant* school of fish, the biggest lot of fish together that I have seen and due to the great visibility it just looked amazing.

The second dive was even better as it was just before ebb tide and the visibility had not started to decrease. We were at Boarfish Reef at about 18-20m, and got to check out many ledges and swim through overhangs. I should have brought a torch though to see what was underneath all the ledges Saw some boarfish (big surprise there ) and giant blue devils. The coral and sponges were very colourful and the whole landscape just looked mad, (or maybe it looked normal but that it was just the first time I have seen anything properly

Edit: oh I might actually get some pictures this weekend as another guy from my diving club is a big photo nut so has heaps. Just emailing him for some now

The only issue was that it was 10C on the surface with rain and freezing winds, and 15C in the water. Got pretty cold as on the second dive we had a long wait til slack water.

Anyway, next weekend me + my buddy have booked the Eliza Ramsden (wasn't diveable this weekend as it is subject to shipping) so looking forward to that and in a few weeks after that I will be doing my Deep to 39m, so lots of fun diving ahead! Can't wait to go a bit deeper to check out some submarines.

 

[alcina]

Nice reverse profile there

And BRRRRRR that's crazy ridiculous temperatures. We were just complaining that the water on the beach we walk on seems to have dropped - which would make it about 24-25C LOL

 

[Sas]

Yea, we were at the whim of the boat operator, usually I do a deeper dive first. :| Pope's Eye is usually about 12m if you go on the outside, which wouldn't have left us much bottom time for the second dive so probably good we stayed shallow. Think my average depth there was about 3m.

 

[almitywife]

giant blue devils would be cool (and possibly award winning) to see!

Oak Park gets blue devils but we have to wait till the water is colder i was told

tomorrow is Frogdive monthly club dive at Shelley Beach :multi:

 

[Sas]

Well I only have a picture of us on the boat so far. He says he will update Flickr soon so looking forward to getting some more pictures. My buddy is probably getting a camera soon too which will be cool :]

Anyway, I have *some* pictures from my diving set up in an album now - from my aquarium dive too which I said I'd post pictures of eventually Sarah's Photos - Scuba Diving

Edit: oh and if anyone knows the names of some of the fish life in the pictures, I'd appreciate knowing what they are. :] I have no idea about identifying marine life yet!

 

[Scubastud16]

We saw a spearfisher at Bondi the other day, and the g/f and I may have a dip in with masks and snorkels, no scuba for me this trip unfortunately. Plus, 66 degrees (Fahr) and no wetsuit isn't going to last long

 

[almitywife]

today was frogdive monthly club dive at Shelley Beach/Manly

cool factor - PENGUIN!!! :multi: ive never seed a penguin in the water before - he/she was playing with us and come within and arms length from us

also saw 2 huge cuttlefish
lion fish
baby sharks feeding on yellow tail and
big wobbegong, approx 7ft long

water still warm, viz was about 150mtrs/45ft and followed by a nag & a bbq it was a very nice diving weekend