Howdy
I got to dive off of Perth on 11 April at Rottnest Island. Operator was Rottnest Island Dive & Snorkel
http://rottnestdiving.com.au and they were outstanding. They hooked me up with an insta-buddy by the name of Theo Theodorou from Melbourne and he was great.
Since both of us had to rent some or all of the gear required it was going to be a little difficult to tell each other apart so we worked out the true and tested Yankee-Aussie diplomatic manuever of extending...a single finger to make sure we had the right buddy :14: . Of course...when a glass-bottom boat was scheduled to come by we modified the approach to "read between the lines" symbology. Needless to say I never lost my buddy!
First dive was on Horse Shoe Reef at a depth of about 40 feet (I'll find out for certain when I download the computer). The life was fantastic and was exactly what I had hoped for. There was quite a bit of kelp providing cover and the reef was filled in every inch with various sealife. For a popular place there seemed to be very little wear & tear on the reef. Awsome care taken by the Aussies to ensure this treasure is kept pristine!
We had a surge of about 3-4 feet so we had to plan ahead a bit before getting too close. The surge also kept us out of the coral swim thru's since we would've beat up the reef had we attempted to get as close as possible. Trust me...admiring from afar works pretty good too.
Second dive was at Kingston Reef and though a little shallower...the wildlife was even more dramatic. No sharks or large fish...just incredible color and density of life. There were a couple of boat wrecks nearby but we passed on that option...the reef was pretty kool. Unfortunately my camera battery died out on the first dive so I didn't get some of the spectacular shots to share...just a great memory of what Kingston had to offer.
Just a quick note on the dive Op. Very friendly, effective and helpful. They provided 5 & 6 mm suits which worked great for the water temp that day. Hoods & gloves were also available if you wanted them but the water wasn't that cold. Rob was the captain that day and he "earned the tip" so to speak when on the second dive my rented BC blew out a valve upon entry. He cleared the aft deck ladder when he saw me working to stay at the surface and "cleared me in hot" when I got to the boat. Like NASCAR in action he had me swapped out and in the water in less than 3 minutes.
Quick hint...don't be concerned about whether you get a 80 or 72 cu. ft. tank. The dive is shallow so you'll wear out before you "breathe out."
Last thing...go to the "Bakery" while you're on the island (there's only one "Bakery") and get yourself a meat pie! Steak & bacon isn't on the menu but may be the best thing this side of the globe. Better yet...buy about 10 to take home to your mates on the mainland that weren't lucky enough to come out to the island with ya. Just hit the Bakery after the first dive (the boat comes back to swap tanks) and put in your order with a pick up time at 1500. They'll have your half-baked pies ready and you just toss 'em on the boat after the second dive...hit the Perth docks...set the oven at 200C for 15 minutes then enjoy what just ain't there in the States!
Cheers!
Dane
