Julian Rocks, Byron Bay with D90 and 60mm

[thanksforallthefish]

Nice pics aussie ... must get up to Byron to do some diving one day.

I am probably wrong, but I thought the second pic was an angler fish ... looks awfully like one we see here occaisonally.

 

[AussieByron]

Nice pics aussie ... must get up to Byron to do some diving one day.

I am probably wrong, but I thought the second pic was an angler fish ... looks awfully like one we see here occaisonally.

You are not wrong as the same fish can be referred to as an Anglerfish. Which is its more common name in Australia. Basically it belongs to the Antennariidae Family.

Antennariidae

Regards Mark

 

[thanksforallthefish]

You are not wrong as the same fish can be referred to as an Anglerfish. Which is its more common name in Australia. Basically it belongs to the Antennariidae Family.

Antennariidae

Regards Mark

ok ... cool ... thanks ... live and learn

 

[AussieByron]

Squid

Hinged-back shrimp with painted crayfish

Bennett's hypselodoris

blue dragon, serpent pteraeolidia

Spanish Dancer

obscure hypselodoris

 

[TSandM]

OMG, Mr. Gray, when we come back to Australia, may we dive with you?

I loved Byron Bay. It was my first major dive trip, and I saw so many things there that were wonderful. We spent a whole dive in the nursery on the third day (to the mild disgust of our DM) and found so many incredible things.

Do you dive with one of the commercial operators, or is it possible to do Julian Rocks from a private boat?

 

[AussieByron]

OMG, Mr. Gray, when we come back to Australia, may we dive with you?

I loved Byron Bay. It was my first major dive trip, and I saw so many things there that were wonderful. We spent a whole dive in the nursery on the third day (to the mild disgust of our DM) and found so many incredible things.

Do you dive with one of the commercial operators, or is it possible to do Julian Rocks from a private boat?

I guide for the Byron Bay Dive Centre (About Byron Bay Dive Centre, Australia, Scuba Dive and Snorkelling Specialists) on a regular basis. Its very easy to spend the whole dive just in the nussery which I do quiet often. My favourite area for macro has to be Hugo's Trench. Just some much small stuff in a relatively small area.
Just let the shop that you want me as your guide when you book. Its that easy.

Regards Mark

 

[AussieByron]

I would agree that Sundive was a good operation. We did feel that the DM was too intent on going somewhere and we just couldn't keep up with him and actually see stuff at the same time. (A problem if you want to see small stuff and take pictures). He went on his way while we explored a bit and when we went back to where the boat WAS, it had moved over to another site. No problem.. they saw us. On the second dive we tried to keep up with him, but I pretty much ran out of air just chasing him. It's a shame as we only had allocated time for 2 dives.
So.. let them know what kind of dive you want .. or do your own thing.

Its important if you dive with a guide/DM that you tell them what you want to do. I normally ask this question to the people I am guiding so I can plan the best dive for the people and for the conditions so everyone gets a goo dive including myself.
If you like going slow and looking at small stuff this is important as the guide may change the plan just to suit you.

Anyway i am a lazy diver and not keen to race around

Regards Mark

 

[TSandM]

Mark, as much as I loved Sundive and thought they gave us good service, you sound like my kind of guide, and I will remember for our next trip.

 

[AussieByron]

Mark, as much as I loved Sundive and thought they gave us good service, you sound like my kind of guide, and I will remember for our next trip.

Don't get me wrong as there are also several very experienced guides which work for Sundive.

Regards Mark

 

[Peter Guy]

I think the problem for us was that we were new to the whole guided dive scene and hadn't realized just how much we could/should control. We have enough guided dives under our fins now that we'll tell the guide what we want to do and then if the guide takes off anyway, we wave bye-bye!