Mar

16

Dive Number: 17 15/03/2010 18.26 Cottage by the Sea

Wind: 10 knot Northerlies

Tide: 20minutes before 0.55 low tide at the heads

Conditions: Lovely 30c evening.. light norterlies with nice flat seas.

Bottom Type: Rocky reef with overhangs.

Visibilty: 4-5m

Water Temp: 20c

Bottom Time: 69 minutes

Max Depth: 7.8m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: 10.9 litres/min

Details: Sometimes you just think “Its great to be alive!”. Its something i wasn’t thinking during my mondayistis day at work, and even though i planned to dive after work, i really wasn’t feeling like it. It was such a great evening though so i had a quick rest after work and straight down to Cottage. The Sun was low and moved behind clouds on the way down, and i was concerned that the light wasn’t going to be good. On arrival though, the conditions looked great so i got straight down to cottage and descended before it got dark. The lighting was amazing down there…the low sunlight created gentle hues and glimmering sunbursts on the surface. This was going to be a great night for photography!

Camera Details: Tokina 10-17mm fisheye, single SS200 strobe.

Dive Report: I started out metering the sun coming through the surface and the hoped i could find some good subjects to pose in front of it. I started out with the kelp.

I hoped a large school of fish might come through, but i had to make do with this single zebrafish.

Then my main subject arrived. A massive Giant Cuttlefish appeared from beneath the ledge… a very inquistive fella. I’m not sure if this was an attempt at a smile or if it wanted to eat me when we first met!

Either way he was happy to come out and play.

I think he liked his reflection in the dome port and want to get views from every angle…so did i actually.

When he came out over the pale sand, he’d morph into a whitish/cream colouration…very impressive.

But when back into his lair, he’d change into his purple garb.

Waves to the viewers at home Mr Cuttle!

He really did have some stunning markings…

I spent quiet while with this cuttle when a boat pulled up directly above me. I feared it might drop anchor so i got out of there.. it was time to say goodbye to Mr Cuttle.

Not long after I left, i head up to the top of the reef, only to be greeted by Cuttle Jnr. About 1/4 size of Mr Cuttle, but just as inquisitive.

It came right up to me, another narcissist cuttle.

This pose reminds me of Ganesh, the Indian Elephant God.

I was very happy to come across these two cuttlefish and had a great photography session..short but action packed. The sun had set, so i thought i’d call it a night. I ascended nice and gradually, relaxed and in total control of my ascent rate….probably my best ascent to date. When i hit the surface…wow..an amazing sunset sky awaited. Burnoffs in the Otways had created an incredible smoke cloud formation in the west, and the sky was painted with reds, oranges and subtle greys, all reflected off the gentle waters i was floating in. An amazing end to an amazing dive. Diving rocks!

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