Dive Number: 61 15/07/2010 20.24 Edithburgh Jetty
Wind: 10 knot NW’s
Tide: 2.5hr after 2.26 high tide at Port Giles
Conditions: A dark and stormy night…no just kiddding. The skies were clear and little breeze. A small crescent moon. Great conditions for a night dive.
Bottom Type: Sandy bottom scattered with old wooden jetty pylons covered in sponges. Pylongs themselves were also heavily covered in ascidians, sponge and marine life.
Visibilty: Water nice and clean.. Vis was the length of my torch beam.
Water Temp: 12c
Bottom Time: 63 minutes
Max Depth: 4.3m
Air usage: 70bar/1000psi
SAC: ???? litres/min
Details: This was my first ever night dive on scuba. I’d been for night snorkels before, but this was something new. I wasn’t totally prepared with a focus light, but managed to grab a couple of small LED torches off ebay before i’d left and whacked them in a small film UW housing. It worked ok as a light, but not the best as a focus light. I was excited about the possibilty of seeing pyjama squid .
Camera Details: Canon 100mm , single SS200 strobe
Dive Report: On arriving at the pier, the fisherman were telling me that the Blood worms were out and its something that only happens a few times a year. They reckon they have no chance of catching any fish because the fish go nuts for the blood worms. I didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing for me, but i was after macro stuff anyway, so i wouldn’t be able to snap any fish if there were plenty around. Turns out i didn’t see one fish on the dive. But also didn’t see a pyjama squid either..a couple of Bobtails, but that was it. Even the blood worms were too big for my 100mm macro lens..but here’s one burying into the sand.
While searching the sand for exposed pyjama squid eyes, the occassional anemone took my fancy as a practice for the squids.
The many eyes of a scallop:
I do tell a lie..i did see some fish…pygmy leatherjackets..abou the size of a 50cent piece. It really didn’t want to be seen.
These Tasmanian Clingfish were also very shy. I generally felt like an invader on this night dive. Nothing came up for a hug.
I’m not sure what this is…maybe some type of sea squirt???
A small Cuttlefish was close to shore on exit. He was still too big for anything but an eyeshot with my macro lens.
Overall i was little dissappointed not to find Pyjama squid, but i still had a second night dive planned, so all was not lost.