Dive 93 – Little River – Fresh water

By pfuller

Oct

25

Dive Number: 93 22/10/2010 11.44 Little River

Wind: 25knot northerlies.

Tide:  NA

Conditions:  Strong hot northerlies that didn’t imapct the water deep in the creek gully. Some slight movement on the surface and there was some strange ‘gunk’ floating on the surface..not very appealing.

Visibilty: 6m

Water Temp: 16c

Bottom Time: 47 minutes

Max Depth: 4.6m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I was on my way home from Melbourne and really wanted to get back into Little River with the wide-angle lens on.  The eerie scenes of the old torana wreck and the kayak through the green water begged for the wide angle. It was much more difficult to shot that i thought, but i’m happy with a couple of shots.     

Camera Details: Tokina 10-17mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

 

 

Dive 92 – Curlewis

By pfuller

Oct

25

Dive Number: 92 20/10/2010 18.51 Curlewis

Wind: 10-15knot South-easterlies.

Tide:   4.5hr after 0.82 high tide at geelong

Conditions:  The tide was low and this is a site to snorkel at high tide, let alone scuba, but conditions were quiet nice so i gave scuba a go. 

Bottom Type:  Sand  bottom.

Visibilty: 6-7m

Water Temp: 17c

Bottom Time: 46 minutes

Max Depth: 2.1m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  The plan was to dive Pt Henry but the wind seemed to be more easterly when i arrive there, and the fairly long walk across the rocks (200m..huge) didn’t appeal to me, so i decided to head to Curlewis. On entering the water i soon discovered that my sync cord wasn’t screwed onto the housing tightly and let a small amount of water into the bulk head. Strobes were behaving erractically, so i switched them off so i didn’t do any damage. Light was also fading, so i didn’t take many pics..always just nice to be in the water down here though.     

Camera Details: Tokina 10-17mm , dual SS200 strobes(not working)

Dive Report:

 

Dive 91 – St Leonards Pier

By pfuller

Oct

20

Dive Number: 91 10/10/2010 15.55 St Leonards Pier

Wind: 10-15knot easterlies. (NE’s)

Tide:   0.5hr before 0.94 high tide at geelong

Conditions:  Dreaded easterlies can blow out the whole of the Bellarine peninsula, but i was dying for a dive, so i did a bit of a circuit to see if anywhere was diveable. The Springs were planned, but it looked surgey, so i swung past St Leonards. It was suprisingly flat, and the vis was ok too. Must be protected from the break. 

Bottom Type:  Sand bottom.

Visibilty: 5-6m

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 109 minutes

Max Depth: 3.5m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I didn’t get out very far before spotting a Lions Mane Jellyfish. Then came another and another. I quickly realised there was a bit of a migration going on, and i was probably past by at least 300 jellies moving north to south by the current.  Most of them small  juveniles with a  few larger ones.  Stupidly, i stuck with the 100mm macro for the whole dive, but should have changed to a wide angle, since i blew a rare opportunity.   

Camera Details: Canon100mm , dual SS200 strobes.

Dive Report:

Dive 90 – Curlewis

By pfuller

Oct

20

Dive Number: 90 09/10/2010 17.55 Curlewis

Wind: 10-15knot Southerlies.

Tide:   1hr after 0.92 high tide at geelong

Conditions:  Southerlies made it nice and calm at Curlewis, with great vis too.

Bottom Type:  Shallow Rock ledge and reef, and sandy out deeper.

Visibilty: 8-10m

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 72 minutes

Max Depth: 2.6m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  Caught up with Chris and Kerry for a late afternoon dive at Curlewis. I’d never scuba’d from shore here, and its a bit of a hike down the cliff, but it was pretty easy. Lots of fiddler rays around, and baby globefish. Didn’t spot any nudi’s though..maybe a bit early for them. 

Camera Details: Canon100mm , dual SS200 strobes.

Dive Report:

Dive 89 – Cottage by the Sea

By pfuller

Oct

20

Dive Number: 89 05/10/2010 13.55 Cottage by the Sea

Wind: 10-15knot NE’s.

Tide:   1hr before 0.66 low tide at the heads

Conditions:  Lovely day, conditions flat, but the vis dissppointed.  Current was ok though.

Bottom Type:  Rock legdes and overhangs.

Visibilty: 5m

Water Temp: 14c

Bottom Time: 62 minutes

Max Depth: 8.0m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  It was such a great day and conditions had been blowing northerlies for the last couple of days, osi had high hopes for a great cottage dive. The vis dissappointed though and i managed to get a bit disoriented. 

Camera Details: Tokina 10-170mm , single SS200 strobe.

Dive Report:

Snorkel at Pt Lonsdale

By pfuller

Oct

20

02/10/2010 10.30 Point Lonsdale

Wind: ????

Tide: 0.63 low tide at the Heads

Conditions: A high -low tide din’t give much time in the pools.

Bottom Type: Rockpools

Bottom Time: 60 minutes

Details: usual suspects around..nothing to different.

Camera Details: Canon 100mm , single SS200 strobe.

Dive Report:

Dive 88 – Blairgowrie Pier

By pfuller

Oct

18

Dive Number: 87 01/10/2010 11.47 Rye Pier

Wind: ???

Tide:   1hr after 0.60 low tide at the heads

Conditions:  Nice day but a bit of current moving under the pier.

Bottom Type:  Sand bottom

Visibilty: 5-6m

Water Temp: 12c

Bottom Time: 125 minutes

Max Depth: 6.2m

Air usage: 200bar/2700psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I stayed overnight at Sorrento and planned on diving a couple of sites around the mornington peninsula, but i ended up only getting one dive in at Blairgowrie. Tassled Anglefish were on the hitlist, but i only got onto one individual. Lots of Flabellina nudi’s around and a couple of others species too.

Camera Details: Sigma 17-70mm , single SS200 strobe.

Dive Report:

Dive 87 – Rye Pier at Night

By pfuller

Oct

14

Dive Number: 87 30/09/2010 21.44  Rye Pier

Wind: 10 knot NW.

Tide:   0.24 low tide at the heads

Conditions:  Dead still night…

Bottom Type:  Sand bottom

Visibilty: 5+m

Water Temp: 14c

Bottom Time: 102 minutes

Max Depth: 5.0m

Air usage: 200bar/2700psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I caught up with Jim and Guy who were diving Rye that night. Turned into a sensational dive with lots of critters around, and a port jackson shark even put in an appearance.

Camera Details: Sigma 17-70mm , single SS200 strobe.

Dive Report:

Dive 86 – Little River (fresh water)

By pfuller

Oct

14

Dive Number: 86 26/09/2010 16.33  Little River

Wind: 10 knot NW.

Tide:   Freshwater dive (none)

Conditions:  Nice sunny peaceful bush day.

Bottom Type:  Muddy bottom with occassional boulder, weed lined river banks.

Visibilty: 7m

Water Temp: 14c

Bottom Time: 37 minutes

Max Depth: 4.5m

Air usage: 75bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I felt like a change to the normal dive sites, so on my way back from Melbourne, i popped into Little River where i remember reading about a fresh water hole on little river itself. I found it without much trouble, and Chris and Kerry joined me for a relaxing fresh water explore. It was a slightly creepy dive, with an ominous green hue to the water, but it was fun dive to check out..and my first fresh water dive, which was interesting to see the effect on bouyancy.  

Camera Details: Canon 100mm , single SS200 strobe .

Dive Report: Macro wasn’t the best choice for this dive. Theres an old torana wreck and sunked cano here, plus some nice surface shots and river vegetation opportunities that i’ll have to revisit with my wide angle. Not much life around. Chris saw a small eel, and i saw a small crab and a tiny red bug…anyone have any idea what type of critter this is? Its carapace was almost sponge-like.

Dive 85 – Williamstown – Crystal Lagoon

By pfuller

Oct

14

Dive Number: 85 26/09/2010 11.42 Williamstown – Crystal Lagoon

Wind: 10 knot NW.

Tide:  0.5hrs after 0.37  low tide at Williamstown

Conditions:  Nice sunny day with calm waters

Bottom Type:  Volcanic basalt boulders on sand base.

Visibilty: 8-10m

Water Temp: 13c

Bottom Time: 90 minutes

Max Depth: 3.4m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  There’d been a couple of days of northerlies and i was nearby at Williamstown overnight, so i thought i’d check out this site i’d only ever snorkelled before. The water was lovely and clear and a lot of seastars and featherworms lining the rocks, but few fish apart from the occassional blenny.

Camera Details: Canon 100mm , single SS200 strobe.

Dive Report:

Dive 84 – Curlewis (Boat Dive)

By pfuller

Oct

12

Dive Number: 84 22/09/2010 08.23 Curlewis (Boat Dive)

Wind: 10 knot W.

Tide: 0.35  low tide at Geelong

Conditions:  Overcast and wet but stable conditions.

Bottom Type: Sandy base scattered with ascidian clumps.

Visibilty: 8m

Water Temp: 12c

Bottom Time: 58 minutes

Max Depth: 2.7m

Air usage: 80bar/1200psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  Trevor had recently found a good spot for the  hydriod “Labatoria Newtoni”, and wanted to show Jan (hydriod expert) the area to collect some samples for analysis.  They invited me along on the  boat, so i grabbed the macro lens and spent some time with these ‘flowers of the sea’.  

Camera Details: Canon 100mm , single SS200 strobe and snoot.

Dive Report: I tried some photoshop on some of these shots. Some techniques i use to use on macro flower shots.

Dive 83 – Ozone Wreck

By pfuller

Oct

12

Dive Number: 83 19/09/2010 14.23 Ozone Wreck

Wind: 10 knot W.

Tide: 3hr after 0.87  high tide at Geelong

Conditions:  Cant remember..trying to catch up on dive logs!

Bottom Type: Wreck structure ansd scattered debris on sand base.

Visibilty: 5-6m

Water Temp: 12c

Bottom Time: 88 minutes

Max Depth: 3.4m

Air usage: 120bar/1800psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: I’d just got some new strobe arm gear and had some hideous arm extensions going on for this dive. It was awkward to say the least, but fun trying to light the wreck with two strobes. I fnally switched to RAW for this dive after not being very happy with results from Byron. I dont think i’ll be going back to JPG now. I’ll just have to buy more harddrives.

Camera Details: Tokina 10-17mm , dual SS200 strobes.

Dive Report:

Dive 82 – Byron Bay – Julians Rocks – Cod Hole

By pfuller

Oct

12

Dive Number: 82 12/09/2010 13.47 Byron Bay – Julians Rocks – Cod Hole

Wind: ????

Tide: 1hr after 2.26 high tide at Ballina

Conditions: Another fine day for diving…10-15knot winds but generally a nice day.

Bottom Type: Julians rocks is a large volcanic bommie rising out of the ocean about 2km from byron bay. As it drops off into the ocean theres a number of caves and and gullies formed. The cod hole is a cave teaming with fish, and the gullies deeper down are patrolled by Grey Nurse Sharks.

Visibilty: 10m

Water Temp: 19c

Bottom Time: 53minutes

Max Depth: 20.4m

Air usage: 170bar/2500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: This second dive made me realise how a good guide/group/buddy can really make or break a dive. The guide on this dive seemed to have control issues and wanted everything done his way. To make matters worse we seemed to be swimming mid-water everywhere and into the current, which was making me very tired and not enjoy the dive as much as i should of. We still had some good Grey Nurse encounters, but it all seemed a bit rushed.

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

Dive Report:

Dive 81 – Byron Bay – Julians Rocks – Cod Hole

By pfuller

Oct

12

Dive Number: 81 12/09/2010 11.36 Byron Bay – Julians Rocks – Cod Hole

Wind: ????

Tide: 1hr before 2.26 high tide at Ballina

Conditions: Another fine day for diving…10-15knot winds but generally a nice day.

Bottom Type: Julians rocks is a large volcanic bommie rising out of the ocean about 2km from byron bay. As it drops off into the ocean theres a number of caves and and gullies formed. The cod hole is a cave teaming with fish, and the gullies deeper down are patrolled by Grey Nurse Sharks.

Visibilty: 12m

Water Temp: 19c

Bottom Time: 47minutes

Max Depth: 22.1m

Air usage: 170bar/2500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: What an absolutely fantastic dive this was! Mark Gray was the instructor/guide on this dive, and coincidently i’d only been looking at his photography the night before. He promised me a good dive with some close grey nurse encounters if i stuck close to him and i wasn’t dissappointed. His best tip was to stay low on the sand so as not to spook them by drifting mid-water. Not only did this work, but it made for exciting diving. I’ve always thought that to be a good photographer you need to be a good hunter, and this felt like we were on safari. We were shark hunting, crawling on our bellies along confined gullies while grey nurses swam overhead. At one stage ther were 4 grey nurses all within 5 metres just exerting thier prowess in the water. This was all in about the first 10 minutes of the dive and that was enough to make it my favorite dive to date. But it didn’t end there, Mark then led us into the Cod Hole which teemed with fish and provided some fantastic photo opportunities. After leaving the codhole we started a gradual asecent up a shear wall where schools of batfish and some other massive fish cruised by. The path through this dive site just made it a magical experience, and i couldn’t help but shout out a few expletives as soon as i had the regulator out of my mouth. Local knowlegde and a patient passage through this site made it a dive to remember..so thanks a million mark!

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

Dive Report:


Dive 80 – Stradbroke Island – The Group – Manta Ray Bommie

By pfuller

Oct

5

Dive Number: 80 11/09/2010 15.14 Stradbroke Island – The Group – Manta Ray Bommie

Wind: ????

Tide: 5hr past 2.30 high tide at Point Lookout

Conditions: Another lovely sunny queensland day with no clouds and a light breeze.

Bottom Type: Large Rock Bommie with scattered smaller bommies then extending out to a vast sand patch.

Visibilty: 15m

Water Temp: 19c

Bottom Time: 59minutes

Max Depth: 11.5m

Air usage: 170bar/2500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: This was dive number two on the trip out with Manta Lodge. After going to 26metres this was a shallower dive to finish off in about 12m. After some chicken noodle soup and snakes we were back in the water. We’d been informed that at least 3 Manta Rays were in the area and this was the first time this season, so i timed it well. This dive proved to be a fantastic ray dive.

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

Dive Report: Diving in large groups again seemed unproductive. There were heaps of cool rays around, but it was hard to get close to any of them with so many divers flapping aorund mid-water. A school of around 80+ Golden rays were an impressive site though. Together with a couple of Manta Rays and a Bull Ray, the site lived up to its name.

Dive 79 – Stradbroke Island – Flat Rock – Shark Alley

By pfuller

Oct

5

Dive Number: 79 11/09/2010 13.30 Stradbroke Island – Flat Rock – Shark Alley

Wind: ????

Tide: 3.5hr past 2.30 high tide at Point Lookout

Conditions: Another lovely sunny queensland day with no clouds and a light breeze.

Bottom Type: 20-25m deep rocky gully/valley with steep walls and a sandy bottom.

Visibilty: 20m

Water Temp: 20c

Bottom Time: 54 minutes

Max Depth: 26.1m

Air usage: 170bar/2500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: Another lovely day, after a day off diving due to strong NE winds that cancelled most dive trips. We caught the ferry over to stradbroke island, and decided to take the car over as well to take the pressure off getting up to Lookout point in time for my dive trip. This was a dive trip with Manta Lodge that ran rubber dinghies off a beautiful little beach. Dolphins buzzed the boat just metres off shore as we launched the boat and on the way out we saw a Loggerhead turtle on the surface. A changing of the guard was underway as the Grey Nurses left for summer, and the Manta Rays were just starting to return, so a sighting of both was on the cards. This turned out to be a cracker of a dive just for the underwater terrain alone, a deep valley with sheer walls with plenty of fish around, and scattered patches of coral.

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

Dive Report: I didn’t really get a lot of good photo opportunies and mainly enjoyed the dive. We dived in groups of 4-6, so it wasn’t real conducive to spending time to take photos. Here’s a few anyway, nothing i’m overly happy with apart from the stonefish.

Dive 78: Gold Coast Seaway – Short Pipe

By pfuller

Oct

5

Dive Number: 78 09/09/2010 9.46 Gold Coast Seaway – Short Pipe

Wind: ????

Tide: 1hr past 1.45 high tide at the Seaway ( This site should really be dived right on high tide)

Conditions: A lovely sunny queensland morning with no clouds and a light breeze.

Bottom Type: Sandy river estuary with the banks lined by a rock wall. A sewer pipe on stilts extends out 100-200m.

Visibilty: 5-6m

Water Temp: 20c

Bottom Time: 63 minutes

Max Depth: 10.6m

Air usage: 170bar/2500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: This was my first dive after flying into brissie. I hadn’t made a lot of plans, but i thought i’d tear down to the Seaway to do a shore dive. High tide is the preferred time to dive this site, because the current rips in and out of the estaury at other times. I arrived about 9am, running late and without a tank. Luckily the guys from Devocean were just finishing thier first dive when i arrived and they had a spare tank and invited me to join them on there second dive. By the time we entered the water it was a good hour after high tide and the current was pretty nasty, also stirring up alot of sand and making it mucky. It was a fairly interesting dive though…loads of fish and i’d imagine some good critters when conditions are right.

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

Dive Report: Some pretty ordinary shots in difficult conditions.