Dive 106 – Pt Lonsdale Pier

By pfuller

Nov

22

Dive Number: 106 17/11/10 17.00 Pt Lonsdale Pier

Wind:  10knot N’s

Tide:   .5 hour before slack water ebb

Conditions:  Water was nice and clear and not much current for the first half of the dive, but it soon got pretty messy as the bay started to flood.

Visibilty: 6-7m.

Water Temp: 16c

Bottom Time: 80 minutes

Max Depth: 5.1m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I’ve been dying to dive around Pt Lonsdale pier the last week or so on slack to try to find some Catsharks. We got out around the pier and found quiet a few young crays. at the end of the pier, a Bronze Whaler head sat decapitated at the end of the pier.  It was a sad sight and also a little bit intimidating.   A Banjo Shark sat close by as well, and then we headed out towards the north to see if there were any decent ledges out there, and in particular any catsharks.  We did a lot of swimming and didn’t find much out there.  On the way back in Chris found a catshark, but i missed out. It was getting pretty scary with the current and surge towards the end of the dive and making our way in across the rocks was a little dicey.  

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 105 – Lorne Pier

By pfuller

Nov

19

Dive Number: 104 17/11/10 13.53 Lorne Pier

Wind:  10knot N’s

Tide:   0.96 high tide at Lorne

Conditions:  There was some small swell rolling in occassionally, but it seems fairly settled. In the water it was very surgery and alot of snad was being stirred up across the bottom.

Visibilty: 4-5m in parts. water was generally clear but alot of sand being stirred up.

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 42 minutes

Max Depth: 4.9m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  It was blowing northerly today and the swell promised to be down along the coast, so me and chris cruised along the coast to check out some new dive sites.  We ended up at Lorne Pier and talked to a commercial diver putting in a swell powered generator for the pier, who suggested the water was nice and clear, albiet surgey.  We jumped in and came  across some interesting critters..surf crabs, thornfish, and blennies on the pylons, and heaps of swimmer  crabs on the sandy bottom. A big Smooth ray cruised around, probably feeding on the swimmer crabs, and chris found a huge pot-bellied seahorse. A nice suprise was a Shaws cowfish, and there were a few other fish species aorund too, like herring cale etc, but i didn’t get  very good looks at any. Worth a dive out of interest.  

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 104 – St Leonards Pier

By pfuller

Nov

19

Dive Number: 104 14/11/10 15.23 St Leonards Pier

Wind:  15knot SE’s

Tide:   1 hour before 0.38 low tide at Geelong

Conditions:  A bit of southerly current and water looked sandy from a distance…vis was horrible.

Visibilty: 2-3m

Water Temp: 17c

Bottom Time: 71 minutes

Max Depth: 3.6m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  The water was very dirty and vis bad. The only benefit is there were some schooling fish there that hung around the rock wall. There were some big trevally around, and some large blue weed whiting.   Other than that a pretty ordinary dive.    

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 103 – Steeles Rocks

By pfuller

Nov

19

Dive Number: 103 11/11/10 18.50 Steeles Rocks

Wind: 10knot Northerlies but noticeable at the site.

Tide:    0.92 high tide at Geelong

Conditions:  Still on the surface but the water was pretty dirty.

Visibilty: 5m

Water Temp: 18c

Bottom Time: 76 minutes

Max Depth: 4.5m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  We were going to head to Pt Lonsdale, but heard conditions weren’t good there, so change to Steeles Rocks. Conditions looked ok, but  vis wasn’t very good. We headed out a fair way and then followed the deep  (4m) reef to the east. I was suprised by the diversity of fish life in the area, we saw large schools of salmons, adult horseshoe leatherjackets, the usual moonlighters, old wives and maybe even a herring cale, but i think it might have been a blue weed whiting on further research.  There were also heaps of small stingarees and a cuttlefish towards the end. I came out at the exposed rock near the small cliff, ditched my gear and walked back to the carpark.   

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 102 – Cottage by the Sea

By pfuller

Nov

15

Dive Number: 102 08/11/10 19.04 Cottage by the Sea

Wind: 10knot Northerlies swinging around to the west with a slight southerly aspect.

Tide:   45min before 0.10 low tide at the Heads

Conditions:  Really nice again..clear water and little water movement.  

Visibilty: 10m

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 98 minutes

Max Depth: 8.4m

Air usage: 210bar/3000psi on 10lt tank

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: Chris gave me a call for a dive at Cottage on dusk, and it was another dive with great conditions.    On the way out there was a massive Smooth ray, but it became restless as soon as it knew we had spotted it and didn’t stick around.  The lighting was great and it was one of those dives you could just kick back and stare at the sun burst coming through the surface and  the light beams interplaying with the kelp fronds.  Some nice sized schools of old wives, and a weedy seadragon with eggs at the end of the dive.   We stayed in till dark and it was a nervous swim back to shore after i brought up the fact that there’s GWS’s reported in the area. Only today i read that lifeguards were on the look out after reports from Pt Lonsdale backbeach. They’re just after the snapper though, aren’t they! ; )  

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

 

Dive 101 – The Narrows

By pfuller

Nov

12

Dive Number: 101 07/11/10 17.54 The Narrows

Wind: 20knot Northerlies

Tide:   1hr before 0.15 low tide at the Heads

Conditions:  Strong northerlies and a storm brewing. The water was nice and clear, but the current was absolutley ripping through the dive site parallel to shore.  

Visibilty: 10m+

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 56 minutes

Max Depth: 6.6m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: A brewing storm loomed, but i felt like getting in a dive, and somewhere different. I check out the Narrows and it looked good, however as soon as i stepped into the water i felt the very strong current which was almost unbearable. I decided to give it a go anyway, and kept low to the ground swimming diagonally and across the current until i reach some nice sized bommies that i could shelter behind. These bommies where nearly straight out from the steps leading down onto the beach and maybe 100m out.              

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 100! Cottage by the Sea

By pfuller

Nov

12

Dive Number: 100 06/11/10 17.04 Cottage by the Sea

Wind: 10knot easterlie’s (strong easterlies two days prior)

Tide:   1h before 0.24 low tide at the heads

Conditions:  Perfect conditions…clean and still above and below water.

Visibilty: 10m+

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 64 minutes

Max Depth: 7.2m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: Well… i’ve notched up my 100th dive in the 10months since i got certified.   A milestone i didn’t even know i achieved until after i got out. I was going to do something special for my 100th, but i’ve got to be happy with such great conditions at Cottage.  I decided to check out the legdes out to the left this dive since i hadn’t been over that way much.  Unfortunately, i ran out of strobe batteries and card space, so i just enjoyed the dive.

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 99 – The Springs

By pfuller

Nov

12

Dive Number: 99 06/11/10 13.48 The Springs

Wind: A couple of days of strong easterlies – current 10-15knot easterlies

Tide:   2hrs after 1.35 high tide at the Heads

Conditions:  Fantastic..clear water, little surge.

Visibilty: 10m+

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 83 minutes

Max Depth: 85.3m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: I had such a great dive at the Springs that i wanted to do a longer dive with more air.  Heaps of fish life around again, and i even got a shot with about 5 species of fish in the one shot. I found some nice starfish too, that made great subjects.  There was a great little ridge that was full of life…it was out to the left as you stand at the boat ramp, and about 150m out. Its top was only about 1-2m below the surface and was carved out through the centre creating a great little shelter for fish to dart in and out of feeding.          

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 98 – Cunningham Pier

By pfuller

Nov

12

Dive Number: 98 04/11/10 18.49 Cunningham Pier

Wind: 10knot W’s

Tide:   1h before 0.27 low tide at Geelong

Conditions:  Pretty damn horrible..a lot of sediment in the water, dark and dingie.

Visibilty: 3m

Water Temp: 16c

Bottom Time: 66 minutes

Max Depth: 8.6m

Air usage: 90bar/1200psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: For some reason i was hanging out to dive Cunningham Pier. Conditions weren’t ideal with some drizzle the days before and a huge storm water that drain geelong city right next to the pier. So i wasn’t expecting much and thats what i got. Its about 3 metres under the pier itself and then drops down into abou 10m dredged channels either side of the pier.  Theres something creepy about diving in dregded channels. I started heading down into the channel, but chickened out going all the way to the bottom coz it was just downright  freaky. I decided to check out the area in between the pier and the carosel and found a couple of old wooden pylons out off the end of moorabool st proper.  I found them in about 3m, but couldn’t  find them as they extended out into  the deeper 6-7m water. If  i’m feeling sadistic in summer i’ll dive cunningham pier again, and it might be worth a fossick to find some trinkets  some drunken NYE’s  lost after vommiting ove r the side, but i definently wont be rushing back.       

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 97: The Springs

By pfuller

Nov

3

Dive Number: 97 30/10/2010 9.51 The Springs

Wind: 20knot NW’s swinging around to the south

Tide:   1h before 0.56 low tide at the Heads

Conditions:  The best i’ve had at the Springs…it was flat, but the vis was immaculate and little surge too.

Visibilty: 10m

Water Temp: 14c

Bottom Time: 58 minutes

Max Depth: 3.9m

Air usage: 60bar/900psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I only had like 80 bar in my tank, so i thought Springs being nice and shallow was a good choice. I wasn’t dissappointed with heaps of fish life around and some inquisitive fish. Usually the Springs is surgey and lots of sediment in the water, but today was sensational. I managed to get nearly an hour out of my tank and i was dissappointed to get out. I think low tide is the go here to get good vis, despite sacrificing a bit of depth.  

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 96: Cottage by the Sea

By pfuller

Nov

2

Dive Number: 96 29/10/2010 8.24 Cottage by the Sea

Wind: 15knot Northerlies.

Tide:   2hrs before 0.56 high tide at the Heads

Conditions:  Northerlies for a few days..nice and flat, pretty good vis and no surge. Great conditions.

Visibilty: 6-8m

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 62 minutes

Max Depth: 8.0m

Air usage: 120bar/1800psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  Couldn’t resist a dive down at Cottage after a couple of days of northerlies. Caught up with Chris and we hoped to find some Seadragons which he’d only seen once before. It was a great dive with lots of life around…3 seadragons, a couple of blue devils and even a couple of brevicardum nudi’s.

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

Dive Report:

Snorkel at Pt Lonsdale

By pfuller

Nov

1

25/10/2010 19.30 Point Lonsdale

Tide: 0.5hr before 0.26 low tide at the Heads

Conditions: Right on dusk. Pretty good night but a bit windy

Bottom Type: Rockpools

Bottom Time: 30 minutes

Details: I just picked up a new Car…so whats the first thing to do? Go for a snorkel of course. there wasn’t a lot around though, and dual strobes made things fairly clumbsy on a snorkel. 

Camera Details: Canon 100mm , dual SS200 strobe.

Dive Report:

 

Dive 95 – Blairgowrie Pier

By pfuller

Nov

1

Dive Number: 95 24/10/2010 14.52 Blairgowrie Pier

Wind: 10knot South-easterlies.

Tide:   1.5hrs after 1.31 high tide at the Heads

Conditions:  Perfect weather with light easterlies meaning the west side of the peninsula were sheltered.  The current was pretty good in the first 20minutes, but became unbearable towards the end of the dive.

Visibilty: 6m

Water Temp: 15c

Bottom Time: 100 minutes

Max Depth: 3.6m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  Blairgowrie was the obvious choice for the second dive of the day. Nudi numbers where building up last time i was there, so i thought a dedicated macro/nudi dive was on the cards. I’d never tried macro with twin strobe on nudi’s, so it was going to be a learning experience.

Camera Details: Canon 100mm , dual SS200 strobes

Dive Report:

Dive 94 – Mornington Pier

By pfuller

Nov

1

Dive Number: 94 24/10/2010 11.28 Mornington Pier

Wind: 10knot South-easterlies.

Tide:   2hrs before 1.31 high tide at the Heads

Conditions:  Perfect weather with light easterlies meaning the west side of the peninsula were sheltered. No current in the water and vis was pretty good, but the muddy bottom is very easy to unsettle and as the number of divers increased, the vis became worse.

Bottom Type:  Muddy bottom with mix of old wood pylons with new steel pylons. Rock break wall.

Visibilty: 6m

Water Temp: 14c

Bottom Time: 59 minutes

Max Depth: 8.2m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  I can’t resist heading down to the mornington peninsula when i’m in melbourne, but it never ceases to amaze me how far it takes travelling along the Nepean Highway. I made a stop off at Mordialloc to see if i could twitch an Artic Tern thats been hanging around for the last couple of weeks. I had no luck, and just had to make do with seeing Nicole Brookers shots on her camera and pretending it was there.    I headed down to Mornington, and decided to dive the pier which was under reconstruction, and was packed with dregders and construction boats. I buddied up with a guy called Andre who offered to be a guide, and he found a old bottle (marble-style) in immaculate condition thats been unearthed by the diggers for the new pylons. He also came across another “one pint” bottle. All up it was a enjoyable dive..i always love checking out new places, and although its muddy and overrun with feral starfish, it was an interesting dive.

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

Dive Report: