Dive Number: 329 15/07/12 13.14, The Springs

Wind: ???

Tide: ???

Conditions: Surgey, milky conditions

Visibilty: 3m

Water Temp: 12.4c

Bottom Time: 53minutes

Max Depth: 5.9m

Air usage:

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: Fairly horrible conditions at the Springs today…surgey and very low visibility. Not much fun.

Camera Details: Tokina 10-17mm , SS200 Strobes

Photos:

Dive Number: 255 16/01/12 17.30, The Springs, Point Lonsdale

Wind: ???

Tide: ???

Conditions: ???

Visibilty: 10m

Water Temp: ???

Bottom Time: ???minutes

Max Depth: 5m

Air usage: 170bar/2500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: A dusk dive at the Springs…always good for fish and it was great to see a large school of salmon come in after dark and do a few laps around me.

Camera Details: Tokina 10-17mm , SS400/SS200 Strobes

Photos:

Dive Number: 193  07/10/11  17.07, The Springs

Wind:   10-15knot north/north-easterlies

Tide:  Low tide at the Heads

Conditions:  ???

Visibilty:   4m.

Water Temp: ?c

Bottom Time: 60 odd minutes

Max Depth: 4-5m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: Vis was pretty miserable, and i took the 60mm lens for a spin for some fish portraits.  It didn’t work well with the bad vis though and i really should have stuck to macro.

N.B. My computer didn’t record this dive, so log details will be inaccurate.

Camera Details:  Canon 60mm ,  SS400 Strobe

Photos:

Dive Number: 192  04/10/11  16.37, The Springs

Wind:   10-15knot north/north-easterlies

Tide:  High

Conditions:  ???

Visibilty:   8-10m.

Water Temp: ?c

Bottom Time: 60 odd minutes

Max Depth: 4-5m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: The algea and weed life was looking great at the Springs.  The sun was in a nice position to do some sunbursts.

N.B. My computer didn’t record this dive, so log details will be inaccurate.

Camera Details:  Tokina  10-17mm ,  SS400 Strobe

Photos:

Dive Number: 172  24/07/11  12.20,  The Springs,  Pt Lonsdale

 Wind:   15knot north/north-easterlies

Tide:  1hr after 0.68 low tide at the Heads

Conditions:  Cold, overcast with drizzle. flat sea with nice vis and no surge.

Visibilty:   8-10m.

Water Temp: 12c

Bottom Time: 62minutes

Max Depth: 4.4m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:   I was going to dive Barwon Bluff again, but the small swell  put me off, so i headed to the Springs.  I only had 70bar left in my tank, so it was the perfect shallow site  to use up my air. I’d just created an optical cord out of a toslink cable for my sea and sea ys120 strobe, so this was really just a test to see how it balances with a SS200. I’d have to say the answer is not very well. For shallow wideangle, the more juice you have the better, and the ys120 just didn’t cut it with the ss200.  Anyway, it proved i didn’t need a lot of juice for my first subject which was a bright yellow nudi (crystaderm neodoris) that i spotted from the surface. I dont think i’ve ever seen a nudi at the springs…even a short tailed brevi, so this was a bit of suprise..especially in winter.  I had to make do with some CFWA shots, but it proved difficult. Apart from that, lots of wrasse, a few stars but thats about it. A nice dive with nice vis though…

Camera Details:  Tokina  10-17mm , sSS200 strobe/Ys-120

Dive Report:

Dive Number: 156  27/04/11  13.42,  The Springs

Wind:   15 knot NE’s

Tide:  1.5hrs after 0.49 low tide at the Heads.

Conditions:  Nice flat conditions with reasonable vis.

Visibilty:   6m

Water Temp: 16c

Bottom Time: 53minutes

Max Depth: 6.5m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:    I swum out a long way out the back of the marine reserve here, and exhausted myself by the time i got out there, making the dive less enjoyable. Some nice structures out there though with nice amounts of fish life.  

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

Dive Report:

Dive Number: 151 09/04/11  11.43,  The Springs

Wind:   20-25 knot N’s

Tide:  2hrs after 0.25 low tide at the Heads.

Conditions:  Nice conditions..fairly flat, no swell (as usual near low) and relatively clean water. Slight current running east to west.

Visibilty:   8m

Water Temp: 17c

Bottom Time: 48minutes

Max Depth: 5.2m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:     I’ve had the flu for the last week, so was dying for a dive. I only had 70bar in my tank so it was short but sweet. Came across a Varied Catshark straight away who was happy to pose for a couple of photos. A rare event.

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

Dive Report:

Dive Number: 148 13/03/11  13.27, The Springs

Wind:   15 knot S’s

Tide:  1.5hours after 0.24 low tide at the heads.

Conditions:   Again the winds had swung around from northerlies to southerlies, and storm clouds threatened.  The surface looked fine, but i could feel the southerlies kicking in and new that the swell would start picking up.  Vis started out ok, but continually degraded with the weather. It was pretty damn stormy at the end of the dive, with heavy rain and sweeping winds pushing me up the coast.

Visibilty: 7m down to 4m

Water Temp: 19c

Bottom Time: 88minutes

Max Depth: 6.0m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:   I knew i was too late to get good conditions, but gave it a try anyway. I usually dont like diving lonsdale bight after the low tide, as vis and current seem to degrade. Anyway, headed out and just sat with some fish, as it stormed up the fish activity got greater and greater, and zebra fish seemed to be everywhere. Even spotted some silver drummers. I found some really nice overhang areas out the back, and sheltered in those as the sea started to get nasty. It was bucketing down by the end of the dive and it gave my gear a good wash ; )   

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

Dive Report:

Dive Number: 129 26/01/11  15.02 , The Springs

Wind:   10knot S’s.

Tide:  3hrs before 1.52 high tide at the heads.

Conditions:  Onshore winds, choppy conditions that looked to be cloudy water from the above. Proved no different in the water.  Lots of surge.

Visibilty: 2-3m

Water Temp: 19c

Bottom Time: 41 minutes

Max Depth: 4.1m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:     Uninspiring conditions…uninspired diving..uninspired photography 

Camera Details: Canon 100mm , dual SS200 strobes .

Dive Report:

Dive Number: 110 03/12/10 14.15 The Springs

Wind:  10knot N’s???

Tide:   1 hour before 0.31 low tide at the heads

Conditions:  Clear water and great vis, but a decent current running out.

Visibilty: 10m+.

Water Temp: 17c

Bottom Time: 62 minutes

Max Depth: 5.9m

Air usage: 105bar/1500psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  Another great fish dive at the Springs.  Again the leatherjackets were intrigued by my presence and were lining up for photos. I had one six-spined leatherjacket following me like a lost puppy dog when i decided to head into shore.  i had to do some self portraits to show just how fearless this guy was of me.

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

Dive Report:

 

Dive Number: 109 24/11/10 18.39 The Springs

Wind:  10knot N’s???

Tide:   2 hour before 0.19 low tide at the heads

Conditions:  Very dark conditions with a bit of surge and current.

Visibilty: 5m.

Water Temp: 17c

Bottom Time: 52 minutes

Max Depth: 4.8m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details:  This was a big contrast to the last dive at the Springs. Barely any fish around, surgey and a bit of current…it was also very dark in the water.  
I did find some nice big ledges and a big cray under one of them.  I ended up just shooting some of the brown algea outcrops.

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

Dive Report:

Dive Number: 108 23/11/10 18.51 The Springs

Wind:  10knot N’s???

Tide:   1 hour before 0.23 low tide at the heads

Conditions:  Awesome conditions….reasonably clean water with nice visbility and no surge or swell.

Visibilty: 10m.

Water Temp: 17c

Bottom Time: 68 minutes

Max Depth: 3.5m

Air usage: 140bar/2000psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: Wow..what a dive. Sometimes you just get out of the water and think you live in the best place in the world. It was a still warm balmy evening with a beautiful sunset. But more importantly, i’d just spent an hour being nibbled, harrassed and eyeballed by some large colourful Leatherjackets. Ok i have a strange idea of fun, but it was an experience and a half. All the leatherjackets were coloured up nicely in there adult breeding coats, and were frisky as hell. Their reflections in my dome port and strobe lens made my presence irristable to check out…which is what you want as a photographer. I was actually patting a leatherjacket at one stage and it did mind a bit.  In fact at one stage, he give me a toothy bite on the glove because i think he thought my hand was part of the reflection he saw of himself, and though i was cutting in on his act. Anyway, had a great give with brown-lined, six-spined, yellow-striped, and horseshoe  leatherjackets all turning up, and blue throated wrasse cruising around too, with lots of juvie wrasse and some moonlighters.  

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

Dive Report:

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 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 Number: 74 08/08/2010 15.56 The Springs

Wind: 20 knot N.

Tide: 1.5hr after 0.93 low tide at the Heads

Conditions: Nice and sunny conditions.Incoming tide with small breakers on the shoreline, but generally pretty flat. The usual ‘springs’ surge in the water.

Bottom Type: Rocky reef ledges over sand.

Visibilty: 4-5m

Water Temp: 12c

Bottom Time: 63 minutes

Max Depth: 5.6m

Air usage: 85bar/1250psi

SAC: ???? litres/min

Details: It was blowing strong northerlies all day, but generally a nice day. I dived late in the day and thought i’d give The Springs a try for something a bit different.

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , single SS200 strobe

Dive Report: I’m always a little unsure were to go at the Springs and this time i head out to the east of the boatramp, about 200 metres out. I came across a reef area in about 4-5 metres that stood about 3 metres tall, with lots of overhangs and big sand patches. Under the legdes were some gorgonians, horshoe leatherjackets, moonlighters, lots of zebrafish around and the occassional curios blue-throated wrasse. I spent most of my time with a blue throated wrasse and it approached closely and followed me everywhere i went. I thought i got better photo than i did, but i had to pump up the ISO and it was generally too milky and dark to get any nice backgrounds. The surface looked nice when i first got in, but it quickly got dark and i couldn’t frame any fish with the surface in the background.

A seapen under the ledges:

A friendly Blue-throated Wrasse:

A small Horseshoe Leatherjacket:

Yellow-striped Leatherjacket under the ledges:

Dive Number: 39 16/05/2010 16.30 The Springs

Wind: light NW’s

Tide: 2.5hrs after 1.67 high tide at the heads

Conditions: The sun was near setting and behind clouds, meaning a very dark dive. Very surgey and vis was shocking.

Bottom Type: Shallow Reef on sand base.

Visibilty: 2-3m

Water Temp: 16c

Bottom Time: 36 minutes

Max Depth: 4.0m

Air usage: 70bar/1000psi

SAC: ??? litres/min

Details: I had some air left in my tank and was deperate for a dive after a day of R’n’R. I was considering cottage by decided just to check out The Springs. It wasn’t all that enjoyable with strong surge, but it was a good lesson in relaxation after freaking out a bit feeling like shark bait in a low vis/low light situation.

Camera Details: Canon 17-40mm , single SS200 strobe.

Dive Report: Conditions weren’t condusive to photography, but i just tried some surface shots of the delicate sunset just breaking through the surface.

At my feet while i was taking the above shot fish were darting in and out from under a ledge. This starfish was also trying hard to blend in with its pastel pink colours.

A large piece of kelp floated in front of me..seeming kind of abstract.

On my way in, a cuttlefish appeared in about 2 meters of water.

Dive Number: 29 22/04/2010 10.50 The Springs

Wind: 15 knot westerlies

Tide: 0.27 low tide at the heads

Conditions: Suface conditions looked good, but a fair current running from north to south. Visibility was fairly poor.

Bottom Type: Scattered reef and bommies on sand base

Visibilty: 4-5m

Water Temp: 18c

Bottom Time: 58 minutes

Max Depth: 4.1m

Air usage: 80bar/1200psi

SAC: 11.9 litres/min

Details: I hadn’t dived for a couple of weeks because of the flu, and i was really keen to get back in the water. I had a half empty tank, so thought i’d make a quick dive before work just to wet the pallette.

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

Dive Report: The current was running fairly quick and i didn’t have a lot of air to wait for good photo opportunities, so this was more a dive just to have a look around and test out a new 6mm wetsuit i bought, and see how close my weighting was.

In a large sand hole in the middle of seagrass, were a large school of Old Wives:

I came across a couple of large objects that seemed unusually placed to be natural rock formations. I initially though one of them was an old mine, but i think it was just the number of abalone clinging to the sides that gave the impressions of the mine. I still have no idea what they are:

Dive Number: 15 14/03/2010 14.01 The Springs, Pt Lonsdale

Wind: 10 knot Easterlies (mean to be northerlies)

Tide: 2 hours before 0.53 low tide at the heads

Conditions: Nice day but easterlies were chopping up the surface a bit.

Bottom Type: Low reef with some overhangs.

Visibilty: 3-4m

Water Temp: 20c

Bottom Time: 32 minutes

Max Depth: 4.4m

Air usage: 60bar/800psi

SAC: 13.6 litres/min

Details: I thought i’d give the Springs a look before heading to Cottage. Very dirty and surgey, but interesting. There were some Silver Drummer swimming around over the seagrass. The Springs seems to be one of the most diverse sites for fish, and i haven’t seen these anywhere else. I headed out deeper and found some little caverns and overhangs. I took a couple of shots and something didn’t seem right…no strobe flash! I checked a few setting, checked a few connnections, and then realised that the hotshoe adaptor wasn’t on the hotshoe properly…damn! So i thought i’d try a few ambient light shots, and then head over to cottage, fixing the setup before diving of course.

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

Dive Report: Photography was limited due to my strobe not being connected properly. I should have looked at it as an opportunity for ambient light shots instead of bailing on the dive, but i was keen to keep the air for cottage.

I did get some shots of a cool cavern i found, that had an opening that streamed light through it, that was obscured by kelp every time the surge moved back and forth, spewing the kelp fronds in and out of the opening, creating some amazing lighting affects.