After 3 days of 3-4 metres southerly swells I didn't know what to expect at Bare Island. Today the swell was forecasted to be a 1.5-2 metre easterly swell so I figured Bare Island would be a safer bet than Kurnell. It was quite calm on the northern side of the island and only small waves washing around the western side of the island.
By the time I walked down with my gear on there was the occasional large set of waves hitting the western side of the island where I planned to get in so I instead got in just to the west of the "pool" and surface swam to the western side of the island. I kept swimming south until I had the three flagpoles line up. Before I descended I made sure my new Garmin Descent MK1 watch was in the right mode and had a GPS lock. I descended onto a tape measure which I assume was for a Reef Life Survey. The visibility here was probably only 2-3 metres - handy having a tape measure to check. The water temperature was around 22°C and it was quite surgy. I headed south for the deep wall.
As I approached the deep wall the visibility improved a bit and was around 5 metres on the wall. I was pleasantly surprised given the sea conditions over the last few days. I swam along the top of the wall at around 13 metres and headed west looking for the seahorse. I swam to the end of the wall without finding it. I swam back a few times but still couldn't find it. While I was looking I came across a spiny gurnard. I have not seen them near the top of the wall like this. I then looked for the rocks just off the wall and below it slightly and looked more carefully in that area. I then spotted the tail of the seahorse wrapped around a green finger sponge. The seahorse was hidden on the other side of the sponge which was probably why I couldn't find it.
I followed the wall west again to the area where the seahorses used to be 3 years ago. I wanted to follow the reef to the west but the terrain seems to have changed. I wasn't sure so I headed north towards the next reef. Out on the sand I found another spiny gurnard. This one was smaller that the first one
I hit the shallower reef and followed it to the west. As I approached the corner I was very surprised to find a Hypselodoris tryoni nudibranch. I have seen them often in the tropics but never in Sydney.
I followed the wall around and headed towards the caves. Just out in front of the caves was a moorish idol. I've not seen them at Bare Island before. The poor thing was being harassed by a white-ear drummer. I looked for pygmy pipehorses along the edge of the reef but found none.
I kept going around the corner to the bottom of the slope. I came to the rock where there has often been pygmy pipehorses and found the white male and golden female. I don't think I found the golden female when I was here 2 weeks ago.
As I approached the bottom of the slope I spotted a red indianfish. While they can be quite common just here it has been a few dives since I've seen one.
I looked around the bottom of the slope for a while before making my way up. I looked for pygmy pipehorses and anglerfishes on the way up but found none.
At the top of the slope I followed the boulders to the outboard motor and then started my safety stop as I swam to the exit. After I finished my safety stop I got out on the rocks near Carol's plaque. When I got out I made sure I had my mask. |
