I needed to get the oxygen cylinder filled which meant a dive at Bare Island. I don't mind diving at Bare Island it is just there is so little to find when compared to Kurnell.
I got in at the area just east of the "swimming pool" and swam out on the surface. I descended to the sand. Visibility was only between 3 and 5 metres but there was very little surge. The water temperature was around 16°C.
I swam along the sand to the outboard motor, up over the shelf, and along over the sand by the boulders to the top of the slope. I hadn't gone far down the slope when I spotted a red indianfish.
I continued down the slope and looked for pygmy pipehorses in all the usual spots. I didn't see any on the rocks above Pygmy Rock or on Pygmy Rock itself. A little farther down the slope I spotted a female pygmy pipehorse (IL2018100201) on a rock I've seen them on the past. I looked around for her partner and found him (IL2018100202) not far away.
On the next rock but one down the slope I found a male pygmy pipehorse (IL2018100203). I looked around for his partner but I was not able to find her.
I had a good look on Juvy Rock and was pleased to find a female pygmy pipehorse (IL2018100204). I wasn't able to find her partner.
I continued on to the rock where the white male and golden female pygmy pipehorses used to be. The white honeycomb sponge was gone as I couldn't see those pygmy pipehorses there. I looked on the back side of the rock and found a male pygmy pipehorse (IL2018100205). I looked for a female nearby but could not find one.
I swam around the corner past the caves and along the reef towards Isolated Reefs. I didn't go very far before turning and coming back the way I'd gone.
I visited each of the pygmy pipehorses on my way back and again looking for partners of the single ones I'd found. I was at least able to refind all the ones I'd found on the way down the slope.
I swam up the slope and found the red indianfish in the same spot I'd seen it on the way down.
At the top of the slope I swam over the sand in front of the boulders. As I approached the outboard motor I ascended to 5 metres and started my safety stop while swimming to the exit. I finished my safety stop and got out near Carol's plaque. |
