Dive Details

Location

Date

Sunday 23 April 2017

Time

1:08pm - 2:39pm

Details

The tide was still quite low when we got in so we had to clamber over the rocks at the bay around the corner from the flagpoles. On the surface the visibility was only around 2 metres and it was around 19°C.

We descended and swam to the top of the reef. Dama pointed out a beautiful white cowrie with red mantle in the Capnella colonies at the edge of the reef. While I was photographing it Mike indicated there was a second one amongst the colonies. While I was looking for the other white cowrie I found a spindle cowrie in the colonies. I eventually found the other white cowrie.

We headed down on to the reef and Mike pointed out a small orange red-fingered angler. It was not as small as the one I found last year but still pretty small. Dama then pointed out a female White's seahorse in a sponge around 5 metres away. Mike pointed to the male White's seahorse that was 10 centimetres from the female. He was pregnant and it is likely these are a pair.

We swam around the reef towards the corner, although did not make it as far as split rock. I spotted a tiny pygmy pipehorse on one of the rocks close to the sand line. It was so small it was only barely recognisable as a pygmy pipehorse. I showed Dama and she didn't even bother trying to take a photo as it was so small.

We started to head towards The Steps. On a low rock not far from the sand line I spotted a red male pygmy pipehorse with white markings on his face. This appears to be a fairly common colouration of late. I figured that there should be a female someone on the same rock so I hunted. I found 2 more males, both quite cryptic before eventually finding a female, who was also quite cryptic. I showed them to Dama and Mike.

We headed to the Deep Wall. At the start of the Deep Wall I spotted a small pygmy pipehorse on the top of a rock out on the sand. This one was also red with white facial markings. The others were too far ahead to show them.

Farther along the wall I saw a reaper cuttlefish on the rock where seahorses had once been and then Dama pointed out another orange red-fingered angler hiding in the sponges at the end of the rock. Even farther along the wall and near the top, Mike pointed out a another orange red-fingered angler on the other side of the wall. Dama then pointed out a large painted angler on the outside of the same rock.

I was down to 75 bar so I indicated to Mike and Dama I was turning around. I headed back along the wall. I stopped at the rock with the small red pygmy pipehorse to point out to the others. While I was waiting I spotted another small pygmy pipehorse. I thought they were following me but they took a more direct route to the exit so I continued on without them.

I came to a rock on the sand that was covered in Carijoa. Almost immediately I spotted a red male pygmy pipehorse. This was more of a deep red without any white markings. I looked over the rock and found a female. I was up to 9 pygmies for the dive so I looked on the rock until I found a 10th. This last one was a juvenile.

I made a bee line for shallower water and did my safety stop as I went. I ended up on the point and made an easy exit. I spotted Mike and Dama who had just exited at the little bay.

Buddy

Dama Rodrigues, Mike Scotland

Seas

Some surge

Visibility

2 to 5 metres

Duration

90 minutes

Maximum depth

12.3 m

Average depth

9.4 m

Water temperature

18.3°C

Dive Profile from Citizen Hyper Aqualand

Tides at Botany Bay AEST

Note that tides at dive site may vary from above location.

High

5:27am

1.63m

Low

11:54am

0.42m

High

6:09pm

1.56m