Dive Details

Location

Logged dive number

1333

Date

Friday 2 June 2017

Time

11:06am - 12:30pm

Buddy

Roney Rodrigues

Seas

Surgey

Visibility

5 metres

Duration

83 minutes

Surface interval

 2 days 0:52 (days hh:mm)

Maximum depth

14.8 m

Average depth

11.9 m

Water temperature

17.9°C
                                       

Dive Profile from Citizen Hyper Aqualand

Tides at Botany Bay AEST

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

High

2:21am

1.60m

Low

9:06am

0.51m

High

3:27pm

1.44m

Low

9:17pm

0.76m

Details

We tried something different for today's dive. Instead of just descending straight out from the entry point, we surface swam down towards The Leap around 40 metres. The idea was to get closer to Big Rock. Even though there was a big swell forecast, the surface water was quite calm and the only impediment to the surface swim was the incoming tide.

We descended over the boulders and then headed out at around 30° towards the sand line. I didn't get my bearings immediately so I'm not exactly sure where we hit but I think it was around Miamira Rock. We'll have to try it again. Visibility was only around 5 metres and there was quite a bit of surge. Water temperature was around 18°C. Before we started swimming towards Big Rock, I spotted a weedy seadragon at the sand line.

As we swam I looked out for the narrow rock with sponges that points to the area where Roney found the widebody pipefish. Once I found it, went up and back a bit to find the alga with the pipefish. She was still in the same alga from Wednesday. I showed her to Roney.

We continued on to Big Rock. On the flat sloping rock I found the red male pygmy pipehorse and as I was trying to anchor myself against the surge I almost put my hand on a cryptic female. Photography was difficult due to the surge and snot algae over everything.

We got to Big Rock. I looked for the pygmy I have seen recently on the rock low down just to the north west of big rock. I found a pygmy on the other side of the same rock. Roney was looking carefully for pygmies when he spotted the tail of a bright red pipefish. He wasn't sure what it was but I knew it was a pipefish straight away. I found the head and realised it was a javelin pipefish. I managed to take a few photos despite the surge, snot algae and it being on the move. Eventually the surge picked it up into the water column and it dropped down into a red algae on the sand line.

We were both getting cold so we turned and headed back towards The Steps. I pointed out the two pygmies on the sloping rock to Roney. I then found Roney's widebody pipefish again.

I swam on ahead to Miamira Rock and the basket star. I looked for my female widebody pipefish and found her in the alga near the kelp. I looked around for the male but could not find him. When Roney caught up I pointed the pipefish out.

I went on to Diversity Rock and found the red male pygmy pipehorse. He was quite low down on the rock.

We then made our way along the sand line to Little Big Rock. I looked for pygmies but couldn't find any. The Carijoa is covered in snot algae which makes looking quite difficult.

I then cut up over the reef to Di's Rock. I always hope a seahorse or two will show up there. I then swam for the boulders and started my safety stop while swimming to Split Rock. As I was finishing my safety stop, Roney caught up to me. We exited together. There was still very little swell and the exit was easy.