Dive Details

Location

Date

Saturday 30 December 2017

Time

9:38am - 11:02am

Details

Mike needed to dive early so we decided on The Steps with an outgoing tide. We'd considered The Monument but were worried about the possible current.

We jumped in at The Steps and waited on the surface. The visibility did not look great. We descended and swam to the sand line. Visibility was between 3 and 5 metres and there was some surge. The outgoing current was quite strong and the water temperature was around 18°C. We turned right and headed towards Big Rock.

We swam along the sand line. I was checking out the red algae along the way in search of new red Stigmatopora sp. pipefish. I came to the pair I know about and they were both there. I took some photographs until Mike caught up.

I swam on to Little Big Rock looking for the Nembrotha sp. nudibranch along the way. I haven't seen it on the last few dives. I swam high to find the orange red-fingered anglerfish in the green sponge. It has been in the same place each time I have visited it for the last 10 days. I came down to the other anglers. The orange painted anglerfish was under the purple sponge. Both pygmy pipehorses were near each other in their usual spot. The salmon red-fingered anglerfish was in its usual spot. When Mike caught up I moved on.

I checked out Diversity Rock and surrounds for pygmy pipehorses but found none. I also looked for the Nembrotha purpureolineata nudibranch and couldn't find it. I came back to Little Big Rock to wait for Mike.

We headed off to Big Rock. I took a detour to New Basket Star Rock to check out the basket star and also the now single red Stigmatopora sp. pipefish. I looked around for the second one but couldn't find it. I then caught up to Mike.

I got to the the rock below Hand Rock before Mike. I spotted the black painted anglerish on the substrate below the rock below Hand Rock and then went looking for the white/pink red-fingered anglerfish which was still in the same spot. When Mike caught up I pointed out both anglerfishes to him.

I swam over to Big Rock and started low looking for my red male pygmy pipehorse. I found his partner first and then him. I took a few photos. Mike was photographing the male above near the single purple sea tulip so I went looking for pygmies on the other side of the rock. When Mike moved down to the lower pygmy pipehorses, I went to the ones near the sea tulip. I initially could only find the male but after a bit of searching I found a female. I pointed it out to Mike and then looked for other pygmies.

Mike continued on towards The Leap but as I had less than 90 bar I headed back towards The Steps. I stopped at the white/pink red-fingered anglerfish and then the black painted anglerfish.

I swam back via the basket star and check on the lone red Stig before heading to Little Big Rock and the anglerfishes. I swam to the boulders and ascended to 5 metres and started my safety stop while swimming to Split Rock. I finished my safety stop and swam underwater to the exit. I'd stayed close to the bottom until I was at the shelf and got straight out. I had no issues with the waves and got out cleanly. I waited for Mike and helped him get out.

Buddy

Mike Scotland

Seas

Surgy

Visibility

3 to 5 metres

Duration

84 minutes

Maximum depth

14.4 m

Average depth

11.1 m

Water temperature

17.5°C

Dive Profile from Citizen Hyper Aqualand

Tides at Botany Bay AEDT

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

High

6:30am

1.70m

Low

12:59pm

0.41m

High

6:54pm

1.42m