Dive Details

Location

Date

Saturday 28 July 2018

Time

10:48am - 12:14pm

Details

Rob wasn't too cold from the first dive and so joined me on the second at The Steps.

We got in a The Steps and swam out on the surface until we were over the kelp. The water looked a little green again. We descended to the kelp/sand. Visibility was between 5 and 10 metres. The water temperature was around 16°C. There was only a gentle surge but the current from the outgoing tide was quite noticeable. We turned right and headed towards Big Rock.

We swam along the sand line until we reached the rocks where the orange red-fingered anglerfish has been. I went to the spot I saw it yesterday but then noticed it back on the adjacent rock where it has been previously. I took photographs and pointed it out to Rob.

We continued along the sand line until the rock with the sea tulips and pair of pygmy pipehorses. This time I found the male pygmy pipehorse first and then the female. I took photographs and then showed Rob.

We followed the sand line to Little Big Rock. I looked for the salmon red-fingered anglerfish on the outside of Little Big Rock but it wasn't there. I started searching all over Little Big Rock. Rob spotted a Nembrotha purpureolineata on the inside of the rock. I eventually found the salmon anglerfish on the inside corner of the rock towards The Steps.

We headed up to the rock behind Little Big Rock to look for the pair of pygmy pipehorses there. I found the female but couldn't find the male.

We swam back past Little Big Rock and on to the next rock where I found a pair of pygmy pipehorses last week. They were together next to a ascidian colony. There was also a weedy seadragon on the sand below the pygmies.

We next stopped at the juvenile orange painted anglerfish. It was not in a good spot for photography as it was facing into the rock.

At Diversity Rock I looked for any of the three pygmy pipehorses I have seen there of late but could not find a single one.

We continued on to Miamira Rock. The grey red-fingered anglerfish was still there but was now behind a purple sponge.

We swam past Sponge Hollow and on to the rock with the one-eyed seahorse. On the way to the rock Rob pointed out another reaper cuttlefish. While I was looking for the seahorse Rob found her.

We turned around and headed back towards The Steps. We visited the grey anglerfish on the way. Rob was cold and said he'd head for the exit. I wanted to look for pygmy pipehorses on Diversity Rock so we parted ways.

At Diversity Rock I searched for some time before I found the juvenile female pygmy pipehorse. I looked for the male but could not find him.

I stopped by the juvenile orange painted anglerfish. It still had just its tail hanging out so I couldn't get any good photographs.

Between Diversity Rock and Little Big Rock I came on 3 mourning cuttlefish. It looked like two males and a female. The males were fighting while the female looked on. I would have filmed it but I didn't have an SD card in my GoPro. I took lots of photographs.

Just before Little Big Rock I found the two pygmy pipehorses. They were no longer together. The male was still in front of the ascidian colony but the female had moved away.

At Little Big Rock I found the Nembrotha purpureolineata nudibranch again and then the salmon red-fingered anglerfish.

I went to the rock behind Little Big Rock. I found the female pygmy pipehorse again but I still couldn't find the male.

I continued on towards The Steps. I passed Di's Rock on the way and stopped at the rock near the sand line with the pygmy pipehorses. I found both the female and the male.

I swam along the sand line to the orange red-fingered anglerfish. I took a few photographs before heading for the boulders.

I reached the boulders and ascended to 5 metres. I was near the colonies of Plesiastrea and swam on to Split Rock while doing my safety stop. I finished my safety stop and swam to the exit and got out.

Buddy

Robert Fonseca

Seas

Slight

Visibility

3 to 10 metres

Duration

86 minutes

Maximum depth

13.8 m

Average depth

11.1 m

Water temperature

16°C

Dive Profile from Garmin Descent Mk1

Tides at Botany Bay AEST

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

Low

2:48am

0.41m

High

8:41am

1.34m

Low

2:13pm

0.55m

High

8:45pm

1.78m