Dive at The Leap, Kurnell, NSW on Sunday 23 May 2021

Dive Details

Location

Logged dive number

1913

Date

Sunday 23 May 2021

Time

12:27pm - 3:07pm

Seas

Moderate current and slight surge

Visibility

5 to 15 metres

Duration

160 minutes

Surface interval

22:43 (hh:mm)

Maximum depth

21.1 m

Average depth

13.4 m

Water temperature

18°C

Tides at Botany Bay AEST

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

High

5:06am

1.67m

Low

11:27am

0.39m

High

5:50pm

1.71m

Details

I have barely dived at The Leap this year and the few times I have the conditions have been fairly ordinary so I have not enjoyed the dives. As conditions were great yesterday, apart from the tides, I thought I'd give The Leap a go. As the tides were late, I could take my time getting ready, carrying my 2x10.5L tanks and weights down in two trips. Interestingly, George, et al, arrived at around the same time as me and only got in a couple of minutes before me, albeit they did move there cars to The Steps, but I was surprised that walking the gear down doesn't add that much time.

I jumped in from the low platform. It was an hour after low tide so the water was well below the platform. There were a few waves but nothing serious. I swam out on the surface before descending. I headed to the sand line at around 60° as I usually do and arrived in the middle of the amphitheatre. The visibility was between 10 and 15 metres. The water temperature was around 18°C. There was some surge and current.

I immediately saw a juvenile Weedy Seadragon the to right of the amphitheatre and swam to it to get some photographs. There have been so many juvenile Weedy Seadragons around since the last breeding season. This should help the population.

Juvenile Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 20.8m.

I started along the sand line with the current. It wasn't strong but it was enough that I barely had to swim. I stopped at the first rock in Field of Pygmies. It has been ages since I have seen any pygmies here. I looked for pygmies but found none. I did find a few sea spiders, though. Right next to the rock I spotted a Weedy Seadragon.

Sea spider, Stylopallene tubirostris. 20.4m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 20.4m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 20.7m.

I continued along the sand line to Bob&Lucy Rock. I looked for pygmies there but could not find any. I looked on the following rocks but found none.

I stopped at Ian's Pygmy Rock. While looking for pygmies I found some more sea spiders.

Sea spider, Stylopallene tubirostris. 20.1m.

I continued to Seahorse Rock. I spotted a Weedy Seadragon behind Seahorse Rock. There was a small Reaper Cuttlefish, too. I looked on Rosie's Rock for pygmies but found none.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 20.1m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 19.1m.

Reaper Cuttlefish, Sepia mestus. 19.3m.

As I was heading towards the Overhang I noticed a Weedy Seadragon out on the sand.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 20.2m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 19.8m.

I got to the Overhang and there was a Weedy Seadragon and a school of Striped Catfish. I took photographs of the Weedy but forgot about the catfish.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 20.1m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 19.1m.

I looked on the following rocks for pygmies and also the Sawtooth Pipefish that Cody spotted last month but there was a sea urchin in the hole and I couldn't see.

I headed out to the sand to look for the Weedies I often see out there but couldn't find any so I continued on to Southern Cross Rock. Just before Southern Cross Rock I spotted another Weedy.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 18.2m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 18.5m.

As I was swimming along beside Southern Cross Rock I spotted a female Pot-bellied Seahorse. I haven't seen a seahorse on this rock since shortly after Southern Cross disappeared in early 2015. I had a look for males nearby but found none.

Female Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Cecilia"). 18.6m.

Female Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Cecilia"). 17.9m.

I continued on to Seadragon Alley and spotted a couple of Reaper Cuttlefish near the start. I looked on the rock which used to have lots of pygmies but found none. At one stage there were at least 8 on the rock.

Reaper Cuttlefish, Sepia mestus. 18.4m.

Reaper Cuttlefish, Sepia mestus. 16.9m.

I drifted with the current to the end of Seadragon Alley where I spotted two Weedy Seadragons. There are a lot of red algal clumps that I checked for Red Wide-bodied Pipefish but found none.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 16.1m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 15.9m.

I headed up to the rock where I last saw Jess, the Pot-bellied Seahorse. I hadn't seen her yesterday but had a little more time today so I had a more thorough search. I still couldn't find her.

I drifted to Big Rock. I looked for Weedies along the way. I'd seen a juvenile yesterday and was hoping to see it again but I saw none at all.

I looked around the back to Big Rock for the orange Red-fingered Anglerfish we'd seen last weekend but couldn't see it. I did find the female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish in the alga on the rock just after Big Rock.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 12.1m.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 11.8m.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 13.2m.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 11.1m.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 11.5m.

I headed towards the shore to the rock where the Tambja verconis nudibranchs have been. This time I found both the large one and the smaller one.

Nudibranch, Tambja verconis. 11.4m.

Nudibranch, Tambja verconis. 11.3m.

I continued along the sand between the main reef and the boulders. I was looking in all the red algae for pipefish but also heading towards the spot I spotted Gonzo yesterday. I found the right alga and she was still there. I looked in the surrounding algae for more Red Wide-bodied Pipefish but found none.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii, ("Gonzo"). 11.6m.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii, ("Gonzo"). 11.7m.

Female Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii, ("Gonzo"). 11.6m.

I headed down to the reef and looked on all the rocks I have previously seen pygmies. I could not find a single pygmy. Is it me or are they all gone?

I swam past the basket star in its new location and then on to Diversity Rock.

Basket star, Astrosierra amblyconus. 11.9m.

I dropped to the sand line and followed the sand line to Little Big Rock. I was hoping to see the juvenile Weedy Seadragon on the way but couldn't find it. I looked on the back of Little Big Rock for the Okenia mellita nudibranch John had shown me last weekend but I couldn't see it.

I checked out the red alga for the Red Pipefish and was pleased to see it was still there. I also checked on the solitary male Red Wide-bodied Pipefish which was also still there.

Red Pipefish, Notiocampus ruber. 12.8m.

Red Pipefish, Notiocampus ruber. 13.1m.

Male Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 13.1m.

Male Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 13.2m.

Male Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 13m.

Male Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 11.5m.

Male Red Wide-bodied Pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii. 11.3m.

I headed up to Skye's Rock to look for the seahorses. Helen was in the middle of the rock. Little Richard was on the sea tulips on the Big Rock side of the rock but I initially couldn't find Tiny Tim. After a few circuits of the rock I spotted him in the sea tulips on the lower rock.

Female Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Helen"). 11.2m.

Male Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Little Richard"). 11.6m.

Male Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Little Richard"). 11.9m.

Male Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Tiny Tim"). 11.7m.

I looked on the adjacent rock for the red male pygmy pipehorse but could not find it or any others on that rock.

I swam towards the sand line and looked on the rock which has been the most reliable for pygmies of late. I spotted the male on the edge of the soft coral. I looked in the soft coral and spotted a female. At least I'd finally found some pygmies.

Male Sydney Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri. 12.9m.

Female Sydney Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri. 13m.

I looked on the sand for the Robust Ghostpipefish and spotted a Weedy Seadragon first. After a bit of looking I found the ghostpipefish.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 12.9m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 13.5m.

Robust Ghostpipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus. 13.4m.

I continued along the sand line to the rock where Mandy had spotted a juvenile Red Wide-bodied Pipefish. I hadn't seen it yesterday but thought I'd have another look today. The algae seems to have been cropped, perhaps by that large sea hare. I couldn't find it and I even checked the surround algae.

I headed up to Lily's Rock. I went straight to the kelp next to the rock and spotted Tom Thumb there. He always seems to be in the kelp of late. I looked on Lily's Rock and Di's Rock for Lily but could not see her.

Male Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Tom Thumb"). 10.6m.

I headed down to Noel&Di's Rock and spotted Lily on the rock. I also saw Cam in the sea tulips. I checked Pipefishes Hole and spotted one Sawtooth Pipefish.

Female Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Lily"). 11.2m.

Male Pot-bellied Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, ("Cam"). 12.8m.

Sawtooth Pipefish, Maroubra perserrata. 12.4m.

I looked on the rock where the pair of Red Wide-bodied Pipefish had been and the sea hare was there feeding on the algae.

Sea Hare, Aplysia sp. 12m.

I continued along the sand line and spotted two Weedy Seadragons just before Jodi's Rock.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 11.4m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 11.5m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 10.9m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 12.2m.

Just after Jodi's Rock I looked for pygmies on the rock I've been seeing them and spotted both the male and a female.

Male Sydney Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri. 11.9m.

Female Sydney Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri. 12m.

I swam over and through the kelp looking for Nadiah, the Pot-bellied Seahorse, but could not find her. I swam by Baby's location and spotted Matt Smith and Brett Lobwein. Brett was videoing Baby. I left him with Baby and looked for the other juvenile Weedy as well as had another look for Nadiah.

I came back and Brett and finished with Baby so I took some photographs. I then did another sweep for Nadiah and the other baby.

Sub-adult Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, ("Baby"). 10.7m.

Sub-adult Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, ("Baby"). 10.6m.

Sub-adult Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, ("Baby"). 10.4m.

Sub-adult Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, ("Baby"). 10.5m.

I continued past the exit a short way and spotted another adult Weedy plus the juvenile we'd been seeing right at the exit. I took photographs of them before heading off.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 9.7m.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 10.8m.

Juvenile Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 10.9m.

Juvenile Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 10.3m.

Juvenile Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 10m.

Juvenile Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 9.4m.

Juvenile Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. 9.3m.

I swam to the boulders and ascended to Split Rock. I did my safety stop and swam underwater to the exit. The tide was still low but the exit was calm and I was able to drag myself out onto the platform.

Camera gear

Camera

Nikon D500

Lens

Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED

Housing

Ikelite 6812.5

Lens port

Ikelite Flat Port 5502.41

Strobe(s)

2 x Ikelite SubStrobe DS161