ALL DIVES IN SYDNEY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
DIVING ACRONYMS In this log I use some acronyms to make it easier for me to remember where I went and what I saw:
LOCATIONSÂ (Mostly at Bare Island unless otherwise stated - see website pages for locations)Â SHR - Sea horse rock OHR - Opera House rocks STR - Sea tulip rocks SHC - Sea horse corner BR - Block rock (also Big Rock at Inscription Point) RIFR - Red indianfish reef IR1 -Isolated Reef 1 IR2 -Isolated Reef 2 15MR - 15 Metre Reef LR - Long rock AR - Anglerfish rock N, S, E, W, NE, NW etc - compass headings LBR - Little big rock at Inscription Point ER - Exit Rock at Inscription Point SR - Split Rock at Inscription Point
FISH ETC BIA - Bare Island Anglerfish (red fingered anglerfish) PPH - Pygmy pipehorse BBSH - Big belly sea horse RIF - Red indianfish USDP - Upsidedown pipefish PJ - Port Jackson shark
VISIBILITYÂ
Shithouse - less than 2 m Very Poor - 2 to 4 m Poor - 4 to 6 m Fair - 7 to 10 m Good - 10 to 15 m Very Good - 15 to 24 m Excellent - 25 to 30 m Very Excellent - 30 m+
1 October 2025 - Barrens Hut/The Split Club boat dive. Wind was blowing 26 kts at 3 am but then dropped to almost nothing by 5 am. A couple of swells, NE and SE but quite comfortable. No wind at all when we anchor and no current. Went up Split to end and then back to anchor and cave and back to anchor. No donuts again, but quite a few PJs, heaps of basket stars, a nice tiger cowrie on a seawhip and a short-tailed ceratosoma near anchor. All the bastard trumpeters and red morwong in the normal spots. After the dive a humpback whale surfaced less than 10 metres off the stern. Saw a total of at least 8 within 100 metres of where we anchored. Wind picked up just before we left. A good dive, Reka's 800th. Visibility fair.
5 October 2025 - Inscription Point Went to dive yesterday but huge seas and here had lots of surge and reported viz was less than 2 m. Also cancelled our boat dive/BBQ day. Heaps of people here, all the usual suspects. Went in after most of them but saw no-one at all. Quite dirty and even worse in spots, max 3-4 m. A reasonable outgoing tide and some surge. Went down way past LBR. Five PPH, one miramara nudibranch and a few pink okenia. I found a honey colour okenia near where we turned. However, did not notice the tiny orange painted anglerfish about 250 mm below it. Damn! Saw Vic the BBSH on the way back and lots of PJs. Went past exit but saw no sea dragons at all. I did see a cormorant (shag) swimming down looking for fish, no photo though, happened too quick. Took a while to find Deco Rock due to rotten visibility. Nice dive despite all this. Visibility very poor.
6 October 2025 - M & KÂ Reef Club boat dive, two boats and nine divers. Was supposed to be a Mistral/Magic Point dive but very sloppy seas so stopped here. Virtually no current and little wind. Anchored straight in front of the larger cave. Over to the wall and then N around to the other cave. Not as many fish as normal, although some yellowtail here and on the reef top. Also a few PJs. Back along wall to S, a large cuttlefish in the second cave. Then back to anchor and Sam went up as he was on air. Reka and I went further S and then back to anchor and E to see if there was another wall, but flat rock. Back and up. Quite cold on the bottom, 16C, but 19C on top. A reasonable dive. Visibility fair. Â 8 October 2025 - Barrens Hut/The Split Club boat dive. Anchored exact same spot as last Wednesday. Calm seas and little wind, no current, but quite dirty, some spots much worse than average. Went S past tunnel out wide looking for Reka's fin which she lost getting back on the boat last week but no luck. Through The Tunnel, lots of large bream here. Then to The Cave and back via gutter, some bastard trumpeters and red morwong there as normal. Lots of PJs all over. Then to E along the wall looking for Greg's weight pocket which he also lost getting on the boat. No luck, must be there somewhere but viz dropped here. Saw a donut nembrotha going across the sand, very lost. Back to anchor up higher looking for pocket. A few tiger anemones on a whip on sand edge. All through dive heard very loud whale songs and other whale noises, but none close on the boat. Visibility very poor.
10 October 2025 - Inscription Point Last minute dive with Ron and Donna. Donna had not dived since our Bali trip in June and Ron only a couple. Flat seas but a very high incoming tide. Dirty 3 m at the most, strong current, but 18C. No PPHs but a honey coloued okenia and some pink okenias. Turned at 45 mins. Saw Vic the BBSH and a large bullray. Also one female sea dragon back in kelp before exit. Only an average dive again. Visibility very poor.
11 October 2025 - Desalination Plant Inlet Calm seas and very little W wind. Anchored on Inlet 2 but moved the anchor towards the end of the dive to the S side of it. Went to Inlet 1 and then to 2, 3 and 4. Could just make out the more distant ones from inlets. Inlet 3 still has missing bars and roof. Other boat found the roof to the N of it on the reef. Lots of yellowtail over them as we descended. Plenty of PJs in one spot, a medium cuttlefish and plenty of smaller fish. I found a red-kneed yellow spider at the end. A very nice dive. Visibility fair.
NEXT DIVES ARE ALL IN PHILIPPINES AT ANILAO
14 October 2025 - Bubbles Point Same first dive as two years ago. Went down to the wall at 24 m and then around it and back across the sandy area to boat. Viz similar to last time, perhaps 8-10 m. Saw two black giant anglerfish, one on the wall and another above it on the way back. Quite a few different nudibranchs, a few shrimp, a porcelain crab and two tiny crabs on a hard coral. A couple of large eels, one mantis shrimp and plenty of clownfish and anemones. Also lots of tropical fish, especially blue with long fins (?). Nice start to the dive trip. Visibility fair.
15 October 2025 - Minilog On Marikaban Island near the entrance to the channel between it and Caban Island. Really is off Kandalreo Point. Entered the water and a slight slope made up of rock and coral bits. Went NNE towards the point down to 22 m. Turned at about 30 minutes and came back shallower. Two banded tiger pipefish near start, some good nudibranchs, some tiny. Lots of the niger/blue triggerfish like yesterday, they are everywhere. Plenty of featherstars but only one shrimp. A nice relaxing dive, put 4lb more weight and much better. Visibility good.
15 October 2025 - Olympic Point Dived here two years ago. A very slight sandy bottom slope with small bits of coral. Went W and then back E and back to anchor. Viz 12-15 metres and 28C as usual. More niger triggerfish, quite a few nudibranchs, a few cowfish and small pufferfish, a juvenile ribbon eel, two crocodile fish (similar), featherstar shrimp, tiny crab in soft coral, lionfish, yellow gobies in hard coral, a few more crabs, a swimming mantis shrimp and another in a hole extended with coral bits and had eggs. Very relaxing dive, but not a huge amount to see really. Visibility good.
16 October 2025 - Bethlehem Located closer to the entrance to the channel between Marikaban and Caban Islands. Went N from mooring down a very gradual slope. Bottom is sand with coral rubble everywhere. Incoming current/tide from east, made it a harder dive and used more air than normal. Viz was less today, 8-10 metres. Saw a log-finned bannerfish, first of the trip and later a Moorish idol, again a first. Lots of nudibranchs, some shrimp including a few on the short-spined sea urchins. I spiked my knee on one but none went into my skin. A nice dive except for the current. Visibility fair. Â 16 October 2025 - Olympic Point Dived here yesterday too. Went east again, no current. Viz 8-10 m. As soon as I hit bottom I found two small spiny devilfish. Then we saw a Donald Duck shrimp and later another larger one. Two mushroom coral pipefish in a small anemone. More shrimp on sea urchins, a lady bug in a truncate, got photos this time. More nudibranchs, a ribbon eel, a tiny crab and a larger one on a woven plate, small pufferfish and cowfish and a Moorish idol. A good dive. Visibility fair.
16 October 2025 - Mainit School We were diving Mainit Corner but too choppy as wind ESE. Went further along past Bubble Point and opposite school. Very dirty shallow, 2-3 m and not much better deeper. Probably stirred up in shallows by 20 knot wind earlier. Some coral bommies under the boat then sand slope to the south. Went east, lots of small coral outcrops. Lots of nudibranchs, two moray eels, a few different shrimp including sea whip. Also sea whip gobies, niger triggerfish, many crabs and more. Despite the visibility, a nice dive. Visibility very poor.
17 October 2025 - Koala No idea why this is called Koala, couldn't see any in the trees on shore! Located to N of resort just as the land turns to N. Large coral bits under the boat and W a slope down to 24 metres and then a wall running N-S. Went S along the wall (into a slight current) which runs for perhaps 50 metres and bottom is over 30 m I think. Lots of coral and sponges, a few large barrel sponges on the wall as well as on the top at the end. Two large pink gorgonias near the S end. Lots of fishlife around, niger triggerfish galore, plenty of tropicals including Moorish idols, short-finned bannerfish and butterflyfish. A small and a large spotted moray eel, nudibranchs, shrimp, crabs. Some blennies in hard coral holes as well as a shrimp. At the end a turtle but we were too high to get close. A very good dive. Visibility very good.
17 October 2025 - Twin Rocks Did this site two years ago. Moored and went to SE to 18 m and then to 22 m. Then NNE along a series of small walls or outcrops. Then back shallower to a large rock and then NE to Twin Rocks which are in about 6-7 m and almost reach the surface. Schooling jacks up high, thousands of niger triggerfish, a juvenile titan triggerfish, lionfish, spotted moray eels, lots of nudibranchs, shrimp in coral holes, different featherstar shrimps, seawhip shrimps, pughead pipefish, a friendly tiger pipefish, clownfish, crabs and much more. A turtle towards the end. A very good dive. Visibility good.Â
18 October 2025 - Aphols (Apols) Point Dived here two years ago. Went N down a very slight slope to 25 metres. Millpond, no wind or current and viz about 12-15 metres. Tens of thousands of niger triggerfish. Lots of moray eels, nudibranchs and many different shrimps including sea fan ones. Another tiny crab on a coral. Bottom has many barrel sponges and covered with featherstars. No featherstar shrimp seen though, Back shallower at the bommies there was a greenish giant anglerfish and nearby a banded sea snake (I think). A great dive. Visibility good.
18 October 2025 - Mainit West Located to west of Mainit Corner, no wind or current, millpond seas and overcast. Raining when we surfaced. Went down a steep sandy/coral rubble slope to 23 metres and then NW to a wall which went to at least 40 m. Very colourful. Viz started at 12-15 m but dropped to 8-10 m before we turned. A small pink gorgonia with one pink pygmy sea horse. Then a bit further on a white giant anglerfish in a small barrel sponges and nearby another grey one. Then up a bit and back. A large spotted yellow boxfish and then a blue ribbon eel and shallower a black one. Lots of moray eels again as well as the usual niger triggerfish, Moorish idols, a couple of lionfish, some butterflyfish and more. An excellent dive. Visibility good but later only fair.
18 October 2025 - Sandy Bottom South of Arthurs Rock. Sand the whole site, lots of sea pens and a few tiny bits of coral. Lots of small anemones. Went down to 22 metres, very gradual slope. The sea pens have shrimp and squat lobsters on them, some of the anemones have sexy shrimp. Hundreds of small sea cucumbers, all with small crabs on them. They live in their bum, actually saw one and got it to come out! A dark sea horse, a few groups of fire urchins working like vacuum cleaners with small fish in between. One group had a ornate ghost pipefish over it. Some also had shrimps on them. A very good dive. Visibility fair.
19 October 2025 - Buceo Anilao Coast Guard banned diving due to tropical low to the east and not far away. However, turned out no wind so permitted shore diving. Went straight off the resort beach like we did two years ago. Sandy steep slope with rocks to 40+ metres. Viz 25 metres at least, no current. Went to left a bit and then right and back to the boats. Lots of shrimp, some nudibranchs, a few crabs and one harlequin shrimp. Some niger triggerfish as usual for dives in Anilao. A very good dive. Visibility excellent.
19 October 2025 - Buceo Anilao Again went straight off the resort beach. Viz 25 metres plus again but reasonably strong current from the north. Went to left a bit and then right into the current. Heart rate was 70-75 bpm rather than 55-60 like last dive. Heaps of shrimp, so many species, some new to me. A few more nudibranchs, lots of crabs in the fins of one barrel sponge (never seen before). A nice dive except for the current. Visibility excellent.
20 October 2025 - Kirbys Rock Dived here two years ago, NE end of Caban Island. Dropped onto the bommie and went through the saddle to the S side and then to the other bommie which is about 22 m on the top. Lots of moray eels, a few different species. A banded sea snake dropped past my head to the bottom! Thousands of the small yellow sea cucumbers like last time. A large octopus, lots of nuidbranchs, some shrimp. Then back to the main rock in the current (reasonably strong) and past the overhang and shear wall to the protected N side. The whole site is very colourful. A very good dive. Visibility excellent, especially on second bommie.Â
20 October 2025 - Layag-Layag This is not far from the last site, just around the top of Caban Island. Anchored S of two rocks. Went SW down a sandy slope to 22 m and then N. The bottom here is sand and coral rubble. Further along the bottom is more consistent coral, new on old dead stuff. Then went towards the rocks and then back to the boat. Quite a few lionfish and moray eels, various species. Also two banded snake eels, a large octopus, more nudibranchs and shrimps. Thousands of niger triggerfish. Another very colourful site. No current. Visibility very good.
20 October 2025 - El Pinoy Located only 80 metres NW of Sandy Bottom. Under the boat a series of small coral bommies. Went S where it was sand and rubble and then SW to a wall, top 19 m. A few concrete artificial reefs, domes, we saw three. Then NW along the bottom of the wall at 25 m. There were lots of huge flat sponges like lettuce leaves, biggest ones I have seen, two colours. Then up onto top and zig-zagged back to the boat. Lots nudibranchs only four or five species. Some shrimp. A very large fish on the wall, no idea what type. Thousands of niger triggerfish again. A couple of long-tailed rays. Visibility poor except deeper when fair. Â
21 October 2025 - Agahuta Dived here in 2023. No current and viz 10-12 metres. Went W to 20 m and then down steeper slope to 25 m. Some small bommies here and shallow. Mostly coral rubble bottom. At 20 m some large flat coral areas with small overhangs. Thousands of niger triggerfish, lots of small porcupinefish, some lionfish and moray eels, a small ribbon eel. Not many nudibranchs. A small mantis shrimp that disappeared into its hole before I could take a photo and a small shrimp in hard coral. Lots of anemones and clownfish and a dozen batfish. A very nice dive. Visibility good.
21 October 2025 - Mainit West Another dive here. No current, viz 8-10 m. Did similar at the start but could not find the two giant anglerfish, they have moved. Some large fish swam past and also a giant cuttlefish. Finally went to the gorgonia and saw the tiny pygmy sea horse. A couple of flutemouths, a few ribbon eels, thousands of niger triggerfish again, John saw a clown triggerfish here again! Lots of nudibranchs, some lionfish, a large porcelain crab in anemone and lots more. A good dive despite no anglerfish. Visibility fair.
21 October 2025 - Arthurs Rock Repeat dive here. Went out W again to the deeper spot, viz out there was 15-18 m (much better than a few days ago) and no current. However as we continued N and got shallower, the viz dropped to 8-10 m and a strong current from the N appeared. Quick trip back. A turtle at the start, the normal niger triggerfish, moray eels, two mantis shrimps swimming, one with eggs and a blind shark. Saw a nudibranch I have never seen before, white with bubbles. A black ribbon eel, a pug head eel but no photo as too hard. Lots of anemones and clownfish as well as a large pufferfish. A very colourful dive site, especially deeper. A good dive. Visibility very good deep, but fair shallow.
22 October 2025 - Dari (Darlys) Laut Dived this wreck in 2023, an old casino scuttled here. It has now collapsed some more, the SE corner dropped to the ground. Went from the mooring over the small wall to the slope and then towards the deeper SE corner. Then around the W side to the hull section, then to the main wreck. Zig-zagged through the wreck towards the shore. Only a couple of batfish in the hull area, not like last time. Heaps of nudibranchs, some moray eels, lots of anemones and clownfish, including one at the shallower end with deformed mouth and aggressive. A pointy nosed fish (?) in a sort of fern coral. Then to wall which is covered in fine sand so everything is dead. Then to mooring, a couple of nudibranchs under boat. A nice if unexciting dive. Visibility good. Â
22 October 2025 - Cabans Cove Located towards northern end of Caban Island on the east side, some houses above beach. A drift dive that started on the N side and dropped in and went S down a rubble slope to 20 m and then NE and later N. Bottom goes to about 30 m. Went to 25 m and up a bit at times, eventually reaching 27 m. Bottom has some larger boulder sized coral with rubble in between. Very colourful with sponges, featherstars etc. Over a dozen moray eels of at least three species, lots of nudibranchs, a large mantis shrimp, two dartfish, tens of thousands of niger triggerfish, many Moorish idols, a colourful boxfish, a large pufferfish, a large rockcod, many nudibranchs including a new one. We ascended gradually from 20th minute and the 10 to 15 metre area was more coral than sand. An excellent dive. Visibility good.
22 October 2025 - Sandy Bottom Second dive here so Ofer could see sea horses as he has never seen one before. Out on the sand found a hairy one and then two more on coral/soft coral. Ofer saw one more too. Lots of crabs and squat lobsters on the soft corals and some gobies and shrimp. A long-tail cowfish, a striped boxfish, a skiing decorator crab and another bare one. A sole, a blenny in a piece of bamboo and a yellow goby in a San Miguel bottle. Near the boat an orange anglerfish, the same one we saw last dive here. A very good dive. Visibility fair.
23 October 2025 - Batok Located on W side of Sombero Island which is off N end of Caban Island. Went W to slope and then SW and S. Sandy with lots of dead coral bits with new stuff on it. Also lots of soft corals and featherstars. No current and viz about 20 to 25 metres. Very colourful site with barrel sponges and some bommies deep and more shallower. Lots of niger triggerfish, plenty of moray eels, only three nudibranchs though. Lots of tropical fish including Moorish idols and lkionfish. Two soft coral crabs, some hairy shrimp and small crabs. A tiny crayfish and then later another. A nice dive. Visibility very good.Â
23 October 2025 - Sepoc Wall Located off a N side of a huge rock connected by sand spit to the N end of Marikaban Island. Viz again 20 to 25 metres. Went W over a small wall to 12 m and then gradually deeper as we went NE. A slight down current on the way and when we got to the start of the wall, a very strong current towards us, so did not do the wall. Thousands of niger triggerfish here and also a large titan triggerfish. Went back but now no down current! No many nudibranchs again but lots of moray eels. Some cramps and shrimps. A tiny white cuttlefish, lionfish, porcelain crabs, clownfish in anemones and a strange dancing fish I have seen before but cannot name. Back to the shallows and then to boat. A nice dive again. Visibility very good. Â
24 October 2025 - Minilog Quite windy (E-SE) so diving here again as protected. Did similar dive to last one to the N and NE. No current and viz 10 to 12 metres. Two tiger pipefish near start and John found two more towards the end back near boat, they were doing a mating dance we think. Plenty of moray eels (four species) nudibranchs, some lionfish, butterflyfish, Moorish idols and a large cod. Some crabs and shrimps and a black ribbon eel. Nice dive. Visibility good. Â
24 October 2025 - Minilog Even windier so second dive went to SW into the bay to a small wall. At first all sandy/coral rubble. Saw two garden eels, lots of moray eels again, some nudibranchs. A large sand eel was seen only head out and then it came right out and swam away and buried itself tail first into a new spot. Another black ribbon eel, crabs and shrimps, including a zebra crab on a fire urchin and another with a shrimp. A small ornate ghost pipefish and more. The wall was a bit bare of growth. Turned around at 45 minutes at the end of it and came back gradually getting shallower. Another nice dive. Visibility good. Â
24 October 2025 - Elmars Point (Drift) Located south of Sunview and north of Twin Rocks. Started shallow and went W down coral rubble slope then SE in a relatively strong current. Viz only 8-10 m but worse at end. Bottom like slope with lots of small soft corals. After 30 mins came to a more substantial coral reef, current dropped for a few minutes and then came back. Along here hundreds of smaller barrel sponges and dozens of large gorgonias, some huge. A sea snake, a large turtle, moray eels, a zebra crab on a fire urchin, a few nudibranchs. a porcelain crab in anemone. Ended up in the shallows 300 m away. Good dive. Visibility fair.
25 October 2025 - Mainit School A bit of E wind but not too bad. Viz 8-10 metres deep but worse shallow. Similar route to last dive, to the wall. Some nudibranchs, shrimps, nothing special till the end. Some cobia feeding up high, Moorish idols, the usual niger triggerfish, and a few moray eels. Came back via the top of the wall, dozens of small barrel sponges. Back near the boat three blue ribbon eels. two in one hole. Not the greatest dive here, but okay. Visibility fair.
25 October 2025 - Mainit Corner Went E to steep slope and then SW to the wall. Viz 10 to 12 metres on the wall but less shallow. A great warty anglerfish, more cobia up high feeding, niger triggerfish of course. At the wall there was current from the E. Went around the rocks and then back under the mooring. Some great nembrothas, a few of the bright red rhinopores and two green lined ones. A nice dive. Visibility fair.
25 October 2025 - Mainit Bubbles Anchored further NE than other dives, so had to swim S to bubbles. Saw a white leaf fish and then a small turtle. After the bubbles went deeper, some very hot (45-50C at least) water coming out of one spot. Viz on the wall was 18-20 metres, but less than 5 m shallow. On the wall saw two long-finned bannerfish and a batfish. At the end of the wall when coming back, a black giant anglerfish, same one as last dive here. Some good nudibranchs, mostly nembrothas, and a flabellina. Lots of cobia feeding as we came back off the wall. A nice dive. Visibility very good deep.
Back in Sydney
1 November 2025 - Whale Watching Rockfall Club boat dive, two boats and eight divers. Big thunderstorms overnight but this morning no rain. Went first to Desal Inlet but very sloppy once there, so went back to WWR. Wind SE rather than the forecast NW but not too strong. Anchored off the wall and deco weight on top of the reef only a metre above. Moved anchor a bit then went N along the main wall. Viz much better than expected considering what people have been getting while I was away. Saw a blue devilfish near Tryton's anchor. Turned and came back a bit deeper to my anchor and then S. A large cuttlefish in overhang near the swim-though. Went S further and then back to anchor line and up to deco line. Saw a few nudibranchs, a moray eel, lots of normal fish like blue gropers etc. A surprisingly good dive considering. Visibility good.Â
5 November 2025 - Barrens Hut/The Split Club boat dive. Flat seas but wind from W got stronger while out there and was about 17 kts at the end. Anchored in normal spot. Viz dirty on top but a cold 16.6C on bottom and 10 to 12 metres. Went N up the Split and then back on outside. No donuts seen. Lots of silver sweep and yellowtail up high, back to anchor and then S to Cave. One seawhip with tiger anemones on it near sand. Back via crack in reef, bastard trumpeters and red morwong in normal spot as well as some outside on reef near Cave. A nice dive. Visibility good.
7 November 2025 - Bare Island Deep Wall Millpond seas but a very high tide, had to walk thru water all the way and go in off the rock we normally rest against. Viz about 7-8 m shallow but on the wall 10-12 m. Very little current despite incoming tide. Could not find the BBSH, think it must be gone, but found a blue devilfish further on. A very friendly blue groper out here too. Back via the normal route to 15MR. Nothing special seen at all. Then to SHC and back normal way. Again, nothing special, no RIF, no PPHs. A few small moray eels, a medium cuttlefish and back at STR the BBSH that has been there for a long time. Saw an opera house nudi, a pink okenia and a few other nudis. A good dive despite not seeing much. Visibility good. Â
8 November 2025 - Pink Floyd Drift Club boat dive, only my boat as not enough divers for two. Changed to here as forecast N winds of 12 kts. Was a bit less but protected from NE swell. Did a drift in as per the last time here. Took 33 mins to the normal anchor spot where Wayne was anchored. Went up his anchor at the end but he was drifting in. Viz was 20 to 25 metres, so much colour. Dozens of PJs and a couple of small horned sharks and one blind shark. Some black reef leatherjackets and plenty of small stuff. Nothing really special but the second group saw a blue devilfish. Very nice dive. Visibility very good.
11 November 2025 - Inscription Point A little bit of wave action but slipped over getting in, like a beach whale! Did the normal dive, incoming tide, viz 7 m but lots of crap floating in the water and also surgy. Saw a sea dragon near start and then under LBR three strange juvenile fish. Later Ross found the tiny orange painted anglerfish. Another sea dragon higher up, with eggs but covered in growth. Also, the whole reef has algae growing on everything, not as bad as The Monuments is said to be. On the way back a miramara nudibranch and a large sole. Only an average dive. Visibility fair.Â
13 November 2025 - Bare Island Isolated Reefs Flat as a tack, went in past Carol's Plaque. Viz not bad, but then worse around the 12 to 15 m depth, then much better on IR1 and got worse as we went on. Went down the outside of the reef to IR1. Saw the BBSH on STR but it really does not want to be photographed. I think I will leave it alone from now on. Saw the small moray eel in the sponge at OHR. Looked for the White's sea horse at start of IR1 but not found. To IR2 and swam on the top of the N wall to the end and then back the S side. Then from near SHC it got very dirty, 3-4 m at most. Back to exit normal way. No PPH, RIF or any exciting nudibranchs except a couple of pink okenias. Only an average dive. Visibility fair at the best, very poor at the worst.
15 November 2025 - Pizza Reef Bill Rowland Memorial Dive. Four boats and 16 divers. Two boats dived here. Quite rough, swell and sea from three directions but little wind and no current. Anchored on NE corner. Straight away some donut nembrothas off the N side. Went across to near the Cave and found more donuts. Out in front of cave quite a few. A blue devilfish in the Cave but no bastard trumpeters. Then S, more donuts, on sand and reef. A huge wobbegong shark and then another swimming around, almost hit me a few times. More donuts off the S end on the low reef. I saw 16 and Wayne saw five in one spot I did not go to, so at least 21 all up. Back up to anchor. Heaps of yellowtail and silver sweep high over the reef. A very good dive to remember Bill. Visibility good and even very good on N side.Â
16 November 2025 - Bare Island 15 Metre Reef Only one member responded to email to dive. Flat seas so went off W point but an outgoing tide so went W to Not So Deep Wall then 15 Metre Reef. Dirty at first, then a bit better at 5 m then past SHC was 12-15 m (cold 16.4C) for a while then got worse back to 4 m shallow. A strong current at 15MR and SHC, from the NE. Not much to see, friendly gropers of course and a couple of small moray eels and cuttlefish. Not many nudibranchs but some blue/green algae so might get some soon that eat it. A PJ, some crimson banded wrasse (been seeing a few lately) but not much more. No RIF, PPH and could not find the BBSH at STR. A pretty poor dive, hence only did 62 mins. Visibility fair but mostly poor.
19 November 2025 - Marys Reef Club boat dive. Went to The Balcony but too much bounce back from the rock platform, so went further south. Anchored on sand to S of GPS mark, little wind so didn't even drag back to the wall. Viz was 8-10 metres, cold 17.1C. Went E and found a blue devilfish to the E of the first overhang. Lots of silver sweep up high, some yellowtail and seapike mixed in. Frank saw some kingfish. Went mostly on the sand and around the bommies, turned at 20 mins and came back shallower. Looked in all the small gullies, a few black reef leatherjackets, some crimson wrasse and of course blue gropers. Back to anchor and Alistair went up as very low on air. Frank and I went E to the other overhangs, lots of small fish in there. Back to anchor and up. After the dive a seal swam around the boat and two humpback whales seen on the way back. Good dive. Visibility fair.
22 November 2025 - Henrys Sponge Garden Club boat dive replacing our Frenchmans Bay Boat Dive and BBQ. Two boats and nine divers. Wind a bit less than forecast, E under 10 knots and larger swell from E. Pretty protected here, comfortable on the boat. Went S, found two sea dragons, one with eggs. Viz got better further S we went. Then a large octopus, lots of smaller fish. No RIF or PPHs, but on the way back two giant boarfish, one a smaller yellow male. Also some black reef leatherjackets, a crimson-banded wrasse and a six-spined leatherjacket. Went N past anchor to the sandy area and then back to the anchor. Surprisingly good dive. Visibility poor to fair.Â
Next eight dives are at North Solitary Islands
24 November 2025 - Bubble Cave Club trip to Wooli and North Solitary Islands. NE winds when we went out but S at the end. Very dirty water, at the most 3-4 metres viz, some was worse. Went down to check out weighting as back in wetsuit, buddies never found me, so at 8 mins I went off. Went W and up some gutters but not to the Bubble Cave. Ended up right over in the main gutter to the beach. Saw three huge flathead, a small bullray, a few interesting fish but not a great deal at all. Came back out of the gutter and then W and back to mooring. Spent the rest of the dive around mooring. A very poor dive. Visibility very poor.
24 November 2025 - Anemone Bay Went around to here to get out of the wind. A little NE swell but okay, water looked cleaner. Went from inner mooring out to the outer mooring. Viz in spots was 15 m, but varied a lot. Saw five grey nurse sharks on the way. Here I saw a Queensland groper and a few black cod. Came back to mooring, saw a huge wobbegong shark. Lots of fish, including heaps of kingfish, some large, also a few jewfish. At the mooring Tim went up so we then went to E a bit and then back to mooring. More fish, including large schools of Moorish idols, surgeonfish and more. Back to mooring and Richard went up. Spent the last bit of the dive near mooring. A very good dive. Visibility ranged from very poor to good.
25 November 2025 - Anemone Bay Went to Outer mooring. Water looked good on the surface and down to 5 metres it was okay, but below that it was crap. Viz was less than 2 m. Tried to head back to Inner Mooring but got quite lost. I think we headed out onto the large rock N of the mooring before cutting back to the W and S. However, then ended up on the W side of the bay. Surfaced and checked, E bearing back to the boat. Only really saw a grey nurse shark right at the start and a large bullray near where I surfaced. A short 40 minute dive, that's how bad it was. Visibility shithouse.
25 November 2025 - Elbow Cave Moved to SE side of the island. Much calmer here and water looks better. Went down and not too bad. Headed S, saw a few nudibranchs, a small wobbegong shark. Viz here was much better, maybe almost 10 m. Went a fair way before returning back to the mooring. Tim went up so Richard and I went out to the SW. Another wobbegong. Seen. Back to mooring. Now by myself, so went through the cave, then up to the top of the reef for safety stop. A much better dive, but still not up to expected standard. Visibility poor to fair.
26 November 2025 - The Canyons Went to the sloping wall and then N a bit. Then back along the sand to the first skinny canyon. Up that till the end, then over to the next canyon. Up this and then over a boulder and under the next one till near the end. One buddy saw a turtle here. Back under both the boulders and out. Then one buddy showed me less than half air, so I said we'll head back to mooring. I got under the boat and looked around, no buddies. Went back but could not find them, so I went back to mooring. Then into the holes and over to the other holes. Here I got lost as I went N and turned right. Ended up having to surface and found I was about 30 m to N. Went back doing safety stop, surface again right near boat, back down and to boat. Saw a few wobbegongs, lots of fish all over the place, An okay dive. Visibility poor.
26 November 2025 - Elbow Cave Wind strong NW and swell SE, so a bit more protected here. Viz looked good from surface, ended up mostly 5-7 metres. Went to cave for buddies to go through, then slowly S and then to the W and then N along a small gutter. From here went W over the ridge to a wall and back S and then E to the main gutter. Saw four medium wobbegong sharks on the way back, lots of long-finned bannerfish and some Moorish idols, butterflyfish and all the usuals. Buddies went up back at the mooring, so I went N. The black cod were there again and further on some more snappers. Back to mooring, hung around there, then up. Others saw two GNS and a turtle. An average dive. Visibility poor.Â
27 November 2025 - Bubble Cave Visibility much better here today, did not lose buddies! Went across to the Bubble Cave, easy to find, just look for the smooth rocks in the gutter. Went inside, lots of little fish, a lionfish and outside a very friendly trumpetfish. Went back SW to the start of the gutter and then E to mooring. A few medium wobbegongs, a medium bullray, a few nudibranchs and all the normal fish like butterflyfish and wrasse. One buddy went up so then went S for a bit and back. Other buddy also went up, so went E to an area I had never visited before. Lots of fish here. Back to near mooring, safety stop on top of the reef near the island. An average dive. Visibility fair.
27 November 2025 - The Circuit This is the mooring that is S of the Bubble Cave mooring and opposite the gap in the two parts of the island. Viz was awful, 2-3 metres at the best. Followed the interpretative markers from the mooring but gave up after 4 as the direction of the next one was backtracking. They no longer actually face the direction they say to go and some are not exactly where they are supposed to be. Came back to mooring, Tim went up. Then went to W a fair way and then back to mooring. Nothing really interesting seen except the thousands of anemones and clownfish. Other buddy went up, so went S a bit and then back, rest of the time around mooring. A few nudibranchs and spotted moray eels and two medium wobbegong sharks. Not a good dive. Visibility shithouse.
Back in Sydney now.
4 December 2025 - Middle Ground Club boat dive. Only some small waves and NW wind of about 8 kts. Anchored on NE corner between main reef and rocks. Warm 20.1C on top and 18.3C on bottom. Viz was at least 25 metres, but less near surface. Went around anti-clockwise as usual. No donut nembrothas but two wobbegong sharks, heaps of yellowtail and some seapike, a few red morwongs. Did a long 24 minutes on bottom, two minutes deco. A fantastic dive. Visibility excellent.
6 December 2025 - Pink Floyd Club boat dive, just my boat and only four divers. Anchored on the top of the wall. Warm 21.0C on top but dropped to 17C at 5 metres and only 15.3C on the bottom! Cold, why am I using my wetsuit! Went over the wall and to the E near the bottom. Viz was pretty good, perhaps 15 metres, only a slight incoming current. Not a huge amount of fishlife, but saw a large moray eel, two six-spined leatherjackets as well as black reef leatherjackets. A few other fish. Turned around at 20 mins and came back a little shallower. Got back to anchor, the boat had changed direction and later changed again. The second group came down and we stayed another five minutes under the boat. A good but unexciting dive. Visibility good.
7 December 2025 - The Monuments Drift Club Xmas Party, 10 divers. Went in behind the Whale and out to NE. Then drifted in with tide, but last little bit tide had turned or was eddying. Viz was good, 15 m for a lot of it, but lots of silt which was easily stirred. Not a huge amount seen, no PPH or sea dragons. Saw a few numbrays, a couple of moray eels, one small horned shark, some nudibranchs and off the Cave Wall two BBSHs. A few crimson-banded wrasse and all the usual fish for here. A nice relaxing dive with a great lunch afterwards. Visibility good.
9 December 2025 - Pizza Reef Club boat dive, only one boat. Anchored off NW corner near the flat rocks. Moved anchor to the closest rock. A slight current from S on the bottom and viz at least 15 metres, warmer at 18.1C. Saw three donut nembrothas on the normal rock. No blue devilfish in cave. Went S, more donuts and right at the S end on the rock, six more. Saw another one on N side. Fishlife was sparse, only a dozen seapike off N end and two bastard trumpeters there too. Back to the anchor area where I found three donuts on the first rock that I missed before (six in total). So 15 donuts, down from the 21 we saw in mid-November. A nice dive. Visibility good.
10 December 2025 - Inscription Point Last minute decision to dive after Mandy asked me last night. Flat seas (despite large S swell predicted) and not much wind. Bluish water, viz was over 15 metres past LBR, not much under 15 for the earlier part of the dive. Saw so many things, sea dragon, two grey Bare Island anglerfish, two upsidedown pipefish, two sawtooth pipefish (one carrying eggs), a small painted anglerfish, three honey-coloured okenia nudibranchs, four pygmy pipe horses, a big belly sea horse, a tiny Idiomysis shrimp and more. Also a few free-swimming numbrays, a dozen smaller squid and lots of nudibranchs. Will now have to dive here again tomorrow. Brilliant dive. Visibility very good.
11 December 2025 - Inscription Point Decided to dive again. A bit more wave action here but out in middle rougher and very windy. Still bluish water but viz was down a fair bit, about 10 metres past LBR, less closer to entry. Saw very similar things to yesterday, the two grey Bare Island anglerfish, two upsidedown pipefish (but different ones to yesterday), three honey-coloured okenia nudibranchs, four pygmy pipe horses, a big belly sea horse, No sea dragons or the small orange painted anglerfish. Also a blue sea spider in the green weed, an orange spiky nudibranch, a fiddler-ray and some numbrays in sand. Still a very good dive. Visibility good.
13 December 2025 - Barrens Hut/The Split Club boat dive, three boats, two here. 13 divers total. Also another boat from the club here. A much bigger swell than predicted (1.4 m but was 1.6 with lots of 3.0 m). Also a slight current from N but later was much stronger. Blue water and at least 15 m viz. No much on bottom but very surgy. Anchored in the normal spot, went N up Split to end, then back to anchor on outside. Saw where Tryton dragged anchor across sand. Then to Cave and back to anchor. No donuts, but 20 or so bastard trumpeters in normal spot with red morwong and some bream. Saw some small kingfish near trumpeters. A very good dive. Visibility good.
14 December 2025 - Bare Island Isolated Reefs Millpond seas so went in off W point. Headed W to Not So Deep Wall, then to 15 Metre Reef then to IR1. Very dirty till 10 m, then better, On IR1 and IR2 it was good, 10 to 12 metres, but cold 17.3C. Still not much around, found a velvetfish on IR1, lots of yellowtail and old wives on the end of IR2, some small trevally on the way back. A few crimson-banded wrasse and black leatherjackets, a small yellow boxfish, a tiny cuttlefish and the small moray eel is still in the sponge at OHR. No RIF or PPH and could not find the BBSH at STR or the Whites sea horse on IR1. Very dirty from OHR to Shortcut, then better, much warmer too, over 21C. An unexciting dive, but at least a dive. Visibility good deep.
17 December 2025 - Middle Ground Swell appeared big in Port Hacking but not much apparent outside, although Jibbon Bommie was getting smashed even though high tide and swell was crashing very high on cliffs to south. Went out deeper (over 31 metres). Anchored on E side. No current or wind. Well, despite reasonable viz on way down, on the bottom less than 2 metres. Moved the anchor to a spot and then tried to drop to sand but so surgy and sand stirred up I could see nothing. Went back to anchor and then to S, got even worse, less than a metre. Back to anchor and then NW onto reef top, a bit better but then went N and worse. Tried to go back to anchor but could not find it. Just when I was resigned to bluewater ascent, I spottedd the lift bag. Put some air in and went up. Only things seen were lots of yellowtail. One of my worse ever dives. Visibility very shithouse.
17 December 2025 - Middle Ground Anchor recovery dive. Tried for ages to get the anchor free, but no luck. I went down again while Greg looked after the boat. Anchor had fallen into one of the cracks and was right at the bottom under a small overhang. Managed to get it out and up, but then my safety sausage reel had totally unravelled while I was doing this. Had to move the anchor to a spot, put more air in the lift bag and then haul in a total mess of the reel and ascend. Same conditions as previous dive. Visibility very shithouse.
18 December 2025 - Shiprock Because of the conditions yesterday, most sites open to the ocean were expected to be bad, so a few of us decided to dive here. Three others MD, JP and LT. Warm 21.2C and very slight current. Went the normal route. Not many nudibranchs, only one pineapplefish, lots of leatherjackets, a medium wobbegong shark, a huge octopus, lots of hermit crabs, one with the biggest sponge on it I have seen in Australia. In the shallows lots of large sand whiting, some luderick and bream deeper, small silver sweep and some old wives. Found one convict gobby. Others found some sawtooth pipefish too. A very nice relaxing dive. Visibility poor. |
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