Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
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Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
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    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
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    Welcome
    I established this Web Site about scuba diving in Sydney, NSW, Australia and the South Pacific, as well as a few other places, in June 1996.

    Since then it has gone through a few different versions. This latest version is the fourth and was completed in July 2006.

    The site has grown from a few pages to well over 1,060 separate pages. More than 650 dives are covered, mostly in detail and most with photographs and some with maps.

    I am fairly confident that this is not only the largest diving related web site in the World, it also has more hits than any diving related web site in Australia.

    This site is a non-commercial site and is unrelated to any dive organisation. It is purely here to provide divers with an information source to increase their enjoyment of scuba diving, shipwrecks and marine life in general. I hope that my experiences can help you when you are planning a dive trip, whether it is locally in Sydney, New South Wales, somewhere else in Australia or the Pacific Ocean region.

    Any and all comments are welcome, as is any information to enhance the pages, especially more information about ships or shipwrecks or corrections to pages.

    I have also included some articles on non-diving related interests, especially four wheel driving and camping. There is also information about my yacht, a Lightwave 38 catamaran, that I owned from 2014 to 2019.

    NOTE:

    This site is best viewed using a screen sized at 1024 x 768 pixels. If you use a smaller screen, some photographs may force a page that extends off the screen and cause printing problems. I cannot avoid this problem. It may also cause some photos to run over top of text. If you find any of these, please let me know as I should be able to fix.

    In addition, some wide screen monitors (newer laptops especially) may have a screen that is too wide for the page and this may cause photos to appear in strange places. If you find this, let me know and I will see if I can fix.

    I have now added a Search facility to the site. You can access this by clicking on Search on the menu at the top of the page.

    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "Marys Reef is named after Phil Short's wife"
    News
    My Recent Dives - October, November, December 2024
    DIVING ACRONYMS
    In this log I use some acronyms to make it easier for me to remember where I went and what I saw:

    LOCATIONS (Mostly at Bare Island unless otherwise stated - see website pages for locations) 
    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

    FISH ETC
    BIA - Bare Island Anglerfish (red fingered anglerfish)
    PPH - Pygmy pipehorse
    BBSH - Big belly sea horse
    RIF - Red indianfish
    USDP - Upsidedown pipefish

    1 October 2024 - Clifton Gardens
    Decided to go to the dark side and cross the harbour to dive. Forgot my camera! Dived solo and went through the net, well I lifted it up (only one hole now, came back that way). Went along net and then to end of the wharf. Then W to the huge chain and followed that SE and then took the off shoots, now there is a rope for one section as chain is under sand at first. This goes to the yacht which has now totally fallen apart and collapsed. Then to the main anchor and buoy. Then took the N chain from here and at end over to the wharf on Chowder Bay side. Then across to wharf, easter island statue and bessa blocks, then to sea horse hotels and back into net. Only one white's sea horse, one or two large bullrays, some nice nudibranchs, a few small cuttlefish. All the usual luderick, leatherjackets etc. not the best dive. Visibility poor. 

    3 October 2024 - Middle Ground
    A bit sloppy and some SE swell so decided to dive deeper. Humpback whales on the way out, only 20 metres from use, stayed on the surface for a while and one tail showing. Heard them all through the dive. Anchored off NE corner on the boulders. Viz 10+ metres. Went around the whole reef, large school of yellowtail followed us for half, then some seapike. A large wobbegong shark off N side and a PJ on S. Plenty of leatherjackets and some mado. No donuts or blue devilfish. Forgot to take lift bag so did not go back to anchor, just to top of reef near where the rope was. Some tiger anemones here on sea whips. Then up. A very nice and relaxing dive. Visibility good.

    4 October 2024 - Bare Island Right
    A little swell meant W point was not a viable option. Water cooler at 17C and a bit of surge down to 13 metres. Viz was 8 or so m. Went down normal way to start of IR1 and then to SHC and back. No PPH, RIF or sea dragons. A lot of the normal nudibranchs and two upsidedown pipefish. A few PJs, a large flathead and a pair of friendly black reef leatherjackets. A nice relaxing dive but that is it. Visibility good.

    5 October 2024 - Henry's Sponge Garden
    Club boat dive, three boats and 11 divers. Large swell running 2.0 to 4.0 m offshore and 8 to 13 sec period. Bommie was 1.2 to 2.2 m and breaking occasionally. Despite this, it was not too bad underwater, mostly surge was minor with some bigger pushes every few minutes. Sand was stirred up so viz only 4-5 m. Cold though, about 16.4C but 17.5 on safety stop. Went S till 15 min mark and then back to N and past anchor. Lots of sand there with boulders. Not many fish around, others saw a small RIF and a sea dragon. A few nudibranchs. Back to anchor and spent the rest of the time under the boat. Not the greatest dive but better than I thought it would be. Visibility poor.

    6 October 2024 - Bypass Reef
    Much better seas than yesterday. Checked out if there was a current here before anchoring, did not seem to be but sure enough, there was. Decided to not take camera. Went down as planned but my buddy did not follow our instructions and missed the line. He tried to get down and to deco line but did not, ended up on the extended mermaid line. I got to bottom, moved anchor and waited but he did not arrive. The visibility was well over 10 metres and not that much current on the bottom and warmer at 18C. Lots of fishlife. Then came down, but I was almost back up by then. So I only did a 17 minute dive. Not a great dive. Visibility very good.

    Next dives are all at Dauin in the Philippines.

    13 October 2024 - San Miguel
    Site is SW from Liquid, less than five minutes. Millpond seas, no wind and 29C temperature. Started at mooring and went SE and then SW. Sandy bottom, a few bits of coral with growth. Quite a few Shaun the Sheep and other nudibranchs. A flamboyant cuttlefish, two small soles, a few anemones with clownfish, porcelain crabs and glass shrimp. After 30 mins headed NE back to mooring. A few more nudibranchs and in the shallows a large wide-bodied pipefish. A nice relaxing first dive of the trip. Visibility very good.

    13 October 2024 - Black Diamond
    Located off half finished dive resort called Black Diamond. Similar dive to first one, but coral reef to NE of mooring. A little bit dirtier, perhaps 12 metres. Went SW first and then back past mooring to reef and around that. More nudibranchs, an eel, some lionfish, two juvenile snapper, three cowries, and more. Anemones and clownfish too. There were five fish traps around the coral. Ended up back in shallows. Easy dive. Visibility good. 

    14 October 2024 - Bulak
    Only a short distance from resort. We didn't moor, live drop and picked up near where we started. Sandy bottom and some rocky reefs, only a metre or so high. Some small overhangs and coral growth. Went S along them for 50 metres and then deeper and N again. Another pipefish, different species, quite a few nudibranchs, anemones and clownfish with porcelain crabs, Plenty of ropes on the bottom and a couple of mooring blocks. Back up in shallows there was warm water coming out of the sand. Good dive. Visibility very good.

    14 October 2024 - Sahara 
    Further south than other dive sites so far. Tied to back of another boat and then did drift dive to north. Sandy bottom again but lots of ropes and moorings from the marine reserve boundary. Then into the artificial reef area. At first cartons of bottles and then a small boat full of cartons of bottles. Further on concrete structures of many types. Then a large barn structure made of steel. A tiny black anglerfish, a few lionfish, batfish, a larger yellow with black spots boxfish, anemones and clownfish. Also a featherstar with shrimp, nudibranchs and more. A very good dive site. Visibility very good.  

    15 October 2024 - Bonnet Corner
    Furtherest S we have been so far. Sand ridges to SE and small pebbles in between. Zig-zagged around. Lots of very large garden eels, biggest I have seen I think. Three flamboyant cuttlefish and a small lemon one. Quite a few ocotpus, including a couple of small wonderpus. A snake eel, another eel, no nudibranchs, featherstar shrimp and squat lobster, a couple of anemones and clownfish, a strange crab trying to open a shell, some interesting other small fish. Ended up in shallows as normal. Very good dive. Visibility very good.

    15 October 2024 - Talisay
    Started on a mooring and went N, sand and then some coral outcrops on the slop. A larger bommie and some smaller ones. Some mooring blocks too and a large barrel sponge. I found a giant anglerfish on the bommie and then we saw a brilliant tiger pipefish. A few nudibranchs, some more eels, more featherstar shrimp and squat lobsters, Another nice dive. Visibility very good.

    Click here to see details of dives including profiles.

    For more details about these dives and other dives this year, click here.
    Michael on 01 October 2024 00:00 · Print
    My Recent Dives - July, August, September 2024
    DIVING ACRONYMS
    In this log I use some acronyms to make it easier for me to remember where I went and what I saw:

    LOCATIONS (Mostly at Bare Island unless otherwise stated - see website pages for locations) 
    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

    FISH ETC
    BIA - Bare Island Anglerfish (red fingered anglerfish)
    PPH - Pygmy pipehorse
    BBSH - Big belly sea horse
    RIF - Red indianfish
    USDP - Upsidedown pipefish

    9 July 2024 - Inscription Point
    First dive for 9 days due to more rotten weather. Also first dive with new Ikelite housing, went well. A bit or effort getting in and especially out and quite surgy. Viz about 10 metres at least. The bullray went past right at the start but no turtle. Saw two sea dragons, one with heaps of eggs, laid last Sunday I think. No PPHs but a nembrotha and the miamira seen. Three sea horses as normal and Mandy's small painted anglerfish is now quite orange. A bit of a rush back as the others low on air. Nice dive despite the surge. Visibility good.

    10 July 2024 - Pizza Reef
    Club boat dive, ended up two boats and 9 divers at two sites. I had five on board and new engines easily handled it. A larger E swell than forecast and a bit of surge even at 26 metres. Anchored off N end of the gap between the two parts. Heard whales through most of the dive and saw many on the surface. Viz at least 15 metres. Saw a tiny donut nembrotha just on way to cave. None out on the normal spot. A few bastard trumpeters and some other fish in the cave. A large school of seapike further on. No donuts at S end, not as much rock there now. Back around to gap and down S and then to anchor, another larger donut to E of anchor. Spent the rest of the time near anchor. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

    11 July 2024 - Bare Island Isolated Reef 1
    Another sunny day, two in a row! Very cold again on the top but warmer 17C on bottom. Found five RIF, including one which was shedding its skin. This was near SHR. Two were at STR, two between there and the other one. One was a small orange specimen. Went around edge of the reef down to IR1 and to where it joins IR2. I turned here as only using 9 litre tank. Went to top of the reef but nothing special seen there. Two USDPF towards SHR. Lots of leatherjackets around, a couple of lionfish and moray eels. No PPH at all. When back at the shedding RIF, it was gone but the skin was there. I took it but it ended up clumped together. A really good dive despite the cold. Visibility very good. 

    20 July 2024 - Bare Island Isolated Reef 1
    Had to cancel club boat dive due to very strong NW winds. A bit protected here. First dive with drysuit this year and since new neck seal. However, leaked very badly from left ankle, soaked my left leg and then up to stomach and across to right leg! Also leaked on right sleeve, a new tear there! Got very cold in the 15C water so only 66 mins. Saw four RIF, three between STR and SHC and one on IR1. Also a frogfish down from cave, a spiny gurnard on IR1, a few PJs and dwarf lionfish. A nice dive except for the cold. Visibility fair.

    24 July 2024 - Marley Point
    Good weather for a few days after more winds and big swells. Flat seas so ran at 20kts all the way. No whales seen or heard. Anchored in normal spot, blue water, but very cold at 15C. Had to move the anchor at start, so used a bit of air. Went E along sand till 17 mins and then back shallower to anchor. Not much seen, a few fish and one small moray eel. Then on sand again to W and back a little shallower. Thousands of small yellowtail up high and then lots of ladder-finned pomfrets in between the boulders, but not as many as normal. Back to anchor and up. My drysuit leaked badly again despite many attempts the past few days to fix the hole (in left ankle). I was very cold again. Could see second group on the sand from safety stop. Only a reasonable dive. Visibility very good.  

    25 July 2024 - Bare Island Deep Wall
    Well, back in the wetsuit after yesterday's flood. Flat as a tack, went S to the Wall and then back normal way. Cold 16C and then 15C above 14 metres. Only one BBSH on rocks off wall, the smaller yellow one. Saw three short-tailed ceretasoma in different spots. One frogfish on wall. No PPHs still, where have they all gone? Two USDP before SHR and then one RIF, where have the other three or four gone? Looked everywhere for them. Half a dozen PJs, a few small cuttlefish, pink okenia and a few other nudibranchs. Good dive. Visibility good. 

    27 July 2024 - M & K Reef
    Club boat dive, two boats and eight divers. Very overcast and soon after leaving ramp it started to rain. Poured at times and difficult to navigate. Rain eased off a bit once halfway across the bay. Flat seas and viz was at least 12 metres, but dark. Anchored on top of cave and moved anchor to bottom and then had to drag a bit to a holding spot. It even broke the rock and I had to move again at the end of the dive. Went to N and around the corner, a large wobbegong shark there. Back to main reef and big schools of yellowtail, seapike and one-spot pullers. I found two tiny pipefish, no PPH but a few nudibranchs. No blue devilfish in either cave. Went S to past the end and then back again to anchor. Then under anchor rope to the smaller deeper wall. Then up. Rain eased off totally and didn't rain again. Another nice dive. Visibility good.

    7 September 2024 - Bare Island Deep Wall
    First dive for 42 days, weather was rubbish for over a week after last dive and then I went to Outback NSW and Qld. Millpond seas so went from W point. Viz was about 10 metres, cold 17C. Found the two BBSHs on wall, then a blue devilfish nearby. Lots of PJs, at least a couple of dozen. One wobbegong shark. No RIF, PPH and only a few interesting nudibranchs, pink okenia and a black spotted one. A large flounder and lots of yellowtail shallow. All my rocks in the pile I had built over the past year to show exit spot are gone, must have been huge seas as lots of sand/shellgrit under bridge on rocks. Cleaned Carol's Plaque on the way out to W point. Good dive despite lack of critters. Visibility good.

    8 September 2024 - Inscription Point
    Calm seas and viz of about 8 metres. Very slight incoming tide. Went very slowly, five anglerfish all up. Two orange BIA, the grey BIA, Mandy's black now orange painted anglerfish and a new tiny black painted anglerfish just before Big Rock. The two BBSHs in normal spot and the third one also in normal spot. Heaps of PPH, at least 10 I think. A couple of interesting nudibranchs etc and a few horned sharks. Only saw one sea dragon (with eggs) but more are west of the entry. Quite a good dive. Visibility fair. 

    10 September 2024 - Bare Island Right
    A bit of swell up and was worse when we got out. Went in past Carol's Plaque. Erick in new Seatec suit, weighting was good. However, I had a BCD problem and was leaking from where the inflator hose connects to BCD shoulder. Could not stop it, so I basically crawled on the bottom or swum hard to get along. Hence air consumption was 20% higher than normal. Then later camera stop working properly (memory card was loose) and then Shearwater computer died as battery suddenly dead. Went normal way and turned before Block Rock. No RIF, PPH but a few PJs and some yellowtail. Also two tiny fine-lined tambjas, looks like they might be coming back. A small cuttlefish, a couple of other interesting nudibranchs, one upsidedown pipefish but that is all. Not a great dive. Visibility fair.

    11 September 2024 - Barrens Hut/The Split
    Club boat dive, two boats and seven divers, I had three on MakCat including me. We both dived here so they could watch my boat. Flat seas and no wind, clean on top but dirty on bottom, perhaps 4 m viz. Moved anchor a little to a poor holding spot, all there was. All through the dive very loud humpback whales, lots of them. Never saw one on the surface. Went up The Split and then N, all the purple ascidians are gone. No donuts as expected. The sand has been washed out by at least 1.5 metres in spots, exposing many new rocks and making existing low ones now very large. Back on outside and through the gap where the fuel tank is. Back to anchor and up. Not a great dive except for the whales singing. Visibility very poor. 

    14 September 2024 - Inscription Point
    Large seas past few days and as it was dirty on Wednesday, decided to not take boa tout. As it turns out, would have been good as ocean viz was 10-15 m! Anyway, flat here and little outgoing tide. Viz was about 4 m and temp 17.5C. Ron's first dive since our Bali trip. Could not find any anglerfish at all, even ATJ found only two. Not many PPHs either, just a couple. Three BBSH as normal, no sea dragons. A few interesting nudibranchs including tritonia. About a dozen tiny ones, largest only 8 mm. Quite a few PJs, mostly swimming around. A nice relaxing dive. Visibility very poor.

    21 September 2024 - Marys Reef
    Club boat dive, two boats, 9 divers. First dive here for 6.5 years. It was a lot sloppier than expected and some very large 2.5 m swells at times. Water was reasonably clean but the constant surge stirred up the sand and made it not as good. Anchored on top of reef near the cave and headed E to almost 25 m. Some sand missing around the boulders. A few PJs, a water container on surface with very old rope to some chain, Kelly found two upsidedown pipefish. Came back to the cave and then up. Was much windier and apparently from SW but weather stations said W. Not the best dive. Visibility fair.

    22 September 2024 - The Leap Deep
    Swell was still up, the Bare Island Bommie was breaking at times, so tried here to get some protection. Wind was light but again came up strong W after we surfaced. Went W with strong current to the end of the wall and then back E past anchor (which was on reef top) to some lower boulders and then back. Very surgy on top of reef, still a lot on the sand at 20 metres. Water 18C or so. Not a great deal seen except some PJs and a spindle cowrie on fan. Visibility good.

    25 September 2024 - Bare Island Isolated Reef 1
    A bit of wave action on W point but much worse after the dive. Went in past Carol's Plaque and down and back the normal way. Went anti-clockwise around IR1. No PPH or RIF, two USDP in same spot as for 6+ months, a few nudibranchs, a couple of reasonably large moray eels, an octopus and a small cuttlefish. A small school of yellowtail as we went around W end of IR1. Viz was 15 m in shallows and perhaps 10 m rest, but a bit worse on the way back despite incoming tide. Probably increased waves. Reasonable dive. Visibility good. 

    Click here to see details of dives including profiles.

    For more details about these dives and other dives this year, click here.

    Michael on 08 July 2024 00:00 · Print
    My Recent Dives - April, May and June 2024
    DIVING ACRONYMS
    In this log I use some acronyms to make it easier for me to remember where I went and what I saw:

    LOCATIONS (Mostly at Bare Island unless otherwise stated - see website pages for locations) 
    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

    FISH ETC
    BIA - Bare Island Anglerfish (red fingered anglerfish)
    PPH - Pygmy pipehorse
    BBSH - Big belly sea horse
    RIF - Red indianfish
    USDP - Upsidedown pipefish


    2 April 2024 - Bare Island Deep Wall
    Millpond seas and threatening rain which fell while we were down and after we finished. Went off W point and on the wall had 10-12 m viz but very cold 17C. Only 4-5 m back shallower than the Cave. Was just after low tide and had very slight incoming current. Three BBSHs, two on wall and one on the large rock. Came back via 15 Metre Reef and SHC. Four PPHs on BR, the two yellow/gold ones are beautiful. Could not find the striated anglerfish others saw on Saturday. Four upsidedown pipefish, two sawtooth pipefish, a few small moray eels, heaps of yellowtail near BR, octopus all over the place and a few small cuttlefish. The RIF was near OHR but on main reef, no sea dragon. A really nice relaxing dive, no other divers here except someone who left the water before we went down. Visibility good.

    3 April 2024 - Bare Island Isolated Reefs
    Millpond seas again, before low tide. Went off W point to W and then to IR1. Went around both reefs clockwise. Visibility not as good as yesterday, only 6-8 metres and cold again at 17C then 18C shallower, very little current and already incoming. Lots of yellowtail all through the dive and a large school of silver sweep between IR and main reef. A few dwarf lionfish, including a tiny 30 mm one. Plenty of octopus again. The yellow/gold PPH still there but only one of the red ones nearby. Upsidedown pipefish still there, although I did not look for all of them. Not many nudibranchs really. The RIF was in same spot as yesterday and no sea dragon again. Nice relaxed dive. Visibility fair.

    4 April 2024 - Inscription Point
    Dive with Peter and Jacki and three of Peter's friends from Norway. They have been diving Sydney this week with him. A little bit of wave action but okay, a slight incoming tide and a bit of surge. Viz 5-6 metres and mostly 18C but a bit of 17C. We were looking for sea dragons for the Norwegians and found one very soon after the start of the dive. Some more seen later. Went slowly and showed them some big belly sea horses, pygmies and Bare Island anglerfish. Jacki showed me the yellow one on the sea horse rock and also another one a bit past this. I looked for the grey one but it has moved again, I could not find it. The other divers were cold and used a lot of air so they headed back with P&J. I did not and came back alone. On the way back I looked again for the black/pink BIA and I found it about 15 metres to the SW of where it was before, on the W side. I put a rock on top of the rock it is on. Saw some more sea dragons on the way back. Nice dive. Visibility poor. 

    17 April 2024 - Bare Island Right
    First dive for 13 days as huge rainfall event a few days after the last dive made water off Sydney filthy. Went in before Carols Plaque. First few metres were very dirty, but not brown like some other times. It cleared up at 8 metres and was 5-6 metres viz. Temperature was a constant 20C. Viz dropped to 3 metres or so at 45 minutes which was about low tide. Went normal way. The RIF was on Long Rock, there were two PPHs on OHR. Went to SHC via deeper way and on Block Rock there was only one gold/yellow PPH. One gave birth the other day! Then back via main reef. Five upsidedown pipefish in the normal two places and two sawtooth pipefish on the lower rock near Angler Rocks. These were almost in the open and I got some good photos. Heaps of small yellowtail at SHC, plenty of octopus but not as many as a few weeks ago. Also a very large squid. A nice 81 minute dive. Visibility poor.

    18 April 2024 - Bare Island Right
    So different to yesterday! Went in before Carols Plaque again. First few metres were much worse than yesterday, very very, dirty and somewhat brown. It was a little bit clearer at 6 metres but was only 3 metres at the most. Temperature was a constant 20C again. Viz dropped to even less in spots although near SHC it was a little bit better. Went same way as yesterday. The RIF was not on Long Rock and we could not find it. The two PPHs were still on OHR. Went to SHC via deeper way and Carole showed us a velvetfish in the middle area. There were actually three sawtooth pipefish on the lower rock near Angler Rocks, one had eggs and one was much smaller. Got some good photos. On Block Rock there was still only one gold/yellow PPH. Then back via main reef. Five upsidedown pipefish in the normal two places. Heaps of small yellowtail again near SHC and a few small kingfish swimming through them. Not as many octopus as yesterday. Despite the viz, a nice 85 minute dive. Visibility very poor.

    24 April 2024 - Bare Island Not So Deep Wall
    Again last weekend the weather was rubbish, so first dive in 6 days. Went in off W point. Warm 19C all dive. Went to NSDW and then along it to 15MR. A bit of outgoing tide here. A few nudibranchs and then a large short-tailed ceretasoma on 15MR. Saw another one later. Across to SHC, lots of larger yellowtail here and further along silver sweep. The yellow PPH is gone, none on BR now. Then to where the sawtooth pipefish are, four today and one still with eggs. Then back along main reef, three USDP and over on OHR, only one PPH. A frogfish back on main reef. Found the RIF, not on the normal rock but Flat Rock near it. No sea dragon nor Parramatta nudis that earlier group apparently saw. Two fiddler-rays. Nice easy dive. Visibility still poor but much better than recently.

    25 April 2024 - The Monuments
    Club Anzac Day dive and BBQ. Moved from Bare Island as forecast was not great. However, conditions not as bad as supposed to be. Went in and out at the Whales, easy. Went E first, viz was 8 metres but at 18 mins when we turned, it dropped to 3-4 m, this was about low tide. Little current and temp was 20C. Back W and turned again at 50 mins. Saw one sea dragon, some saw a turtle at E end, a few nice nudibranchs, including a rarer blue/black tambja. Also a school of yellowtail and a small one of bream. A few moray eels, some lionfish and all the usual fish. A nice dive with BBQ after. Visibility poor.

    THE FOLLOWING DIVES ARE AT TULAMBEN, BALI, INDONESIA

    28 April 2024 - Liberty Slope
    First dive of the trip. Unfortunately my housing leaked, but camera okay. No idea why this happened. Went slowly down to 25 metres and then and then back again. Lots of nudibranchs, a few shrimp, a tiny bob-tailed squid, a pipefish, a huge mantis shrimp and more. A few fish around, a large lionfish, one clownfish and a few other tropicals. A very nice fist dive. Visibility very good.

    29 April 2024 - Gerombong
    A bit of wave action, had to time getting in and out. Not too bad. Viz was 20 m but later dropped as too many bad divers stirring up the bottom. I had a little too much weight after adding two more half kilo weights. Next dive too one half kilo weight out. Saw a tiny black anglerfish, perhaps 5 mm. Later a larger one, 25 mm, black with orange and blue spots. W+Quite a few nudibranchs. Camera lens was foggy and then at 22 m, it started to leak from the GPS button. Not as much water as yesterday. A few shrimp, including on a large nudibranch. Some mantis shrimp, lots of razorfish and a sole shallow. Nice dive again. Visibility very good mostly.

    29 April 2024 - Gerombong
    This time went to the left. Visibility 20 m for most of the dive but some spots worse due to fish stirring up the bottom. Went along the wall to 25 metres, saw a clown triggerfish here, first I have seen in Bali. Also quite a few short-finned bannerfish and some Moorish idols. From here slowly went across to the other wall and then back to the slopes. Another small white anglerfish, 10 mm. Saw the large black one and the nudi with shrimp again later. More nudibranchs, razorfish and some trevally. Shallow more nudis. Again, a very nice dive. Pity I had no camera. Visibility very good generally.

    30 April 2024 - USAT Liberty
    Early morning dive on wreck. Went to bow, not many in at first but by the time we reached bow, lots had caught up with and passed us. Went to stern, the others saw three leaf fish. I went deeper around the chunky bits. Housing flooded again, finally at the end of the day I might have it figured. Went deeper to bow, some nice gorgonias. Wreck not much different to last year. Went to bow and finally around it. Very strong current on the way back shallower. Heart rate went from 60-70 bpm to 70-80 bpm and overall air consumption went from around 9 to 10 l/min. Looked at the boilers and shaft tunnel. Back to stern where some garden eels were very friendly. A school of barracuda over sand. Then back shallow to exit. Good dive. Visibility very good.

    30 April 2024 - The Drop Off
    Lots and lots of divers on shore and in the water. Many tech divers with slings/doubles and hang tanks. Still a great spot, large gorgonias and barrel sponges. An electric clam, a large rockrod, all the usual tropical species esp Moorish eels. A few nudibranchs. Had a problem with my inflator hose where it connected to BCD. Was loose and I fixed after the dive. Made it uncomfortable as when I leaned to the right, all the air in BCD came out and I sank. Went around the corner for a bit and then back shallower back to exit. Good dive again. Visibility very good.

    30 April 2024 - Coral Gardens
    No divers here at all, only a couple divers. Went straight out and then left. A few small ribbon eels, sub-adults. Some saw a larger one free swimming. More nudibranchs, lionfish, including one black one with bugs on its side. A few anemones with clownfish and one had eggs. There are cones, Hindu temples, other things here. Again, a nice easy dive. Visibility good. 

    1 May 2024 - USAT Liberty
    Another very early dive. Only two others in the water when we hit wreck. Saw the two leaf fish, another I did not see. Just below the prop area. Then same was to bow. Housing still leaking. Saw some flutemouths, some shrimp in anemone and two tiny pipefish in an anemone. Then on the way back shallower, but through the wreck, saw two turtles and the barracuda were over the wreck. Some other fish too. Later a line of mullet on sand. Another nice dive. Visibility very good.

    1 May 2024 - Melasti
    Walked about 100 metres long to the SE and then entered the water. Went out and slowly back. Quite a current from the N. Saw two anglerfish, one very small. A very large moray eel and another smaller one, lots of nudibranchs, a pipefish and more. The current seemed to be only in the warmer 30C water and not the 29C water. A good dive. Visibility very good.

    1 May 2024 - Melasti
    This time went straight out from the parking area and then to the left. At first current was from N but when we got to the 29C water there was nothing. We saw three small yellow sea horses and another grey one. Also a large pipefish, one Shaun the sheep nudi, heaps of snake eels, a strange tiny while fish and heaps of blind shrimp and gobies. One goby was very colourful. Came back shallower with a slight current. Very good dive. Visibility good.

    2 May 2024 - USAT Liberty
    Another early morning dive on the wreck, only two other divers on wreck before us. Only two leaf fish, the other one could not be found. Did not go to the bow, just to the mid-sections. A lot of the large gorgonias that were there duing my first two trips are not there now. Spent a lot of time looking at parts of the wreck. Two sets of bollards under the mid-sections. Back via the column like area and there is a large exhaust fan behind boilers. The barracuda still over the boilers. Then to stern, plenty of garden eels and they stay right out till very close. I reckon I can get some good photos. Back shallow, more mullet. Another good dive. Visibility very good.

    2 May 2024 - Sidem
    Went in and around to the right to SE. Over the rocky reef a bit. Lots of large black lionfish in spots. Then back and over sand and under the mooring lines. A small yellow anglerfish, then a largish red sea horse and then a skinny yellow one. A crab in a tube anemone, lots of eels of different species. A few nudibranchs, mantis shrimp and at the end a pom-pom crab. A very good dive. Visibility very good. 

    2 May 2024 - Sidem
    This time went out and just to the left (N). Refound the first anglerfish from earlier dive. Could not find the sea horses but later John found a nice larger yellow one. Lots of eels again, some of the mooring blocks have them under. Also dozens of lionfish of all sizes. One the way back, saw a small eel with a juvenile emperor angelfish (blue, white, black). The eel seemed to have some relationship with it and another fish. Found a few anemones and clownfish, one had lots of eggs. Later another pom-pom crab and also a night anglerfish that only comes out when its dark. It kept burying itself under the mossy bottom. Finally, a banded snake eel. Very nice dive. Visibility good, but dirtier.

    3 May 2024 - Batu Niti
    Walked about 100 m south through the bush and on beach and entered water there. Went E and then S a bit and then back past where we went in and back to same spot. Rocky bottom then sand with lots of rocks. Plenty to see. A large cowrie at the start, nudibranchs of many species, tiger shrimp, sea whip shrimp, a few different anemone shrimps, clown fish, a tiny green translucent lionfish, so cute! Two large stonefish, Ron scared them and they shot under me! At the end a banded eel which was caught on a fishing line. Yudi and I cut the line as close as possible to the mouth, it backed away for ages then took off. Hope it survices. Very good dive. Visibility excellent.

    3 May 2024 - Batu Niti
    This time we went in at the same spot and headed a little to the right (S) but then went to N for the rest of the dive. Mostly down around 23 to 25 metres for first 37 minutes after the descent. Similar things to the last dive, but saw two pom-pom crabs at the start. Then a nice crab on a tube anemone, two harlequin shrimp next to each other, a mantis shrimp with three shrimps on top, an orange mantis shrimp, dancing shrimp on tube and normal anemones, starfish shrimp and flatworms. Great dive. Visibility only good, dropped heaps.

    3 May 2024 - Sidem
    Night dive. Entered the water while still some light but was dark once in. We were the first ones in. Within 16 minutes saw 4 anglerfish, one giant, rest small. One black, pink, yellow. Later saw 4 more, two yellow like the one we saw on day dive here. Lots of stull out, decroator crabs, including an anemone one. A small yellow sea horse, 2 ghost pipefish, pom-pom crabs and many nudis. Got attacked by bugs and small fish and worms towards the end. A great dive. Visibility excellent.

    4 May 2024 - Big Tree
    Located very close and NW of Seraya Secrets. Went in and straight out, rocky bottom till about 7-8 metres. Some small mooring blocks with floatss to 4-5 m and a wrecked truck cabin and some other things like tyres etc. Plenty of lionfish around the bases. Then sand with some parts with isolated rocks. Saw two ribbon eels straight away, one juvenile black one and the other blue. Then headed down to 24 metres and then back to 20 for a while before turning. A large moray eel, a flutemouth, juvenile sweetlips, whip gobies, razorfish, and a few nudibranchs. Exited about 75 m along beach to SE. A nice dive. Visibility very good shallow but colder water was only good.

    4 May 2024 - Agung
    Second dive at same location but has a different name. Started 75 m up the beach where the previous dive finished. Went out and then SE along the side of a ridge to 25 m. Then worked the way back along the ridge to shallows and parallel to sand to the dive shed area. Lots of nudibranchs, including 3 donut dotos. A small pipefish, a huge ell, squat lobsters, seawhip gobies and some flatworms on featherstars. I found a really good jelly like nudi too. Also found a yellow leaf fish on the way back. A red spindle cowrie, a few gardens on the sand and I got a photo of one. A mantis shrimp swimming around too. Good dive. Visibility good deeper but very good shallow.

    4 May 2024 - The Dropoff

    Did not think there was anyone in the water when we started but there was, they must have come from Coral Gardens. Not many nudis but lots of fish, all sorts of tropicals. Morrish idols, trevally, fluemouths and more. Huge gorgonias, at least three really big ones and many smaller. Others saw 4 pipefish and I saw another electric clam. Quite dirty really, visibility only fair.  


    5 May 2024 - Bulakan

    Went out and to left. Takes 5 mins to get to the slope. Saw some garden eels and Shaun the Sheep nudibranchs straight away. Then a tiny black anglerfish, hard to take photos as in a sponge. More Shauns, different colours, pink cheeks, Parramatta and others. Also a large long hydroid that had four different types of shrimp on it. Skeleton, red long ones, glass and a brown one. Others saw a small pipefish. A few species of other nudibranchs too. A large turtle in shallows at the end and a nice nembrotha with orange spots. Very good dive. Visibility very good.


    5 May 2024 - Bulakan

    This time went out and a bit to the left. Down the side of the ridge to 24 metres. A banded eel and a sickly looking dark crimson sea horse at the start. Then Donna found a wonderpuss octopus but it disappeared into the sand. I briefly saw it. More Shauns, a small blue-ringed octopus, plenty of garden eels, two tiny yellow gobies in a sponge, a few nudibranchs. A tiny white leaf fish. Another very good dive. Visibility very good. 


    5 May 2024 - Gerombong

    Did similar dive to last Monday morning, down the ridge to the right then across to next ridge and then worked our way back. Quite a few nudibranchs and a small ornate ghost pipefish. Also a small pipefish. On the way back up I swam over a titan triggerfish nest and it attacked me. I had to fight it off with my camera and torch, luckily this manoeuvre stopped it from hitting or biting me. First time in over 4,800 dives! A good dive. Visibility good.


    6 May 2024 - USAT Liberty

    Early morning pre breakfast dive. A lot more divers here this morning compared to our other early dives. Went to stern and then found four leaf fish, up one from other days. Then along the deeper sections of the wreck towards the bow. Did not go that far, went into the "cavern" area and then forward of that a bit. Back to boilers, top one has a door open at the top. Behind the boilers you can see the flywheel and the start of the shaft. Then to rudder and you can see where the prop was removed, no shaft, just a hole. Then back to exit. Good relaxing dive. Visibility very good.


    6 May 2024 - Melasti

    Another night dive, only one other diver and guide here. Went to right, then down to 24 m. Saw aa yellow anglerfish, a very small sea horse, a wonderpus octopus, a harlequin shrimp and lots of crabs and shrimp. A few nudibranchs but not a lot. A strange crab with tiny anemones on body and legs, a few cowries and much more. A really good night dive. Visibility only fair.


    7 May 2024 - Kubu Wreck

    Walked about 100 metres through the bush to start the dive. Then out and to NE. Arrived at the wreck at12 minutes or so. Went to the stern to take photos, then to midships and entered the bottom hold. Went to bow and then up a level and back to midships. Then on deck to bow. A leaf fish here. Heaps of divers on the wreck as a boat arrived as we swam over. Then back S across to sand and then followed 18-19 m depth for12 mins. Then back to exit at the shed slowly. A few nudibranchs, a garden eel but lots of fish. Good dive again. Visibility very good but not so great on wreck at times.


    7 May 2024 - Kubu Reef

    This time went out and then to SE to the artificial reefs. First the pushbikes and motorbikes. Then to the satellite dish and then to the metal structures. All have a huge amount of growth on them, some of the gorgonias are very widespread. Lots of fishlife around, many anemones and clownfish. A large eel and a large crocodilefish. A few nudibranchs. Near the exit there was a smaller turtle munching away at the rocks for shells. Got some good photos. A good dive. Visibility very good. 


    7 May 2024 - Agung

    Started from the Agung table area this time, rather than Big Tree. Went NE down the slope which is quite rocky. A tiny white anglerfish, lots of nudibranchs, a few very small moray eels, crabs, shrimp and more. A very strong current for a while. In the shallows lots of Moorish idols, butterflyfish, lionfish, juvenile sweetlips and sea urchins. A nice dive. Visibility fair.


    8 May 2024 - Seraya Secrets

    They are not diving here much as it is nowhere near as good as 10 years ago when I last dived it. Went out past the new artificial reefs, three larger concrete ones and a smaller steel one. Then down the slope. Not many nudis, unlike last times. I found a ornate ghost pipefish and later Yudi found another. Some shrimp, mantis shrimps, spindle cowrie but that is about all. Decided not to do second dive here so went back to the resort. Only an average dive except for the pipefish. Visibility very good.


    8 May 2024 - Liberty Slope

    Lots of divers ashore, but we saw only two I think under water, most doing the wreck. Went down the gully and across to S slope. Lots of nudibranchs, including a few new ones. Ron found a juvenile ornate ghost pipefish. Also a ribbon eel transitioning to adult, not black and not blue, just yellow. Heaps of shrimp, squat lobsters. A very good dive.


    9 May 2024 - Gerombong

    Did the lefthand wall. It goes NE and then N, NW and even almost W. We went a fair way to the end where it loops back towards the shore, then returned same way but shallower. Lots of fish, some gorgonias, seawhips and heaps of large barrel sponges. Saw another yellow margin triggerfish but it was not aggressive. Saw the clown triggerfish out here too, further around than last week. A nice hairy crab in a sponge, a few nudibranchs and lots of razorfish and garden eels shallow. Plenty of tropical species all over the wall. Very good dive. Visibility good.


    9 May 2024 - Gerombong

    This time went down the gully and then the ridge, crossing over to the next ridge to the SE and back a few times. Came back up the SE ridge. Lots and lots of nudibranchs, some rarer species. Yudi found a white anglerfish, extremely cute. Garden eels and razorfish as well. An excellent 78 minutes dive. Visibility good.

    10 May 2024 - Nusu
    Furthest N dive site, a new one. NW side of river and near two prawn farms. No facilities here at all. Went out NNE and then N. Took 5 minutes to get to 8 metres, mostly over rocky bottom. Then sand slope with lots of weed and algae. Some outcrops of rocks. Lots of nudibranchs, including donut doto, a small pipefish, some gobies on sponges, a spindle cowrie, lots of small clams shallow. A very good dive site. Visibility very good.

    10 May 2024 - Harlequin Slope
    This is between Liberty Slope and Coral Gardens. Went out till sand at 7-8 m and then SE and down slope. Heaps of new artificial reefs shallow, mostly house shaped on concrete sleepers and a couple of monkey bar shaped ones. Quite a few nudibranchs, a couple of large eels, both with cleaner shrimp. Could not get them to come onto my hand. Went S when at 25 m and then shallower and back. A tiny pipefish, a ribbon eel shallow and the most gobies I have ever seen on a seawhip, a couple of dozen. I got five in one photo! A good dive. Visibility very good.

    10 May 2024 - Sidem
    Once again a strange current that ran down the slope side. A bit of wave action too. A little quiet at first but then, so many anglerfish. I saw 7 and got photos of 6, one disappeared. Probably 9 or 10 overall seen. A giant anglerfish had a small yellow "toy boy" which ended up right against it. A wonderpus octopus right at the start. A few tiny eels but no photos as they hid. Quite a few nudibranchs and a harlequin shrimp. Not as many worms and bugs as last time. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

    11 May 2024 - Batu Niti
    Quite a swell running today, but gaps between where it was easy to get in and out. Started perhaps 200 metres SE along the beach. Went out and to SE. Saw three anglerfish, brown, pink and a very cute tiny purple one. Lots of nudibranchs, including some interesting ones. A small pipefish, a few pufferfish, shrimp and a very strange white flat crab, looked like a dead shell. Also two pom-pom crabs. A very good dive. Very surgy about 8 metres. Larger waves when we exited but still okay as long as you timed it right. Visibility very good. 

    11 May 2024 - Batu Niti
    Swell much bigger during surface interval, water was coming over all the beach. We had to move our gear into the vegetation to save getting washed away. Went in at the same location as first dive, swell had dropped a little but extreme care was still needed. Very dirty shallow, less than a metre viz, even down to 20 m it was awful but then about 20 metres. Gradually the good viz worked its way shallower and at the end it was very good at 10 m. Not as many nudibranchs, but lots of shrimp, including a white seawhip, a lot of starfish ones, dancing and a tiger. Two tiger spindle cowries and a tiny starfish. A crab in a tube anemone. Still surgy shallow, but exit was okay when timed. A good dive, but not as good as first one. Visibility very good overall.   

    12 May 2024 - USAT Liberty
    Lots of divers here already, including in the water. Did the usual route but went to bow and then back via the centre. The four white leaf fish still there, but two in slightly different spots. Donna found a green one on the shallow side of the wreck. Lots of fish, including a large school of unknown species. Found a nice anemone with heaps of clownfish in it. A good dive. Visibility very good. 

    12 May 2024 - Batu Ringgit
    Started 40 metres to SE and went out and a little to right and down the slope. Dirty shallow after yesterday's swell but 15 to 20 m deeper. Lots of nudibranchs, many different shrimps including a clearish white one and a black and gold one on a featherstar. Starfish shrimp and gobies. Followed the rope for a fair bit of the dive. Lots of interesting stuff, including a large fish that was shadowed by a trevally. Saw it many times and also saw it on the second dive. A very good dive. Visibility very good. 

    12 May 2024 - Batu Ringgit
    Ron and Donna's last dive of the trip. Started same spot as last dive but ended back at the shed track. Went out and to the left more. Less nudibranchs, but quite a few shrimp, an ornate ghost pipefish and also a spindle cowrie. A few very small crabs. At the end lots of small cone shells. Not as good a dive as the first one. Visibility very good.

    13 May 2024 - Melasti
    Carole and Leon came with use and dived at the same time. Started the same spot as last time, about 75 metres SE along the beach. Then went out and SE into quite a strong current. Used a lot of air doing this, but was worth it as we saw a medium sized yellow anglerfish. Excellent. Then drifted back and after 20 mins the current basically died totally. Yudi found an ornate ghost pipefish and later I found another smaller one. Lots of nudibranchs, some shrimp, a titan triggerfish but it did not cause any problems. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

    13 May 2024 - Melasti 
    Started in the same spot as last dive but got out near the shed. I had ear problems at 19-20 m but it did not fix till I was at 15 m. Saw a tiny spotted boxfish, nudis, shrimps. We went past the shed and there where were Shaun the Sheep. I found a very large Parramatta one. Saw another titan triggerfish too. A Very good dive. Visibility very good. 

    THE FOLLOWING DIVES ARE AT AMED, BALI, INDONESIA

    15 May 2024 - Leannes Wall
    This is located 6 km ESE of Uyah Dive Resort, took about 20 mins to get there by boat. Moored just off Bintang (Bhima) Beach in about 2 metres of water. Headed N for a bit to the slope and then S along the sloping gully till the bottom turned to the N again. This became the wall. It was a steep slope at first and then a shear wall down to perhaps 35-40 metres. Very cold in spots, only 25C!! Mostly was 27C deeper and 29C shallow. No current except for the cold water which really only lasted seconds. The wall has lots of barrel sponges and small bright yellow gorgonias. Saw two titan triggerfish here but they did not cause trouble. A few bigger ones. Some coral pieces. Lots of fish around, including some garden eels earlier in the dive. A few moray eels and only three nudibranchs. A nice dive despite the lack of macro. Visibility very good.

    15 May 2024 - Barracuda Point
    This site is back towards the hotel and only 3.8 km E. Started off the E end of Bunutan Beach and drifted to the E and ESE around the point. Started in 3 metres and went N into deeper water and then E. Thousands of barrel sponges, some are huge. Also hundreds of gorgonias, some also large. A few pink ones but no pygmy sea horses. Saw the biggest garden eels I have ever seen at the start of the dive, hundreds of them. A few moray eels, two ribbon eels and lots of tropical fish. At the end heaps of large brain corals, one the biggest I have seen I think. A nice dive, with some current pushing us along in the middle part of the dive. Visibility very good.

    16 May 2024 - Jemeluk Wall
    Located about 10 mins to E, 2.1 km, at the E end of Jemeluk Beach off the point. Went N to slope and then E till the wall started. It ran N. Followed this at depth. At first more of a slope and then steeper. Lots of small gorgonias, a few barrel sponges, some larger pink gorgonias (no pygmies), sponges and hard coral. Very nice wall. When it turned R we came to near the top of the wall and headed back S. Saw some moray eels, a few nudibranchs, a ribbon eel. Part way along there was a mooring with a concrete square figure 8s holding it in place. Also some rio for coral to grow on. Then back to boat. Good dive. Visibility very good.

    16 May 2024 - Selatan/Song Lawah
    This site is 2.4 km NW of resort N of bura Song Lawah. We started off the point and drifted N about 390 metres and drifted but no real current. Dropped into a sandy slope about 9 m and then gradually got deeper to almost 30 m. Some large coral outcrops with some large gorgonias on them. Some barrel sponges, sponges, hard corals etc. Lots of fishlife around, a few juvenile sweetlips and a juvenile ribbon eel. Some moray eels and a few nudibranchs too. Lots of fishing net around, not big but long and stretched all over the place. Also a very thick rope running from the shallows deep. Towards the end we found a grey giant anglerfish on a grey sponge. About 30 m along was another one. Brilliant! From here worked our way shallow. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

    17 May 2024 - Palung Palung
    This is located at Tulamben, just around from Dropoff, 400 metres from the beach. Drift dive 200 metres to a bommie SE. Bottom a sandy slope with weedy looking coral on a lot of the bottom with sand inbetween. Some large coral outcrops here and there. Large flatish sponges on coral, with some chubby tube sponges here and there. A few lionfish, a friendly large turtle, a ribbon eel, a few moray eels, a yellow-lined triggerfish, lots of flutemouths and plenty of tropical fish. A very good dive with the best viz of trip, 30 m. Visibility excellent.

    17 May 2024 - Batu Kelebit
    Started at the same bommie where the last dive finished. Drifted SE and S. Similar sandy slope to last dive but none of the weedy coral, just coral outcrops. A few gorgonias, similar sponges. Another large turtle, a juvenile ribbon eel, a few large moray eels, lionfish and flutemouth. Ended up at a series of five huge steel structures. These are apparently left over from a fish farm that went broke. This is off the abandoned house and property we passed numerous times at Tulamben. Also three large Admiralty type anchors and stainless steel chain to buoys. Another good dive. Visibility very good. 

    18 May 2024 - Marina (no idea why)
    Short 2 mins ride in the boat to straight off the road that comes in from the highway, western end of the main beach. Dropped down at a mooring and went N. Went down deeper to the wreck of a largish fast passenger ferry. Fully intact. Has been down a while. Two white leaf fish on the stern. Then SW a bit and followed a rope which had 3 ornate ghost pipefish on it. Then SW and some more rope, 10 more ornates on it, one big, the rest small. Others saw a robust ghost pipefish on the way. Lots of shrimp, some nudibranchs, lots of squat lobsters on one featherstar, Getting shallower, lots of Shaun the Sheep and then a large anemone. I got bitten on my hand and arm by one clownfish! Back in 5 metres a reef made from rocks with a huge amount of small fish on it and some moray eels. A very good dive. Visibility excellent.

    18 May 2024 - Ghost Bay
    This was a shore dive started and finishing in front of the hotel. Went straight out to artificial reefs, six dome structures made from steel. Also many other structures with large and small "pipes", bottles and more. Lots of fish on them, including a large spotted moray eel that I tickled through one hole to get it to come out a bit. Seemed to like it. Then went deeper to another pile of junk which had thousands of small fish on it. Saw an octopus on the way and after, a mimic octopus. Both disappeared into tiny holes in the sand. A couple of very large mantis shrimps, two tiny translucent lionfish, about 4 mm long. More proper lionfish, crabs, shrimp and Shauns. On the way back some garden eels. A nice dive. Visibility very good.

    19 May 2024 - Emerald
    This dive is at Tulamben and started where the second dive on Friday ended. Then went E and SE along a very good wall. This had lots of coral, sponges, including some huge "fan" type ones. Some gorgonias, barrel sponges too. Saw quite a few garden eels at the start, then a lone barracuda. Some bigger fish up high at one spot. At 49 mins we turned around and cut back and ended up where we started. A few nudibranchs, some lionfish and moray eels. A black ribbon eel at the end. A good dive. Visibility very good.

    19 May 2024 - Noisy Reef
    This dive is also at Tulamben, between Seraya Secrets and Bali Hai. Only a minute run from our surface interval at Cantik Point. Dropped in at a mooring to a large artificial reef, made of a very big structure of steel, tyres and more. Next to it is a lower one made of steel and tyres with bottles filling it. Also a room safe with bottles! Lots and lots of fish on and in it. Next to it I found another small lionfish, this one had very delicate fins. Gradually headed shallower as we went NW, quite a few nice nudibranchs, some crabs and shrimp on various things. Plenty of shrimp on starfish, some had a dozen. Bottom was black sand at first but then stringy coral with "flowers" and then shallow, lots of very large rocks. Ended up here for safety stop. German lost her GoPro, told me and we searched. I then looked up and it was on the surface! A very good dive. Visibility very good.

    20 May 2024 - Lipah Bay
    This is 6 km to east of hotel, about 12 mins run in the boat. Staarted off E end of Lipah Beach and went E and S. Bottom is steep sandy slope for the first half or so then some coral and then mostly coral, at least at the depth we were. Sand drops to 40 m perhaps. Some artificial reefs at the start, then little bots of coral. Saw a yellow-lined triggerfish on the way out and another shallower after turnaround. A very large and calm turtle, feeding, could get as close as I wanted. A few large moray eels, one blind shark or similar under coral. Lots of sponges and gorgonias on the larger coral bits and a few barrel sponges. Plenty of reef fish and tropicals. Turned at 50 mins and came back at 8 to 12 m. Some very large coral bommies with huge amounts of gorgonia on them. Near the boat there were more artificial reefs, all had lots of fishlife. Not the most exciting dive of the trip, but okay. Visibility very good.

    20 May 2024 - Gallery Jemeluk 
    After break at Jemeluk Beach, moved 20 seconds to a mooring to W end of bay. Went from here N and NE along side of a sandy slope. Lots of artificial reefs at the start, tyres, concrete sleepers and concrete cubes. Heaps of growth on them and plenty of fishlife. After a while some coral outcrops and then more dense. Some gorgonias, sponges, barrel sponges and small gorgonias. Two more yellow-finned triggerfish, a large juvenile sweetlips and two large stars and stripe snapper. A tiny 7-8 mm emperor angelfish. Some sole, a few nudibranchs, no shrimp except starfish. Turned at 50 mins and headed S and SW back. More reefs back near boat. Similar to last dive, not very exciting. Visibility less but still very good.

    21 May 2024 - Pyramids
    Started off the E end of Amed Beach. Only a couple of mins to get there, 1.0 km. Dropped into 3 metres and went N for 4 mins and dropped down sandy slope to 17 m. Here there was the first of the series of pyramids, built from concrete cubes. About 4 in this batch. Lots of fishlife around them. Then drifted E in very slight current getting down to 23 m. Came to four more groups of pyramids, mostly 5 in a group. Some of the end ones also had tyre piles nearby. The pyramids had various growths on them, some were dominated by gorgonias, some by sponges and some by hydroids or soft corals. All had hard corals and smaller sponges on them. Fishlife was prolific, from tiny to snapper size. Saw three turtles, one medium and the others small. Two yellow-margin triggerfish, a clown triggerfish and some anemones and clownfish. Also lots of sergeant majors, some fanning and guarding eggs. Only two nudibranchs, but ones I had not seen this trip. Ended up off Jukung Point. Very good dive. Visibility very good.

    21 May 2024 - Little Wall
    This dive started just before this spot the last one ended. Did the last couple of pyramids that we did not do as they were too deep for the end of the dive. Then went E, in very slight current. A few tyre piles too. Eventually hit the wall at 20 m, I would not call it a little wall, drops from 10 to 30 to 40 m depending on where you are along it. Quite vertical, lots of overhangs and indents, some gorgonias. Perhaps name comes from the fact it is only 100 m or so long. Saw two turtles before the wall, three leaf fish, two together on a pyramid and the other on the wall. One turtle was seen first dive. Also saw a clown triggerfish, perhaps the same one from the first dive. Lots of fish on the pyramids and walls. One small juvenile ribbon fish. Another very good dive. Visibility very good.

    Last dive of the trip!

    30 May 2024 - Inscription Point
    First dive back in Sydney. Easy entry and exit, very slight incoming tide. Viz started 6-8 m and ended up 10 m towards the end. Went very slowly, 35 minutes to Little Big Rock, turned at 60 minutes. Saw 9 PPH, two BBSH and a few cuttlefish. One nembrotha nudibranch and a few of the mimic soft coral ones. Mandy showed me a tiny black BIA which she found last week, so hard to see as it was very hidden. The grey BIA that has been around for over six months was in the same area as normal, but on a different rock. As I was about to head back, I found four pink kneed sea spiders in two different spots. Mandy later saw more. A very nice dive, cool after my last month's dives, but not too bad. Visibility good.

    11 June 2024 - Inscription Point
    Rotten weather again past week or so and could not dive last two days when it was okay as had Marine Rescue duty. Very cold in top layer of water but Mandy said it was much cleaner than yesterday. Viz below was 8 m or so. Very very slight incoming tide. Saw the two BBSHs and the recent yellow BIA. The little black painted anglerfish is on same rock as 12 days ago but moved a little. Not totally black either, a bit brown too I think. Saw seven PPHs, one white upsidedown one on LBR. Also a miramara nudibranch as well as a blue tambja and a pink tambja. Two sea dragons and quite a few small trevally around. A very nice 85 minute dive. Visibility fair.

    25 June 2024 - Inscription Point
    First dive in 14 days, weather has been terrible, big seas and heaps of rain. The surface was not too bad but very cold, 16C or lower. Below 4 metres it was not too bad, 18C and 8 to 10 metres viz. Went into a slight current. A large bullray on the sand at the start. The two big belly sea horses were in normal spot. Did not see a single PPH but there were two smaller sea dragons, one on the sand and one up higher. Did not see any anglerfish or the interesting nudibranchs except for a tritonia sp in same spot as last dive. Some large kingfish and later a lot of little bream. Turned at 42 minutes. A nice dive, great to be back in the water. Visibility good.

    26 June 2024 - Inscription Point
    Similar conditions to yesterday but the incoming tide was a lot stronger, but not too bad still. Went a bit quicker to sea horses, still there but one back on normal rock. Three PPHs, the grey BIA is back on its normal rock but on E side. Three sea dragons, two from yesterday and a larger one on the sand. Went past Big Rock and then tuned at 38 minutes. Saw the other BBSH and just past here the turtle again. The bullray was up here further on. A nice nembrotha, a few lionfish, more bream, a school of small catfish and more. Another very nice dive, going to do it again tomorrow! Visibility good. 

    27 June 2024 - Inscription Point
    Once again conditions similar to last two days. Took housing again and still leaking, no matter what I do. Have now purchased another one, will arrive in a week or so. Saw five PPHs, two were wrapped around small sponges and not moving, I would never have seen except I was shown them. The white one is still on NE side of LBR. Saw the grey BIA as well as the very small black painted anglerfish Mandy found a few months ago. It is now almost orange, having been dark brown two weeks ago and chocolate brown on Monday. An eagle ray and the turtle (clean shell and one small barnacle on top right) went past us heading E at LBR. A few small cuttlefish, three BBSH, the third one is back in normal spot. Two honey coloured okenias, one purple-lined nembrotha and the mia mira. A veyr good dive. Visibility good. 

    28 June 2024 - Bare Island Not So Deep Wall
    Another perfect day, flat seas, sunshine and warmish for Winter. Went in before Carole's Plaque and headed via The Short Cut to wall. Viz was 8-10 metres, better than reported this side of the bay the past few days. Headed back via 15MR. No PPH at all and not many nudibranchs. Then to SHC and back normal way, zig-zagging from The Cave. A pink ceratosoma on BR. A few moray eels, a couple of PJs and dwarf lionfish. Mandy saw an USDP under the rock near Angler Rock (AR). I forgot to look as there were three there in late April. Back via SHR and Mandy found two RIF near there, one before and one on the second rock nearby. No sea dragon. Lots of sand moved around, at least 150 mm missing near Long Rock and STR. However, lots more sand near the 44 gallon drum and the two orange sponges. All the small rocks are now covered. Same back along the reef towards boat ramp and as you get out. Nothing really exciting, but good anyway. Visibility good.

    30 June 2024 - Whale Watching Platform
    First dive with MakCat and new Yamaha F70 engines. Had four divers on board and ran as good as old 75hp engines. Much lighter at stern, will need to move weight there. Awful weather really, very overcast as lots of rain from 4 am but stopped 6 am. Did not rain again till we retrieved boat at ramp. Anchored at the second GPS mark I have which is a little bit south of the other one. Need to be halfway I think. Went over to the wall and headed N. Viz 15 to 20 m, hard to tell as so dark due to overcast sky. Went through a swim-through and then saw two blue devilfish in the first cave and then went N more. A miamira nudibranch on the wall and then a small red PPH. A few black reef leatherjackets too. A school of one spot pullers swimming around and Kelly found two upsidedown pipefish. Headed back and saw another blue devil in the swim-through. Despite being very close to the cave, we think it was another as the second group also saw like this. Then back to anchor and around a bit and up. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

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    Michael on 01 April 2024 13:00 · Print
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