Dives #63-70. Northern NSW shark dive diaries.

When: 17 February 2006
Location: Outer Latititude/Spot A, Forster, Northern NSW, Australia
Depth: 19.3m
Bottom time: 50 mins
Viz: 10m
Water temp: 25°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

Current. Robbo lead us on this dive and he was fantastic. He found all sorts of curiosities for us. Blue devils, nudibranchs, small cuttlefish, a grey nurse shark, brittle stars, lion fish, even a turtle. SB was hypnotising a moray eel with his finger.

Just at the end of the dive, before we ascended the anchor chain, quick as lightning Robbo went under a ledge and grabbed a Port Jackson shark for us to see....and touch. It felt hard. And it was a bit gobsmacked....stunned silence and no movement...then when he let it go it came around and disappeared. Apparently it's usually in that spot. No doubt it's in therapy now.

Dive #69
When: 17 February 2006
Location: The Pinnacle, Forster, Northern NSW, Australia
Depth: 32m
Bottom time: 30 mins
Viz: 15m
Water temp: 23°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

Deepest dive ever!

Viz wasn't great until we got to 20m then it opened right up. Amazing big sea feeling. Really felt like we were in the land of the giants. Grey nurse sharks, huge (2m+) bull ray, massive wobbegongs, large black cod. A kingfish visited us on our safety stop.

Yet again: wow, wow, wow.

Dive #68
When: 16 February 2006
Location: South Solitary, NSW (off Coff's Harbour), Australia
Depth: 16m
Bottom time: 70 mins
Viz: 20m
Water temp: 25°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

My first drift drive. Loads of anemones and stunning blue-with-black-and-white anemone fish.

Dive #67
When: 16 February 2006
Location: Buchanan's Wall, South Solitary, NSW (off Coff's Harbour), Australia
Depth: 19.9m
Bottom time: 54 mins
Viz: 20mWater temp: 25°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

Dive #66
When: 15 February 2006
Location: Fish Rock Cave, South West Rocks, NSW, Australia
Depth: 21.7m
Bottom time: 47 mins
Viz: 25m
Water temp: 25°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

Dive #65
When: 14 February 2006
Location: Fish Rock Cave, South West Rocks, NSW, Australia
Depth: 26.4m
Bottom time: 44 mins
Viz: 25m
Water temp: 25°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

Interesting to experience thermoclines, complete with shimmery effect.

Dive #64
When: 14 February 2006
Location: Fish Rock, South West Rocks, NSW, Australia
Depth: 24.1m
Bottom time: 44 mins
Viz: 25m
Water temp: 25°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

No words can do justice to the sight of two beautiful eagle rays dancing together, one of which had a cleaner fish underneath it. Again, grey nurse sharks cruising...

Dive #63
When: 14 February 2006
Location: Fish Rock Cave, South West Rocks, NSW, Australia
Depth: 26.6m
Bottom time: 47 mins
Viz: 25m (yes, really!)
Water temp: 25°C
Buddy: Scuba Buachall

Boat out to Fish Rock cave with Matt and Pete from the Fish Rock Dive Centre. Fairly big seas. Batfish, bulls eyes, lion fish, wobbegongs....then down at the 'gutter' at the entrance to the cave, the grey nurse shark party began.

Looking up into the blue it almost felt like we were part of a cliche dive movie.

More than 40 grey nurse sharks circled above, calmly cruising. Humbling and just extraordinary. Majestic, unafraid, mean-looking, but harmless creatures.

While ascending we saw a little turtle.

Wow, wow, wow.