Dive report - West Side Friday 7 August 2009

Exmouth's diving on the Ningaloo Reef was lovely today!  We were serenaded by LOUD whale song on our dive at the Floats - all of the divers kept looking up and around to try to catch a glimpse of the cruising humpback whales, but they didn't come by to check us out underwater today.  A huge group of black striped yellow convict tangs rolled over the reef from almost one end to the other.  The resident big potato cod kept coming in to check us out, then drifting off and up towards the surface to keep an eye on his territory.  Turtles, rays, reef sharks and lots of brightly coloured reef fish made this a lovely dive.
WATER TEMP: 23C
VISIBILITY: 10-12m
CURRENT: mild
SURGE: moderate
DEPTH: 19m

Plenty of humpback whales kept us company during our surface interval as we waited to jump in for our second dive of the day. Central Station had lots of action but no manta rays. The huge black tail-less sting ray was relaxing on the sand while an army of wrasse cleaned his back and wings. All of the usual suspects were out and about but our best sighting was a big grey reef shark who kept darting in towards us then just out to the edge of vision throughout most of the dive.
WATER TEMP: 23C
VISIBILITY: 12m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: mild
DEPTH: 18m