Another glorious day on the ocean here in Exmouth saw us run further south than we have been going so far this season. The view back towards shore and the Cape Range National Park is just gorgeous and the weather was perfect to enjoy it - or a little nap! We had a super long swim with one 4.5m whale shark today - over 60 minutes! Everyone was happy, hungry and ready for another nap by the time we had enough.
We dived at Nick's Lumps again today and had some great schools of surgeonfish and sweetlips at the top of the site and some white tip reef sharks at the bottom. In between were all manner of blue, yellow, orange & purple fishes. Octopus were out and about all over the site, with several of them free swimming from one outlook to the next. A big school of Buff Bream circled endlessly during our whole dive.
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 20-25m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 16m
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Dive report - Lighthouse Bay, Tuesday 28 April 2009
Can't resist Blizzard Ridge with all of the schools of fish and masses of baitfish still luring the predator fish in! And the continuing exceptional visibility is a nice bonus. One of the anemone patches has the teeniest baby Clarkii anemonefish on it and the bigger fish are super protective of it. Seems to be the right time of year for big stingrays and several were being inconspicuous in the sand flat at the top of the ridge. This site is so filled with cool stuff, you just can't see it all!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15m
CURRENT: slight
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Labyrinth, another of our always awesome dive sites, continues to show us amazing things, no matter how many times we visit. Today there was a huge spotted ray - we're calling it a leopard ray, even though we know he isn't. The other common name for him doesn't do his beautiful black spots on a white background justice. I guess we could call him a Dalmatian ray :) We also had a group of over 50 big batfish, more turtles than we could count and mantis shrimp out of their holes waving antennae at us. A truly stunning dive!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Don't forget our Diver Bites contest now running. You still have a couple of weeks to get your entry in...you gotta be in it to win it!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15m
CURRENT: slight
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Labyrinth, another of our always awesome dive sites, continues to show us amazing things, no matter how many times we visit. Today there was a huge spotted ray - we're calling it a leopard ray, even though we know he isn't. The other common name for him doesn't do his beautiful black spots on a white background justice. I guess we could call him a Dalmatian ray :) We also had a group of over 50 big batfish, more turtles than we could count and mantis shrimp out of their holes waving antennae at us. A truly stunning dive!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Don't forget our Diver Bites contest now running. You still have a couple of weeks to get your entry in...you gotta be in it to win it!
Whale Shark report - Monday 27 April 2009
Superb whale sharks again today! Bright blue water, multiple sharks, calm seas and long swims.
At different times during our Whale Shark Adventure we had a whale shark start with us on the surface before slowly gliding just to the edge of vision straight below and then again rising effortlessly to continue swimming with us. It's awesome to see them coming toward the surface, huge mouths leading the way, and seemingly expending no effort at all.
We dived at Nick's Lumps and the fish life was very active. A lovely school of baitfish glimmered at the entrance to a swim through, bright orange and green parrotfish chomped away and a big shimmery school of silver trevally circled the site out in the blue, just off the reef.
WATER TEMP: 28C
VISIBILITY:20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 16m
At different times during our Whale Shark Adventure we had a whale shark start with us on the surface before slowly gliding just to the edge of vision straight below and then again rising effortlessly to continue swimming with us. It's awesome to see them coming toward the surface, huge mouths leading the way, and seemingly expending no effort at all.
We dived at Nick's Lumps and the fish life was very active. A lovely school of baitfish glimmered at the entrance to a swim through, bright orange and green parrotfish chomped away and a big shimmery school of silver trevally circled the site out in the blue, just off the reef.
WATER TEMP: 28C
VISIBILITY:20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 16m
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Dive report - Lighthouse Bay, Saturday 25 April 2009
Everyone had such a fabulous time on the dives yesterday that all of those diving again voted to dive Blizzard again today, too.
Blizzard Ridge was crazy. Multiple olive sea snakes roaming around, blue spotted rays digging in the sand, wobbies under ledges and resting their heads at impossible angles on reef outcrops, big unicornfish zooming every which way. Turtles cruising past while lionfish hung out with their fins all spread out. Golden trevally and tuna shot through the walls of baitfish.
WATER TEMP: 28C
VISIBILITY: 10-12m
CURRENT: slight
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
We headed to Labyrinth for our second dive. Turtles were abundant and very mellow about divers swimming calmly beside them. Masses of fish in all sizes and colours hung out in big groups. Batfish were hanging around all the way from the surface to the sandy bottom and the cleaning action was awesome. Quite a few octopus just hanging out, changing colours & textures...being cool.
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 10-12m
CURRENT: slight
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Blizzard Ridge was crazy. Multiple olive sea snakes roaming around, blue spotted rays digging in the sand, wobbies under ledges and resting their heads at impossible angles on reef outcrops, big unicornfish zooming every which way. Turtles cruising past while lionfish hung out with their fins all spread out. Golden trevally and tuna shot through the walls of baitfish.
WATER TEMP: 28C
VISIBILITY: 10-12m
CURRENT: slight
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
We headed to Labyrinth for our second dive. Turtles were abundant and very mellow about divers swimming calmly beside them. Masses of fish in all sizes and colours hung out in big groups. Batfish were hanging around all the way from the surface to the sandy bottom and the cleaning action was awesome. Quite a few octopus just hanging out, changing colours & textures...being cool.
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 10-12m
CURRENT: slight
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Whale Shark report - Saturday 25 April 2009
Oh so blue today! Gorgeous, clear bright blue water made the perfect backdrop for our mulitple whale sharks. They were all doing pretty slow cruises right under the surface, often with the tip of a tail or dorsal fin peeking out of the water. Most of them were also feeding with their mouths halfway open and heads bobbing. It was another of those picture postcard days where we couldn't really ask for anything more!
Central Station was gorgeous - we could see every ripple of sand from the boat! We had a big cowtail stingray, an eagle ray (WOW!) and a relaxed green turtle keep us company at various places on the site. Thousands of sparkling silver, blue and green fish bounced up and down out of the branching reef structures. Stunning!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 16m
Central Station was gorgeous - we could see every ripple of sand from the boat! We had a big cowtail stingray, an eagle ray (WOW!) and a relaxed green turtle keep us company at various places on the site. Thousands of sparkling silver, blue and green fish bounced up and down out of the branching reef structures. Stunning!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 16m
Whale Shark report - Friday 24 April 2009
Yesterday's conditions were shocking (and dangerous) so we canned the trip and decided to wait until things calmed down a little before venturing out. Overnight everything changed dramatically and we were greeted with a beautiful morning and lovely conditions for our Whale Shark Adventure.
The whale sharks were happy to see us and we swam with three different sharks. It's amazing how much difference a single day can make here! One of the bigger whale sharks we swam with today had his mouth open wide, vacuuming down as much plankton & bits as he could! All you could see at first was this huge mouth coming at you. Very cool stuff. All of the whale sharks were nice and slow as they cruised right under the surface and we spent a long time snorkelling with these gentle giants . It was a fabulous day!
Coral Gardens has been so good lately, that we popped back there for our reef dive. Again there were multiple stingrays, some good sized cods and lots of brightly coloured reef fish decorating the coral bommies. A group of about 20 stripey pufferfish hung out over the sand - it's cool to watch them all turn as one as the divers come closer. Lovely dive with tons to see!
WATER TEMP: 28C
VISIBILITY: 10m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 8m
The whale sharks were happy to see us and we swam with three different sharks. It's amazing how much difference a single day can make here! One of the bigger whale sharks we swam with today had his mouth open wide, vacuuming down as much plankton & bits as he could! All you could see at first was this huge mouth coming at you. Very cool stuff. All of the whale sharks were nice and slow as they cruised right under the surface and we spent a long time snorkelling with these gentle giants . It was a fabulous day!
Coral Gardens has been so good lately, that we popped back there for our reef dive. Again there were multiple stingrays, some good sized cods and lots of brightly coloured reef fish decorating the coral bommies. A group of about 20 stripey pufferfish hung out over the sand - it's cool to watch them all turn as one as the divers come closer. Lovely dive with tons to see!
WATER TEMP: 28C
VISIBILITY: 10m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 8m
Dive report - Lighthouse Bay, Friday 24 April 2009
Wow! What an incredible change. We cancelled our diving tour yesterday because the swell that has been running the past few days had turned everything just yuck and rough. Well, what a difference 24 hours makes! The water was crystal clear, there was no surge or current and the animals had a renewed sense of energy!
Dive one was at Blizzard Ridge and the wobbegongs were out in the open relaxing on the reef tops. All the schools - snapper, threadfin pearl perch, sweetlips, fusiliers - were just hanging out and didn't care at all as divers moved in next to them.
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15-20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Gulliver's was amazing, too. There's a few enormous schools of various fish and white tip reef sharks everywhere. Alyson found yet another very cool nudibranch, this one on the mooring line. Unfortunately, she didn't have her camera with her as she had Open Water students doing their first two dives...they're a bit spoiled after today! And how about our Discover Scuba Diving participants? They came across a huge manta ray that just hung around them! If that's not enough, add in a funky leopard shark. Awesome day again.
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15-20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Dive one was at Blizzard Ridge and the wobbegongs were out in the open relaxing on the reef tops. All the schools - snapper, threadfin pearl perch, sweetlips, fusiliers - were just hanging out and didn't care at all as divers moved in next to them.
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15-20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Gulliver's was amazing, too. There's a few enormous schools of various fish and white tip reef sharks everywhere. Alyson found yet another very cool nudibranch, this one on the mooring line. Unfortunately, she didn't have her camera with her as she had Open Water students doing their first two dives...they're a bit spoiled after today! And how about our Discover Scuba Diving participants? They came across a huge manta ray that just hung around them! If that's not enough, add in a funky leopard shark. Awesome day again.
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 15-20m
CURRENT: none
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 14m
Saturday, April 25, 2009
ANZAC Day - Lest we forget
The dawn ceremony for ANZAC Day here in Exmouth drew a huge crowd this morning. This young father presented his small child to an old soldier, who then pinned his own poppy on to the child.
Lest we forget.
Lest we forget.
Belated Congratulations - Anja & Sonny!
We adore love stories and Exmouth Diving Centre seems to be a great place to meet your significant other! We have lots of stories about couples brought together by diving with us - even Dave & I are kind of a dive centre couple from way back.
Anja & Sonny met while training and working here (click for her Facebook album Where Everything Began) a few years back and have now tied the knot in a beautiful beach ceremony earlier this month.
A huge Congratulations from us all - we know you'll continue to have many happy years and adventures together! Now you need to pop back for a visit so we can raise some glasses with you in person!
Anja & Sonny met while training and working here (click for her Facebook album Where Everything Began) a few years back and have now tied the knot in a beautiful beach ceremony earlier this month.
A huge Congratulations from us all - we know you'll continue to have many happy years and adventures together! Now you need to pop back for a visit so we can raise some glasses with you in person!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Whale Shark report - Wednesday 22 April 2009
Another day of multiple whale sharks and excellent swims! Each shark we swam with was feeding at least a little bit and one of them was doing huge mouth opens and closes - nom, nom, nom - sucking down all the plankton and bits floating in the water column.
The swell is still cranking so we did our dive inside the reef again at Coral Gardens. A giant rankin cod - about 1.5m long - was zipping all over the site and following the divers. We watched a triton shell slowly motor across the sand. Adult sailfin catfish were snuffling the sand while rolling balls of juveniles cavorted in small reef crevices. Blue spotted rays were tucked up under ledges and buried in the sand. So much to see!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 12m
CURRENT: mild
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 8m
The swell is still cranking so we did our dive inside the reef again at Coral Gardens. A giant rankin cod - about 1.5m long - was zipping all over the site and following the divers. We watched a triton shell slowly motor across the sand. Adult sailfin catfish were snuffling the sand while rolling balls of juveniles cavorted in small reef crevices. Blue spotted rays were tucked up under ledges and buried in the sand. So much to see!
WATER TEMP: 27C
VISIBILITY: 12m
CURRENT: mild
SURGE: none
DEPTH: 8m
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