Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site

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:

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

VISIBILITY

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+

25 July 2025 - Pistol Crack South

First dive after trip to the Simpson Desert. Dive on Russ's boat. Strong W wind but seas very sloppy. Anchored to the south of where we used to dive here, about 6 years since I have dived the actual location. Dropped over the wall to a cave which had hundreds of yellowtail and some yellow-finned pomfrets in and around it. Went S following a well for a bit and then W into a sort of cove and then E. Then N back past anchor to an area with lots of boulders. Found the others reel line here and then followed it back to anchor. Then S to the cove area and back. A different dive to the one we normally did here but nice. Visibility good.

Second dive, did a drift south from the Desalination Plant Inlets. Dropped straight down and was between 2 & 3 but S. Went to 3 & 4 and then W to a wall at about 19 m and followed this S with a very slight current. At one time we were in 14.5 m and could see white water above. Stayed about 14 to 16 m for 15 mins and then dropped back to around 17-18 m for 8 mins and then shallower to start ascent. Swam E while ascending to make sure not near the rocks. Ended up about 400 m S. So many PJs, one cave had at least 30 piled up inside. They were all over the place. A large wobbegong shark, Kyle saw a bullray and we heard whales for a bit. A good dive. Visibility good.

Back on MakCat for a club dive. Ended up two boats with seven divers, a few pulled out so one boat also pulled out. Forecast was not good, very strong NE winds and large NE swell and rain. It rained from 4 am till 6 am and then stopped. No wind as we headed out but it picked up later, we were pretty sheltered. Went S for 18 mins and then back past anchor for 5 mins and back. Nothing really special seen, a wobbegong shark, a couple of small moray eels, a six-spined leatherjacket was about it. First group and the other boat saw 3 RIF and a blue devilfish! Much better dive than expected. Visibility fair.

First dive at Bare Island since 13 May! Absolutely flat seas, so went off the W point and out to the wall. Very cold 15C. Viz was about 5 m out there and perhaps 7 shallower. Could not find the sea horse on the wall, may be gone now. Very few nudibranchs, only purple dragons and a couple of pink okenias. A few PJs, lots of small leatherjackets, no pipefish or PPH. A few moray eels, no RIF but found the big belly sea horse near STR. A nice relaxing dive. Visibility fair.

First dive here since 12 April! Incoming tide, blue water, flat seas and about 12-15 m viz. Very little current so easy swim. Only had 190 bar so only did 69 mins. Lots of PJs, no sea dragons, only one big belly sea horse now. The kelp has all been ripped out and is quite sparse. Lots of opera house and tritonia nudibranchs and quite a few other species as well. Ron found a spindle cowrie and later the grey BIA, but I had already headed back. I also saw a fiddler-ray at the start. A very nice dive. Visibility good.