In this log I use some acronyms to make it easier for me to remember where I went and what I saw:

(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

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

BIA - Bare Island Anglerfish (red fingered anglerfish)

PPH - Pygmy pipehorse

BBSH - Big belly sea horse

RIF - Red indianfish

USDP - Upsidedown pipefish

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+

Just after low tide, very shallow, only 3.4 metres at the end. Viz only 3-4 metres at most. Bottom sand with weed everywhere. Water 18C mostly but 17C last 10 mins. Camera flash mucked up, either would not fire or was full power. Went in from beach on right side, walked out about 50 metres in water. Went to end along southern side, then back to the middle section on northern side. Around the platform and then back on northern side to shallows. Saw three sea dragons, all small and dark coloured. Lots of colourful cowfish, two small stingrays, quite a few large octopus, some larger fish at the end, including small leatherjackets. On the way back saw a goby in a pylon, very cute. Saw one other diver on the way back. Would have been a better dive at high tide with more water, very difficult due to the shallowness of most of the dive. Visibility poor.

Cancelled another boat dive, four in a row and have not taken it out now since 2 March. Quite a strong outgoing tide, only 1.1 metre change though. Viz was 6-7 metres and warm 21C. Could not find the first BBSH, Andrew said it was in the gap but I looked heaps. Second one on way back found. Looks like the other one is gone for good as not seen now for 8 weeks. No anglerfish at all nor PPH. Came back shallow, quite an effort really. No sea dragons despite going west past the exit point. Other people saw one, ATJ five! not the best dive here. Visibility fair.

Last minute club dive, six all up. Went in from past Carol's Plaque. Quite dirty shallow, lots of sand floating, perhaps 3 metres. Deeper after SHC it was 7-8 m. More sand everywhere, some things now covered, including outboard. Seas were over 6 m 10 days ago. The two BBSHs are still there, found the new sea dragon just past here. Went to SHC where the wobbegong is still on top of Block Rock. Two tiny pipefish still near SHC, no BIA. Saw a large blue devilfish here, out in the open. Then went along the wall and across to 15MR. Back to SHC this way. Here we saw Ron and Donna. Found that they had seen an ornate ghost pipefish. We went back and found it (next day they found a robust). Also two larger pipefish, one yellow and one dark red. Then back outside to sea dragon and BBSHs. All my rocks from the pile I have been building to show exit are gone. Collected more and also the scattered ones. Will need to rebuild. Very good dive. Visibility poor.

Too windy and big swell to dive elsewhere. Not a big tide and no current till right at the end of the dive. Water 22C except for last two mins when 21C. Went in behind Shiprock as steps still not fixed. There is a new plaque on concrete to jetski rider who died Xmas Eve 2022. Over the wall and there is a pineapplefish in cave there. Then around normal way. A pipefish on inside of the largest bommie and later I found another. A few octopus, a large sole, a huge wobbegong shark near where the pineapplefish used to be and a ball of small catfish here too. Went a fair way before turning around. No nudibranchs but lots of bream, leatherjackets and seapike. On the slope two convict gobbies and three tiny pipefish. A very nice dive. Visibility poor.

First boat dive for 7 weeks due to weather. Huge seas from east on Good Friday and even the past two days. Dropped dramatically today and only a little slop. However, the long period swells meant the bottom stirred up and lots of sand floating everywhere. Yesterday a strong current was here but when we arrived, none. However, getting it, a reasonable current. Got down and little on bottom. Viz was 3 m but some spots 7 or so. 20C on bottom but 23C on safety stop. Anchored on S end and went N to caves and around the end. One blue devilfish in first cave, lots of seapike in last cave and around the corner heaps of one-spot pullers. On the way back two cuttlefish in overhang. Strong current on safety stop but second group had none. Much better dive than expected. Visibility very poor.

Organised a boat dive as no-one offered to do Bare Island Anzac Day. Two boats and nine divers. Sloppy outside so did here, outgoing tide. A little current on the surface but none on bottom. However, filthy water, less than 2 m at first but got a bit better to 3 m at the most. Surgy as well. Used a lot of air moving anchor at start and due to the surge. Went S for 17 mins and then back to anchor. Debbie went up as she lost a lot of air on surface due to reg problem. Went N a bit and then back to anchor and up. Not a great deal seen except for lots of black reef leatherjackets, Also plenty of stars. Not much else except a free swimming moray eel. Very poor dive. Very poor visibility.

Last minute decision to dive, today is 11th straight day of rain but it came out sunny and I had withdrawal symptoms, only 5 dives in the past month. No-one else there, very light current. Viz was reasonable considering the rain and huge seas over the past four weeks. Drifted slowly out on the sand and then had to come back at 8-9 m as could not clear right ear till 56 minutes. No nudibranchs or large pipefish, one pineapplefish near entry point wall, four tiny saw-tooth pipefish on the ramp up with a few gobies. One large wobbegong shark on the top, one frogfish, lots of silver sweep, bream, leatherjackets, seapike and luderick. A few butterflyfish and a couple of octopus. No thing special about the dive but better than sitting at home. Visibility poor.

Flat seas and no wind. Quite dirty shallow, 2 m or so, but got better to 3-4 m below 14 m and out on IR 7-8 m. Cooler shallow but warm 21C deeper. Went down outside of the reef and then around IR1 and IR2. No current at all, was outgoing tide. Only one BBSH on STR and past here one RIF. Lots of yellowtail and some silver sweep on IR2. One pipefish under SHC and another RIF which had just shed its skin back in the kelp near the first one. A few wobbegong sharks, one large on IR2. Some moray eels, the tiny one is still on OHR. One larger yellow boxfish. Viz better on way back. A very nice dive. Visibility fair deep but poor shallower. 

Club boat dive. Smooth seas and blue water, viz 13-15 m and no current, 20C. Anchored S end of Split, went up to N and out to reef and N again. A bit dark at first as overcast but lightened up later. Lots of yellowtail near anchor and in Split. Only one purple ascidian and no donut nembrothas. Back along outside, the boat fuel tank between large rock and main reef is covered by sand again. Back to anchor and then to where the red morwongs and bastard trumpeters normally are. Lots of them as well as thousands of yellowtail. Back to anchor and up. Could see the boat from start of crossover line and clearly from out away from the deco line. Very good dive. Visibility good.

Club boat dive, two boats and nine divers. Was supposed to be Big Saigon but the forecast was originally 10-12 kts S but changed yesterday to 8 and today was under 4 and W. Swell was okay but every now and then a larger series came though creating a little surge. Viz down on Wednesday, 10-12 metres and some floating sand. Blue still, 20C. Anchored just S of cave, went around. Two donuts nembrothas on flat rock S end and another near gorgonias. Thousands of purple ascidians. A juvenile sea dragon N near G&S anchor. Lots of seapike, silver sweep, bastard trumpeters and red morwong, a six-spined leatherjacket and some yellowtail. Used a bit of air at the end moving anchor (I dived second). A really nice dive. Visibility fair.

A little bit of swell hitting W point so went in at Carol's Plaque and took Shortcut to Deep Wall. Right at high tide so no current, viz was 7-8 m here but a little less on the way back. Found one BBSH on wall, was a bit further NW than normal spot. A medium wobbegong shark then two upsidedown pipefish under ledge further on. Also a large "ice cream" nudibranch near here. back normal way, a spiny gurnard in the sand ramp and one Parramatta nudibranch on the Deep Block. There is a bit of the blue/green algae here. Then to 15MR and then SHC. No pipefish here. Back via Cave, where there is a large wobbegong shark, to OHR. No RIF seen. Found one BBSH on STR, took a while to find it, on top of the lower rock. A good dive. Visibility poor.

Club boat dive. Swell was a lot less than last Wednesday and Saturday. Viz down on Saturday dive here, 7-8 metres and no longer blue, still 20C. Anchored just N of cave on sand, moved back to a large rock, went around. No donuts nembrothas seen on the flat rock S end where we saw on Saturday nor the one near gorgonias. Also could not find the juvenile sea dragon near our anchor but did fond a donut here. Not as many seapike, silver sweep, bastard trumpeters and red morwong either. A nice dive despite above. Visibility poor.

First dive of the trip after lunch. Only saw a few divers underwater. Did the normal route, but not as deep. Very silty shallow due to rain for most of the past 10 days but nice 29C. Only a few nudibranchs, lots of Moorish idols and some butterfly fish. A large moray eel, some shrimp, a few small clams and one large. Saw a sole at start. All the gorgonias and soft corals the same as all other dives here. Only an average dive. Visibility fair. 

Went down the slope to almost 24 metres. Lot more nudibranchs, some quite good ones. Also a few sole, lots of shrimps on things like soft corals and featherstars. Quite a few hariy shrimps, both green and brown. Yudi found a robust ghost pipefish and I found an ornate ghost pipefish. Also an interesting decorator crab, never seen one like it. A small orangutan crab in the shalllows. A great dive, dark towards the end as almost sunset. Visibility good.

A new diver facility built south of the one we used before, no idea why as the older one is still good. Tables, roof, shower and toilet. Walked S again to enter. Came out here too. Went down to 26 m, lots of nudibranchs, two tiny night anglerfish, one red and one cream. Also two ornate ghost pipefish and a few stick shrimp. Some porcelain crabs, starfish shrimp galore, a tiny banded pipefish and a larger cream one. A tiny moray eel, a mantis shrimp which pinged my pointer and much more. Plenty of trevally and other large fish at times. A very good dive. Visibility very good.  

My 5000th dive! We went early and beat the crowds, only a couple on the wreck till we were heading back. Water a degree cooler deep but viz was 25 metres at least. Went around the deeper side of the wreck to bow, then back shallower to stern. Got some nice photos. All the usual fish but still no humpheaded wrasse and only saw one barracuda. A great way to celebrate this milestone. Visibility very good.

Went north into current like previous dives here, viz nowhere as good as this morning, perhaps 12 metres. Quite a few tiny nudibranchs, a tiny cream anglerfish, a tiny yellow pipefish, some shrimp, hermit crabs and two small yellow ribbon eels. In nthe shallows a tiny juvenile emperor angelfish. A nice dive. Visibility fair.

Went slowly to south-east, a few small ribbon eels, not many nudibranchs. At 32 mins a large gorgonia with a pink shrimp of some sort. However, my camera decided to fog up so no photos of this or the two small pygmy sea horses we saw after this at 32 metres. Back to 16 metres and the artificial reefs. There I found a tiny banded pipefish and then one, perhaps two, larger ones. Back towards exit getting shallower, another ribbon eel and lots of tropical species. A few snapper seen and perhaps some barracuda up high. Good dive. Visibility good.

Overcast and very windy today from SE. A little wave action on the beach, but okay. Went in about 40 m south from dive facility and then to S a bit. A bit of current which changed direction all the time, down, S and N. We saw another ornate ghost pipefish, some tiger shrimps, a few large mantis shrimps, plenty of nudibranchs and other shrimps. Also found an orangutan crab shallower. Some interesting gobies on sponges and sea whips. A very good dive. Visibility good.

Conditions the same and entered at same spot but went N and exited at the dive facility. Another ornate ghost pipefish, more shrimp of many species, nudibranchs, some crabs and a thorny sea horse. Like most dives, also saw many lionfish. Another very good dive. Visibility good.

Fine today after yesterday's cloud, but strong SE wind has caused some waves. Despite this, we had reasonably easy entry and exits. Went down the middle ridge and then right and zigzagged back. Couple of deeper excursions when things were spotted by Yudi. Lots of tiny nudibranchs, four ornate ghost pipefish (I only saw 3), a red stick shrimp and more shrimp of various species. There was a bit of current, especially a downcurrent in the shallows. A bubble nudi in shallows and also a few razor fish. A nice dive, made better by the pipefish. Visibility very good.

This time went down next to the left reef wall to about 18 metres and then crossed over to the nearby ridge. Then across and down to 26 metres. Saw three more ghost pipefish, or perhaps some of the same ones again. Two were together. A yellow stick shrimp on a red coral, an orange shrimp on an orange sponge, more small nudibranchs, Shallower there were a few larger ones. Up here we also saw a tiny stick anemone putting out eggs and sperm! Different. Exit was a bit harder and had to wait a whole for a lull in the waves. Visibility very good. 

Ron's 66th birthday so he wanted to do the wreck. More people in the water this morning but less at the end. Viz again 25 metres. No waves today and no current. Went deep around the wreck to bow section but not around bow. Went into a bit of the bow and then back to stern via the middle section and boilers. Then stayed deeper around stern. Lots of fishlife as normal. a very good dive. Visibility very good.

Went out and then a bit to the N before a zigzag route back. I found a small sea horse with red head, Donna found a tiny yellow anglerfish. Lots of nudibranchs with emperor shrimp on them, some had two. Some shrimp on coral whips, a pink sea horse shallower and a large pipefish. Lots of nudibranchs and other shrimps. heaps of other divers as we ascended and they stirred up the bottom a lot, viz dropped heaps at times. A very good dive. Visibility fair. 

This time went N shallower to a mooring block and along the ropes to another block. Saw a yellow sea horse, at start, lots of lionfish at the first block, hundreds of hinge-back shrimp at the second. More nudibranchs, a clownfish repeatedly bit me while I was trying to photograph a glass shrimp! A harlequin shrimp eating a starfish arm, more emperor shrimp on nudibranchs, one had two, one huge. An orange anglerfish, a large pipefish, a snake eel and earlier a huge moray eel in some tyres. Very good dive. Visibility fair. 

Flat seas and no wind again but overcast. Went straight out and then to the right to the reef. Very nice here. Some tiny nudibranchs in this area. Back to the N and more nubibranchs. An ornate ghost pipefish and shallow a robust. Also shallow some pom-pom crabs. Lots of fish around as well. Good dive. Visibility good deep but less shallow.

This time went out and then to the N. Saw four light coloured thorny sea horses spread out thru the dive. A tiny ornate ghost pipefish and I found a tiny pipefish. Also some tiny porcelain crabs in an anemone and a tiny crab in a featherstar. Some featherstar shrimps, starfish shrimp, a large spotted moray eel and a cleaner shrimp under a mooring. Of course, there were also lionfish on the moorings and one had 50 or so razor fish. More pom-pom crabs. Good dive again. Visibility good.

Night dive. Was clear when we went in but poured rain towards the end. Went down to 26 metres and worked our way back up. Some small nudibranchs and some larger ones as well. Some spiders on fire coral, also crabs and shrimps. A tiny yellow pipefish, lots of fish in the shallower water. Only an average dive. Visibility fair.

Entered water S of dive facility and then went a bit S. A bit of swell and had to wait for flat sea to get in and out. After about 20 mins there were heaps of divers, stirring the bottom up heaps. Lots of nudibranchs, mostly tiny, shrimp and crabs. A tiny ornate ghost pipefish and a juvenile emperor angelfish at the mooring. Also lionfish here and under the float a dozen batfish. A pom-pom crab shallow. A nice dive, but not great. Visibility fair.

Again had to time getting in but it was calm by the time we exited. Some rain between dives, very dirty when we went down to till about 12 m due to waves breaking on the bland sand beach. Went out and then N, more nudibranchs, shrimp and crabs. A tiny bob-tail squid, a tiny white and orange anglerfish, Some large trevally on both dives and another very large fish. Some small moray eels. Again, was an average dive except for the anglerfish. Visibility fair.

Not many here considering yesterday's dive. Went in S as usual and out deeper then zig-zag back. Saw a harlequin ghost pipefish, a robust? ghost pipefish and then I found two tiny ornate ghost pipefish. Some clownfish in an anemone, many large nudibranchs and some tiny ones. Quite a few shrimp of various species, a tiny green hairy shrimp, a squat lobster on a featherstar (and a shrimp), a harlequin shrimp eating a starfish arm. A very good dive. Visibility good deep but very poor shallow due to wave action overnight.

Went out and then to N towards the raft and past a bit. A tiny yellow pipefish, a thorny sea horse, more large nudibranchs, a tiny green hairy shrimp, a large spotted moray with cleaner shrimp and some lionfish (last two under deep mooring block). Lots more seen too including spindle cowries, squat lobster in featherstar and sea whip shrimp. Another very good dive. Visibility good. 

Not many here and we are still following Carole and Leon to sites and being followed by the Chinese! No current, went out and a bit N. A pretty dead dive, especially no sea horses. Not much seen except some nudibranchs, shrimp unit the end when I saw a large pipefish and two white-eyed moray eels in the shallows. Lots of thermoclines with colder water (28C) Visibility good except for when there was a thermocline.

This time went S and saw heaps more. Another pipefish or the same one as last dive and a small dragonet see at the start. Lots of nudibranchs, two with emperor shrimp on them, one had two. Three harlequin shrimp eating starfish, a larger white-eyed moray eel with cleaner shrimp on its head, it was not happy with them and tried shaking them off. Shrimp in anemones with clownfish and got attacked again and lots of Moorish idols. In the shallows a small giant anglerfish, very colourful. A much better dive. Visibility good as per last dive with more cold water thermoclines. 

Yudi not available today so new guide. This time went in near the diver facility rather than walk S. Headed out and then N a little. A wonderpus octopus in the shallows. Followed the ropes for a bit and went down to over 29 metres. There was a thorny sea horse which was the same one we saw before. There was a small whitish ornate ghost pipefish down deep. Also a Donald Duck shrimp in a yellow hydroid, other shrimp and plenty of nudibranchs. Lots of large lionfish and Moorish idols near the mooring blocks, many more things. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

Went in at the same spot but went S a little. Again went to the mooring ropes but nowhere as deep as first dive. Saw three anglerfish, a white/orange one, a brown one and an orange one. All tiny or small. Also a tiny yellow pipefish, a snake eel head first in a hole eating something. Some mantis shrimps, heaps of nudibranchs, many other shrimps and many of the long-nosed fish hunting things under rocks. Another very good dive. Visibility very good.

Others went on sightseeing tour so I dived with Yudi only. Went straight to the pygmy sea horses at 32 metres. Spent 6 minutes there and then back shallow to 24 metres. Strong downcurrent here. A tiny ornate ghost pipefish. Back to the sculpture reef, a large moray eel. Some different shrimps, including the strange one on the gorgonia. Not many nudibranchs, but lots of tropical fish. Came back gradually to the exit and spent time at the huge anemone field looking at the clownfish. A very good dive, mostly due to the pygmies and ghost pipefish. Visibility very good but at times poor due to thermoclines and current pushing silt down the slope. 

Only ones here, this time I had a second dive guide who came along for the fun of it. Went to SE once in the water. A school of 20 barracuda in 8 metres near the first concrete artificial reef. Then some new steel reo ones, three different types. At least 6 sets of the cone shaped ones, probably 15 cones in each set. Went to a ridge, a fair bit of current and more downcurrent later too. Cooler water again. Not a huge amount seen, some white-eyed moray eels, a few nudibranchs and shrimps, including an interesting one on a green coral tree. Back to next ridge and then to the one N of the exit and then to the shallow reef. A small ribbon eel here. Not a huge amount seen, average dive. Visibility very good.

A new dive site only opened last year, located 350 metres south. Large area with 3 or 4 covered tables, shower, camera wash, toilet and shop. Went in and to S a little to a ridge. Weird currents, strong down, up, south and north, changing all the time. Made it very uncomfortable and hard to take photos. A few nudibranchs, shrimps, a yellow spotted "pygmy leatherjacket", some moray eels. Lots of large barrel sponges on the next ridge S as well as thousands of featherstars. Did not finally get better conditions until quite shallow. Rotten dive really. Visibility very good.

The surface current we could see once we got up from first dived raged and then died just before we went in. We went down the same ridge but then crossed over to N where there is a nice coral reef with more barrel sponges. Very beautiful here. Saw a tiny ornate ghost pipefish deeper at start, then a small cuttlefish, lots more nudibranchs and shrimps, a juvenile yellow ribbon eel, a yellow spotted boxfish,, a tiny pug-nose pipefish in a hard coral and a small turtle with two remoras shallow. Much better conditions as no current and more life. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

This is the old Batu Niti dive site that I dived in 2012 and 2014 with its own facilities. It is about 150 metres north of the current one. We entered the water and went S a little and then down a ridge. There was some current for less than 5 mins at about 18-20 metres or so. Went down to 26 m and then to S to next ridge. Went up a bit here and then back to the original one and up from there. No special things see, but some nice nudibranchs and shrimps. A few white-eyed moray eels, lots of tropical fish in the shallows about 10 m. A nice dive anyway. Visibility very good.

Went in at the same spot and then down the same ridge but then N to other ridges. Again, not much special seen except a tiny pipefish and some nice featherstar shrimps. Also a "Carlton" nudibranch and a few other nice ones. Some crabs in coral and a shrimp inside a clear tunicate. Again, a reasonable dive but nothing exciting. Visibility good, dropped by a small ray stirring up the bottom shallow and silt going down and out. 

Sunny but a little wave action meant had to time entry and exit. Viz down a bit to 12 to 15 metres and some current from all directions. Went left to the coral reef and around to the N and NW. Saw the same clown triggerfish I have seen the past two trips over here. Then two pygmy sea horses on a pink gorgonia at 27 metres. One was yellow and the other pink. Had to wait for two Chinese girls to leave, took forever and were not taking notice of their guide to head back shallower. After this an orange-lined triggerfish, yellow flutemoth and over to the sand ridges. Lots of current from all directions from here on. Not much seen at first, a few nudibranchs and shrimp. Up at about 10 m a tiny white/orange anglerfish. In the shallows a small turtle and then a remora tried to attach itself to John's fin, leg and BCD. A very good dive. Visibility good.

This time went to the right and down the ridges to about 26 metres and then S across ridges to the small one closest to the other reef. Then gradually back up. My o-ring was leaking badly so used a lot of air. Not a huge amount seen, some tiny nudibranchs, razorfish, shrimp etc. We refound the same anglerfish from first dived, had moved a bit. Then some larger nudibranchs. A huge school of tens of thousands of sardine size fish swirled around us on safety stop. Only an average dive. Visibility good.

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