Two swells, one larger one from SE and a smaller one from NE, although by the time we finished, it seemed to have swapped. However, much smaller than the past four days, so pretty good and little surge. Blue water but on the bottom lots of floating sand from the 16 second period on NY Day. Viz probably 5-7 metres. Anchored in the gap, went to Cave, five donut nembrothas on the low rock, a large silver drummer came out of the cave. A few bastard trumpeters and some red morwong here. Went to S end, no donuts although one on the main reef back towards the gorgonias. Went back around to the gap and down S. Kelly found two upsidedown pipefish near gorgonias and a small cuttlefish. I went to look at the sponge our anchor destroyed 30 years ago. Still thriving. It grew back to almost join the other half although the two bits are different colour greys. A nice dive. Visibility fair. 

Went outside and halfway to M&K but turned around as very lumpy. Calm here. Incoming tide, but not strong. Anchored right on top next to the gully. Had to move the anchor a fair bit so chain not under rocks. Went E. Kelly found three sawtooth pipefish in a small overhang, I then found a brilliant red PPH and Kelly found a smaller one nearby. She also saw a boarfish but I did not see it. Lots of kelp all over the bottom from the huge seas of the past week. Turned around at 23 minutes and came back in the current. Thousands of one-spot pullers on the top of the reef. Back to anchor and Walter went up. Back to the wall for another five or so minutes then up. A very nice dive. Visibility fair.

Millpond seas. Went in at Carole's Plaque. Quite dirty here, a milky 3-4 metres, but warm at 21C. Deeper it got better, perhaps 5-7 m. The BBSH was at STR and refound one PPH near SHR. On the way back it was gone! At OHR a wobbegong was swimming around with the remains of a flathead in its mouth, possibly ex fisher. Went down to IR1, saw two more PPHs and also two small spiny gurnards. Lost the others here, I went around IR1 but they went over to the Bowl. Refound them much later. Nothing special on S side of IR1, slight incoming tide. Between IR1 and main reef found a small yellow White's seahorse in a yellow finger sponge. Back along the reef. Quite a few different nudibranchs. Lots of yellowtail on IR1 and just before. A huge flathead, some sole, a few moray eels of various sizes, a lionfish, heaps of roaches shallow and a large octopus. A nice dive despite viz. Visibility poor overall.

A very hot day, hit over 34C, was 25C even at 8 am. Millpond seas, calmest I have seen for ages. Went in at normal spot, very slow down. Visibility very poor till about 13 m then a lot better, perhaps 7 m. Found the BBSH on STR, only the small PPH near SHR. Lots of interesting nudibranchs the whole dive, got some nice photos of pink okenia and red-lined flabellina. Went down the outside of the reef to near SHC. A large sole, a medium flathead. I went to look for the yellow Whites sea horse I saw on Tuesday, found the sponge but no sea horse. Back closer to wall. Found an updsidedown pipefish near Cave. Back near SHR there was a large long-snout boarfish. A very nice dive, 94 mins. Visibility mostly poor, but very poor shallower. 

Same conditions as yesterday, except much colder at 17.8C deeper. Went off W point to Not So Deep Wall then to 15 Metre Reef and to SHC. From here I went over to IR1, then back up. The very friendly blue groper was near SHC again and followed us for ages. No sign of the Whites sea horse anywhere. Refound the upsidedown pipefish near Cave. A few small moray eels, a huge flathead shallow, did not see the boarfish and both PPHs were gone from where one was yesterday. I did find the Parramatta nudi (Vercos tambja) on OHR. Small and beautiful. Saw only three other divers underwater despite there being a couple of dozen around. Good dive. Visibility poor deep and very poor shallow.

Club boat dive, two boats (one pulled out). Very strong NW winds and large 2.1 m NE swell meant this was about the only area to dive. We were anchored about 20 m to the E of normal. Dirty on top but a very cold 16.3C and 10 m viz on the bottom. Went E for 18 mins and then back. Kelly refound the two red pygmy pipehorses from 4 January and then she found a Bare Island anglerfish after I showed her something else. I must have been concentrating too much on my find as it was right under it. Lots of one-spot pullers again on the reef top. A very nice dive, but back on the boat it was rough and when taking off my tank I was knocked over and fell forward. Luckily I only bruised my left hand and a small cut. Rough trip back across the bay. Visibility fair.

Club boat dive, two boats and eight divers. A bit sloppy but ran at almost normal speed. Bluish water. Anchored a little to E of normal spot. Moved anchor to bottom of wall as NW wind meant nothing to hold onto on top. Took six minutes to do this. Went E, viz was 12-15 m at first but dropped before we turned around. Nothing special seen except a very friendly moray eel. On the way back encountered thousands of Australian salmon, swirling all around us and making it dark. Brilliant. Some nudibranchs, a very large octopus, some nice wrasse. Back to anchor, I stayed there waiting for second group to descend but they were 10 mins late Only saw them as we both ascended to safety stop. A good dive thanks to the salmon. Visibility fair to good.

Millpond seas, strong N wind. Water clean at start but then very dirty but on IR1 was reasonable, 5-7 m. Went fairly quickly to start of IR. BBSH was not found, even on the way back. Both PPHs were missing from near SHR as was the Parramatta nudibranch. The upsidedown pipefish was again off the Cave. Went slow around IR1, on the way back went on top of the reef a bit, nothing special seen. Lots of yellowtail around on the IR. The Whites sea horse was again not at the close end of IR1. Lots of nudibranchs, found a southern janolus nudibranch on the way back. At least three large sole, a large octopus, the blue groper is hung around for ages again, it has a mark (from a spear?) on right side. Good 90 min dive. Visibility poor to fair depending on depth.

   

Calm at entry point when we went in but a little rough at the end. My Shearwater would not start but did after 4 mins. Clean shallow, but dirty deeper and some very dirty spots. Donna found a velvetfish at start then Ron found a pipefish in the red string weed. BBSH at STR looks like it is gone for good. I found two PPH just past here and then Mandy found two more near where the other two were last week (different ones). Went via OHR and Anglerfish Rock to SHC. Found a small Parramatta nudibranch near Cave on edge of reef. No upsidedown pipefish near here but I found one much later between Cave and SHR. I found two sawtooth pipefish as well just before there. Another upsidedown pipefish near SHC in old spot. Also saw a yellow boxfish and near it a tiny bobtail squid, but no photo. Back via the normal route. A few octopus, no morays but lots of roaches shallow and Mandy saw two small eaglerays there too. A veyr good dive. Visibility poor with some better, some worse.