Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
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Dive Related Equipment
Some of My Dive Computers
Uwatec Aladin Dive Computers
Apollo AV1 Underwater Scooter
Bauer Compressor
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GoPro HD Hero Video Camera
My Camera Setup
Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
My Dive Gear
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Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
Bare Island Sea Horses
Bare Island Nudibranchs
Bare Island Marine Life
Encounter with Southern Right Whale and Calf

Other Dive Info
How Weather Affects Diving in Sydney
Visibility and Wave Averages in Sydney
Waves and Diving
Diving Weather and Sea Conditions
Tide Tables
Dive Accidents and Incidents
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Noel Hitchins 1951-2005
Lloyd Bridges - Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt
My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
  • Purchase of Catlypso
  • Details about Catlypso
  • Cleaning/Repairing Catlypso
  • My Yachting Adventures.
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    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
    Home Brewing
    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "The Monuments is a great place to find sea dragons"
    My Recent Dives - October, November, December 2026
    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
    SR - Split 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
    PJ - Port Jackson shark

    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+

    1 October 2026 - Bare Island Isolated Reefs
    Went S off Larpa Point and at 5.5 mins came across a large concrete football shaped block and rope. Ended up between OHR and AR. Went to OHR and then worked our way back to AR then to near SHC. No PPHs and only the one USDP. From here went back along IR1 on N side to the painted anglerfish. From there back towards main reef and along to near AR. Then went N. Saw the artificial reef, most of the concrete domes are still the same as last time I saw them in 2006 just after they were installed. A failure as there have never been any fish around them when I have seen them. Back to shore and exit via the same spot as Tuesday. A fair dive. Visibillity very poor.

    3 October 2026 - Pink Floyd Drift
    Club boat dive, only one boat with five divers. Was supposed to be Desalination Plant Inlets, but decided to go here. Not great weather, very overcast and rain threatening. A bit of N wind, but protected here. Dropped in and went W, but no current as only 90 mins after low tide. Viz was probably at least 18 metres, but very hard to tell as it was quite dark. Lots of PJs, at least 30 or more. Quite a lot of old wives, all in pairs. Some silver sweep in two groups, a few crimson-banded wrasse, some different species of nudibranchs, but nothing special. Ended up at the normal exit spot, did a bluewater ascent under the boat. A very good dive. Visibility very good.

    4 October 2026 - Inscription Point
    Not many here as almost low tide when we entered the water. Virtually no current but a fair bit of surge, viz about 7-8 metres. Lots of nudibranchs, including patchwork tritonia, elyssis species, lined nembrotha and others. At least half a dozen large lion's mane jellyfish, one PPH and a few PJs. At 40 mins started hearing whales singing, stopped at 60 mins. Turned around about 50 mins. A pineapplefish shallower under ledge, the two BBSHs on normal rock. Went back past exit looking for sea drongs, none seen. Lots of divers around once we exited the water. A very nice dive. Visibility fair. 

    11 October 2026 - Whale Watching Rockfall
    Club boat dive, two boats and ten divers. Raining, very heavy overcast and sloppy seas, so only went here rather than up off Maroubra. Very dark, hard to take a wide-angle photo. Warmer at 17.1C. Anchored on top of reef, moved it to the bottom. Went N. A blue devilfish in the first cave. Lots of PJs around. Went N more and up the crack and then out to the sandy area. A larger blue devilfish under the first rock, closer. Then back to anchor via the swim-thru. Then S and SE around further than I have been before. Then back to anchor and under boat and then up. Some silver sweep along wall, a few old wives, a small moray eel but not much else. Rain stopped once we went for morning tea and by the time back at ramp, blue sky. Visibility good. 

    All the following dives are at Anilao in the Philippines.



    Written by Michael McFadyenMichael on 01 October 2026 11:0063 Reads - Print
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    Website created 1996!