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:
LOCATIONSÂ
(Mostly at Bare Island unless otherwise stated - see website pages for locations)Â
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
VISIBILITYÂ
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.Â
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.Â
All the following dives are at Anilao in the Philippines.