Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
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Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
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Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
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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
Dive Book Reviews
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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
    "Maximum water temperature in Sydney is normally about 22 degrees Celcius"
    Bare Island - Pygmy Pipe Horses
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Pygmy Pipehorses of Bare Island Bare Island is the most amazing dive location. There are at least 10 different dives that can be done with only small sections being repeated (on the way to or from the main aim of the dive). The marine life is astounding considering how we have treated Botany Bay since Lieutenant James Cook, RN, first entered the Bay in April 1770 and his compatriate, Captain Arthur Phillip, RN, bought the First Fleet into the same Bay in 1788.

    Bare Island has some many different types of marine life that help make it so special. One of these are the Sydney pygmy pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri. The pipehorses are many different colours, white, red, red and white and brown. As far as I can tell, they are all the same species.

    Their sizes range from about 8 mm (top right photo where it is next to the tip of my finger) to abnout 40 mm. While he numbers dropped off during the dredging work carried out 2009 to 2010, the numbers have picked up again since the start of 2011.

    The pygmy pipehorses are found in a number of different locations:

  • The rocks off the cave on the Right Side of Bare Island
  • Many places on the Isolated Reefs
  • On the Left side of Bare Island just past the cave
  • But especially on the rocks off the Deep Wall
  • SUMMARY

    For more information about the dives, go to the Bare Island Dives index.

    Copyright © Michael McFadyen 1990 to 2024
    Non-commercial use of an article or photograph is permitted with appropriate URL reference to this site.
    Dive shops, dive operators, publications and government departments cannot use anything without first seeking and receiving approval from Michael McFadyen.
    This web site has been wholly thought up, designed, constructed and funded for almost 30 years by Michael McFadyen without any help from the Australian Dive Industry.
    Website created 1996!