Central Coast

Foggy Cave

Foggy Cave is a thrilling dive, even more so if you happen to dive the cave when its seasonal inhabitants are home. Grey nurse sharks, both male and female cruise in and around the cave carved about 12 metres into the cliff. The roof of the cave begins at 33 metres, the bottom in approximately 36 metres - so good management of air and keeping an eye on bottom time is a must. Often sharks teeth can be found in front of the cave.
This large underwater cave and right angle cliffs is one of the most dramatic dive sites anywhere on the Central Coast. Along with the grey nurse sharks, schools of yellowtail arrive every summer to feed. Big kingfish are attracted by these yellowtail and in the blind panic to escape, many yellowtail flee, some seeking sanctuary in the cave, only to be taken by the grey nurse sharks. Action packed!

Depth: 36 metres at bottom  Rated: Advanced

Source: Scuba Diver Australasia Magazine Author: Neil Vincent

HMAS Adelaide

Dive the ex-HMAS ADELAIDE

The NSW Central Coast has quite a few wrecks spread out along the length of the coast. Many of these wrecks had a very illustrious career, whilst some had a very hard life.
The majority of wrecks meet their demise by misfortune, to this end they have become a great source of adventure and have re birthed as fish habitats, where fish have gathered and produced great fish aggregation areas for fishos.

We regularly dive local wrecks like the Valiant which lies in 27 metres of water off Barrenjoey, the Hallcaine in 54 metres off Killcare, then there is the Galava which lies in 51 metres off Terrigal, whilst the remains of the Commonwealth lays in 43 metres off Forresters and the Kiama is in 42 metres off the Entrance.

Further north the Nerong lies in 44 metres off Norah Head along with the Patersen at 10 metres just off Jenny Dixon beach. A little tug called the Advance lies in 47 metres off Catherine Hill bay.

Most of these wrecks as you can see, are in very deep water or have become wreck sites that resemble junk piles. To this end the Central Coast now has its very own ex naval ship to be sunk as an artificial reef that will become an exciting new dive site-

You are now able to dive the ex HMAS Adelaide every day of the week and with a short five minute run from the boat ramp this artificial reef will be the genesis with juvenile fish seeking hiding places, larger fish seeking ambush hideouts and predators patrolling the edge of visbility.

History
The ex HMAS Adelaide II - A frigate built as a long-range escort with roles including area air defence, antisubmarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The ship was capable of countering simultaneous threats from the air, surface and subsurface.

Displacing 4,100 tonnes and at around 138 metres long, this is an impressive dive site that will entertain thousands of divers from all over the world.

The HMAS Adelaide, with a top speed of 29 knots, this was a fairly sleek vessel with power to burn- the engine room will be a great area to explore-
The gas turbines didn't need steam so the HMAS ADELAIDE didn't have to get up a head of steam and would have been ready for sea in only 30 minutes from cold. This made the HMAS Adelaide a very versatile vessel and using a repair by replacement style of maintenance program allowed for a reduced crew complement of 184 personnel.

The HMAS Adelaide was instrumental in rescuing ?Around the World? yachtsmen Thierry Dubois and Tony Bullimore from the Southern Ocean in 1997 was also the first vessel of her class to fire a Harpoon missile

Being the first of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile frigates (FFG) built in Seattle, USA she was commissioned on November 15th, 1980. With a 25 year career the HMAS Adelaide was deployed in many operational activities that included:
Operation MORRIS DANCE (Fiji Coup 1987)
Operation DAMASK (I) (Persian Gulf 1990)
Operation WARDEN/STABILISE (East Timor 1999)
Operation RELEX (Christmas Island 2001)
Operation SLIPPER (Persian Gulf 2001)
Operation RELEX (II) (2002)
Operation CATALYST (Persian Gulf 2004)

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