Dive 1 Blue Fish Point
Only by going to sea can you truly experience an impressionistic canvas; only by diving underwater can you swim within the brush strokes of that canvas. In this way, you become a part of a Cracker Jack painting Nature has produced. Nature imitating Art, is better than anything any artist, no matter how good, can produce. Dropping below the surface at Blue Fish Point, we were soon able to experience this first hand.
Before we jumped in, we craved to see scenes both families and unfamiliar. We soon experienced both.
Our plan was to head in an easterly direction and head to the very tip of the point, and along the way, to explore a varied underwater landscape.
It was not long after commencing our dive before David spied a Crested Horn shark deep with the recesses of a small cave. What puzzled all of us was how it managed to pass through its very narrow entrance - seemingly much smaller than the shark's body. And, more importantly, once having entered, how it was going to get out. Was it going to have to starve and lose weight to eventually fit through this eye of a needle entrance?
On our underwater journey, we were greeted by so many wonderful scenes: Clusters of Bulls Eyes, swaying to a silent yet moving rhythm; One Spot Pullers swimming in a mixed formation with Mado - one of those situations when everyone, including us, were all going in the same direction; and a solitary Fusilier appearing out of nowhere - this is what happens when an individual inadvertently strays too far into the grasp of the EAC (East Australian Current). The EAC is reputedly 100 km wide, 1.5 km deep, and rages down the coast at up to 7 km/h. Sporadic bursts from the EAC are responsible for bringing tropical and sub-tropical species all the way down to Tasmania. Not only will the EAC grab Dory, the Clown Fish, and our exquisite Fusilier to Sydney, it will also grab hold of and deliver Sea Nettles (Chrysaora) from Sydney and deliver them to Tasmania. On some occasions, near to the point of Blue Fish, one can feel an ever increasing and powerful tug from an invisible hand of the EAC! It seeks to pull us into its bosom, whilst we seek to stay at arm's length! The real risk is that, at Sydney, the EAC normally splinters off towards New Zealand, so any fish (or diver) caught in its grip might end up a rather long distance from home (South or East).
Not only has this fast moving current brought our Fusilier to us, it has brought a tropical Manta Ray to Tasmania (the previous southern most sighting was just south of Sydney), and a normally elusive Tasmanian jellyfish called, "Snotty" (Lion’s Mane (cyanea)), was seen in abundance there about the same time.
Over the past 50 years the EAC Extension (which continues further south than Sydney) has stretched about 350km further south. This also has an impact on Sydney's weather - which demonstrates how the EAC can be menacing not just for our Fusilier, Dory, the Manta Ray, and any non-vigilant scuba diver but also for those lost souls who do not dive here in Sydney but merely dwell on land.
Reaching the tip of Blue Fish Point, the EAC was further to the east and did not interact with us. It was a pleasure to reach this point, and to be swallowed up in numerous schools of different species of fish. In this situation, it is easy to believe that all of the denizens of this location have come over to greet us: Pomfrets, Mado, Long Fin Pike, and many more besides. Or maybe they were just curious to see these strange bubble blowing creatures that occasionally come and visit them. Either way, the scene and experience was exhilarating - especially when it was crowned off by the arrival of a male Six Spine Leatherjacket: one of my favourite fish indeed.
Climbing back on the boat, not even a small leak, sorry big leak, in Neil's drysuit, could suppress his enthusiasm from the dive we just did. Anyway, who needs a dry suit in water as warm as it was today.
Dive 2 Blue Fish Wall
After our last dive, it seemed cruel to leave our skipper, Marc, on the boat when we had an inkling of things we might see at Blue Fish Wall. I knew that after our last dive here, it was going to be better not to tell him about all the things we were likely to see and what he was likely to miss out on seeing. I also knew, however, we would not be able to hide from him the pleasure we would undoubtedly bring back after having explored the depths of the ocean today.
We commenced this dive with the familiar warm kiss of the ocean against one's skin. Then its total embrace. Checking that we were all ready for the next step into another world, we then followed the ritual of being subsumed in bunches of silver bubbles, big and small, like being dressed in a jeweller's silver grapes. Is it any wonder that that we look forward to a dive from beginning to end. The transition from the world above to a blue world below is timeless and seductive.
Studying the bulges, bumps, and nooks and crannies of this reef, Shelley spotted a Crocodile fish here. She argues that they have the most interesting eyes of any fish. The Australian Museum states: "The Crocodile fish has a huge head". I think that's rude. Shelley observes: "Well, to be frank, it is the absolute truth. They do have large Heads". Their eyes are striking because of what are called "Iris Lappets". They are strange projections over the eye which improves the Crocodile fish's camouflage.
We next found a Swimming Anemone. The fawn colour of its vesicles (bulb-like exterior - which enables it to float and swim - like a child's floaties) was unusual. The vesicles are normally red and white - this contrast being partly why they are also called "Football Anemone."
Continuing our exploration of this site, we came across a real find: a juvenile Weedy Seadragon. Its colours were more intense than those normally found on an adult. This juvenile soon found out what it's like to be the object of the paparazzi. It was photographed and photographed in a variety of poses before we pressed on to find more objects worthy of a photographer's lens.
This dive was like opening a treasure chest. The next jewel in this dive was the sudden appearance of a juvenile Grey Nurse shark. It slipped effortlessly through the water, barely moving its tail at all. It did a twist and turn towards us and then it was gone. I think it knew the paparazzi were around.
Further along we encountered a Fiddler ray. Only its eyes and dorsal fins appeared above the sand: this ray was masquerading as a crocodile with only its eyes peering above the water line. The eyes of a Fiddler ray are, however, infinitely more interesting. Instead of being oval shaped, the top section has a roughly serrated pattern of gold. Dr Noni Lewis notes the different distribution of muscles needed to operate the irregular shaped iris (we take for granted the complexity of an eye): yet despite the iris (through which it sees things) appearing to be messy due to its shape, somehow it works. What definitely works is how amazing these eyes look - as you can judge for yourself in the accompanying photo taken by Shelley today.
We were lucky to dive today with Shelley Xia, who is an extraordinary underwater photographer. Her photos, of the Fiddler ray's eyes, Crocodile fish's eyes, juvenile Weedy Seadragon, Nudis, shrimps, etc, all capture, like very few can, the beauty of these creatures. This is why she is the best macro underwater photographer in Australia. Her talent is boundless.
We finished this dive, but before we could even leave the sea, Yellow Tail appeared around us one last time. I have described this scene before. But each and every time this happens, our pleasure receptors are infused with yet more dopamines intensifying positive sensations. Nobody complained. We were now truly addicted to such scenes and the experience of being underwater. "Joy" is a lame word to express our heightened feelings from being underwater today.
The sea was much more than wrinkled on our trip back. We needed an expert mariner to find a path through those seas. Its furrowed waves now resembled a mean obstacle course or a maze through which Marc had to negotiate a way to deliver us safely back inside the Heads. He did this with both skill and panache! - and an ever present smile on his face. In this way he rounded off expertly our perfect day's diving. Hopefully,
tomorrow it will be his turn to dive into the sea and enjoy what we did today.
Eric
