Bare Island

• Max 11m for 56mins
• Greenish, vis to 4-5m
• On the cool side, 18-20 depending on depth
• Clear blue skies, warm to hot
• On the incoming tide
• JCJ in water with surface support from Sal and Rumpole

Desperate to get in the water before the year is out JCJ and I talked about, agreed to and - shock - dived. With the NE wind due to strengthen we chose Bare Island which, being tucked inside the north side of Botany Bay, was flat as a tack. From the road it looked nice and clear but I knew it would be green because it always is. As we crossed the bridge to the island (see mission Impossible II if you want to know what it looks like) we could see the water was a little green, but as long as it would be warm and green I'd be happy. Rumpole was first in the water - washed in by a little wave. He scurried back out and shook himself down. He didn't look cold. JCJ and I followed his lead and jumped in. That fur coat of his must keep him warm because it was a tad chilly when we got in. But it was clear enough as we dropped down to the klp and made our way to the sand. We were diving the eastern side of the island, jumping in near the front and heading south for a while, then turning around and heading back to the bridge, under it and out.

The first ten minutes were a bit disappointing. The island has ben pretty well fished ut with the inevitable result that there are hardly any fish. A real shame. So we headed over ock and kelp and saw a few bits and pieces, but there was a highlight in the form of a weedy sea dragon, the only one we saw on the dive. There was noticeable water movement from the incoming tide that we swam into to begin with and when we turned started to push us landwards. The ive started to get better as we passed over sponge and soft coral gardens and began to find a lot of - and a variety of - nudibranchs. There was also a bold octopus out on a rock and we were joined for a couple of minutes by a large blue grouper, but still not many fish.

That was pretty much it. The dive was pretty good overall. Not outstanding, but pretty good. Under the bridge JGJ had a look for seahorses, and under each rock ledge I looked for eastern blue devil fish and neither of us was successful, but that was OK.