Just 6 days after our kayak & caving trip at Rapid Bay we returned to Rapid Bay on 26th November for a dive at the jetties there. Participants this time were Steve Reynolds, Alexius Sutandio, David Muirhead, Allan Horsfall & Anita Futterer. We all met at the jetty car park in the morning, but our dive entries were somewhat staggered. We managed to break-up in to three separate teams for our dives. Meanwhile, Lisa McLean was diving at Second Valley. She came down to Rapid Bay for a second dive about that time that we were leaving there.
Alexius & Anita were the first pair of divers into the water. Steve & Allan were the next pair to go in. David was last one in. He just did a solo dive close to the new jetty. He took this shot of one of the star-droppers between the two jetties: –
A star-dropper’s living cover (+fishing line)
between Old + New Rapid Bay jetties
(Taken by David Muirhead)
Steve & Allan enjoyed their dive together. Many nice fish were sighted and they were acting quite friendly towards the divers, including this brown-spotted wrasse: –
Brown-spotted wrasse posing for the camera
(Taken by Steve Reynolds)
Many nice invertebrate species were also found, including molluscs, sponges, squid and a large number of starfish.
Just a few of the star fish sighted on the day
(Taken by Steve Reynolds)
After spending an hour at the old jetty, Steve & Allan returned to the new jetty to explore that one. They both got separated for a short while whilst recorded the predatory behaviour of an eleven-armed starfish. This will be the subject of a separate report.
Eleven-armed starfish
(Taken by Steve Reynolds)
Steve Fifteen minutes was enough time spent there, so they exited the water quite pleased with themselves.
As Steve & Allan left the jetty at the end of their dive, Alexius & Anita were heading back in for their second dive. David eventually returned back to the jetty car park to re-join Steve & Allan there.
Steve & Allan then moved over to the camping ground eating tables (which were conveniently close to the toilets). Following a quick lunch, they had to leave for home in a hurry. This was just before Lisa came down from Second Valley for her ‘second’ dive. Lisa took this photo of the jetty about that time: –
Lisa’s photo of the jetties
Alexius, Anita and Lisa all reported seadragon sightings from their dives on the day.