DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2025 ISSUE 410

overnight almost due East from Horn to Ashmore Reef, about 105 nautical miles (200 kms) off the coast. Arriving at Ashmore we experienced perfect diving conditions. To avoid repetition here, suffice it to say these conditions lasted throughout the entire six days of actual diving we had planned. What luck - calm seas, which included three days of pure ‘glass-out’ conditions, only slight currents, visibility ranged from 20 mts (66ft) to 40 mts (130ft) and water temperature a soothing 28C (83F). Our bottom times ranged from 35 to 70 minutes in deeps of 12 mts (40ft) to 40 mts (130ft). On all MBDE expeditions, Nitrox 32 is offered so in most cases we were limited to 34mts (112ft). The sunrises and sunsets were mesmerising – nothing like being at sea and scuba diving in perfect conditions. As one of my (Terry’s) favourite T-shits says: “Into the ocean I go to lose my mind and find my soul”. Our first two dives were at ‘Rainbow Road’ – a site familiar to our experienced captain: Russell from a previous trip. Here we found impressive coral formations right up into the shallows where, when possible, we did our safety stops. Our third dive was on a site also discovered on a previous expedition: ‘Twin Peaks’. Here two adjoining pinnacles, come up from 40 mts to within 3 mts of the surface. An incredible dive. We dropped in on top of a couple of large Silver Tip Sharks who quickly left. On descending we were overwhelmed by massive schools of purple Anthias. There were also Butterfly Fish, Fusiliers, Chromis, Cromis, Nemos, Lionfish, Puffers, Coral Trout, several species Tangs, Angelfish, Box Fish, Ornate Pipefish, Snapper and the occasional ray. Out in the deep Reef Sharks, schools of Hump Head Parrot Fish, Mackle, Trevally and Dog Tooth Tuna passed by. On one of the large orange Gorgonian Fans we spotted a Pigmy Sea Horse – unfortunately he was being stalked by a Long-Nose Hawk Fish. The long orange Whip Corals also had their resident Gobies. Spoilsport mostly offer up to 5 dives per day on their Ribbon Reef/Coral Sea trips. However, it is important to note that on these exploratory dives you cannot always expect to have more than four dives a day as it takes time to locate new, suitable/safe sites, anchor-up, etc., as there are no permanent moorings to make life easier for the crew. Nevertheless, we had at least three dives each day such as on day two at previously unknown sites. At the time we labelled them ‘Ashmore I, II and III’, but later after an on-board survey we named Ashmore II and III as ‘Horny Cow’ and ‘Top Notch’ respectively.

Goniobranchus coi

‘Ashmore I’ remains unnamed, but like ‘Twin Peaks’, we dropped in on a pair of large Silver Tip Sharks and were again greeted by a large variety of reef fish including Anthias, Fusiliers, Chromis, Coris, Butterfly Fish, nemos, Lionfish, Pufferfish, Box Fish and several species of Angelfish. Also like on every dive we did we found active cleaner stations. We generally marvelled on each dive at just how close we could approach the inhabitants. For example, apart from an inquisitive Oliver Sea Snake, at Horny Cow we found a small colony of nemos who obviously were not excited in the least by our presence, probably since we were the first humans they had ever seen. Multiple pairs of Dartfish and Sand Gobies along with Sand Perch, Lizardfish and various species of Wrasse, Chromis and Coris were abundant. Even the resting White Tip Reef Sharks would let us approach to within a meter before they slowly departed, probably thinking to themselves: “what was that? Meanwhile the corals at ‘Top Notch” were amazingly healthy and included a colony of Corallimorphs. The Corals were so closely packed and covered with schools of Anthias, Damsels, Coris, Chromis, Fusiliers, Cardinal and Squirrelfish we had to descend to the scree slope at 25 mts to find what small creatures also inhabited the site. There we found Bicoloured Angelfish, Soldierfish, Dotty Backs, Gobies, Blennies, Parrot Fish, Bream, Pipefish, Goatfish, Rock Movers, sea cucumbers, Razor Clams, mating gastropods and several species of nudibranchs. Day three saw us at dive sites we named: ‘Better this way’ because we had a little current, ‘Coral Meadows’ and ‘Size matters’. As the names imply these sites were typified by wonderful coral formations, fish species too numerous to mention and massive Gorgonian Fans along the walls dropping down over 40 metres.

Giant Queensland Groper

Spoilsport

DIVE LOG Australasia #410 - February 25 38

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