DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

Pipe Fish

encountered magnificent coral cover reefs, schools of Anthias, Fusiliers, Chromis, Coris, Butterfly Fish, several species of Angelfish and a Crocodile Fish. After a wonderful lunch, our afternoon dive was at a site called Wahoo Point. This proved be another very satisfying dive regardless of the absence of big fish even given its name. In fact the only negative observation we made in respect to our entire adventure was the lack of big fish which we put down to the ever-present fishing canoes that sustain the local communities. However, apart from a multitude of reef fish we encountered Scorpion Fish and ‘Bubble Coral Shrimp. Our buddy John Russel was a great addition to our four-person underwater team as he constantly kept an eye out into the depths to bring to our attention the sighting of any pelagics, sharks and mantas. Meanwhile, John’s wife Linda, was a wizard at finding nudibranchs and other small critters for us and her to photograph. The afternoon found us moored at the Tawali Leisure and Dive Resort’s jetty. Here we enjoyed our first experience with a combination of muck and night diving. We needed to be cautious as the entire jetty was home to numerous Lionfish and consequently not a place you want to carelessly place your limbs. Additionally, the site has a sizable population of Needle Urchins. However, what had our attention was the variety of nudibranch, shrimp species, small fish and colourful sponges that colonized the jetty poles making for some spectacular photographs. Meanwhile a rare treat was a pair of Mandarin Fish that darted in and out of some coral rubble and on the sand, a Mantis Shrimp that is yet to be described.

The next morning we found ourselves at ‘Deacons’, appropriately named after our friend, fellow photographer and diving icon Kevin Deacon. Deacons is a fantastic wall dive characterized by large Gorgonian Fans, soft corals, Giant Barrel and Elephant Ear Sponges. Some divers also call this site ‘Barracuda Point’ because of the number of

The elusive Epaulette Shark rarely ventures out into the open.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #412 - June 25

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