Nelson Bay, tucked inside Port Stephens’ Heads, undoubtedly hosts some of Australia’s best shore dives. During March and April I dived four of the main shore dives: Halifax Park, Fly Point, Seahorse Gardens and The Pipeline as well as D’Albora Marina North Wall next to the Pipeline. Each site is quite different and tends to have its own resident marine species as well as migratory visitors.
Two very popular non-fishy migratory visitors to Nelson Bay are Brian and Jill Mayes from The UK. Both knowledgeable about marine life and good Spotters, Brian taught me how to find Eastern Cleaner Clingfish while Jill, if bribed with the promise of a post-dive chocolate, can be relied upon to find fish life that I would have certainly missed. My good friends Mick Todd and Nicci Johnson travelled up from Sydney for some dives and I also dived with locals Hazel Diane and Rob Stewart as well as my wife Mary and stepson Aaron.
Fish highlights were Blue Ringed Octopus, Eastern Frogfish, Giant Sea Hares, Eastern Cleaner Clingfish, Eastern Green turtles, Silver Drummer and Mosiac Moray Eels.