As I’ve come to expect, the Nelson Bay shore dives delivered plenty of special moments during April to August. Most of my dives were solo dives but I was joined on some dives by Bob Lewis, Hazel Driver, Mick Todd, Rob Stewart and Steve Winkworth.

My favourite encounter occurred when Mick and I dived what was for me a first, finning from Dutchman Beach to The Pipeline. Near the disused sewer pipe (for which the site is named) Mick and I spotted a group of Rock Cod alternatively known as Eastern Red Scorpionfish or more accurately Scorpaena jacksoniensis. Two males appeared to be in a stand-off, their aggressive territorial behaviour finally culminating in them locking jaws.

Another first for me was diving Red Patch Reef off Bagnalls Beach from Let’s Go Adventures’ MV Dive Away. It was a great dive, one I’m keen to repeat.

While I was photographing a Wobbegong at Fly Point, Let’s Go Adventures’ Tara Jones happened to fin by. I had never managed to get an underwater shot of her so was pleased to finally be able to put that right. 

I was also able to photograph Mick in what appeared to be a highly embarrassing situation. Mick was assuring anyone who would listen that his drysuit had sprung a leak and that he had not peed himself. A lot.