The first confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Australia were reported in late January 2020 but the coronavirus did not impact my life Downunder for a couple more months. Then overseas travel became forbidden and even inter-state travel was problematic. Fortunately thanks to my two local dive centres, I could continue to explore Broughton and its surrounding islands from the comfort of Tomaree and Siren, skippered by Rob Stewart and Steve Hunter. So it was hardly surprising that I did more dives in this, my local area, than any previous year. From Fingal Island to Broughton Island I enjoyed some particularly special underwater encounters while Humpback Whales provided a noisy soundtrack during their northerly then southerly migrations. Photography highlights were, in the Cabbage Tree Island shallows, a Cownose ray, cute Fur seals, the annual Port Jackson shark aggregation, a Red Indianfish, male Sydney Cardinalfish with their brood of eggs and Yellow Crested Weedfish. At Looking Glass Island aggressive mating Giant Cuttlefish and at North Rock off Broughton Island, Grey Nurse sharks and Sea Spiders.
I had some illustrious company below the waves: Brian and Jill Mayes, Herb Ilic, Mat Smith, Mike Scotland, Paul Du Preez, Rob Stewart, Trudie Blackett nee Campey and Warwick Jennings but three guys really stood out: Lets Go Adventures’ Jason Fenwick and Mick Todd and Feet First’s Guillermo Forero. Between the three of them, they helped me get some of the best photos in this batch of shots. In addition, Laura Chaffey, my Nelson Bay neighbour and a remarkable surface photographer, happened to be aboard Tomaree one day and kindly took a shot of me underwater. I usually take the pics so was I very pleased to have one taken of me!