14th - On the road again.
I had packed everything the night before so I was able to get a nice early stary. Planned for 5am but woke up a little early and was able to seek away by 445. Quick stop in Childers for Smoko then onto Gladstone. Made it there with plenty of time to spare so after Murray and I packed our crate we headed off for lunch.
Arrived back to find almost everyone else busy packing their crates and watched as they were lifted onto the barge. Had a cider and relaxed while waiting for departure time. 6.5 hour barge ride... seemed a lot longer.
Dark when we landed and first we helped unload another set of campers. They took up 1.75 crates (I used almost 1/3rd, almost, and I had dive gear!) Some of their more bulkier items were 6 x 8.5kg gas bottles, 2 chairs... each... and a full size fridge (in addition to their crate space). Seriously, bigger than my house fridge....
By the time we unloaded and moved our stuff the short, but extinguishing, distance from the beach to camp sites it was almost midnight. After all was said and done, and a wind down Cider, I got to bed at 0030. Been awake for 20 hours. Still lots at camp to set up. Only bothered with fridges, tent and bed. Shade and organising can be done in the morning.
15th - Who needs a comedian when you have campers?
Didn't have the best sleep and was awake at 630. By 7 all my kit was fully sorted and I was able to relax with breakfast. Andrew put on a show for the next two hours trying to figure out how to put up his new tent with the often reluctant assistance of his teenage daughter.
Rolled some of the water drums closer to camp. 200lt barrels but with 3 people and the camp trolley it wasn't too hard. Started raining pretty heavy around 915 but luckily most people were fairly well setup by then.
At 1030 I did a quick loop trying to drum up interest in a dive but most people were still faffing with their setup. Getting their kitchen setup, making tarps taunt again and rearranging seating positions. Those that were done with camp were still wiped from last night and replied maybe after lunch.
At 12 there was still some people organising camp... but we found 6 plus a skipper so we headed out by 1. Just beat the tide, barely. Diver 1 dropped us on the house reef then scuttled back to shore.
Vis was about 10m and it was a nice warm 27°c. I was expecting better vis but it was windy yesterday and we were fairly shallow. Should be much better when we can get out to some proper sites tomorrow. Saw the usual little things and a pretty large green turtle.
Mike walked out the punt so that we could float our gear back in over the reef (was too shallow for Diver 1). Still must have some hiker calves hidden away as everyone else told me I was pulling the punt too fast!
Late lunch and then I jumped on the compressor. Only 6 tanks and barely 1/2 empty so it didn't take long. Sunset drinks and a few tidbits of information before dinner and an early bed time.
16th - How's the serenity?
Awake again with the sun for a slow-paced morning. Tide was out and the plan was 830 for the first dive. We had to walk the boat out a bit as it was still too low to float with everyone on board. Made it over the reef shelf by 8:50.
Diving off the northern side of the island around lots of reef bommies. Not the most amount of life I've ever seen but slightly improved vis on yesterday. Also diving in the 3mm suit today. Bit cool at the 40 min mark but warm enough.
Back on shore for a relativly quick change over for the second boat load. Despite the quick change by the time they were back it was already getting shallow so we pulled the pin on the third dive. Afternoon around camp with the pleasant humming of the compressor... for a while...
One of the safety blow off valves in the compressor was leaking air. Thinking it might have been the filter we got to work repacking it. All fitted (after a little light bulb moment with the cap hooks) and back on. Still blowing off air... after some trouble shooting we narrowed it down but daylight was fading and further work was scheduled for the morning.
17th - Keep on swimming!
Still air in the remaining tanks which was good enough for us. Headed back out to the northern side to a nice spot with lots of crevasses and bommies. Saw what would have to be the biggest painted cray I have ever seen. Massive. Noticing a distinct lack of nudibranch here though. Not sure why.
Back for the next dive, I was skipper and we headed around to the South a little. By all accounts a decent spot. Eagle rays and quite a bit of other life to see. Retured to shore and the compressor was still being diagnosed.
Mid afternoon, after hours of work, Paul and Grahame finally isolated the fault, the aqumilator valve at the bottom of the final filter, preventing back flow from the tanks. With that cleared we were back in action!
Later in the afternoon a few batches of turtles hatched, always thought they only hatched late arvo/night... the camp hosts 'saved' them from the gulls... by putting them into buckets. Apparently to later relase them at night.
Baby turtles are cool and all... and they do look very cute... but think of all the poor seagsulls they stole breakfast from! Watching them spill out of the buckets and sprawl down the beach was fun though.
18th - Rain rain go away
Bit of rain overnight but by all accounts tarp held and nothing got wet. Because of the tall and shady trees, in conjunction with cloudy skies my battery and solar was struggling to keep up with the fridge. I moved it down the beach so it could get some good sun. Only frozen stuff in it, so I can make the small walk to get stuff once a day to defrost.
Skippered the first dive. We tried going along the northern edge of the reef shelf but didn't see anything too impressive and doubled back to near a spot dived a previous day. I jumped in for the second. Was a slightly deeper dive at 15 (as opposed to 8ish) with some good structure. Lots of fish but again no nudibranch... Did see a Octopus putting on some colours and plenty of discarded line which was surprising.
Pete and and Paul found a big anchor and put it near ours. They surfaced a little away so I went back down with a lifting bag to float it. They must think we're still on the Curtin clean up! By the time we surfaced it was raining pretty hard. Luckily Cheryl, Michelle and others back at camp made sure everything was undercover, thanks guys!
We were also greeted upon return by another batch of baby green turtles swimming off to find a new home. I filled the tanks from the last dive before sitting under my shelter and watching the drizzle. Rain doesn't seem to bother the birds.
19th - Another day in paradise
Rained most of the night and woke to 20kn winds which were due to be increasing. Low tide in the morning so boat scheduled to launch 12 ish. With the wind and rough seas the call to scrap the dive was made by 1030.
By some miracle the wind had dropped by mid afternoon and a few went out for a dive. Sun started shining too so I was able to get some much needed power in the battery. Unfortunately the reprieve was only short lived.
Wind and gusts made for poor conditions again so it was just a single dive today. It was group dinner night which worked fairly well. The rain even held off all through dinner and when it started we were all able to hide under the shelter of Paul, Jack and Grahame's tarps.
20th - Round and round I go
Tide was our for the morning so it was a good time for a quick lap of the island. 4.3km according to the GPS watch. A few Sea Eagles to be spotted off the SE edge of the island. At high tide there are a few rocks and trees to navigate past but low tide sees beach the entire way.
Got my first hit of bird poop on the loop. Mid beach, one seagull in the sky and nothing else around... Lucky shot right on my hand... it only took just under 40 min, including the pit stop to wash my hand.
In the afternoon we snuck out for a dive. Wind still hammering anything except for the small area sheltered by the island... even then it's still choppy. Pete manned Diver 1 while we were under and weathered some very heavy rain fall. Dive itself was ok, Alan and I saw out first nudibranch of the trip.
Still raining on and off and the wind not abating, I took shelter in my tent and watched a movie on the laptop.
21st - Try on Tryon
Up early, before the sun early, to beat the tide and attempt a Double dive run over to Tryon island. We didn't make it far before making the call to turn back. Putting around for another site to dive but eventually decided to drop in near the channel.
As it was the spring high tide it turned out we had plenty of water so we ducked into shore to pick up Grahame to skipper so all 7 of us could dive. With the wind and outgoing tide vis was poor. Barely 3m near the reef wall. A little better further out, though not by much.
On the up side there was plenty of blue sky today. Lots of sunshine to recharge everything and dry out from the previous days of rain. Afternoon dive went out, again only able to dive in the small area sheltered from the wind. On a trip like this I'd normally have a hard time picking a top 10 photos... this trip I might have trouble just getting 10 worthy to chose from...
22nd - No rest for the wicked.
Me though? A nice big sleep in. Wind still hammering the boat stayed parked in the morning. It's not a very early start, but after yesterday was early enough to deter people from setting the alarm. Rain had also returned on and off most of the night, which continued into the morning.
I did a figure 8 of the island, using the inland track that cuts across the middle. Even mid morning it's a little dark in the thickly vegetated centre. Got a little wet from the rain but no bird poop today, which was nice.
Afternoon dive over on 'Jacks Place' which seems to be the best diving in the sheltered side. Big swim through and a bit of life, including a few turtles. Better vis than yesterday too. Had planned on a night dive but the only other one keen, Pete H, felt cold on the arvo dive so we pulled the pin.
Fisherman neighbour had some luck wih his day and gave our group a decent size fish to share amoungst us. Our fishermen seem to have their catches caught by sharks before they reach the boat. With Pete D pulling the head of what would have been a good size Red Emperor today.
Big game of cards over at the Reed establishment but ultimately still an early night.
23rd - Tide goes out tide comes in
I had the day off today as Diver 1 takes another trip to Tryon. By all accounts a bumpy ride but they made it there. Reports of a lot of current and as the wind still blowing diving was done on the sheltered side.
I spent all day lazing about the beach enjoying the sun and watching the tide. The others got back as the tide was out so they anchored off the reef edge and walked in.
Another spot of rain late afternoon but all cleared out before the group dinner. I'm on the boat again for tomorrow morning so a fairly early night to bed.
24th - Try try again
This time heading out to Tryon was a lot easier. Carsten took the helm and safely navigated the open seas to arrive us at Tryon. Still a bit too windy to dive the south side of the island. You could get in but surface watch would have been uneasy.
Lots more fish at Tryon. Better coral too and we were a little deeper. Saw some reef sharks, turtles and a rather large Epelipt shark. Current did pick up a little just strong enough that swimming against it required a bit of wffort. Tuck in next to the reef and it was fine though.
Second dive was much the same slightly less current. Also managed to find another Nudi and shortly after Abbie did too.
The ride back was even smoother and we cruised along at almost full speed. With only 4 on the boat the was even room to lounge. Tide was way out so we had to leave the boat out off the reef and swim/walk in.
The others managed to fit in a lunch time dive on the house reef. Using the punt to walk out their gear. After the boat recovery Pete, Paul and Jack turned about and went out fishing.
25th - Where are those Pack Mules?
Much of the day was spent packing down camp and carting non-essential great to the beach. Barge arrives at 7am tomorrow so have to be ready.
I did manage to sneak in a snorkel late morning but then allowed the afternoon for things to dry. Some pottered around all day taking one piece here and one piece there (as I did) and others seemed to go all out till they were finished and could stop.
Most people were down at the beach into the night finishing off refreshments so they didn't have to carry them back onto the barge. Quite a few were sleeping on the beach as well. My tent is quick to pack so I left it until the morning and had a good sleep.
26th - Beautiful day to be arriving
Woke up to a scream, a mutton bird had flown into Kirsten. Since I was up I packed and had already finished and had all my gear on the beach before my alarm was due to go off.
Watched as others brought what remained of their gear down. Some doing their entire pack in the morning... early start and still bringing gear down as the barge was here dropping off its departing passengers.
Seas were almost dead calm and hardly any wind. Best day weather wise and we get to use it to depart... At least it was a calm ride back.
Made land just before 3pm and finally got all the gear off the barge and into the Hilux by about 4:30 to set off home. Relatively easy run home and I was snug in bed by 11:30pm.
27th - All the fun bits
Most of the morning spent cleaning sand off all my gear and airing it out in the sun. All done by smoko and all was left to sit back and let it all dry.
