Diving - 2020 12 - Moreton Island

Diving - 2020 12 - Moreton Island. 

Day One 

I was still a little tired from the late nights and festive feasting in Melbourne when the alarm went off to wake me up Sunday morning. After a quick breakfast I went to the Club House to retrieve Diver 1. 

I was running a little late so I gave Paul the heads up before heading off. With a short pit stop for Fuel I made it to Scarborough ramp a bit after 9. Communication mix up with Paul had him on the southern ramp, but it was a quick nip over to where I was.  

We loaded and got set to head out. Paul holding the boat at the pontoon while I parked the trailer. As he was sitting there he noticed there was no telltale from the Engine. Looked like just some small junk in the outlet (insect maybe) bit a pointy knife soon sorted it and we were on our way.   

Pretty smooth run over thankfully. Taking almost an hour. Paul had some camp chairs so we setup on the beach to enjoy the day while waiting for the others to arrive.  

I ducked off to find the exact location for camp, about 400m up the beach, and we eventually moved the boat up. Perks if being early is we also had first pick of the tents. Really nice setup here at Moreton Island Wilderness Camp.   

The others got to camp just after 4 and started unloading all the gear, including 2x 200lt drums of fuel and the heavy compressor. That was fun to roll off the trailer! When all was said and done it was almost time for dinner. A great spread of food supplied. During dinner one of the locals (another guy called Scott) came up and asked if we wouldn't mind him/his daughters tagging along (in their own boat) for a few dives with us. Something we were happy to oblige. We even passed on our dive marks for him to use. Shortly after a few started disappearing for bed, or to brave a cold shower, with the last of us turning in around 10. 

Day Two 

The next morning was started with a great breakfast before getting dive gear ready for the day. I swam out to Diver 1 only to realise when I got there I had forgotten the key!  

Despite the false start it wasn't long before we were on our way to Flinders reef. It was a bit choppy on the way out with the predicted Easterly winds trending more North-Easterly.  Heading into waves and wind doesn't make for a smooth journey.  

At flinders I was in the second wave with Kristie and Justin. We dropped almost on top of the Turtle cleaning station and hung out for a bit watching the fish pick at algae. On the rest of the dive we saw a few Moray, Nudi and even an octopus.  Just as we hit the safety stop I went to take my glove off but jettisoned my cameras lanyard!! Luckily for me it floats and the guys on surface watch were paying attention. Richard valiantly jumping overboard to rescue it! Here I was thinking I had an excuse to buy a new setup! 

For the second we shifted to a northern mooring to drop somewhere different. I like the structure better at this spot. Lots of huge boulders kicking about. Parrot fish were swarming, quite a few Nudi's and moments before we had to head to the boat I found a Peacock Mantis! 

Paul took the helm for the drive back. Conditions about the same but with following seas it was a torch smoother. Still fairly tall waves though so our journey was interrupted slightly by coming down the front of waves a little too fast and spearing into the next.   

Back at camp for burgers (they feed us well!) Shortly after Jo and I (thanks Jez for being skipper) gotnreadynforntheb3rd dive of today. We dropped in at the pines and had a relatively pleasant dive. The normal scenery to be had but we also saw my 2nd Peacock Mantis Shrimp for the day. Tucked in its hole making it hard to get a shot. 

Back to camp again to receive some bad news. The compressor had stopped working and likely blew a safety valve! After much trouble shooting we pulled the filter to discover someone had left the Dust Cap on when the installed the last filter. Bugger! We got the cap out eventually thanks to some quick thinking from Paul turning an old fillet knife into a hook of sorts.  

Despite lots more time trouble shooting we couldn't get it to fill more than 50 bar and one of the stages of the compressor was dead cold (should be running hot.) Stephen was thinking of joining us for a dive on his own boat so I let him know the bad news before bed. 

Day Three  

Luckily Stephen happened to have his own personal compressor. A touch smaller than ours but enough to get the job done! He saw it as a sign and drove over to meet us. There was enough tanks still full for the morning dive to head out, where one of the Bulwer locals joined with his own boat. Conditions a bit rough bit good dives.   

With the new compressor running we did the rounds at lunch to drum up some divers to go with Stephen. It wasn't too hard as his boat is hella fancy. It was still very rough on the way out. Glad we had his boat and not Diver 1 for it. I went surface watch and relaxed on comfy leather seats while the others had a good dive. Highlight was a huge Turtle apparently.  When we got back I noticed out 27meg Antenna was missing. Would have been very hard for it to have fallen off... so the theory is someone pinched it. 

We tried to catch the sunset tonight but it was completely obscured by clouds and barely any colours in it. We did see a few dolphins, likely on return from their feed at the resort, swim past.  

Day Four 

Up early for breakfast and out for another Double Dive. Past Flinders this time (though not too far...) Cement Co was the plan. We had light rain most of the way out with it getting heavier just near flinders. I'm glad we pushed in.  

There was another boat already moored on Cement Co so we decided to push on further to Gotham. A lovely, but deep, rock dive known for huge pelagics. Current was running but not too bad.  

I was in for the second wave with Kristie and Justin. We made it to Gotham easy (thanks to some awesome anchor placement from an amazing skipper. Hint: It was me.) When down though, beside a dozen of so Trevally we didn't see much of the usual 'Big Fish sightings there.  

Still some good macro and I just enjoy the dive for the structure. Deep though so we were barely down for 17min before it was time to start heading back to the anchor chain, we had just accrued little bit of deco so we added an extra stop at 10m deep on the way up.  

Second dive was the Eastern side of flinders. On a mooring block right near a swim though. Great little White Tip Reef Shark chilling in there and plenty of Crays. Rest of the dive was Nudis, Moray, and Octopus but the critter that stole the show was probably the Decorator Crab. Getting about during the day! 

Back to shore to discover that with the dreary weather all day the divers had talked themselves out of an afternoon dive. Not bad for me it meant I could get out of the wet clothes and relax.  After another great dinner a few of us hung about for drinks and chats, with all retiring to our tents just before 10pm. Ready for more early diving tomorrow!  

Day Five  

Wind has blown up a bit so today we had decided to do two dives on the inside of the bay today. First up was an incoming drift on the Pines just before high tide. Much better vis that the earlier one (that was just after low tide.)  

Unfortunately the GPS mark we had was more of a guide to get you the right place North/South but then you find the wall and drop near it. I probably wasn't quite clear enough in that and Mitch dropped us at the mark.  It took Justin and I 18min of decent finning to reach the edge. The others got there in ~35 min. Once we made it though it was a great dive. Nudi, Peacock Mantis shrimp etc etc. We even saw a cool little Shovelnose Ray on out adventure across the sand and its sometimes nice to do something different. Like Gotham though, there didn't seem to be too much big stuff.  

Out to Curtin for the second dive and dropping in on the Melbourne. I headed off towards the New (ish) Statue but took a wrong bearing from the Tram. Still ended up being a good loop though. There was even a QLD Groper cruising around us for a bit. Still a bit young but will someday grow into a massive unit.  

At the end of the dive Justin did a few practice launches with the SMB and reel. Both went really well, especially for his first launches.   

On the way back we set a new mark for the pines to avoid this mornings adventures and then I did a Yo-Yo dive on the Camp Hosts morning block to check it out for them. All looks pretty cool condition, but the block itself was completely covered in sand.  

After lunch a few of us went for a drive around the top end. Was raining pretty heavy when we got to the lighthouse so we gave the walk there a miss and continued on to Blue Lagoon. Rain had let off so we walked the ~100m to it.  

Once we got there the kids decided they really wanted a swim now. So Jeremy went back to the car to fetch togs. They had a decent swim and then we set off to Bulwer for Ice Cream! While eating the shop owner offered us the dregs of his pallet of Ice Bags. We took three bags for the drinks esky which was probably one bags worth all together.  

Through breaks in the rain Justin was able to make, and us sit by, a fire. A few times we shuffled back from fire to tarps, back to fire, back to tarps playing hide and go seek with the rain. As the evening dragged on a few people peeled off for bed. 

I was enjoying myself a little and Justin brought out some nice Whisky. Mentioned that I was probably at the point to switch to water but it was New Years Eve so I poured myself a cup. Almost immediately, as I set the cup down, it slipped and landed right on my lap. :(  I centred myself, poured another nip, and successfully sat down to drink.   

11:50 pm and those still standing went to the beach for midnight. We saw a few fireworks being set off down near Bulwer and then a few boat flares as well... We had some sparklers which we waves about and took some 'New Years' snaps before heading back. As soon as we got back most went to bed but I decided to chill by the fire for a little. Eventually turning in about 130am.  

Photo by Justin

Day Six  

Despite switching to water by about 11:30 I was still not exactly 100% in the morning so I bowed out of the dive for the day. I was probably alright but it's not really something I like taking the risk on. Turns out mostly everyone felt the same way about the morning drift dive so it was given a miss.  

By the time it was almost high tide though there was enough keen divers ready to get out and give it a go. Reports came back they they were in a little too early on the tide and the current was ripping through Curtin. So good thing I didn't go as I wouldn't have been keen to fight the current feeling the way I do.  

In the afternoon it was time for another drive off to the south this time to do a half loop and get some Oysters fresh from the farm. I was happy with just a swim at the beach so said my goodbyes and sent a message to Kerry that they were on their way (she had gone down earlier to meet a friend.) Everyone was really impressed by the Moreton Bay Rock Oysters and would definitely recommend, if that's your thing.  The Kids also managed to find some Hermit Crabs to keep them entertained for a while. 

Photo by Kristie

Photo by Kristie

Yet another filling dinner from Craig and Keith (camp hosts) and an opportunity to burn a little more firewood before turning in early foe the night.  

Day Seven

Last day of diving so I definitely had to get some in. It's a pity that the weather hasn't been with us this trip to allow for more runs out to the 'Outer Sites' like Cherubs/China, though the closer sites are still good. One bonus of the weather though, is that you have some friendly creachers hanging out because of the rain. This little guy even found his way inside Richards boot!

Scott (the local) joined us again. He'd been on one of the Flinders dives (I wasn't on) so this was the first time I got to see his boat in action. Should have taken photos of it... but it's a Sealegs boat with awesome hydraulic wheels so he can drive it up/down the beach and into the water! He jumped in with Justin and I as we drifted along the pines (without the sand swim!) Lots of fish swimming about today and a few Eels and Nudi's. There was also a pretty cool ball of Juvenile Catfish Eels right near the end of the dive, but I was already heading up to the safety stop and that point so couldn't go back down for a photo.  

Back for a quick change over and to head back out. Scott came with again with his daughter as a dive buddy this time. We dropped on the Estrella and headed north in a loop. When we got to the Bremer I gave Justin and Jo my torch so they could poke their heads in the area just under the storage bays and see into the deep dark depths of a wreck. It was about then that Justin's computer ran out of battery so we decided to be conservative with our dive and start heading back. Seeing some impressive Bull Rays on the way.  

With all the diving done it was time to pack up. Gear rinsed and hung to try get a little bit dry before the trip home. Trailers repacked and tents prepared for an early start tomorrow. There was still time to enjoy the island though, so another adventure to the top of the island was called for. A short walk to the lighthouse (this time rain free!) was able to be completed but the champagne pools seemed to be the winner of the afternoon.

Photo by Jeremy

Day Eight

Early start this morning, breaking camp by 7am. The others were catching the barge at 8:15am and expected a 30min journey, but it's always nice having that time up your sleeve just in case someone gets bogged and blocks the road... or you get bogged yourself!  

There wasn't much point Paul and I hanging around camp by ourselves, so we left around the same time. It was actually a really good day weather wise so we had a really smooth time back and were at Scarborough <50min later! Got the boat back on the trailer and set off to return it to the club house.  

Got to the club not long after and got to cleaning etc. Just as I had finished (actually locked the gate) I was a message from kristie that they had unloaded off the barge and were minutes away. Before I even had a chance to unlock the gate again they were here. I helped with unloading the compressor and then left them to sort out the lighter stuff. 

Finally home and able to have a nice hot shower and wash the salt and sand off! Thanks again for organising another great trip Kristie and everyone from URGQ that put in the effort to make it possible!