Double Wreck

SS Dee Why

Doomba

 

Photo from Michael McFadyen’s Scuba Diving Web Site

It’s been while since I got wet as well as posting on the blog again.

This time we went to the double wreck  SS Dee Why and Meggol (ex HMS Wexford, SS Doomba and HMAS Doomba).

It was quite exciting as there are few penetration and 2 different wrecks on one dive!  We spend most of time on SS Dee Why and swam over to Meggol to have a quick look. I also tried Dive Rite Gator and a camera housing and both worked fine, so I will take my camera and start taking few shot and video next time.

Dive Data;

Max Depth; 48.4 metre

Dive Time; 62 minutes

Visibility; 12 metres

Temperature; 15.4 degrees

 

 

 

Coolooli again!

Photo from Michael McFadyen’s Scuba Diving Web Site

I realized I haven’t been diving for more than 5 weeks. Last dive was the last training dive for my DSAT Tec Deep Diver course. It actually was at Coolooli.

So I booked 2 dives on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was with my buddy AB and Sunday was with guys from my course.

Both days happened to be Coolooli again. I was expecting somewhere else on Sunday but end up the same.

But you know, I like Coolooli!

I enjoyed both dives.

So what’s next?

New Toy

I got new toys!

As you can see, Dive Rite NiTec Trio. This is a 3 gases switchable Dive computer. You can pre-set the 3 gases air to 99% O2 and you can switch these gases during the dive. I received it just before the last Tec Deep course training dive last week. I set one on the gauge mode as we run the dive with a table created by Deco software (V Planner) and set on as computer mode for back up.

I have set air for bottom gas and deco gases 50% and 100% (99%). We went on the wreck Coolooli and dive went well till first switching gas. The dive table I had on my arm was wrinkled and hard to read, so I was too busy concentrated for the depth and finding the correct time on the table and guess what? I totally forgot to switch gas on my new computer. When we surfaced, the computer was beeping away. I didn’t utilise new toy, did I?!!

I will use it correctly on the dive this coming Friday. See how it goes!

My dry suit

Finally!

I got my dry suit back from repair (Zipper replacement). It took more than a month but Oceanic Australia sent me a free hat and key ring for the delay, good on you Oceanic!

Anyway I went for a dive today for a trim and weight check, I took my camera but didn’t use much and no-good photo.

I was bit confuse. I was using the Apollo Neoprene Dry Suit for the DSAT Tec Level One course and I needed 5kg weight with near empty twin tank. Today I had same weight and I thought I might be able to lose 1kg because my suit is tri-laminate suit but no, I even need one more kg. mmmhh why???. Even trim has changed which I was expecting. I need to adjust my harness for setting the back plate lower.

I hope this works. I might try on Sunday again so I will be ready for the rest of Tec Deep Course starting next weekend.

Old Mine Diving

I went to Blue Mountain last Saturday.

My usual dive buddy wanted to dive the Blair Athol Mine No.4, a Colliery Incline and I went with him to help carrying gear and take some photos.

Walking down to the entrance wasn’t too bad. His dive plan was max depth of 66 metre for 25 minutes and 50-60 minutes deco. I jumped in to 6 metres to see buddy at deco for some photos, but I realised that this kind of diving needs a special training and I wasn’t quite comfortable in the water so I came back after 7 minutes. Water visibility wasn’t too bad til I stuffed up with my buoyancy.

Anyway, it was an experience. Actually coming back up with the gear was a bit of work we took almost 2 hours (Because I had to stop so many times to get my breath back). Difinitely I need some regular excercise.

Before                                                    After

BTW, I found a leak on my dry suit and it is on repair so I can’t dive for little while til it comes back. So photos might be next weekend!

Clifton Garden

First time diving with P-valve.

This is great! I could have a lot of water before dive, this mean I was well hydrated and I didn’t have a dry mouth after 70 minute of diving.

Anyway, it was good practice with the new strobe. I heard the news that a few seahorses have released at Chowder Bay today. I hope they settle there nicely.

Fairy Bower Dive

I’m back in Fairy Bower.

Dive was between 9am to 10am and as you can see, condition was good. few different rays and lot of fishes. I need to be patient and approach more slow and gentle I think.

A few photos I’m happy with. But still lot to learn and noeeds practice.

Queenscliff Bay

Max Depth: 10.1 m

Dive Time: 59 minutes

Time In: 8:23am

Viz: 10 m

Temp: 21℃

It was beautiful day, but little bit surgy so wasn’t the best day for photo.

I have tried few shots and it was OK.

I will introduce my camera gear later!

Queenscliff Bay

Camera is still on its way.

This is my dive profile we went on last Thursday night.

It was little bit surgy but enjoyable dive especially after 80 minutes dive on the sand bed last week. You can see the big difference on life style there. Hinge Back Shrimps (I believe) and big eyes are out everywhere, octopus is out from their hole for a hunt and Blue Groper is sleeping behind the rocks. I need to come back here when I got the camera. It need to be little calmer so not much surge and no stir up the sand.

I can’t wait!

TSS Currajong

I got a phone call from my dive buddy “Go for dive?”

I am quite lazy and I usually say No to those spontaneous invitation. But I said “YES” with no hesitation. I think I needed to have a decent dive since last wreck dive.

High tide is 9:05am, bit windy but beautiful sunny day. Usual procedures head out from Bradley Head light house on 120 degrees for about 10 minutes and hang left and the TSS Currajong should be there. ????? Where is she??? We should be about 23 meters of water but it was bit shallower so bit of adjustment towards deeper water and there she is!!! You might be able to see on my other photos on Flickr, bit of current was running and my buoyancy wasn’t good at all.

I’m not happy with photos but it was great day after all!