Chilly dirty water

[JonD]

Wasn't sure where to put this given its not a fishing report, though I did feel like bait for something big and nasty!!!!!

So I was asked if I could take a the partner of my wife's best friend new to snorkelling out for a dive with the seals as he couldn't find any charters doing the trips this time of the year. I must admit to not being overly keen given how cold the water has turned and I only have one cold water suit but I committed to saying I would take the fella. 

The 9am start went to 10am then 11am before the guy finally turned up at 1pm just as the wind started to blow!!!!!! With just myself onboard I don't mind working through chop and gunning it from A to B but with someone who doesn't boat I had to take it easy. Even at the ramp is easy to see the water had turned mushy over the last few days and sure enough once I got out to Montague the dirty water and the fact I was lending my cold water suit to the guest didn't inspire me.

Jumped in with a sudden flush of cold water leaking in just about everywhere in my torn up summer suit, at least my guest was happy and warm!!!!

The seals were incredibly excited to have play mates and this soon attracted stingrays and port Jacksons which had my guest beaming with excitement also. I had my concerns being late in the day in such poor vis so moved to another stop where again dozens of seals and even a green turtle came to check us out. Songs from humpbacks were amazing and must of been pretty close considering how loud they were. We only stayed in the water about an hour as I didn't want to push our luck to much give my daughter was forced out on her last two dives by a great white on the last one and a tiger shark the trip before. 

These are a few screen shots from GoPro footage, these almost didn't happen after the GoPro foot broke and the camera dropped 17m to the bottom which is about the max of my breath hold.

 

[Fried Rice]

9am start & he showed up at 1pm? You have more patience than me. Lovely photos, must have been "somewhat chilly" in a summer suit this time of year.

[Blackfish]

Excellent photos Jon and great job in staying in the water in that suit.🥶

[Rebel]

Super story.

Top photos.

Well done.

[Burger]

16 hours ago, JonD said:

The 9am start went to 10am then 11am before the guy finally turned up at 1pm

You’re a patient man JonD!

Hope ‘old mate’ had the courtesy to let you know he was going to be late…..

[Bryant fish]

Great photos looks like fun but a bit too sharky for me

[JonD]

1 hour ago, Burger said:

You’re a patient man JonD!

Hope ‘old mate’ had the courtesy to let you know he was going to be late…..

No, not really, my wife contacted hime when he was 1hr late to find he was just leaving Canberra!!!!!!....three hours away with traffic. It seems to be how the majority of people are these days, Ive given up letting it bother me, hence why I have such a small boat and mostly fish alone😁

[zmk1962]

18 hours ago, JonD said:

Wasn't sure where to put this given its not a fishing report, though I did feel like bait for something big and nasty!!!!!

So I was asked if I could take a the partner of my wife's best friend new to snorkelling out for a dive with the seals as he couldn't find any charters doing the trips this time of the year. I must admit to not being overly keen given how cold the water has turned and I only have one cold water suit but I committed to saying I would take the fella. 

The 9am start went to 10am then 11am before the guy finally turned up at 1pm just as the wind started to blow!!!!!! With just myself onboard I don't mind working through chop and gunning it from A to B but with someone who doesn't boat I had to take it easy. Even at the ramp is easy to see the water had turned mushy over the last few days and sure enough once I got out to Montague the dirty water and the fact I was lending my cold water suit to the guest didn't inspire me.

Jumped in with a sudden flush of cold water leaking in just about everywhere in my torn up summer suit, at least my guest was happy and warm!!!!

The seals were incredibly excited to have play mates and this soon attracted stingrays and port Jacksons which had my guest beaming with excitement also. I had my concerns being late in the day in such poor vis so moved to another stop where again dozens of seals and even a green turtle came to check us out. Songs from humpbacks were amazing and must of been pretty close considering how loud they were. We only stayed in the water about an hour as I didn't want to push our luck to much give my daughter was forced out on her last two dives by a great white on the last one and a tiger shark the trip before. 

These are a few screen shots from GoPro footage, these almost didn't happen after the GoPro foot broke and the camera dropped 17m to the bottom which is about the max of my breath hold.

 

Having been a hand spear fisherman in my youth those photos reminded me why I stopped - it was a day just like that when 3 of us were hustled out of the water at Clovelly by a too inquisitive shark, appearing out of the murk and swimming between us several times. 
Double hats off to you Jon - conditions and water temp. 

ps - you can tell this was a long while ago- no spearfishing in that area now. 
cheers Zoran 

[JonD]

28 minutes ago, zmk1962 said:

Having been a hand spear fisherman in my youth those photos reminded me why I stopped - it was a day just like that when 3 of us were hustled out of the water at Clovelly by a too inquisitive shark, appearing out of the murk and swimming between us several times. 
Double hats off to you Jon - conditions and water temp. 

ps - you can tell this was a long while ago- no spearfishing in that area now. 
cheers Zoran 

All the best spots tend to be the sharkiest, funny that!!!!!!.....got good numbers of lobsters last week at another spot where you really need to have eyes in the back of your head. 

Heading up the top end soon, where I dive a few river mouths in extremely sharky areas, where Ive been on the menu before with large groups of sharks. Its best to go in and not hunt anything up there and they tend to leave you alone then.

Edited July 18, 2023 by JonD

[fredflathead]

Love the photos, you can't help bad manners. I had just got married and about a year later took my new son to the parents at Coffs Harbour. I also took a mate and we went spearfishing off the Breakwater the wife was sitting on the rocks. We were about 100 yards off the breakwater when I swam done and speared two leatherjacks in a small cave. The water was very clear and when I turned around there was a 10ft tiger shark approaching me, I surfaced and yelled out to my mate SHARK and then swam to the breakwater. My wife said she knew something was wrong as I was walking on the water. I had been spearing fishing for many years, I sold my gear and never went back in. Your photos take me back however the sharks do like seals.

[Yowie]

Some great photos there. Always interesting to see what is in the water.

I found SCUBA gear was better in my early days, I don't hold breathe too long, I like to keep breathing.  🤣

Sammy the black seal was in Port Hacking yesterday, doing side stoke on the surface. Probably why the fish were scarce.

[Croydon]

Your 'friend' is a lucky man, would have found me at the pub that late in the day!  Great photo's, thanks for sharing.........

Dave

[Burger]

On 7/18/2023 at 12:22 PM, JonD said:

my wife contacted hime when he was 1hr late to find he was just leaving Canberra!!!!!!....three hours away with traffic

WOW, I have no words!

You’re a great bloke to still take him out!!!

[big Neil]

Patience personified Jon. You are certainly a brave man to be a) fishing solo in decent seas and b) diving in areas LIKELY to hold sharks. I know from your posts that you and your family are very comfortable in and around the water but sharks and saltwater crocs hold no respect for courageous humans. The pictures emphasise what you said in the post...murky and cold water. Hope that the guy was appreciative of your efforts.

Cheers, bn

[bessell1955]

Quality photographs, well done.