Dive Articles

Gold Coast Sea Way

Night Dive

We arrived at the Seaway shortly after 5pm , the sun was just starting to set, the water was calm and reflecting the deep burnt orange, but slowing giving away to dusk. The high tide was due to hit at 5:45pm conditions were perfect for a night dive. We began to gear up trying to make the most of the fading light. Joining me on the dive were photographers Seanna Cronin & John Natoli with Simon Stares as surface watch.

Ian Banks legendary seaway photographer popped over to say hello, I quickly picked his brains about the best place to find my quarry for that evening the High Crown Seahorse. I have never shot video of a seahorse and was eager to get one on film for the website. Ian gave me a few points of where to look and briefed me on  other life I might encounter.

Entry for this dive was from beach, a nice and easy walk into the water, one final check of the seals on the camera and then we descended down to 3 meters. It is hard to judge the visibility of water when diving at night, I would say we had about 8m but there were lots of particles in the water. I spotted something had caught John's attention it was a Cockatoo Waspfish. I waited until he was finished then filmed the fish. Excellent he was new so I would be adding him to F.I.N, as I turned I saw a Stick Pipefish (also new) I passed over a tree branch and almost missed the Highcrown Seahorse, I lined up the shot hoping the light would not spook him. He was kind enough to pose for me for a couple on minutes. This was great the first three fish I filmed were all new!

It did not stop there! I managed to film a Ornate Ghostpipe fish, Mossback Veletfish and a fringe-eyed Flathead all subject I had not captured on film before.

Ad to that tones of shrimp and crabs out hunting, its was turning into a most excellent dive and I was still only 4m deep.

Later on the dive I got footage of a High-fin Moray sliding across the seagrass and a octopus hunting.

At about the 60 minute mark I decided to head back towards the beach where I came upon The same Mossback Veletfish I had filmed earlier, I turned on the video light and started to film him. A small juvenile goatfish was swimming dangerously close to the mouth of this ambush predator. I remained silent and still hopping I was going to capture the strike on film. Closer and closer to the mouth the goatfish got I was sure it was going to happen, then BANG a diver kicked over the top of me his fin hit the ground and the goat fish was gone, a lucky escape for him. I silently cursed into my reg..oh well next time!

Overall a good dive lots to see and a nice and easy dive profile.

Dive Type: Muck/Night Dive
Entry: From the Beach
Max Depth: 7 Meters
Bottom Time: 65 Minutes

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