Montague Island gets my "Seal of Approval"

Now that it's Spring, it was time to get out my scuba gear and go on yet another Prodive Weekend Trip.  On the Labour Day Long Weekend (Sept. 29-Oct. 1) the destination was Montague Island which is a 20 minute boat ride from Narooma. 

Now Narooma, unlike all the other Prodive weekend trips I've been on to date is actually south of Sydney - about 5 hours drive south.  And considering it's Spring, that means the water's colder and not only are wet suits and gloves recommended but hoods are as well! The water was 14 degrees celcius (57 farenheit).

Montague Island's diving is most well known for the dozens upon dozens of seals that play with the divers in the water.  They're not scared of us at all, in fact they seem to love the attention and swim all around us, playing and having fun.  

Our Prodive leaders Mick and Amber took about 15 of us on 6 dives (2 each day for 3 days) in Narooma which is derived from the Aboriginal word "clear blue waters" and we did indeed have some very solid visibility as you'll see from my photos and videos.  They also kept us busy top-side with lawnbowling and a side trip to Tilba after our morning dives. 

A shout out to my dive buddy Jackie who looks so calm and relaxed underwater as she's video-ing away.  You'll see her in some of the videos in yellow fins, mask and holding a video camera. 

The seals were so active it was best to use video. But for the smaller sealife, particularly the nudibranch which don't move fast, I was practicing using my Canon G12 camera and Adobe Photoshop that my family got for me last year. A sign of success - there are more photos of the many, many I took that I'm happy to share with you :)

Sept. 29, 2012

Dive #156 - 18.0 meters, 44 minutes (Near the lighthouse on Montague Island)

Dive #157 - 18.6 meters, 32 minutes

Sept. 30, 2012

Dive #158 - 10.9 meters, 43 minutes (The back of Montague Island)

Dive #159 - 10.8 meters, 46 minutes (Chinese Dragon nudibranch, giant bull ray, Jackie also found an eel right at the start)

Oct.1, 2012

Dive #160 - 20.4 meters, 47 minutes (right at the start Jackie finds yet another eel, saw 3 bull rays)

Dive #161 - 13.4 meters, 49 minutes 

A Port Jackson Shark, baby!

Stone fish, creepy looking "googly" eyes!

A Blue Dragon Nudibranch aka "Chinese Dragon". The head is at the bottom of the photo.

Amber and Nick (above)

Lighthouse on Montague Island (behind me)