Diving
Cape Solander Dives
I've dived at Cape Solander 8 times:
Dive number | Date | Site | Location | Area | Country | Wreck | Freshwater | Depth (m) | Bottom time (min) | Total time (min) | Divers | Quality | Summary | Equipment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
395 |
27 Aug 1989 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 12 | 50 | 50 | Iain Hosking, Cathy Humphries | Oh dear, a five-month lay-off - a new record. This dive was Cathy's idea, and an excellent reintroduction for her after a six-month layoff. We had perfect weather - a few puffy cumulus in an otherwise clear sky, and calm water inshore with white horses beyond. The entry is off flat rocks, and then it's onto bare boulders at 5m, and sponge-covered rocks at 10m. We saw a huge cuttlefish almost immediately - Cathy spotted him in the open. Then it was over the boulders, among mado and little yellow and black blennies. In among the sponges were numerous assorted nudibranchs, and the fish included a blue groper, wrasse, leatherjacket, goatfish and scalyfin. I think it was mating season for scalyfin - one was chasing the other round and round. But the highlight was a weedy sea dragon. This improbable fish floated motionless inches from our noses. Amazing. A return visit is indicated. (LW slack at 11.00am) | ||||
402 |
22 Oct 1989 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 12 | 30 | 30 | Iain Hosking, Cathy Humphries, Eleanor Mullally | Threesome with Cathy and Eleanor. Could certainly never have predicted that a year ago. I'm afraid it wasn't as good as last time. Good weather, but a considerable swell, making entry tricky and exit downright dangerous. We descended quickly to get some calm water (and peace and quiet - the shoreline was very busy). Vis good at first, but relatively murky at depth. Saw a big wrasse (or groper) then nothing much except scalyfin and goatfish. Sponges were good, though. Found a couple of small moray, then lost Eleanor due to buoyancy problems (hers). Swam back on the surface and lost one of Eleanor's fins in the swell. Fairly warm in the wet suit, but legs heavy. | BC, 28lbs. | |||
428 |
22 Sep 1990 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 12 | 40 | 40 | Iain Hosking, Bill MacFarlane | Dive delayed once again by lack of BC hose (on Bill's BC) - this time I put one on but it turned out to be the burst one. Drove into Cronulla to buy another one - I suppose a spare's always handy. Very pleasant dive, with reasonable visibility. Plenty of fish - all the usual, plus groper. The highlight was a cuttlefish which ran through the most amazing colour changes - from sandy to a good imitation of pebbles and rocks, light purple/pink (sponge) to deep red and purple when he got annoyed. Also an octopus, but no weedy sea dragons. ($5 entry fee to park.) | Buddy Arctic | |||
435 |
2 Dec 1990 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 13 | 46 | 46 | Iain Hosking, Cathy Humphries | Nice, safe dive for Andrew and Michelle who haven't been in the water since New Year. Sunny day and very hot. Sea calm, vis not that great (outgoing tide, 1 hour before HW). Plenty of nudibranchs, an octopus, big leatherjacket, a small moray, wrasse, scalyfin and wonderful sponge gardens. Saw three new fish: velvetfish, which is very reluctant to move, even when prodded, and two very colourful ones - one with blue stripes on the head, the other smaller, like a blenny with red spots on the head. | ||||
525 |
20 Jul 2008 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 11 | 21 | Iain Hosking, Cameron Hosking | Cameron drove down, via Scuba Warehouse in Parramatta, where I met Judith for the first time in 20 years. Late start, made later by Cameron's buoyancy problem. Found one of the bags of weight had come loose. Retraced our steps and found it. Carried on. Patience rewarded when Cameron grabbed my ankle and pointed out a weedy sea dragon. Rushed back - gates close at 5.30pm. Water 17°C according to Manly Hydraulic Laboratories. Weather - overcast. Sea fairly calm. | Wet suit, 82 cu ft. Too much weight! No hood. | ||||
528 |
17 Jan 2009 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 15 | 43 | Iain Hosking, Brendan Hosking | $7 park entrance. Overcast cleared ot a sunny afternoon. SE wind so white horses, but easy entrance over rocks. Around 1 hr after high tide. Drifted east in the ebb current and had an energetic fin back. Brendan found a cuttlefish early on, and after much searching we found a weedy sea dragon and took a few photos. Viz reasonably good. Enjoyable dive. | Dry suit (more like a damp suit), 21 lbs, 82 cu ft tank. u/w camera (housing containing cheap film camera). Brendan - my wetsuit, hired BC + tank + reg ($65) + new knife ($65). | ||||
532 |
28 Mar 2010 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 12 | 47 | 47 | Iain Hosking, Brendan Hosking, Cameron Hosking | Some wave action. Poor vis at the surface; better below. Didn't find any weedy sea dragons, but Brendan found an octopus and Cameron a cuttlefish. Shoal of large, sleek fish with a yellow stripe along the sides. Took some photos demonstrating how green and murky it was. Must find some new sites. | Dry-type suit, 82 cu ft, Arctic, 2 weight belts. Hired BCs and weights from Abyss. Cameron wore my wetsuit and Brendan Andrew's. | |||
543 |
21 Dec 2013 | Cape Solander | Round from Inscription Point, Kurnell | Sydney | Australia | 13 | 49 | 49 | Iain Hosking, Brendan Hosking, Cameron Hosking | Relatively little life. Looked for weedy sea dragons but didn't find any. The boys found a squid, though. | Dry suit, hired aluminium tank |