Pretty Pics

[Richard Mason]

OK, not much of a dive report, because I didn't actually get to dive on account of my current bout of bronchitis which has kept me dry for over 3 weeks now, so I was boat boy for the day.

The club dived The Nord last weekend, one of Tasmania's only diveable and reasonably intact wrecks, she was a small freighter that went down in 1915, having hit the Tasman Rock, about 10NM away, so called because the steamer Tasman also hit it 20 odd years before. That one is still on the rock, in 80M, and only 5 or 6 people have dived her.

Anyway, back to the chase, they managed to lose the shot line on her, for reason's I won't go into as one or two people still seem pretty snakey about it. It has lots of stainless steel carabiners on it and we don't really like leaving a load of rope on there so it was a good excuse to go for another dive.

She's in 42m, which makes it quite exciting and lies in Munro Bight, under Nord Bluff on the Tasman Peninsula. The area is only accessible by boat, although iof you like walking for 2 days with all your food and water, you can access the cliffs above.



Anyway, arrived on site this morning, at about 10.00AM, anchor was dropped between the wreck and the reef, boys entered the water with the intention of clipping a lift bag to the end of the shot line, which they did - the bag hit the surface 4 mins after they descended.

You can just see it in the centre of this panorama, looking toward Cape Pillar. Apologies for the crap panorama, I'm using trial version of Pitgui stitching software.



Once we'd retrieved our gear, it was off to the ramp at Eaglehawk Neck, via the scenic route. Shortly after we started back, we came across a female Humpback Whale and her calf - couldn't get close enough for a photo but it was an awesome experience.

First stop on the way back was Arch Rock, just south of the Lanterns & Fortescue Bay.





Then back towards the Lanterns, passing The Monument on the way. This photo is looking back south into Munro Bight. The Monument is an isolated sea stack which I dived a couple of years ago, dropping straight down into 55M. These sea cliffs are over 300m (1000ft) high and are the highest in Australia, possibly the only dolerite sea cliffs in the world. Tasmania is 60% dolerite, formed from a deep upwelling when Antarctica tore away from Australia during the Jurassic period (when the rocks around Lyme Regis & Whitby were being laid down).



Next came the Lanterns and the Candle Stick, which form the southern gateway into Fortescue Bay.


There's a smaller column (this area is all columnar dolerite), called The Totem Pole which is popular with (some) climbers. Here's the view from dry land. It's over 60M tall.


And finally, the most easterly of The Lanterns, a fine wall dive, covered in a huge mass of yellow zooanthids.


A general view of this area taken from The Devils Kitchen, further to the north, a little to the south of Eaglehawk Neck.


THe group of rocks poking out in the middle distance are known as The Thumbs, again, another great wall dive, bottoming out onto sandy reef at around 50M.

That's what I love about this place, I enjoy the trip to and from the dive site almost as much as the dive itself.

[Prometheus]

Great shots Richard , it looks a wild place . Bet the fishings good.

[daveb0000]

looks a very interest place to dive lucky lucky git

enjoy

Dave..

[Craby]

really nice pics especially the brown boot!!!!!


hope you post some after a few dives.


would be good to see under the water too

take care be safe xx

[ratcliffe]

Somw awesome rock formations there, especiall the spidery uprights, they look as though they might flake apart at any moment

[Buoyant Babe]

I hate you sometimes Richard

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by ratcliffe

Somw awesome rock formations there, especiall the spidery uprights, they look as though they might flake apart at any moment

Funny you should say that, a British climber had a horrific accident with a falling rock on the Totem Pole, about 10 yrs ago. His girlfriend managed to haul him up onto a ledge, tie him on, climb across back to the "mainland", then run 6.5kms to Fortescue Bay to raise the alarm. The chopper couldn't get in close enough so they had to lower him into a boat. They reckon that it was only his helmet that held his skull together.

I think I'd prefer drowning.

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Great shots Richard , it looks a wild place . Bet the fishings good.

It's not bad, unfortunately, most of the "valuable": stuff is only catchable in a net, otherwise, there's bottom fishing for flathead on the sand - best eating fish you ever had, and suicidally easy to catch, when they're on, you'll catch em as quick as you can get the bait on the bottom, reel em up, unhook em and drop the line back in. 40 in an hour is pretty common.

Late Summer, the Southern Blue Fin Tuna run through there, a work colleague caught a 70Kg fish there last April. Took an hour to land and he was weak as a kitten when he came to work next day.

It's also White Pointer country too; Lots of seals & dolphins for them to eat, but they are totally protected here so don't even think about it. There was a pod of Orca down there too yesterday.

Originally Posted by Craby

really nice pics especially the brown boot!!!!!

Not mine fortunately, heights terrify me. Especially ones involving the words "sheer", "drop", "120" and "metres".

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

I hate you sometimes Richard

Aaaw, don't.