At The Graveyard site each took a giant stride off the boat into clear warm water. Peter Trood, Heather Armour and Janne and Tony Moran, to perform transects for two areas whilst Anita and Greg Toland were to do Spot a Shark monitoring using cameras with laser beams. The tapes were to a rock and ran the obligatory 25 metres in a straight line, then the divers slowly swam back along to monitor for marine debris. An old anchor with a chain was found on the first transect but nothing in the opposite direction so random searches were commenced. Later a fishing rod and a fishing lure was found amongst the kelp. Also spotted were a large numb ray and a Port Jackson Shark but no grey nurse sharks. Total dive time was 46 minutes with a maximum depth of 17.8 metres.
tony laying the transect line at Graveyards
After a surface interval the boat motored over to the second site, Charlottes Reef just off Shelly Beach. The water was shallower this dive so a slight current was evident and the visibility was down. Again transects were taken with no marine debris found. After a short time however near the rocks fishing line, sinkers, hooks, rope and plastic netting were retrieved as well as a surfboard fin. A large anchor with chain was sighted but could not be retrieved so several photographs were taken. Several house bricks were also sighted. Three more numb rays were lying amongst the rocks. Total dive time was 52 minutes with a maximum depth of 9.8 metres. Water temperature was 21 degrees.
mating numb-rays. HEATHER ARMOUR
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