Photo 1 and 2 by Stuart Marston, photo 3 by Julian Wilkinson and photo 4 by Ross Coleman
After a stunning drive through the Hawkesbury, a pleasant start to Saturday evening hosted by Michelle Ross unfolded, with Jill, Mike, Ben, Stu, Bec, myself and Rob in the spa looking like Al Capone. The Hawkesbury Residence achieved a new spa record consisting of eight of us touching toes and, created something resembling a waterfall down the garden.
The kitchen came into action around 8am filled with the smell of bacon sandwiches, mugs of tea, filter coffee on tap and a few bleary eyes. Im sure Michelle and Ross willhave emptied the last of the dishes the following night and helped do their bit to recycle a crate or two of empty beer bottles and the odd smashed champagne flute (sorry Miche)!
Photos by Stuart Marston
The boat was due to leave at 10.30am which made for comfortable timing to Terrigal Dive Centre for a double boat dive. After a few issues with Becs breather the final straw occurred with a perforated diaphragm and a lumpy wait on the boat. The kit issues didnt stop at Bec but were accompanied by numerous inflator hose sagas, a split mouthpiece, Ben got a new nipple and Stu found himself on a hunt for a pressure gauge.
First dive was Two White Houses, a 30 meter reef followed by a surface interval back at the dive centre, the second was an 18 meter deep reef somewhere in the middle of Avoca Bay [Ed he cant remember the dive site name]. Viz for both divesmaxed 15 meters with an array of the usual suspects including shoals of yellow tailed bullseye, the odd giant cuttlefish, octopus, starfish and plenty of nudibranch. To sum it up, two great dives. A big thumbs up to Fran and Les Graham at Terrigal Dive Centre who provided endless cups of filtered coffee, hot tea and cookies.
Photos by Stuart Marston
Michelle dazzled us all and created a picnic feast fit for 5 ravaged divers, complete with chequer table cloths finally playing the trump card with an esky containing a cold beer for of us each; top marks all around!
Thanks to:
Michelle for organizing and Ross for the BBQ and bacon sandwiches, and to both of you for inviting all of us.
Fran and Les and Terrigal Dive Center: Air fills, hot showers, wash tank, patio and kitting up area are available at the shop.
Photos 1 to 4 taken by Stuart Marston, photos 5 to 16 taken by Ross Coleman
Taken by Ross Coleman on 21 December 2009
