Photos by Ben Crossett
Some of the usual suspects had signed up for a trip out to Long Reef with Baz (Southern Cross Divers). A stiff breeze on Friday had whipped the seas up to 4m (according to wave rider) on Friday evening. This had nothing to do with Sickboy and Al cancelling the dive at the last minute, neither was the fact that Sickboy was in the Observer Hotel at gone midnight! However the forecast was for it to drop overnight and it was certainly a beautiful morning as we headed out from The Spit. Once past the heads we could see the forecasters had got it right and there was just the tail end of a rolling swell, you can tell how calm it was as ‘canary’ Michelle remained pink around the gills throughout the dive! Baz hooked in ‘the barge’ – which once used to dump ash from the Pyrmont Power Plant out at sea, until it was dumped itself in the late 70’s. It sits up right at 46m, has an engine room and wheel house at the stern, three large holds,which you can swim between and winch at the bow. After a lap and a rummage it was time to head back for soup, cheese ‘n biscuits and a sunny ride home, capped off with a bit of whale watching!
Photos by Ben Crossett
