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THE BRITISH SUB-AQUA CLUB established 1953 - DIVING FOR DIVERS (LINK CHECK 22/8/2008)
CONTACT MARINE DIVERS: info@marinedivers.com Tel: (852) 2656 9399 / 9194 0221, Fax: (852) 2656 9399ARTICLESDIVE MARSHAL REPORTSLITTLE PALM BEACH 30 Jun 2002SEAHORSES & RAYS Marine Divers - BSAC Special Branch 2292 Arriving at LPB at 0830, we kitted up rapidly having pre-rigged our gear the day before. The weather wasn't quite as good as promised, cloudy, a few showers, with a light wind, consequently a bit cooler and more comfortable than the day before. Dive 1We descended on our first dive at 0845, intending a 45 minute dive, maximum 6m depth, with the object of finding the Butterfly Rays Ed and I had seen here the previous Thursday. Usual route: straight off the ramp on a bearing of 330, heading for the artificial reef of quarry rock, with Outboard Motor (OBM), shoals of small fish, large Sweetlips, Clowns, large Oriental Butterflyfish and possibly a large Butterfly Ray - would it still be using the vicinity? Lets see..... Well as often happens on our shore dives, only 3 or 4 minutes into the dive, having already spotted Milk spot puffer buried in the sand, and a 150 mm Stone Fish on the sand under Andrew!, I spot an unexpected bonus at 2.5 m - a larger Seahorse lying still in front of a rock. He (it was pregnant - yes, its the male which carries the young to birth), wasn't moving much, but was hanging onto a piece of broken rice bowl. In order to get a better photo, I carefully lifted the bowl onto the top of the rock without disturbing the creature, so the others would have a better view. Wow, this one must be almost due!! Its belly was extremely distended, and its pouch opening (its like a Kangaroo's) was clearly visibly, would we be lucky enough to witness Seahorse birth? Not today unfortunately. Took a few photos from various directions, let the others have a close look. Carrying on, we reached the Reef, circling clockwise, over where we saw the ray last time - nothing, but showed Andrew the OBM, clown fish, a fish trap with many species inside, two large Butterflyfish. I then led along the rope connecting fish traps to the next one, before heading due south to return to the edge of the rocks along the shore - where we often find rays basking in the warm shallow water. Turning west along the boundary between rock and sand habitats, we soon spotted the vacated resting places of quite large butterfly rays - where they settle in, flick sand over them selves to provide more camouflage, and feed on crustaceans etc in the sand. So alerting Ed to the fact that they were about, and showing Andrew what we were looking for, we proceeded on, more alert. I soon spotted one - the largest of the day. Signalling the others to take a viewing position, I carefully fanned the sand off the ray. It didn't mind, didn't see me as a threat. With the whole animal uncovered, demonstrating tenderly rubbing it between its eyes, the other two were invited to do the same. A new experience. Another would be watching it swim, so taking up a standing position, I carefully slid a fin under the rear of one of its wings. Slight movements, it wasn't interested! A little more, with care, eventually it lifted off, and glided away - not as spectacular as the one scared by us at Barracuda Bay a few days before, but gave the guys a good view. Further on a couple more, then returned to the ramp, finding another on our way back - a total of 4 rays and a seahorse - a good dive for all. A short surface interval as we were doing dives above 6m. Dive 2The wind was minimal, the tide was up, the "Back Beach" at LPB was in perfect condition, no rubbish, no breakers, a fishing boat (turned out to be doing something else!) To consider avoiding. Andrew suggested trying the swim round the peninsula - so far we have never managed it, always surfacing short having spend too long doing drills etc earlier in the dive. Go for it - max 6m so breathing rate low, not stopping, lets get round to LPB ramp.... Its a careful walk down a track, then over a pebbly beach, and over pebbles on entry, but the viz was much better than LPB as usual as its a rocky shore not sandy. Down at 1002. Due east out of the bay, between large rocks, spotted Russel snapper, Butterfly fish, 2 Flute mouths / Cornet fish, many small Sgt Majors, shoals of baby Chinese Demoiselle,, then what I first took to be a spearfisherman - but on closer inspection it was a hookah diver - on surface supply, (or maybe just a long hose?) collecting urchins in a large net bag - mainly Diadema - good on ya!! Giving him an OK, he returned with a V for victory - no comment!!!
Out to 6m, then turn north, piloting with the rocks on my left, giving
Andrew on my shallow side enough room to manoeuvre. Followed the coast
round till
Andrew tugged me indicating he had spotted an Octopus. Unfortunately
it disappeared from its position on the sand to seek shelter under
a rock,
but we could
clearly see its tentacles - musty be quite large. Tried attracting
it with my dive
knife,
but only managed to get a very thin tentacle out. Further on we were
turning west, not much other than Diadema! But interesting rock outcrops.
Felt
the current of the falling tide in our face, but not too much extra
effort. Then
1 Angel
fish? (check in the HK fish book - couldn't ID it, checked in SE Asia
fish guide, couldn't find it - so bit puzzled). More clowns, usual
small stuff,
anemones,
crabs, cucumbers etc. Turning south we were entering LPB bay. Again
the usual - Leatherjackets (file fish), Glass fish, etc. Finding 1.5m
we
surfaced, just missed the Ramp off to our right about 5m - not bad
after navigating
round
a peninsula. This took 33 minutes, so bit of time left. I proposed
we spend another
5 minutes or so out from the ramp - thinking / hoping of finding the
seahorse again for more photos as I had 12 shots left. Luckily Ed is getting pretty good at spotting things, saw another Seahorse - not the same one - much lighter, almost yellow. This one was resting on the sand - another Male, heavily pregnant. I carefully scooped him up for the others to see, allowing it to wrap its prehensile tail around my finger for support. Quite a little squeezer! Getting him to jump onto Andrew's or Ed's finger was a different matter! Also trying to get him to let go and swim off was difficult. Eventually I found if I turned him upside down to be hanging from my finger, he would release and swim off, allowing another finger to be offered as an anchorage. So all had a chance to have a seahorse on their finger. The knack is not to squeeze or hold tightly - just provide a supporting hand and they seem quite happy, feeding away. At one point he swam off my hand towards Ed who had to be careful not to move as it headed under his hoses, over his shoulder, swimming in the open water - should have been a great shot, but guess the roll was finished! Typical!! Leaving him resting on the sand again, we proceeded back to the ramp with a total dive time of 50 minutes racked up. Another great dive, and it was only 1052! Plenty of time to dekit and get back to USRC - arriving 1140, showered, changed, Oceania Lounge for lunch and a cold drink. Pool looked tempting, but admin and preparation to do for the next day's dive. Yet another great day diving with Marine Divers. Unfortunately the photos didn't come out too well - must do a photography course!! But can still prove what we saw. Ginger Ayres OFF PAGE MARINE DIVERS CALENDAR 2008 / 2009 CONTACT MARINE DIVERS: info@marinedivers.com Tel: (852) 2656 9399 / 9194 0221, Fax: (852) 2656 9399 |
