Jervis Bay: Weekend February 7
Author: John Bird

Jervis Bay: 2 1/2 hours drive due south of Sydney, Australia.
Weather: Fine, Sunny, no breeze, 25 degrees C.
Seas: Glassy in the Bay, slight rolling swell outside the Heads. Water Temp: 21 degrees C.
Viz: 20 meters

Jervis Bay is a jewel along the New South Wales coastline. It's a large, almost circular bay with a wide entrance guarded by enormous sandstone cliffs, which rise vertically from the sea below. Outside the Bay, those cliffs continue northward and southward providing fine locations for diving. Inside the bay are numerous dive sites, each with their own unique ecosystems.

This Saturday morning we sampled sites from both outside and inside the bay.  0800 and Pro Dive's boat, Genesis, with 12 passengers and crew heads out of Huskisson, across the bar to make the 25 minute trip out beyond the heads.  Clearing the bar, a group of resident dolphins appear for an early morning aerobics class, and delights the passengers with a bit of engine wake riding. A few of the extoverts perform a few barrel rolls much to the delight of the audience. At 8 knots, the dolphins have little trouble keeping up and our skipper makes a few tight circles in order to extend the performance. After 10 minutes we throttle up and head across the bay.

Today is a rare treat with the glassy conditions. Jervis Bay is weather prone and the wind often gets up by noon on a summers day making for unpleasant conditions aboard any vessel.  However, Jervis Bay always seems to have an abundance of protected sites, so only the worst of conditions forces cancellation of the day's activities.  We poke our nose outside the Heads to discover only a nice rolling swell and the consensus among the group is to dive just north of the Point Perpendicular Lighthouse.  The Skipper gives us a good briefing on the site, the buddy checks are made and the giant strides off the back commence. We anchor in 16 meters and a quick glance down the anchor line reveals the bottom. This is outstanding viz for summer here.  Down the anchor line and to the bottom where we are surrounded by massive boulders which have fallen from the cliffs high above, a very long time ago. The fish- life in Jervis Bay is staggering and a good show by the locals is always available.  First mission is to look for Weedy Seadragons in the Kelp bed near the anchor. We take a quick scan but are unable to locate any. Heading further north we cruise a small valley between larger rocks and poke and prod the small rocks, caves and swim thrus. Blackfish, Morwong, Sweeps, Nannygais, Rock Cods, Ladder Finned Pomfrets are abundant today. A few nice sized Yellowtail Kingfish make random appearances and the occasional Ray shoots through. Closer inspection reveals.   Nudibranchs in a rainbow of colors and varieties, and the area is covered in bright colored sponges and Sea Tulips.  We stay at the 20 meter mark for the duration of the dive and despite the depth, the swell reaches down and gently rocks us side to side as we explore. After 45 minutes, we make our way up the anchor line to the bar for our safety stop.

Back on board with gear secured, we head back inside for surface interval and pull up in a sheltered area called "The Docks" Now at this point, Pro Dive generally supplies divers with a choice of soup, coffee or tea and a good supply of jelly jubes and mints. However there are no jelly jubes or mints this trip and a small but vocal protest erupts. The Skipper informs us that jelly jubes and mints are for the winter season, but we don't buy it.

But there is fresh watermelon and the rioters are soon pacified. An hour later and the gear-up for the second dive begins. This area of "The Docks" is a very sheltered cove with a distinctive U shape. To the East is an isolated sandstone bommie where the Skipper informs us that Grey Nurse Sharks (Sand Tigers) are often found milling about in a large overhang.  Descending to 16 meters, we follow the sandline around to the bommie and due to the abundance of kelp, have a serious look for more Weedy Seadragons. They are most elusive today and we never locate any. The bommie is a delight and there are numerous cracks and ledges to explore with all manner of critters hiding out. It is obvious that this place would be ideal for Grey Nurse Sharks to reside and we approach slowly as the viz here is down to about 12 meters. However, the Sharks are not to be found today, but we spend five minutes sifting the sand looking for teeth.  Probing underneath the overhangs and cracks, reveals lifeforms on all manner of scales.

Young Cuttlefish peer out from the cracks, small Shrimp dart away at our approach, Comb Wrasse put on a brave front and challenge our faceplates with that "Hey, what are you guys doing here?" approach. Leatherjackets in numerous varieties reside here. Small Gorgonians are evident in small caves in a terrific dark crimson hue. Sponges and Tulips cover the rocks, and Nudibranchs are evident everywhere.  A nice bonus towards the end of the dive are two rather healthy looking brown Moray Eels having a social. 

The time passes all too quickly and we are back onboard making the return to Huskisson.   Jervis Bay offers exceptional diving and is a must for anyone venturing Sydney way.