Mindarie Keys Marina Boat Dive

Sunday 24th May 2015 – Mindarie Keys Marina Boat Dive

After last weeks aborted mission, we couldn’t have asked for better conditions today.  For quite a few of the divers going on the boat with Western Blue Dive Charters, the mission was to catch Crayfish.  For me, I had my camera.

Mindarie Keys Marina Boat Dive Map
Mindarie Keys Marina Boat Dive Map

First stop was a deeper dive (23.6m) at “The Wall”.  As you can see from the Google Earth track, this site is on the edge of the limestone shelf which presents lots of crevices, caves and hiding places for Crayfish.  The water was 20 deg C which is great with a 5mm wetsuit.

We were down for 33 minutes, so I got to take a few pictures of fish and a few bubbles.

Stripey
The very common and imaginatively named “Stripey”
Flying Saucer
Flying Saucer

 

 

Saddled Puffer
Saddled Puffer

 

The only catch of the first dive
The only catch of the first dive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dive two

We then moved on to “Caverns” which as you can see is a piece of reef which breaks the surface a bit closer in to the shore due west of Mindarie Keys.  This dive was 14m for 45 minutes after spending 1hr15 on the surface.

With all the swim throughs and caves at this site and better visibility being a bit closer to the surface, the Crayfish were easier to spot.

Crayfish Pair
Crayfish Pair

These guys managed to escape the hoop for today, as did this big one!

 

Crayfish in Cave
Crayfish in Cave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But his friend was dinner tonight!