Just to work off (some!) of the Christmas pud, Janet, Julian and myself went
for a dip this morning at .... :-)))

Janet was trying out some new 'toys' that Tricky's bought her:  A small,
compact 'Light & Motion' video light and a Sea & Sea Macro lens that both
fit onto the Sony P5 housing.  The results - those that we could see when
viewed on the small LCD display afterwards - looked superb.  The video light
is a very small, self-contained unit on a flexible arm and offers three
light intensity settings.  The macro kit also has a distance frame and -
with the additions - still produces a small, easily managed with one-hand,
camera. :-)

The vis was a little on the milky side with a maximum of 10-metres.  But the
water temperature's warmed up to between 22 - 23 deg. C.

We saw - and photographed a couple of small lionfish, the painted anglerfish
that's taken up residence on one particular rock; several different
varieties of nudibranch, octopus, a large eastern red scorpioncod, a large -
and to my of thinking, leprous-looking - yellow estuarine catfish, and uvver
stuff!  :-)

We did also discover two very large wobbegongs lying beneath rock ledges.
Bearing in mind their apparent predilection for munching on groins, we all
clutched our important parts and gave them a wide berth!  (Just to think!
We used to prod them and tweek their tales!)

Back in the shallows towards the shore, we encountered a massive school of
small whitebait that formed an umbrella between us and the surface.
Swimming beneath - and occasionally helping themselves to the snack - were
several schools of seapike (they look like barracuda) and yellowtail.  Also
a camera-shy Fanbellied Leatherjacket.

(Just checking the log book, I note that we've knocked up in excess of 4,500
minutes so far this year at Shelly Beach alone!  And we're planning another
early morning dive on the morning of the 31st, just to round off the year!)
:-))))

Strike