White on red

White on red, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Tiny snowflake like polyps on a Gorgonian fan. The many mouths filter food from the current - The Entrance, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Feather star and Black coral

Feather star and Black coral, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A Feather star clings to a Black coral fan. The position high in the current allows it to get the most nourishment. The bright red Black coral gets its name from the colour of its skeleton - North Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Dolphin leap

Dolphin leap, originally uploaded by diverjon.

One of a large pod of Spinner dolphins riding Taka's bow wave - Ribbon Reef 10, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Manta ray flap

Manta ray flap, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A Manta ray swims past, wing tips raised ready for a powerful trust into the blue - Round the Bend, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Taka and the Reef

Taka and the Reef, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Light winds caused Taka to sit unusually close to the reef, the clearance was only about 1.5m - The Entrance, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Nudibranch

Nudibranch, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A nudibranch, I've forgotten which species it is but nice to look at anyway - Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Leaf scorpionfish

Leaf scorpionfish, originally uploaded by diverjon.

One of the resident Leafys - Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Giant clam mantle

Giant clam mantle, originally uploaded by diverjon.

The irridescent colours of the mantle of a Giant clam - Clam Garden, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Boobie Bird

Boobie Bird, originally uploaded by diverjon.

This Boobie bird landed on the boat for a rest - Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Blue-spotted ray

Blue-spotted ray, originally uploaded by diverjon.

This Blue-spotted ray can often be found hiding in the same hole in the reef - Challenger Bay, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Flame file shell

Flame file shell, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A flame file shell. This fish-eating mollusc uses a pulse of electrical light to attract fish into its waiting tentacles - Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Pink anemonefish and Eggs

Pink anemonefish and Eggs, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A Pink anemonefish tending to its clutch of eggs behind its host anemone - Pixie Pinnacle, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Vertical limits

Vertical limits, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Divers explore the top 30m of the 1000m sheer vertical wall at The Entrance, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Sunset over Cairns Northern Beaches

Sunset over Cairns Northern Beaches, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Sunset over the Cairns Northern Beaches - Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Manta ray portrait

Manta ray portrait, originally uploaded by diverjon.

There were 5 Mantas cruising around this cleaning station at 30m - Round the Bend, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Manta ray flyby

Manta ray flyby, originally uploaded by diverjon.

This ray made a slow and close flyby at 30m gently rippling its wings to ease it through the water - Round the Bend, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Diver silhouette

Diver silhouette, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Divers on an early morning dive on the Western Wall of North Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea

Goatfish and snapper

Goatfish and snapper, originally uploaded by diverjon.

These goatfish and snapper can always be found schooling together at Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A cuttlefish displaying its tentacles at Clam Garden, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Fish Eye

Fish Eye, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Close up view of a Potato cod's eye at The Cod Hole, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Daddycuda

Daddycuda, originally uploaded by diverjon.

We call this guy Daddycuda. He is a huge Barracuda with plenty of battle scars. He always comes up under the boat at Temple of Doom, Great Barrier Reef Australia

Diver silhouettes

Diver silhouettes, originally uploaded by diverjon.

This was taken shortly after the shark feed out at North Horn, Osprey Reef, The Coral Sea

Hello

Hello, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A Rock Wallaby at Granite Gorge, Queensland, Australia

Wallaby Joey

Wallaby Joey, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A Wallaby Joey in the comfort of its mother's pouch - Granite Gorge, Queensland, Australia

Feeding a Rock Wallaby

Feeding a Rock Wallaby, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Ok, so I didn't take this one, my brother did, but I'm in it. Note the Joey in the pouch - Granite Gorge, Queensland, Australia

Croc

Croc, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A big crocodile resting in the water - Queensland, Australia

Monitor Lizard

DSC_0078, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A Monitor lizard (or Goanna, as they are known in Aus) - Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Branches

DSC_0055, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Interesting dead tree branches on the beach at Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Noah Creek

Noah Creek, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Finally made it off the boat and got to explore on land a bit. The mirror-like surface of the water hides the danger that lurks below, crocodiles inhabit this stretch of water - Noah Creek, Queensland, Australia

Nudibranch and Diver

P8030076, originally uploaded by diverjon.

The classic close focus wide angle shot of a Nudibranch and aquanaut - Pixie Pinnacle, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Lionfish

P7130064, originally uploaded by diverjon.

This lionfish was posing in the shallows on Pixie Pinnacle, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Surgeonfish

P7280002, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Schooling Surgeonfish at Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Taka at sunset

P8030084, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Taka with an eerie sunset in the background while preparing for a night dive at Challenger Bay, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Potato Cod

P8030013, originally uploaded by diverjon.

One of the Potato Cod that make The Cod Hole famous - The Cod Hole, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Cuttlefish

P7140099, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Found this Cuttlefish at Clam Garden, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Whale tale

P7130081, originally uploaded by diverjon.

This is a late afternoon shot of Cairns based photographer Matt Haling and a Minke whale at Pixie Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Minke whale II

P7070028, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Managed to get an even closer shot of this Minke as she cruised pass me at Temple of Doom, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Trevally

P7090045, originally uploaded by diverjon.

The resident school of Trevally at Challenger Bay, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Turtle II

P7070009, originally uploaded by diverjon.

A curious turtle found on a ledge at 10m on Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Into the blue

DSC01432, originally uploaded by diverjon.

50m vis on Ribbon Reef 2 2/3, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Turtle

DSC01152, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Turtle on top of Temple of Doom, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Freefall

P6200156, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Joey on Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Minke whale

DSC00810, originally uploaded by diverjon.

Minke whale at Temple of Doom, Great barrier Reef, Australia

Last week we got our first encounters with the Dwarf Minke whales that visit the Great Barrier Reef each year. It is one of the only places in the world where these great ocean mammals will actually seek out contact with humans, often staying with dive boats for hours on end, because of this we are actually allowed to offer in water experiences with the whales.

My first sighting was while returning back to the boat after a dive on Steve's Bommie. I was at a depth of about 5 metres swimming into blue water when I saw a flash of white between me and the boat. Later in the afternoon we moved to another reef nearby called Temple of Doom. I did a short dive on the site then returned to the boat. I hung on the anchor chain at about 7 metres for the remaining 3o minutes of my dive. The whales were about and over time they made several laps of the boat coming closer each time. I managed to get a few photos and some video footage of them before we had to leave.

I was more successful on the next trip out. Again we encountered the whales at Steve's Bommie. This time we stayed there for two dives. During the surface interval the passengers were able to snorkel with the whales off lines strung from the boat. I hung on the anchor chain after the first dive for another 30 minutes. The whales again came and did laps around the boat. Gaining confidence they eventually were passing within a couple of metres of me. It is quite an experience to be looking eye to eye with such an inquisitive 6 metre long animal.

Well I've finally got round to putting up some content. Hopefully by using a blogging service I will be able to keep things up to date and looking reasonably tidy.