Temp: 20s
Bottom Time: 90 mins
Vis: 10m
Divers: John Strainge, Emma Broughton

Neither of us had been to Blairgowrie Pier before, but we'd heard amazing things about it so our expectations were high. We certainly weren't disappointed! Immediately upon descent we were amazed at the cover and diversity of sponges, ascidians, and bryozoans. There was so much of the pier to explore but one could spend the whole dive examining a single pylon! Before too long we spotted a Pot Bellied Seahorse clinging to some seaweed at the base of a pylon. After taking a few photos of our seahorse friend we made our way towards the breakwater and spotted countless (i.e. hundreds!) crabs, shrimp, blennies, and porcupine fish. We spent a bit of time with a gorgeous mosaic leatherjacket and also spotted quite a few juvenile leatherjackets too (not sure what type though). There were also goatfish, dusky morwong, hula fish, magpie perch, and several others whose names escape me. Spotted a nudibranch too on the way back in. Fish life was certainly more abundant towards the breakwater but I was more impressed with the sponges and invertebrate life on the pylons - depends what you're into I suppose! As for the conditions there was a teeny bit of chop and a half-decent current running but nothing unmanageable. The vis was good at about 10 m and with such favourable conditions we managed to get a great bottom time and see the majority of the pier.

Emma J