Visibility: 8 m Water Temperature: 18 degrees

Divers: Keith, Simon, Brenton, Leo, Stewart, Stuart, Louise, Neil, Halil, Kristy, Ian, David, Jenann, Gary, Greg, Andy, Mark, Mark, Vikki

Surface Crew: Jenny


The Co-incidental Cuttle Fish
Saturday was rather overcast and cool, with overnight rain's run-off probably causing visibility mayhem, so the prospects of an action packed dive at a the building site formerly known as Mornington Pier seemed remote. However as a signed up Aquability Saturday Shore-diver (ASS for short) such adversities would not deter me. As usual, more than a dozen or so equally committed divers assembled at 10 am under the watchful eye of Mark and Vikki. The day before a patient, who has spent good deal of time in the state's custodial program, was telling me of his rehabilitation as a fisherman and he promised to bring me some calamari that he jigged from his kayak over near Queenscliff. Usually when I go to Mornington I buy mussels from the jetty so with the prospect of fresh calamari my thoughts had turned to seafood for dinner.
We giant strided from the car park into the murky waters and swam over to the descend point by the pier. To buddy David and my surprise there was a good deal of fish life with schools of Old Wives around the jetty amongst the building refuse and less of these non-indigenous starfish that seem to infest the marina. Visibility wasn't so bad once we were under the jetty and exploring the substantial rock wall on the other side. The rocks are quite large and have fallen so there are lots of large crevices and cavities to explore. David quickly found a large Blue Fin Leatherjacket and a Fiddle Ray but they were shy and refused to be photographed. Further along we were delighted to find a giant Cuttlefish in one of these cavities. He didn't want to come out to play with us but Vikki said she saw him later and managed to get a 'not so good' photo of him. The Cuttle was doing a fine party trick of camouflaging itself but was no match for the ASS team and their cameras. On the way back we spotted a large Wrasse in a rocky lair, a smaller Cuttlefish and more schools of Zebra Fish, Magpie Perch and Old Wives. It was a good dive with my eagle-eyed buddy and seeing a Giant Cuttle for the first time was a delight.
Back on land I couldn't find the mussel seller so paella was off the menu but I reflected that Calamari and Cuttlefish might be as good for the human psyche as they are for the stomach . . . . Mmm scuba as rehab. . . . . Perhaps Aqua-rehabability should start a prison program.

Ed Note: Jason found a perfect Coca Cola bottle from back in the days when liquid was measured in fluid ounces!!!
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Stuart Garrow


Photos by Stuart Garrow