Nelson Bay shore dives rarely disappoint and they certainly didn’t during January to March. Some of my dives were solo dives, a few were with David Atkinson, Bob Lewis, Brian Lowe or Margo Smith but many were with eagle-eyed Brits Brian and Jill Mayes who always seem to spot something special.
My favourite of their “special spots” was an Eastern Clingfish (Aspasmogaster costata). Brian and Jill had told me about this rarely seen species on their previous visit to Nelson Bay and predictably I had been unable to find one. Brian explained that this clingfish does not act as cleaner to other fish but prefers to hide in dark places during the day, usually under sponges or a ledge so finding one is not easy.
A couple of other of their excellent spots were a Squat Anemone shrimp or Sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis) and a Juvenile Eastern Red Scorpionfish (Scorpaena jacksoniensis) but my favourite moment came when they spotted a squid in midwater eating a fortescue.