AVOCA LAGOON & TERRIGAL HAVEN - 'KAYAK, WALK, SNORKEL' - 14 DECEMBER 2019

The morning air was a lot clearer and cleaner this morning.

I checked the surf at North Avoca Beach but it was small and powerless.

Next stop as Avoca Lagoon for a kayak.



The water level was very low but still okay for a kayak. It was very limiting to where one could paddle as it was either very shallow water or no water.

The morning light looked pretty as it contrasted with sky, sun and vegetation.

The birds were out and about - pelicans, ducks, darters, cormorants, cockatoos, egrets, ibises and others. Some were in flight or roosting on a tree looking for their next meal or resting.

I met up with Jacinta at Terrigal Haven where we had coffee on the beach.

After that, I had a short walk and Jacinta a longer walk as I wanted to do a snorkel.



The water was clear to the edge of the rocks and a bit limited around the rocks and rockpool area.

It was a good snorkel with big fish, stingrays, tiny colourful fish and colourful rocks and seaweed.

STINGRAYS, CATFISH AND TURTLE - 7 DECEMBER 2018

The surf wasn't encouraging this morning but a snorkel seemed worthwhile after sighting a turtle yesterday while swimming.




I waded out into the water on the Haven Beach and it was a bit chilly.

The visibility wasn't the best with a lot of sand particles obscuring vision. BUT it was a good sighting day. There were a lot of larger fish blending in with the sandy bottom but they skittered off very quickly from me.

After a short time, I spotted a small stingray. I followed it for awhile and three other small ones later. While I was following one of the smaller rays a very large ray suddenly swam directly under me. If I could jump I would have. Anyway, I followed the larger ray for a while but keeping my distance.

Later, I came across a large and small greenish catfish. They both undulated amongst the rocks slowly so they were easy to follow.

I was just about to finish when I spied a turtle. I very excited and followed it from above and below. Finally, it had enough of me and left me behind with a big smile.

It was such a great snorkel even though the visibility was poor. I was very cold though but warmed up with a coffee and a long sit in the sun.

A good morning.

TOOWOON BAY SNORKEL - 29 MARCH 2017

A flat surf day this morning with very light wind and an incoming tide. The ocean was looking very glassy.

I walked along the beach at Toowoon Bay and entered the water where the sand meets the island for a snorkel.

The water was a bit weedy to start with a strong current moving over the shallow sections.

As soon as I put my head under the water there were fish zooming over a sand and rock background.

I snorkeled out towards the sup riders on the point first. I didn't get as far as the sup riders as the visibility deteriorated too much. Along the way, I saw fish, pretty coloured rocks and seaweed, stingrays and a small shark.

I backtracked and crossed the narrow channel between the beach and the island. It was hard going as the tide as working strongly against me. I did see lots of fish feeding amongst the seaweed.

I continued onwards close to the rocks and small waves. The tide and waves pushed me in and out but eventually I got to the deeper water and saw a massive blue coloured groper.

I fed the fish sending them into a wild frenzy and went in via the beach.

One unusual event was a large fish that followed me nearly the full length of my snorkel.

I warmed up with a coffee and relax at the kiosk at the surf club over looking the bay and beach.

TERRIGAL HAVEN SNORKEL - 4 FEBRUARY 2017

I was going to head northwards today but there was enough rain to change my mind and settle for something local.

I had an ocean swim at Terrigal Haven but was so impressed with the clearness of the water that I went back to car to get my snorkeling gear.

Good move as it was a fun snorkel. The new go pro5 did well on the videos but poorly on the photos.


There were a lot of sting rays about and it was fun following them using the selfie stick. A great snorkel.

After I got out, I joined Jacinta for a coffee.

The rest of the day was spent fixing the back yard. I cleared a lot of old vegetation and laid the frame work for a new retaining wall. I should have it finished tomorrow. Hot and sweaty work.

Jacinta and I had dinner drinks and dinner at the Crown Plaza Terrigal.

A great day. :)

TERRIGAL HAVEN SNORKEL - 27 MARCH 2016

A short drive to Terrigal Haven and a snorkel.


The water was still warm. The visibility was poor with a lot of sand movement at times.

The highlights were a fleeting stingray, crab skittering across the sand and various fish .

It was pleasant in the water and it was nice sitting in the sun warming up after the snorkel.

Back home for a big breakfast and an Easter egg pig out. Way too much chocolate but I love it.

RILEY ISLAND KAYAK - 5 MARCH 2016

Blue sky and intense sunrise.

I launched my kayak from near one of the boat ramps at Davistown on Brisbane Water. My objective was a slow paddle around Riley Island.

It was a pleasant relaxing paddle with the odd SUP and kayaker passing by. I stayed within the shallows close to the island shoreline of mangroves which was enclosed in parts by oyster farms.

Some of the highlights of the trip:

gliding across the mirror surface of the still waters
bobbing in time with the wake waves caused by passing boats
overhanging branches of mangrove trees
clusters of sharp oyster shells in the shallows under the mangrove trees
battling against the current
gliding with the current
spending time on a small soft and fine beach on Riley Island
standing in the water on sand with small fish playing around my feet

watching small to large fish peek inquisitively at my underwater camera
spotting and guiding over the odd stingray
one stingray shooting under thee kayak and off into the distance
old rusted tank relics on the island
swirls of water
an intense sunrise.
an ibis and egret roosting in a tree near each other

A slow, relaxing 4.4 km kayak :)

SYDNEY - SEALIFE AQUARIUM - 31 DECEMBER 2015

One of my Christmas presents from my daughters was a snorkel with the sharks at Sealife Aquarium in Sydney.


Surprisingly, it was a traffic free drive to Sydney, just a little over an hour.

We walked around Darling Harbour admiring the ocean and cityscape views. Looking across from the Darling Harbour area and the various buildings and developments I was looking into my mind's eye when I fished there as a kid sitting on coal covered pontoons.

At Sealife, the entry line was very long. When I attracted an attendant,  I was whisked to the front of the line as the snorkeling was a priority entry. I handed in forms and waited for about 10 minutes for the tour.

The tour was pretty good. It started with showing us the tank from above and explaining about the animals we would be up close and personal. Interesting facts!

Down in the belly of the complex, we donned our snorkeling gear and walked a short distance to the tank. We were in a glass enclosure inside the glass enclosure of the fishes and sharks. All very safe.

The snorkel was about 1/2 hour. There were many creatures in the tank which guided by the tank at various intervals - leopard sharks, black tip reef sharks, sting rays,  sword sharks and a host of smaller and larger fish. It was pretty exciting though it would have been better to be in the tank with the sharks.

Later. we wandered around the other attractions of Sealife. I was impressed with the jellyfish, penguins and the walkways through and under the shark tanks.

We then had a great lunch admiring the harbor views then back home.

Excellent day. :)