Online Dive Log: Oak Park 26 June 2010 New Slave Flash

All the pictures on this post were taken today using my new strobe slave attachment. I am very happy with the results, but I still need to work on the white balance and focusing.

My buddies were Brett Poole and Tom Acott. The Dive Master was Garth Donkin (pictured below greeting us back from the second dive). I'll write more descriptions about the pictures over the next few days.

Located at the end of the Cronulla Peninsula on the southern outskirts of Sydney, Oak Park is a very popular dive location, especially for learners and novice divers. Oak Park is an excellent "easy" dive for beginners and experts alike and is also a top night dive. This dive site begins at the end of Jibbon Street, Cronulla, adjacent to Oak Park. You can get more location information by clicking here

Giant Cuttlefish

Tom with a Blue Groper

The dive site itself is basically a wall which runs in an arc from the shore, first towards the east and then north-east and finally north. The wall is about two to three metres high and has numerous low caverns or overhangs that are home to many beautiful fish. This site is also home to the friendliest blue gropers that you will ever find on a shore dive.

Brett smiling for the photo

The site is fairly protected from southerly winds and seas, but very big swells from that direction and basically anything from the east or north can wipe out this site from an entry/exit point of view.

Starfish of some sort?

After prolonged periods of heavy rain, Oak Park can be affected by storm water from Port Hacking, the mouth of which is only a few hundred metres away.

Nuidibranc

Visibility can range from 3 up to 15 metres, averaging 7 to 8 and is marginally better on an incoming tide.

Angel Shark

After arriving at the site, you should walk down towards the ocean and while standing above the ocean pool to the right of the beach, examine the sea conditions.

A Shrimp

Entry and exits can be made from two spots. Normally, I enter the water from the small inlet behind the north-east corner of the pool but at high tide I generally use the right hand (southern) side of the pool as even small swells can roll over the platform, with the potential to knock you off your feet. After deciding on your entry point, gear up in the street or park and then walk down to the water's edge.