Voodoo and The Steps

The shortest dive at Voodoo ever!

Voodoo is at the end of Sir Joseph Banks Drive in Kurnell. Named by surfers after the almost supernatural sets unleashed upon it, Voodoo should only be attempted when the wax heads are elsewhere. Like Cape Solander, this site should only be done by experienced divers and only when conditions are exceptionally placid.

Carolina and her husband (sorry forgot his name)

I was the DM and unfortunately, out of the group of 12 divers, we had 5 Open Water divers and one person fresh out of his Open Water course. After assessing the conditions and taking on board the advice of 2 other experienced DM's we decided to give it a try. We had 2 instructors and 2 regular diving DM's with us so we figured we could handle getting the novices through the cauldron into the ocean.

We managed to get everyone out into the Ocean without event but as this site is so infrequently dived I had a full group of 12 divers wanting to accompany me. This was not too daunting given the visibility was probably up to about 10M. I told everyone to keep close and I stopped frequently for a head count.

Carolina photographing Nudibrancs

10 minutes into the dive we came across a pack of PJ's and everyone got a photo opportunity. The novice diver signaled to me at this stage that he was at 100bar and we needed to turn around. I had briefed the other divers that I would have to turn around based on the fastest user of air and 5 decided to leave me at that stage and carry on, 7 divers turned around with me and we returned to the exit point. Total dive time 23 minutes including a 3 min safety stop.

The swell had come up a bit, Tom (a DM) went in first to lead the way and I stayed and sent the pack in single file behind him. There were 2 people on shore who helped the divers out of the water and we got everyone out without incident. Although the exit was exciting the dive was just way to short and we really need to make this an "Advanced Dive". This is not a good site for novices to cut their teeth, they would be just as excited blowing bubbles at Oak Park, Bare Island or Camp Cove.

Nice Nudie

Carolyn had called the shop while we were in the water because I think she expected some sort of injury looking at the divers and conditions, but no one so much as broke a finger nail. I had no intentions of repeating the first dive and the conditions were getting worse so we went around to The Steps for the second dive.

Octopus

The Steps was very calm and a much nicer dive given the group that we had on the day. Here are a few photos from the day but as acting DM I tend to pay more attention to head counting than photography so not many good opportunities this week.