South West Rocks - Once more, with feeling!

Early last month, I took another trip to South West Rocks (which, coincidentally, is to the North and East - figure that one out). I had gone on the exact same trip exactly a year before, so I had high hopes again for this second time. While the weather was a bit less stunning than it was the last year, and the dive conditions a tiny bit less ideal, I had a spectacular time overall on the trip.

Here are some underwater shots from the dives - bear in mind that I am not a professional photographer (clearly) and forgot to set the red filter setting on my camera...whoops...

This is a bull ray - a massive stingray. Some of

the larger ones I've seen have been upward of

6 feet across.

A bit difficult to see, but just as we hopped into

the water, a massive school of eagle rays swam by.

I never get tired of turtles - this one was cozying

up with a wobbegong in a little nook. Sorry, guys,

didn't mean to interrupt.

A different hawksbill turtle in action.

One of a couple octopuses we saw on our dives.

There were also a ton of eels on our dives (more

so than last time). I know, little fella - it ain't easy

being green.

I must have fixed my camera at some point - the

colors on this octopus are a bit better.

I swam around for days trying to get a decent

picture of this puffer fish. It just did not want

to be photographed.

More eely goodness. I'm fairly certain I was

tempting fate by getting up in these guys' faces.

This is Naren standing up on the boat as we

headed back from the dive site. Needless to say,

it was a bit splashy.

Another, different eel, this one being all spotty.

Is it just me, or are their nose nodules a little

weird?

A wobbegong (which is a type of shark) - there

were some massive ones this time around, a few

reaching close to 10 feet long and about 3 feet wide.

I didn't touch up this photo at all simply because

I feel like it's so unsettling without it.

Yes, I realize it's another eel, but I had to include

him because his eyes just make him look like a

cartoon.

It may look mean, but I can assure you, under

the surface it's just a big teddy bear.

The non-business end of a 12' shark.

I never get tired of seeing sharks - they are just

such amazing creatures. Oh, and thank you

for not eating me.

Inside the cave, there are several small bubble

caves 60 feet under water, where air expelled

from divers gets trapped (and there is still

oxygen in it, so it's breathable).

Cruisin' shark(s)...

Grey nurse sharks are actually endangered, sadly.

There's a chance they may disappear completely

within the next 20 years.

Ha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha!

This one was there last year - a humpback

grey nurse shark.

A sinisterly-lit rock cod.

A Textile cone snail - what I've just come to find

out (while writing this) is one of the 3 most

dangerous cone snails (of over 500).

A large double-spined lobster hanging out in a

nook in the cave = good eats.

Heading out of the shallow entrance of the cave,

surrounded by fish.

I actually started to get more worried about

the fish devouring me in a piranha-like frenzy

more than the sharks.

Getting up close and personal with another

wobbegong.

Sadly you can't capture audio in still images,

but I was screeching like a little girl when this

one swam right over my head.

The sun setting behind the lighthouse as we

head back to shore.

Also worth noting: while we were underwater, and though we didn't actually see any diving, if we were quiet, we were suddenly surrounded by whale songs. It was amazing.

Meanwhile, on dry land...

There were (large) kangaroos a-plenty out in the

fields at night. Sadly, they did not want to be

cuddled (and would have probably kicked me

in the face).

We had some time to kill one of the days due to

some less-than ideal dive conditions (i.e. - not

being able to see your own hand for the first 30'

of depth and massive currents), so we went to

the historic gaol (jail).

And what better place to host an art show

than at an old prison?

Some of the art was a bit on the

humorous side.

Griffon statue - can't recall whether this

was a part of the jail or part of the show.

The light of false hope shines through

a grate in one of the cells.

Creepy puppet things, shortly before they

came to life and pursued me around the open

courtyard, screeching audibly (me, not them).

Rustic mirror or portal to a distant laaaand -

you decide.

The view of the bay from just over the gaol walls.

After the gaol, we took a walk up to the

lighthouse to take in the view.

While we were up there, we spotted one of the

whales that was singing while we were diving.

The lighthouse against a rather sullen-looking

sky.

The view looking north from the lighthouse.

South West Rocks really is a fantastic place - I've found out recently it was listed on the 100 Great Things to do in Australia You've Never Heard Of list. 1 down, 99 to go!