Location: The Springs, Lonsdale Bay
Date: 11/12/10
Max Depth: 4.3m
Dive Time: 35mins
Temp: 16C
Visibility: Low, 5m
Time In: 11:44
Tide: Low 10:18, 0.5m / slack water 13:23
Thermal: 5mm semi-dry
Weight: 18lbs, bit heavy.
Just inside the Point Lonsdale component of the Port Phillip Heads marine park, The Springs seems to be a good shore dive. The site is current prone and probably best dived on slack water but like most sites in this area, it would have surge most of the time.
Underwater it consists of low rocky outcrops with plenty of small ledges and holes for life to hide in. There is plenty of plant life covering these rocky reefs as well as grassy and weedy areas interspersed with bare sandy patches.
Our timing here was perfect (not intended as our main site was to be Point Lonsdale), there was plenty of surge and the viz was low with lots of 'bits' floating midstream. The surge was stirring up a fair bit of sand so the viz was probably only about 5 metres or so. The current seemed to be quite strong towards the Heads but, after 20mins or so, I popped up for a look and we were directly out from our entry point.
There were a few blue-throated wrasse and scaly fin trying to drive us off as we encroatched on their 'patch'. A magpie perch darted right in front of me and gave me a start as I wondered what it was in such a hurry to get away from! I was expecting to find some lobster under the ledges but didn't, perhaps there would be some further out. The only photographic subject I found that was cooperative was a small hermit crab whom I had to wait patiently for it to sneek a peek outside of his shell.
It wasn't the most interesting dive site but would definitely need to do it a few more times to fully explore. I think it may be an interesting night dive here too.
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