Notes:

Likely the last night dive of the year, also happens to be the first I've done in Mornington Pier. In the midst of construction, this site was chosen at the suggestion of Scott. Purportedly Port Phillip Bay's deepest pier, with depths of up to 10 metres. Easiest method of entry was a giant stride from the car park wall. A little daunting, as the top of the wall and the surface of the water was easily over 2 metres. Exit was a ladder back up to the car park. I have a love/hate relationship with piers, mostly because while I love the ease and length of a shallow dive, coupled with the relative diversity of life in and under pylons, I absolutely loathe having to put up with fishermen on top acting like they own the place. This dive site was no different. In deference to the fellows with their fishing poles up top, we opted to swim under the pier between the concreted sides with barely any light other than our own torches. The water was warm, though visibility was absolutely crummy with my torch beam barely getting past 2 metres, if that. This was not going to be a pretty dive to photograph. I am beginning to have form with regards to getting lost and scouring sand beds whilst under piers. Not a habit I'm fond of, and not something I want to continue, but nonetheless is something that happened again. After losing sight of the pylons, me and Petey plowed forward into the deeps, scouring the sand bed for life and generally finding some forms of life, but otherwise the best sand we've ever seen. It was once we realised we could not see any torches or pylons, that we might have to double back. Double back of course, meaning we pushed out even further without realising. After spotting a Blue-ring and a Southern Keeled Octopus, the thought of surfacing to get our bearings made a lot of sense and to our surprise, we were closer to a buoy a hundred or so metres away from the pier than the pier itself. A slow swim back and it was back under the pier we were, looking at what is pretty much an underwater construction site. Dust, rocks, even a hammer was down there. Visibility was not improving, and frankly neither was the selection of sea life. At least out in the sand bed, there were plenty of scallops (need to remember to buy a licence, and a catch bag). Under the pier, were as reported, Gurnard Perchs, Globe fish, a squid of some descript as well as a decently sized Mosaic Leatherjacket. Once Petey started running low on gas due to using a tank that was pretty much less than half full, it was time to call it. Opting to swim outside of the pier rather under it given it's fucking dark, we were greeted by a rather irate fisherman who reckons we were morons. No clue what was up his butt, but I generally take it to mean he's insecure about his penis. All in all, low visibility, fairly lengthy bottom time, angry fishermen, sounds very much like a typical day in the water to me.