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Exmouth
(by Richard Wilde) One of my favorite sites in Australia has to be the US navy pier at Exmouth in Western Australia. Although most divers come to this area to dive with the annual invasion of whale sharks, a site often overlooked is the US navy pier. The pier itself is huge and is out of the way but a short drive from the town. The day we decided to dive there it was in the midst of a short sharp storm so the surface was quite choppy but we were not to be put off !! To access the site we had to endure the highest giant stride entry I have ever done (and with the swells it looks even higher !!) but once you splash in and begin to descend you realize it was well worth it . The pier stands on huge iron
pillars and this provides the playground for the abundant aquatic life
found below. Although the visibility was not amazing at approximately
6 meters you did not have to look too far to see anything !! Large groups
of barracuda were seen to be lurking about, several lion fish of all sizes,
cunningly disguised stone fish, and a wobbegong shark resting on a rock.
Right at the bottom minding his own business was a simply huge 'potato
cod' who did not mind the company of intrigued divers gawping at him.
After the dive my buddies Tango and Towbar described the site as like
diving in an aquarium!! I could only agree with them. Simply for the amount
of life and variation this site is well worth a visit. |
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