What a huge week it’s been with consecutive days topping the 300 mark as more people than ever before join us for the 7am wake up call
The only day that fell below 300 was thursday – crappiest day of the week when the sun never shines and we all sleep in 😉
I’m surprised more people didn’t sleep in this morning as the Boatshed had a workout last night…
(Thanks to Heather for “donating” the pic)
So anyway – A lot of people slept in except for a few die hards…
Oompa (which we now know is short for Oompa Loompa) was here again for some fun..
Sparkles greeted an almost record number of new swimmers (44!)
2nd puppy alert…
The place was buzzing at 6:55..
We are visited this week by Jono Vernon-Powell, who has his own well known travel blog …
He’s going to write a piece about his swim and all the fantastic and great looking selfies that were taken
Also with us this week was Hannah from New York..
Check out what she thinks of us in her blog:
http://40pools.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/not-a-pool-manly-beach/
Mauricio and Simon discussing exactly where the 3m Tiger shark was spotted this morning…
Had to get one of the “A” team – with Rusty and Sparkles 😉
Anyone know what the “A” stands for?
Return starts at Shelley are getting hectic..
Laura (I’m guessing) and Jazzie were here
Famous Faces no. 63 – This week the theme is “One Hit Wonders”
Mauricio and I went for a dive as the water was the clearest it’s been in quite a while..
The usual suspects were there.. here’s some facts on them:
Enoplosus armatus, the old wife (plural: old wives), is a species of perciform fish endemic to the temperate coastal waters of Australia.[1] It is the only modern species in the family Enoplosidae.
It has a deep and compressed body and concave forehead. These features are characteristic of typical butterflyfishes.[3] However, the old wife is easily distinguished by its silver-and-black, vertical, zebra-striped coloration, and by its two prominent dorsal fins. The second dorsal fin is very long and sickle-shaped. The fish grows up to 50 cm long
Its dorsal fins have bony, knife-like spines.[4] These have no obvious venom groove nor gland.[5] Nonetheless, the spines are widely considered to inflict a painful venom.[1]
The name “old wife” refers to the sound it makes when caught, caused by it grinding its teeth.[1][6] Other vernacular names have included “bastard dory“, “zebra-fish” (also used for Girella zebra), and “double scalare“.[7] It has a similar range and appearance to theMoonlighter (Tilodon sexfasciatus).[8]
I kind of like “Bastard Dory” as well … reminds me of Rainer…
There was also a few Spangled Emporers – this guy was huge…
…and a younger one – a little more blotchy, you can see the difference in the markings
The yellowtail and mullett were playing on the surface
Stats:
Swimmers: 317!
Newbies: 44!
Bolderdashers: 5!
Water : 21.5c
Tiger Sharks: 1
Have a fun weekend everyone! Nick D
*******
B&B Attendance Login
Come on folks – this is the most efficient way to capture your swims. It’s a smart phone friendly website so no need to download, just mark it as a bookmark. There are so many good reasons to use the B&B Login – like no queues, no need for glasses to find your name, and never missing the 7am call.
Log your swim between 5am and 9am for the easy way to ensure your swim is recorded in the daily attendance and on the Pacific Challenge. To get started, send an email to Ian Forster (ugoboyo@gmail.com). He will check that your email address is activated on the attendance register then send you info on how to get started. Happy clicking.
Summer badge swims
Every Saturday during summer there will be a 6km swim – usual route is to Freshwater and back; then once a month there is a 10km swim – this is to South Curl Curl and back. However, the final route depends on conditions that day so it is a good idea to arrive a little early to have a briefing from the designated swim leader. Both swims kick off at 7am.
The next 10km swim is scheduled for 11 January depending on conditions.
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Staying safe
Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits. Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
21 comments
Bill McCaffeine
03/01/2014 at 11:55 am
Great blog and great fishy photographs !
Anna MckimLattePlease
03/01/2014 at 12:06 pm
It was lovely swimming along with the yellowtail so close to the surface this morning. Yay for the clearer visibility!
Anna McakimLattePlease
03/01/2014 at 12:06 pm
It was lovely swimming along with the yellowtail so close to the surface this morning. Yay for the clearer visibility!
Ian McK
03/01/2014 at 12:21 pm
Bill McCaffeine, is this why you left Scotland ??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r48KA2X2Rb4
Great Blog Nick !
ros
03/01/2014 at 1:15 pm
Lovely photo of Oompa laughing!
Sparkles
03/01/2014 at 1:56 pm
Fab blog nick and great info….newbies are numerous!!!
Halima
03/01/2014 at 1:58 pm
Tiger shark?…
nikki
03/01/2014 at 1:59 pm
Tiger Shark?? Glad it didn’t join us to Shelly.
Lips
03/01/2014 at 2:06 pm
Great blog Nick.
Never mind the Tiger Shark, it’s that very first photo that sends shivers down my spine..
Snorkles
03/01/2014 at 3:48 pm
Glad that Stehpen’s pic only made FB and not here of you!
mauricio
03/01/2014 at 4:06 pm
For those like me who missed the shark, here is a sample of what a 50k uw camera, a very talented film maker, a great model and handler and lots of sharks can do:
http://youtu.be/WK2LpUoqX6A
Great blog Nick, fabulous pics, as usual! Hope the good vis stays for a while!
mauricio
03/01/2014 at 4:09 pm
And for those who like hammerheads better, here is another beautiful video:
http://youtu.be/xfczs8MXncw
lesbubbles
03/01/2014 at 4:10 pm
That pic of oompa is priceless! and the new spaniel pup! So cute!
I doubt it was a Tiger Shark! There is a large Dusky whaler swimming around though. Which is ok 🙂
Yeah Nick great fish photos – but how do you get the fish to pose like that for you???
Jane
03/01/2014 at 4:14 pm
Yes, lovely pics as usual Nick, great to have the info too. The little fellas just after the Old Wife pic are Hardyheads. Probably Atherinomorus ogilbyi but a bit hard to be sure because they dash about so fast in tight schools.
Jane
03/01/2014 at 4:20 pm
Wow Mauricio – it’s JUST like Cabbage Tree Bay!
Lips
03/01/2014 at 4:48 pm
Did I mention I made it into ‘column one’ today?
Jane
03/01/2014 at 5:13 pm
I asked Gaétan the same question, and he said: “I talk to them in French”.
LSA aka HKTQ
03/01/2014 at 5:20 pm
Oh fantastic! About time too:-)) Now you have to keep swimming to stay there!
Talking of which, after a week of hiking & feasting with a lovely New Year’s Day swim at Big Wave Bay, I see I still hold the 30 day record in Manly! Must be all those baggage-reclaim ticks:-)
Actually, today we went for a swim in a brand-new public pool here for a spot of local sight-seeing. Amazing facilities – the depth of the pools can be varied according to whether they are being used for kids or mainland Chinese crack diving team exhibitions. Very James Bond-ish – all computer-generated.
The Shark Toucher
03/01/2014 at 6:12 pm
Thanks Bubbles and everyone else 🙂
Lesley it’s all in the way you sneak up to them… Lips can give you a demo…
Lips
03/01/2014 at 8:12 pm
I know LSA! It’s a dog-eat-dog world up here in column one.
Word on the beach is that Jalna is already planning a sneaky 6k attack on my position tomorrow. I’m praying for bluebottles..
Nick D
03/01/2014 at 8:22 pm
I have never seen sharks sing in Spanish – that is amazing!