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 Post subject: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 18:00 
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Joined: 09 Jan 2012, 18:09
Posts: 10
Can anyone recommend good dive spots around the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas and how to read the weather to get the most out of these spots?
I went out to Half Moon Bay in Indented Head and had less then a metre of vis. As compared to last time where I could see 12-15 metres, I found the wind to be pushing waves hard but what other factors are there?


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 18:24 
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Joined: 19 Aug 2011, 21:36
Posts: 293
Because its shallow, indented head is *very* prone to poor viz caused by wind. I find that if you can get a day of little to no wind, heading in an off shore direction (so westerlies / south westerlies ish), preceded by days of similar conditions you will find its really good. Its the same story for most of the spots around that side of the peninsula.

If the wind has been roaring off the bay from the north / north east its going to be rubbish.

Obviously the more light there is coming down the better the apparent viz will be, but thats not really a true indication.

I think the general rule of thumb is little to no wind, heading offshoreish it will generally be okay.

I also do a lot of dives on ocean facing beaches, so if you do that you'll want to try and go in at times of little to no swell. I find that anything above 1-2ft can stir it up and make it a very murky dive, not to mention high energy water on reefs can make for a very... interesting and potentially painful dive.


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 18:39 
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Oh, forgot. Things like rain over the previous days can effect viz as well - something to do with mixing of salt and fresh water causes the water to go cloudy. Also like, algae blooms, storm water run off, if you're diving near a commercial pier things like boats cleaning their catch, etc. can all contribute to poor viz.


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 19:24 
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Joined: 31 Mar 2009, 18:14
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Location: Ocean Grove
Plenty of good info if you use the Search function on the forum. Its all been covered before but offshore winds and low swell...


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 19:46 
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Joined: 08 May 2010, 20:11
Posts: 252
i'll teach ya dude... the more u go.. it gets easier to determine the visibility.. sometimes i look outside.. and see the trees.. and tell if it'll be decent.

first thing

if it rains: i would wait 2-3 days

wind: i use this site. www.weather.com.au- and say if its above 17km/h i probably wouldnt go


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 19:59 
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Joined: 31 Mar 2009, 18:14
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Location: Ocean Grove
youakija120988 wrote:
first thing

if it rains: i would wait 2-3 days

wind: i use this site. http://www.weather.com.au- and say if its above 17km/h i probably wouldnt go



This info is fairly inaccurate ...


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 20:26 
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Joined: 08 May 2010, 20:11
Posts: 252
mate... i dont think he was asking for a lecture..i've been through the same thing as him

its pretty decent what i said..

as u spearfish more.. and see water etc.. you'll get a pretty decent idea if the vis will be good.. just takes time

apart from that

rain... just wait a few days

and wind.. find a decent site.. i use that one i said before


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 02 Feb 2012, 20:43 
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Joined: 31 Mar 2009, 18:14
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Location: Ocean Grove
I thought that i was pretty helpful. If he uses the search function he will find a large number of threads that have covered this exact topic before.

Also maybe i should have been more specific.

I quoted.

Quote:
first thing

if it rains: i would wait 2-3 days

wind: i use this site. http://www.weather.com.au- and say if its above 17km/h i probably wouldnt go


If it rains ... Pretty broad, wait 2-3 days..? Where did it rain, how much did it rain, where is the dive spot, is it likely to be affected by rain. So I think saying if it rains wait 2-3 days is completely wrong.

Also winds above 17km/h is also dependent on where your going to dive and which way the wind is going. Along with which way and how long the wind has been blowing in the past few days.


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 03 Feb 2012, 09:26 
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Joined: 09 Jan 2012, 18:09
Posts: 10
Rather then saying I should use the search function and that everyone else is wrong or vague, why dont you just offer your 2 cents and be gone?

Forums like this should be trying to help new guys, especially when they entered the sport on a "lets-give-it-a-go" descion.
I can promise you, it damn well sucks to want to post something so I can enjoy MY DIVES more and everyone is worried about clutter. Its really off putting.

Thanks for the help.
Just to clarify: if the wind is blowing towards the shore line, its a no go? After rains in that area its a no go, and piers where cleaning has occured is also a no go?


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 03 Feb 2012, 11:00 
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Joined: 31 Mar 2009, 18:14
Posts: 507
Location: Ocean Grove
Well after a 30 second search i found this...

tomfraser wrote:
Use a map mate. If you have had Easterlies for a couple of days dive the East side of the bay. Beaches that are facing West will have good visibility if there is consistent Easterlies involved.

In terms of the back beaches, there is a bit of both swell and winds involved. If offshore winds aren't ridiculously strong they will push the swell down a little. Onshore winds act to increase swell and also dirty up the water. Offshore winds clean up the water conversely.

In the bay you should watch out for onshore winds. If you have strong Westerlies, you should not dive at Mornington, try the west side of the bay.

If you experience northerlies for a couple of days, dive the back beaches if the swell is good. If you experience easterlies, dive the East side of the bay such as Mornington. If you have southerlies, the only real places you can go are the Southern end of the bay such as Portsea/Sorrento. In the case of Westerlies, head out West.

The key is to try and dive places that have experienced offshore winds for visibility. You should also keep in mind the terrain you are looking to dive. A lot of places in Mornington for example have clay cliffs. If they experience heavy rains then chances are it will be very dirty (the clay runs off into the water).

You just have to keep an eye on the weather and woirk out where the most suitable place will be to dive. Join the club and make dive buddies that you can call and ask where the best vis is.


It even talks about the place('s) u want to go...

Also never said that "everyone" was wrong or vague just pointing out that those 2 comments made were not very accurate. If You (being new) went on those comments solely you'd be sitting at home going ah it rained yesterday i better not go spearing or ah its over 17km/h i better not go ...

Maybe have a read and then if you need anything clarified ask questions about the things that you don't understand.

Stick at it mate you will work it out, takes ages to work out the weather. Also you can use the PM function if you want specific info on a certain place that someone may not be willing to divulge on the public side of the forum. Or attend a club meeting (i'm not a club member etc, only use this forum) I hear that its the best way to learn everything you need to know.


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 03 Feb 2012, 12:30 
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Joined: 09 Jan 2012, 18:09
Posts: 10
That's really helpful. Thank you.


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 Post subject: Re: The right spot.
PostPosted: 03 Feb 2012, 18:10 
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Joined: 04 May 2009, 12:45
Posts: 832
it does come with time spent in the water! and observing your dive location before you gear up and jump in!
if there is an onshore wind chop or swell. if you can see through the waves its usualy worth a dive (clear water). if its a green or brown then the viz will be shit.(still worth a dive)
if there in no swell and eirly morning or late evening the glair can stuff you up and you can not see what the water clarity is!(worth a dive)
keep an eye on www.seabreeze.com.au -graphs-melbourne-metro

a lot of it is common sence :P
oZ


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