First research assistant dive. What a way to work,awesome. Coral Trout population count, working for Dr Zeller. DIrk's research was based on the Coral Trout population and distribution around Lizard Island, combined with movement and range. This dive was a visual population count of one of the determined research zones and to have visual record of a specific trout that had a radio transmitter implanted in it gut cavity.

Quick verification and visual record of tagged trout.

Tracked a trout to a reef just off Watson Beach. We couldn't get a visual because the water was to murky. Fast dive.

Coral trout visual id

Coral trout visual id

Coral trout visual id

Coral trout visual id Saw my first manta ray. It was huge, just one of those moments that you realize that they are bigger than you think they are. It approached us from behind casting a dark shadow over us. I turned and WOW, what a site. I think Dirk accidentally scared it off but he claims I touched it. BS, Dirk it was you not me, lol

Coral trout visual id

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Very fast dive, if you could call it a dive. Found a missing trout with a transmitter. Had to do a visual verification.

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

looking for a missing tagged Trout.

Coral spawning. Coral species observation. We got in to late to watch the spawning. Looked around for late coral spawning but found none. Spotted to small Epaulette sharks, very nice.

Coral spawning. Coral species observation. Again to late for the spawning. Spotted one big painted crayfish about 45cm long. We didn't see any coral spawning but we were covered in it on exiting the dive.

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check Found two large gropers and a nice sized turtle.

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check. spotted 6 small reef sharks. Its always good to see sharks.

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check Had to spear one of the tracked trout due to transmitter issues.

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Spawning site check

Spawning site check.

Coral trout spawning site search

Long nice dive.

This is really 3 dives in one but they were to short to really say they were 3 separate dives. Today's job was to retrieve 3 trout with implanted transmitters. Using a spear gun, and a submersible hydrophone to locate each of the trout. These dives were in an out dives, to fast. The 3 locations were: Washing machine, North Point and Watson Bay.

During a transmitter retrieval. The retrieval of this trout went wrong and the fish escaped. Spent most of the dive tracking the fish down visually and using the hydrophone but no luck.

Return to Corner beach 2, trying to find a wounded trout but no luck again. We gave up after 2 hours.

Trout transmitter retrieval

Trout transmitter retrieval

Trout transmitter retrieval. Back to corner beach looking for the fish, we started to call 'Channel 8'. Eluded us again.

Trout transmitter retrieval

Trout transmitter retrieval

Trout transmitter retrieval

Trout transmitter retrieval. The retrieval off the this trout was problematic at best. Dirk speared the trout and immediately one of the resident groupers came straight for the trout and taking the trout and Dirks hands in one gulp. It sucked the trout out of Dirks hands, turned and fled. Dirks hands were OK, just minor abrasions. The trout and the transmitter were lost.

Coral trout spawning site check. This dive almost didn't end well. As Dirk and I were ascending and at around less than a 1 meter depth, two jet ski's went directly over our heads. We had a dive flag up and we were about 10 meters from the boat. It was a close call. When we were in the boat again, Dirk chased and followed the boat to a nice size catamaran. When we pulled up Dirk started having giving them a piece of his mind. Rightly so, the jet skiers were in the wrong. As this went on I recognized one of the skiers as Micheal Doohan , the Australian former formula 1 motorcycle champion. Its not everyday you almost get taken out by a champion.

Trout transmitter retrieval. Tried again looking for the elusive 'channel 8' trout but no luck.

Trout transmitter retrieval

Coral trout visual id Trout transmitter retrieval

Coral trout spawning site check

Coral trout visual id Coral trout spawning site check

Trout transmitter retrieval. Still looking for channel 8. No sign.

Crown of Thorns star fish collection. Started working for a Japanese professor Prof.Tenshi Ayukai. He was doing research of into limiting Crown of Thorns Starfish populations on the Great Barrier Reef.

Fun dive playing around with one of the groupers at Cobia hole. Nice relaxing day off dives.

Crown of Thorns starfish research. Population count and size measurements of corner beach 2.

Trout transmitter retrieval. Still looking for Channel 8. We could pick up its signal but this fish is hiding in the reef. We also speared the wrong trout. It was a fish we had to collect but not the one we wanted.

Crown of Thorns starfish research. Population count and size measurements. Witnessed a spawning of oysters, clams, sea cucumbers and mussels. It started about half way through the dive. It all seemed to start at the same time. They were all just squirting love into the water column. Also saw a nice big Eagle stingray(blue spots on black)and 2 small turtles.

Crown of Thorns starfish research. Population count and size measurements. Found a Triton shell about 40cm in length. Had to leave it as it was in a national park zone(even though they can be a nice trophy they should be left behind for other marine creatures to use).

Crown of Thorns star fish collection. Last dive on Lizard Island.