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2 Poles

Submitted by scott on Thu, 01/05/2012 - 00:20
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2 Poles
2 Poles
2 Poles
Trachichthys australis (Roughy) - 2 Poles
Aulopus purpurissatus (Sergeant Baker) - 2 Poles
Parma microlepis (White Ear Parma) - 2 Poles
Trachinops taeniatus (Eastern Hulafish) - 2 Poles
Cheilodactylus fuscus (Red Morwong) - 2 Poles
Enoplosus armatus (Old Wife) - 2 Poles
Chromodoris splendida (Splendid Chromodoris) - 2 Poles
Mopsella zimmeri (Gorgonian) - 2 Poles
Hypselodoris bennetti (Bennett's hypselodoris) - 2 Poles
Pentagonaster dubeni (Vermilion Star) - 2 Poles
Steginoporella chartacea (Folded plate bryozoan) - 2 Poles
Botrylloides magnicoecum (Magnificent Ascidian) - 2 Poles
Mopsella sp. (Red Gorgonian) - 2 Poles
Sponges (PORIFERA) - 2 Poles
Sponges (PORIFERA) - 2 Poles
Sponges (PORIFERA) - 2 Poles
Hydroids (Order Hydroida) - 2 Poles

2 Poles is well known and popular shallow site that prior to the ex-HMAS Adelaide, was visited often by local commercial operators. It is only a short boat run from Terrigal Haven, as the site is straight off the small rocky headland that separates Spoon Bay from Forresters Beach. It is well within reach of DIY divers in small boats (in the the right conditions of course).

The site is a drop off from ~14m down to ~18m. The top of the reef is kelp covered and of limited interest. However, at the bottom of the drop off there is a good amount of fixed growth. The highlight of the site are the Gorgonian fans. They are very plentiful at 2 Poles, making it one of the best sites on the central coast to see these beautiful marine creatures. Being quite shallow, this is a site to avoid when there is a swell running as it will be surgey and stirred up below.

The fish life you will commonly encounter at this site includes:

  • Small scale Bullseye (Pempheris compressa)
  • Roughy (Trachichthys australis)
  • White Ear Parma (Parma microlepis)
  • Longfin Pike (Dinolestes lewini)
  • Red Morwong (Cheilodactylus fuscus)
  • Half Banded Seaperch (Hypoplectrodes maccullochi)
  • Mado (Atypichthys strigatus)
  • Yellow-Tail Scad (Trachurus novaezelandiae)
  • Blue Wrasse-Grouper (Achoerodus viridis)
  • Maori Wrasse (Ophthalmolepis lineolata)
  • Eastern Hulafish (Trachinops taeniatus)
  • Sergeant Baker (Aulopus purpurissatus)
  • Old Wife (Enoplosus armatus)

The GPS mark for this site is S33º25.329' E151º27.963' (WGS84 hdddºmm.mmm'). Seek to anchor at the bottom of the drop off in ~17m.

I really like 2 Poles as a good option to blow off the remains of a tank. I nice little dive.