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The Cutting at Frenchman's Bay

Written by Leanne Parsons (Instructor SDA)

Location / How to get there                     

Western mainland between Vince’s Point and Frenchman’s Beach – Park near
loop gate and ramp and it’s an easy walk down.

Local creatures                                                

As mentioned before in 'Vince's Point', a great spot for schooling fish.  I have also seen
Wobbegongs, Kingfish and rays including big Numbfish.  There is usually a big Flathead somewhere in
the sand and I have seen Red Indianfish and Seaspiders along the edge.  Seadragons are common just in the weed along the sand edge so be careful when swimming over drifting seaweed which gathers along the wall after rough seas. 
Lots of nudibranchs down on the lower rocks and
Squid and small Cuttlefish are often around – though hard to spot.

Amenities

Easy walk to cafés, public toilets and phone

Experience Level                 

Open water – but visibility can be very limited

Precautions inc Wind, Waves, Currents, Tides 

Protected from  E/SE winds and usually divable but be aware of an outgoing
tide (may need to plan for exit around the point).  A strong Westerly can blow out the
entry/exit.  Beware of sailboards, boats and fishermen around the descent/ascent area.  Submerged fishing line can also be a problem.

Best time  to dive                                                  

Incoming tide thru high tide.  Much of this dive is over a silt bottom so
good buoyancy practices are essential – visibility can be low at the best of times.

Where enter / exit

From ramp walk down grass and over rocks to the channel – watch out for
broken glass – just walk out channel until ready to descend.  Return to ascent point and swim
back in thru the channel.  Alternate exit is to keep swimming North east around the small
reef and back to the rock cove for exit – or swim to Frenchman’s beach for exit.

Navigation

Swim out west, on left side of channel there is a car tyre – this marks the
beginning of the wall turning south.  Swim south with the weed covered wall to your left and
continue till you reach agreed turning time – the weed turns to a wall of rocky boulders and
outcrops – after turning just keep the wall on your right and the sand beneath you and it’s straight back to the tyre to mark your ascent point or a right turn to swim up the channel.    Be aware of the big shelf covered in weed – if you end up over this it can get very confusing – it’s
much easier to stay just over the sand.                                            

Points of interest

Great spot for seadragons  - often in 5m of water at or near the descent
point – big rock to the right has a parent pair right now.  Down over the sand there are small rocky outcrops where octopus are common.  This site is often quite murky and this seems to
encourage schooling fish especially if there is a little current.  Back to the east on the rocky
ledges there are often PJ’s , and milling schools of scad, yellow tail pike, and sweep.

Tips (from the pro)                 

Swim slowly, this is an easy dive if no current so there is plenty of time
to look for macro life and just wait and see what you find.  Out at the 10m-14m mark if you look up
the schooling fish can be gorgeous as they feed and if they start to dart and panic – you
might just spot a kingfish in the gloom – back up about the 10m range in the rocks the
featherduster worms are fabulous and the fish schools can be mesmerising.  This dive is great just
to find a likely spot, stop swimming and see what happens around you.   The entry and exit channel
can have perfect aquarium water sometimes so it’s great just to potter back thru the
channel and look for pipehorse and fortescue.

 

 
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