GPS Coordinates: 14°39.920S 145°37.500E. North end of Ribbon Reef Depth: 10-22 metres Experience:Intermediate
Personal experiences from Peter Stone, author “Diving Australia”
What an experience, my first visit to the famous Cod Hole
We could see the huge Potatoe Cod lazily cruising near the bottom. Although we were on the inside of the reef,
the visibility was at least 30m. Soon after we anchored several Cod came to the surface, obviously in
anticipation of what was to come. The first snorkellers in the water made a hasty retreat as we were warned
that the cod can be rather aggressive - enthusiastic would be a better description. Skipper Barry May gathered
up scraps of food kept from previous meals. We went down. The cod came in - at least 20 of them - all jostling
and heaving to get to the bin. Geoff the divemaster, was knocked about unmercifully but we didnt mind to much
as it made for excellent photography.
We were only 20m down on the bottom, just off the reef wall. Several small coral bombies broke up the sandy
seabed, allowing good positioning for photography. The cod appeared very aggresive, with one object only -
food. If it happened to be your hand, as skipper Barry found out, then so much for the entre. (The cod have very
small teeth which tend to scrape rather than cut.) One cod even upended himself into the bin, much I am sure
to the disgust of his companions.
Once the food was gone however, the cod realised that there was little else to get excited about. With their
aggresiveness gone they became underwater friends, cruising around and laying motionless for the usual
arm-around-the-gills photograph.
We has several dives at the Cod Hole. The area itself was very interesting, even apart from the cod.
A magnificent dive!
