I often find cool things while paddling, mostly squid jibs, sinkers and the odd fishing rod. But today I found something really cool. I've seen them in shell shops before but never in Port Philip Bay. I have no idea how it got to the Black Rock shorline in such good condition. It's a paper nautilis - I may have to do some research to see if this is some sort of natural thing.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argonaut(animal)
cool find,did you have to dive to get it or was it in the shallows,carefull something like that could put a hole in your new girlfriend
It was about 10m off shore in knee deep water. They are very brittle, amazed at the condition of it and how it got there. It is around the size of my hand.
I found this link which is as bizarre as the shell.
museumsvictoria.com.au/caughtandcoloured/NautilusVoice.aspx
I guess that's what we pay taxes for. Apparently it has been found before around Brighton - when Australia was still a colony - which is near where I found it.
Amazing...I'd love to find one of those..I've seen some interesting things while looking down while paddling.
I often think I'll jump in and get it..and then think..Brrrrrrrrr...maybe not..
The other day I saw a bag on the bottom in about 10' of crystal clear water..It looked like it had something in it...and all I could think is..I wonder if it's full of money..
Still I couldn't make myself jump in to check it out..I'll leave that sort of thing till summer..
Hey Oliver..You should put a light globe in it and turn it into a desk lamp..Is it big enough for that?
DJ
Nice find oliver!
With the movement of the whales up the coast now, i can't wait to meet some. There was about 7 that cruised past currumbin alley yesterday morning heading north. They were jumping and flapping around about 200m off the alley.
Last year we kited with some babies just off palm beach reef, it was unreal!! Not to close of course, it's amazing how big they actually are.
XX angie 
The GF found a paper nautilus at Waratah Bay among the rocks at the reef. She was very chuffed with it. She put it in a nice clear glass vase with some sand and a few shells and stuff. It looks very nice in the living room.
The links talk about the shells being kind of soft and leathery so that might explain why they can survive getting bashed around on rocks before they dry out.
I too have a huge inhibition about jumping in to the cold cold water when paddling. Thar be sea monsters and cold water down there. For flat water exercise I normally don't wear a wetsuit and falling off is not on my list of things to do. Yesterday I did some practice on the spinny turns and foot movement near SHQ and fell in a fair bit (wearing a wetsuit and booties). Dropping into the grungy water in the harbour is nowhere near as much fun as plunging in during a surf.
That's really nice greenroom.
It's almost as good as my sisters angle poo lamp..Has anyone seen one of them?
DJ
Wow!!!...Oliver..I think you better go buy a lotto ticket..
Sorry I missed you today..I saw you car without roofracks and thought that it can't be yours..I forgot about the Uli going in the boot..
It must've been freezing today..I was freezing just watching..You'd better wear a leggie if you're going to paddle in that sorta wind....That Uli could take off in a gust.
DJ
Next Monday down the coast sounds good...Fingers crossed for good waves and no wind..
DJ
Yeah DJ, it was trying conditions, choppy and windy. It took a while to get out there but I did quite well, only falling off once on the way back - pitty no one was around to hear the splash.
It's always good going out, the conditions today were good practice and you get a break from it when you reach the harbor. I found out the creatures in the shells make an appearance on the coast every seven years. Pretty amazing to find another bigger one this week.
Yeah, I think next weekend at the surf will be great, I'm taking Monday 30th off.
..Is it your shout.. 