Hey All,

Just started paddling and really enjoying it. At the moment I am just hanging around the beaches in Mornington checking out the sea life that you don't get to see when you just go for a swim.

One of the things I really want to do is night paddle boarding. I have had a bit of a look online and there doesn't seem to be a huge range of lights or options for it. Is it not a big part of the sport? I have done a bit of scuba diving and night diving is quite popular.

Does anyone go night paddle boarding on the Mornington peninsular (or anywhere else for that matter) and have any recommendations on equipment? Anything I should know before I venture into this? Advice on staying safe and things like that? I am thinking common sense should cover most of the safety but any advice is always appreciated.

Ian

This product looks pretty good. Haven't seen it in the flesh so I can't vouch for it.

h2oglo.com.au/

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PTWoody said..
This product looks pretty good. Haven't seen it in the flesh so I can't vouch for it.

h2oglo.com.au/

You just need a really long extension cord ;)

I've been looking into this company nocqua.com/ . They are in the states but was told the white light is better for exploring as it lights your area up better then the coloured.

Yeah, I have seen h2oglo.com.au/ on the web. They seem to be the only one in Australia?

I just looked at the shipping for nocqua.com/ and it was ~$250 unfortunately.

a really long extension cord... that your "mate" wont turn off when you are on the water :P

Anyone got any ideas on why night paddle boarding isn't that popular?

Hi I have gone out at night a few times down near the mangroves where I live at night its fairly shallow ( 1 meter or so)
in the right weather it's quite good lots fish/stingrays/shrimp/spiders all sorts ...
for a light source I use a LED lenses head lamp the one with the adjustable beam I find this works quite well ... They are not water proof so don't fall in

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IanD11 said..
Yeah, I have seen h2oglo.com.au/ on the web. They seem to be the only one in Australia?

I just looked at the shipping for nocqua.com/ and it was ~$250 unfortunately.

a really long extension cord... that your "mate" wont turn off when you are on the water :P

Anyone got any ideas on why night paddle boarding isn't that popular?

yes ........... because its dark, you cant see much , like the wave about to land on your head , its Feeding time at the zoo and you should be asleep !

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IanD11 said..
Yeah, I have seen h2oglo.com.au/ on the web. They seem to be the only one in Australia?

I just looked at the shipping for nocqua.com/ and it was ~$250 unfortunately.

a really long extension cord... that your "mate" wont turn off when you are on the water :P

Anyone got any ideas on why night paddle boarding isn't that popular?

Nocqua do have a distributor in New Zealand. Got there details from Nocqua. I spoke to them awhile back via email. They only keep the white light in stock at that time and freight wasn't so expensive.

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IanD11 said..


Anyone got any ideas on why night paddle boarding isn't that popular?

Some people feel that the really big fish with the pointy teeth are attracted to the lights. Personally, I don't much like paddling when I don't have fill awareness of what the water is doing and where the swells are coming from.

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PTWoody said..

IanD11 said..


Anyone got any ideas on why night paddle boarding isn't that popular?

Some people feel that the really big fish with the pointy teeth are attracted to the lights. Personally, I don't much like paddling when I don't have fill awareness of what the water is doing and where the swells are coming from.

I used to do a lot of dab - netting for Garfish from a boat at night, and in the quiet times we would drift around pointing the light directly down at the water. As can be expected it was spectacular, as you would seed a lot of crayfish, squid and octopus. But the other things that would swim under the boat are the stuff of nightmares (daaaa, dum, daaaa dum), and all this was in only several feet of water. Needless to say we never got the urge to dive in after the cray's.

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CrossStep said..
I used to do a lot of dab - netting for Garfish from a boat at night, and in the quiet times we would drift around pointing the light directly down at the water. As can be expected it was spectacular, as you would seed a lot of crayfish, squid and octopus. But the other things that would swim under the boat are the stuff of nightmares (daaaa, dum, daaaa dum), and all this was in only several feet of water. Needless to say we never got the urge to dive in after the cray's.

Yeah, I can believe that. Was this in SA somewhere? It is actually something I would love to see, our pointy toothed friends, but maybe from a boat rather than a SUP!

Anyone got any stories like this about Melbourne? I have been diving in the bay before, and know there are some big scary fish out there, just wonder how close they come in and if they are a real concern down here.

Does anyone go night paddle boarding on the Mornington peninsular (or anywhere else for that matter) and have any recommendations on equipment? Anything I should know before I venture into this? Advice on staying safe and things like that? I am thinking common sense should cover most of the safety but any advice is always appreciated. Ian

Hi,
I go paddling at night (after the kids have gone to bed) about 3-4 times a week in a semi enclosed waterway which is fairly well lit from a large bridge and surrounding street/park lights. Been doing this for about a year. I paddle a 2.5km circuit 2 or 3 laps. Sounds boring to some, but conditions are never the same. There is one large boat that comes in to berth at 8.30pm. Dragonboats are off the water by 8.30. I'm always on the look out for any other boats but usually I "own" the bay after 8.30. I really enjoy it and its also the only practical way I get to paddle regularly. Also, the black inky water with unknown marine life below is strangely exciting..last famous words...haha..knock on driftwood...

Equipment I take out every time:
Tektite lights, fastened to board with a rope (activelights.com.au/products/tektite-holder-combo) also Anaconda has a similar light but I haven't used it.
PFD (not inflatable) Ultra Ocean racer (no restriction on arms, pockets for phone, keys, emergency snacks)
Leg rope
Mobile phone in Aquapac AQUA104 Mini Phone/GPS Case
Water (500ml) in drinking bladder with drinking hose (fits in Ultra ocean racer back pocket)
Plastic shoes and bungee on board to slot in shoes when paddling barefoot
fabric tie-down strap with plastic buckle with 300mm long pool noodle tube threaded on for carrying board to water.
board, paddle, gps watch garmin fenix 2

Also useful to know some rules of the waterways such as KEEP to your RIGHT if approaching an oncoming vessel at close range.
Remember Port-Port as you approach an on coming vessel at close range.
Port (as in the Liqour) is RED is left side of vessel. Green is Starboard. Small craft require 2 white lights in all states of Aus.
Best just to not cross any known boating lanes. At night, boats travelling below 8 knts/hr,are almost silent no matter what size.
You should confirm above rules with maritime guidebooks in your state.

Cheers

@Pokalde

Thanks for the fantastic reply.

Really appreciate the information.

Ian

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IanD11 said..

CrossStep said..
I used to do a lot of dab - netting for Garfish from a boat at night, and in the quiet times we would drift around pointing the light directly down at the water. As can be expected it was spectacular, as you would seed a lot of crayfish, squid and octopus. But the other things that would swim under the boat are the stuff of nightmares (daaaa, dum, daaaa dum), and all this was in only several feet of water. Needless to say we never got the urge to dive in after the cray's.

Yeah, I can believe that. Was this in SA somewhere? It is actually something I would love to see, our pointy toothed friends, but maybe from a boat rather than a SUP!

Anyone got any stories like this about Melbourne? I have been diving in the bay before, and know there are some big scary fish out there, just wonder how close they come in and if they are a real concern down here.

Yep. Won't say where though because the Garfishing is still .

Have you thought about rigging up your own light system. We used to use a light sealed (silicone) in a jar with a handle coming out of it for cables to go to the battery. With rechargeable batteries being so small and cheep now days the whole unit could be housed in the jar or other air tight container and mounted on the lower half of the front/ side via suction caps - in addition to stop being blinded by the light you could always pain the top half black. With this method you could mount several lights for a 360 deg view of the ocean floor.

^Might be worth a scan of the Kayak fishing forums too - those guys are masters at MacGyvering

I have been paddling around Rye. There is always lots of sea life around the pier. Also just to the right off the pier is a big reef/seaweed thing that has lots of different fish.

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SandS said..

IanD11 said..
Yeah, I have seen h2oglo.com.au/ on the web. They seem to be the only one in Australia?

I just looked at the shipping for nocqua.com/ and it was ~$250 unfortunately.

a really long extension cord... that your "mate" wont turn off when you are on the water :P

Anyone got any ideas on why night paddle boarding isn't that popular?

yes ........... because its dark, you cant see much , like the wave about to land on your head , its Feeding time at the zoo and you should be asleep !

Go and read the post next to this one. It's about the shark attack on the north coast of NSW.

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supnewbie said..

I have been paddling around Rye. There is always lots of sea life around the pier. Also just to the right off the pier is a big reef/seaweed thing that has lots of different fish.

Great, thanks.

I have night dived around Rye pier. Didn't know about the reef off to the right hand side. I knew about the one directly out the front but didn't think you would be able to see that deep, unless it is really good vis.