2025 - Issue 4 - Spring

It's definitely easier to write these seasonal journals when it's grey, overcast and raining. With Spring and Summer delivering a record-breaking run of warm, sunny days on Sydney's Northern Beaches, this entry has taken a back seat and I've had to dig deep into the memory banks.

The start of September was marked by the tragic events at Dee Why, which shook the entire surf and ocean community here on the Northern Beaches to its core. Like many locals, I stepped away from the water for a few weeks. At the time it felt like an almost incomprehensible event, and it quietly redefined my relationship with the ocean though I didn't yet know just how much that relationship was still about to shift.

The weak La Niña that had lingered through early 2025 had finally dissipated, but sea surface temperatures along the NSW coast remained unusually warm and contributing to what became the warmest spring on record for the Sydney region. One visible consequence was the earlier-than-usual southern migration of Humpback Whales, heading off in search of cooler, nutrient-rich sub-Antarctic waters ahead of schedule.

By 20th September... I was back in the water at Freshwater Beach — Canon R6 II locked into the Aquatech water housing with the RF 50mm f/1.8, and exactly where I belong. A particularly beautiful Monday morning session brought out a few familiar faces through the viewfinder, and the warm, glassy light made for some of the most satisfying water photography shots of the season.

I also had the privilege of getting along to support the crew from Freshwater Boardriders Club at the Australian Boardriders Battle, where they put in a standout performance and locked in their spot at the next event on the Gold Coast. A proud moment for the club.

Gear Used — Spring 2025

• In the water: Canon EOS R6 Mark II · RF 50mm f/1.8 · Aquatech water housing
• From the land: Canon EOS R6 Mark II · RF 50mm f/1.8 · RF 70-200mm f/2.8L · RF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L

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