Where Are All The Edithburgh Leafy Seadragons

Last month a few of us travelled to Edithburgh for an underwater photography course. The weather was clear, the water cold and the diving gentle and relaxing. As usual the life under and around the jetty was teaming and we all took some great photos even though the visibility was not stunning. It was here I saw my first leafy seadragon some twenty years earlier.

Edithburgh has never been a great place to find leafy seadragons. There are other places in South Australia more reliable but Edithburgh is such a wonderful place to dive that finding a leafy seadragon or two is such a wonderful bonus to an incredible site.

So where are the Edithburgh leafys? Well in twenty years I have only ever seen a dragon under the jetty three times and this is not surprising really as this is not their natural habitat without the heavy seaweed cover they normally inhabit. To find leafys at Edithburgh you need to leave the jetty and look for large groups of brown algae seaweed. I have found them in every direction from the jetty. To the south, the west and the north. Be prepared to swim a little and make sure you are using a good pair of fins, especially if there is a little current. When you find a large grouping of brown algae seaweed don't just scan the area as you swim past. Leafy seadragons are easily missed due to their wonderful camouflage. Settle somewhere in the middle, be still , watch wait and study. Even if you do not fond a dragon you will notice things that you would never see just swimming by. My experience is that you don't just look and see leafy seadragons. They come into view as you are staring at the seaweed. Almost like magic a dragon will appear exactly where you are staring even though you have stared at the same spot for a while. So be patient and then move on and good luck!

I took this photo of a young adult last month during our Edithburgh course. The little critter was not particularly co-operative preferring to stay hidden in the weed. I'm just happy to say you can still find leafy seadragons at Edithburgh.


Until the next post, take care out there and keep diving ( if that's what you do! ) ...Robert


Photo: Robert Rath, Leafy Seadragon, Edithburgh. Please ask if you want to know more about how this image was taken.