Robert's Ramblings

This sculpture of these beautiful creatures, 'Whales x 2' is the work of Terrance Plowright and can be found at Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney's popular Darling Harbour.

I have been captivated by the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae since seeing the amazing photography of Tony Wu from his recent trip to Tonga. His photography of these incredible creatures during the calving season is simply stunning. Please visit his site and be prepared to be gob-smacked!

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

Photo: Robert Rath EOS40D 10mm 1/40s at f/4.0 ISO3200

So why did the shark say meow? Because it was a catshark of course! I found this Varied Catshark, Parascyllium variolatum, while diving Whalebone Caves in Encounter Bay a few weeks ago.

Although found in a wide variety of Southern Australian habitats, little is know about this normally nocturnal shark. Fortunately for me this guy was up late. Unfortunately, trying to take the photos through gaps in the kelp made it hard to get a clear shot.

Whalebone Caves is another one of my favourite South Australian shore dives. Not very deep and only a stroll from the car park, this dive is like being in an aquarium. With an intricate maze of tunnels, caves and swim-throughs carved from the limestone sea-bed, this little place is fun to explore or just to hang out in at the end of a day's diving.

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

Photo: Robert Rath C5060 1/60s at f/3.5 ISO100 Lens UCL165AD Macro, Inon D2000 Strobe

This stunning looking creature is also the prize of many great seafood chefs. The King Scallop, Pecten fumatus is highly prized by the commercial fishery industry in Southern Australia.

Also known as the Southern Scallop, the Tasmanian Scallop or the Commercial Scallop, they can grow to over 14 cm across and live for just as many years. Scallops are filter feeders, living on plankton and other organic debris and are common to all our coastal waters.

This photo was taken on a night dive during my last Open Water course over in Edithburgh. It's fun to leave the students on the jetty, then come back to them with photos of what they'll soon be experiencing for themselves.

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

Photo: Robert Rath C5060 1/30s at f/8 ISO200 30mm, Lens UWL100-28AD, Inon D2000 Strobe

This weekend's get-away took us to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia's mid-north.

How lovely it was to sit by an open camp fire, stare into the heavens and not have to worry about getting into a cold, damp wetsuit.

In all of the beauty this place has to offer, there is nothing like the feelings invoked by a starry night in the outback.

I hope this image gives a sense of the sky we never get to see in our suburban world.

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

Photo: Robert Rath EOS40D 160s at f/8 ISO1600 10mm