Robert's Ramblings

The Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus , is also one of our two famous and unique Southern Australian seadragons.

There is much debate in our diving community here in Adelaide if the Weedy Seadragon is more common than the Leafy Seadragon. I guess that depends on where you dive. In my experience with shore based shallow diving here in South Australia I would say that the Leafy Seadragon is more common and the Weedy Seadragon is less common. On deeper off-shore reefs I have only ever found Weedy Seadragons. Even so, I have dived other parts of Australia where I have seen plenty of Weedy Seadragons in shallow shore based diving. In any case these dragons are hard to see even when right in front of you due to their magnificent camouflage.

This photo was taken at Victor Harbor a couple of weekends ago. It was a juvenile, around 10cm in length and was spotted by my dive buddy. Note that this little dragon is all covered in white silt! Many thanks to my buddy who left both of us in a cloud of muck and silt has he raced off after a cowfish swimming past. Note to non-photographer dive buddies; be aware of your fins and fragile bottoms!!

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

Photo: Robert Rath C7070 1/90s at f/8.0 ISO100, Inon UCL165AD Macro Lens, Inon D2000 Strobe + Natural Light