Noticing a run of salmon cruising through the upper realm of the pylon forest of Rapid Bay Jetty I gently rose into their midst. This stunning school cruised through and around me before disappearing into the open water gloom. A little patience paid off and they came back through again for a second run. Then … Read more
At first I thought I had come across a couple of dropped cuff links on the ocean floor. Then I thought, what an amazing pair of earrings. I am still not sure what they are and why there are two of them anchored to their sea bed like lovers betrothed for life. I hope they … Read more
The very first time I dived Rapid Bay Jetty, more than thirty years ago now, I was blown away by the schools of pelagic fish that swim through the pylons. Thirty years ago they were probably yellowfin whiting, today they are definitely yellowfin whiting. What I did not see all those years ago was the … Read more
Perhaps it’s unfair on the rest of the jetties that dot our coastline but I’d say that Rapid Bay is one of the best jetty dives for scuba divers in South Australia and probably in all Australia. If you are into small critters, they are everywhere for divers to observe and photograph. If you are … Read more
I can’t begin to describe how much joy I feel whenever I encounter a leafy seadragon on a dive. This was especially true last weekend as I had not seen any leafies at Edithburgh for quite some time. In the last 30 years I have seen the rise of the leafy seadragon from curious local … Read more
I photographed Miros here in the idyllic Sultana Bay of Edithburgh two years ago. At the time it looked a little run down but still quite serviceable. Two years later she does not seemed to have moved. Moreover the amount of guano cementing the base of the jib suggests that Miro’s current seafowl residents have … Read more
The beautiful fan worm Sabellastarte australiensis looks all the world like a miniature palm tree in an exquisite coral and ascidian garden. Just a tiny part of the greater landscape under Edithburgh Jetty. #diving #featherduster #macro #ocean #edithburgh #edithburghjetty #sabellastarteaustraliensis #scuba #sea #southaustralia #underwater #worm
When you play the game ‘what critter is that?’ long enough you eventually start talking Latin. It’s not by choice but most critters that live on the ocean floor are only known by Latin names. This little guy, Tylodina corticalis, is a primitive notaspid (more Latin) or more commonly a ‘side gilled slug’ (finally some … Read more
We’ve just returned home from a weekend away in the small coastal town of ‘Edithburgh’ on South Australia’s ‘York Peninsula’ and we enjoyed every moment there. Edithburgh is one of my ‘happy places’. In once place you can find a slow paced idyllic country town, one the best jetties for benthic marine life in Australia … Read more
Today I was lucky enough to photograph this beautiful chunk of specimen gold in quartz. Here with my watch placed on top for scale is 2.6 kilograms of gold in a 4.6 kilogram nugget specimen. A lucky strike indeed for a very lucky amateur prospector who found this gorgeous rock last month in central Victoria. … Read more