Robert’s Ramblings

I still find myself thinking I’m back in South Australia whenever I come across the European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas), which looks almost identical to the southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii).

Here in Ireland, this beautiful creature is mostly ignored by the fishing industry in favour of the much sought-after European lobster (Homarus gammarus). From a diving perspective, this is great, we see them everywhere. Last night’s dive was no exception with crayfish everywhere.

In Australia, we have no marine clawed lobsters, so instead we place huge commercial and recreational fishing pressure on the southern rock lobster. Divers there regularly catch them, so they’ve become quite flighty and almost never interact, preferring to retreat into deep, inaccessible ledges.

Here, the European spiny lobster seems completely at home out in the open, giving us a wonderful opportunity to observe and interact with them unencumbered.

They might be the poor crustacean cousin, but they certainly seem to have a better life because of it.


#crayfish #critters #diving #europeanspinylobster #palinuruselephas #scuba #spinylobster #underwater #brayhead #portmagee

I’ve gazed into the flowing waters of Ireland’s famous Munster Blackwater River and witnessed its many moods over the years.

This river, known for some of Ireland’s finest salmon fishing, has claimed lives and bestowed both vitality and identity upon many towns in the south of Ireland. I’ve longed to discover what lies beneath its surface.

On one of those perfect blue-sky summer days, with the river running low and its flow gentle, I decided it was finally time to sate my long-held curiosity and dive into the Blackwater.

The experience was entirely different from diving in the ocean. In the narrows, I found water-worn rocks and pebbles; strands of green algae trailed down into deeper pools; and the bottom, far below, was cloaked in a grim, grey silty blanket.

I dived with no wetsuit — just togs, mask, snorkel, and fins — and could have stayed in for hours. I spotted unfamiliar species of fish, a solitary eel, and was enthralled by the dappled sunlight in the shallows. It’s no surprise, then, that I now feel a growing enthusiasm to explore more.

The waters just above the Mallow railway bridge offered a safe and gentle introduction. I learned valuable lessons about staying safe in a river and now look forward to discovering more of the green, in the black, beneath the blue.

#Ireland #mallow #blackwater #river #overunder #bridges #summer #diving #swimming

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Under a brooding sky and a glowing horizon, Adelaide beachgoers soaked in an unseasonably warm, balmy mid-autumn evening.

Now, deep into our Irish summer, we may not reach those 30 degree nights, but with up to 17 hours of daylight, the long golden days more than make up for it.

Meanwhile, in the chill of an Adelaide winter, our friends and family are left still remembering summer.


#henleybeach #adelaide #southaustralia #summer #sunset #beach #jetty

It had been far too long since I last soaked up the briny magic off the coast of Kerry.

No matter how many years I’ve been diving, I still feel a flicker of nerves before that first descent, especially this time — testing out a new camera setup that had flooded once before.

Once down, though, my nervousness was replaced with a bliss that divers know so well. Being under the water is a place where the noise and stress of topside life simply vanish. I felt deeply grateful, once again, for the privilege of being a diver.

Even after surfacing, I was in no hurry to leave the water — lingering to capture a few final images and be at peace in my happy place.


#scuba #diving #kerry #boating #ocean #sea #rib

The sun had set. The people on the beach were dispersing to homes or to bars or to where ever people go when they they have lost interest in the moment. The stalwarts remained, listening to the gentle surf while the air chilled. I made my way back to the car.

As I walked through the car park something caught my eye. I clicked the shutter only to realise my settings were those from when the twilight still lit the ocean. Oh well I thought, I’ll just keep walking anyway and see what emerges.


#henleybeach #night #abstract #henleysqaure #longexposure

It’s the end of March, we should be in the full of Autumn with Winter approaching but the balmy almost tropical evening made it feel like the height of Adelaide summer.

Behind me the beach is packed with people. Above me they stroll the jetty. Evening picnics are in full swing and a wedding band is rocking a local cafe. Shrill cries of laughter from the outdoor patrons of the Ramsgate Hotel seem to make there way down to the beach to join in the fun.

In front of me, the jetty stretches out to sea. Under her the sea is calm and golden and for a moment I can imagine her all to myself on this beautiful evening.


#henleybeach #twilight #jetty #boardwalk #goldenhour #southaustralia #seascape

It’s been a very long time since I photographed a Henley Beach sunset. Tonight I nearly didn’t.
I was in fact about to mow the lawn when I noticed the light around me strike the building as it emerged beyond the blanket of ominous cloud above. The lawn was soon forgotten, tripod located and to the beach I went.

Henley beach was mayhem. A balmy, almost tropical, 30 degrees on a Friday night was an attraction to be experienced and the result was people everywhere doing just that.

Four lads engaged in a game of beach volley ball soon grabbed my attention and I ending up watching this beautiful Henley Beach sunset through the net and the players.


#henleybeach #volleyball #sunset #goldenhour #sport #jetty #fun #clouds #beach

This beautiful sunset scene looking out over the wild Atlantic ocean contains some of the most amazing diving I have been privileged to experience.

My very first dive here in Ireland was on Skellig Michael, that pyramid on the distant horizon. I could not have wished for a more profound introduction to Irish diving.

From there we’ve done many dives on Little Skellig, also on the horizon, the famous Puffin Island to the far left, Bray Head just below the sunset, Long Island in the middle left and Horse Island to the middle right.

This one image captures the playground of most of my diving in the last 12 months. Some of my dives have been amazing feasts of gin clear visibility and massive underwater structures in 40m of water while other dives have been simply, character building and only served to increase my bond with and trust of the skills of my diving buddies.

Diving here as introduced to me to the amazing creatures of these waters including whales, basking sharks, seals and all the local fishes.

I am truly grateful for being introduced to the wonderful members of the Kerry Subaqua Club and for them taking me under their wing and sharing with me this amazing part of the Wild Atlantic Way.


portmagee #skelligmichael #theskelligs #brayhead #puffinisland #aerial #longisland #horseisland #travel #ireleand #wildatlanticway #sunset #blackandwhite #kerrysubaqua

Across the beautiful Lough Leane stands Shehy Mountain silhouetted by a sneak peek of sunshine. The mountains of Kerry are gorgeous and are the highest in all Ireland.

Ireland’s mountains are not high by world standards. Shehy Mountain reaches 762m. Tommies Mountain to the right is even smaller at 735m and between those two peaks, hidden from view in the distance, is the famous Carrantuohill, Ireland’s highest mountain at 1082m.

They may not be high but no one would argue against their world class beauty.


#killarney #loughleane #Shehy #Tommies #mountains #ireland #travel #silhouette

The tide was neither out nor in and I’m not sure which way the water moved. But the evidence of its daily movement, in and out is clearly evident.

It you were unaware of the aerial perspective you might imagine a leaf rotting in the mud or a fallen tree long after being felled. It’s the little ripples that give away the true story as they cut perpendicular to the ebb or flow.

I wonder what comes first? Is the bifurcation of paths on the rising tide as the water seeks the lowest path to high ground or the merging of rivulets finding their way back out to sea.


#inchydoney #beach #tidal #flats #aerial #bifurcation #abstract #tides #sand #ireland