the ocean, my home

Pile Up

Diving with a current can be an exhilarating feeling, however it can lead to some challenge as a dive guide, if you are trying to show your guests a particular type of fish.

Vertigo

Eastern Red Scorpionfish, Scorpaena jacksoniensis

Very common in the temperate Sydney waters. While not the most pleasant fish to look at, they make extremely co-operative models as they do not move much at all (unless threatened).

Reaper Cuttlefish, Sepia mestus

One of three types of cuttlefish that are very common along the NSW coast. Stunning little creatures that are capable of changing the colour of the skin much like an octopus does.

What a waste - the problems of un-selective fishing

Small fish tend to hang around the big fish, this keeps them safe. It doesn’t seem very practical does it? The small fish actually likes hanging around the big ass sharks that see them as food.

As a result of this, there are usually large schools of fish around the areas where sharks hang out, and as a result.. in come the fisherman.

I don’t know what happened to this particular shark, however I know teams from the Sea Life aquariums in Sydney managed to catch and remove hooks from other Grey Nurse Sharks in the area.

Eastern Frogfish, Batrachomoeus dubius

I’ve only seen these fish once the sun comes down, and often tucked away under a rock ledging. They are certainly shy, and with a face like that who could blame them. To further my puppy analogies, I would call these the Pugs of the sea. They’ve got those faces that are so cute, they’re kinda ugly!!

Common Stingaree, Trygonoptera testacea

Sharks!! I’m blessed to live very close to a GNS (Grey Nurse Shark) colony in South Maroubra, Sydney. Often compared to the Labrador of the ocean, these beautiful sharks look a lot more menacing than they are.

Greynurse Shark, Carcharias taurus Rafinesque.

Southern Calamari Squid, Sepioteuthis australis

These squid are most active at night, however I often see them floating around in schools during the daytime. Quite a nice site to watch these semi translucent creatures gracefully swim through the waters.

Southern Pygmy Leatherjacket, Brachaluteres jacksonianus

Endemic to Australia, this little critter was about the size of two fingers, as he fled into a nearby pipe I captured this shot as he was checking to make sure I was gone.

One of my first dives, but still very fresh in my mind. The vis really opened up in Sydney that day.