We went looking for the Port Jacksons mentioned to us on the previous dive, but didn't find them. We did find a massive school of East Australian Salmon, to the West of the buoys marking the entrance to the yacht club. The constantly circled us, moving further away when we exhaled, but always keeping us in view. We did see quite a few Dusky Morwong, Snapper, Leatherjackets, Flathead and Scalyfins as well, but the Salmon were the highlight of the day.
School of Australian Salmon in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctury, 31 December 2017. Australian Salmon are not closely related to the true Salmon from the Northern hemisphere. There are two species (East Australian Salmon, and West Australian Salmon), which can't easily be distinguished by external appearance, and both species can be found in Port Phillip. Adults reach around 90 cm, and can be found in very large schools.
School of Australian Salmon in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctury, 31 December 2017. Australian Salmon are not closely related to the true Salmon from the Northern hemisphere. There are two species (East Australian Salmon, and West Australian Salmon), which can't easily be distinguished by external appearance, and both species can be found in Port Phillip. Adults reach around 90 cm, and can be found in very large schools.
School of Australian Salmon in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctury, 31 December 2017. Australian Salmon are not closely related to the true Salmon from the Northern hemisphere. There are two species (East Australian Salmon, and West Australian Salmon), which can't easily be distinguished by external appearance, and both species can be found in Port Phillip. Adults reach around 90 cm, and can be found in very large schools.
School of Australian salmon, and a Zebrafish in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctury, 31 December 2017. Australian Salmon are not closely related to the true Salmon from the Northern hemisphere. There are two species (East Australian Salmon, and West Australian Salmon), which can't easily be distinguished by external appearance, and both species can be found in Port Phillip. Adults reach around 90 cm, and can be found in very large schools.
School of Australian Salmon in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctury, 31 December 2017. Australian Salmon are not closely related to the true Salmon from the Northern hemisphere. There are two species (East Australian Salmon, and West Australian Salmon), which can't easily be distinguished by external appearance, and both species can be found in Port Phillip. Adults reach around 90 cm, and can be found in very large schools.
Unlike stingrays, the Spotted Stingaree has a rounded fin at the end if its tail, although it does have a venomous spine on the tail. It reaches a maximum size of 70 cm. It has a dark, rounded body, with light blotches and trellis-like markings on the upper surface.
Although called the Rock Flathead, it is normally found in seagrass beds and flat weedy reefs, where its diffuse banding and blotched patterns camouflage it. It can grow to between 35 and 50 cm.
Dusky Worwong can grow up to 1.2 metres. Adults a blue-green colour, while juveniles have brown spots and bars in the upper body and tail. They are regularly seen in seagrass beds, often in pairs, lying in the grass, and are quite easy to approach.
There are several very similar species known as Sand Flathead. They all have a sandy colour, and generally with a black blotch on the tail. Variations in size and shape of this black patch can apparently be used to determine which species a specimen is. The different species can vary between 46 and 90 cm.
Kirsty Batchelor, diving in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctury, 31 December 2017.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor
Weather/Sea: 10 Kts Southerly, slight swell.
