This was intended to be a dive at either Pope's Eye or South Channel Fort, but it turned int oa comedy of errors, and I had to drive back to the house twice - once for my camera, and then for the life jackets that had not been stored with the boat. We missed the tide, so put in at Rye instead, and anchored to the West of the pier and swam in. We saw lots of juvenile Moonlighters feeding together. Most books suggest that juveniles are solitary, but over the last few dives we've seen lots of them in groups. A Pale Octopus was in the tyre off the end of the pier, and there were a few small schools of Calamary around. We also saw a couple of Big-belly Seahorses locked together by their tails. From the pronounced split on the belly of the male we think that they were getting ready to transfer eggs to his pouch.
Diving from our inflatable boat, near Rye Pier.
The Common Stingaree grows to about 45 cm, and can vary from a uniform brown to grey, with a dusky shading below the eyes. They have a small dorsal fin on the tail, and often are found in small groups.
Kirsty Batchelor, near Rye Pier.
William Batchelor, near Rye Pier.
Female Bluethoat Wrasse. The Bluethroat Wrasse is one of the most abundant Wrasses in Victoria, and is an interesting species. Females and males look quite different, with the female being a greenish-brown, and having broad light and dark bands across the body, lighter towards the tail, while the male has a dusky red-brown body, with a rounded bluish head, and a single broad white band running vertically across their body, and yellow pectoral and pelvic fins. Large females can transform into males!
Juvenile Moonlighters under Rye Pier. The Moonlighter has six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
Juvenile Moonlighters under Rye Pier. The Moonlighter has six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
Juvenile Moonlighters under Rye Pier. The Moonlighter has six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
The most common Squid seen in Victorian waters, the Southern Calamary looks like a cross between a Cuttlefish and a Squid. The arms, head an body look like that of a squid, but the fins extend all the way around the mantle.
The most common Squid seen in Victorian waters, the Southern Calamary looks like a cross between a Cuttlefish and a Squid. The arms, head an body look like that of a squid, but the fins extend all the way around the mantle.
Juvenile Moonlighters hunting for food, near Rye Pier. The Moonlighter has six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
Juvenile Moonlighters hunting for food, near Rye Pier. The Moonlighter has six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
Juvenile Moonlighters hunting for food, near Rye Pier. The Moonlighter has six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
Juvenile Moonlighters hunting for food, near Rye Pier. The Moonlighter has six dark bands down each side, over a body that graduates from silver to yellow. Juveniles have a large white-edged black spot on the dorsal fin near the rear of the body. Adults are either solitary, or may be found in pairs. They can grow up to 35 to 40 cm.
The Pale Octopus grows to around 35 cm in length. It has a relatively large body, short arms, and is normally a reddish brown to orange colour. It is often seen on sand amongst sponges and gorgonian corals. It can form spiky protuberances all over its body, radically changing its appearance.
The Pale Octopus grows to around 35 cm in length. It has a relatively large body, short arms, and is normally a reddish brown to orange colour. It is often seen on sand amongst sponges and gorgonian corals. It can form spiky protuberances all over its body, radically changing its appearance.
Unidentified schooling fish under Rye Pier.
Very well-camouflaged, if you can find them the Big-belly seahorse is easy to recognise, with a number of tassels on their head. They can be brown, white, yellow, grey, orange, or have a mottled colouration. As with other seahorses, the male carries the fertilised eggs in a brood pouch on the belly. A pregnancy lasts about 30 days. In this photo is appears that the male is getting ready to receive eggs from the female.
Very well-camouflaged, if you can find them the Big-belly seahorse is easy to recognise, with a number of tassels on their head. They can be brown, white, yellow, grey, orange, or have a mottled colouration. As with other seahorses, the male carries the fertilised eggs in a brood pouch on the belly. A pregnancy lasts about 30 days. In this photo is appears that the male is getting ready to receive eggs from the female.
Very well-camouflaged, if you can find them the Big-belly seahorse is easy to recognise, with a number of tassels on their head. They can be brown, white, yellow, grey, orange, or have a mottled colouration. As with other seahorses, the male carries the fertilised eggs in a brood pouch on the belly. A pregnancy lasts about 30 days. In this photo is appears that the male is getting ready to receive eggs from the female.
Juvenile Leatherjackets feeding under Rye Pier.
William and Kirsty Batchelor, near Rye Pier.
Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor, William Batchelor
Weather/Sea: 5 Kts Northerly.
