This would probably be the best dive I've ever had at Ricketts Point!. Fantastic visibility, large school of Zebra Fish and Silver Trevally, and seven Port Jackson Sharks! On the way down, Kirsty had been wondering when we were going to see another Port Jackson, and were certainlty ticked that box on this dive. They were all nestled in under a couple of ledges. We say two together, and when we went further along we say another four, and when I turned around there was another one lying there on its own.
There were lots of Dusky Morwong around, some of them quite large. We think that perhaps some of these were females getting ready to spawn. We also saw a couple of Fiddler Rays, and Flatheads, as well as lots of quite large Leatherjackets, and also a few Scalyfins, Moonlighters, and Old Wives. Not many Sweep around on this dive though.
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.
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.
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.
The Port Jackson Shark eats bivalve molluscs, and its teeth are plate-like rather than the razor-sharp teeth normally associated with sharks. Not considered dangerous to divers, but they do have venomous barbs in front of each dorsal fin. It comes into shallow waters to breed during the late Winter months. They lay spirally flanged eggs, which are screwed into cracks or under ledges, where the young take a year to develop. Taking about ten years to reach maturity, they grow to between 1 and 1.6 metres.
The Port Jackson Shark eats bivalve molluscs, and its teeth are plate-like rather than the razor-sharp teeth normally associated with sharks. Not considered dangerous to divers, but they do have venomous barbs in front of each dorsal fin. It comes into shallow waters to breed during the late Winter months. They lay spirally flanged eggs, which are screwed into cracks or under ledges, where the young take a year to develop. Taking about ten years to reach maturity, they grow to between 1 and 1.6 metres.
The Port Jackson Shark eats bivalve molluscs, and its teeth are plate-like rather than the razor-sharp teeth normally associated with sharks. Not considered dangerous to divers, but they do have venomous barbs in front of each dorsal fin. It comes into shallow waters to breed during the late Winter months. They lay spirally flanged eggs, which are screwed into cracks or under ledges, where the young take a year to develop. Taking about ten years to reach maturity, they grow to between 1 and 1.6 metres.
The Port Jackson Shark eats bivalve molluscs, and its teeth are plate-like rather than the razor-sharp teeth normally associated with sharks. Not considered dangerous to divers, but they do have venomous barbs in front of each dorsal fin. It comes into shallow waters to breed during the late Winter months. They lay spirally flanged eggs, which are screwed into cracks or under ledges, where the young take a year to develop. Taking about ten years to reach maturity, they grow to between 1 and 1.6 metres.
The Port Jackson Shark eats bivalve molluscs, and its teeth are plate-like rather than the razor-sharp teeth normally associated with sharks. Not considered dangerous to divers, but they do have venomous barbs in front of each dorsal fin. It comes into shallow waters to breed during the late Winter months. They lay spirally flanged eggs, which are screwed into cracks or under ledges, where the young take a year to develop. Taking about ten years to reach maturity, they grow to between 1 and 1.6 metres.
Kirsty Batchelor, reveling in the fantastic conditions at Ricketts Point.
You can often see large shoals of Zebrafish around some of the rocky ledges of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. Sometimes they will ignore you completely, and other times will disappear into crevices and caves as soon as possible.
The Southern Fiddler Ray, also known as the Banjo Shark, is often seen foraging over shallow sandflats. Growing to around 1.2 metres, it can be distinguished from the Eastern Fiddler Ray by stripes rather than a triangle in the area behind the eyes. The Southern species is also much fainter in colouring. It seems to be quite placid, and is easily approached.
Zebrafish and Silver Trevally. You can often see large shoals of Zebrafish around some of the rocky ledges of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. Sometimes they will ignore you completely, and other times will disappear into crevices and caves as soon as possible. Silver Trevally can occur in large schools. They have a silver reflective body, with a black spot on the gill cover, and often has a yellow stripe running along the midline.
Old Wifes can grow up to 25 cm in length. Swimming with their fins erect, these graceful fish can be found in pairs, or as part of large schools. Large adults are sometimes seen on their own. They are named after the grunting sound they make when stressed, supposedly sounding like the humphing sound a fisherman's disapproving wife might make.The dorsal spine is venomous. This is the only representative of the family, and its relationship with other families is unclear.
Zebrafish and a Yellowfin Leatherjacket. You can often see large shoals of Zebrafish around some of the rocky ledges of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. Sometimes they will ignore you completely, and other times will disappear into crevices and caves as soon as possible. The Yellowfin Leatherjacket looks similar to the Sixspined Leatherjacket, but has scribbles on each side of the body, and fine filaments projecting from the skin. The fins are pale yellow, and the tail is mainly yellow or orange, with a white trailing edge. Commonly seen in seagrass beds, adults are also seen on sheltered reefs. Males are much more colourful than females.
Old Wifes can grow up to 25 cm in length. Swimming with their fins erect, these graceful fish can be found in pairs, or as part of large schools. Large adults are sometimes seen on their own. They are named after the grunting sound they make when stressed, supposedly sounding like the humphing sound a fisherman's disapproving wife might make.The dorsal spine is venomous. This is the only representative of the family, and its relationship with other families is unclear.
Peter Batchelor and Kirsty Batchelor, diving at Ricketts Point.
The Rough Leatherjacket is covered in small, short fleshy filaments that look a bit like spines. It is a very timid fish that is hard to observe for long periods of time. It can grow to around 30 cm.
Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor
Weather/Sea: Calm.
