Very poor visibility on this dive! Kirsty and I did manage to see one Weedy Sea Dragon, and lots of Cowfish, but the conditions were pretty poor. I think there's only been one other dive where the visibility here has been worse. There were quite a few Leatherjackets and a Rainbow Cale, and glimpsed a Smooth Ray out from the end of the pier.
Juvenile Leatherjackets at Flinders can often be found hiding in, and eating off, the pieces of weed stirred up by the surge under the pier.
Male Ornate Cowfish have a bright orange tail, black and white alternating lines underneath, and black-edged blue spots over a yellowish background. Females usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Juvenile Rainbow Cale. The Rainbow Cale is an Australian species of Weed Whiting, found in marine waters along the Southern coast. It inhabits rocky reefs that have plentiful growth of brown algae and also in beds of seagrass. Adult males have iridescent blue lines on the face and their fins. Juveniles often have clear parts in their dorsal fins
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. The male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Seadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Unique to Australia, Weedy Seadragons are related to Seahorses, but their tails can't be used for grasping. Abdominal markings are unique to each individual. Courtship is elaborate and prolonged, and can last up to four weeks. The male carries about 250 eggs on the tail rather than on the belly, for around two months. Their primary diet is the mysid shrimp. In Victoria, Weedy Seadragons can grow to around 46 cm and live more than 10 years.
Juvenile Moonlighter, Magpie Perch, and Scalyfin, sheltering under the overhang of an engine block found under Flinders Pier. The engine block often hosts juvenile Scalyfins, Tasmanian Blennies, and Octopus regularly inhabit the center of the engine
Female Ornate Cowfish usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Female Ornate Cowfish usually have a yellow belly, while their sides are covered in dark, close-set dark brown lines over a white background, often forming circles or loops on top of the body. Both males and females have horn-like protrusions above the eyes, with additional protrusions further back along the top of the body. They are often found in weed beds, and will squirt water into the sand to expose their prey.
Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor
Weather/Sea: Light winds, but quite a strong surge under a relatively flat surface.
