Blue Eyed Monster

A thing of childhood nightmares lies before me, mouth agape. Like the edge of a precipice I am drawn inexorably towards that perilous abyss beyond. Every fibre of my being screams ‘don’t’ while body inches forward regardless. After all this Doughboy Scallop is only a few centimetres across and I want a really good close […]

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Achoo

Sorry I did not cover my mouth, said the gurnard perch, but we have no mask wearing restrictions down here! That spray of particles in the water is not Covid but the chewy bits of my last morsel! I watched this little guy for some time, curious he was not at all perturbed by my […]

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Things That Go Bump In The Night

Well it was more like ‘boo’ than ‘bump’ as this rough rock crab (Nectocarcinus integrifrons) stood its ground. I am not sure who was more surprised as I swam past a pylon to find this guy, claws reared, and that unmistakable ‘do you want a piece of me!’ look in its eyes. I am sure […]

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Bad Beauty

The European Featherduster Worm (Sabella spallanzani) is an unwanted and feral guest in our South Australian waters. For the most part they are quite unattractive, living in silty conditions and lacking the vibrant rich orange fans of its native local cousin. Anyone who has dived recently in Westlakes waterways would attest to the ugly mess […]

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