Todays dive was great and long overdue. I hadn’t been in the water since I moved at the end of last year. My sister and I went to the Haven on the Central Coast. It was a beautiful spring day, a liitle surgy in the water and not great visability, but wow it was amazing.
Despite their fearsome appearance, morays are not considered dangerous to people. In Australia the Green Moray occurs in temperate coastal waters.
Port Jackson Shark
Port Jackson Shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni are very common tis time of year, between May – October. The teeth of the Port Jackson Shark are not serrated and are used to hold and break, then crush and grind the shells of molluscs and sea urchins.
Smooth Stingray
We saw a huge Smooth Stingrays Bathytoshia brevicaudatais hiding in the sand when we were on the way back to shore. We could see the tail sticking out and the rest of the body was covered itself in sand. You could just see the outline of the stingray and the eyes sticking out above the sand. The Smooth stingray are the largest stingray in the world, but sometimes still hard to spot.
Turtles are one of the oldest living reptiles on earth, and they have been around for over 200 million years. They are an important part of the Australian ecosystem, playing a vital role in maintaining the balance of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Turtles are also considered to be keystone species, which means they have a disproportionate effect on the environment relative to their abundance.
There are six species of marine turtles found in Australian waters, including the Green Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Flatback Turtle and Leatherback Turtle. They are all listed as Endangered or Vulnerable to extinction.
World Turtle Day provides a platform for raising awareness about the conservation needs of these fascinating creatures and encourages action to protect their habitats. It serves as a reminder that we all have a role to play in preserving and safeguarding our natural environment for future generations.
How You Can Make a Difference: On World Turtle Day, and beyond, there are several ways in which you can contribute to turtle conservation:
Reduce plastic consumption: Minimize single-use plastics and participate in local beach clean-ups to prevent marine debris from polluting turtle habitats.
Support conservation organizations: Donate to reputable organizations focused on turtle conservation efforts in Australia and around the world.
Promote responsible tourism: Choose eco-friendly travel operators that prioritize sustainable practices and adhere to guidelines for responsible wildlife encounters.
Educate and raise awareness: Share information about World Turtle Day on social media, organize local events, and engage in conversations that highlight the importance of turtle conservation.
SeaWeek is Australia’s major national public awareness campaign to focus community awareness and appreciation of the sea. This week-long event is held every year in March and provides a great opportunity to learn about marine environment. So, take a dive under the water this SeaWeek and explore our amazing marine environments with me.
It was great to be able to spend time diving over the last few week exploring the marine environment around Sydney.
Explore the amazing diversity of Marine Life. Take a journey beneath the waves to explore this wonderful world. Learn about some of these incredible animals, their adaptions and habitats with the resources below.
Follow the journey of water down the river through the catchment to the sea. Water is essential for all forms of life and the small amount of available freshwater create competing pressures for our water resources.
I was very excited to get back to the Great Barrier Reef last week. I stayed out on Ocean Quest for 5 days diving Norman and Saxon Reefs. Over the 5 days I went on 12 amazing dives and 4 snorkels exploring both reefs.
Green TurtleCoralSaxon Reef Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage site that stretches more than 2,000km. The reef can be seen from space and is under threat. No other World Heritage site contains so much biodiversity — more than 1,500 species of fish, 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of molluscs, and 240 species of birds. Don’t forget all the sponges, anemones, marine worms, crustaceans and other species.
The variety of fish life is staggering, everywhere you look, you see something new hiding amongst the coral or out on the sand. The photos don’t do it justice.
Sometimes you only get a glimpse, but that is enough to see my first Hammerhead Shark.
The team from Deep Sea Divers Den were fabulous, all the staff from the kitchen to the dive crew made my stay an incredible adventure. I’m already planning my trip next year.
A big thanks also goes out to Saara & Lachie and Claudio and Natalie for letting me join their dives and for sharing their photos and video footage with me.
SeaWeek is a campaign to focus community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of the sea. The dates are on 5 – 13 March 2022 and this years theme is Our SEArch – what will you discover?. The theme is based on the Ocean Literacy Principle that the Ocean is largely unexplored.
Key marine environments; ocean, coral reef and mangroves
I relate to this years theme as I love exploring the coastline and below the oceans waves. There is always so much to discover if you look. I have a range of resources to learn more about our marine world and for your to discover something new this SeaWeek.
FREE On Demand session
My Journey Beneath the Waves takes you and your students on an exploration of the marine environment. The temperate waters around Sydney are home to a variety of habitats including kelp beds and sponge gardens. These are wonderful place to dive and discover the diversity of animals that live there.
I talk about my experiences SCUBA diving and take you on a journey beneath the waves to explore this wonderful world.
Education Resources
Oceans contain the greatest diversity of life on Earth. Habitats range from the freezing polar regions to the warm waters of the coral reefs, deep sea hydrothermal vents to shallow seagrass beds and beautiful sponge gardens to giant kelp forests, marine organisms are found everywhere.
Australia is home to the over 10,000 beaches and no part of Australia is more than 1,000km from the ocean. Our coasts are impacted by our actions on land. Rubbish and microplastics can be found washed up on almost every Australian beach.
Pollution and rubbish get washed into our rivers and waterways with stormwater runoff and end up on our coasts and oceans. Over 75% of this rubbish is plastic. Plastics in the environment can take hundreds of years to break down, thereby impacting marine species for generations.
The Beach Survey provides a starting point to understand the types of rubbish in the marine environment.
We just finished a lovely SCUBA dive in Chowder Bay in Sydney Harbour and my sister will now forever be known as the Octopus Whisperer. She has always had a great eye for detail when we dive together. However on this dive, even in the murky water she was incredible.
Images: John Turnbull
She lead the way on this adventure while I was testing out my new underwater camera. While I was focused on the camera, she was spotting octopus, moray eels, seahorses and more. She found 4 Common Sydney Octopus, Octopus tetricus hiding under rocks in the sand and even one using shells to camouflage.
The Common Sydney Octopus can grow up to 80cms in size, they are big, but very good at hiding. She was definitely the Octopus Whisperer on this dive and I can’t wait to see what she finds on the next dive!
Michelle has been my dive buddy for the last 25 years and we have had some amazing adventures together, I literally trust her with my life! Check out the video of our adventure. The new camera is great and hopefully my camera skills will improve too.
When the north easterly winds arrive on the east coast of Australia, so do the Bluebottles. They are a common but unwelcome visitor to our beaches in summer. But what do you really know about these fascinating animals!
Bluebottle Physaliautriculus
Bluebottles are not actually jellyfish but a colony of organisms called zooiods. They are composed of four separate colonies of polyps and medusoids including dactylozooids, pneumatophore, gastrozooids, and gonozoids.
The dactylozooids form the tentacles and detect and capture food. The food is transferred to the gastrozooids for digestion. The gonozooids are adjacent to the gastrozooids and constitute the reproductive structures of the colony. The pneumatophore is a gas-filled polyp that keeps it afloat and supports the rest of the colony.
Fun Fact: the collective noun for a group of Bluebottles is an ‘Armarda’
Bluebottles can sail either to the right or left depending on which way a crest on the float is angled. This means that the wind will push parts of the armarda in different directions to avoid the entire group from being washed ashore.
However, when the wind is right they are often stranded in large numbers along the east coast of Australia. They can cause painful stings when encountered in the water or on the beach.
What should you do if you get stung by a Bluebottle?
When the tentacles of the Bluebottle touches your skin they release nematocysts (stinging cells) like tiny harpoons, piercing your skin and injecting venom. The venom comprises of a mixture of phenols and protein which causes pain.
The best way to avoid a Bluebottle sting is to avoid going in the water when there are Bluebottles washed up on the shore or when lifeguards have put up warning signs. If you are unlucky and do get stung follow these simple rules.
Do not rub the stung area
Wash off the remaining stinging cells with saltwater.
Apply hot water to the sting to reduce the discomfort
Heat also breaks down the proteins in the venom
Find a place to rest
Remember: people can have a different reaction to stings, if symptoms persist seek medical assistance.
Blue Sea DragonGlaucus atlanticus They spend their life floating upside down in the water. They feed almost exclusively on Bluebottles and can store their stinging cells.
The more we learn about oceans and the marine environment, the more we can do to understand these link and protect the incredible diversity of species and habitats.
Education Resources
Oceans contain the greatest diversity of life on Earth. Habitats range from the freezing polar regions to the warm waters of the coral reefs, deep sea hydrothermal vents to shallow seagrass beds and beautiful sponge gardens to giant kelp forests, marine organisms are found everywhere.
Australia is home to the over 10,000 beaches and no part of Australia is more than 1,000km from the ocean. Our coasts are impacted by our actions on land. Rubbish and microplastics can be found washed up on almost every Australian beach.
Pollution and rubbish get washed into our rivers and waterways with stormwater runoff and end up on our coasts and oceans. Over 75% of this rubbish is plastic. Plastics in the environment can take hundreds of years to break down, thereby impacting marine species for generations.
I created the Caring for our Oceans activities for the Landcare Learning Centre. These are great activities to do with your students.
Remember everything we do on land has impacts on the marine environment. Follow the journey of water down the river through the catchment to the sea with the Story of a River.
SeaWeek 2021 is on between 6 – 14 March and is a celebration of our precious marine environment. As a SCUBA diver for almost 30 years, I have seen first hand the threats to our marine environment.
This years theme recognises how humans and the oceans are interconnected. This is a time for us all to reflect on our links to the ocean; food, recreation, relaxation, travel, transport and the impacts.
The more we learn about the marine environment, the more we can do to understand these link and protect the incredible diversity of species and habitats.
Celebrate SeaWeek 2021 with some great programs from Australian Environmental Education.
Live interactive Virtual Excursions
My Journey Beneath the Waves: Diving Sydney’s Rocky Reefs takes you and your students on an exploration of the marine environment. The temperate waters around Sydney are home to a variety of habitats including kelp beds and sponge gardens. These are wonderful place to dive and discover the diversity of animals that live there.
I will share some of my favourite diving stories with you and highlight the amazing animals that live in Sydney Rocky Reefs. Take a journey beneath the waves to explore this wonderful world. Learn about some of these incredible animals, their adaptions and habitats.
Special price for SeaWeek 2021 is $50 for a or a 45 minute interactive experience.
Oceans contain the greatest diversity of life on Earth. Habitats range from the freezing polar regions to the warm waters of the coral reefs, deep sea hydrothermal vents to shallow seagrass beds and beautiful sponge gardens to giant kelp forests, marine organisms are found everywhere.
Australia is home to the over 10,000 beaches and no part of Australia is more than 1,000km from the ocean. Our coasts are impacted by our actions on land. Rubbish and microplastics can be found washed up on almost every Australian beach.
Pollution and rubbish get washed into our rivers and waterways with stormwater runoff and end up on our coasts and oceans. Over 75% of this rubbish is plastic. Plastics in the environment can take hundreds of years to break down, thereby impacting marine species for generations.
I created the Caring for our Coast activities for the Landcare Learning Centre. These are great activities to do with your students.
