Ricketts Point. 21 January 2022

What a difference to our last dive here!

We entered via the ramp at the end of the beach away from the sailing club, and kept fairly close to the rocks on the way out into deeper water. This time, we saw lots of different Leatherjacket species, heaps of Snapper and Sweep, several Old Wives, a couple of schools of Zebrafish, and an enourmous school of East Australian Salmon. We could have spent the entire dive enclosed in the ball of Salmon. I could hear Kirsty squeal with excitement when she spotted them. There were a few more Lion's Mane Jellyfish around this time. Apparently there are reports of large numbers all round the top of the bay at present.

There were still large numbers of Sea Urchins present, and there were some barren areas, but this portion of the reserve hasn't been as badly affected as the area we were in on our last dive.

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.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

Snapper are a member of the Bream family, and can grow to 1.3 metres in length, and weighing 20 kg. Snapper form schools in shallow water to spawn once the water temperature reaches 18c. Growth is slow, and larger fish will be more than 20 years old. Juvenile Snapper have bright blue spots all over their body. Adults have a pronounced hump-headed appearance, and tend to spend most of their time in deeper water.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

Sea Sweep are often very inquisitive, and will often come and investigate divers. They can have a lifespan of almost 70 years, and take more than 14 years to reach sexual maturity.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

The Lion's Mane Jellyfish can grow to be one of the largest of all jellyfish, with the bell growing to around 1 m across, and its trailing tentacles spreading more than 10 metres in length. These jellyfish can deliver a painful sting.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

The Victorian Scalyfin is one of the larger members of the Damselfish family. It is territorial, and will aggressively defend its cave and the patch of algae that it farms. They can vary in colour from grey to black, or yellow to orange. Large males can be almost black, with a thin blue margin. Juveniles are bright orange with electric blue lines and spots, with a large eye-spot on dorsal fin.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

The Yellow-stripe Leatherjacket is generally a pale brown to an ash grey in colour, with a yellow (or orange) patch at the base of the tail. It grow to around 30 cm, and is commonly found on kelp reefs. They are often found in male/female pairs, with the male having four small spines at the base of the tail, and the yellow patch on the female extending onto the tail.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

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.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

The male Six-spined Leatherjacket has three pairs of prominent spines on each side of the base of the tail. Females and juveniles have much smaller spines, if they are present at all. Commonly seen in seagrass beds, adults are also seen on sheltered reefs. Males are much more colourful than females.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

Southern Hulafish grow to around 10 cm. The tail is rounded in juveniles, pointed in adults, and elongating with age. They are generally seen in schools. In Port Phillip we regularly see them in the debris lying alongside Rye Pier, and they are very common in the caves and ledges of Ricketts Point Marine Reserve, normally in schools of 20 to 50. Apparently it is the most abundant reef species in Tasmanian waters, with huge schools clouding the water. It is hard to believe that this small drab fish belongs to the same family the beautiful Southern Blue Devil.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

Australian Salmon are not closely related to the true Salmon from the Northern hemisphere. There are two species (East Australian Salmon, and West Australian Salmon), which can't easily be distinguished by external appearance, and both species can be found in Port Phillip. Adults reach around 90 cm, and can be found in very large schools.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

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.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

About 9 pm, incoming SS Penola ( 500 tons) struck and ran down City of Launceston which began to settle almost immediately. Passengers and crew transferred with difficulty to Penola. Sunken vessel valued at about 17,000 pounds - not insured. Sold by auction to Barrett, engineer of City of Launceston, who sold to a syndicate but salvage attempts eventually abandoned. Victorian Steam Navigation Board Inquiry held City of Launceston to blame for accident. Two separate Supreme Court actions by the respective owners for damages found in favour of the plaintiff in each case! An appeal by the aggrieved owner of the Penola for a non suit or a new trial was ultimately refused. Eleutheria, lighter, exhibited light at wreck site until it too sank. City of Launceston was the first shipwreck to be declared an Historic Shipwreck under new Victorian legislation. Built for the Melbourne to Launceston Bass Strait run, it was a regular trader across Bass Strait. - See more at: http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/shipwrecks/124#sthash.aPC0R645.dpuf

Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor

Weather/Sea: Calm.
Visibility: 5-6 Metres.
Water temperature: 20°C.
Maximum depth: 7 metres.
Time of entry: 8.02am
Duration: 87 minutes.