Ricketts Point, 14 February 2022

Kirsty and I had a great Valentine's Day dive at Rickett's Point, shared with thousands of Snapper! There seemed to be lots of Sea Urchin shells on the floor, so perhaps the culling is continuing in the reserve, and the Snapper are following divers around in the expectation of a free feed... they treated us as the lead fish in the school, and followed us around throughout the dive.

There were a few Leatherjaclets around, and some of them were species that we haven't recognised. We also spotted a couple of maie Moari Wrasse, as well as a Brown-banded Morwong, a couple of Dusky Morwong, a Banjo Shark, Magpie Perch, Silver Sweep, Old Wives, Moonlighters, and Flathead. The visibility varied from over 6 metres in the shallows to under 3 metres in some spots, apparently due to the level of spawning that had been taking place.

Dusky Morwong 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.
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

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, and frequents inshore rocky reefs & sea grass beds.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

Although called the Rock Flathead, it is normally found in seagrass beds and flat weedy reefs, where its diffuse banding and blotched patterns camouflage it. It can grow to between 35 and 50 cm.
Photo by Peter Batchelor

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

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

Magpie Perch look quite different as juveniles and adults. Juveniles have a pronounced dorsal fin, starting just behind the eyes, but this fin seems to disappear in adults. The middle dark band can be either black or grey in adults, and they can change colour by lightening these bands almost instantly. Juveniles are often seen nibbling/sucking bits from the pier pylons, and adults continue this method of eating, sucking small invertebrates off the bottom.
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

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: 3-6 Metres.
Water temperature: 21°C.
Maximum depth: 5.1 metres.
Time of entry: 10.15
Duration: 90 minutes.