Port Macdonnell Mount Gambier Victor Harbour Adelaide
Yorke Peninsula Spencer Gulf Port Lincoln
Eyre Peninsula - Great Australian Bight
Kangaroo Island has a large number of shore entry scuba diving sites, snorkeling areas and clear water suitable for underwater photography.
The marine life along the rocky reefs, in the estuary at American River and beneath the jetties is prolific and varied, although much of the area is kelp covered with thick meadows of sea grass in the shallow sandy places.
The Island is a haven for wildlife koalas, possums, emus, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and numerous species of reptiles and birds. Thousands of visitors come to this large, wooded island each year to see them, but the most memorable encounters are with the Australian sea lions found on the beach at Seal Bay.
The sea lions sleep and relax on the beach during the day, and are used to humans invading their territory. People are allowed to approach within 4 m.
The Arch at Kangaroo Island is a dramatic see - through visual experience and in the shown conditions it can be dived from shore, entering by shallow pool and swimming out through the rocks. However, If a swell is running, its not the getting in thats a problem....its the getting out!
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Kangaroo Island is a haven for wildlife koalas, possums, emus, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and numerous species of reptiles and birds. Thousands of visitors come to this large, wooded island each year to see them, but the most memorable encounters are with the Australian sea lions found on the beach at Seal Bay. The sea lions sleep and relax on the beach during the day, and are used to humans invading their territory. People are allowed to approach within 4 m.
The colony of Australian Sea Lions Neophoca cinera at Kangaroo island have become a popular tourist attraction. Many have unsightly tags punched into their flippers by science to determine the status of the colony.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Extremely cute when they are young, Fur Seals frolic in the shallows and show no fear what so ever towards divers and snorkelers, in fact they seem to find us intriguing and will play for hours.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Divers often meet sea lions, little penguins, dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and sea dragons on the reefs around Kangaroo Island, as well as pelagic fish and plenty of reef fish and invertebrates. One of Kangaroo Islands greatest attractions is the underwater terrain along the 400-km coastline colour sponge gardens, rocky reefs and over 50 shipwrecks, many yet to be located.
Two local dive operators, Adventureland Diving and Kangaroo Island Dive Safaris, run regular boat dives to the best spots on the day. A good range of accommodation is available. Visitors can reach the island by plane, or by car on the passenger ferry, from Port Adelaide or Cape Jervis.
One of the early underwater scientific expedition/ fauna surveys carried out by combined museums at Kangaroo Island. Species lists were organised by the general collecting methods of, poison, spearing and netting. Many new records were established. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Snapper Point
This spectacular boat dive, against a towering cliff face, is best done on the high tide to avoid strong currents. The reef wall drops to beyond 40 m, and has many ledges lined with sponges, ascidians, gorgonians and soft corals. Interesting invertebrate life can be found on the bottom, including nudibranchs, sea stars, basket stars, cuttlefish, crabs and cowries. Reef fish are prolific leatherjackets, morwong, perch, scorpionfish, wrasse, blue devilfish, old wives, sweep and beautiful harlequin fish. Here you will often see schools of yellowtail, pike and kingfish, and sometimes a seal or penguin.
The Dusky Morwong Dactylophora nigricans has been recorded in Victoria and Tasmania, but it seems to be more common in South Australia and south Western Australia. It inhabits sea grass meadows and reef edges and is a very easy target fo spearfishermen. As easy as they may be to catch, one wonders whether they are just killed because they are easy. They are rarely used for food due to their very strong, weedy taste. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Penneshaw Jetty
Although the water is only 6 m deep, a shore dive at Penneshaw Jetty can be very rewarding. The pylons of the jetty are encrusted with gorgonians, sponges, ascidians and anemones, where macro-photographers will find plenty of subjects sea stars, brittle stars, cowries, nudibranchs, octopi and cuttlefish. The resident fish population includes goatfish, morwong, perch, leatherjackets, zebrafish, cowfish, wrasse and the occasional stargazer sometimes hidden on the sandy bottom.
Found on its host sponge ( Clathria sp.) with its egg ribbon, the Red Rostanga Rostanga calumnus is a relatively well known nudibranch which was originally discovered by the author in 1971. It occurs in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and south Western Australia and grows to 18 mm.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Kangaroo Head
Probably one of the best spots to find leafy sea dragons is Kangaroo Head; however, it takes a good eye to distinguish these fish from the surrounding weed and kelp. The rocky reef, with rock lobster, boarfish, perch, morwong and much colourful invertebrate life, averages 12 m deep.
Another undescribed species first discovered by the author in 1970 this "Come and Go" Sea Anemone has only been determined to family ( Alicidae). When first seen I thought it was a nudibranch, but on investigation found it was a nocturnal sea anemone that only extends its tentacles during the night, or on overcast days.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Nepean Bay
A variety of dive sites found around Nepean Bay include the wreck of the Fanny M. The 50 m-long ship ran aground in 1885, and the scattered remains are now found in 5 m of water. You will be able to make out part of the hull, as numerous ribs protrude from the bottom. Although the occasional artefact is still found, nothing can be removed from this historic shipwreck.
Difficult to find in natural habitat, the Wide - body Pipefish Stigmatophora nigra grows to 16 cm and has a prehensile tail which can be seen in the photo, curling around the algae. It occurs throughout southern Australia.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Cape Torrens
One of the most colourful dives in the area is along the wall off Cape Torrens. This wall, which drops to 39 m, is packed with yellow zoanthids, gorgonians, sponges, soft corals, anemones, bryozoans and ascidians. There are numerous invertebrates to be found, as well as blue gropers, kingfish, blue devilfish, sea dragons, boarfish, morwong, and perch. Divers have even seen seals and common dolphins here.
Feeding mostly on sponges, the Velvet Sea Star Petricia vernicina grows to 180 mm and can be found from low tide level down to and beyond 100 metres all along the southern coast. It has an orange stomach which it extrudes to digest its food outside its body and is preyed upon by triton shells.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Western River Cove
This rocky cove is an interesting shore dive. Its outer edge drops into 18 m of water, where the reef is covered with kelp and sponges. Nudibranchs, cuttlefish, rock lobster, blue devilfish, blue gropers, cowfish and old wives are common. Sea dragons and red snappers are sometimes seen.
An extraordinary little sea horse, the Short - head Sea Horse Hippocampus breviceps is generally found in the brown Sargassum sp. It can be seen in colours of brown, pink, yellow, orange and mauve and the head and body are covered in small black -edged white ocelli. This male is pregnant.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Loch Vennachar Shipwreck
The Loch Vennachar disappeared in 1905, and was not located by divers until 1976. Much of the shipwreck still lies on the rocky bottom the winch, anchor and piles of pig iron ballast.
Fides Shipwreck
The Fides sank in 1860, and has now broken up in 10 m of water under the cliff face. Among the wreckage are a few bits of brass, bottles and cutlery. The reef itself, occupied by a variety of reef fish and invertebrates makes a good dive.
The living ascidian fauna of Australia is relatively unknown to most divers. Although this species is found all around Australia, Leaches Ascidian Botrylloides leachii comes in an amazing number of colour combinations, but the pattern can be visually determined to species.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Snug Cove
Cliffs 200 m high tower above the waters of Sun Cove. The walls descend underwater to 20 m, with numerous gutters and ledges. Rock lobster, morwong, kingfish, boarfish, wrasse, leatherjackets, harlequin fish, cuttlefish and blue gropers are usually seen along the walls.
Ranging across southern Australia in a number of different forms, the Holy Sponge Holopsamma laminaefavosa can be visually determined to species by the presence of its holy pattern.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Hanson Bay
Located at the mouth of the South West River, Hanson Bay can be dived from the shore. Stingrays, cuttlefish, drummer, morwong, bream, pike and abundant invertebrate species are found in the bay, which is only 5-10 m deep.
Port Macdonnell Mount Gambier Victor Harbour Adelaide
Yorke Peninsula Spencer Gulf Port Lincoln
Eyre Peninsula - Great Australian Bight
Neville Coleman's diving expeditions, fauna surveys, photographic fauna surveys and marine life identification courses include every major group of marine life.
Neville Coleman's expertise in marine life identification extends to the identification of Algae, Sea Grass, Forams, Sponges, Stony Corals, Soft Corals, Sea Anemones, Sea Jellies, Zoanthids, Corallimorphs, Black Corals, Flatworms, Segmented Worms, Crustaceans, Barnacles, Shrimps, Rock Lobsters, Hermit Crabs, Squat Lobsters, Molluscs, Chitons, Univalves, Bivalves, Cephalopods, Octopus, Cuttlefish, Squid, Opisthobranchs, Nudibranchs, Sea Slugs, Bryozoans, Sea Mosses, Echinoderms, Sea Stars, Feather Stars, Brittle Stars, Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers, Ascidians/Sea Squirts, Marine Fish, Sharks and Marine Mammals, all found in the waters along the coastal reefs and jetties around Kangaroo Island.
( Copyright Neville Coleman/Nigel Marsh)
