Wilsons Promontory Westernport Bay - Flinders Melbourne - Port Phillip Bay
Geelong - Queenscliff Port Campbell Warrnambool Portland
Mallacoota is on the southern side of the Mallacoota Inlet, 95 kilometres of which is protected inside Croajingalong National Park.
The offshore islands of Gabo and Tullaberga have deep water surrounds and are suitable for scuba diving and underwater photography.
Hectares of fantastic sponge gardens over 1 metre in height, drop offs, Gorgonian sea fans, clouds of Butteryfly Perch and a trillion sea urchins.
The Australian Fur Seal colony at Cape Everard is a bit of a trip along the coast, but as everywhere, the fur seals make every minute in the water with them an absolute marvel of movement, they are just so totally perfect in their environment.
(photo: Neville Coleman)
Typical of beaches along the local coast that allow trailered boat launchings during calmer seas. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Mallacoota is on the southern side of the Mallacoota Inlet, 95 kilometres of which is protected inside Croajingalong National Park. The offshore islands of Gabo and Tullaberga have deep water surrounds, hectares of fantastic sponge gardens over 1 metre in height, drop offs, Gorgonian sea fans, clouds of Butteryfly Perch and a trillion sea urchins.
Some of the sheltered bays on Gabo Island have been buoyed by abalone divers for stop overs. (photo: Neville Coleman)
A small fishing village Marlo is on the Brodrib River Inlet, between the big fishing port of Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota. It has access to the sea and offers some good diving locations along the coast in good weather and sea conditions.
Due to the extraordinary sponge gardens at Gabo Island there are also quite a few nudibranchs like the Tasmanian Chromodoris Chromodoris tasmaniensis. The challenge is to find them amongst all the bottom growths. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Both Cape Canron and Cape Everard can be reached in a medium sized dive boat suitable for beach launching. It is best to seek out local knowledge as I can vouch for the giant ground swells that roll in from the Tasman Sea.
A tropical/temperate resident, the Lucentus Wrasse Pseudolabrus luculentus is at the southern extent of its range. The species feeds on crustaceans and grows to 20cm. ( photo: Neville coleman)
Little of this region has been dived much by recreational divers as it can be quite foreboding and a real challenging experience. My experiences were through scientific expeditions and going out with the abalone divers, who did not slow down because there were cameras, or a guest diver on board.
The most common sea anemone in the south east, the White - striped Sea Anemone Anthothoe albocincta is seen in a variety of colours. However, it seems as though the yellow-orange with white tentacles variation is the most prominent colour. The striping refers to to markings on its column. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
It was 40 knots in all seas and you hung on to the rail with one hand and the camera systems with the other. Everything not tied down, went up in the air as the boat screamed off the tops of the swells and crashed back to the bottom every time the boat slammed back down into the troughs, including me on a number of occasions.
In the 1970s the only way to explore this coast underwater was to 'cadge' a ride out with the local abalone divers. Although on some days they earnt heaps of money, I for one, did not envy them, or their lifestyle. It was a tough, very hard way to earn a living and very few prospered, or came away unscathed.
However, I did respect their freedom of choice. It was living life "on the edge'. Every day was up against the elements, putting their lives on the line in the cold dark depths. Underwater "potato pickers" were a law to themselves.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
This colour variation is certainly the most dramatic of all the Velvet Sea Stars (Petricia vernicina) range of hues. It grows to 160 mm and is found throughout southern Australia. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Forty minutes there and back in bone - jarring "hanging on for dear life" conditions was no exageration. The Skipper of course had the steering wheel to hang onto and it was bend the knees with every "bash" or have suffer the consequences of broken legs if concentration lapsed for a moment.
Cheeky little White - ears Parma microlepis are very territorial and chase everything that comes within range of their patch. These fish are only found in New South Wales and Victoria, in the vicinity of rocky reefs. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Cape Everard has a colony of Australian Fur Seals and giant kelp forests, although they do not grow as extensive as in southern Tasmania.
This area was pioneered by the activities of abalone divers working out of Mallacoota, which was at one time was the largest abalone - producing town in Victoria.
A sponge feeder, the Sweet Ceratosoma Ceratosoma amoena occurs throughout New South Wales,into Victoria and across to New Zealand where it may be seen in a range of colour patterns. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Grey blue in colour, the Gabo Island Soft Coral Drifta gaboensis is found from central New South Wales to Victoria and across to South Australia. Although it is quite common, it may not be recognised by many divers due to its drab colour. However, it is host for a number of rare molluscs. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Easily recognised, the Clown Toby Canthigaster callisterna has a very distinctive pattern and its occurence at Gabo Island is thought to represent the southern most limits of its range. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Wilsons Promontory Westernport Bay - Flinders Melbourne - Port Phillip Bay
Geelong - Queenscliff Port Campbell Warrnambool Portland
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 around Mallacoota and Cape Everard.
( Copyright Neville Coleman/Nigel Marsh)
