Great Australian Bight Esperance Albany Best in the SW
Augusta - Cape Naturalist Busselton - Geographe Bay Fremantle - Cockburn
Sound Rottnest Island Houtman Abrolhos Jurien Bay - Geraldton Shark Bay
Ningaloo Reef - Exmouth Port Hedland Dampier Broome - Cape Levique
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Christmas Island Diving
Excellent scuba diving, snorkeling and underwater photography sites can be enjoyed around Albany.
In the sea grass meadows, on the reefs and around the many islands that dot the coastline, and on the wrecks and artificial reefs.
The best conditions for diving are usually experienced from summer through to autumn, when the seas are calm and the water clear.
This popular tourist region has an excellent range of facilities, accommodations and is well serviced by dive shops in the area.
Granite, lichen - 'painted' foreshores along the coast and inside of King Georges Sound reflect the nature of the south coast. On calm days one can dive anywhere, but local knowledge and expertise is required to dive the off shore reefs and islands during swelly conditions.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
The town of Albany, located 410 km south of Perth, was established in 1826 on the sheltered shores of King George Sound. It soon became Western Australias premier port and the first point of call for sailing ships crossing the Indian Ocean. The port of Fremantle was opened in 1901, and the town was forgotten until 1947, when Albany became Australias major whaling port. During the next 31 years, thousands of sperm and humpback whales were slaughtered. Whaling was banned in 1978.
One of the original "Whale chasers" of the 'Cheynes' series, this boat is permanently moored in King Georges Sound. Its sister ship Cheneyes 111 was scutted in 1982 at Michaelmas Island and the wreck is now home to many species of fish and invertebrates.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
The object of much of the Whale chasers focus were the Right Whales Eubalaena australis. These whales visited inshore areas to calve and frolic and due to the ease of slaughter and the fact that they floated, they were commonly referred to as "Right" whales and the common name is applied today.
Bringing in far more money to the town of Albany ( especially during the whale watching season) than whaling ever did, these magnificent creatures came so close to the small boat I was on that it was actually pushed up out of the water on the whales back, by a very playfull individual.
Might have amused the whales, but it certailnly was slightly unerving to me, balancing on the front deck with no railing and only the camera to hold onto.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Whaleworld, a museum located in the old Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, reflects on the towns whaling days. Its main attraction is the former whale chaser, Cheynes IV, but its sister ship ( Cheynes 111) is usually of more interest to divers.
(photo: Neville Coleman)
A resident of deeper waters, the Western Foxfish Bodianus frenchii can be seen on a regular basis when diving the waters of King Georges Sound and the offshore islands. It is endemic to south Western Australia.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
The 47 m-long Cheynes III, scuttled as an artificial reef off the western side of Michaelmas Island in 1982, lies in 23 m of water. Around the wreck live boarfish, morwong, blue gropers, bullseyes, old wives, perch, snapper, jewfish, silver drummer, kingfish, samsonfish and leatherjackets. Although the hull is beginning to break up, you can still explore the wheelhouse and engine room. Nearly all of the structure is encrusted with sponges, soft corals, anemones and other invertebrates.
Often seen around the Cheynees 111 wreck, the Queen Morwong Nemadactylus valenciennesi grows to a metre in length and is much sought after by fisherman and spearfishermen. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Numerous excellent dive sites can be enjoyed around Albany, on the reefs and islands that dot the coastline. The best conditions for diving are usually experienced during autumn, when the seas are calm and the water clear. This popular tourist region has an excellent range of accommodation and places to eat.
Mistaken Island
Two of Albanys common species of sea stars, Troughtons Sea Star Pseudonepanthia troughtoni and the Vermillion Biscuit Star Pentagonaster dubeni found at 20 metres of water around the offshore islands.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
The rocky reefs around Mistaken Island provide some of the best shore dives in the area. The depth of the reef varies from 5-12 m, with the best marine life found on the deeper southern side sponge gardens with nudibranchs, octopi, shrimp, boxfish, morwong, cuttlefish, crabs, sea stars, leatherjackets, scorpionfish, gobies, blennies, pipefish and wrasse.
The shallow algae and sea grass dominated sandy areas are inhabited by the not often seen Spider crab Naxia aurita. Like many of its relatives this crab grows camouflage algae on its back and legs.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Michaelmas Island
Seen beneath ledges and in caves from Victoria to south Western Australia, the Southern Blue Devil Paraplesiops meleagris is easily recognised and shows no fear towards divers. It grows to 33 cm.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Granite boulders lined with kelp, sponges, gorgonians, sea tulips, ascidians and soft corals surround the island, and drop into depths of 20-30 m. Many reef fish and invertebrates live around the boulders boarfish, blue gropers, morwong, sea stars, nudibranchs, harlequin fish, wrasse, leatherjackets and scalyfin. Ledges shelter rock lobsters, bullseyes, blue devilfish, cuttlefish and globefish.
Only seen in the waters of South Australia and south Western Australia, the Spiny - tail Leatherjacket Acanthaluteres brownii occurs around kelp beds and sea grass meadows. The species grows to 46 cm and the males ( pictured ) more brightly coloured compared to females.
( photo: Nevile Coleman)
Breaksea Island
Most sites off Breaksea Island are similar to those found at Michaelmas Island. For those interested in an interesting deep dive, the southern side of the island plummets into 40 m of water. Along this wall are plenty of caves and dazzling sponge gardens where a few black coral trees can be found. Abundant reef fish and invertebrates are permanent residents, while regular visitors to the area include schools of pelagic kingfish, samsonfish and trevally.
Restricted to depths below 20 metres, the Red - lined Sea Perch Caesioperca sp. is endemic to south Western Australia and although not uncommon in its habitat, there are few images and this is one of the first pictures of a living fish to be published. It grows to 15 cm and feeds on plankton.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Two People Bay
Inhabiting kelp beds on rocky reefs, southern Australias most famous fish, the Leafy Sea Dragon Phycodurus eques feeds on small shrimp - like crustaceans called mysids which form schools over the sand in the close vicinity of kelp beds. This species is fully protected in South Australia.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
The beaches around Albany are absolutely fantastic, and those at Two People Bay are no exception. There are huge meadows of sea grass in the bay.
The best dive sites are on the boulder reefs offshore from Little Beach and Waterfall Beach. These rocky reefs drop down to 15 m, and have a surprising variety of invertebrates. Around the boulders live old wives, wrasse, leatherjackets, scalyfin, harlequin fish, morwong, perch and the occasional leafy sea dragon.
The great south west has an amazing number of endemic species and one such fish is the Red - band Wrasse Pseudolabrus biserialis. Males can be recognised by the presense of a red anal fin. The females have black spots on the back.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Coffin Island
Fantastic photographic subjects, Australian Fur seals Artocephalus pusilus doriferus inhabit islands all along the south coast of Australia. they are especially easy to get close to at Albany, as Albany Divers have regular trips out to the island.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Just south of Two People Bay, Coffin Island offers several dives on rocky reefs with caves, gutters, sponge gardens and abundant marine life. Divers usually come to swim with the colonies of Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals that reside in the sheltered areas along the islands shoreline. Although a little shy when divers first arrive, they soon zoom around the visitors, performing acrobatics and posing for brilliant photos.
Amongst the Australian Fur Seals there are a few Australian Sea Lions Neophoca cinera who 'buzz' divers at intervals and cavort around in their usual fashon.
( photo: Jorina van der Westhuizen)
Torbay Head
Similar to many dive sites in the area, the granite boulders at Torbay Head tumble into 30 m. These boulders, covered with sponges, soft coral and gorgonians, form many caves and gutters where numerous species of reef fish can be seen.
Still unable to be identified, these visually diagnostic Perforated Fan Sponges are commonly seen on the deeper reefs around Albany.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Bremer Bay
Located 180 km east of Albany, Bremer Bay has excellent dive sites, but lacks diving facilities. Trips are sometimes run to Bremer Bay, and especially to Glasse Island. The island is surrounded by colourful reefs, inhabited by masses of fish and seals.
The main target of professional shell divers at Albany is Rossells Cowry Zoila rosselli which lives in sponges growing on reefs below 20 metres. In years gone by a good specimen of this shell used to sell at over $1000.00.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Great Australian Bight Esperance Albany Best in the SW
Augusta - Cape Naturalist Busselton - Geographe Bay Fremantle - Cockburn
Sound Rottnest Island Houtman Abrolhos Jurien Bay - Geraldton Shark Bay
Ningaloo Reef - Exmouth Port Hedland Dampier Broome - Cape Levique
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Christmas Island Diving
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 Albany.
( Copyright Neville Coleman/Nigel Marsh)
