Great Australian Bight Esperance Albany - Denmark 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 Broome - Cape Levique
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Christmas Island Diving
Dampier is well worth a visit for scuba diving as much of the area is largely unexplored and many new species have been discovered in the waters off the town.
Lying just off the town of Dampier are the 40-plus granite islands of the Dampier Archipelago, around which scuba diving, snorkeling and underwater photography is very adventurous. The best time for scuba diving is over winter, as the waters can get quite dirty during summer. Turtles nest on the many beaches and the islands support abundant animal life. Even though the area is affected by large tides and occasional low visibility, many excellent dive sites are accessible on a day trip.
The ironstone foreshores around Dampier reflect its turbulent past. Certainly the water inshore is by no means inviting, BUT it has an absolute treasure trove of species living on the bottom beneath. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
In October 1952, two British warships set out for the remote Monte Bello Islands, 125 km west of Dampier, to test a nuclear bomb. The bomb, detonated on an old frigate, brought Britain and Australia into the nuclear age. This atmospheric test was followed by two more explosions in 1956. After the tests, the islands were abandoned with little concern for the devastated environment, and the islands remained closed to visitors for many years. Luckily the blasts had little impact on the marine life, and the islands have since been reopened.
The offshore islands are desolate places with little, or no natural water. At the Fishing Clubs residence on Rosemary Island there is a well that was put down many years ago. However, the well is some ways from the bunkhouse and all water must hand pumped up and trucked back in a 44 gallon drum. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Dampier is well worth a visit, as much of the area is largely unexplored and many new species have been discovered in the waters off the town. The best time for diving is over winter the waters can get quite dirty over summer.
Like most of Australia. the area of investigation around Dampier is enormous and it would take a lifetime of exploring to see and find it all.
I am indebted to Wally Rowlands for providing the opportunity to vist on a number of occasions and the chance to discover new species and share in adventure that is..... Dampier Underwater. it was brilliant, and one of the highlights of my life long quest. Neville Coleman
This may not appear to be the best visability for taking pictures, BUT this did not stop pioneer underwater photographers Wally Rowlands and his dive buddy Gary in their heyday. They successfully combined close- up rigs that would take publishable images in only 1 metre visability. Just had to "look out" for the stonefish!
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Monte Bello Islands
The 100 or so islands in the Monte Bello group are only occasionally visited by live-aboard vessels. Although low-level radiation can still be detected, the reefs are safe to dive. Coral reefs fringe most of the islands. Trevally, barracuda, mackerel, reef sharks, stingrays, batfish, gropers, turtles, moray eels, parrotfish and other large fish species are found on the outer reefs. In the shallow lagoon in the centre of the group are numerous coral heads, where you will see plenty of reef fish, stingrays, turtles and sometimes leopard sharks. Some of the best diving is found on the northern end of North West Island, where the reef drops into 30 m, covered with gorgonians and soft corals. Cruising the drop-off are schools of pelagic fish, huge Queensland gropers and reef sharks. A tidal range of 6 m is experienced in this area, and consequently strong currents and dirty water are common off the islands. A shore visit is well worth the effort. The island are only sparsely covered in vegetation, however, there are still plenty of animals to be seen, as well as the remains of concrete bunkers from the nuclear tests.
On the first underwater photographic fauna survey of the Dampier Archipelago in 1972 which I was invited to attend by Western Australian Museum I had my first close contact with one of the giants of the deep, a huge Giant Groper Epinephelus lanceolatus.
I had read the book "40 Fathoms Deep" based on the pearl divers lives and deaths at Broome during the early settling of the area, and I was sure I was going to be eaten. I made sure to get the pictures so somebody might believe that I actually saw such a fish.
It just came up close, gave me a bump and as I moved away up into the shallows, it followed closely until I was out of its territory.
Of the 11 divers on the trip not one ever saw the fish in two weeks diving. I was so glad I stopped to get the pictures before hightailing it back to the boat.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Dampier Archipelago
Lying just off the town of Dampier are the 40-plus granite islands of the Dampier Archipelago. Turtles nest on the many beaches and the islands support abundant animal life. Even though the area is affected by large tides and occasional low visibility, many excellent dive sites are accessible on a day trip.
While photographing nudibranchs, Wally Rowlands is joined by a very large Olive Sea Snake Aipysurus laevis in hunting mode, checking out every nook and cranny. This species is very common at Dampier and one gets used to their presense.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
Enderby Island
Fringing reefs surround Enderby Island, in depths to 15 m. Butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, sweetlips, stingrays, sea stars, nudibranchs, moray eels and wobbegongs are just some of the many species usually seen on the reef, which is dominated by hard and soft corals.
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I was so impressed with this shot of an undescribed Western Bornella Bornella sp. that I it used on the cover of "1001 NUDIBRANCHS". At the time it was the only image published of this very unique species.( photo: Wally Rowlands)
West Lewis Island
The inner islands of the Dampier Archipelago (such as West Lewis Island) have shallow fringing coral gardens around them. Common these reefs are wrasse, anemonefish, damsels, rock cod, lionfish, butterflyfish, boxfish, pufferfish, scorpionfish, surgeonfish and many invertebrate species.
Wally Rowlands at 20 metres moving to with his close- up rig to get the image of the Western Risbacia Risbecia sp. illustrated in the next shot.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
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The first image of the Western Risbecia Risbecia sp. found at Dampier by Wally Rowlands in 1988. This along with many other life forms were photographed for the first time by Wally during his pioneering photographic survey in the 1980's.
( photo: Wally Rowlands)
Mermaid Passage
The sandy bottom of Mermaid Passage is sprinkled with sea whips, anemones, gorgonians, sponges, soft corals and sea pens. Macro-photographers will find an interesting range of subjects here, including bizarre nudibranchs, crabs, cowries, cuttlefish, octopi, shrimp, sea stars, molluscs, flatworms, brittle stars and the occasional seahorse. Many of the species found here are rare, or have only recently been discovered.
The drift through the passage is to put it mildly, sensational!
For any keen " Muck Diver", the amount of never before photographed species is remarkable. Rarely visited, the hundred or so species known is nothing compared to what is waiting to be found. One well known life form is the Stars and Stripes Sea Cucumber Pseudocolochirus violaceus seen here with its feeding tentacles extended to feed on the plankton drifting by in the current.( photo: Neville Coleman)
With over 100 species of nudibranchs recorded from the area, the Dampier Archipelago and its foreshores have many remarkable colour forms of species unknown anywhere else. This Bullocks Hypselodoris Hypselodoris bullocki is laying an egg ribbon and has been caught nicely in the act.( photo: Wally Rowlands)
Rosemary Island
I was torn between exploring the huge intertidal expanses and finding gems like this fantastic Red - gilled Nembrotha Nembrotha rutilans just crawling around in sandy tide pools, or going diving. I compromised and did both.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
A variety of reefs are found around Rosemary Island. The fringing reef teems with reef fish, and the sandy bays provide a protected environment for spectacular coral growth and invertebrate species. While diving any of the reefs in the area, divers may run into a dolphin, dugong or patrolling reef shark.
Although there are stony corals all along the inshore areas of the Dampier area, many colonies are decimated by regular natural events such as cyclones and silt smothering events. Most of the reef building species are found around the fringing offshore reefs of the Dampier Archipelago.
The Rough Coral Goniastrea aspera is one of the many species recorded. During the day it has its polyps withdrawn, displaying a massive colony, with low profile ridges.( photo: Neville Coleman)
Bare Rock
Trevally, turtles, gropers, batfish, rock lobsters, stingrays and abundant reef fish inhabit the many gutters and ledges along the drop-off at Bare Rock, where the reef drops to 20 m.
My first experience with a Snaky Bornella Bornella anguilla was at Dampier Archipelago and when it jumped up and began swimming, I just could not believe my eyes. This species is an excellent swmmer using snake - like movements to move through the water.( photo: Neville Coleman)
Kendrew Island
Western Australian Museum base camp on Kendrew Island.
Everything had to be brought ashore by dingy through the surf, even the fresh water, obtained from the Rosemary Island well. It was a huge undertaking, but yeilded some very good results for the Museum galleries and a great opportunity for me to work with scientists and record not only species, but how the logistics of large expeditions worked.( photo: Neville Coleman)
Photographed at Kendrew Island in 1972 the series of images ( of which this was one) was the first proof that the Gold - banded Buterflyfish Chaetodon aureofaciatus actually fed on coral polyps.( photo: Neville Coleman)
Gutters and pinnacles can be found around Kendrew Island in depths from 10-20 m. Coral trout, angelfish and parrotfish are commonly seen on the reef, and sometimes a Queensland groper. Many reef fish gather around the scattered pinnacles, and stingrays, shovelnose rays and the occasional leopard shark can be found along the bottom.
Oyster capped, mushroom shaped limestone reef formations eroded by the waves, boring barnacles and pill bugs were just amazing to me. As well as providing a feed of oysters, they were also unique photographic examples of extreme erosion.
( photo: Neville Coleman)
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Photographed at 20 metres in Mermaid Channel, this spectacular image is the first and only living record of an undescribed species, the Decorated Spindle Cowry Phenacovolva sp.( photo: Wally Rowlands)
Legendre Island
The northern side of Legendre Island has reef dropping into 30 m. Some of the best invertebrate growth in the area covers this wall sea whips, soft corals, sponges and gorgonians. Barracuda, trevally, mackerel and batfish swirl in the currents nearby. Look along the ledges along the wall for wobbegongs, rock lobsters, coral trout, nudibranchs, moray eels, sea stars, feather stars, lionfish and maybe a resting turtle.
With 10 metre tides, the intertidal expanse of reef around Dampier is beyond belief for those who see it for the first time. There is so much marine life everywhere it is hard to know which way to go, to see and photograph, before the tide turns and rushes back to cover it all again.( photo: Neville Coleman)
Exposed at low tide, there are hundreds of Stars and Stripes Sea Cucumbers all over the intertidal reefs. As the water returns with the incoming tide, they will open up and expand their feeding tentacles. ( photo: Neville Coleman)
Great Australian Bight Esperance Albany - Denmark 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 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, Marine Reptiles and Marine Mammals, all found in the waters around the reefs off Dampier.
( Copyright Neville Coleman/Nigel Marsh)
