A snorkel at Blackrock, the area in front of Surf Lifesaving, is becoming a bit of a favourite. The yellow markers denote a no-boat zone, which is always good. And while I always swim with a float, it’s extra comfort to know that boats are unlikely – a diver with a flag was struck by a boat last week in the southern Bay. Even if you are swimming with a float, it pays to stay vigilant.
The visibility was nice and clear. This year is a lot better than last, as we didn’t have anywhere near the amount of spring rainfall. Sediment that enters the northern Bay stays for over 200 days, so a drier spring means less dirt in the water column. Consequently, the seafloor is looking healthy as more light can reach the weeds.
Probably my favourite find today was a sponge crab. These pretty little crabs nip off pieces of sponge and attach them to their backs. This provides camouflage and somewhere safe to hide and eat.
This snorkel at Blackrock I decided to look at some of the smaller fish that live in the underhangs. These fish are really hard to identify, so I’m not yet decided on exactly what I am seeing. I think the first two (below) are Common Threefins. The next one appears to be a weedfish but I haven’t settled on an identification yet. All these species are highly variable in colour, so it’s hard to rely on photos in books.
