Julian Rocks Does It Again

A Leopard Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) cruises overhead. Photo: Ryan Pearson

By Ryan Pearson

Yesterday's dives at Julian Rocks were lovely. Not quite as epic as last time we were there (we didn't see a million Manta Rays this time), but still great with plenty to see. We were too late booking in so couldn't get onto the second dive of the morning so we had to do the first, and third dives. This was great for the fact that we could go and get some food in between dives, but it was also awful because we had to get up at 4am to get there on time. Regardless, we had a great day and I snapped all of the shots below on the two dives.

Biodiversity Gone Wild...in the Gold Coast Seaway!

Marbled Rockcod (Epinephelus maculatus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

By Ryan Pearson
I went for a dive in the seaway on Saturday, and ran into a whole bunch of fishes I'd never photographed before. Recently, I went through all of my underwater photo's and catalogued every marine species I have taken pictures of... to a grand total of 143 species in just over 12 months of taking underwater photos. On Saturday, I added 12 more to that list (plus another 4 that I'm yet to identify)... here are a few of them.

All It's Cooked Up To Be

Photo: Ryan Pearson

By Ryan Pearson

Today DD, Ben and I ventured to Cook Island, off Tweed Heads in NSW. This was DD and my first time at Cook, and it didn't disappoint. We went out with Tweed Seasports, and the helpful, friendly staff made it a very enjoyable day. 

Leopards and Turtles and Rays... Oh My!

A 4-5m giant Manta Ray that had a heap of Cobia as groupies and hung around for about 10 minutes. Photo: Ryan Pearson

By Ryan Pearson

Wow. Wow. Wow! What a day, and what a couple of dives. Today I ventured down to Byron Bay, to dive at Julian rocks with Sundive for my first time in the water with my camera this year (yes, I've been busy and the summer rain hasn't made the diving all that awe inspiring in the Seaway). And let me say it again... WOW! Five types of rays, the leopard sharks and wobbegongs were everywhere, and there were a seemingly infinite amount of other fish life to fill in the gaps between main events. Amazingly, those gaps were always short lived, and there was plenty of 'main event' action.