Western Red Scorpioncod

This shot was taken last week at the 'Playground' dive site which is located just north of Fremantle and about 3-4 kilometres off the coast. It is 27 metres deep. The Western Red Scorpioncod is fairly common but very well camouflaged and often missed as it looks a dull brown colour to the naked eyed under water. The flashgun brings out the real colour. They like to lurk on top of sponges and wait for prey to pass. The spines are venomous and care must be take when diving on the reefs as it is easy to miss seeing one and almost place a hand on it.

Zebra Fish and Sergeant Baker

Another shot from yesterdays dive on The 23 Metre Ledge off Mindarie. The Zebra Fish on the left was swimming past the Sergeant Baker below and on the right. Both species are quite common and it was a lucky co-incidence to capture both together.

Blue-Lined Leatherjacket

Another shot from yesterdays dive at The 23 Metre Ledge off Mindarie north of Perth. The Blue-Lined Leatherjacket is common on the reefs in Western Australia and at times, like this one, is quite happy to approach divers.

Red-Lipped Morwong

This shot was taken a couple of hours ago on the 'Strip' off Mindarie at a site called the 23 Metre Ledge. These fish are very common on the reefs around Perth but it's unusual to get this close before they move off.

Harlequin Fish

These shots were taken last Sunday at a site known locally as "The Playground" - named because, when you reach the bottom at 27 metres, there is so much to see you don't know where to start!
The Harlequin Fish is quite common on the deeper offshore reefs and is sometime confused with the Coral Trout.

Long-Headed Flathead

These shots were taken on yesterdays dive near Fremantle in 27 metres of quite clear water. This Flathead was sitting quietly on the bottom probably waiting for some prey to swim past. The dorsal fin spines are venomous but they are not aggressive. This one was around 60cm long.

Flatworm Swimming

 

These shots were taken while on a safety stop at the end of a dive this morning off the coast near Fremantle. Flatworms are common in the ocean and they are soft bodied invertebrates with no body cavity. They absorb oxygen and nutrients through their skin and come in a variety of sizes and colours.  They are very attractive while they swim freely with an undulating movement.