Last night I took my first solo dive for some time now, as I drove from work to Flinders Pier where I have dived a lot lately due to the weather conditions. As I walked the pier to check out water clarity, I noticed small schools of fish in the shallows which had me thinking. For a lot of people diving is associated with going to a substantial depth to see things that will marvel, and to some extent they are correct. For me however it is about the pleasure of being immersed in the water, at any depth that covers my head, and being separated from the normal world whilst floating freely in this beautiful, serene watery environment. I have dived Flinders over a few years now, and like most places you become familiar with what life is under the pier, and you notice the gradual changes, for better or worse.
Having become so much more aware, the one thing that has become clear is that this place, that lays between the deep ocean and where the water gently laps upon the sand is the breeding ground for many larger fish. The dense weedy bottom that stretches on as far as the eye can see, makes a great hiding place for all sorts of small creatures, with ample food supply to sustain them. In addition the brightly coloured sponge encrusted pylons also offer protection and camouflage for all sorts of critters large and small, and even though above the surface, fishermen dangle lines to attract the unwary, the weed and pylons, along with the current take just as many lures as the lures take fish, which in a way is nature getting one back. It is truly a great place where on some days the sunlight dances on the sand and weed like a spell cast and this makes it even more magical for that alone, and with the light reflecting off the schools of fish making them like a large moving rainbow.
I am in my element in this place and when I let my imagination wander I see a kingdom ruled by an octopus, that lives in his old engine block castle with many tiny fish surrounding it as if seeking protection. I see the many fish that sweep the ocean floor in search of food, cleaning up as nature has intended them to. The Weedy Sea Dragons that glide every so quietly through the column of water keeping a watchful eye on all those that venture here, and the large rays that are like sentries taking guard over this domain, sweeping, gliding through the water and checking out the many divers that visit. They were all there last night and as well there were large schools of small fish that swam mid way between the surface of the water and the sand, and as I glided through them, they were just like children playing and like children they showed me little fear, which makes my diving even more pleasurable, because it is as if I am one of them.
A large school of small Trevally also patrolled the water, as they have several times before, and rightly or wrongly I can only assume it may be the same fish as previous which only goes to prove how important and how diverse this place is. This is where it all begins, where life starts and grows before heading into deeper water, returning one day to start all over again. Amongst all this, the fishermen on the pier above can only hope, because the reality is that they don’t see what is in the water beneath them, they can only assume, or ask, and anyone that knows me will very clearly know that my answer to the question, “So are there many fish under there?” will be met with a “Nope, not much at all today.” After all, whose side do you think I am on. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Flinders has grown healthier with every day, but that does not mean we should be complacent, it does not mean that we should ignore what could be. I still see plastics and discarded chairs and things that people blindly throw into the water, and whilst these things fade with time, and we are lucky it is just a stupid few that do it, the balance is very fine. Unless you get to experience first hand what I and many others see, you will never really truly know how beautiful it is. Yes my film work set to entrancing music will carry you there, but the reality is that to get the full experience you need to be immersed in the cool blue water and feel what I feel, because it is one thing in life that for me has no parallel. This place where the ocean meets the earth shares a single heart beat and we need to keep it alive.
In the coming days I will include my video of the night and the school of fish with which swam, but until that point in time, take a look at one of my recent films, or that of my friend at http://www.pinktankscuba.com
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