Today was a lone dive day, as my usual Sunday dive buddy had decided that the Solomon Islands was a better option than the wonderful Port Phillip Bay. To me it is a coin toss, but……………… Okay, it is not a coin toss.
My dive today with the prevailing South Easterly winds was a front beach choice, and my decision was my original haunting ground of Blairgowrie Pier. I have dived this location more than any in my 260 plus dives, and it has always offered something for those that look hard enough.Β Over time, dive locations transform, both naturally, and with the help of man, although the latter usually doesn’t do it a lot of help. This in my opinion is the case with Blairgowrie.
As I stood in the upper car-park, the neat line of the main pier cut itself across the water to where the boats are moored in the marina, but there was something missing, and my heart sank a little as I realised that the old weathered slipway, with the rust covered train rails was gone, totally gone. That this was a usual walk in attraction, with the ability to put camera gear down before completing buddy checks, donning the last of your gear, and then completing the dive planning, is one thing, but that this was covered in sponge and weed and formed a home for seahorses, and small fish is the saddest part of all. Yes there are other places further under the pier, but where else in one metre of water can children simply snorkel and she these things for themselves? Rye? Yes, but this offered such a safe and easy access. I guess one day I will find out why, but all the same, it is still sad.
So back to today’s dive. For a while now I have been focusing on capturing images of the marine life that is well know and inhabits the waters just below our feet as we walk the piers around the Peninsula, but there is a creature that often goes unseen to the unwary eye, the Nudibranch (Naked Gills) Sea Slug. There are thousands of types all over the world, and it is said that Blairgowrie has over 100 different ones. This was where my underwater photographic skills were honed, this is the subject that I found so difficult to capture and show the true beauty, or the fragility. Nudibranchs feed on weeds and other plants, and particular species have particular needs, and at the same time get their colouring from what they eat. My standard video unit does not allow me to get close up (it is great for wide angle, or semi close but not macro, so today I borrowed my wife’s video and housing and headed off.
The results I achieved are very pleasing and I now know that if I choose to, I can get the macro footage I need with relative ease. To give you a size comparison, all but the white tentacle covered nudibranch (it is 25mm long), were around 60mm (6cm) long and despite what a still image shows, they do actually have a personality.
These are extremely fragile, and if removed from the location or food source, they will very quickly perish. Blairgowrie for some reason just has that special something that attracts them and keeps them in good health whilst reproducing. In some film shots, you may see coloured circular patterns, much like the electrical hot plate coils. This is the egg ribbon.
Please enjoy and share.
Thanks.
Tagged: amazing, animals, Blairgowrie, change, destruction, earth, education, future, humans, life, mark jones, nudibranch, ocean, one world, past, photography, Pier, scuba, scuba diving, thoughts, video, Water
Sad about the pier. Sorry I can’t watch your video from the Solomons, but looking forward to seeing it when I get home π π π
Hey there. All is good. See you when you guys get back. π π π