DIVELOG JUNE 406

MARINE BIOLOGY WITH MIKE SCOTLAND - FISH IDENTIFICATION

Wild and Wonderful WOBBEGONGS

Male Spotted Wobbegong from South West Rocks

I was at 17 metres depth in the Cod Hole at Byron Bay many years ago. My buddy, Penny, caught my attention and pointed to her bare, snow-white foot. The other foot still had on her bright blue closed heel fin. She was pointing at a dark place in the cave. I shone my torch in to reveal her fin, inches from the mouth of a big seven-foot long wobby. He had snatched her fin off of her foot as it probably came too close. Her intention was clear. She wanted me to retrieve her fin.

I began to question the merits of the buddy system. This was risky but there was a maiden in distress. This was the diving version of Cinderella and the glass slipper. However, I decided on a plan of action. I removed one of my fins to extend my arm to move her fin away from

the ‘jaws of death’. I remained calm and slowly edged her fin closer until I could grasp it safely. Then I had to search the underwater kingdom for the ‘princess to be’ whose foot was the right size for the rubbery version of the ‘glass slipper.’ I have seen plenty of divers doing an uncontrolled

descent. Their body hits the sea floor with a thud. Occasionally, the sea floor swims off gruffly in the form of an angry Carpet shark. I would do the same if an out of control, heavy bubble blowing blob landed on me. Controlled descents avoid this problem. I always taught my dive students to descend holding your power inflator and every two metres, give it half a hit to slow down your descent. At the bottom, a minor adjustment and you are weightless. Too easy! All common species of Australian wobbegong have mouths in front of their eyes. All have barbels on their mouth,

Hale’s Ornate wobbegongs at Jervis Bay live in sea caves. Notice how far back the two dorsal fins are.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #406 - June ‘24

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