DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

Myself, Vadim Belakhov swimming with a 3m Leopard shark photo Angus Scarrabelotti

clear blue water! At last, I was surrounded by and diving with Leopard Sharks! Leopard Sharks are such puppies, albeit ones that grow up to 3 meters long! They remind me of the Port Jackson Sharks we have in abundance back home in Port Phillip Bay Melbourne. Leopard Sharks often gather in large numbers at Julian Rocks. In some areas, they were so numerous that their long, elegant tails gently brushed against my back or even across my face as they swam by, a surreal and humbling experience. These graceful creatures were nonchalantly swimming around, crossing paths and creating fantastic photo opportunities. Some rested lazily on the sandy bottom, completely unbothered. On a few dives, I spent minutes lying beside one—or sometimes more. With so many of them around, it wasn’t difficult to capture them alongside other marine life I was photographing. At Julian Rocks, Leopard Sharks—also called Zebra Sharks because, as juveniles, they exhibit vertical stripes that gradually shift to spotted patterns as they mature—

are unusually active during the day, unlike in many other places where they are more sedentary. Watching them glide effortlessly through the crystal-clear waters here is a unique experience. Despite their rows of small, sharp teeth, they are completely harmless to humans. These sharks are oviparous, meaning females lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. A female can lay up to four large egg cases at a time, each about 17 cm long and 5 cm wide. The cases, anchored to the seabed by fine, hair-like fibres, remain secured for about six and a half months until the zebra-striped pups hatch. Fascinatingly, Zebra Sharks have demonstrated the ability to reproduce through parthenogenesis—a form of asexual reproduction where embryos develop without fertilisation. This rare ability highlights their remarkable adaptability and offers scientists invaluable insights into the unique biology of these stunning creatures. Another gigantic seasonal visitor to Julian Rocks are Reef Manta rays. These majestic creatures can grow up to 5 meters across, gliding effortlessly through the water White-spotted Eagle Rays a peaceful and mesmerizing sight in the ocean

Photo credit: Montana Hancock Being able to swim with Reef Manta Rays is

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DIVE LOG Australasia #412 June 25

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