Seadragons, Part 6: Leafy Seadragons

By Leslee Matsushige, aquarium co-creator

Our first excursion after arriving in Adelaide was to Victor Harbor – about 80 km (~50 miles) south on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula – to dive at Rapid Bay Jetty. This site comprises an older, longer wooden jetty (now closed to the public) and a shorter jetty that was recently built following campaigning by the local diving and angling community (See http://www.rapidbayjetty.org).

Why? Well for divers this is one the best places in the world to see the leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques)!

When we descended under the new jetty, we saw large areas of a seagrass (marine flowering plant) called Amphibolis antarctica  as well as other seagrasses (Zostera spp.) and various brown and red algae. It was there, at a depth of about 15 feet, that I saw my first leafy seadragon!

Over two dives, I saw nearly a dozen of them. What an incredible site to see leafy seadragons in their natural South Australian habitat. These fish are experts at camouflage, so they are difficult to find if you don’t know they’re there.

The seadragons were so interesting to observe (check out the videos below). They drifted along edges of the seagrass and algae, poking their snouts inside as if looking for food. It was nice watch them up close; they didn’t seem to mind our presence.

The lush pilons of the old jetty were also home to many other species, some that I’d never seen before. It was almost overwhelming but also exhilarating to see so much diversity.

These were the final dives of our research trip. They were beyond compare and a great way to end this amazing journey.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography professor Greg Rouse and I parted ways in Adelaide, but we’ll regroup back in San Diego to continue our efforts to breed seadragons at Birch Aquarium at Scripps.

As for me, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see the Great Barrier Reef. I’m taking some personal time to dive in the world’s largest coral reef system. I can’t wait.

See you back in the States!

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXqW4QQfSM4?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8bfQfKPWak?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

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Update: December 2012

Part 8: Google+ Hangout

Part 7: The Great Barrier Reef

Part 6: Leafy seadragons

Part 5: Diving at Flinder’s and Visiting Melbourne Aquarium

Part 4: The Importance of this Trip

Part 3: Sydney Aquarium & Diving in Melbourne

Part 2: Diving in Sydney

Part 1: Traveling ‘Down Under’ to Study Seadragons