An amazing diversity of wonderful creatures inhabit the waters we swim across each day. This time of year we often have the awesome experience of a Port Jackson shark swim beneath us. With my water logged camera I snapped this beautiful guy this morning… Last night we were lucky enough to hear a lot more about this marine life from local diver and photographer John Sear.
Steve, Kat and Jill about to enter the ocean under a stunning sky at 6.40am…
Thank you so much to John Sear, who gave a fascinating and riveting talk and slide presentation at our monthly Bluewater dinner. It was great to meet another ‘Bit of a Fish Nerd’ and be reminded of what amazing creatures we swim with. He has photographed and identified so many fish so now we can all learn their names by just referring to his website.
He’s a local scuba diver who has been diving in our favourite corner of the world for over 25 years and made over a thousand dives here. He used to just record the fish he saw on pen and paper but then took up a camera and now has an amazing database of all marine species seen in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. (He shares his passion through his website www.ctbar.wordpress.com). We are privileged to have this to refer to and he would love it if we comment and mention anything unusual we see! Thanks again John!
John not only identified lots of fish for us, he also gave us an interesting insight in to fish behaviour. Some fish like the Cleaner Wrasse keep other fish clean and beautiful so he describes how they form part of ‘The Beauty Clinic’! He talked about all the jobs fish do and mentioned a gardener, builder, butcher, Doctor etc! A lot of the creatures he identified do live a bit too deep for us swimmers to see, but there are still so many who stay in shallower waters. He mentioned how lucky we were to see the Clown Triggerfish as it’s only the second time one has been recorded in Sydney.
I took the photo above about 3 weeks ago, the last time I saw it. Has anyone seen it recently?
The amazing diversity in Cabbage Tree Bay is a result of it becoming a no take Aquatic Reserve and since 2002 numbers and variety have increased so much! Even coral is growing, full of fish John hadn’t seen before!
Bottoms up to Booty Camp, free to all, down on the sand 6-7am Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Another glorious sunrise over Cabbage Tree bay, hard to pick between photos…
Some of the very popular Drinks Express today. There were about 50 of you wasn’t there Drinky?
Drinks Expressers exiting at 7am
Time for the 7amers. I’m guessing at around 160 swimmers altogether today. There were 2 newbies and the water is still over 18 degrees at 18.4. A little bit of a rough ride to Shelly but a great swim!
Gorgeous kind hearted Roz Beaver who kindly donated her original Shelly Beach art work to the fundraising Trivia Night. (She also drops off Green Smoothies for Ed every morning.) She will paint your favourite CTB scene for you, just ask!
Such a shame that water on the lens had made these Shelly photos so dark and blurry. It was Bill’s birthday too. (Bill’s wife Penny F is one of our Marine Biologist’s). Happy Birthday Bill!
Cracking Lips photo bomb if photo was clearer!
I didn’t see the huge Smooth Stingray that has been hanging around lately or Shelly the Turtle or a Cuttlefish but the PJ shark was magnificent!
Cloudy water today so not so many underwater photos but I also saw Old Wives, beautiful Gropers, Leatherjackets, Porcupinefish, Toadfish and lots more. What did you see?
That post-swim sun was lovely, and talking of lovely here is Jill with a cosmetic case that was left in the change rooms. Post in comments if it’s yours.
Micke Stacey gets in the middle of Candice,Robyn, Louise and Shelley. He was regaling us all with a tale of a Blue Groper. (Not the fish variety either ;-)!
Streetwork are trying to raise money (and awareness) of StreetWork Manly and to do this Jim Stackpool is helping organise a gig at North Manly Bowlo Saturday night 13th August. They’re charging $35/head (best beforehand using the trybooking site –https://www.trybooking.com/206959) or will also take money at the door – the fees includes food, not drinks and music from the 2WS playlist – i.e. three chord songs – we don’t know any others!
Come prepared to dance.
Fundamentally StreetWork work with kids in Manly ‘under pressure’ or on the street. They mentor kids one-on-one until they are ‘out of danger’ of self-harm, crime, drugs, or worst of all suicide. These kids are ‘usually’ living at home, but not in safe environments. They struggle for funds and like most charities are held together but a dedicated few doing a lot in their spare time. We’ll have one of the guys from StreetWork (they have two counsellors now and trying to get another – they can’t meet demand) at the gig giving a really quick story about what they do. As many B&B’s that want a night out dancing to us playing 1970’s, 1980’s rock’n’roll (three chords only) with drinks at pub prices.
Have a wonderful day folks!
Lainey
6 comments
Alyson Maier
August 10, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Wow spectacular sunrise again. Beautiful photos!!
Lainey Loo
August 10, 2016 at 4:46 pm
Thanks for commenting Aly, all the way from Germany! Nobody can be bothered in Oz!
Lips
August 10, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Great blog Lainey, as usual.
I, for one, am glad the Clown Triggerfish is gone. He wasn’t funny at all. He basically just sat there at the point. Waiting to be photographed. Like he didn’t even have to try.
Happy Birthday Bill!
Lainey Loo
August 10, 2016 at 7:45 pm
Good one Lips bahaha! Wonder if anyone else has read the blog today?
LSA, HKTQ
August 10, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Lovely blog, Lainey ! Incredible weather to arrive in Manly for! Looking forward to an easy swim in the morning and catching up with you all:-) x
Aly, you’re here too in our thoughts!
Lisa B
August 10, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Lainey, you make me so sorry I didn’t swim today! Your photos are as spectacular as normal and you have put a lot of effort into your blog as well as having to go to work. Your efforts are greatly appreciated as it helps connect me with the swim I couldn’t do. Happy birthday Bill!!