Exploring even the shallow waters of Wagonga Inlet around Lewis Island were filled with so much interesting life. Little fish and other creatures occupied the waters, including those areas that were dry at low tide but underwater when the tide was in. There were many Eastern Longfin Gobies that were so much smaller than me but barely paid me any attention. Intuitively, they somehow knew that I was too large to see them as a meal. Despite their superb camouflage they also possessed some colours that the sunlight brought out because it was able to penetrate these shallow waters.
This is the fifth and final post in a series of five looking at different aspects of wildlife at Narooma. In this post I am covering the wildlife that I saw when I was underwater in the shallows of Wagonga Inlet. Snorkelling around the shallow water was very interesting and I hope that you enjoy the photos below.
Mangroves are amazing plants. Even as tiny shoots they tolerate submersion in salt water. These are still terrestrial plants that need fresh water but they survive for hours under salt water and may miss any rain that falls during high-tide. This Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina) shoot is still very young with the seed case still hanging in front. Some marine growth coated the sole leaf because the plant was underwater so long regularly.
Grey Mangrove shoot underwater
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
There was Neptune’s Necklace (Hormosira banksii) or Bubble weed everywhere around the mangroves and at low tide was like a yellow, soggy mat covering everywhere. That mat was a very important feature because it maintained the moisture in the ground below assisting some shorelife survive the low tide period. However, when the tide was in this algae showed its true form, with the water filled segments standing upright.
Neptune’s Necklace
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
While snorkelling underwater there were so many fish and I did not scare them, they did not swim away. Some came within arm’s reach. There were a lot of Luderick (Girella tricuspidata) around. This species of fish mainly feeds on seagrass and algae, although it may eat small animals as well.
Luderick
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
The Sand Mullet (Myxus elongatus) were not full size but getting there and the waters around Lewis Island in Wagonga Inlet probably represented a relatively safe place for these juvenile fish. When they get larger they will move further out into the inlet and along the coast.
Sand Mullet
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
The popular recreational angling fish, the Yellowfin Bream (Acanthopagrus australis), was around Narooma as well. There were some good sized examples swimming around. This particular individual showed some interest in a hermit crab, that responded to it with an aggressive display that warned the fish away. These fish start as males but half of the spawned individuals will change sex to become females.
Yellowfin Bream
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
The same Yellowfin Bream was interested in a hermit crab but didn’t know how to get it out of the shell
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
There were a number of Common Toadfish (Tetractenos hamiltoni) around, even in very shallow water. They would drift with the tide, even into shallow areas. They were often in small groups, not so much a school but moving in similar areas. These fish are mainly carnivores but will also eat algae.
Common Toadfish
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
The tiniest fish that I photographed were these Port Jackson Glassfish (Ambassis jacksoniensis). At their largest they grow to 7 cm although they tended to be less than that when I saw them. They seemed normally to be near weeds and other places that they could quickly flee into when danger threatened.
Port Jackson Glassfish
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
Along the sandy bottom where the waters were shallow there were many Eastern Longfin Gobies (Favonigobius lentiginosus), swimming then lying in wait. They would lie on the bottom and move in short dashes. They eat small creatures and I possibly saw that when one of them appeared to suck in then expel some sand. May be there had been a creature in it too small for me to see. They did not seem concerned by my presence, happily swimming under my floating form, even though I was almost touching them with my camera.
Eastern Longfin Goby
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
A stingray came swimming past me one time. The sand on its skin showing it had probably just left the bottom of the inlet. I had my macro lens on so I was not able to catch the whole animal, just the eye that was regarding me.
Stingray eye through the seagrass
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
On one snorkel, I found a rock where several Estuary Shrimp were congregating. A day or two later I took my son snorkelling to the same rock and the shrimp were still there. I noticed one had eggs on its belly, so I wondered if there had been some mating.
Estuary Shrimp swimming with eggs under its belly
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
There were obviously a number of shellfish around the inlet. I didn’t photograph them all, just two species.
The Sordid Moon Snail (Polinices (Conuber) sordidus) is an interesting creature for two reasons. In the first photo below, their egg sac looks more like a mis-shaped jelly blubber. However, when you examine it closely you see all the little larvae inside. The larvae matures at a slightly different rate so that the outside ones mature first and leave, not destroying the sac fo the remaining animals. Once they become full grown animas with a shell they are able to prey on other shellfish. They use a bit of stomach acid to weaken the shell of their prey then they use their radula or tongue to drill into the victim’s shell. Once through the hard shell, more digestive acids are injected and the mashed up body sucked out. All that remains is a shell with a small hole. I found two empty moon snail shells and in photographing them I noticed the lines in their shells noting their growth spurts.
Sordid Moon Snail egg sac
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1600, 170mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Two examples of Sordid Moon Snail shells
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Another interesting mollusc I came across was this Brown Bubble Shell (Bulla quoyii) resting on the sandy bottom. I was also able to find an empty shell. These animals primarily feed on algae. In finding a different shell I loved how its colours and lines appeared under flash.
Brown Bubble Shell underwater but the sea slug was hiding in the shell
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)
Brown Bubble Shell empty
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/18 and 1/125 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
There was so much to see even in less than a metre of water. I am still practicing with my underwater photography but appreciated how much life there was to see. I am keen to return and once again snorkel beneath the surface to find subjects to photograph. This was the final part about the wildlife that I photographed during our summer break in Narooma and we miss it. We will certainly be back to that lovely town on the south coast of NSW.
Thanks for reading this post and thanks also for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the south coast of New South Wales has on offer. All the best until the next post.