Document Actions

Whyalla: Cuttlefish Capital of the World

by Natural Wanders — last modified 2008-01-31 03:57

Editorial Rating:

Average Rating:

( 1 votes)

Rough weather dictated that we try a shore dive. We set off with three other divers, and followed each other by car to an area called the crab pots. This is close to where the old lighthouse is, and the lighthouse keepers’ cabins are sometimes rented out by divers and scientists doing research on the cuttlefish.

The water was chilly, but we all ventured on after a rather precarious walk along a rocky shore (precarious because we were fitted out with all our scuba gear). Within a matter of minutes, we found cuttlefish. They were hanging out in groups of about six or seven, lurking near rocks just up from the sea grass. They were very aware of and curious about us, swooping over to see what we were, then backing off as soon as we extended a hand. Forty minutes on, we came out of the water, the cold getting to us.

Our second dive was within the cuttlefish safety zone. It was a long walk to the water from where we parked and put on our gear, but was well worthwhile. This time we saw hundreds of cuttlefish in a full range of activities. The males were displaying, extending their bodies to full length and fluttering their tentacles in a most alluring manner. Waves of colour would sweep across their bodies like neon opal, and the females would watch thoughtfully, deciding if the display made that individual a worthy mate. We watched them for another 45 minutes until we could not bear the cold any longer, and we all came ashore together, delighted with what we had seen.

The rest of the day was spent rinsing dive gear and cleaning camera equipment. Shore dives always wear me out totally, and I collapsed into bed that night, thinking of the wonderful cuttlefish.

Reference :

Whyalla: South Australia's largest regional city, Whyalla is located near the top of Spencer Gulf. It prospered on iron ore discovered at nearby Iron Knob in the late 1880s. A rapid period of expansion followed when BHP set up their fully integrated steelworks in the town. Today, Whyalla is one of the nation's best-known industrial cities. Originally known as Hummock Hill, after the hill named by Matthew Flinders in 1802, the town was proclaimed Whyalla, from an Aboriginal word of unknown meaning, in 1914.

Copyright 2007, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. naturalwanders. (2007, August 20). Whyalla: Cuttlefish Capital of the World. Retrieved August 09, 2008, from Plan Book Travel Australia Web site: http://www.planbooktravel.com.au/traveller/naturalwanders/reviews/whyalla-cuttlefish-capital-of-the-world. All Rights Reserved.