Sydney diving tends to be best at the end of summer from March through to June. Algal blooms start dying off improving visibility in the water, and the ocean temperature is still warm. Once the temperature drops below 20 degrees there is a “changing of the guard” underwater as tropical migrants start to perish, or get eaten, and the variety of species does decline as a result.
Today there were a few temperate climate butterfly species hanging in, but it was nice to see an Eastern Talma, the only Butterflyfish family member that lives here all year round. A male Eastern Australian Angelshark did a swim past, and a couple of Weedy Seadragons were feeding of mysis shrimp amongst the weed. This is the biggest species of Seahorse in the world and unfortunately numbers have crashed at this site in recent years. There has been a slight recovery but these are hard to find and photographers are advised to only take a handful of shots to minimise stressing individuals. I only take a maximum of 5 photos then move on, as I believe the impact of strobe lamps, from over enthusiastic photographers, on their eyesight has played a part in their demise.
The bay does have a population of Sydney Pygmy Pipehorses too, but they are very difficult to find and most photographers frequent the sites in Botany Bay to secure their photos
Fish of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Sydney 