Posts By: Alex Gaut
April 6, 2004
The Althorpe Islands Group Visit, 2004
On 29th Feb. 2004, the second of what is now an annual expedition to explore a South Australian island group, began with great excitement at the Althorpes island group. The last trip was to the Nuyts group and next year it will be the Investigator/Sir Joseph Banks group. The Althorpes are approximately 8 km SW of Innes National Park and can easily be seen from the mainland of the Yorke Peninsula. Althorpe Island has a long European history with its lighthouse…
Posted in intertidal zone, Islands, Maritime History | By Alex Gaut
December 30, 2000
The Amazing Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia apama)
When diving in southern Australian waters, there are few creatures more stunningly beautiful AND intelligent than the cephalopods. The entire family has the ability to rapidly change colours to camouflage, court and communicate, and they have the largest brains of any known marine invertebrate group. They exhibit a wide range of behaviours that indicate intelligence including learning and curiosity, and they are, above all, utterly charming. Surprisingly cuttles (they are not fish, ergo I do not use the common term…
Posted in Cephalopods, Marine Protected Areas | By Alex Gaut
July 6, 2000
Sex – Cuttlefish Style
Whyalla’s self-proclamation as the “Cuttle Capital” of Australia is absolutely true, for three months of the year – winter. From May to August, giant cuttles (Sepia apama) migrate from all over (scientists aren’t sure how far) to gather in False Bay, Whyalla and have a three month long sexfest! I went to Whyalla with eleven other divers to experience this awesome spectacle. We went first to the most famous spot to see the cuttles, an inconspicuous-looking place simply called ‘the…
Posted in Cephalopods | By Alex Gaut