Posts By: Steve Reynolds
October 29, 2019
The Loss and Recovery of the Anchors from Matthew Flinders’ Ship HMS Investigator
The Loss and Recovery of the Anchors from Matthew Flinders’ Ship HMS Investigator by Steve Reynolds The large anchor inside the South Australian Maritime Museum is from Matthew Flinders’ ship HMS Investigator. It is a 4m-long, 1 tonne stocked anchor and it is possibly the oldest known anchor in South Australia. It has a (replica) large wooden stock. It was... Read morePosted in Maritime History, Shipwrecks | By Steve Reynolds
October 28, 2019
A Study of Melanism in the Black Manta Rays of the Indo-Pacific
A Study of Melanism in the Black Manta Rays of the Indo-Pacific by Steve Reynolds Melanism is “darkening of body tissues caused by excessive production of melanin, especially as a form of colour variation in animals”. I know that black manta rays in the Indo-Pacific does not relate to South Australian marine life at all, but I read a report... Read morePosted in Bony fishes, Sharks & Rays | By Steve Reynolds
October 14, 2019
Return to Christies Reef
Return to Christies Reef by Steve Reynolds A small group of us visited Christies Reef on 11th October 2019. It was a return visit for myself, following up on my visit there earlier in the year. The three of us got to dive independently (unintentionally). My own dive time underwater was a miserable 45 minutes, but I had enjoyed exploring... Read morePosted in Coastal species, Dive Reports, Species lists | By Steve Reynolds
October 13, 2019
A Little More About the Trafalgar and the Alert
A Little More About the Trafalgar and the Alert by Steve Reynolds Further to the details provided in Changes Over Time to Two Wreck Sites at the Jervois Basin Ships’ Graveyard, the 1877-built paddle steamer Trafalgar may have been beached in the Jervois Basin in the 1940s, The paddle steamer Trafalgar at Echuca This picture is taken from “Redgum &... Read morePosted in Maritime History | By Steve Reynolds
September 26, 2019
David Witton anchor anniversary
David Witton anchor anniversary by Steve Reynolds Continuing my recent focus on Witton Bluff, as I wrote in our May 1985 newsletter, it “is situated at the southern end of Christies Beach, just before the northern end of the Port Noarlunga reef. There is a reef at Witton Bluff which extends out to sea from the mainland. It is fully... Read morePosted in Maritime History | By Steve Reynolds
September 26, 2019
Species sighted at Witton Bluff & Christies Reef
Species sighted at Witton Bluff & Christies Reef by Steve Reynolds As reported in My Early Diving Days , Witton Bluff is the high point on the coast between Port Noarlunga and Christies Beach. It is named after the 1839 wreck of the David Witton. I did my first sea snorkel there in January 1978. I returned there later that year with... Read morePosted in Algae, Bony fishes, Citizen Science, Coastal species, Dive Reports, intertidal zone, Marine invertebrates, Nudibranchs, Plants, sea urchins, Sharks & Rays, Species lists | By Steve Reynolds
September 23, 2019
My Early Diving Days
My Early Diving Days by Steve Reynolds Witton Bluff is the high point on the coast between Port Noarlunga and Christies Beach. It is named after the 1839 wreck of the David Witton. I did my ‘first’ sea snorkel there in January 1978. I say ‘first’ because I had briefly used one of those ‘ping pong’ mask and snorkels as... Read morePosted in Dive Reports | By Steve Reynolds
July 25, 2019
The discovery of a dead Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans
The discovery of a dead Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans by Steve Reynolds Port Willunga resident Allan Horsfall has reported the discovery of a dead carcass of a Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans at Port Willunga beach on 13th July 2019. The dead bird was found in good condition. It had a wingspan of 3.2m. It was taken to a Willunga vet... Read morePosted in Seabirds | By Steve Reynolds
July 25, 2019
Changes Over Time to Two Wreck Sites at the Jervois Basin Ships’ Graveyard
Changes Over Time to Two Wreck Sites at the Jervois Basin Ships’ Graveyard By Steve Reynolds There are several wrecks in the Jervois Basin Ships’ Graveyard at Ethelton. Two such wrecks are the Trafalgar and the Alert. Here is an early photo of the Trafalgar when it was still a paddle steamer at Echuca: – The paddle steamer Trafalgar at... Read morePosted in Citizen Science, Mangroves, Maritime History | By Steve Reynolds
July 22, 2019
The Growth of Mangroves at the Jervois Basin, Ethelton
The Growth of Mangroves at the Jervois Basin, Ethelton by Steve Reynolds On 20th July 2019, I visited the Jervois Basin Ships’ Graveyard, along with Phill McPeake’s son-in-law Danny and his brother Gerard, with some of their children. We were there to record details of the Trafalgar wreck as part of the GIRT Scientific Divers program. Danny & I, along... Read morePosted in Citizen Science, Coastal activities, intertidal zone, Mangroves, Maritime History | By Steve Reynolds