Hello Fish in Berrara

It’s been a crappy few months for snorkelling with a persistent 1m swell from all directions and rain causing dirty water. This article comes from a recent break down at Berrara, just south of Sussex Inlet. 

There is a lot of reef off the headland and there its like a partial lagoon with shallow reef at the northern end then a small islet on the eastern side. This provides some protection for wind and waves from the north and east. There is a rubble slope from the reef into the lagoon and a series of drop-offs and ridges.

There was lots to see when I was down there. A pod of dolphins swam by and studiously ignored me. There was none of the ‘let’s have a look at the human and be cute’ behaviour like there is in the movies. I could hear them underwater but didn’t get any video as they didn’t come close enough.

I also saw a Port Jackson shark, southern eagle ray, banjo ray, porcupine fish, black drummer, hula fish and some juvenile samson fish. The latter are like a yellowtail kingfish but with a rounder head. 

There are lots of entry and exit points so choose one that works with the swell/wind and ensure that you think about how that area will look once the tide changes. 

And no, the small beady-eyed shark was not a bull shark.

Watch Duncan’s video in his Illawarra Underwater YouTube channel