Hooked on …

Byron Bay

photography by John Natoli

Acknowledgments

This book has been made possible with the encouragement, assistance and support of the following groups.

Cape Byron Marine ParkMarine Parks Authority, New South WalesTallow Beach Road, Bryon Bay NSW 2481Ph: 02 6620 9300

Sundive Byron Bay Pty. Ltd.Mr. Giacomo (Giac) CavazziniShop 8 Middleton St, Byron Bay NSW 2481Ph: 02 6685 7755

Tim and Wandy HochgrebeOrganisers of Byron Underwater Festival - 02-66809134Planula B&B and Divers Retreat - 02-66809134Planula Video - 02-66809134 Stockists of Ikelite Underwater Systems

Dive Around AustraliaMr. Kieren Currywww.divearound.com.au E: info@divearound.com.au

Published by John Natoli & Associates Pty LtdPO Box 7, Mermaid Beach Qld 4218

All photographs have been shot at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay by John Natoli.Photographs of John Natoli are shot by Andrew Green.Further photographs, including fish I.D., can be found on ...www.julianrocks.net www.NatoliUnderwater.com

All rights reserved; no part may be scanned, photocopied, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including recording or storage in any information retrieval system, digitally photographed without permission of the publisher. All Photographs copyright © John Natoli 2008

situated within the Cape Byron Marine Park in northern NSW, on the east coast of Australia.

Significance of Julian Rocks

Julian Rocks is located just two and a half kilometers off shore form the beach at Byron Bay and is one of Australia’s premier dive locations. The rocks are one of the oldest geological features in the NSW Northern Rivers Region and have been a place of cultural significance to Aboriginal people from the area for thousands of years.

Julian Rocks is located in the Eastern Overlap Zone where the warm waters of the East Australian Current flowing from the north converge with the cooler waters from the south. Consequently, the waters surrounding Julian Rocks support a rich diversity of tropical and temperate plants and animals including over 500 species of fish, 114 species of molluscs, 100 species of marine algae, and 30 species of corals. These waters also support a number of protected or threatened species including grey nurse shark, estuary cod, black cod, Queensland groper and sea turtles.

The rocks themselves are an important nesting ground and roosting site for several shorebirds and seabirds of regional and migratory significance and were gazetted as a Nature Reserve in 1961. Efforts to protect the marine environment surrounding Julian Rocks have included the declaration of the Julian Rocks Aquatic Reserve in 1982 which prohibited spearfishing and collecting from 500m around the rocks, the establishment of moorings to limit anchor damage, and gazettal of the Cape Byron Marine Park Zoning Plan in 2006 which established a sanctuary (“no-take”) zone for 700m around the rocks.

Andrew Page - Manager Cape Byron Marine Park Authority NSW Dept Environment & Climate Change

In this book John Natoli has beautifully captured some of the inhabitants of the waters surrounding Julian Rocks and the NSW Marine Parks Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change are proud to be associated with it’s production.

Shar

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The grey nurse sharks can be seen at a number of sites along the NSW and southern Queensland coasts. They are usually found in sandy gutters and rocky caves from about 15 - 40m. At Julian Rocks, Grey Nurses have been sighted in all months but the best chance of seeing them is in winter, when the water temperature is below 22oC.

Listed as a critically endangered species on the Australian east coast.

Grey Nurse Shark (protected species)

Leopard sharks are summer visitors to Julian Rocks, and are occasionally seen at the reefs. They are most

often observed between January and April or when the water temperature is above 22oC. They are usually seen

in swimming in mid-water or sometimes resting on the bottom, and seem friendly towards divers.

Leopard Shark

raysDespite their shark like appearance, being grey with 2 large dorsal fins, guitarfish are

harmless.

There are a 5 species of large round stingrays, which are all known locally as bull rays. They are all dark with a light underside.

White-spotted guitarfish

Bull Ray

White spotted eagle rays are unmistakable. They have exceptionally long whip like tails which may be 2 or 3 times the body length or

up to 8m. There is a poisonous spine near the base of the tail. They have distinct heads and a duck like beak. They have a diamond

shaped body which is dark with well defined white spots. The body can be up to 3m wide but are usually smaller.

White-spotted Eagle Ray

turtles

Green Turtle

Green Turtles, having been rescued in the past, are tagged and released back into the ocean.

FISH“I am constantly amazed at the diversity of marine life at Julian Rocks. From the sharks, to pelagics and various species of anemone fish ... through to the numerous species of nudibranchs, Julian Rocks provides a prolific concentration of marine life - big and small, all in one location.”

Angelfish

Emperor Angelfish Half-circled Angelfish

Half-circled Angelfish

Lemon Peel

Reef Check Australia

Home Alone

Creative Visions of the Reef- 2007 Highly Commended John Natoli

What is the image of?

Story about the image?

Conservation Fact/Status/Comment?

A juvenile Three-spot Dascyllus alone in this wonderful golden anemone keeping guard ... as he should. These tiny fish are jet black with one white spot on each side and one on the head. Adults are more grey and the spots less distinct. Juveniles are often found in groups among anemones or urchins, adults are usually in pairs but this little fella was ‘all alone’.

Tiny Three-spot Dascyllus all alone in this wonderful golden anemone keeping guard ... as he should.

The image highlights the best-known relationship in the reef i.e. the relationship between the anemone and the anemone fish. Anemone fish can be overtly territorial, in particular where any threat to their host anemone is concerned, but they are largely regarded by humans as being cute.

Anemone fish, l ike the Three-spot Dascyllus, have become hugely popular particularly amongst children since the movie “Finding Nemo”. Unfortunately, their popularity has created a booming trade in the poaching of these little guys to supply the aquarium industry. Sadly, many anemone fish meet an early end through rough handling, transport and difficulties in general acclimation.

Headband Humbug

Anemonefish

... also commonly known as the Clownfish

Barrier Reef Anemonefish

Blue-lip Anemonefish

Sea Anemone

Clownfish live in a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones, with most being highly host specific.The clownfish feeds on undigested matter which otherwise potentially could harm the sea anemone. In addition to providing food for the clownfish, the sea anemone also provides safety due to its poison.Clownfish and certain damselfish are the only species of fishes that can avoid the potent poison of a sea anemone.

Juvenile yellow moon wrasse

White-streaked Grubfish

Hawkfish

Exotic Fish

1 2 3

1. Painted frogfish2. Clown Triggerfish3. Red Indian Fish4. Yellow Boxfish5. Lionfish6. Ornate Ghost Pipefish7. Leafscorpion Fish

4 5 6 7

Silver Trevally

Christmas Tree Worm

Tube Worm

Orange Tube Coral

Painted Sweetlips

Southern Silver Drummer

Estuuary Cod

Jewfish (Mulloway)

MOR

AY EE

LS

White Eyed Moray

Green Moray

Abbotts Moray

Giant Moray

Spanish Dancer

Giant forms of the Spanish Dancer exist in Indonesia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea but these are generally only observed at night.

NudibraNchsNudibranchs are soft or firm bodied slugs. The majority have externally rear positioned gills, some have their gil ls along each side of the body beneath the mantle edge. The head generally has two rhinophores.

Shape and ornamentation is extremely diverse, ranging from smooth, firm, flat ovals to long skinny serpent-like slugs. Size is variable, ranging from a few mill imetres to around 300mm.

Many species are so well camouflaged that detection is difficult, others appear to mimic their food source and may be discreet and inconspicuous.

In contrast, the brightly coloured flamboyant species blatantly advertise their presence to visual predators as a warning deterrent.

A pair of Bennett’s hypselodoris - mating

Magnificent CeratosomaTiled HypselodorisSplendid ChromodorisVariable Aphelodoris

Risbecia Godeffroyana

Emma’s Hypselodoris

Pustulose Phyllidiella

Glossodoris averni

Variable Aphelodoris

Nembrotha Guttata

Fine lined Nembrotha

Collingwood’s Chromodoris

Denison’s Dendrodoris

Laboute’s Noumea

Ceratosoma Sinuatum

Atagema Intecta

Ocellate Phyllidia

Slender Roboastra

Maritime Hypselodoris

Sweet Dorid

Scribbled Doriopsilla

Leopard Chromodoris

Spotted Hypselodoris

Noumea varians

Phyllodesmium Poimdimiei

Geometric Chromodoris

Chromodoris Fidelis

Tryon’s Risbecia

The solitary hydroids, Ralpharia Magnifica, look like a bed of flowers, although they are actually animals. The mouth is in the centre of the “flower”. Ralpharia magnifica is a food source for the Blue Dragon nudibranch.

Solitary hydroids, Ralpharia Magnifica.

Black Margined Glossodoris

Gold Spotted Chromodoris

Black Spot Jorunna

Obscure Hypselodoris

Angas’s Glossodoris

Chromodoris reticulata

Festive Mexichromis

Blue Dragon, Serpent Pteraeolidia

Chromodoris tinctoria

Funeral Pyre

Yellow Noumea

Red Lined Flabellina

CEPHALOPODSOctopus, Cuttlefish and Squid

Deadly venom!!! Squid

Squid Eggs

Day Octopus, Octopus cyaneaBlue-ringed Octopus

The Day Octopus, Octopus cyanea, is so called because it most active during the day. It has a range of colours and

textures, which can change rapidly. In some colour states

there appears to be a false eye at the tentacle base. The dark

brown tentacle tips have two irregular rows of white spots.

The blue ringed octopus eats small fish, crustaceans and shellfish. It uses a toxin to paralyse its prey. It is not usually aggressive towards humans but if provoked the rings glow neon blue when the animal is irritated. It will bite and inject its powerful nerve toxin, which can be fatal.This species matures quickly and is short l ived. The males die after mating. The females carry the fertil ised eggs around with them, under their arms for about 6 months. When the eggs hatch the female dies.

Reaper Cuttlefish, Red CuttleCuttlefish Eggs hidden beneath a ledge

Cuttlefish have an oval body supported by a cuttlefish bone which is used to regulate buoyancy by pumping liquid into the tiny chambers within it. There are narrow fins around the edge of the body. They have a relatively large head, which is partly fused with the body, 8 short arms plus two long tentacles Cuttlefish swim close to the bottom in search of prey.

Mantis shrimp have very large and complex eyes and are believed to have excellent colour vision. They are renowned for the strength of their front claws and can smash their way out of fish tanks. Mantis shrimp build burrows from small pieces of rock, coral or shell.

Mantis Shrimp

SHRIMPS & CRABSThe sally lightfoot crab has a very flat body, long legs and conspicuous red eyes. Males have larger claws than females.

Sally lightfoot crabsally longlegs, flat rock crab

Porcelain (anemone) Crab

Orang utan Crab

Porcelain crabs are often found in pairs on anemones. They are cream or brown with red blotches. Males are usually bigger than females. Porcelain crabs are filter feeders

The Orang Utan Crab is a small decorator crab. It is covered in red hair. It is more

common in Indonesia & the Philippines - it is rare at Julian Rocks

Amboin Cleaner Shrimp

Hinge-beak Shrimp Harlequin Shrimp

Small Umbrella Shell

Red-lined Bubble ShellOrnate Ghost Pipe-fish

Eastern Blue Groper (Protected Species)

Lionfish

Blotched Hawkfish

Blue-band Goby

Juvenile Clown Triggerfish

Leaf Scorpionfish

Leopard Blenny

Eastern Smooth Boxfish

Round-belly CowfishThe Round-belly Cowfish is yellowish to brown with dark markings. The body cross section is

roughly square with convex sides. Cowfish have a pair of small “horns” on the head

Big-eye Trevally, Big-eye Jack

Bluefin Trevally

Blue tang

Coral Cod

Diving at Julian Rocks, Byron BayWhen first arriving at Byron Bay on that cold wintery July morning in2003, I was greeted by the team at Sundive with a warm smile ...and I have continued to dive with the Sundive team, led by GiacCavazzini, ever since.

Their safe and reliable service has always impressed me. Butmoreso, their willingness to share their knowledge of Julian Rocksand the marine life that inhabits this superb dive location has helpedme enormously enjoy my passion for underwater photography.

Daily dive and snorkel trips toJulian Rocks Marine Park.

www.sundive.com.au1800 008 755

Sundive Byron Bay Pty. Ltd.

Customer service and safety since 1988

Committed to Customer Service and Safety since 1988

Freecall 1800 008 755 www.sundive.com.au

with

When first arriving at Byron Bay on that cold and wintery July morning in 2003, I was greeted by the team at Sundive with a warm smile... and have continued to dive with the Sundive team, led by Giacomo Cavazzini ever since.

Their safe and reliable service has always impressed me. But moreso, their willingness to share knowledge of Julian Rocks and the marine life that inhabits this superb dive location has helped me enormously enjoy my passion for underwater photography.

THANK YOUI would like to thank those who have encouraged meand financially contributed support to get this project

off the ground ... and into your hands.

underwater australasiaunderwater.com.au

02-66809410

Sundive Byron Bay Pty. Ltd.www.sundive.com.au

1800 008 755

Marine Parks Authoritywww.mpa.nsw.gov.au

02 6620 9300

Byron Underwater Festivalunderwaterfestival.com.au

02-66809134© John Natoli 2008

www.NatoliUnderwater.com

Planula B&B and Divers Retreatplanula.com.au02-66809134

Planula Videoplanulavideo.com

02-66809134