Kangaroo Island December 1999

All pictures are wide screen (16x9), progressive scan video images filmed by Pawel Achtel for a documentary about seadragons and their habitat. The accurate colours were achieved by sophisticated studio quality lighting of approximately 1000W.

Leafy Seadragon with eggs that were deposited 2 days ago.

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Patterns on the snout allow identification of seadragons. This one has been recently located at site called Freds. It appears to be 2.5 years old male.

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It often takes hours to take a shot from the front. It indicates the seadragon is ignoring both the diver and the camera. Such moments allow capturing an undisturbed and natural behavior of the animal.

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Amongst lush vegetation, seadragon is a master of camouflage. Spotting seadragons is a mindset where one has to analyse the movement of the sea weeds rather than search for a familiar shape or colour. This seadragon is hunting juvenile fish and tiny mysids drifting in the water. It's excellent eye sight and perfect camouflage makes him a stealthy hunter.

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Freshly deposited eggs on the males tale. The embryos inside the egg cases are not fully developed yet.

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Australian giant cuttlefish shares the habitat with seadragons. Like seadragons it is a master of camouflage.

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Like seadragons, cuttlefish is a stealthy hunter with an excellent eye sight.

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Old wife like most other fish found here are endemic to Australia. It is the only representative of the family and relationship with other families is unclear. The venomous dorsal spine serves as a protection from predators.

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With patience they can be approached at very close distance. This school allowed me to swim into it and stay with them as long and as close as I liked.

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Playful Australian Sea Lion.

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