It's always a great moment when you see swimmer's faces light up when they have seen their first shark, cuttlefish, turtle etc... Today I went out to The Bower with Michele, Martin and Michele's daughter Emma. We saw 4 PJs at one point all swimming from different directions...towards us! It was awesome! There are so many beautiful Port Jackson Sharks in our bay at the moment delighting swimmers! As the Cuttlefish die the PJs arrive. Always something to look forward to with our swims!
It's mostly the smaller males cruising around at the moment looking for females to mate with. As they are smaller they have to bite the female's fin and then they insert their clasper, if another PJ hasn't got her other fin and hasn't got in first! The sex habits of the creatures that inhabit our bay are truely incredible, (even the non-human ones ;-))
I have put a pink circle around one of the claspers aka penises of this Port Jackson shark as I know many swimmers are keen to know where they are! Yes they do have two but you will be pleased to know that he uses only one at a time depending on which side of the shark he finds himself! The other clasper is used to help 'holding on'...quite a trick for a penis! Another interesting fact is the claspers are made of cartilage which as it is quite hard means Mr Shark never needs to worry about Viagra!
Back to today's swim and here are Emma, Michele and Martin before they saw the sharks!
What it was like swimming from halfway to The Bower. It was choppy but it flattened out a bit as the morning wore on...
The sun peeked out from the clouds around 7am and then went back in. The water didn't look so inviting from the Surf Club and only experienced swimmers who love surf went in from the beach.
Like Tony and John Forster. John is high up on the Pacific Challenge and doesn't miss a day. He happens to be our solicitor and would thoroughly recommend!
Blogger Barb with her boys before getting on to the home schooling.
It was a bit tricky getting in at halfway but a good option.
Now for a few marine life photos from the last couple of weeks!
I haven't seen any PJ mating yet this year but I had an amazing encounter recently when I stumbled upon a dying Cuttlefish with so many creatures feeding upon it. There were bream, wrasse and about 5 PJS. I did get accidentally bumped by one (gently, I was in the way!) but I felt totally safe. They're often called 'Labradors of the Sea' apparently and I did hear they've got molars but no sharp teeth at the front!
Anne with a Cuttlefish a few days ago
Kate with a PJ last week!
Kelly and a Giant Cuttlefish looking for a mate. Oops I've just read that back and it sounds as if they both are...and they are! Catch of the day is the gorgeous lawyer/ironwoman Kelly from South Wales!(I know she won't mind lol)
The Cuttlefish did find it's mate but went in the cave to do the bizz depriving us swimmers of a 'biology lesson'!
With the great clarity the Gropers have seemed bluer than ever lately!
This Moray Eel appeared when the dead Cuttlefish feeding frenzy was going on.
The 'squad of squid' that has been swimming in the shallows of Shelly recently.
On a more sombre note please be careful of hair ties guys as this poor Blind Shark died after getting stuck in one. I've picked up a few every day since seeing this pic (not mine). Remember 'take three for the sea'.
Have a great day folks and thanks to Anne for the photo of me below!
Lainey
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