Sea wonders

AUSTRALIA’S GREAT REEF IN THE SOUTH

THE BIGGEST challenge for Justin Gilligan, while on assignment for our Great Southern Reef story, was being submerged in some of Australia’s coldest waters: “During one dive off Maria Island the water was about 9oC – certainly refreshing! I wore a dry suit, which reduced the cold, but there was still a mental challenge to overcome while preparing to get into the water. Once in though, I became totally distracted by bountiful photographic opportunities. Some were expected, such as weedy sea-dragons suspended weightless among flowing kelp. Others, like an army of spider crabs being herded by a predatory octopus, weren’t. Diving out of Southport, Tasmania’s southernmost town, with commercial abalone divers was wild. We travelled around South East Cape and had the snow-capped range of Southwest National Park as a spectacular backdrop. I feel particularly fortunate to have experienced Australia’s last remaining giant kelp forests there beneath those cool waters.”