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Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Pygmy Pipehorses of Bare Island
Bare Island is the most amazing dive location. There are at least 10 different dives that can be done with only small sections being repeated (on the way to or from the main aim of the dive). The marine life is astounding considering how we have treated Botany Bay since Lieutenant James Cook, RN, first entered the Bay in April 1770 and his compatriate, Captain Arthur Phillip, RN, bought the First Fleet into the same Bay in 1788.
Bare Island has some many different types of marine life that help make it so special. One of these are the Sydney pygmy pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri. The pipehorses are many different colours, white, red, red and white and brown. As far as I can tell, they are all the same species.
Their sizes range from about 8 mm (top right photo where it is next to the tip of my finger) to abnout 40 mm. While he numbers dropped off during the dredging work carried out 2009 to 2010, the numbers have picked up again since the start of 2011.
The pygmy pipehorses are found in a number of different locations:
SUMMARY
For more information about the dives, go to the Bare Island Dives index.
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