Part II of a summer in Byron Bay, this time freediving with @scottwilsonimagery on board @blueseafaris A collection of my favorite shots created over the summer on a single breath. If you've been following me for a while, you already know how much I love freediving. Yes, I 100% prefer it over scuba, although I love both very much.


Eye to eye with the friendliest shark in the ocean


T U R T L E TUESDAY Did you know a turtle has 50 bones that make up the shell (carapace) and itâ€™s part of their skeleton which includes the spine and their rib cage


Spots available tomorrow and Thursday! Come see the summer wild life up close Jump on the boat ï¸ for snorkel, free dive or scuba DM TO BOOK ON


A little video covering our incredible snorkel trips to Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks) with @wildbyronseasafaris


Lots of rock and rolling going on out there yesterday!


Watching pregnant grey nurse sharks to the sound of whales nearby, Wobbegongs, turtles and many beautiful fish at Julian Rocks, marine reserve in Byron bay. Julian Rocks - Byron Bay, Australia


Leopard shark dreams came true yesterday Hereâ€™s just a little taste of it. Iâ€™ll share more once Iâ€™ve gone through all the footage and photos I feel so inspired to create some more leopard shark art!


Itâ€™s easy to see why a turtle may confuse a plastic bag for a jellyfish and eat itâ€¦they can look very similar! CSIRO (2023) estimates that 52% of all sea turtles have eaten plastic and their research found that by eating just one piece their chances of death were increased by 22%. Sharp plastics can rupture internal organs and bags can cause intestinal blockages leaving turtles unable to feed, resulting in starvation. Even if they survive, consuming plastic can make turtles unnaturally buoyant, which can stunt their growth and lead to slow reproduction rates (WWF-Australia 2023). : @santireef What action can you take?Start in your own backyard: reducing & eliminating single use plastics, take 3 pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway orâ€¦anywhere! Volunteer at beach clean up events put on by local groups @byronbinfluencer @plasticfreebyron @take3forthesea_byron


This is what a summer in Byron Bay looks like from under the water!


Yesterday was such a magical day on the water, and even more special because I got to experience with my not so little baby girl for her birthday. Many more adventures to come I think with this little lady â¤ï¸â¤ï¸


Best places to swim with turtles in Australia 1. Heron Island, Queensland 2. Cook Island, New South Wales 3. Julian Rocks, New South Wales Number one has to be the beautiful coral cay of the Southern Great Barrier Reef for its stunning blue water and great visibility all year round Cook Island snatches number two for the sheer amount of sea turtles you can find cramped together into one single spot Finally, third place goes to my personal favorite, Nguthungulli, as you can swim with them in the surge and watch them twist and turn for a bite of algae Sony 7s III | 35mm | f7.1 | 1/320s | ISO 400 Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, Australia


Bat fish are so mesmerising!!


Solo trip to the rocks today thanks @blueseafaris @scottwilsonimagery for letting me jump onboard! Did not disappoint


FAQ: â€œHow long do your freedivers get in the water?â€ This is a question we are asked ALOT When you come out with us for a trip to #julianrocks on a free dive or snorkel you can have up to 3 and half hours in the water â±ï¸ A lot of our regular free divers love this because it means they have more time in the water and better chance of having incredible encounters like this moment captured with an eagle ray Our dedicated #bluebay team are on surface watch throughout this time and of course if you need a break we have hot drinks and snacks on board â˜•ï¸ Keen to explore the rocks ? Book in for a dive Click link in bio Send us a DM Looking forward to hearing from you


Near where I live, there are Julian Rocks. Itâ€™s been a while since I wanted to visit, and I havenâ€™t been disappointed at all. Thereâ€™s so much life in such a small spot!


A few shots from a recent free dive with @blueseafaris


Some rough conditions on the surface today but thankfully it doesnâ€™t stop the marine life at Nguthungulli Thanks @scottwilsonimagery for the spin out


Shark dive with Grey Nurse an incredible love for these animals


A little chill time on the surface with one of my faves


15th February onboard @wildbyronseasafaris


Julian Rocks snorkling adventure 4th February 2024


Julian Rocks, sitting just off the cost of Byron Bay. Never been before, it's definitely on the list.


Better late than never I suppose. Freediving with @wildbyronseasafaris back in January! An awesome day swimming with spotted rays, turtles, leopard sharks, and my favourite rays, Manta!


Scuba diving at Byron Bay with @sundivebyronbay @pizzarnik90


Fun Dive it is always fun , what a day yesterday underwater! I am so blessed to be able to experience all of this.


photo by @alanna_murph


DID YOU KNOW ï¸ Leopard Sharks can be easily "spotted" from DEC to APR at Julian Rocks, NSW. These charismatic sharks gather here in large numbers every summer. In fact this is the only known recorded aggregation of leopard sharks! @brodiewmedia â Tag or mention @diveadventures.au for a chance to be featured on our feedâ


The oceanâ€™s leopard


Nguthungulli or Julian Rocks is a sacred Aboriginal site of the Bundjalung and Arakwal people of Byron Bay. There are many Dreamtime stories that signify the strong spiritual connection to these rocks, the land and the sea. In one story, â€œNguthungulliâ€, Father of the World, who created all the land and the waters, the animals and plants, now rests in a cave at Julian Rocks. Bundjalung people used to walk to Nguthungulli to do ceremonies when the water levels were lower 7000 years ago. These rocks have always had a strong spiritual pull for me. When I need, I walk the sea shores and soak in the healing powers that these rocks radiate. Spirituality is deep inside of me. Itâ€™s not something I chose, it was something I was born into and has grown with me over time. I am so grateful for my home. Iâ€™m grateful for this land that we get to share and for the deep rooted connection to this special place.


Worth watching until the end for this one


Valentines Day tours with all my fav creatures of the sea 14th of Feb onboard @wildbyronseasafaris


Always a great time off @scottwilsonimagery â€˜s boat, hereâ€™s a little dance with healthy turtles that somehow have not eaten that much plastic nor have become fishing industryâ€™s #bycatch . If you hate turtles, please eat more #seafood so thereâ€™s more discarded fishing gear and #ghostnets for them to choke on or get tangled in. If you donâ€™t hate turtles, please take consider how your daily life choices affect them and other endangered species


A Pelagic Party written by @beneaththesurfacemedia. Dive in for a readâž¡ï¸ link in Bio. @natgeo authors of A Divers Guide to the World, stocked in store!


Today, @byronbayseaturtleschool ran an understanding sea turtle class with an awesome bunch of budding citizen scientists. The class is designed to educate the community about the life cycle of turtles and the impact that humans have within their environment. With the aim of showing the small but important steps we can all take in helping our sea turtle populations thrive. We then headed out to do some turtle IDing at Julian Rocks with @sundivebyronbay. It was such a lovely educational day, and I'm looking forward to being a part of more of these valuable days. Thank you @j.yoptics for organising everything, bloody legend.


Underwater paradise


Iâ€™ll never get enough of this place


One of the beautiful leopards of Julian Rocks


The amazing leopard shark


The way leopard sharks effortlessly glide through water is so beautiful to watchã€°ï¸ Unfortunately it looks like this shark might have encountered some fisherman in the past. This beauty was just one of many leopard sharks we saw on our snorkel trip with @wildbyronseasafaris


Thereâ€™s something therapeutic about the way they move Some leopard (zebra) shark magic at the Julian Rocks


What a magic day! Manta, Leopard Sharks and Grey Nurse Shark all in one dive!


Itâ€™s Leopard Shark season! How lucky are we to have these majestic creatures right here in our backyards! In the summer months Leopard Sharks aggregate around southern Queensland and northern NSW to mate. They are typically solitary animals, but we saw over a dozen on this dive at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay! These images are now available as limited edition prints, DM me if youâ€™d like to order one of your own


I think this might be my favorite video ever created I've always wanted to catch a sea turtle devouring a big jellyfish on camera. Here you get to witness the "other side" of the cute little turtles you see in every other video.


Growing to a maximum of 3m grey nurse sharks used to be hunted for their fins, flesh and oil. They have also been targeted for their fierce appearance despite the docile and non-aggressive nature or three labradors of the sea. Whilst their look might be intimidating, they actually only feed on small fish and crustaceans and they tend to be really placid during the day, and more active at night. They are also critically endangered in Australia and although they will allow you to get quite close, keeping a good diving etiquette is key not to scare them away. Here are a few tips I've learnt diving with them these last few years: - Don't directly dive on them, in front of them or chase them. They will not like that and might take off. - If they are in a gutter, don't block it - If you can, the best way to approach them is to stay at a distance, anticipate where they might go, and wait for them to come to you - stay as still as possible (or move slowly) - never ever dive with them at night, it's illegal and you might freak out seeing them acting a bit more like hunters.


The best pattern in the sea! Leopard sharks belong to the order of carpet sharks such as the whale shark and wobbegong. The brown leopard like spots on its back and sides make it easy to distinguish from others! Most leopard sharks are found on the sea floor and are only active during the night to hunt. However, during their aggregation in the warmer months at Julian Rocks, it is not uncommon to see 10-15 swimming around!


Julian Rocks snorkling adventure 4th February 2024 A fantastic experience with @blueseafaris, scotty was great. So lucky to see an abundance of sealife including eagle rays, a few green turtles and one enormous loggerhead, plenty of fish, puffer fish, a beautiful grey nurse shark made an appearance and could not move without bumping into a leopard shark. Just before hoping back in the boat a dolphin decided to check us out. Can't wait for another opportunity to venture back. Jared van der Wijngaart Blue Seafaris


Awesome dive for the last day of year really busy down there.


The largest wobbegong shark I've ever recorded! I find it funny how they can fit in the tiniest crevices and lay in the most uncomfortable positions for hours You cannot really appreciate the size without something for reference but trust me when I say it was at least 2 meters long and with a head the size of a basketball


One of natureâ€™s most beautiful creations, the Leopard Shark, parts a tide of fish as it glides through the water.


Turtle Tuesday! I could honestly swim with turtles all day.


The Cod Hole . #Nuthungulli #JulianRocks #byronbay #byronbaylife one of my favourite dive sites in the world. I first dived the rock in 1992 and have dived it a thousand times and I still love it !!


Swimming with the leopards


Another great dive at julian rocks !! Special interaction with this beauty !


Ahhhh howâ€™s this for peaceful!


Green sea turtle battling the surge for a bite of seaweed


Bull Ray Spa time


Eye to eye with leopard shark! I cannot wait to get back up to Byron Bay this summer! The warmer months are when they are seen most often in bigger numbers. Leopard sharks are one of the most photogenic creatures in my opinion. They are slow swimmers and are not aggressive, having a diet consisting of mostly snails, slugs, crustaceans and small fish. Taken with @goproanz on board with @bluebaydivers


This gorgeous Stingray came out to play at the end of my last dive in Byron Bay, New South Wales. Theyâ€™re such majestic animals, so itâ€™s always a treat to run across them underwater, especially the larger species in Family Dasyatidae. .â €â €â €â €â €â €â €â €â € Fun facts about Stingrays: â€¢ Rays & Skates are actually closely related to sharks in a group called Elasmobranchs. â€¢ The fossil record shows stingrays dating back to the Jurassic period, which was 150 million years ago. â€¢ There are 500 known species of stingrays worldwide; pretty neat!


Flipping around with my new leopard shark friend What do you think he was doing? Was the remora fish providing some goooood tickles?


Discover the mesmerising world of leopard sharks Dive in to witness their graceful glide through the ocean depths. When leopard sharks are born, they have striped patterns as juveniles. This is why they are also called Zebra sharks. However, as they mature these stripes transform into spots. Leopard sharks are typically found in tropical waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region. They prefer shallow coastal areas, coral reefs, and sandy flats. On average they have relatively long lifespans, with some individuals living for over 25 years and can grown up to 3m/9ft.


Green sea turtle getting thrown around in the surge while feeding


Julian rocks dive 25/02/2023


Mother nature never cease to amaze


Loads of friendly Leopard Shark at the Rock yoday


Beautiful and impressive dive in julian rocks off byronbay


Keep up boys!! Those Stripeys made me trying to keep up with this super cool White Spotted Wedgefish!


Hawksbill Turtle, Leopard Shark, Bull Ray at Julian Rocks today


Not normally in the same shot at the end of January! 2 grey nurse hanging around yesterday. Shaking it up a little & cruising with the Leopards!


Who wants to learning freediving at Nguthungulli _ Julian Rocks, Byron Bay with our extraordinary mermaid Yuko?


Safety stop hangs! My friendâ€™s name is Suzy Lee!


It's grey nurse shark season at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay! @carriemiller_writer is excited.


How photogenic are leopard sharks


think black and white is the only option in this applicationâ€¦


Taken at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay during Underwater Festival 2011


Difficult to capture with macro!


Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, NSW.


Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, NSW. This is my first stab at underwater photography with the little Nikon AW130 point and shoot. I am new to diving as well, so it gives me plenty of things to improve on. This Golden Egg Cowry was at about 7 metres on the eastern side of Julian Rocks. Lou flic.kr/ps/ydWRq , one awesome dive instructor found this on our dive at the reef.


Belongil beach scene to Julian Rocks.


It has begun! We finally got diving again after a two Year break. While this is not the greatest shot, it is one of the first dive with the new rig. Conditions where not that good, visibility about 8-10 meters not exactly clean water. Hopefully lots of improving from here (lots to learn for sure!). This is the biggest Bull ray I have ever seen (Merrin in the background gives you a bit of an idea). Including the tail, he was about 2.5 to 3 meters in length with a massive body. While normally harmless, you have to be a bit careful around this ray's, this is the creature which killed Steve Irwin (the crocodile hunter). More info here: animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/stingray.htm Staying clear of the tail is a good idea. Thanks for looking and have a great Sunday. Norbert


We have been diving again at Julian rocks, a bit more practice before we go on a trip to the Philippines in about a month time.
My beautiful wife Merrin was more than happy to be my model to give the whole scene a bit of scale.

Got the backscatter a bit better under control, still a lot of room for improvement.
Constructive criticism most welcome and wanted!
Press L and Z to have a closer view.

Hope you all have a fantastic Sunday.
Thanks for looking
Norbert


Julian Rocks, great dive site.


Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia


Main Beach, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. A couple of Ks from the most easterley point of the Oz mainland.


Ballina in distance.


Great dive site, you get a different dive every day, even if you dive the same spot


Wow! What an amazing place to snorkel and see so many fish, sharks and coral. Felt very safe too. Iâ€™d recommend Wild Byron from Brunswick Heads, they will take good care of you!


Stunning place, full of grey nurse sharks, loggerhead turtles, and abundance of fish. Was lucky to visit it on a day in July with 18m visibility


Best place in Australia


great dive and snorkel spot for sharks, rays and turtles! the water is cold though (19-22degrees). there are boats coming here from byron bay and brunswick


This place is great to snorkel and dive at, just 3 km off the shore from Byron Bay. You see amazing beautiful creatures all year round. Manta Ray, Leopard Sharks and in the summer. Nurse sharks, and humpback whales in the winter, as well as the occasional different species of sharks cruising through. The best dive site Iâ€™ve been to!


one of my favorite divingspots


Excellent dive spot:
Turtles
Grey nurse sharks
Moray eels
rays
And so many other species


Fascinante


Awesome! You have to dive here!!


Amazing diving. Seing an eagle ray is unforgettable.


Fabulous place


Epic snorkel spot in Byron Bay.


Awesome marine life to snorkel around


photo by @alanna_murph ??


Calling all divers, snorkelers, beach walkers, surfers, swimmers, bird lovers, fishers, paddlers and rock pool enthusiasts from Brunswick Heads to Ballina! Join our Marine Bioblitz of the Byron Bay Region between 8th-17th March 2024 and help us discover and document the diversity of marine and coastal species that call it home! We will kick off the Bioblitz with a launch and information evening on 7th March at Common People, Bangalow from 6-8:30pm. The Marine Bioblitz is an opportunity for all members of the community to get involved as citizen scientists and document the rich biodiversity in ourmarine and coastal habitats. This ten-day community driven survey of marine life along our coastal waterways will generate a valuable record of our local biodiversity within the Byron Bay Hope Spot. Observations will provide a snapshot of species found across marine habitats at this time of year, which has never been done in our area before. It's super easy to participate! Just register on our Humanitix event page (link in bio), snap a photo within the region from March 8 - 17th, and upload it to iNaturalist. You can join in one of the many organised events over the 10-days or simply make your own observations and record them onto our iNaturalist project. To Register, follow the link https://events.humanitix.com/marine-bioblitz-byron-bay-region This is the first initiative for our brand new Byron Bay Hope Spot Ocean Champions program supported by a grant from Patagonia's 1% for the Planet program.


The majestic white-bellied sea eagle. A regular on our tour, but today we were treated to seeing them quite close and being able to hear the flapping of their massive wings


Moody day Leopard Shark at Nguthungulli.


We found DOT! After two years, the female Indo-Pacific leopard shark affectionately known as DOT showed up today in the Needles at Nguthungulli Julian Rocks! DOT is named after her distinctive white dot close to her 5th Gill slit (the area for ID, hint hint). She was first seen at NJR in 2012 and was last seen in February 2022, so she has been MIA for two years; the research team at @sundivebyronbay and the Cape Byron Leopard Shark Project were starting to get a bit concerned about her well-being, but she looks in very good health. Who knows where she has been over the last two years, maybe she was off on some incredible sharky adventure somewhere or, maybe just lazing around and relaxing on the bottom somewhere in the warm EAC waters staring at rocks; I guess we???ll never know. DOT is particularly friendly towards divers and approaches without hesitation; if you do see DOT around, please try to respect her boundaries as she has no concept of personal space and definitely won???t respect yours. She is lots of fun to dive with, though, and we are lucky to have her back. Thanks to my awesome dive buddy @asia.armstrong for a great dive! If you do see a leopard shark here at Nguthungulli Julian Rocks or anywhere in the world, please upload the left-side flank image (like in the photo) to www.sharkbook.ai and help support the Cape Byron Leopard Shark project and global Indo-Pacific leopard shark research and conservation.


BEAUTIFUL conditions out at the rock today ??


???Our NSW team enjoy the Cape Byron Marine Park often on kayak and by boat. As part of our ecological citizen science surveys and kayak-based clean ups. Recently we were fortunate to explore the meandering reaches of Simpsons creek. Our volunteers were amazed by the rich diversity of plants and bird life.??Â Lauren and Lucy, Positive Change for Marine Life.


Exploring a different side of the Byron area on their Australian travels. Great to have these two adventurers out for a private tour


Come see the summer wild life up close Jump on the boat ? for snorkel, free dive or scuba DM TO BOOK ON


How amazing are leopard sharks! Very happy that I got to capture this shot with of my favourite animals. The conditions on this day were amazing and provided for some breathtaking encounters to say the least! Everywhere I looked there was at least five leopard sharks at one time. I lost count of the total amount but there was more than enough to capture this image


Leopard Shark, , Julian Rocks.


Nguthungulli or Julian Rocks is a sacred Aboriginal site of the Bundjalung and Arakwal people of Byron Bay. There are many Dreamtime stories that signify the strong spiritual connection to these rocks, the land and the sea. In one story, ???Nguthungulli??Â, Father of the World, who created all the land and the waters, the animals and plants, now rests in a cave at Julian Rocks. Bundjalung people used to walk to Nguthungulli to do ceremonies when the water levels were lower 7000 years ago. These rocks have always had a strong spiritual pull for me. When I need, I walk the sea shores and soak in the healing powers that these rocks radiate. Spirituality is deep inside of me. It???s not something I chose, it was something I was born into and has grown with me over time. I am so grateful for my home. I???m grateful for this land that we get to share and for the deep rooted connection to this special place. Thank you, thank you, thank you. T x


A Pelagic Party written by @beneaththesurfacemedia. Dive in for a read?? link in Bio. @natgeo authors of A Divers Guide to the World, stocked in store!


Ocean Road


Just having a little snack Jellyfish provide important nutrients for turtles, playing a big part in their diet. They have the ability to consume these jellyfish without being stung! This is due to their throats being lined with little spikes made of keratin, the same thing as our hair and nails!


What an underwater photographers dream it was on the weekend with @wildbyronseasafaris to Nguthungulli nature reserve. Everywhere I looked there were leopard sharks, eagle rays, turtles and an ubundance of fish.


Julian Rocks, Nguthungulli Nature Reserve. This place is magical! I was so lucky to experience swimming with so many leopard sharks today and I highly recommend @outoftheblueadventures to everyone! Today was such a beautiful moment and I will be back!!


Went snorkelling at Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks) this morning! Was an epic morning and saw lots of cool sea-life! Turtles Leopard sharks Eagle rays Fish


Welcome to the Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve! Swipe across for a closer look at the northern face of the rock - here we encounter so many different species often within just 5 to 10 meters of water!


A couple of weeks ago I experienced some of the most marine life at Julian Rocks I???ve seen in quite some time.


I???ll never get enough of this place @sonya7rv @nauticamhousings


Julian Rocks, sitting just off the cost of Byron Bay. Never been before, it's definitely on the list.


Nguthungulli at its best


swimming with leopard sharks for the first time ??? such beautiful and gentle creatures


The epitome of ?? ???The Beautiful Byron Bay: Iconic Julian Rocks in the background and Flower Power ??Woman @elisetrigger looking simply stunning as ever ???? Elise is wearing her hand cut, shaped and polished flower opal pendant ? and a matching flower & lightning bolt opal earring charms set. ?? Charms are hung on solid 9ct gold Paperclip Huggies (earrings). ?? All solid Australian opals and solid Recycled gold


The ocean???s leopard


Day 8 - Lennox Heads ???Cape Byron


Free-diving adventures down in Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve.


Feisty fella dancing for us Nguthungulli, Julian Rocks Marine Park. Have to love a Mantis Shrimp ?? It's known to have the strongest punch of any creature in the animal kingdom .. small but mighty!!


It's ocean party time June 1st is the night to celebrate our INCREDIBLE coastline and for all ocean warriors to unite ? Did you know the Northern Rivers coastline is being designated as a @mission_blue hope spot? Come find out more at the official launch event! @patagoniabyronbay is the place 6pm-8:30pm is the time Uniting to protect our coastline is the purpose @yummifyveganchef is the food @stoneandwood & @thehiddenseawine are the bevs @lbennettmusic is the soundtrack Link in our Bio for tickets. See you there ?


FAQ: ???How long does your free divers get in the water???Â This is a question we are asked ALOT When you come out with us for a trip to #julianrocks on a free dive or snorkel you can have up to 3 and half hours in the water ?? A lot of our regular free divers love this because it means they have more time in the water and better chance of having incredible encounters like this moment captured with an eagle ray Our dedicated #bluebay team are on surface watch throughout this time and of course if you need a break we have hot drinks and snacks on board ?? Keen to explore the rocks ? Book in for a dive Click link in bio Send us a DM Looking forward to hearing from you


One of the beautiful leopards of Julian Rocks Diving with @sundivebyronbay and @alex_lenaa


Having a chat with a Leopard Shark.


TURTLE ??? JULIAN ROCKS


When an old mate comes in to visit.


A day spent swimming with mantas, leopard sharks, stingrays, turtles and heaps of fish!


This jellyfish had iridescent stingers that glistened in the sunlight. It was tricky to photograph as it floated past my kayak. I zoomed in and this is what I got! It was pale pink and very translucent.


Foam is your friend. Don't be scared of it. A little bit of extra foam here and there is good for the soul and your surfing.


BFC legend Jon Povey diving at Juilan Rocks on Australia Day with the lovely Leopard Sharks Kirsten


You wouldn???t believe what showed up today SWIPE TO SEE We were super lucky to have countless leopard sharks, turtles , eagle rays, a grey nurse shark AND a manta ray! Our dive guide Gian even saw a Clown Frogfish!! Let this be your sign to not let rain to deter you from diving ?? rain does not affect the visibility at Julian Rocks as we???re not diving in the run-off from the river and it???s far enough off shore for that ??? Visibility can be affected only by ocean currents and wind direction out there. Also, what better thing to do on a rainy day than go diving as you???ll get wet anyway Wanting to book on? Send us a DM Click link in bio


Studying the bottlenose dolphins of Byron Bay with #dolphinresearchaustralia and Traditional Owners. Traditional Owners Nickolla Clark and Leon Kelly recently joined Cape Byron Marine Park staff and Dolphin Research Australia out on the water to study the resident bottlenose dolphins of Byron Bay. The Arakwal people are Traditional Owners of much of the land and Sea Country in and around Cape Byron Marine Park. Dolphins are an important totem species to Arakwal people and to the broader community. Nickolla and Leon recently completed their (Certificate II - Maritime Operations) coxswains training, organised by DPI Fisheries under the Marine Estate Management Strategy. This was a great way for them to gain their sea time, a requirement for becoming a certified coxswain.


Near where I live, there are Julian Rocks. It???s been a while since I wanted to visit, and I haven???t been disappointed at all. There???s so much life in such a small spot!


Nothing beats swimming with a large shiver of Leopard Sharks at Julian Rocks in summer. It???s natural beauty, peaceful yet exciting, they???re majestic and can be quite dorky at the same time. Thanks for more beautiful footage @finsandphotography We could watch this all day!


Fun diving. @ #nguthungulli with @harveyn916 and the turtles and greynurses @sundivebyronbay


Getting under the surface. What better way to explore all the riches of our NSW marine estate than by diving. This picture of budding underwater photographer Oscar was taken at Julian Rocks at Cape Byron Marine Park while completing his Open Water Diver Certificate. Scroll right to see an amazing Leopard Shark (one of 20!) Oscar encountered while diving. Thanks for the inspiration @oscarunderwater - diving is now on our must do list for this summer.


Julian Rocks, Nguthungulli??- Byron Bay.


What???s your favourite friend to dive with underwater?


Cape Byron Marine Park is our most northerly of all 6 NSW marine parks. Check out this awesome new video to learn more about it! You can watch the whole thing on the NSW Marine Parks YouTube playlist.


The colours of daybreak in The Bay


What a magic day! Manta, Leopard Sharks and Grey Nurse Shark all in one dive! ?????? This is truly special!


Which one do you prefer? I took this photo last year when I was in Byron Bay for my PADI rescue certificate. Does anyone know if the leopard sharks have come back yet for the summer months?


There???s nothing quite like following leopard sharks through the needles???.


Cruising towards the Cod Hole with this beauty & her entourage. Photo: Brian Pool


Christmas edition : best shots from our home Dive n*4 Julian Rocks (Byron Bay, NSW) and an amazing Dive n*5 South Solitary Island (Coffs Harbour, NSW), where we spotted for few seconds a school of Scalloped Hammerheads . Photo 1, 2, 5, 7, 9 by @tomasacarvalho


A Day in the Bay. It doesn't get much better than this! We surfaced from our dive to find two Humpbacks swimming past the mooring site. For the next 30 minutes we had the most beautiful interaction with a pod of five whales. Extraordinary experience ?


Awesome diving @ Julian Rocks. Plenty of fish, sharks and huge turtles


Marine parks 101. Ever wondered what marine parks are all about? Then read on... Marine parks in NSW are zoned to conserve marine biodiversity, maintain ecological processes and provide for a range of sustainable uses, such as fishing, diving, boating, snorkelling and tourism. Check out the location of our NSW marine parks. To learn more about marine parks and their zones, download the NSW FishSmart app or check out our website from the link in our bio. IMAGE: NSW Marine Parks map


Byron bay.


Julian Rocks, Byron Bay While catching waves or watching our Adaptive Surf Pro Comp next year, you will see Julian Rocks, one of the most famous dive sites in Australia Situated 2.5 km from Main Beach, one of our surf locations, it is home to our marine life, with over 1000 species From the beautiful Sea Turtles to the amazing Manta Rays, different fish species, Grey Nurse Sharks, and playful Dolphins ??? Julian Rocks is a true underwater paradise.


First experience using @aquatech_imagingsolutions housing. Happy and great day with @wildbyronseasafaris


Tibur??n Leopardo


Afternoon snack


These winter days are pure magic and refreshing for the soul!


Big, green and vegetarian... Did you know that the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is one of the largest sea turtles and the only herbivore amongst sea turtle species? It's incredible to think that they can grow to 180 kg in weight and more than a metre in width on a diet of just seagrass and algae. Found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the world, this green turtle was snapped enjoying the waters of Julian Rocks in Cape Byron Marine Park by budding photographer Oscar Trisley. Green turtles are amazing long-distance travellers with females reported to travel up to 2,600 km on their migration from their nesting grounds to feeding grounds. To put this in perspective, that???s like swimming from Melbourne to Cairns and a bit more! Green turtles are classified as threatened in NSW, with one key threat to them being the ingestion of marine plastic. By cutting down on plastic and picking up litter on our beaches, you can do your bit to save these unique sea creatures.


Pic4 2Day ???Above Julian Rocks, Byron Bay??? from www.brobes.com ??? for megawallart.com


Birds eye perspective of Byron Bay coastline ?


I???m not usually one for the outdoors (bar the occasional al fresco dining) but today I ventured into the great beyond for a spot of adventuring. ??????? ??? The morning began with the extreme privilege of having @joshuairv take me for a flight from Ballina. The views of the area were phenomenal with the Richmond River veining its way through the region. We circled inland to Alstonville, then down to Evans Head and then north to Lennox Heads. ??? Unfortunately rain had impeded the journey further north to Byron, but it was still spectacular nonetheless. The perspective from the sky was astonishing, and you don???t actually realise how high up you are until you notice the ant sized people scattered across the beaches. ??? My journey by air was followed up by a journey on the seas with @burton.bing and @mattymoses.maher. The whale watching tour was lead by the wonderfully informative and charismatic guide Glen of @wildbyronseasafaris, with his gentle and jovial manner reflective of the ocean mammoths we saw on our tour. ??? Right off the bat, we were met with a playful calf who had bemused us with a flurry of tail slaps. We travelled to the majestic Julian Rock and on the way back, a mother and her youngling greeted us with some flipper waves afore the perfectly picturesque Wategos Beach. ??? An excellent way to spend a sunny day in the Byron Shire. ???


LION FISH???NURSERY???JULIAN ROCKS


Posted @withregram ??? @brodiewmedia Life???s tough as a turtle


???Nguthungulli??Â- Father of the world ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Julian Rocks


Did you know there are nine surf schools currently listed in Byron Bay? ??? With an estimated population of just over 5000 people, that???s around one surf school per 600 residents. So either the good people of Byron are very well trained surfers, or the waters of Cape Byron Marine Park that surround Byron Bay are a very popular place for tourists to learn to surf. Byron Bay has been cited as the number one place in Australia to learn to surf. Surfing is just one of the amazing activities you can enjoy at Cape Byron Marine Park. Look closely at the aerial pic showing two different surf schools in the Cape Bay Marine Park.


Green turtle


Who am I? For #triviatuesday we restart our marine creature quiz. A nice easy one today as we are including the full image as well as some clues. Today???s marine animals are occasional visitors to the waters surrounding Julian Rocks at Cape Byron Marine Park. Who am I? I am found in subtropical and tropical water I have 300 teeth and a scary looking tail, but I???m harmless Unlike my sting ray cousins, my whip like tail lacks a stinger I am a filter feeder Often called the gentle giant of the sea, I am the biggest of my type, growing to almost 7 m in width and weighing up to 2 tonnes (the weight of a hippopotamus!) I am??? Please add your answer in the comments below. Snapped an amazing marine creature in a NSW Marine Park we could use for our Trivia Tuesday quiz? Tag us and we will see what we can do.


How to spot a sea turtle without getting (very) wet... Keen to spot a sea turtle, but snorkelling or diving isn???t your thing? Then consider taking a sea kayaking trip out to a turtle hot spot in the Cape Byron Marine Park. Other than masking up and looking beneath the surface, taking a sea kayaking trip is the next best way to catch a glimpse of one of the three species of marine turtle that inhabit the waters of Cape Byron Marine Park. Remember, if you spot one in the marine park and take a good pic, be sure to tag us so we can share.


Views from Byron Bay!


THE soaring headland of Cape Byron, home to Byron Bay???s famous lighthouse, could be known by its Aboriginal name Walgun as part of a push for greater Indigenous recognition.


First grey nurse sighting, unreal!


Guide @divingbyronbay ??? June 2020


Finally! My third attempt with @abugandbeyond to Byron Bay to photograph the incredible Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata) finally saw our efforts rewarded with an encounter with this beautiful individual on Saturday morning.


THE NURSERY ??? JULIAN ROCKS @sundivebyronbay


Cape Byron Marine Park 40 km of coastlines stretching from Brunswick Heads to Lennox Head, as well as estuaries and coastal lakes and the iconic tourist town of Byron Bay. The waters of Cape Byron Marine Park are renowned for their world class surfing and as a place to spot humpback whales, dolphins, marine turtles and manta rays. Got any great pics of Cape Byron Marine Park? Tag us to share.


The other day when I was walking to the lighthouse, I was told that those islands very close to Byron Bay are considered one of the best diving spots in Australia. As a lover of the deep-sea , I already researched about it. In addition to the possibility of finding whales and dolphins along the way, it's also grey nurse shark season ! I am thrifty all the time, but this place deserves my hard-earned money in Australia hahahah. I already want to go before the end of the season. The island is called Julian Rocks, but its original name is Nguthungulli, which according to the local aborigines Arakwal, means Father of the World and it's considered a sacred place.


GREY NURSE ???JULIAN ROCKS


GNS ??? COD HOLE ??? JULIAN ROCKS


A wobbegong shark perched on top of the reef, at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay. They camouflage well against the rock and soft corals.


LIONFISH ??? NURSEY ??? JULIAN ROCKS


" CRUISING......


Sleepy leopard shark and some eastern pomfret from today???s dive.


This is where I can hear the Earths breath the loudest... And yet it is the quiet here that brings me home.


Plan on throwing in a line? Not sure what kind of fishing you can do where? Download the free FishSmart app for all the latest info you need to fish in and around marine parks in NSW! Recreational fishing is a very popular activity supported across the NSW marine park network. Marine Park zones are shown on the FishSmart app so you can easily check to see what zone you???re in and what activities are allowed and the rules that apply for fishing and other activities. Download the latest version of FishSmart NSW app from Google Play or the iTunes app store.


Cape Byron Marine Park??? @nswmarineparks Cape Byron Marine Park 40 km of coastlines stretching from Brunswick Heads to Lennox Head, as well as estuaries and coastal lakes and the iconic tourist town of Byron Bay. The waters of Cape Byron Marine Park are renowned for their world class surfing and as a place to spot humpback whales, dolphins, marine turtles and manta rays. Got any great pics of Cape Byron Marine Park? Tag us to share.


The turtles were out at Nguthungulli today @jessaben17 wearing the Turtles SeaBandz.


Getting out on the water to hook a beauty over the weekends? Keen to go fishing in one of our six beautiful NSW marine parks? Don???t forget to check your FishSmart App so you can keep track of what zone you???re in when you???re out and about and the fishing rules that apply. The app also includes information on bag and size limits, local tides and weather and a real-time map to locate your nearest FADs, Artificial Reefs and Recreational Fishing Havens. Download the latest version of FishSmart NSW app from Google Play or the iTunes app store.


A few shots from a recent free dive with @blueseafaris


Soaking up the sun ready for the last day of


We have a few different types of spear guns available Different features and prices to suit different budgets We also carry spear fishing accessories Come in and check out our range Open 7 days, we're now in the Industrial Estate, on the corner of Tasman and Centennial


Amazing creatures ?


A Green Sea Turtle having a munch on a Jellyfish.


Posted @withregram ??? @seanosheaart Byron Bay Moments


The importance of grounding your feet is worth considering every day.


o more dives today at Nguthungulli Julian Rocks. The vis had dropped quite a lot overnight (which was surprising as the swell went down and the weather is better today) so it was a bit milky and there was a bit of current. Still lots to see including all those gorgeous wobbegong sharks again, the big loggerhead turtle, schools of barracuda, cod, octopus, cuttlefish. A quiet afternoon around camp catching up on some laundry. Again, sorry, phone pics of the camera screen. I'm gonna have a lot of images to import and edit when we get home.


LEOPARD SHARK


Back underwater today with two dives at Nguthungulli Julian Rocks off Byron Bay. It was quite the experience seeing how they launch and retrieve the boats on the beach, honking the horn so the surfers don't move in front of them. The water was around 21 degrees (a bit chilly for me in the wetsuit but perfect for JB) with 10-15m of visibility. I've never seen so many wobbegong sharks - they were everywhere - sleeping on top of the reef and next to rocks. Also saw the biggest turtle I've ever seen, eagle rays, big cod, kingfish, and loads of other fish. Underwater photos are phone pics of the camera screen so they're not the best quality, proper shots will have to wait until we're home. Tomorrow we do it all again.


Mantas feeding on the surface is always a ton of fun. Thanks to Project Manta we know this is manta


LIONFISH - THE NURSERY - JULIAN ROCKS


Byron Bay Moments


osted @withregram ??? @mv_cape_don_moreton_pillar 2021, Lord Byron Cape Byron Lighthouse Byron Bay, Far North Coast New South Wales Constructed - 1901 Automated - 1989 Cape Byron Lighthouse sits on Australia???s most easterly point, a shining light over Byron Bay. The light shines brightly every night out over the Cape Byron Marine Park, warning passing ships of the many coastal hazards. Cape Byron was named by British explorer, Captain James Cook after John Byron, grandfather of the famous English poet Lord Byron. Photo?? Ashutosh Khandha


Just another crispy morning dropping into the unknown Having so much fun experimenting with the @ikelite 8-inch dome port both on the sea floor and at the surface.


Here at Julian Rocks we are lucky to have a thriving population of green sea turtles In fact we usually see 5 to 6 every dive Swipe through to meet some of the locals and let us know your favourite in the comments


Good morning ??


Julian Rocks and lighthouse


2021, Lord Byron Cape Byron Lighthouse Byron Bay, Far North Coast New South Wales Constructed - 1901 Automated - 1989 Cape Byron Lighthouse sits on Australia???s most easterly point, a shining light over Byron Bay. The light shines brightly every night out over the Cape Byron Marine Park, warning passing ships of the many coastal hazards. Cape Byron was named by British explorer, Captain James Cook after John Byron, grandfather of the famous English poet Lord Byron. Photo?? Ashutosh Khandha


Light and dark. Leopard shark and grey nurse sharks at the same time! Nursies usually only at the rocks in winter but one decided to hang out with me anyway.


I Love My Job!!!


"The more often we see the things around us - even the beautiful and wonderful things - the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds - even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less" - Joseph B. Wirthlin Little #redbackedwren wasn't too keen on showing me his face, so we compromised.


I wish this photo could come close to showing the size of this thing. The biggest manta I???ve ever seen. A proper jumbo jet. Today at the rocks.


Above and below Nguthungulli / Julian Rocks ------------------------------------------------ Nguthungulli: Name: In aboriginal culture, "Nguthungulli" is the name of the father who created the world. It is said that he rests in a cave below the rock. Creation: As for the creation of the rocks, legend says that a man struck a canoe that was carrying his wife and her lover with a spear. The canoe split in half and sunk in the middle. The bow and stern of the canoe remained afloat and those are the rocks we see today. Cultural significance: This is a sacred place of spiritual significance for aboriginal people in Australia. ------------------------------------------------- Julian Rocks: Name: Captain Cook discovered the rocks in 1770 and named them Juan and Julia, after his nephew and niece. The name evolved to what we call them today, Julian Rocks. Creation: Julian Rocks was created after a volcanic eruption 20 million years ago. Cultural significance: This is a world-class dive spot and major tourist attraction that brings people from all corners of the globe. It was established as a marine reserve in 1982 and is now one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world.


"There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before" ~ Robert Wilson Lynd


THE NURSERY- JULIAN ROCKS


I was today years old when I realised that leopard is spelt LEO-PARD not LEP-OARD. Anyways here are some snaps from my recent dive with @blueseafaris with some LEOpard sharks. Loved sharing the water with fellow mermaids @casscowper and @eviewilderness ???


Yin & yang... Almost. It was a cloudy day at Nguthungulli, and @rosslongphoto and I had spent half an hour without any sightings of Leopards. But finally one came along, and must have called his mates because all of a sudden there were 5. These two were checking each other out for a while, and we kept diving and diving, hoping to get this shot. . At Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks) onboard @wildbyronseasafaris. . @sonyalpha 7iv inside @seafrogs.com.hk Edit on @lightroom .


First dive with the new camera set up and Julian rocks delivered 10/10 conditions @sundivebyronbay


Some of you may have seen this image a day or two ago. There were a couple of things I missed during the editing process, so let's try again. Probably my favourite Leopard Shark photo from last weekend so had to get it right. Anyone else get pedantic like this? @bluebaydivers


Turtle snapped at Julian over the weekend @sundivebyronbay


A lovely morning of diving out at Julian Rocks with @sundivebyronbay


Gliding through the water with these beauties


Leopard shark action in byron bay australia. When the water is getting warm ,schools of leopard shark come to julian rock. 2miles out of byron bay australia.


Huge thank you to the first sea turtle school Photo-ID crew!


No words can describe how majestic the leopard shark looks


We were lucky to spot some sea turtles, leopard sharks, and different types of rays and fishes. Where the temperate and tropical waters meet, this reserve is one of Australia???s top dive sites and is home to over 1000 marine species. Just 2.5km from Cape Byron, it is classed as a sanctuary zone.


???If you've never encountered a leopard shark, they are, in my opinion, one of the prettiest of sharks. As a scientist, I have been pulled up before for using the word 'pretty' but, I do think that in the case of the leopard shark, it is an appropriate use of the word. They are a very docile sharks with a rasping jaw plate evolved for crushing their crunchy crustacean prey. I have been studying leopard sharks for over 15 years now, and in 2007, discovered that the species can reproduce via parthenogenesis (DM me if you would like a copy of the paper). This reproductive strategy is the production of offspring without male contribution. It is not a form of cloning: each individual produced is genetically unique. Still, they do possess a reduced genetic diversity compared to offspring produced via 'normal' reproduction, but who are we to tell sharks what are 'normal'? Recently, in 2018, the Cape Byron Leopard Shark Project was founded by the Sundive Research Team, Marine Megafauna Foundation and the Cape Byron Marine Park. Byron Bay is host to one of the largest aggregations of leopard sharks in the world. Our project aims to investigate the leopard sharks ecology in the area and why they gather here in such large numbers. Hopefully, with long-term research, our data collection can possibly aid in the protection of this loveable spotty fish.??Â - Dr. David Robinson, Marine Ecologist - Sundive Byron Bay @davidp.robinson


Snug like a bug in a rug


Hello there little porcupine fish these guys are so full of character!


We???re extremely excited to be adding uncrewed aerial vehicles (aka drones) to our tool kit to help keep people safe on our beach very soon. Plus they take amazing photos for social media. How???s the view?!


Nudibranch dump from a recent dive at Julian Rocks with @bluebaydivers. Since evolving from shelled ancestors, nudibranchs have ditched their shells and instead developed bright colour displays as a form of protection. Some species produce their own toxins, and some obtain their toxins from their diet. Others, in a biological phenomenon called "mimicry," simply pretend to be toxic to scare off predators with their bright colours. As such, nudibranchs do not have many predators, and are only at risk from other nudibranchs, turtles, crabs and some humans! Nudibranchs serve as an inspiration for artists and writers from all over the world. They give us the courage to be fully ourselves, as crazy, fun, wild and colourful as we may be. We identified these guys as: 1. Flabellina Lotos 2. Doriprismatica atromarginata cluster 3: Goniobranchus splendidus 4. Phyllidia varicosa


What a fun morning out with this awesome family on a private tour. Plenty of stingrays to be seen, trees to be ducked and memories to be made!


Happiness is seeing one of these dudes swim by.


Just add fish and water and I???m in my favourite place


Hawkie ????????? I love seeing how well the hawksbill turtles shell camouflages against the reef ????????? Although I love green turtles, hawksbills hold a special place in my heart and I can never decide which is my favourite! ????????? What???s your favourite sea turtle?


A few creatures from my Julian Rocks Snorkel Spotted eagle ray, leopard sharks, green sea turtles, star fish, sea urchins, eels, phytoplankton, maaaany fishes!


My feed could become Leopard Shark overload for a little while to come. I love how these guys just swam amongst us without a care in the world that we were there.


We have just returned from an epic 12 days on the road, making our way from Victoria all the way up to Byron Bay and back! There's so much content to share from this trip, but we thought we'd start at the top, with Byron Bay! In particular, our snorkel trip out to Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks) with @wildbyronseasafaris We loved the morning session so much that we decided to return for the afternoon trip. We saw it all, from Leopard Sharks to Eagle Rays and even came close to seeing the unicorn Manta Rays. There are so many photos and videos to share from this adventure, so if you like ocean photography, you'll love all of our new content!


It???s not the pineapple you???d want to eat, but seeing these pineapple fish is still a treat! Warm, blue water is on its way! Snorkel and dive tours running Tues - Sun! Give us a call +61 2 66858333 or head to our website (link in bio) to book a tour!


42 Wallaby Way Sydney


Releasing some new imagery from some old favorite locations on my site today. Link in bio. Beautiful free diving afternoons with @capeproductions and Green sea turtles of Julian Rocks. Byron bay toddthimios.com


Learning to freedive is the ultimate gateway to experiencing life in the ocean, but also provides the opportunity for self growth and discovery. Our next freediving course is on the 17th and 18th of February, on the Gold Coast. Our course fees include all freediving equipment and access to online learning to help divers understand freediving prior to the commencement of our course. February is a special time at our dive site (Julian Rocks) as the warm water brings an influx of species such as leopard sharks, manta rays, turtles and spotted eagle rays. If you???ve ever pondered doing a freediving course, this is your sign to jump on and get out there with us! Learn to freedive, have fun and break barriers all while seeing some incredible wildlife! Book via the link in our bio, or send us a message if you have any questions.


Sea turtle conservation is our mission. To achieve this goal we need to work together as a community??? Join us!! Link in bio for our first class on Wednesday 3rd May


Say hello to the Stars and Stripes puffer! Their constant smile and googly eyes are 99% guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Due to various border closures and lockdowns around the country, we are currently working on restricted hours. Our current shops hours are: MON-WED: CLOSED THURS-SUN: OPEN from 9am Our phone messages (+61 2 66858333) and emails (info@byronbaydivecentre.com.au) are still monitored regularly, so any enquiries will be responded to as soon as possible! We appreciate your patience and understanding through this tricky time!


or ? ????????? As juveniles, , are dark with white stripes leading to the name ???zebra??? sharks which is commonly used in the USA. However, as they transition into adulthood their stripes morph into spots, leading to another commonly used name, ???leopard??? sharks which I personally prefer using! ????????? What do you call them?


Rain rolling in . Beautiful light


Let the ocean be all you see @lauraw_86 wearing the spotted eagle ray Seabandz.


Livin the dream down under #julianrocksbyronbay 19/03/2023 Onboard @wildbyronseasafaris


Sunday Night Fever Julian Rocks, Byron Bay.


Epic snorkelling spot at Julian rocks!! We swam with a cute turtle, rays, rainbow fishies, leopard sharks, Gobby wongs! Such an incredible world under there


Leopard Dance.


Check this out! During one of our January Sundive leopard shark surveys at Julian Rocks alongside Asia Haines, we encountered an adult male leopard shark and took photo ID images. Upon entering the images in the global database, we found that this shark was originally encountered at Manta Bommie on North Straddie in 2005 by Dr Chris Dudgeon from the University of the Sunshine Coast and Leaf to Reef project; that's 16 years ago! At the time Chris identified him as a mature male so he is a good age and, we are looking forward to following him on his journey! This is a great example of how identifying individuals can help us learn about the ecology of the species and, a great example of a fantastic collaboration! Photo credit to Asia Haines (2021) & Chris Dudgeon (2005)


When was the last time you spotted a new critter? The Aequorea Australis medusa was a surprise sighting at Julian Rocks, off Cape Byron. We love this feeling of awe and wonder as we discover new to us marine life. ?


Sunday Night Fever


Morning walk


So glassy on the surface and 25 degree water. Great day to get wet


Very excited to show you what we've been working on with the Incredibly talented environmental illustrator @ecowithem_ Over the next week we will be proudly showcasing "The Litter Journey" to you all! Let Em's quirky and wonderful artwork get you thinking about the bigger picture and the unfortunate consequences of our 'convenient' consumption choices. Following the binfluencer theme, the artwork shows the 'yeah' ? and 'nah' ??? waste behaviours and how these can affect our beautiful bay... Tune in tomorrow for the beginning / end of the journey


Grey nurse sharks are amazing animals and hunters from before birth. Did you know that during gestation they demonstrate cannibalism? This reproductive process is known as adelphophagy and takes survival of the fittest to the extreme! The gestation of the grey nurse shark takes 9-12 months, and they are born at approximately 1m in length. While inside the egg case and the uterus the young eat other ova and, when big enough, they even hunt and eat other embryos. Though this reproductive strategy may sound shocking to us, this results in two (one form each uterus) robust and capable offspring, and these young are born ready to hunt and survive!


I was lucky enough to join the amazing team at @outoftheblueadventures for a few days capturing imagery for their company I was blessed to see Eagle Rays, Leopard Sharks, Wobbegong Sharks, Turtles and so many species of fish, it was incredible! Thank you for the amazing opportunity guys, I wish I could have stayed with you longer.


#SurfingSunday ???You can???t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.??Â???????Unknown #visitbigvolcano #farnorthcoast #northernnsw #byronbay #JulianRocks #Nguthungulli Originally posted 2019 Posted @withregram Originally posted 2019 @lena.lina.foto ??? pumping byron.


During the colder months, Julian Rocks off Byron Bay is host to an aggregation of grey nurse sharks. On this day I was diving with the brilliant team at @SundiveByronBay we had an epic number of sharks around. The grey nurse shark is a widespread shark found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. The East Australian sharks are considered to be genetically distinct from other populations and are classified as a subpopulation. Unfortunately, this subpopulation was subjected to heavy hunting from commercial and recreational fisheries in the 1960s and, they have never recovered. There is estimated to be less than 1000 individuals. It has been afforded species-specific protection in NSW since 1984, but threats such as bycatch still exist. The East Coast subpopulation (not the species) are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, the last assessment was done in 2003, so there is hope that the situation may have changed for the better when the next evaluation is done.


Leopard and blue friends..


Must of been something he ate.


Did you know that female leopard sharks don???t need a male to reproduce? Want to know more, check out my article in @oceanographic_mag link in my bio...


Last week We were lucky enough to host my good friend and shark biologist @simonjpierce; he spent a whole week exploring Julian Rocks and wrote a fantastic article about his experience 'Diving at Julian Rocks, Australia: The World???s Best Temperate Shark Dive?'. Link in my bio if you fancy a read!


Perfect kayaking conditions today!


& ? by @leobellisjones: "A majestic Leopard Shark cruises overhead at Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks). ? ???? It???s thought that the Cape Byron Marine Park is home to one of the world???s largest aggregations of these endangered creatures. Just goes to show what happens when we protect and actively manage our oceans."


We are back in the water after the nasty northerlies have moved on (for the moment). Vis is approx 10 m and there are so many critters at the rock! The weekend ahead looks good, so why not book in for a dive! Check out the huge Spanish dancer spotted in Hugo???s! Photo by @scaprodossi


Natural Wonders ? Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve The Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve is a protected reserve that is located on the Julian Rocks situated approximately 2.5 kilometres off the coast of Byron Bay. This aquatic reserve is approximately 80 hectares and is designed to protect the many marine species, including leopard sharks, grey nurse sharks, wobbegong, a variety of nudibranchs and much more. This group of small islets out in the bay are also very significant to the Arakwal people, with several important Dreamtime stories associated with Julian Rocks. With lots of things to do in the reserve like diving, bird watching, fishing and photography, this is a natural wonder you should definitely explore if you're in the area.


The leopard shark and I have a long history. It first started in 2006 when I started working at the Burj Al Arab's aquarium in Dubai. The aquarium was home to an adult female leopard shark named Zebedee who had lived in the aquarium since 2001. In 2007 came the first reports of parthenogenesis in a bonnethead shark from the USA. Parthenogenesis is a form of reproduction where an animal can produce viable offspring by themselves. In 2007 she started to lay eggs and although Zebedee had never been in contact with an adult male since maturity, my team and I decided to keep them... just in case. Two months later, we were amazed to see little baby leopard sharks starting to develop within the egg cases! Amazeballs! Sure enough, as time went by, baby leopard sharks started to hatch from the eggs! Even more Amazing! But now came the task of proving that this was indeed parthenogenesis... The pups produced are parthenogens, some people have described the process of parthenogenesis in sharks as cloning or asexual reproduction; IT IS NEITHER... it is parthenogenesis (that's it, parthenogenesis, that's why the process is given a name). When parthenogenesis takes place, an egg is released (home to 50% of the mum's genetic material), before release there is the normal reshuffling of genetic material and after, a lot of egg splitting which produces things called polar bodies. It is one of these (genetically unique) polar bodies that fuses back to the original parent egg, kind of acting like a sperm would; this is a form of sexual reproduction as it involves the fusion of gametes (polar body and egg) but, there is no sex (but still NOT asexual reproduction). My team and I published this finding in the Journal of Fish Biology in 2011, with not one count of parthenogenesis recorded BUT, annually recurring parthenogenesis over several years. Some of Zebedee's pups were moved internationally to the UK and some between aquariums to see how they develop and reproduce. Now I find myself living in Byron Bay and diving with a local amazing leopard shark aggregation with @sundivebyronbay and I couldn't be happier to still have these amazing sharks in my life!


Before the rain. A tranquil scene for these troubling times. Thanks @ropephotography


EPIC diving today at Julian Rocks with @sundivebyronbay There must have been 40+ leopard sharks swimming around us. Absolutely amazing and so much fun!


Leopard sharks are still hanging out at Julian Rocks!


Walks and swims be like ??


Have I got something up my nose?


Had a incredible experience Snorkeling out at Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve. Spotted a few Leopard Sharks a Manta Ray! Wobbygong Sharks, Angel fish and so many colourful Fish and Corals. The water was so clear and the weather was perfect. Loved it, so good to be out in the Ocean today.


Flying Humpback! Stoked to see the ever increasing population of Humpback whales make their migratory journey from Antartica to Hervey Bay QLD Never a dull moment out at sea around Byron Bay this time of year. Thanks @wildbyronseasafaris Check those giant Pectoral fins! They???re definitely the key in getting 20-40 tonnes of blubber completely out of the water like this! Scientist have been busy modelling off these fins, and have since improved turbine agility and provide means for a greater ability to harness more energy from wind and water. Amazing hey? You only need to look at nature and millions of years of evolution to find ways to improve things. But sadly they too fall prey to our plastic problems in the ocean.. sad I know :( But being Plastic free July, we can all make a effort, so please give @plasticfreejuly a visit to see what you can do to help reduce single use plastic.


The Northern Rivers was one of the first places that felt just like home. I remember the feeling of dipping my head underwater and gliding through the warm ocean waters. Beautifully eerie songs of humpback whales could be heard underneath the waves as they migrated up North to breed. The Nguthungulli Nature Reserve located just off the coast of Byron Bay in the Northern Rivers is a stunning ocean playground - a place where the warm and cool currents meet, creating an incredibly vibrant ecosystem. A place where humans can immerse themselves into a whole other world and yet feel like they too truly belong. Visit www.bit.ly/3aDuVQW ( link in bio) to learn more about many more awe inspiring locations across NSW. The link features an interactive map through which you can explore the regions of NSW and much more. @we_are_explorers????@visitnsw


Epic diving conditions today 15 - 20m vis and all the usual critters around. The turtles are particularly happy!! The weekend ahead looks like more of the same so join us for a dive if you can! Photo by @davidp.robinson


Nguthungulli , julien rocks , the best times , blowing bubbles #nguthungulli_nature_reserve


Chilling with these beautiful leopard sharks today out at #nguthungulli_nature_reserve aka #julianrocks with @wildbyronseasafaris


Summer has arrived!


Gentle dive through the nursery with my wifey. Loads of Spotted Wobbegong???s (many pregnant), a few male Eastern Blue Gropers, a couple of friendly Black-Spotted Porcupines & a duo of sneaky Morays. So lucky to have this close to home.


Stingray Julian Rocks, Byron Bay.


| National Geographic World Oceans Day By Michaela Skovranova | ? ? "Green turtle at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay Australia. The Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve in New South Wales, Australia. It???s a place where the warm and cold currents meet, creating an incredibly vibrant ecosystem, forming a unique habitat which provides shelter and food for rays, corals, over 500 different species of fish and many other creatures such as this beautiful green turtle." - Photograph and words by Michaela Skovranova @Mishkusk (read more via the link in bio).? Location: Julian Rocks Nguthungulli Nature Reserve? ?


Wobbegong


Grey Carpet Shark


Yesterdays dive was a great reminder as to why we have marine sanctuaries. The leopard shark is an endangered species. Julian Rocks is part of a marine reserve established here in Byron bay in back in 1982 , yep 20 years ago! These magnificent animals visit every summer safely and it???s was clear yesterday that the population here was healthy. I counted over 30 in this single spot from the surface, yep Imagine swimming with 30 sharks!! Our marine reserves are essential, they provide sanctuary and breeding grounds for all kinds of marine animals. We need more not less of these. Enjoy the pics and if your in the neighbourhood or are planning to be in the next couple months this may well be you out there!!!


Is it just me or does this look like a Pokemon? 3mm long!


On the surface


Great diving at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay with extremely friendly loggerheads!!


"I'll hit the brakes and he'll fly right by"


. One of my favourite sharky sharks, the leopard (or zebra) shark Aren???t they just beautiful! Print store is coming along guys, won???t be long until you can get my work on your walls


How cool is it when a big ray takes off and all the sand flows off it?


Warm water 20-24Degs! Big schools of fish and look at the vis!


Throwback to my dive instructor days. Three Sand Tiger Sharks (Carcharias taurus / Grey Nurse Shark) in the amazing Julian Rocks Marine Park. They are placid and gentle animals and mainly use their dangerous looking teeth to hold prey like fish and squid. There are no known human fatalities. Sharks are the most incredible animal to be in the water with and literally make every dive a great one so please do your part and stay away from shark fin dishes. If you wonder why, just google shark finning or watch Sharkwater. Little Known fact: The sand tiger is the only shark that can gulp air from the surface, which allows it to be suspended in the water column with minimal effort.


Did you know that female leopard sharks don???t need a male to reproduce? Want to know more, check out @sundivebyronbay???s very own @davidp.robinson???s article in @oceanographic_mag ... the link is in our bio...


Loving the diving in Byron Bay! I was enjoying my time with a lovely green turtle (bottom) when this huge, attention seeking loggerhead appeared out of nowhere and muscled my green out of there! #turtlethug Many thanks to the great team at @sundivebyronbay for looking after us!


time I go to Byron Bay am constantly drawn to these ???Julian Rocks??????out the back there. They dominate most of my photos! Love them! ???SWIPE to see more. Just can???t get enough of them!


Safety Stop Shenanigans


Morning dive and all the parking spots were taken.


Father, Son Selfie.


Gliding with Bull Rays. Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, Australia.


Julian Rocks lookin good


Leopard sharks cruise past with such effortless, smooth, almost hypnotic motion. I love seeing these sharks??


Mantas mean it's Summer time in the bay.


Stacks of Leopard Sharks at Julian Rocks this time of year. Not as many manta rays this year but great to see up to a dozen leopards cruising around.


It???s a great weekend for a dive! The sea turtles are loving the blue water at the moment! Can you name the two turtle species in this image? Photo by @davidp.robinson


Wobbegong sharks are the most commonly seen species of shark at Julian Rocks. Sometimes youve got to be careful not to kneel on one. They are superb at camouflaging themselves with their carpet like skin, as such they are often called Carpet Sharks.


One of the many beautiful Leopard sharks (Stegostoma fasciatum) at Julian Rocks marine park. Recent genetics research carried out by Christine Dudgeon found that leopard sharks can reproduce asexually via parthenogenesis, after three pups hatched from eggs laid by a female shark who had been separated from a male for three years.


Nothing like a cheap and nasty home made base plate for your Intova or GoPro. $10 piping and a roll of electrical tape... brilliant!


Leopard shark and Remora at Julian Rocks this morning. Water clarity was down to about 5 metres but the fish life was as good as ever and I saw 4 leopards.


GN cruisin through the Coddie.


A favourite all time image of a turtle in the shallows at #JulianRocks. I shot this with my trusty 5mp


Trying to beat me to the Cod Hole.....


"I came in like a wrecking ball"


A Lionfish at Julian Rocks. Gotta keep an eye out for these, they are deadly and very well camouflaged. Beautiful creature to photograph though!


Wobbegong shark and schooling fish at Julian Rocks this morning.


Dive gear, meet campsite, campsite, meet dive gear


It was bruching my hair!


A lovely dive today in The Nursery with my good friend Bill Silvester. Visibility a good 20 metres but with an overcast sky I chose to take lots of macro images with my old favourite #olympus5050 F1.8. This anemone fish guarded it's anemone and the camera captured the 'movement ' beautifully.


Grumpy old men


Been snorkeling with wobbelgong sharks, two species of turtles, sting rays, baby bottlenose dolphins and loads of fish! That calles for an ale!


Wise old men at the rock!


Always a good day when you get photo bombed by an eagle ray fly by??#sundive,??#julian_rocks,??#sharks,??#grey??nurse??#cod_hole,??#eagle_ray Repost @sundivebyronbay _______________________________________________ Check out their PADI IDC / dive instructor course offer on Dive o'clock PRO. Link in bio.


he #eye of a... #giantguitarfish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis). Same dive, different one. Sooo lucky. For a full body shot check out the last pic


Splendid Spring Diving - Time to breathe


A #greynurseshark in the amazing


Jewies in the coddie??#sundive,??#julian_rocks, Repost @sundivebyronbay _______________________________________________ Check out their PADI IDC / dive instructor course offer on Dive o'clock PRO. Link in bio.


"I'm not pregnant I just like cake" :-) #sundive, #julian_rocks, #sharks, #grey nurse #cod_hole,


If you want to get deep and float with the coolest cats on the reef hit up the amazing crew at #sundive for an experience you won???t forget! Shout out to @tommyblackdog for the capturing this awesome


Hanging in the nice warm water! Alien.....


Little morays everywhere!


GN cruisin through the Coddie.....


Julian Rocks Marine Park at Byron Bay... A short video of a longer 90 second edit you can view on YouTube - just type in seapicsdavebryant ... Enjoy!


Nothing more magic than diving alongside a beautiful Green Turtle. Nguthungulli, Julian Rocks Marine Park, Byron Bay Photography: Lyn Pool


Always a good day when you get photo bombed by an eagle ray fly by


Best places to swim with turtles in Australia 1. Heron Island, Queensland 2. Cook Island, New South Wales 3. Julian Rocks, New South Wales Number one has to be the beautiful coral cay of the Southern Great Barrier Reef for its stunning blue water and great visibility all year round Cook Island snatches number two for the sheer amount of sea turtles you can find cramped together into one single spot Finally, third place goes to my personal favorite, Nguthungulli, as you can swim with them in the surge and watch them twist and turn for a bite of algae Sony 7s III | 35mm | f7.1 | 1/320s | ISO 400 Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, Australia


Sleepy Wobbegong Such an amazing dive even in low vis. Will definitely be back in winter to see the grey nurse sharks!


Absolute highlight of this years #winterhiatus2018 was swimming with these incredible beauties! Massive shout to @tommyblackdog for sharing his epic photography capturing exactly what a dive with @sundivebyronbay is like. Yes we were that close!


Wanna dive with these gorgeous sea turtles?


Scuba divers at Julian Rocks, off Byron Bay, enjoying one of many grey nurse sharks in the area. Fantastic diving with @bluebaydivers over the weekend.


Walking trail all the way to Ballina, if you want to. Need coffee but.


Sun, waves, camping, leopard sharks and good good times a few snaps from the Sunny Coast to Byron


Beautiful loggerhead turtle just catching some rays of sunshine complete relaxed as we approached slowly and just chilled next to her. Loved the dive yesterday at Julian Rocks; thanks @scottwilsonimagery for taking us! @goproanz


Little fella at Julian Rocks captured by one of our snorkelers @billykinnear_ thank you for coming out with us and sharing this beautiful picture


The strange feeling of calm and peace when you are under the sea, it's hard to explain. Sea turtle and Wobbegong at #julianrocks in Byron Bay at 12 mtr deep.


Julian Rocks Byron Bay ~ GoPro Hero 5 Black


Freediving at the amazing Julian Rocks - Byron Bay With @sundivebyronbay


Some footage shot by Jessica @jla088_mermaid on our most recent dive trip to the beautiful Julian Rocks Marine Reserve . Julian Rocks is one of Australia???s most popular dive sites and this video shows you why . Anyone that hasn???t experienced the diverse marine ecosystem of Julian rocks needs to add it to their bucket lists.


Crowded in the Cod Hole massive Jewfish and Sweet lips making it difficult to swim through


A couple of students gettin' some hang time with ol' man turtle.


What a beautiful creature! The zebra shark


Re living swimming with this beautiful creature


So my stupid camera decided to jam. Could only take videos, and not terribly good ones. I???m pretty out of practice but a good little dive was had


Playing around and quite liked it  Very little touching up goes into my photo???s. I???m just a rookie who enjoys all she sees ??


It???s been a loooong time between dives and oh how I so enjoyed it!!  Thanks Perry and Robbie @byronbaydivecentre for letting me play again


Yesterday we went snorkeling at Julian Rocks Marine Reserve, an ancient sedimentary rock from a volcanic eruption over 20 million years ago. The reserve boasts a plethora of sea creatures and on this trip we were lucky enough to see sea turtles, a stingray, a golden ray (5th slide), leopard sharks, and tons of fish. The East Australian Current would carry us around the rock, from the nursery where many of these animals raise their babies, to an eddy where the waters calm and get much deeper. It was magical being immersed in that familiar yet forever awe-inducing environment where we get a glimpse at what exactly covers majority of our planet. I am so grateful that not only did we get to snorkel with SHARKS today, but that we did so in a country that places such a sacred respect and protection for such areas. Byron Bay, you really are amazing.


Love all the views I???ve taken of Julian Rocks and this one I managed a dolphin too


My view today


So beautiful looking up while just free diving Feeling like a mermaid x


Join the Pelagic Party in Byron Bay, Australia ? ? On Australia???s most easterly point, Nguthungulli Julian Rocks is a lesser-known spot with some of the best diving in Australia.? ? Click the link in bio to read more about this incredible diving spot just off the coast of Byron Bay.?


Turtle Tuesday! This little guy at Julian Rocks didn't seem to care about us and just continued to munch away!


Nguthungulli and it???s beauty???


Meet Ted. Ted???s a very old and very large loggerhead turtle that lives at Julian Rocks With a demeanour much like a grumpy old man, you never really know what you???re going to get??? Some days he???s sleeping peacefully tucked into the rocks, other days he???s up terrorising divers (in the best way possible) trying to snack on cameras With a head the size of a watermelon, he is a very impressive sight to behold! Have you met Ted before?


Tail of today... beautiful Julian Rocks as the backdrop


Did you know that clownfish don't only live on the Great Barrier Reef? Today I found this beautiful pair of akindynos at


Finally back in the water, diving with Leopard Sharks at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay. Went on double dive with Blue Bay Divers today and had an amazing time! (minus the seasickness in AND out of the water) Saw heaps of Leopard/Zebra sharks, Wobbegong sharks, turtles, lots of fish and also managed to bump into a Grey Nurse shark as well!


Doing what I love.


Fun day diving with friendly Turtles and Leopard Sharks at Nguthungulli Julian Rocks with @bluebaydivers


This baby crab was swimming frantically upstream. When I put my paddle down it climbed aboard for a small rest before it went on its merry way. Other paddlers on the creek told me they???d also seen baby crabs swimming on the water surface. There must have been a baby crab movement happening You can see it???s a swimmer crab because it has paddles not feet like shore crabs do!


Buzzed by an Oceanic Black Tip Shark, Nguthungulli, Julian Rocks. Sleek, bold & swift this beauty came in for a quick look & then disappeared back into the blue. Photograph Brian Pool


Close encounter @goproanz @sharkoftheweek


Getting under the surface. What better way to explore all the riches of our NSW marine parks than by diving. This picture of budding underwater photographer Oscar was taken at Julian Rocks at Cape Byron Marine Park while completing his Open Water Diver Certificate. Thanks for the inspiration @oscarunderwater to take diving off our ???bucket list??Â and add it to our ???to-do list??Â. Scroll right to see an amazing Leopard Shark (one of 20, apparently!) Oscar encountered whilst diving.


Slight drop in vis today to about 8-10m, but soooooo many Leopard Sharks! Thanks for the great footage @finsandphotography


Summer season is here Leopards, mantas and so much more! The rocks have been exploding with marine life these past few weeks with our divers having some incredible encounters. Have you been out yet? If not it???s time ? to book on! Send us a DM to secure your spot


Today we got to freedive with Leopard sharks. Even though weather conditions weren???t the best we sure enjoyed the crazy boat ride to the Julian Rocks/ Nguthungulli and the mesmerizing underwater encounters. A day I will definitely remember forever. Thanks @blueseafaris for making dreams come true!


M A N T A M A D N E S S, N S W The mantas have officially arrived along the South East Coast. Usually these mantas can be found visiting the local cleaning stations located around the reef, but this time we were fortunate to encounter them feeding on plankton which had drifted in and forced to the surface by the warmer currents. I was able to grab a few ID shots of these mantas which I later submit to @projectmanta as part of their citizen science program. Manta 1 - #25 ???Brigid??Â An early entry in the project manta database from 2007 off Lady Elliot and seen 20 times between there and North Stradbroke. This was her first sighting at Julian Rocks. Manta 2 - #1120 ???Aquaduct??Â First photographed in 2017 off Stradbroke then again in 2019, and this was her first sighting off Byron. Thank you Project Manta for your feedback and valuable ongoing research in helping protect, track and understand these majestic ocean travellers.


Julian Rocks snorkling adventure 4th February 2024


Lauren Morgan (@morgy_ocean_junkie) is an avid ocean enthusiast and lover of the natural environment. She has dedicated her life to environmental conservation with a focus on wetlands and coastal environments. So it???s no surprise that she???s ended up as the Wetlands and Coastal Programs Coordinator for @positivechangeformarinelife. When Lauren???s not working she likes to hike, explore national parks, snorkel, SCUBA dive, kayak, and scramble around on mountains. Sounds like a good combination of hobbies to us! We spoke to Lauren early in 2023 about the Brunswick River, PCFML???s River Warriors program (to which RTNR donated $500 late in 2022) and ask her our favourite question: ???What???s your favourite Northern Rivers species???Â To find out more head to the RTNR stories tab in our LinkTree for the interview in full.


February bullet journal spread! Inspired by all the beautiful creatures I saw on a dive


A big milestone today, we have reached 1000 followers. Thank you for all your support! Help us celebrate by tagging friends who would love to learn more about our six NSW marine parks and twelve NSW aquatic reserves, their features, the activities you can undertake within them and the amazing marine wildlife and habitats that occur within them.


The amazing leopard shark Julian rocks nguthungulli nature reserve


Dreaming place #nguthungulli    @ndoud I absolutely adore the rarity of your ability to stimulate my mind intellectually and yet have equal parts fun and to delve into so many worlds all in one day. Thank you We also shortly before this photo saw a dolphin do something I have never ever ever seen before and it was pure magic. Ugh Happy Blue moon everyone blue


It???s Leopard Shark season! How lucky are we to have these majestic creatures right here in our backyards! In the summer months Leopard Sharks aggregate around southern Queensland and northern NSW to mate. They are typically solitary animals, but we saw over a dozen on this dive at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay! These images are now available as limited edition prints, DM me if you???d like to order one of your own


I???ll forever be humbled by this moment in time. An image that will forever have my heart


One of the coolest looking Sharks around, the Leopard Shark! We got to experience some good wildlife at Julian Rocks with a tour from the team @bluebaydivers We go to Lady Elliot Island this weekend for 3 nights, fingers crossed for some good weather and hopefully get to experience the turtle hatchings!


A Shark, a Manta Ray and a Turtle walk into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, "Sorry, we don't serve marine life here." The shark, ray and turtle turn to each other and say, "Looks like we're out of our element!" What's your favourite of this trio? Photographed by @danthediver with @goproanz and edited with @lightroom while onboard @blueseafaris with @deepsensationsfreediving


Who is checking out who?


@mermaid.malu bringing a little colour to the dark depths of Nguthungulli Wearing the pink mermaid scales SeaBandz ???


Jellyfish for mains


From the shoreline at Clarkes to the ridge over Wategos the water is super sparkly today


Julian Rocks Nguthungulli


THE NURSERY- JULIAN ROCKS @sundivebyronbay


LION FISH ??? FISHEYE ??? JULIAN ROCKS @sundivebyronbay


The Cape Byron Headland and Julian Rocks may officially adopt their First Nations names, Walgun and Nguthungulli respectively. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has submitted dual-name applications as they continue their mission to restore Indigenous placenames. Walgun and Nguthungulli are important spiritual and cultural sites of the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people. In 2011, Queensland's Fraser Island similarly accepted K'gari as an alternative, however the First Nations name has officially replaced the European name entirely this year.


Jumping for Joy


SMILE FOR THE CAMERA! - I had been wanting a 'front on' Leopard Shark photo for a little while now, the dopey look on their face is too good not to want in the collection. After observing their behaviour during Sunday's dive, I realised that after they swam past me, they would U-turn and come back for another look. That's when I took the opportunity. Once again, a big shout out to @bluebaydivers


Do you like taking photos and videos underwater ?? Here is just a few reasons why our underwater photographers LOVE diving with us We stay at the rock for up to 3 and a half hours. Snorkelers and freedivers can spend as much time as they like in the water while scuba divers can enjoy 2 x 60 minute dives. That???s a whole lot of shooting and endless opportunities! ? Our sturdy vessel, the Bay Warrior, is not only comfortable but extremely spacious with plenty of room to store cameras, lenses or any other equipment you can think of ? If scuba diving, we keep groups small and move slowly around the rock. We understand the best encounters require that little bit of patience Want some guidance for where you might find certain animals? Some of our team have been diving Julian Rocks since the 70???s! Just ask and we will be more than happy to point you in the right direction Whether you shoot with a GoPro or a professional camera, join us for a snorkel, freedive or scuba and don???t forget to tag us in your best shots! To book on for this week, send us a DM now!


Cape Byron moods


Up from the deep . ???@victoria_mermaid_ Onboard @wildbyronseasafaris


Thank the ocean for all of the beauty and joy it provides us and help keep it clean by Taking 3 for Byron Better yet, spare a few minutes and enjoy learning more about the impacts of litter on our marine environment and what you can do to be a part of the solution and help us spread this message far and wide!


Which do you prefer? Spotted eagle ray / Aetobatus narinari It's been my dream for a little bit now to get exactly this shot of one of these beauties, but I can't decide which I edit I like better. It's watching majestic sea life like these that reminds you how unique our oceans our. They're way bigger than I thought they would be and it gives them a sort of majesty as they float across the currents. Just one of thousands of reasons to protect our oceans. Shot on a rough day at Julian Rocks with @wildbyronseasafaris + @breeesea #allankaydownunder #uwphotography #byronbay #julianrocks #freedive #singlebreath #sealife #oceanlife B/W or Colour?


X LEOPARD SHARK X After so many years, I finally had the chance to meet Leopard Sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum) !!! These sharks are without a single doubt one of the most beautiful and graceful species I ever had the chance to observe ! The way they slowly glide along the bottom with their extremely long tail is just mesmerizing. We captured these images a few days back in Byron Bay as we are currently on a road trip along the East Coast of Australia with @deepseaguardians and our friends from @envoyfilm. This location is without a doubt one of the best place in the world to see Leopard sharks??? But Leopard sharks weren???t the only ones around, we also had the chance to film a Grey Nurse Shark (Sandtiger Shark), a massive Eagle Ray, a Green Turtle feeding on a jellyfish and another shark species, the one on the 8th slide, can you see it ?! It???s a Spotted Wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) ! Probably the best camouflage you???ll ever see on a shark ! Thanks again to @scottwilsonimagery and @blueseafaris for making these moments possible and to @andreborell for organizing everything ! Stay tuned to see what we???ll get up to as we???ll spend our entire month of February here in Australia !


The amazing Julian Rocks last week


Saying hey to some of the locals with @wildbyronseasafaris


Can we guess what a creative soul named these fish? ???Stripeys??Â


DID YOU KNOW?? Leopard Sharks can be easily "spotted" from DEC to APR at Julian Rocks, NSW. These charismatic sharks gather here in large numbers every summer. In fact this is the world's only known recorded aggregation of leopard sharks!? ? @brodiewmedia? ? ?Tag or mention @diveadventures.au for a chance to be featured on our feed?


So thrilled to have my photo of Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks) lined up with Wollumbin purchased by @assouline publishing New York for their travel guide of Byron Bay to be released in July 2023. Photo taken onboard @wildbyronseasafaris whale watching tour.


T H E L E O P A R D E F F E C T Yesterday was one of those days where the ocean was bursting with life. We not quite sure why these leopards choose a certain location to aggregate, but I sure feel extremely lucky getting to share the ocean with these magnificently graceful animals. .


Hermoso Tibur??n Leopardo disfrutando las aguas azules de la reserva natural Nguthungulli


Byron Bay....you never fail to disappoint. Always in ??


First snorkeling on the east cost!!!


Although the weather topside was poor, underneath it was another world. At Nguthungulli (Julian Rocks) onboard @wildbyronseasafaris. . @sonyalpha 7iv inside @seafrogs.com.hk Edit on @lightroom


A different side of the Byron Bay Lighthouse. This is Little Wategos Beach. A place we use to go as kids. Slide down the grass hills and explore the rock pools. Now tho it is an amazing place to watch the sunrise.


An absolutely gorgeous day out at the rock! The water was warm, calm and blue and, everyone came out to play; especially our beloved leopard sharks! Check out the beautiful pattern on this shark! Remember to please send in your left-side leopard shark ID shots so we can add them to the database! The weather is looking great all weekend so come and join us for a dive or snorkel!


WELCOME TO JULIAN ROCKS Julian Rocks is renowned for its incredible biodiversity with over 1000 marine species recorded. Expect to find yourself face to face with a variety of different sharks , rays and sea turtles , as well as plenty of tiny critters living amongst the many nooks and crannies. The rocks are highly seasonal with the summer months seeing leopard sharks cruising around the shallows, manta rays visiting the local cleaning stations and sea turtles going about their daily routines. Visit during winter and expect to meet one of the most impressive smiles in the ocean; the grey nurse shark, or join us for a day of whale watching as humpback whales make their way north on their annual migration. We offer snorkel, free diving and scuba diving trips throughout the week. Keen to explore #julianrocks ? Secure your spot via DM or call 1800 858 155 We can???t wait to see you!


Leopard Sharks at the rocks


I???ve been determined to swim with these beautiful sharks ever since I found out they existed, and it finally happened! And I???m obsessed, their hypnotic movement, calm nature and striking patterns are breathtaking You can expect Leopard Shark spam???. This dive was something out of a dream, as we stumbled upon Leopard Sharks around every corner, eagle rays floating past, Wobbegongs splattered the seafloor and Grey Nurse Sharks even making an appearance! Diving with @bluebaydivers at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay


Finally back out in the water! Lucky enough to dive in the most diverse marine life area in oz!


Few days in Byron Bay thank you @sundivebyronbay


Julian Rocks has my heart


First diving in Australia


Turtle teaser


Sunsets over Byron Bay


T H E L E O P A R D S Every summer like clockwork the leopard sharks arrive in their numbers at key aggregation sites along Australia???s East Coast. With sea temperatures reaching a staggering 27 degrees this past weekend we saw a number of juvenile leopard sharks hanging out in the deeper sections around the reef. A promising sign for this species, given that they???re under a tremendous amount of threat in other parts of the world and I can only hope their numbers continue to grow the way we???ve seen in recent years.


The spotted eagle ray??? Aren???t they just unique! Everyday the ocean amazes me with beautiful life just like this one in particular. The way the spotted eagle ray moves, the unique patterns on their backs and the energy they give is so pure.


Blaze working his magic @blaze_parsons Thank you @theunderwaterculture for making my year in 2023 can???t wait for this years diving to unfold


This print is divine with this decor. Very restrained but at the same time packs a punch. Byron Bay, one of the most popular destinations in Australia. Link in bio. More Byron images available.


First waves of the year n.1 @forkgen n.2 @william_davila_surf


The enormous turtles of Julian rocks have no care for divers. Too busy with breakfast . @sundivebyronbay


What did one tidepool say to the other tidepool? Show me your mussels! ??? @blaze_parsons


Definitely been a while since I???ve been in the ocean with the underwater gear! While I could write a list of excuses why all I???m not happy with pretty well all my shots, instead have a photo I don???t completely hate of a Spotted Wobbegong Shark (Orectolobus maculatus)


Finally ready to share with the world! Luxury homes you will never forget


Blue spotted and common stingray (I think ). You never do the same dive twice at Julian rocks with such an incredible biodiversity. There is always something to discover or observe. @sundivebyronbay


Manta rays ??


Byron Bay ??? Julian Rocks At this one dive site we saw countless wobbegong sharks, 4 green sea turtles & 1 loggerhead turtle in the span of 2 dives. I was hesitant at first going to the same dive site twice in a row but wow I was mistaken. Julian Rocks was such a biodiverse site, teeming with sea life. .????????? This particular green sea turtle was so friendly with me. He let me approach him with my assumably annoying video light and I was able to hangout with him for a while before moving on with the group. .?????????


Just when we thought the dive had ended this Leopard Shark would not leave us alone as we done our safety stop, another amazing dive at the rock


Leopard Shark ??


MANTA MAGIC at the Rock today! And 20-25m vis, 26 degrees, lots of Leopard Sharks and Eagle Rays!!!


Loggerhead Turtle


Snorkel trip to Julian Rocks. Best weekend ever


Pufferfish at Julian Rocks.


Leopard Shark patrolling the reef around Julian Rocks. Underneath a Cleaner Fish catches a free ride showing the symbiotic relationships so clear to see in nature.


If you???re still looking for that perfect present, how about a diving, freediving, snorkelling or whale watching gift voucher? Available via email right up until Christmas Eve (just in case you???re running a bit late this year???). Give us a call on 1800858155 or send us an email to info@bluebaydivers.com.au


Snorkel Julian Rocks Nature Reserve for an underwater wonderland! Summer is the season for Dolphins, Manta Ray's & Leopard Sharks! @outoftheblueadventures search 'Julian rocks' on our website to book!


Life???s tough as a turtle


Family snorkelling day at


L I O N S M A N E J E L L Y F I S H A new species for me. We came across this lions mane jellyfish providing refuge for a colony of juvenile whiting. Studies have shown that these fish are one of the few species where the venom from the lions mane tentacles have little to no effect, and they will often seek further protection in amongst the mane of the jellyfish when threatened. .


Magic at the Rock There are many ways to immerse yourself at sea and enjoy what our amazing ocean has to offer. In the first picture, a group of SCUBA divers hang close to the bottom while this beautiful sea turtle comes to the surface to say hi to snorklers. A leopard shark cruises around at about 11 meters deep, showcasing it???s stunning patterns. It doesn???t matter which methods you choose to engage with the ocean environment, one thing for sure is that you can never guarantee what adventure the ocean will provide! Have you dove this beautiful spot yet?!


There are lunch breaks.. And there are lunch breaks


Always a favourite  @wildbyronseasafaris


"You taught me how to breathe again" Feedback from a student today Same time and place again tomorrow: Suffolk Park Hall 6:30am-7:30am Class by donation All welcome Namaste


Hello beautiful world.. Did you know The ocean is not really blue Sadness is not something to hide Aquarius is not an air sign She is keeper of the sea


What a day at the office @byronbaydivecentre


We have 2 spaces left for our Christmas freediving course on the 19th and 20th of December! Head to the link in our website for more information. Learning to freedive is the gift that keeps on giving! don???t miss our last course of 2024! All students that attend a Diving in Paradise course score a discount on all Adreno purchases at


Beautiful conditions today!!!


Our guides give you all the information you will need before you head out onto the water here???s Doug delivering a Safety briefing to this morning???s crew. Great conditions today...come and join us!!!


More beautiful paddling conditions forecast tomorrow! Come and join us .


It's not every day you get to name a manta ray this young female that we saw at Julian Rocks the other week was not yet in @projectmanta database which meant that I got to name her. I decided to name her after my niece Idun and she was very excited about it! She even made me a drawing of it, swipe to see her interpretation of her manta namesake ?? Onboard @bluebaydivers


Diving Day 2: Picture 3 is Spotted wobbegong in German is called a "Mean carpet shark" (Gemeiner Teppichhai)