A Photographic Journey to The Home of the Leafy Seadragon

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Goreng people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Accessing the Dive Sites

Many of the dive sites in Bremer Bay can be accessed from the shore of popular beaches that can be driven to with a 2WD. Little Boat Harbour is one of the most accessible dive sites and can either be free dived on or scuba dived, depending on personal preference.

Scuba diving is always better for macro photography and for spotting small marine life. The maximum depth at this dive site is around 10m.

Read more: A Beginner’s Guide to Scuba Diving

The Leafy Seadragons

The Leafy seadragon is a fascinating little creature, endemic to the coastal waters of southern Australia. Bremer Bay is home to a residential population, making it one of the best places in the world to spot the dragons. These nifty little guys can be tricky to find, but once you know where to look, it’s like finding a little pot of gold.

For those who are willing to take the plunge and start exploring by themselves, the Leafy seadragons are waiting for you just a few metres offshore, hiding in the kelp close to the rocks or hovering over sand patches.

For those with less experience who are looking for a guided dive, Bremer Bay Dive has been running diving and snorkelling tours in the area since 1994 and are experts on finding Leafy seadragons.

The unique appearance and shape of the Leafy seadragon make it an incredibly captivating animal, and for photographers becomes the ultimate goal to capture. The anticipation of finding a dragon fuels the dive and is made worthwhile by the excitement when you finally spot one.

Other Interesting Creatures

While Leafys are certainly a highlight, Bremer Bay is also home to a host of other incredible and diverse marine species, including nudibranchs, cuttlefish, squid, and octopuses.

An inquisitive cuttlefish encountered during a night dive. Cuttlefish tend to be more active during the night and it’s fascinating to watch them change colours and shape as they move.

This particular nudibranch is called a Ceratosoma brevicaudatum. It takes a practised eye to spot nudibranchs during dives and an even steadier hand to capture a photo that does justice to their beauty.

Despite the picture-perfect conditions, the water temperature sits at around 20 degrees in summer, meaning a thick wetsuit and hood are absolutely necessary for a longer dive. Even with gloves, my hands were numb within 30 minutes.

Feature image settings: 1/640, f/7.1, ISO 125, @16mm

All photography by @cocomoreno_

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