RAPID BAY JETTY
|
| Type of dive: |
|
Jetty |
| Snorkelling: |
|
Yes, teems of fish! |
| Scuba: |
|
Open Water |
| Access: |
|
Shore |
| Depth: |
|
3 – 11 metres (10-36’) |
| Visibility: |
|
5 – 15 metres (15-50’) |
| Water temperature: |
|
13 – 22°C (55-72°F) |
| Seasonal: |
|
No, can visit anytime |
Rapid Bay Jetty is surely, the seadragon capital of the world!
Due to its resident population of exquisite ornately camouflaged leafy or Glauert’s Seadragons (Phycodurus eques), Rapid Bay Jetty is one of Adelaide’s most popular dive sites.
Rapid Bay is named after HMS Rapid, the brig carrying Colonel Light to Glenelg in 1830. It is on Adelaide’s Fleurieu Peninsula about 1.5 hours (100 km/60 mi) south of the city by road.
The dive site actually consists of two jetties; the old one built in 1940 for the nearby limestone and dolomite mine, and the more recent addition which opened in 2009 at a cost of $3.9 million.
There is a conveniently located car park nearby, making access to the water easy via the diving platform at the end of the new jetty which is approximately 250 metres (275 yd) long.
The best diving is under the old jetty which runs parallel to the new jetty, only 50 metres (55 yd) to the west.
Leafy seadragons reside under and near the old jetty but are not easily found without a local guide.
There are also weedy or common seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) to be found but they are harder to find as they are not as common as their leafy cousins.
Seadragons, along with seahorses, are members of the pipefish family and are only found in southern Australian waters.
Like seahorses, the males of the species are assigned to carrying fertilised eggs until tiny sea dragons hatch after a four-to-six-week incubation. ‘Leafies’ can reach 35 centimetres (14”) in length while the slightly larger ‘Weedies’ can reach 46 centimetres (18”).
Both species are protected.
The jetty pylons are adorned with colourful invertebrates such as sponges, ascidians, soft corals, sea stars and colourful nudibranchs which all thrive in the jetty environment.
Fish life is also plentiful, particularly at the ‘T’, there are large schools of old wife, schools of yellowtail scad, numerous pygmy leather jackets, and resident black rays that are over one metre (4’) across.
Rapid Bay Jetty is an ideal all-year-round dive site because of its north facing proximity protecting it from the prevailing southerly winds.
Rapid Bay also has a resident dolphin population which occasionally interact with divers under the jetty adding further wonderment to an incredible dive site.
Whether wide angle or close up, Rapid Bay Jetty is an underwater photographers’ dream – it is absolutely teaming with life!
Special thanks to Ron van der Marel of Diving Adelaide and Peter Corrigan of Sea Dragon Dive Lodge.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair
Other great Australian jetty dives:
WA: Busselton Jetty, Esperance Jetty, Exmouth Navy Pier. SA: Edithburgh, Noarlunga.
Victoria: Blairgowrie, Rye, Portsea, Flinders, Portarlington. NSW: Merimbula Wharf, Tathra Wharf.
Local dive services:
|
|
SEA DRAGON DIVE LODGE
|
|
|
DIVING ADELAIDE |
Other services:
|
|
Need somewhere to stay? |
 |
BLAST EXPERIENCES |
OTHER INFORMATION
LOCATION
State or Territory:
South Australia
Nearest City:
Adelaide
Nearest Regional City:
Not applicable
Nearest Town:
Yankalilla
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
Nearest International Airport:
Adelaide
Nearest Domestic/Regional Airport:
Adelaide
Road:
Adelaide to Rapid Bay:
Around 1.5 hours (100 km/60 mi) via Main S Rd
Bus:
Not available
Train:
Not available
Ferry:
Not available
THINGS TO DO
Sea Kayaking
Kangaroo Island
Adelaide Zoo
South Australian Museum
Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Centre
National Railway Museum
Adelaide Jail
South Australian Aviation Museum
Australian Rules Football
McLaren Vale & Barossa Valley Wineries
Flinders Ranges
Granite Island Penguin Colony