Discover Grange Jetty

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An Underwater Perspective

I slip into the shallow water where the jetty meets the shoreline, and I am surprised to see the pale outlines of Bream in and around the jetty poles.



The jetty was opened in 1878 to enhance Grange as a holiday destination for the newly proclaimed (1836) colony of South Australia. Since that time, it has been damaged by storms and repaired on numerous occasions. However, few realise the wonders that lie beneath it.



Because the tide is low, large colonies of calcareous worm tubes are obvious just above the water line and schools of small baitfish cluster near the surface.



Alongside one of the jetty poles, I can see a crab net resting on the seafloor. Blue-swimmer Crabs are commonly caught off the jetty from September to March.



Crabbers use fish heads for bait and often discard them afterwards. Three meters below me, I can just make out a group Ornate Cowfish gathered around an old carp head. I dive to capture a better image and take several shots.



Halfway to the end of the jetty, the water is a little clearer, and I can easily photograph the mosaic of marine creatures that make the jetty piles home. I focus on a solitary Sea squirt surrounded by green algae. Later examination of the image reveals two tiny Gobies amongst the algae.



I have reached the end of the jetty where I notice a fisherman trying to retrieve a lure snagged on a jetty pole. I wave and dive close to the pole and unhook his lure, then turn to swim back on the other side of the jetty………to be continued in my next article.

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