The north wall of
the seaway is the southern end of South Stradbroke Island and is the
southern boundary of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. The visibility is usually
less on this side of the seaway and the depth is shallower except near the
eastern end.
The eastern end
which I call the North-East Wall is of the greatest interest to divers.
Only recommended
for boat diving by the most experienced divers as the depth can reach 20
metres and the current is only low for very short unpredictable periods.
When the
conditions are favourable for calm seas and good visibility this can be a
most exhilarating dive as the deep hole east-south-east of the entrance is a
congregation area for large pelagic fish and the only location in the area
of the seaway that I have regularly seen sharks of the Whaler family.
This area appears
to play a part in the migratory route and mating cycle of some fish species
as large numbers gather at certain times. Up to 20 large White-spotted
Guitarfish have been observed here and other members of the Ray family
gather here in large numbers especially the Australian Cownose Rays which
appear in the hundreds. Besides several varieties of rays the schools of
fish I have observed here have been Barracuda, Bigeye Trevally, Tarpon,
Mangrove Jack, Mulloway, Yellow-tail Kingfish, Giant Trevally and Golden
Trevally, the last 3 are normally in small numbers but I have seen schools
of Giant Trevally in excess of 500.
The Bull Sharks I
have observed here like the low visibility areas and generally will stay
right on the edge of vision once they are aware of your presence, so
normally your only chance of getting a close look is when you first arrive
or if you can anchor yourself near the entrance surge area where they will
come in and out of the low visibility surge searching for a feed.
Interestingly I am yet to see inside the seaway members of the Whaler Shark
family, there are plenty at the northern end of South Stradbroke Island but
for some reason the only sharks you are likely to encounter inside the
seaway entrance are Wobbegongs and Brown Banded Bamboo Sharks and even they
will only generally be found hiding among the rocks.
Elasmobranch City!! Reticulate Whiprays, Bull Sharks, Whitespotted Guitarfish and Australian Cownose Rays gathered in large numbers outside the Entrance to the Gold Coast Seaway QLD Australia
More than 100 Australian Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera neglecta) gathered at the Entrance to the Gold Coast Seaway, an annual phenomenon at the Gold Coast Seaway QLD Australia
Video - Pink Whipray (Himantura fai), Whitespotted Guitarfish (Rhynchobatus australiae) & Japanese Devilray (Mobula japonica) outside the Entrance to Gold Coast Seaway QLD Australia
Video Clip - Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and Whitespotted Guitarfish (Rhynchobatus australiae) outside the Entrance to the Gold Coast Seaway QLD Australia
