06/03/2026
Unexpected Reward...
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that don't go according to plan.
While traveling along the Great Ocean Road on Australia's south coast, one of our goals was to dive at Rapid Bay Jetty in search of the elusive leafy sea dragon. The conditions, however, had other ideas. An extensive algae bloom affecting much of southern Australia had turned the water a murky green, reducing visibility and making these already well camouflaged creatures even harder to find.
As the dive progressed, it seemed our search might come up empty. Leafy dragons were nowhere to be seen. But just when we were nearing the end of the dive, Ann's sharp eyes spotted a beautiful weedy sea dragon emerging from the bottom sea grass. While it wasn't the leafy sea dragon we had hoped to find, encounters like this are a reminder why we love diving.
Nature doesn't always follow the script and sometimes the unexpected reward becomes the highlight of the journey.
Australia's south coast continues to amaze, both above and below the surface.
GabrieldeLeonPhotography.com
