Wobbegongs

Here is a collection of Wobbegong images taken recently at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, Australia. The site in famous for Wobbegongs and the locals dont bother to point them out to people as they are huge numbers of them everywhere all year round.

Here are some unedited shots taken with a Nikon D7000 and either the Tokina 10-17mm or the Samyang 8mm:

Cheers Mark

love the wobbies. all over the shop ...so i found out, I was really excited with my first "find".... looking forward to my next Friday dive..

Not jealous at all that you have easy access to these! Love the second, it just works right with the background (or lack of!)

Nice pictures ! How is it to work with the samyang 8mm underwater ?

I own this lens and I have wondered if it is worth buying a port to take it there.

My Wobbegongs collection from raja ampat :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21146950@N00/sets/72157627746274749/

perry kuo

Im sorry but I am going to say it, there is such a level of stupidity in some of the shots with the diver head on to the wobby, I have been at the receiving end of one of these and they move so fast and bite that the diver wouldnt even know it until it is too late. I know your going to say it was perfectly safe but I would hate to think that someone else trys this and ends up at the wrong end of a "Having a bad day" wobbygong.

I agree and think you bring up a very valid point Petern. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe in Australia that Wobbegongs are

responsible for more shark attacks/bites than any other species. Possibly a squewed statistic due to them being a 'lay in wait' ambush

predator. I believe the species Mark shots in Byron Bay are notoriously cranky and not to be trifled with. Having seen a 3m Wobby

snatch a Mullet that had been swimming a metre above it from just in front of me I can appreciate the speed and power of these

sharks. They are also able to bite the foolish hand that thinks a tail tug might be a good joke.

Must admit I have taken head on shots of Wobbys myself but I only put myself at risk and took plenty of time with a low and slow

approach. With a number of people around it a shark would have less options to freely move away and be more preassured.

Only Perry would know, but the sequence of images suggest the subject was photographed to the point of wanting to shift location

a few times. Easily enough stress/provacation that could end in a warning bite to a (once)pretty face.

Cheers,

Jim.

We get 3 species of Wobbegongs here at Byron (Ornate, spotted and Hale's Wobbegongs) and respect must be given to them. I think Jim is correct regarding the comment that Wobbegongs bite more people than any other Shark species in Australia. Several of my friends and myself included have been bitten over the years and my case was with a 3m Hale's Wobby. The Wobbegong are famous for biting and locking their Jaws onto their victim, even to the point where I have seen spearfishermen walk up the beach with a Wobbegong still attached to some part of their body. Its been suggested that fresh water flushed down a Wobby's throat soon gets the animal to release. I also beleive that most attacks are from people not seeing the Wobby and putting their hands/feet/bum on the animal with it biting as a defence. Yes you heard right, a couple fo my mates have been bitten on the bum. Also the size of a Wobby doesnt put them off as I have seen foot long Wobby's come up and bite full grown man.

Having said that I still dive with these sharks on a very regular basis and you soon get to know when a Wobby isnt in the mood for its photo to be taken. I take it for granted that Julian Rocks Byron Bay is cover with Wobbegongs and not as much attention is placed on this interesting and unique shark.

Here is a shot on the fly at small area which I counted 20 Wobbegongs of different Species. You can see the bigger Hale's Wobbegong in the middle top of the shot.

Regards Mark

awesome. they are gorgeous sharks id love to see one

Very nice pictures. The wobbegong is a bit like the crocodile fish: always lying down on the bottom and watching for its prey to pass by. Are there any shots of a moving wobbegong at all? Regards Al