Portsea Pier is one of only two dive sites in Port Phillip Bay where you're almost guaranteed to encounter one of Australia's most iconic endemic marine species—the weedy seadragon. During the breeding season, from around November through summer, male seadragons can often be spotted carrying hundreds of bright pink eggs beneath their tails as they drift gracefully under the pier. I was fortunate to find this large male perfectly aligned with a patch of golden sargassum, while my dive buddy photographed him from a distance. The scene came together exactly as I had hoped. Beyond its beauty, a clear portrait like this also has scientific value. Much like fingerprints, every weedy seadragon has a unique pattern of spots and markings on its face and body, allowing researchers and citizen scientists to identify individuals and monitor them over time.
