Quokka (Setonix brachyurus), Rottnest Island, Australia, Pacific

Quokka (Setonix brachyurus), Rottnest Island, Australia, Pacific

Bathurst Lighthouse, The Basin, Rottnest Island, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Pacific

Rottnest Island, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, Pacific

Jourdan's turban (turbo jourdani) large gastropod shell, reddish-brown, Rottnest Island reef, wild, day, marine protected area, free-diving off, cool temperate waters of Western Australia. MORE INFO: Marine plant common kelp, a dominant feature of the underwater landscape. Protected areas are covered in lush growth of diverse algae, also red algea are here.

western king wrasse (coris auricularis), male, dark pink colour with reddish-brown band running around boby and blue-green colouration over the head, wild, day, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, reef edges, sand, seagrass, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: social structure where dominant male, usually the biggest in the area, will have a harem of females. When the male dies or is absent for any length of time the largest female will change sex and dominate the group.

Southern blue devil (paraplesiops meleagris), wild, day, solitary, bottom dwelling specie, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean.

Southern blue devil (paraplesiops meleagris), wild, day, solitary, bottom dwelling specie, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean.

footballer sweep (neatypus obliquus) diagonal yellow bands are edged in black and stand out against the silvery-blue body, wild, day, marine protected area, reef, in small schools diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name stripey, eating green algae as they sweep over the reef.

cray pot, wild, day, Western Australian rock lobster (panulirus cygnus), marine protected area, free-diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: checking pots for crayfish, catch and release if to small or females with eggs.

Western buffalo bream (kyphosus cornelii) silvery brown colour, feeding on seaweed, schools, wild, day, silvery brown colour, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name buff bream, lacks the dark edging on the tail fin and dark line under the eye. Restricted to WA as name suggests.

Horseshoe leatherjacket (meuschenia hippocrepis), wild, day, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean.

Silver drummer (kyphosus sydneyanus) silvery grey colour, feeding on brown seaweed, wild, day, schools, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name common buffalo bream, dark tail and a distinctive dark line that looks a little like a moustache below the eye, occur in large schools. Distribution more widespread throughout Australia.

Western buffalo bream (kyphosus cornelii) silvery brown colour, feeding on seaweed, schools, wild, day, silvery brown colour, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name buff bream, lacks the dark edging on the tail fin and dark line under the eye. Restricted to WA as name suggests.

Silver drummer (kyphosus sydneyanus) silvery grey colour, feeding on brown seaweed, wild, day, schools, marine protected area, diving off Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: other name common buffalo bream, dark tail and a distinctive dark line that looks a little like a moustache below the eye, occur in large schools. Distribution more widespread throughout Australia.

Badhurst Lighthouse, Rottnest island off Pearth, Western Australia, Australia