Cuttlefish dive site upgrade ready to enjoy!
The newly upgraded facilities at the cuttlefish dive site.
The cuttlefish dive site upgrade is complete and thousands of people from across the world are already enjoying the facility as part of Cuttlefest, which is now in full swing!
It was announced in April that upgrades were needed to safely cater for the continually increasing number of visitors to the site. This has allowed for more parking; new bathroom and change facilities; vehicle drop-off and turnaround areas to create separation between vehicles and pedestrians; and dedicated vendor / catering areas.
Mayor Phill Stone said the upgrades looked great and would benefit the local community, business owners and tourists who visit the site.
Mayor Phill Stone checking out the upgraded facilities.
“The existing facilities were never intended to cater for such high demand, so it became critical to upgrade the area to make it safe for the increasing number of visitors, as well as better suited to the variety of experiences now on offer,” Mayor Stone said.
“We also partnered with scientists and local cuttlefish experts such as Tony Bramley prior to commencing the work. They confirmed it would have negligible impact on the conditions that make the site so conducive to the cuttlefish, with regular monitoring throughout the project ensuring this was the case.”
People have been coming from far and wide to experience the unique phenomenon of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish. This includes Perth couple Judy and Ray, who raved about the “amazing experience”; and Melbourne-based scuba diver Dave Baxter, who said “the new area is fantastic!”.
Perth couple Ray and Judy enjoying the cuttlefish experience.
But it’s not just for tourists, with Mayor Stone encouraging locals to get involved as well.
“We often don’t check out what’s in our own backyard, but this is an attraction of global significance that can now be experienced both wet and dry, so there’s no excuse not to get involved!” he said.
Be sure to check out the full Cuttlefest program on whyalla.com, with events happening throughout July at both the dive site and in Whyalla.
The upgrade project was partially funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, with the remainder funded by council.
Melbourne-based scuba diver Dave Baxter took some incredible cuttlefish images during his visit.