The Nature Coast Marine Group visits Bar Beach, Narooma, regularly for snorkelling outings. It is clear, and calm waters provide a relatively safe area for training, but it also has many attractions in its own right. The net and the rock wall are obviously not natural features, but they have attracted an interesting range of marine life and a visit there to go snorkelling never disappoints. Most of the fishes are juveniles that also seem to appreciate the safety of the location.

Moving along near the net, one encounters numerous juvenile luderick, a herbivorous fish that likes grazing on the weed that grows on the net. Also cruising around the net you may see some juvenile chinaman leatherjackets or even a fan-bellied leatherjacket. We often used to see pot-bellied sea horses with their tails curled around the net, but it seems that the net was replaced a few years ago and they disappeared. Hopefully they will come back some day. On the bottom you are likely to see schools of baby goatfish that use the ‘barbels’ that dangle from their chins to search for minute prey in the sand. They will often be followed by other species of fish, eager to freeload on any morsels that are dislodged by the goatfish.

In the corner where the net meets the rock wall, you are likely to see white ears and one-spot pullers, both common damselfish, along with occasional tropicals such as sawtail surgeonfish and sergeant majors.

Further around along the rock wall is a wider range of fish, with most of the common wrasses of our waters, including juvenile blue groper. In the surgy area, where the tide runs in and out, may be found silver drummer, bream, long-finned pike, rock cale, red morwong and old wives. On the bottom you may pick out stingrays or stingarees.

Along the rock wall back towards the beach are more mado and silver sweep and if you look closely you will see crabs scuttling around among the barnacles and molluscs on the rocks.

One is often surprised by what can be found in the area. You might see a seal, cornetfish or even the occasional octopus.

As with any water activity it is important to check the conditions, be properly equipped and not go outside your comfort zone. In this area you need to keep an eye out for boat traffic and fishing lines. You also need to be careful if close to the net that you do not become entangled. And don’t go snorkelling alone.