Immersed Images - Tasha Waller

Immersed Images - Tasha Waller A lover of all wildlife. From ocean critters, land dwellers to sky soarers.

A new adventure today — we headed out to explore ‘Black Jack Coast’, tucked between Sloping Main and White Beach.The sur...
17/05/2026

A new adventure today — we headed out to explore ‘Black Jack Coast’, tucked between Sloping Main and White Beach.

The surface conditions honestly couldn’t have been better. No wind, no swell, just a smooth, easy ride cruising across glassy water. One of those days where you think, yes, this is going to be magic.

Underwater… slightly less magic. Visibility was sitting around 3–5 m at best, but still plenty to enjoy.

Dive 1 — just north of Yellow Bluff
We dropped in on a big bommie that sticks out of the water, complete with a couple of trees perched on top like some kind of shipwrecked garden. There was a lot of kelp, which made it a fun little maze to weave through, finding openings and pockets of light.

Dive 2 — the highlight
We headed further north and dived along the cliffs before the coastline curves around into Sloping Main. Even with the poor vis, this spot was full of life. Sponges in every shape and colour, basket stars wrapped around vibrant orange finger sponges, patches of feather stars, and a draughtboard shark cruising through like it owned the place.

If you looked closely, the sponges were crawling with tiny amphipods, and there were nudibranchs gliding along the sponge surfaces — the kind of details you only catch when you slow down. Definitely a site I want to revisit, but next time I’m taking the macro lens.

A murky day, but a beautiful one all the same.

A few photos from last night’s night dive off the end of Derwent Lane, Battery Point.The Derwent is famously silty, so g...
09/05/2026

A few photos from last night’s night dive off the end of Derwent Lane, Battery Point.
The Derwent is famously silty, so good buoyancy is absolutely everything on these dives — one careless fin kick and you’re suddenly exploring a silt storm instead of the riverbed.
I’ve dived this spot plenty of times during the day, but I was curious to see how it would feel at night. Turns out the biggest difference was the crabs. Dozens of tiny ones scurrying around like they owned the place. I even managed to catch one climbing right over a critically endangered Spotted Handfish, completely unbothered by its celebrity status.
Despite the murk and the crab chaos, it was a really peaceful dive. Quiet, slow, and full of those small moments you only get when you’re drifting around in the dark with a torch and a camera.

Something a little different for Saturday night — a shore night dive at Trial Bay.We headed down to the boat ramp with t...
03/05/2026

Something a little different for Saturday night — a shore night dive at Trial Bay.
We headed down to the boat ramp with the hope of finding some bobtail (dumpling) squid and whatever else the shallows wanted to reveal. It’s such a shallow bay that my dive computer didn’t even register the dive… most of my time was spent in 1–1.5 m of water, drifting around with the torch and the camera like a very confused heron.
I managed to spot a couple of bobtail squid, but I was far too slow with the macro lens — one buried itself in the sand before I could get focus, and the other was chased off by a very persistent draughtboard shark that decided to shadow me for half the dive.
Other sightings for the night: a few southern pygmy leatherjackets, a spotted pipefish, and a mystery sea slug I can’t quite identify. If anyone recognises it, I’d love to know what it is.
I am so out of practice shooting macro at night. Everything feels faster, smaller, and more chaotic under torchlight. Clearly the only solution is… more night dives.
A fun little adventure with the club and a good reminder of why I love poking around in the shallows — you never know what tiny world you’ll stumble into.

Finally back in the water today.We headed out from Triabunna with calm seas and sunshine, the kind of weather that makes...
25/04/2026

Finally back in the water today.
We headed out from Triabunna with calm seas and sunshine, the kind of weather that makes you exhale before you even hit the water.

Dive 1 — The Troy D
Conditions on the surface were beautiful, and below wasn’t too bad either, though there were plenty of fine algal strands drifting through the water column making photos difficult. The mussels are really starting to take over the hull now, out‑competing the colourful anemones that used to dominate the wreck. There are still pockets of colour if you know where to look — little patches that feel like nature refusing to give up its palette entirely.

Dive 2 — Northern end of Maria Island (Fossil Cliffs)
Our second dive of Fossil Cliffs has a maze of swim‑throughs, soft light. The resident Port Jackson sharks were home today, cruising through the swim‑throughs like they owned the place. Always a treat to see them.

After climbing back on board, we wrapped up the day the only proper way — hot chips from the van back in Triabunna. Salty, crispy, perfect. A good day of diving, good company, and plenty of fresh salty air.

I’m thrilled to share that “Small, but Deadly” — my coloured‑pencil drawing of a blue‑ringed octopus — received an Honou...
16/04/2026

I’m thrilled to share that “Small, but Deadly” — my coloured‑pencil drawing of a blue‑ringed octopus — received an Honourable Mention at the ADEX Voice of the Ocean 2026 awards.

I’m incredibly grateful to have had three artworks shortlisted for the finals this year, alongside entries from all over the world.

This piece was inspired by a beautiful reference photo by Sam Glenn‑Smith, whose work captures the tiny, electric intensity of this species so well.

Creating these drawings is my way of celebrating the small, strange, beautiful lives we meet underwater, and I’m honoured that this one resonated with the judges.

Huge congratulations to all the category winners and all the finalists — it’s inspiring to stand alongside such talented ocean storytellers.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported my art and my connection to the sea. 💙🐙

21/03/2026

Back to The Sisters for another urchin cull — and what a difference a few months can make.

It’s been far too long since our first session back in August, and we honestly didn’t know what we’d find. Our main focus was the southern end of the last Sister, protecting that beautiful gully draped in yellow zoanthids — “Yellow Alley,” as we’ve come to call it.

Last time we culled around 1,000 urchins from that stretch. Today, we had to hunt for them. We still managed about 400, but the real win was seeing how much cleaner the area looked.

Dive two took us between the 2nd and 3rd Sister, and that’s where the real chaos kicked in. Urchins everywhere. We were darting from rock to rock, stabbing like determined little underwater gremlins, and burning through air faster than we’d like to admit. The fish were absolutely loving it — swirling around us, waiting for their buffet to begin.

Two dives, tired arm, blunt tools, and that deep, quiet satisfaction that comes from knowing you’re doing something that matters.

Thanks to Pete, Ally and Jun for helping out and a big thank you to Garry for driving the boat for us.

Finally some decent weather to get out to the Hippolytes!Two boats, nine divers, and one very optimistic plan.Dive 1 – T...
31/01/2026

Finally some decent weather to get out to the Hippolytes!
Two boats, nine divers, and one very optimistic plan.

Dive 1 – The Needle
It took a couple of drops to land on the pinnacle — mostly because the current was doing its best impression of a washing machine on “extra enthusiastic,” which wasn't evident until we were in the water.

Kelp was flying horizontally, swimming was optional (and mostly decorative), and for a moment the “abort?” thought definitely crossed a few minds. Dropping deeper saved the day: at 25 m things calmed, and by 35 m it was so peaceful it felt like we’d accidentally entered a different ocean.

The ascent was… sporty. Holding onto kelp so you didn’t get swept into the blue made the safety stop feel like a theme park ride.

Dive 2 – The Monument
After all that chaos, the Monument at Cape Hauy greeted us with calm, clear, sensible conditions — like the ocean saying, “Sorry about earlier, here’s something nice.”

A cracking day out with a great crew.
Plenty of laughs, a bit of chaos, and two memorable dives.

First dive of 2026 — and what a way to start the year.We headed out to Schouten Island yesterday and were greeted on the...
03/01/2026

First dive of 2026 — and what a way to start the year.
We headed out to Schouten Island yesterday and were greeted on the way by a pod of dolphins and a humpback whale chasing baitfish. We stopped the boat and watched them for a while, completely mesmerised. At one point they came right up alongside us — equal parts magical and daunting when a body that size glides directly under the hull.
We’d hoped to dive Cape Sonnerat, but the upwelling was too strong off the point, so we shifted plans and dropped in near a nearby rock instead. A blue water descent to 35m, bottoming out around 40m, into a world of colourful sponges and deep‑water calm. The highlight was being absolutely mobbed by thousands of butterfly perch — a shimmering cloud of life swirling around me. A short dive thanks to the depth, but worth every second.
Our second dive was on the western side of Taillefer Rocks, where a group of seals were hauling out. They slipped into the water to join us, zooming past and circling back with that cheeky seal curiosity.
A brilliant day out, shared with good company and the best kind of ocean surprises.

🌊✨ New Images Just Added! ✨🌿I’ve uploaded a fresh batch of underwater photographs to my website—featuring vibrant reef l...
04/12/2025

🌊✨ New Images Just Added! ✨🌿
I’ve uploaded a fresh batch of underwater photographs to my website—featuring vibrant reef life from my recent Anilao, Philippines dive trip, as well as two new Tasmanian pieces:
- A close‑up of a giant kelp frond from Sloping Island
- A deep reef scene from Cape Pillar
All are now available as fine art prints, perfect for bringing the ocean’s beauty into your home or workspace.
Explore the full gallery here: www.immersedimages.com.au 🐠📸
Thank you for supporting my art and helping me share the magic of both tropical seas and Tasmanian waters!

Back to the Southern Ocean 🌊❄️After two weeks of warm, calm tropical waters, today’s dive at Cape Maurouard, Maria Islan...
30/11/2025

Back to the Southern Ocean 🌊❄️
After two weeks of warm, calm tropical waters, today’s dive at Cape Maurouard, Maria Island was a shock to the system. The Southern Ocean always reminds you who’s boss—drysuit, triple the lead, thick hoods and gloves, and the rolling 1.5m swells with wind chop to keep things interesting.
The water was a chilly 12°C, dark green and murky with 7–10m visibility. As we descended, the clarity improved, but the absence of sunlight left the depths in shadow. Still, it felt good to be back beneath the surface, reconnecting with home waters.
Not all was as it should be, though. Patches of barren rock revealed the destructive path of the long-spined sea urchins—once vibrant covered rocks reduced to emptiness. Another reminder of the work ahead, and another site worth returning to for culling before the damage spreads further.
Cold, wild, and sobering—but still, the ocean always calls me back. 💙

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