By ELENA CLASICAS

Ethereal blue waters, vividly coloured fishes, gracefully arching sea flora. These are just some of the elements of the eye-popping beauty held within the pages of “Underwater Wonders of the Mornington Peninsula”.

The photographic compilation of the teeming life under the sea is the fruition of a decade’s worth of photography by Freddie Leong, a scuba diver who lived in the Mornington Peninsula.

The book, launched last January 17 at Eco Centre, St. Kilda Botanical Gardens by Neil Blake, Port Phillip Baykeeper, contains images that highlight the pristine underwater environment of Port Phillip and Westernport Bays and the unique creatures that live in them.

The cover of the book is enough to attract people to the compilation: Featuring a Weedy Seadragon—the Victorian state marine emblem symbolizing the delicate nature of the ecology and bio-diversity of the state’s two bays— the “Underwater Wonders” cover already illustrates the aesthetic trip that the book promises.

Meanwhile, the foreword written by Dr. Mark Norman, Senior Curator (Marine Sciences) of Museum Victoria, is also an invitation to understand marine life, biodiversity and their relationship to human activity.

During the book launch, a myriad of colourful images and film presentations of the underwater panorama of Port Phillip and Westernport Bays were on display for the enjoyment of the diverse mix of guests who attended the event. Around 100 guests of diverse ethnic backgrounds were present; they were Chinese, Indians, Filipinos, Greeks, English, Mauritians, Italians, Americans, who all came from different parts of Melbourne but were all united in the appreciation of good underwater photography and nature’s biodiversity.
Many were simply glad to purchase the book.

Freddie Leong’s scuba diving buddies Peter and Carol Bathie, as well as friends Phil Masters, Andrew Dwyer and Rob Thurley, who all helped in the preparation and financing of the book, were also in attendance to give their support.

Pastor Tim Barrioquinto gave the invocation while Patsy Crotty was the emcee for the event.
Neil Blake told the enthusiastic guests that a book of this kind has been published to educate the public about the wonderful and beautiful wonders which exist in the Port Phillip and Westernport Bays. He emphasised that some of these wonderful species do not exist in any other parts of the world, hence the importance of preserving them and introducing them to the general public. Very few books have been published recording the underwater environment and creatures of the bays.

When asked about the significance of this book, Leong said: “There are not many places in the world left that have such a large column of water still relatively unpolluted and so close to large urban population areas. A picture speaks a thousand words….If the public do not know what is under the water in our bays, it is hard to convince them that there is something worth conserving.”

“We have such an abundance of sea creatures from the very big migratory whales to tiny seahorses, underwater gardens of colourful sponges, and soft and stony corals that are found in the two bays. I hope that the public will adopt a more positive attitude. If they know that the ecology in our two bays are in such pristine condition, they would be more proactive in conserving it for future generations,” he added.
Leong warned that the bays, though still relatively clean, are not far from danger. “The bays are in constant threat of pollution and also serve as a major shipping channel to Melbourne ports for all ships, from oil tankers to huge container ships. These are getting bigger every year and this necessitates the shipping channels to be dredged to accommodate them. Just imagine the damage it would cause to the underwater environment if oil tankers were to spill their contents in the bays,” he said.

The book, according to the photographer, is a reminder of what could be lost if humans are not careful of how their activities affect marine biodiversity. Furthermore, the photos are records that there is something worth protecting beneath the greyish-blue surface of the sea.

Aside from launching the book, Leong and another dive buddy, Dave Bryant, are also touring schools, exhibiting their underwater images in libraries and schools around Melbourne in order to highlight the gorgeous marine environment of Port Phillip and Westernport bays in Mornington Peninsula, Freddie Leong and his dive buddy Dave Bryant have been exhibiting their underwater images

Leong has lived on the peninsula for 17 years with Filipina wife Angel and their two children. He fell in love with the underwater marine life living in the local bays and pursued this passion with photography, now showcased in his new book.