whyalla's 2020 cuttlefest

running from june - august Whyalla’s Cuttlefest continues to grow with some exciting new features on the table for 2020

Cuttlefest is having to adapt this year due to certain restrictions in place but you can still get in the water and see the cuttlefish this year along with a whole range of activities planned including the Cuttle-rock challenge, art trail and art prize, virtual underwater tour, lantern festival and photography competition and a whole lot more!

The City of Whyalla is working with local dive operators, Whyalla Diving Services, Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula (NREP), Department for Environment and Water (DEW) marine parks, South Australia Tourism Commission (SATC), Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries (EMS) and the community to put together a big program for this year’s event between June and August. A highlight of Cuttlefest remains the Snorkelling & Diving Tours off Stony Point, 25kms from Whyalla.

The Giant Australian Cuttlefish (Sepia apama which is part of the cephalopod family) swarm into rocky areas off the Whyalla coast during May, June, July and August to mate (aggregate) and lay their eggs. It is the only known location this happens in the world, making it an amazingly unique experience in the shallow waters off our coast.

For more information stay tuned on www.whyalla.com or contact the
Whyalla Visitor Centre on 1800 088 589

Did you know?

• Cuttlefish are colour blind. They have ‘w’ shaped pupils which are thought to allow them to see both behind and in front at the same time.

• Cuttlefish are not actually a fish. They are a cephalopod (Greek for ‘head-foot’), and their feet, or tentacles actually connect to their head rather than their body.
• Cuttlefish have blue blood, 3 hearts, 8 arms and 2 feeding tentacles.