Port Jackson Shark
Heterodontus portusjacksoni
The Port Jackson shark is an egg laying bullhead shark mainly found around the coastal region of southern Australia. It was named after when it was discovered in Port Jackson. These sharks can grow up to 1.4-1.65 meters in length.
The shark’s appearance is defined by its blunt snout with defined ridges, they feed on fish, moluscs and sea urchins.they’re not a threat to divers and won’t be aggressive unless provoked.
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Quick Facts on Port Jackson Sharks
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Port Jacksons eat mollusc and crustaceans. They don’t have teeth to cut up their food, but instead use their plate-type mouth for crushing.
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Port Jackson shark juveniles have quite sharp dorsal spikes on both dorsal fins. Over time these get very blunt as the sharks spend a lot of time in caves and under ledges.
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Port Jackson and their cousins the Crested Horn Sharks do not pose any risk to divers or swimmers and are very docile.
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Port Jacksons can be seen in vast numbers in winter when mating and will congregate in the hundreds or by the thousand in Sydney oceans caves, along the reef edges or on the sandy bottom in over 20m of water. You can see them on our technical dives and wreck dives.
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Port Jacksons give birth to spiral black eggs. Their gestation period is around 13 months. The shark eggs are lodged under rocks or in crevices by the mother. (Crested Horn Sharks have long tendrils at the eggs end which allows the mother to attach the egg to soft corals, kelp or anything that will allow the egg to move freely with the current.)
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It is very hard to tell the difference between a Port Jackson and aCrested Horn Shark. The location of the gill slits (how close they are to the pectoral fins) are a good indication. Distinctive colour patterns can also be used to tell them apart, but with less accuracy.
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Sydney Scuba Dive Costings
All prices include GST. Prices are per person.
Single Dive $69.00
Single Night Dive $69.00
TSS Currajong Night Dive $120.00
Double Boat Dive $120.00
Technical Tec 1 Dive (40-51m) $99.00
Tec 1 Dive + 1 Recreational Dive $120.00
Technical Tec 2 Dive (51-78m) $150.00
Tec 2 “Peak” Dive $950 (full boat rate. max 6 divers)
Ex – HMAS Adelaide Double Dive $120.00
Freediving $220.00ph (10pax max)
Whale Watching $65.00
Charter Rate $POA
Freediver $120.00 pp
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