The GATHERING

In May, the quiet coastal town of Whyalla bursts into life as thousands of Australian giant cuttlefish gather offshore to breed.

- Melissa Gaskill

Just off the rocky shore, several groups of people stand in hip-deep water, while a few dozen more float face down in the gentle swell. Get a little closer and the focus of their attention starts to become visible. Beneath the surface, countless alien-like creatures are moving in a slow, silent dance.

These peculiar creatures are not aliens, of course, but Australian giant cuttlefish. From May to August each year, these spectacular cephalopods, which can reach almost 1m long, gather in their thousands in False Bay, a wide, shallow arc between Point Lowly and the town of Whyalla. The spot sits high inside Spencer Gulf on the coast of South Australia. The cuttlefish come here to spawn, but where they come from, and why they choose this spot, remains a mystery.

The main attraction

The style and energy with which the animals conduct the business of breeding attracts visitors from far and wide. Short-lived cuttlefish have only one chance to pass on their genes, and with 11 males typically competing for each female at the aggregation, they throw everything at it. A suitor positions himself next to a female and turns on the charm, flashing eyecatching shades of neon blue, purple, green, red and gold and intricate patterns of dots and lines. Some blanch completely white; others create bold stripes across their bodies or even ripple in patterns. While he works on his appearance, a male may also gently caress the female using his eight tentacles.