By Jason Milligan
From bucket list dream to doorstep surprise, Sea Dragons have always held a special place in my heart.
Part of the Syngnathidae family of fish, Leafy Sea Dragons (Phycodurus eques) and Weedy Sea Dragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are endemic to Australia. They can generally be found along the entire southern coastline of the continent, from New South Wales in the east to Perth (where I am lucky enough to call home) in the west.
My first encounter with a Weedy Seadragon was in 2019 during a dive just 15 minutes from home. The original goal? Finding Scalloped Hammerhead sharks (but that’s another wild story!). On the way back in, a local diving legend spotted a Weedy and the very next day I returned to find it myself. That single sighting sparked an obsession, and for the next three years, I dedicated countless dives to photographing these incredible creatures. The Leafies were still on the list to see.
In 2022, I upgraded my camera from the Nikon Z6 to the Z6 II for an upcoming trip to swim with great white sharks aboard the Rodney Fox. Before leaving I needed a test dive, so I returned to my usual Weedy Sea Dragon spot. What happened next was beyond belief, instead of a Weedy, I found a Leafy Sea Dragon! Talk about an unexpected surprise as they are normally found much further south.
Since then, I’ve planned family holidays around Sea Dragon hotspots and always keep an eye out for a surprise Leafies in Perth’s metro waters. Now, it’s time to share some of my favourite Sea Dragon images!
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Lucky Bay, Esperance, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/11 • 1/125 • ISO 640
© Jason Milligan
2 x Common or Weedy sea dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)
Rockingham, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22.5mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/10 • 1/125 • ISO 640
© Jason Milligan
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Perth, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/11 • 1/200 • ISO 800
© Jason Milligan
Common or Weedy sea dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)
Rockingham, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 17.5mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/11 • 1/125 • ISO 800
© Jason Milligan
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Lucky Bay, Esperance, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/18 • 1/160 • ISO 100
© Jason Milligan
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Lucky Bay, Esperance, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/11 • 1/125 • ISO 640
© Jason Milligan
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Lucky Bay, Esperance, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/11 • 1/125 • ISO 640
© Jason Milligan
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Perth, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/13 • 1/125 • ISO 800
© Jason Milligan
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques)
Perth, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 17mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/13 • 1/125 • ISO 800
© Jason Milligan
Leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques) with a dive buddy
Perth, Western Australia
Nikon Z6 II • Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 15mm • 2 X DS161 Strobes with TTL
Settings f/11 • 1/200 • ISO 800
© Jason Milligan
Additional Viewing
Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S and Nikon Z6 II Underwater Results
Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens for Underwater Photography Review & Results
Featured Customers | Jason Milligan Underwater in Australia
Leafy Sea Dragon Photography 101: Styles, Tips, and Technique
Sony FX3 Underwater Cinematic // Leafy Seadragon in South Australia [VIDEO]
Nikon Z6 II or Canon R6 Housing? Back in the Water in Catalina [VIDEO]
Jason Milligan hales from Rockingham, Western Australia. He's been diving for close to two decades and studying underwater photography for over 10 years. In that time he has developed a keen sense of composition, clarity, and it doesn't hurt that his backyard is filled with Australia's most stunning underwater creatures. Follow more of Jason's underwater photography journey on Instagram @millo_hd.
