Whyalla City Council, Media Release, 4 September 2023
Cuttlefest has proven a success again this year, with more than 10,000 people from across the globe enjoying the natural spectacle and associated events!
Themed around the return of the Cuttlefish to Spencer Gulf waters, Cuttlefest provided an abundance of opportunities and experiences from May to August. The event featured a lineup of snorkelling and diving, glass-bottom boat tours, the Salty ‘Seaésta twilight event, under the sea markets and Illuminart: Light up HMAS Whyalla and much more!
Most importantly, the cuttlefish themselves were in abundance, with more than 100,000 believed to have visited Point Lowly for their annual spawning aggregation.
Among those visiting Whyalla to soak up the natural wonder was Tania, who drove from New South Wales just to swim with the giant cuttlefish.
‘’This is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had, up there with swimming with whale sharks and on the great barrier reef,’’ she said.
Mayor Phill Stone said the event was fantastic for the local economy.
“We had thousands of people from across Australia and the world who stayed in town several extra nights after diving with the cuttlefish just to experience the host of events on offer,” Mayor Stone said.
“As well as what this means for the economy, it’s also fantastic to see this natural phenomenon continue to rebound from its record low numbers of 10 years ago, with numbers now consistently above 100,000.
“This past 12 months has seen some great advances in their protection – including their breeding grounds being added to the National Heritage List, and the ban on fishing for cuttlefish within the Spencer Gulf sanctuary area being reinstated – so Council will keep advocating for measures that ensure their numbers can continue to grow.”
One of the events highlights was the Salty ‘Seaésta Twilight event, where the community had the chance to enjoy family entertainment such as inflatable sea creatures, live music and performances, workshops, markets stalls and a variety of food and beverage stalls.
As Cuttlefest comes to an end, the organisers extended their gratitude and appreciation towards sponsors, partners, performers, volunteers, and attendees who contributed to the event’s success. Their support has cemented another great year for Cuttlefest’s status as an annual highlight for the community and visitors to Whyalla.
Click here to watch a wrap-up video of Cuttlefest 2023. For a glimpse of the unforgettable moments from Cuttlefest 2023 and updates about future events, please visit whyalla.com
