Photo courtesy of Whyalla City Council
The giant Australian cuttlefish may be fashionably late this year, but Whyalla’s beloved CuttleFest is proving there’s still plenty to celebrate.
While visitors have reported sightings of cuttlefish and some eggs along the coastline, numbers remain well below what is typically expected at this point in the breeding season. According to Whyalla City Council Mayor Phill Stone, warmer-than-usual water temperatures are likely delaying the annual aggregation.
“We are hopeful that numbers will increase over the coming weeks as conditions change,” Mayor Phill Stone from Whyalla City Council. “We’ve finally had a ‘cold snap’ in Whyalla in recent days, so it’s hoped the water temperature will follow suit over the next week or so. There’s been speculation about impacts from the algal bloom, but there’s been no definitive evidence to support that at this point, so it’s difficult to make predictions until the water conditions become ideal for the breeding season.”
While there has been speculation that the state’s algal bloom may be affecting cuttlefish numbers, Mayor Stone said there is currently no definitive evidence linking the two. Investigations by PIRSA and SARDI are continuing.
The lower numbers have prompted some dive, snorkel and glass-bottom boat operators to cancel dedicated cuttlefish tours this season. However, not all marine experiences have disappeared.
Spencer Gulf Adventures is continuing to run glass-bottom boat tours, with passengers spotting dolphins, Australian sea lions, snapper, whales and, increasingly, cuttlefish. In a promising update, operators recently reported seeing the first groups of cuttlefish displaying their famous colour-changing mating behaviour.
Importantly, CuttleFest itself remains in full swing. The annual winter festival has always celebrated more than just the underwater spectacle, with a packed program showcasing Whyalla’s marine environment, local artists, community groups and businesses.
One of the festival’s biggest events, Salty ‘Sea’esta, attracted thousands of visitors earlier this season, and dozens of activities are continuing throughout July.
Visitors can explore the CuttleFest Art Prize Exhibition at the Middleback Arts Centre, wander the colourful Open Air Gallery transforming the iconic Whyalla Jetty, or admire spectacular underwater images at the CuttleFest Photography Exhibition at Westland Shopping Centre.
Families are also well catered for, with school holiday favourites including Cuttle Craft Corner, Cuttlefish Chaos, scavenger hunts, glow-in-the-dark slime making, Story Time inside Sparkles the Cuttlefish, and a virtual reality cuttlefish encounter at the Whyalla Visitor Centre and Maritime Museum.
For those wanting to learn more, the Maritime Museum also features interactive displays exploring the life cycle and behaviour of the giant Australian cuttlefish, while guided coastal walks and heritage talks continue throughout the festival.
Whyalla’s coastal walking trails, local markets, public art trail and Under the Sea-themed markets at Tanderra Craft Village also offer plenty of reasons to make the trip.
The giant Australian cuttlefish is one of the world’s most remarkable marine species. Closely related to squid and octopus, these intelligent creatures can rapidly change colour, texture and shape during spectacular breeding displays, with the annual aggregation near Whyalla considered one of the world’s great natural phenomena.
While visitors may need a little patience before this year’s aggregation reaches its peak, the message from Whyalla is clear, CuttleFest is still on, and there are plenty of reasons to visit this winter.
CuttleFest 2026
Where: Various locations across Whyalla
When: Monday, June 1st to Friday, July 31st
For more information, click here.
Words by Danika Zalac and Tiffany LePoidevin
