The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) will host the first Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) in the seaside complex of Conrad Hotel from September 20-22, 2019. Underwater 360 (UW360) is proud to be the official media partner of PHIDEX.
PHIDEX will see the presence of dive travel and trade stakeholders, equipment manufacturers, and National Tourism Organizations (NTO). It aims to gather distinguished VIPs, leaders, and influencers from across the globe such as renowned scientists, marine conservationists, and underwater photographers and videographers to meet, network, share stories, and exchange ideas.
PHIDEX is the official dive expo of diving paradise Philippines. It is the go-to-hub for brands and people who are passionate for B2B opportunities in the Philippines dive tourism. The public and trade visitors will enjoy an exciting array of stage programmes. In addition, over 20 international speakers will present on subjects that focuses on ocean-related conservation and economy.
Witness like never before the featured international speakers speaking for the first time at a dive expo in the Philippines. For instance, the list includes Ahmed Gabr from Egypt, a Guinness World Record Holder In Scuba Diving 332.35M, Faisal Jawad Hashim from Kuwait, a Guinness World Record Holder for the fastest 10km Scuba Dive in 5 Hours & 24 minutes, David Strike from Australia, Lynn Funkhouser from USA, Prahlad Kakar from India, Cai Songda from China, Gina Li from China, Hidy Yu from Hong Kong, Valentine Thomas from Canada, Stan Gonia from Germany, Yolanda Yao from China, Stéphane Dugast from France and Aaron Wong from Singapore.
The local veteran speakers include Alex Santos, Bo Mancao, Juan Naval, Noel Guevara, Ram Yoro, Roni Ben-Aharon and Ludwig O. Federigan.
Fringe Events
The PHIDEX Underwater Music Festival will be held on 21 September, Saturday 7pm till late. Attendees will enjoy the evening company of like-minded leaders and professionals of the dive industry over a musical poolside dinner and beautiful ocean film screening.
The ‘Snake Sisters’ will make its international premiere in PHIDEX. The all-underwater film is based on the legend of the White Snake. The projects is spearheaded by co-producer Yolanda Yao with a group of freedivers, mermaids and performing enthusiasts.
PHIDEX Dive Travel Exchange (TRAVEX)
PHIDEX is the only dive show in the region to organize a Dive Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), a series of business-to-business (B2B) for the growing number of Philippine dive establishments to engage in meaningful networking discussions with foreign buyers during the exhibition proper.
Fifty (50) international buyers representing top dive operators from 21 source markets and forty (40) local sellers of dive tourism products and services from top and emerging destinations in the Philippines are expected to attend the Show and participate in the Dive TRAVEX to meet and discuss business opportunities through one-on-one business-to-business (B2B) meetings.
Post-Event Familiarization Destination Tours
Additionally, interested buyers can join the Post-Event Familiarization Tours from September 23 to 27 . It features the best emerging destinations (i.e., Anilao, Bohol, Camiguin, Coron, Dumaguete, Malapascua, Moalboal, Puerto Galera, Ticao, and Southern Leyte). Hence, these tours allows buyers to conduct a more accurate product research/update on their preferred destinations.
Head out to the fringes of Asia-Pacific for diving adventures in the middle of nowhere – places that are so far east they are practically in the west. The island nations dotting the eastern expanse of the Pacific are gateways to clear, warm, pelagic-filled water; paradises of coral and tropical fish.
1. Kiribati 1°28’ N, 173°2’ E
A place so far east it could be considered the place where the sun actually rises – Kiribati, an island chain scattered over thousands of miles, is the first inhabited place to welcome each new day, since it unilaterally decide to shove the International Date Line over a bit so that it would no longer be splitting the country into two different days.
2. French Polynesia 17°34’ S, 149°36’ W
World-class diving and a heavy side order of romance to boot, French Polynesia has long been known as an iconic honeymoon destination – probably because it’s so bloomin’ far away from anywhere and anyone else.
Of French Polynesia’s 118 islands, there are 11 go-to dive destinations: Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine, Moorea, Tahiti, Tikehau, Nuku Hiva, Tubuai, Rurutu, Rangiroa and Manihi. The diving here, like much of the Pacific’s far-flung volcanic atolls, is about lagoons, walls and passes. You can take your pick from shark and stingray dives, friendly napoleons or high-octane drifts full of mantas and schools of sharks.
3. Samoa 13°50’ S, 171°45’ W
Want to get off the beaten track? Think about heading to Samoa. Varied topography – lagoons, deep-water pinnacles, passages and barrier reefs – means diving to suit everyone from macro lovers to adrenaline junkies looking for a good drift.
Sharks are out in force with grey reefs, whitetips, blacktips and silkies. Choose between scoping the blue for barracuda and trevallies, or scouring the reef walls for nudibranchs and octopods.
4. Fiji 18°10’ S, 178°27’ E
Most divers don’t need an introduction to the soft coral capital of the world – a place famous for its bright turqoise water ablaze with Technicolour life. Fiji boasts more than 10,000 square kilometres of coral reef and more than 1,000 species of fish.
Nutrient-rich currents sweep into these palm-fringed islands, bringing in the currents that underpin the dizzying marine community here. Sharks, turtles and mantas all put in appearances in Fiji, alongside the reef dwellers and critters for macro fanatics.
5. Chatham Islands, New Zealand 44°02’ S, 176°26’ W
This rugged outpost is battered by ocean swells from the Pacific, but when the conditions are right, the cool waters are clear, and life is abundant in the kelp beds. Rocks are carpeted with abalone (“paua”) and swaying sea tulips, above which swim spotties, banded wrasse, butterfish, grouper and blue cod.
Out in the blue, opportunities to dive with great whites! Evidence of the ancestors of these predators is scattered along the shores of Te Whanga Lagoon, where fossilised shark’s teeth are the prize for the determined.
6. Cook Islands 21°12’ S, 159°46’ W
Fifteen little volcanic islands in the South Pacific make up the Cook Islands, a sovereign nation in free association with New Zealand.
Diving here promises stunning visibility, breath-taking hard corals, canyons, caves and drop-offs inhabited by rays, sharks, turtles and barracuda, and, between July and October, humpback whales. Highlights include the famous Ngatangila swim-throughs, Koromiri Coral Graden, and the Matavera Drop-off. For dive centres make your way to Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out Scuba Diver Issue 7/2014 AA No. 80) here or download a digital copy here.
Mantas will feed at night when they have the best chance of finding enough food
(Photo by SHAFRAZ NAEEM)
THIS HAS TO BE one of the most breathtaking night dives in the Maldives. Why? Because you are going to be in the middle of a manta ray show!
This happens in a lagoon in North Ari Atoll known as Fesdu Lagoon almost every night. Liveaboards anchor here to spend the night in the sheltered lagoon. When they switch on the powerful lights on the back of the boat, plankton and tiny shrimps are attracted to the light, which then brings the mantas.
It’s a shallow and easy dive; 10 metres and it’s a sandy bottom. I sometimes tie all the underwater lights together and take them to the bottom. Kept pointing upwards, they create a plankton ball, as the lights from the boat above and the underwater lights from below act as an invisible mould.
Mantas normally start coming in right after the sun sets. You can spot them swimming just off of the boat at first. After one or two nights, the number increases to sometimes eight or 10 all at once.
I usually jump in an hour after sunset, descend to the sandy bottom, kneel down and wait for the mantas to show up. I don’t have to wait long. They come in fast! With their mouths wide open and swooping in through the plankton ball, they always perform an awesome show every night, boasting their acrobatic skills. I have lingered beneath, mesmerised by them, often for more than an hour.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out Asian Diver Issue 4/2015 Vol. 139) here or download a digital copy here.
When strict
guidelines are followed,
could spearfishing be
the most sustainable
way to eat fish? (Photo by Shutterstock)
When strict guidelines are followed, could spearfishing be the most sustainable way to eat fish? Here, Dr Adam Smith, who has published research on the issue, shares some well-balanced insights on why he chooses to spearfish for his seafood.
LET ME TAKE YOU on my last perfect freedive. I am about 100 metres from the reef edge, in about 20 metres of water and I am floating on the surface looking at colourful coral reefs and abundant baitfish. The visibility underwater is approximately 30 metres, there is a slight current and the temperature is a comfortable 26 degrees Celsius.
There are several pelagic predators chasing the dense schools of blue and yellow baitfish. I know I am in the right location to potentially see a nice fish. My hunting technique is to be relaxed, scan the depths and occasionally dive to midwater (about 10 metres), then hold my position and breath and wait for a curious pelagic fish to investigate me. It may take 10 minutes or three hours of waiting for the desired fish to be in my vicinity. I am startled to see a school of three medium-sized mackerel.
They are moving quickly. I relax, dive silently, avoiding eye contact that may scare them, and wait…I hold my breath.
They circle closer.
I know I must continue to wait until I can be sure. Experience says it is right. I line up my speargun on the closest fish. It is a nice one of about 1.2 metres in length and weighs perhaps 12 kilos. It is when it’s about two-and-a-half metres away, I fire.
It is a lethal shot and the fish quivers and stops. A reef shark rushes over to investigate, but turns away. I quickly bring my catch to the surface. I admire the fish’s colour and form as I dispatch it and bleed it with my knife. I call the boat over to put my fish on ice. It will be very fresh sashimi tonight, with not a part of this incredible animal wasted.
THE CONTROVERSY
While many divers continue to eat seafood, spearfishing is still regarded by the majority of the diving community as highly controversial. However, as far as methods of catching fish go, research suggests it may be the most sustainable way of harvesting, and consuming, fish.
Scientific research supports the view that spearfishers catch a very small proportion of fish – less than one percent (Australia) to 20 percent (Hawaii) compared to recreational and commercial fishers.
Spearfishers generally target larger edible fish as well as lobsters and octopus. Larger predators are favoured targets of some spearfishers (tuna, mackerel, grouper) although in some areas of the Pacific these species are not targeted because of risk of ciguatera (poisoning as a result of eating toxic flesh) and the favoured targets are herbivorous fish. In some countries, parrotfish is a popular species to target at night because they tend to sleep in areas where they are easy to locate and approach. But targeting these species under these conditions is where spearfishing becomes less sustainable, and attracts a lot of criticism.
Spearfishing, like other forms of fishing, can have rapid and substantial negative effects on target fish populations. Overall, spearfishing is “efficient”, allowing divers to remove larger fish and more biomass per outing than fishers using other recreational techniques such as line fishing.
For example, three years after spearfishing was first allowed in a small marine park in Australia, there was a 54 percent reduction in density and a 27 percent reduction in mean size of coral grouper (Plectropomus spp).
Spearfishing is known to alter fish behaviour, and target fish species within areas that are regularly hunted with spearguns have been shown to exhibit avoidance behaviour when approached by spearfishers.
Issues
In my view there are eight common issues of concern raised by the community about spearfishing. These issues differ between geographical locations and individuals:
1. Sustainability: The catch is, or is not, ecologically sustainable (for more information see the infographic on page 23)
2. Safety: Breath-hold diving, and sharks attracted to dying fish and fish blood in the water, make the sport dangerous.
3. Impact on other ocean users: Spearfishers capture or scare fish that are valued by others, including scuba divers and line fishers. In many places, spearfishers may also be competing with people whose livelihoods depend on the fish that foreign/tourist spearfishers may be extracting.
4. Sport: It is wrong to catch fish just for sport. All fish should be eaten.
5. Day vs night: It is wrong to spearfish at night when the fish are sleeping.
6. Snorkel verses scuba: It is unfair to take fish while on scuba.
7. Reef vs pelagic: It is preferable to target pelagic fish rather than reef fish.
8. Conservation: Spearfishers support multiple-use marine parks and conservationists support no-take marine areas.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out Asian Diver Issue 4/2016 Vol. 143) here or download a digital copy here.
Lembeh: Simply the best place in the world for macro photography (Photo by James Mamoto)
WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO DIVE AT NIGHT? For some divers, it’s a strange or even intimidating idea. You don’t know what you’re missing, as night diving has certainly garnered some fascinating aspects you probably never knew way back when it was a mere necessity for an Advanced certification.
Years later, perhaps it’s time to give it a second chance, as you are probably a different diver now than you were 10 years ago. So what’s the best advice you’ll ever get when it comes to night diving? Go with a local dive guide. They are the ones that truly know the sites.
At a popular muck dive destination like Lembeh, the local dive guides know not only where to see the critters that you wouldn’t normally see during the day, but also their behaviours come nightfall.
The guides here will evaluate the dive site and carefully plan your time and depth limits, entry and exit points, and other considerations. All you need to think about is that award-winning photo you want to capture.
Lembeh at Night
Stay close to your guide during the dive – right behind him or not too far from his side – because when he spots a rare critter that might not hang around for long, you don’t want him to have to frantically signal for you to come over.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out Asian Diver Issue 4/2015 Vol. 139) here or download a digital copy here.
A pair of harlequin shrimp preparing to dine on a pink sea star at Richelieu Rock, Andaman Sea Equipment: Nikon D800, Nikkor 105mm VRII lens, Aquatica AD800 housing, dual Sea&Sea YS-250 strobes
Settings: f/29,
1/160s, ISO250 (Photo by Scott Johnson)
THAILAND’S IDENTITY IS an intoxicating blend of warmth, originality, colour and variety. These attributes permeate the friendly Thai people, their storied culture, their tasty cuisine and their abundant natural resources. From thrilling safaris under the jungle canopy to potentially nerve-racking tuk-tuk rides along Bangkok’s bustling streets, Thailand offers unique adventures for even the most jaded travellers.
Beach lovers, snorkellers and divers can choose between the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the Andaman Sea to the west. While there are good spots for divers to hit in the Gulf, those seeking world-class sites eventually find their way to the island of Phuket and the treasures that lie within the Andaman Sea.
Crème de la Crème
Phuket, the nation’s largest island, is rife with dive shops that cater to tourists who simply want to try scuba diving and those determined to get certified. The plentiful day boats often mean the sites closest to Phuket can be a bit claustrophobic. Liveaboards allow you to avoid the crowds, minimise your in-transit time and focus on the very best areas.
The healthiest and most productive reefs are located in Thailand’s 22 national marine parks. Approximately 500 fish and 200 coral species have been identified in these protected sanctuaries. Of these parks, Mu Koh Similan National Park (mu koh means “group of islands”), Mu Koh Surin National Park and Mu Koh Lanta National Park are the crème de la crème. Likewise, the Thailand Aggressor is the luxury liveaboard of choice for exploring these Andaman jewels.
Diving in Style
The Thailand Aggressor is a 35 metre (115 feet) long luxury dive yacht designed specifically for divers who prefer individualised service, superior amenities and room to breathe. Nine staterooms accommodate 18 guests and feature an en-suite bathroom, climate control and a wardrobe. The salon/lounge is often the hub for big fish tales between dives as it offers a computer workstation, an entertainment centre and charging stations, in addition to being where the gourmet meals and snacks are served.
Four to five dives per day are made either directly from the mother ship or a tender. You can dive with a buddy or with one of the knowledgeable guides. The attentive crew especially pampers to underwater photographers and videographers by making sure each camera system is thoroughly rinsed and then safely stored on the convenient dive deck camera table after each dive.
Mu Koh Similan National Park
The Similan Islands National Park is 90 kilometres (56 miles) northwest of Phuket and includes the nine islands of the Similan group [from north to south: Ba-ngu (No. 9), Similan (the largest, No. 8), Payu (No. 7), Miang Sam or Hin Pusar (No. 6), Miang Song (No. 5), Miang (No. 4), Payan (No. 3), Payang (No. 2), and Huyong (No. 1)] and two nearby islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. Most dive operators refer to the Similan (the Malay word for “nine”) Islands by a number, rather than a name, but they do not necessarily agree on which number goes with which island! You are also very likely to see a variety of spellings for the same island. The key is to enjoy the diving regardless of the location’s fluctuating designation.
These impressive granite islands are covered in lush vegetation and adorned with lonely white sand beaches and massive boulders. The annual southwest monsoon that usually impacts this region from May through October has sculpted two distinct undersea topographies around the islands with sloping coral reefs on their eastern flanks and rocky seascapes to the west. Thus, divers are treated to two unique environments though they surface to the panoramic beauty of a single island.
Mu Koh Surin National Park
The Surin Islands National Park is situated 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the Similans and less than 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) southof the Myanmar border. The park encompasses the two namesake islands of Koh Surin Nua (North Surin) and Koh Surin Tai (South Surin), as well as the smaller satellite islands of Koh Ri, Koh Kai and Koh Klang. The main attraction for divers – and one of the most impressive sites on the planet – lies just 18 kilometres (11 miles) to the east.
Richelieu Rock (Hin Plo Naam in Thai, which means “rock protruding from the water”) is an isolated seamount with a series of pinnacles that appear to form the upper half of a padded armchair. The tall central pinnacle barely clears the surface at low tide. Currents continually bathe the reef with nutrients and serve as conduits that carry pelagics, such as manta rays and the occasional whale shark, and free-floating larvae to the seamount. Richelieu Rock’s remote location limits the number of visitors and the impact of human-related contamination.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Scuba Diver Issue 6/2013 TTL No.8) here or download a digital copy here.
There are quite a few reasons why rebreathers are helpful to serious photographers looking to take the next step. I’ve been diving on closed circuit rebreather (CCR) for eight years and it’s dramatically changed the way I can shoot.
A few benefits include:
1. Time: This is the biggest game changer
2. Stealth: No bubbles to scare away marine life, or get in the shot
3. Optimum mixture: Rebreathers maintain the best nitrox mix for every depth, giving you better profiles
CONS OF REBREATHER DIVING PHOTOGRAPHY
While there are benefits for photographers diving on rebreather, there are other considerations to think about and be aware of if you choose this route.
1. Task loading: Gain experience before taking a camera with you
2. Maintenance: Servicing and setup time
3. Awareness: Safety is important; be aware of distractions that take attention away from the rebreather for too long
The stern of the MV Emba, a Soviet Russian motor tanker, lit up from within Settings: f/6.3, 1/40s, ISO 800 (Photo by Becky Kagan Schott)
A rebreather is a tool; it’s a life support machine that should be taken seriously. It requires a bit more maintenance than traditional scuba, about a week of training learning the unit inside out. It helps to know your camera system well before taking the plunge into CCR diving. It also helps to spend a lot of hours on the unit in order for it to become second nature before taking the camera back in the water. I personally like to take a safety diver with me on dives. That person can help with lighting, model, or just watch out for small mistakes that could be dangerous. I find it extremely comforting to have a competent dive buddy that dives the same unit in order to help let me focus more on my shots. This person can keep track of the boat, navigation, marine life, and help with the camera if needed.
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
• Slow down and think creatively – because you have the time. Take the time to tweak the lighting in your shot. You don’t have to settle for a shot that you know you’ll look at later and wish you took the time to perfect. Try new things and experiment with old techniques.
• Being bubble-less is helpful for getting close to shy marine life like certain species of sharks. Find a location and stay still. It will be like you’re not even there, allowing the marine life to come closer. Be one with the reef, move slowly and non-aggressively. Being silent makes a big difference.
• Think longer dives. Most of the work when diving is getting on and off of a boat or walking to and from the dive site. I prefer to do one longer dive if possible and stay in the water versus getting in and out. I find I’m less tired and I’m a much happier photographer because I wasn’t stressed out about time and in a hurry. Oh, and have I mentioned that you can talk really easy through a rebreather loop?! There is a large airspace there, so if you speak slowly your models can hear you.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Scuba Diver Issue 6/2015 OP No. 5) here or download a digital copy here.
When a natural marine site garners the status of being of superlative aesthetic importance, or one that records Earth’s history, or even a spot that can demonstrate ongoing evolution, or a place that have become a habitat for species conservation, it attains the prestigious title of being a UNESCO Marine World Heritage Site.
With this title comes a decree that aims to establish effective conservation of these marine areas. Known as the “Outstanding Universal Value” (OUV), it refers a site’s exceptional cultural or natural significance that transcends boundaries and impacts both present and future generations. It is the central concept of a site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
In order to be considered, countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention can submit official nomination proposals. Besides making an inventory of its most important heritage sites, they must also include a comparison of the property to the features of others’ worldwide, thereby demonstrating its OUV.
After evaluation by independent Advisory Bodies, the Committee convenes once a year to decide which sites will be inscribed. Natural sites must meet at least one out of four selection criteria of OUV to be inducted.
1. NATURAL SYSTEM OF WRANGEL ISLAND RESERVE, RUSSIAN FEDERATION 2004
This site is a major feeding ground for the grey whale migrating from Mexico.
2. SHIRETOKO PENINSULA, JAPAN 2005
The site is globally important for marine mammals including Steller’s sea lion.
3. THE SUNDARBANS, BANGLADESH 1997
The site is knows for threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile.
4. SUNDARBANS NATIONAL PARK, INDIA 1987
The Sundarbans support threatened mammals such as the Irrawaddy and Ganges River dolphins.
5. SOCOTRA ARCHIPELAGO, YEMEN 2008
The marine life here includes 253 species of reef-building corals and 730 species of coastal fish.
6. PUERTO-PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK, THE PHILIPPINES 1999
The site includes a subterranean river system that flows directly
into the sea.
7. OGASAWARA ISLANDS, JAPAN 2011
The islands demonstrate evolutionary processes and feature many endemic species.
8. ROCK ISLANDS SOUTHERN LAGOON, PALAU 2012
The complex reef system features over 385 coral species and different habitats.
9. TUBBATAHA REEFS NATURAL PARK, THE PHILIPPINES 1993
The site is a pristine coral reef with a 100 m perpendicular wall, lagoons and coral islands.
SHORE DIVING can be one of the most rewarding and cost effective ways of getting your scuba fix. While some sites are ideal for instructors wanting a sheltered spot to take their students, others can be much more challenging and suited to experienced divers. Tides and currents are important considerations for any diver, but this is especially true for shore divers. An understanding of tides and their associated currents allows shore divers to enter the water at exactly the right time to get the best out of the site and marine life.
HOW TIDES WORK
The gravitational pull of the sun and moon are a major influence on the sea level’s rise and fall. Without the influence of any celestial bodies, the level of Earth’s oceans would remain at more or less static due to our planet’s own gravitational pull and the centrifugal force produced as it spins on its axis. Centrifugal force is often overlooked as another major influence on tides.
The moon’s gravitational pull is strong enough to draw water towards it creating a ‘bulge’, which moves with the moon as it orbits the Earth. The regions of the Earth where these bulges occur experience a high tide, and other areas experience a low tide. Interestingly, however, water on the opposite side of the planet, furthest away from the moon, also experiences a high tide at the same time as a result of the centrifugal force created as the Earth spins.
The sun’s effect is comparable to that of the moon, exerting similar forces on our planet’s oceans. The gravitational force exerted by the sun, however, is less strong than that of the moon due to the sun’s relative distance from us. Considering that both the sun and moon have an influence on the tides, it is logical that their combination can also have profound effects. When the sun aligns with the moon and the Earth, during a full or new moon, the effect on the tides is intensified, resulting in spring tides. The term “spring” does not relate to the season, rather it is named due to the tides springing higher than usual. Conversely, when the moon is in its first or third quarter, the sun counteracts some of the pull from the moon with gravitational forces coming from opposing directions and a lower than expected high tide results. These smaller high tides are known as neap tides.
This shore dive in the Togian Islands of central Sulawesi illustrates some of the diversity that can be found directly from the shore
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Tides can heavily influence our experience as divers. During spring tides, currents tend to be much stronger, as the difference between high and low water is at its greatest, and a larger than average volume of water moves from one part of the ocean to another. Animals also react to these changes and many fish spawn on a full moon to exploit these strong currents. Strong currents help to carry spawn over greater distances, helping a species to colonise new reefs and genetically mix its populations.
Tides generally rise and fall twice each day, which accordingly affect both visibility and the currents experienced on a dive site. Correctly evaluating the tides is vital for many shore dives. Usually, the best time for a tidally dominated site is high slack. This is the short period of time when the height of the tide has been reached and before it starts to fall again, providing a window of opportunity when there should be very little water movement. Visibility is also usually at its best during the high slack, due to the abundance of fresh, unagitated waters.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Asian Diver Issue 1/2014 Vol.130) here or download a digital copy here.
SINCE ITS establishment a quarter of a decade ago, Pulau Payar Marine Park has been a favourite year-round hotspot among tourists with an interest in eco-adventure. But human activities such as unregulated tourism and illegal fishing have had an adverse effect on the coral reefs surrounding the park and its sister islands.
While the Asian tsunami of 2004 also did some minor damage to the reefs, it is the flood of visitors over the years that has done the most serious harm to this fragile ecosystem. Indeed, after the park opened in 1990, the stream of tourists flocking to the site was poorly regulated, and as a result, all the popular sites assessable to snorkellers are now damaged.
Sponsor investment holding company Bina Darulaman Berhad (BDB) invited local conservation group Ocean Quest to survey the damage and take the necessary steps to help rehabilitate the reef at Pulau Payar. With records dating back to 1998, Ocean Quest was able to make observations pertaining to the degradation of coral species and establish a comparison between the earlier state of the reef and the current situation. Density and diversity observations that were conducted gave an indication of the general state of health of the reef system. As well as noting the degradation of the reef, the potential recovery of important species was also recorded.
PULAU PAYAR MARINE PARK Pulau Payar is located 24 nautical miles to the southeast of Langkawi, off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The park is at the northern proximity of the Malacca Straits facing the Andaman Sea, and as such, its marine biodiversity approximates that of the Andaman. This makes Pulau Payar the only assessable island in Malaysia that hosts marine species similar to those of the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean, such as the collared butterflyfish and the schooling bannerfish. These are species that cannot be found off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
The Pulau Payar group of islands consists of Pulau Lembu, Pulau Kaca, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Payar. With the exception of the marine park rangers, there are no inhabitants on the islands, but every day visitors to the park, who arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon, number more than one thousand on average. Lately, visitor numbers have been lower than usual following the recent unfortunate incidents involving Malaysian Airlines passenger planes, but on the day Ocean Quest conducted its reef survey, an estimated 600 tourists were still coming to Pulau Payar daily. There is little doubt that the park is one of the key attractions for visitors to Langkawi.
BIODIVERSITY
Due to its unpredictable water visibility, Pulau Payar is not a popular diving destination for local scuba enthusiasts. But the diversity of marine life here more than makes up for this lack of water clarity. Divers will find more critters on a single dive at Pulau Payar than anywhere in the clear waters off Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast. An entry in a dive log during an exploration of the reefs in 2005 describes the riches of Pulau Payar. By comparison, while the diversity of marine life at these sites is still high today, the density of species has dropped significantly.
Efforts are in place to record the possible recovery of less common marine species
THE PROGRAMME
The effort to rehabilitate Pulau Payar is centred around the BDB-sponsored coral propagation programme, officiated by Director of Marine Parks for Kedah, Mohd Nor Ashri bin Haji Basari. Some 65 participants, led by the company’s managing director, Datuk Izham Yusoff, are involved in the programme, including media, crew and employees.
For this programme, four coral propagation trainers from Ocean Quest assisted by members of the diving community from within the state carry out the necessary underwater tasks, while BDB employees and the media help with tasks on shore under the supervision of the trainers. Diving equipment and logistics are provided by Iskandari Dive Center, based in the Kedah state capital Alor Setar. Thus, just as it was designed to do, the Ocean Quest coral propagation programme involves the local diving community and all the relevant stakeholders.
CORAL PROPAGATION
The health assessment carried out in prominent parts of the reef reveal that the corals are healthy despite the appearance of physical damage in shallow areas. Coral growth indicates that the staghorn corals (Acropora formosa) are gradually recovering. This species was almost totally wiped out from 1999 until the last observations were made in 2005. Now small patches of branching corals can be seen along the reef front.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Asian Diver Issue 5/2014 Vol.134) here or download a digital copy here.
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT a garbage-strewn harbour bereft of fish, toxic chemicals leaching from the debris into the water. How many times have you seen this in a news article? Last August I visited Bahowo, a small village in North Sulawesi, where that wasn’t the case and it wasn’t a stroke of luck. It was a stroke of intention.
It was dusk and we paddled an Austronesian outrigger canoe through shallow water. Two of the villagers, Nyomen and Alexander, were taking me to see some mangroves.
“We knew mangroves are nurseries for juvenile fish and protect the coastline from storms,” Nyomen told me. “If we want more fish to return to this coastline, we need the mangroves.” The villagers were very happy when three years ago university students came and planted seedlings. Years before many of the mangroves had been cleared to build a lobster farm that failed, leaving the coastline damaged.
Once we got out of the harbour, Alexander started a small diesel engine. We motored along the coast with a soft chortle. To the left a large volcanic island jutted out of the sea.
After a few minutes, Alexander pointed the canoe towards shore and stopped the engine. Silence. We glided into a small water forest. Birdsong from the lush jungle filled the air. There were hundreds of large mangroves, 5 and 10 metres tall. The stubby tree trunks grew from large, arc-shaped roots half-submerged in water. The labyrinthine patterns of the roots cast circular shadows on the water.
I slipped over the side of the boat into waist-deep water and several inches of sticky mud. The silky shade was a welcome relief at the end of a hot day. One of the soles on my shoes had cracked slightly. When I took my first steps in the mud, the suction was so strong that the sole of the shoe came off in the mud.
Oh, well. Too beautiful to worry about the shoe. The last bit of light flickered through the deep-green mangrove leaves. The short rattling call of a kingfisher sounded nearby.
Alexander, a boat captain and a skillful boat builder, in a traditional outrigger canoe
Water forests like these – the meeting place of forest and sea – encapsulate so much of life’s essence. Start with water, add photosynthetic organisms, now you have oxygen and carbohydrates – the origins of all the life around us.
For the villagers replanting the mangroves was no ornamental exercise. One of the fisherman, Arnold, had explained to me that when he was a child there were plenty of fish in the harbour. Now they travelled for over seven hours by boat and sat on a platform for days in the open ocean, in the hopes of getting a good catch. Overfishing in Bahowo isn’t something you read about, yet it’s the equivalent of going to the grocery store and the shelves are empty.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Asian Diver Issue 3/2017 Vol.147) here or download a digital copy here.
In the last issue, this column discussed whether men or women were better divers. This sparked an interesting debate among some contributing photographers as to whether there’s a difference between the male and female perspective of underwater photography. Surely men and women often have different approaches to achieve similar goals, so is this true when we take our cameras underwater?
HERE’S an important caveat: no two divers are truly alike, male or female. Diving and underwater photography are so subjective that one diver’s thrill could be another diver’s bore. But in the interest of debate, I’m going to point out a few observations I’ve noticed over the years working as an underwater photographer.
Let’s start with what unites us – an undying passion for the underwater world. This is undeniably solid, common ground. Imaging is our way of sharing the magic and beauty of our seas, whether it is for memories, conservation, expression or art. How we get to those final images, however, may be more different than we realise!
My most recent dive job was as cruise director and photopro on a live-aboard in Indonesia. On any given trip, at least 70% of guests would come armed with cameras ranging from compact cameras to rigs that needed a forklift to get them onboard – I exaggerate, but only a little. As soon as the first bit of gear appeared, some differences between the sexes would already be easy to spot.
Photographs taken from one woman’s perspective (clockwise from top left): Soft coral and anthias on Tubbataha Reef, Philippines / Boxer crab / Sargassum frogfish / Porcelain crab on sea pen / Anthias in the blue water mangroves in Raja Ampat. (Photo by Francesca Diaco)
Men sure do seem to love their gear! And the more the better! Always the first to start unpacking and assembling, they seemed to revel in this process as much as a dive. They would begin comparing kits and heartily engage each other in the whose-is-bigger/cooler/newer ritual. And the technical talk would flow (even with those who didn’t really know what they were talking about!).
For women, gear seemed to play more of a supporting role rather than being a hobby in-and-of itself. They tended to be more streamlined with the gear they bought and used with their photographic inspiration coming from a more visual, emotional place. They seemed to let their individual photographic style grow naturally through their diving experiences, rather than try to predetermine it… which leads me to my first hypothesis.
Hypothesis 1: It seems that men let gear and technical knowledge guide their photography while women take a more organic approach.
When it was time for the dive brief, more differences began to emerge. The men would be pressing us for specifics about what we were going to see – a hit list, so to speak! They wanted a goal, or battle plan for the dive while the women were more turned on by the possibilities of a given dive. Women seemed more interested in hearing about the overall characteristics, or personality, of the dive site.
Back at the surface, the post-dive chatter often gave way to more differences in the way we interpret our dive and photo booty. The guy talk was often quantifiable, as they would compare their conquests in relation to their pre-dive hit list. The girl talk, on the other hand, was less specific and seemed to emphasise the overall beauty or feeling of the dive.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Asian Diver Issue 1/2011 No.112) here or download a digital copy here.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to list the Sea of Cortez and its islands in Mexico’s Gulf of California, the only place where the critically endangered vaquita is known to occur, on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The porpoise’s numbers have dropped drastically, from around 300 in the mid-2000s to just 10 individuals, according to the latest estimate, mostly as a result of getting entangled in gillnets used in the poaching of totoaba fish.
The continuing illegal totoaba trade poses a threat to the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site, the World Heritage Committee said, recommending that the site be placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to list the Sea of Cortez and its islands in Mexico’s Gulf of California, the only place where the critically endangered vaquita is known to occur, on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The story of the vaquita (Phocoena sinus), the smallest and the most threatened species of porpoise, is one of tragedy. The porpoise’s numbers have dropped drastically, from around 300 in the mid-2000s to just 10 individuals, according to the latest estimate, mostly as a result of getting entangled in gillnets meant to catch the totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi).
The totoaba, too, is critically endangered and found only in the Gulf of California. It’s prized for its swim bladders in China, and demand for the delicacy has given rise to totoaba poaching using gillnets and a massive illegal trade in Mexico.
In its report, the World Heritage Committee welcomed Mexico’s efforts to protect the vaquita by taking steps such as creating a refuge area for the species, promoting alternative fishing gear, and stepping up surveillance in the upper Gulf of California. “Unfortunately, these efforts appear not to have significantly reduced the pressures on the property from illegal fishing of totoaba, nor prevented the further decline of the vaquita population,” the report notes.
The few remaining vaquitas live a very small area, most of which lies within the Vaquita Refuge, the report says, where illegal fishing for totoaba continues to occur at high levels.
“It is an alarming indicator of the severity of illegal wildlife trade that we may soon witness the extinction of such an iconic species as the vaquita — within the supposed safety of a World Heritage site,” Peter Shadie, director of the IUCN’s World Heritage Programme, said in a statement. “Mexico’s constructive approach to the Gulf of California’s danger-listing will help mobilise action to stop this threat before it depletes more of our precious marine heritage, and IUCN stands ready to support its efforts.”
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005, the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (also called the Sea of Cortez and its islands) contains the vaquita’s habitat, and is recognized as an area of global marine conservation significance. The area, with its spectacularly diverse habitats, landscapes and species, is also considered to have “outstanding universal value,” or OUV. The continuing illegal totoaba trade poses a threat to the OUV, the report notes.
Recommending that the area be placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the World Heritage Committee requested Mexico to “develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, a set of corrective measures, a timeframe for their implementation and a proposal … to address the issue of illegal fishing and to enable the necessary regulatory and operational reforms for legal fisheries to ensure that they are sustainable and do not cause bycatch of marine mammals, sharks and turtles, in order to guarantee the long-term protection of the OUV of the property.”
A vaquita swims in the Gulf of California. Image by Paula Olson/NOAA via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).
There’s something about our gaudy marine invertebrates that keeps the big blue buzzing with exciting revelations. Suss them out in greater depth as Underwater360 brings you 10 amazing facts about corals.
1.
The Fungi sp. have single polyps that can grow to 25cm in diameter
2.
Palau is home to 525km² of coral reefs
3.
Coral larvae have to travel over 20 kilometres each year to keep pace with a 3°C temperature rise
4.
The Great Barrier Reef was first formed 15,000 years ago
5.
85% of Southeast Asian coral reefs are already under threat
6.
Bird’s Head Peninsula (Indonesia) hosts 72% of all coral species in the world
7.
Deep-sea corals can survive at depths of up to 6,000 metres
8.
Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atoll, boasts a total land area of 140km²
9.
At least 400 Biorock reef structures have been built in more than 20 countries
10.
The total economic value of Indonesia’s reefs is estimated at US$1.1 billion annually
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Asian Diver Issue 2/2014 Vol.131) here or download a digital copy here.
The world is waking up to the realisation that the oceans are not a dumping ground. And while some are calling for plastic bans and government regulations, a growing number of organisations and communities are confronting the issue head-on by organising waste reduction, recycling and cleanup projects at a local level. This is the case at Wakatobi Resort. More than two decades ago, Wakatobi’s founder, Lorenz Mäder, established a community-based conservation programme that provides proactive protection for some 20 kilometres of coral reef. This initiative has helped restore and maintain these reefs in near-pristine condition by eliminating destructive fishing practices, anchor damage and other human impacts. And these efforts don’t stop at the waterline. Lorenz and others at Wakatobi are committed not only to protecting the reefs, but to keeping waters, beaches and the islands free of trash and waste through sponsoring a variety of local campaigns and engaging hands-on projects.
This all begins at the resort Wakatobi has established its own recycling station, and actively works to reduce the use of disposable plastic items in all phases of resort operations. This includes measures such as providing guests with reusable aluminium water containers to eliminate the use of disposable plastic water bottles. To combat the problem of plastic waste carried by ocean currents, the staff engages in a number of ongoing debris removal efforts. Four times a day, the staff cleans more than a kilometre of surrounding beaches, removing plastics and any other debris that may wash ashore. On a daily basis, the dive teams remove any trash and debris that may collect on the reef, while team members working from the dive centre, operating taxi boats and otherwise assisting snorkellers and divers make similar efforts to keep the shallow reef tops clean.
Divers scour Wakatobi’s waters for discarded plastic (Walt Stearns)
Wakatobi’s commitments to environmental protection and cleanup go far beyond the resort boundaries. The resort sponsors weekly village cleanups that involve up to 100 local people, and works closely with local communities and governments on the issue of waste management. Wakatobi provides waste bins, organises waste collection vehicles and sponsors additional waste storage and removal mediums for the adjacent island of Tomia. To enhance local awareness of the issues, and promote sustainable practices, the resort pays a team of 20 well-respected community leaders and influential individuals. These spokespersons use their social status within the community to increase public awareness on the issues of reef conservation and waste management on Tomia.
Lorenz also remains personally committed to the issues of waste management and water quality. “In my voluntary function as an ecotourism consultant, I had countless discussions with ministers, governors and other high-ranking politicians and policy makers,” he says. “I always urge them to improve nationwide waste management on land and on boats.”
As coastal communities around the world increasingly come to terms with the urgent need for more responsible waste management practices, and the equally important need for the control and removal of debris already polluting our oceans, community-based programmes such as those initiated by Wakatobi Resort may emerge as one of the best solutions to the issue.
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Scuba Diver Issue 2/2019 No.115) here or download a digital copy here.
Be mindful of your subject and other divers – respect the animal’s space so as not to scare them off Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 10.5mm lens, Nauticam housing Settings: f/10, 1/200s, ISO200
IF YOU’RE AN underwater animal lover, pelagics are the ultimate goal: Nothing compares to facing a wall of silky sharks, being checked out by a mola mola or swimming side by side with grey whales. Chasing after pelagic wildlife is extremely exciting and also very demanding physically. Subjects are usually big animals, which makes them fast and elusive. The pursuit is as thrilling as getting the shot.
Pelagic photography is key to conservation because it offers a vision of a fragile ecosystem not exposed to the wider public very often. Every single image you bring back helps to create awareness, and therefore encourages others to appreciate and protect the wonders of the open ocean.
Pelagic Pickings
Most popular subjects are always migrating and/or feeding. The best approach is to stay close to the food source, whether that’s chum, a giant bait ball or infinitesimal krill. Baitballs are a guarantee for pelagic shoots and my personal favourites. Sailfish and striped marlin, for example, chase sardine baitballs, herding them from the bottom to the surface, and then taking turns to hit the ball with their bills. They are neither curious about nor scared of divers, but always focused on the baitball. They move extremely fast – and to keep up, so should you! Keep an eye out for tuna, sharks and birds hitting the baitball – they will always spice up your frames.
Sharks are often curious about divers. You can get some good passes if you wait patiently in one spot. Whale sharks, in the Mexican Caribbean, are the ideal first encounter. These gentle giants gather by the dozen – sometimes hundreds – to slowly feed on the surface. Water is usually Caribbean-blue and whale sharks are forgiving when it comes to missing the shot; you will most probably get another ten chances at the exact same framing. You have plenty of room to play with different settings, split shots and counter light shots.
With fast-moving subjects, being in the right spot is essential Equipment: Nikon D300s, Nikkor 10-24mm lens at 10mm, Ikelite housing, dual Ikelite 160 strobes Settings: f/8, 1/125s, ISO200
Whales are shy and skittish, especially if they have calves around. Try jumping way ahead of their path and diving down immediately. Don’t move: let them come to you. I’ve found this to be the hardest subject to capture. Other than in waters of the Dominican Republic or Tonga, whales avoid both boats and floating divers. Still, with patience it can be done.
Many other surprises can pop up out of the blue, literally. Great examples are mola molas. Sometimes they take off immediately and other times they will play for hours. Remember to always approach any animal slowly and calmly. Don’t get in their way and try not to touch them or bump into them. You don’t want to hurt them or scare them off.
Stay close to baitballs even if you don’t see any predators – you never know what’s around the corner Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 10.5mm lens, Nauticam housing Settings: f/8, 1/160s, ISO200
Many other surprises can pop up out of the blue, literally. Great examples are mola molas. Sometimes they take off immediately and other times they will play for hours. Remember to always approach any animal slowly and calmly. Don’t get in their way and try not to touch them or bump into them. You don’t want to hurt them or scare them off.
Essential Gear
DSLRs are vital for proper pelagic photography because the action usually happens so fast – too fast for the shutter lag common in compacts. If you use a compact, try to predict the animal’s movement or behaviour, and shoot before it happens. With practice, you’ll be surprised how many times you can nail a good shot. Consider also wider framing, in case the subject makes a sudden turn.
Another great advantage of DSLR cameras is burst shooting. All models now offer some kind of burst mode, which is a real boon when you only have one good pass. Strobes are not the rule; rather, they’re the exception. Most probably, you’ll have a pelagic encounter whilst snorkelling, so the power of the sun is on your side. Strobes and arms also generate noticeable drag, which will slow you down.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 6/2013 TTL No.8) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
IT HAS BEEN SAID that we know more about the moon than we know about our own oceans, but just how connected are the two? We all know that the moon and sun control our tides, but we are only just starting to understand how the moon controls fish aggregations and spawning events.
It’s no new fact that the fish follow the moon phases; fishermen have been timing this for centuries. Having to fish for three or four consecutive days at the exact time to catch the most fish is far more economical than going out every day to catch a few fish, and so diaries were kept of locations and timings around the moon phases to make life easier, passing down from generation to generation around the planet. But why are huge aggregations of fish timing their reproductive stages to the moon cycles?
Over the last few years, the moon phenomenon and spawning aggregations have become an addiction of ours in Palau. For years, we would see huge schools appearing at regular times of the year at regular sites and months like clockwork.
A diver records this strange phenomenon that fishermen use to their advantage
The first real attraction to us was the Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) and Orangespine Unicorn fish (Naso lituratus). During the months of January and February, gathering at half moon and schooling until full moon, these fish, which are usually solitary or hang around in small schools, gather at certain sites, usually corners, in their thousands to reproduce.
Forming such large schools has its obvious advan-tages: females can find the fittest, strongest males from the group giving their offspring the best advantage to survive and continue the cycle. But gathering in such large numbers also attracts predators. Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis), grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), white tip sharks (Triaenodon obesus ) and Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) are among the list of predators ready and waiting for a quick meal, chasing the school up and down the reef attacking at every opportunity. Most will never see another year’s spawning cycle.
The most recent phenomenal spawning event to be discovered based around the moon is the bumpheads parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum). As an avid diver, you would have heard of large schools of bumphead seen grazing in Sipadan, but no one knew that more than 2,000+ can been seen continuing their existence here in Palau.
A lone turtle swims slowly amongst the company of thousands of snappers
Timing is the key – the moon phase or the light phase is taken into account for these fish know the exact time when their unborn young will have the best chance of survival. Early in the morning, as the moon approaches its new moon phase thousands of bumpheads gather together in their herds waiting for that exact moment.Once ready, the huge school will spill out into the blue, where a dance like ritual begins. Sexual dimorphism takes place, heads change white, bars are displayed, males are showing off their dominance and then like a firework display, the action begins. Females shoot to the surface with eager males in hot pursuit wanting to be the fastest, wanting to be the one to continue their existence. The slowest ones are out run by the strongest ones and some females can be engulfed by 10 or 15 males at once in a tight ball of fusion and excitement releasing their cloud of sperm and eggs into the blue water. Once the event has taken place, the school breaks up returning back to their resident homes and the show is over, leaving nothing more than a few bumpheads grazing on the reef like a regular day in Palau.
The full moon brings the twinspot snapper (Lutjanus bohar) together, here on one of the outer reef corners schools of up to 20,000 snappers can be seen aggre-gating in Peleliu, one of Palau’s most southern islands. Famous for its WWII history, Peleliu also has some hidden underwater secrets.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 3/2013 Vol.126) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
A well-executed ascent is crucial for a successful technical dive. Here are a few tips.
DON’T ascend at a speed faster than 9 metres per minute. If your decompression table has no deep stop built in, DO deduct 1 minute from your bottom time and plan for a 1-minute stop midway between the bottom and the first decompression stop required on the tables
DO add a further 1-minute stop at the level below the first required stop
DO open the valve on your decompression gas and deploy the regulator on ascent or at the stop below your planned switch depth
DO start breathing from your decompression gas immediately on arrival at your planned switch depth
DO add 1 minute or 25% of the required stop time (whichever is greater) to all stops between 18 metres and 6 metres
DON’T go directly to the surface on completion of your final required stop at 4.5 metres Instead, DO ascend to 3 metres and perform a 5-minute-stop there
Then, DO take 1 full minute to ascend from 3 metres to the surface
Finally, DO continue to breathe from your final deco gas on the surface and until you take your gear off
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 4/2014 Vol.133) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Introduced back in 2010, Adobe Photoshop’s Content Aware Fill promised some revolutionary functionality: repair or replace a large area of a photo with content that could or should have been there but wasn’t. Sounds far-fetched? Well, it actually works! Sometimes, anyway.
Let’s look at an example where it typically works brilliantly: a shot of an animal subject on a clean background, but one that is a little cramped – in fact, some of the subject got cut off by the edge of the frame.
Before starting this technique, finish as much of your usual editing workflow as possible.
1. Open your image in Photoshop and grab the Crop Tool. The Crop Tool doesn’t only let you clip off part of the picture; it also lets you add area to the canvas.
2. Choose W × H × Resolution from the Tool Options bar dropdown menu to unlock the aspect ratio. Grab the middle crop handle on the edge you want to extend and pull the side of the crop rectangle away from the image to tack on some additional space.
3. Hit Return, Enter, or the Done button to set the crop.
4. Choose the Rectangular Marquee Tool (keyboard shortcut M) to create a selection that includes not just the newly added canvas area, but also a narrow strip of pixels from the original image. This gives Photoshop some image information to work with.
5. Go to Edit > Fill and choose Content Aware from the drop down menu in the dialog box. If you see a colour adaptation checkbox, make sure it’s ticked on. Hit OK.
Now comes the fun part. Photoshop analyses the pixels in your image and tries to guess what you want to fill the selected area with.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 4/2015 OP No.4) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
The sardine run happens in the winter months from May to August, when millions of sardines, Sardinops sagax, leave the southern Cape waters of the Agulhas bank, to follow the cold, nutrient-rich body of water up the African coast to Kwazulu Natal. This belt of cold water in which the sardines travel is formed by the winter storms of the Cape, pushing the cold water north, while the warm Agulhas current that runs from the north to the south traps this cold water against the coast.
Along the Transkei coast, the continental shelf pushes this cold water into its narrowest strip, concentrating the sardines and the predator load at its highest, creating the conditions for some high-octane action. Film crews, amateur photographers, and ocean enthusiasts all flock to Port St. Johns, Mbotyi and the surrounding areas to get a space on the charter boats that provide the best opportunity for witnessing this event.
Port St. Johns is a small, rustic town on the Wild Coast, a 250-kilometre stretch of coastline which gained its name from its inaccessibility and treacherous shoreline. Although this makes for risky surf launches on the semi rigid inflatables, and hair-raising adventures at the crack of dawn with high-end camera equipment, it makes it all worthwhile when your skipper drops you right in the middle of a feeding frenzy. From the skies to the depths below, predators line up to feast on the protein-rich baitfish.
SCHOOLING TO SURVIVE
These bait balls form when common dolphins separate a small pocket of fish from the main shoal, and push it up to the surface. The dolphins circle the bait ball for a while, blowing bubbles from below, herding the little fish into a tight swirling mass. They then dart through together in a group to grab as many fish as they can. They will repeat this pattern over and over, until the last sardine is gone. These sardines know, if they lose the group, they are an easy target.
The sharks on the other hand, have no such skilled and organised feeding plan in place. Their strategy is to simply swim through the bait ball, mouth agape, consuming as many mouthfuls of fish as they can. That is why we, as divers, never hang around inside the bait ball! Sometimes that proves difficult, as the sardines often try to use divers as protection.
BATTERED FROM ABOVE
Once the bait ball is visible to the birds in the air, Cape gannets bombard it from every angle, raining down like bullets. When each gannet hits the water, it’s like an explosion below the surface, and one of my favourite moments of the sardine run. These gannets, with their wings folded back, tight as torpedoes, can easily dive to a depth of 15 metres to reach the bait ball, and sometimes grab up to three fish, before returning to the surface. Gannets have been recorded hitting the water at more than 85 kilometres an hour, which has often made me wonder: should I be diving with a helmet…?
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 4/2015 OP No.4) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
For most people, parasites are the lowest of the low in the animal kingdom: They’re creepy-crawlies that spread disease and exploit other creatures. This is probably why calling someone a parasite is so downright derogatory. In fact, the term “parasite” was first used in ancient Greece to mean a hanger-on and was later adopted as a biological term. A parasite lives in or on another living organism, but usually without killing it, and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Humans are the victims of a huge variety of parasites, from liver flukes to intestinal worms, dengue and malaria, the latter obviously being one of the world’s biggest killers.
Most likely parasitised by some kind of worm, many internal parasites shut down all non-essential systems in their host to maximise their own nutritional demands. Some parasites even sterilise their host
It’s not only humans that suffer at the hands of parasites. Scientists believe that there may be at least one species of parasite for every non-parasitic species on the planet. Even parasites get parasites but because they’re so maligned there has been relatively little research into their diversity. Parasites can live on the outside or inside of their hosts and they tend to be very specific about the host species they infect. Obviously, as divers we’re more likely to see the external ones clamped to the outside of a hapless fish, but if you look closely you might even be able to see one living inside the transparent shell of a crustacean. There’s a real simplicity and finesse to the life histories of parasites that perfectly illustrates Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
This goby has a large female copepod. The much smaller males are almost impossible to see with the naked eye
THE CAR WASH
Divers might be more familiar with the fishes that work tirelessly to rid other marine creatures of their pesky parasites than the parasites themselves. A diver favourite is the cleaner wrasse, which serves over 2,000 clients per day, removing on average 1,200 parasites. They generally work in pairs, maintaining a territory on the reef. Their work is so valuable that medium- to large-sized fishes visit them every five minutes, and sometimes the cleaners will even refuse a clean to an individual that they think has been exploiting their services. As well as cleaner wrasses, there are around 130 other fishes that are known to clean at some stage in their life, usually when juvenile. Of course there are many shrimps that clean too.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 3/2016 Volume 142) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Nicknames and legends are usually outlandish exaggerations of certain facts or myths. Very rarely, if ever, does the truth outstrip the fantasy of a myth. Widely known as the land of a thousand islands, you’d think the actual number of islands in Indonesia would be in the high 900s at best – and you would be, well, wrong. By a country mile. In fact, if you take one day to tour one island in Indonesia and continue island-hopping to a different island each day until you finish visiting all the islands in Indonesia, it would take you close to 48 years to finish visiting Indonesia. 47.96 years to be exact. According to the Indonesia Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, there are 17,508 officially listed islands within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. Short of asking all 28-year-olds out there to take a trip to Indonesia and expecting them to come back home only when they’re 76 years old, we’ve taken a look at our list of 101 Inspiring Dive Sites and listed out all the compelling must-visit dive sites in Indonesia. Enjoy.
Wonderful Indonesia
THE WORLD’S BEST CORAL DIVES
A field of fragile staghorn as far as the eye can see. Radiant soft corals swaying in the shallows. A cliff’s edge staggered by paper-thin plate formations. Everyone’s got their favourites, but our team cast their votes and chose a few of the world’s top dive sites for a pristine coral reef experience. From our list of top coral sites around the world, three are in Indonesia – that’s almost 20 percent of the list.
TREASURED ENCOUNTERS WITH ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Dermochelys coriacea
LEATHERBACK TURTLES
(Text by UW360. Photo by Jason Isley)
The largest of all turtles, leatherback turtles are an endangered species and seeing one underwater is extremely rare. Location: Kei Archipelago, Indonesia (Photo by Jason Isley)
Each year a remarkable migration takes place and very little is known about it, yet it involves a unique and highly endangered marine creature. Leatherback turtles are the largest of the seven species of sea turtle and are unique in the fact that they don’t have a bony shell. Their carapaces are soft, which gives the animal its name. The combined population of Pacific leatherbacks is thought to be less than 2,500, making them one of the most endangered marine turtles.
Where : Kei Archipelago, Indonesia
When : During the jellyfish blooms, October–December
Sea Temp : 22–26°C
How : Not easy! Fly to Jakarta. Then onwards to Ambon and finally Langgur
Type : Open water, snorkel/freediving
Pacific leatherback turtles make their way from the west coast of America to feed and breed in the area surrounding the tiny Kei Archipelago in the remote Banda Sea, a journey of thousands of miles for these ancient sea creatures. The Kei Islands are one of the few places in the world where you can encounter leatherbacks underwater and the main reason they can be seen here, and undertake their arduous journey, is to feed on the huge numbers of jellyfish that are swept in every year from the vast surrounding ocean. Given that leatherbacks eat an almost exclusive diet of jellyfish, this is an important feeding ground for these turtles and a feast not to be missed.
A DIP IN DARKWATER
One of the biggest reason why divers visit Indonesia is because of the amazing muck diving sites located at places like Lembeh and Lombok. Lombok, in particular, is also a favourite hunting ground for underwater photographers who love black water photography – diving into deep water in the ocean at night for underwater photography. One of the best proponents of black water photography is famed Singapore underwater photographer, William Tan.
Sharpear Enope Squid Larva (Ancistrocheirus lesueurii) by William Tan Location: Lombok, Indonesia
By : William Tan (Singapore)
Title : Sharpear Enope Squid Larva
(Ancistrocheirus lesueurii)
What : Squid (larvae)
When : June
Equipment : Canon EOS 1DX Mark II, Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro,
Nauticam housing, 2x INON Z-240 strobes,
FIT Pro +10, RGBlue System02 video light
“We were about to surface when the divemaster signalled to me from a distance. He then pointed his torch to what seemed like a tiny tube anemone larva with extra long tentacles and with the ability to change colours rapidly. I only recognised it as a squid larva when I neared the animal. It flexed its tentacles, putting on quite a display in front of the camera. I followed it casually for another 20 minutes until my almost empty and super buoyant tank forced me to end the dive.”
WAKATOBI – EVERYONE’S DREAM DESTINATION
(Text by Karen Stearns. Photo by Henrick Rosen)
Wakatobi’s House Reef is known around the globe, and often ranks among the world’s very best shore dives. Some 80m from shore, a shallow, coral-encrusted shelf transitions into a series of steep slopes and walls that plummet beyond the range of scuba. Entry to the House Reef is easy, as divers and snorkellers can make the short swim from shore, or descend stairs at the jetty. Pier pilings attract shoaling fish, and clustered nearby are dozens of anemones populated with iconic clownfish. The reef slope is covered with a dense coat of hard and soft corals, sea fans, sponges and tunicates, with overhangs that create resting places for resident turtles. Moving away from the jetty, divers and snorkellers have acres of coral slopes and shallows to explore.
Diving the House Reef from Wakatobi’s beach (Photo by Henrick Rosen) Location: Tomia Island, Indonesia
The face of the drop-off is covered in an impressive collection of hard and soft corals, and large sponges while the shallows are prime hunting grounds for an even more diverse range of subjects. This expansive site is available to divers and snorkellers day and night, and on request “taxi boats” will ferry guests to more distant portions of the House Reef so they can leisurely make their way back to the jetty.
With 17,508 islands, there are incredible dive sites scattered all across Indonesia that are too many to list here. And to think, we’ve only covered the underwater attractions of Indonesia so far. Imagine what wonders await you on land!
Blue marlin are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red Listof Endangered Species。
One of the biggest bony fish in the world，THE LARGEST BLUE MARLIN can grow up to more than 4 METRES LONG and weigh up to 900 KILOS
Blue marlin, like other billfish, can rapidly change colour, an effect created by pigment-containing iridophores and light-reflecting skin cells. They have been seen to flash different colours while hunting. They are cobalt blue on their topsides, and silver-white underneath
Females become sexually mature when they reach a weight of about 120 kilos。
Females are three to four times larger than males
Females live for an average of 27 years, males for around 18 years
They use their spear-like, elongated upper jaw to hunt with, employing it to stun, spear or slice through their prey
Blue marlin will feed on fish (such as mackerel and tuna) and squid
They hunt during the day, relying on their keen eyesight
Blue marlin make some epic journeys as they follow the warmer waters. One tagged blue marlin was recorded as travelling almost
Blue marlin are generally solitary animals, occasionally found in pairs, rarely swimming in larger schools
Blue marlin numbers are decreasing. They are often captured as accidental by catch, and are targeted by sport fishers. Data suggests that while they are generally released alive (catch and release fishing), they often die immediately after the event.
Studies have found that blue marlin prefer the upper parts of the water column, spending most of their time in the first 30 METRES
Females can spawn up to four times in one season, and release about 7 MILLION EGGS each time. Only 1% of blue marlin eggs will reach maturity, with most of the eggs and then tiny larvae eaten by other fish.
Blue marlin are one of the strongest, fastest fish, reaching speeds of up to more than 96 KM/HR
The only predators adult blue marlin have are white sharks, mako sharks and humans
Blue marlin have a special adaptation, a countercurent exchanger – that provides their eyes and brain with warm blood which lets them see better and think faster.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 7/2016 No.88) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
A field of fragile staghorn as far as the eye can see. Radiant soft corals swaying in the shallows. A cliff’s edge staggered by paper-thin plate formations. Everyone’s got their favourites, but our team cast their votes and chose a few of the world’s top dive sites for a pristine coral reef experience. Did your favourite make the list? Underwater360 lists out our favourite coral sites around the world.
AMERICAS
1.
Dive Site: Palancar Horseshoe
Type: ‘Amphitheatre’, tunnels, crevices
Encounters: Moray eels, turtles
Location: Cozumel
Country: Mexico
2.
Dive Site: Blackish Point
Type: Reef wall
Encounters: Goliath groupers, rays, whale sharks
Location: Utila
Country: Honduras
3.
Dive Site: Half Moon Caye Wall
Type: Sheer reef wall
Encounters: Tarpon, eagle rays, loggerheads
Location: Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Country: Belize
4.
Dive Site: Bloody Bay Wall
Type: Vertical reef wall
Encounters: Turtles, reef sharks, Nassau groupers
Location: Little Cayman
Country: Cayman Islands
5.
Dive Site: Something Special
Type: Sloping reef
Encounters: Squid, rays, variety of frogfish
Location: Kralendijk Harbour
Country: Bonaire
AFRICA
6.
Dive Site: Ras Mohammed
Type: Sheer wall
Encounters: Soft corals, Napoleon wrasse
Location: Red Sea
Country: Egypt
SOUTHEAST ASIA
7.
Dive Site: Crystal Bay
Type: Slopes to deep
Encounters: Reef fish, Mola molas
Location: Nusa Penida, Bali
Country: Indonesia
8.
Dive Site: Blade
Type: Unusual reef ridge
Encounters: Schools, rays, pelagics
Location: Wakatobi
Country: Indonesia
9.
Dive Site: Magic Mountain
Type: Seamount reef hook dive
Encounters: Mantas, sharks, maybe dolphins
Location: Misool, Raja Ampat
Country: Indonesia
10.
Dive Site: Apo Island
Type: Gentle sloping reef
Encounters: Clownfish and anemone fields, fish schools
Location: Dumaguete
Country: Philippines
SOUTH ASIA
11.
Dive Site: Manta Point
Type: Atoll reef
Encounters: Mantas, sometimes in cyclone formations!
Location: North Malé Atoll
Country: Maldives
12.
Dive Site: Victory Wreck
Type: Shipwreck
Encounters: Groupers, sea turtles, schools of fish
Wakatobi is one of the most celebrated dive destinations on the planet, and has been called a “dream destination” by more than a few visitors, but what keeps Wakatobi at the top of so many divers’ lists? For starters, the private marine preserve created and supported by Wakatobi Resort is home to some of the most pristine and biodiverse coral reefs on the planet. Of the 40-plus locations regularly visited by the resort’s dive boats, some sites tend to rise above the rest, consistently making the lists of both staff and guests. And while we don’t like to play favourites, we are offering up a few examples that showcase the diversity and quality of Wakatobi’s underwater environment.
Before you can see what all the fuss is about, you’re likely going to rack up some air miles getting to this coral dreamland. Wakatobi sits on a small island in a remote corner of Indonesia in southeast Sulawesi. But unlike many out-of-the-way destinations, getting to the resort won’t require a string of puddle jumpers, inter-island ferries and taxi rides. Instead, arriving guests are met by the concierge staff at the Bali Airport, and from that moment they take care of everything, from the heavy-lifting, to coordinating transfers and scheduling overnight layovers. This allows guests to rest and refresh prior to boarding a direct mid-morning charter flight to Wakatobi’s private airstrip. On arrival, you can relax over lunch and plan an afternoon dive, knowing that your bags have been delivered to your bungalow or villa, and your scuba gear moved to the dive centre and made ready for use.
MORE FROM SHORE
Wakatobi’s House Reef is known around the globe, and often ranks among the world’s very best shore dives. Some 80m from shore, a shallow, coral-encrusted shelf transitions into a series of steep slopes and walls that plummet beyond the range of scuba. Entry to the House Reef is easy, as divers and snorkellers can make the short swim from shore, or descend stairs at the jetty. Pier pilings attract shoaling fish, and clustered nearby are dozens of anemones populated with iconic clownfish. The reef slope is covered with a dense coat of hard and soft corals, sea fans, sponges and tunicates, with overhangs that create resting places for resident turtles. Moving away from the jetty, divers and snorkellers have acres of coral slopes and shallows to explore.
The face of the drop-off is covered in an impressive collection of hard and soft corals, and large sponges while the shallows are prime hunting grounds for an even more diverse range of subjects. This expansive site is available to divers and snorkellers day and night, and on request “taxi boats” will ferry guests to more distant portions of the House Reef so they can leisurely make their way back to the jetty.
Left: Dive site Roma, Wakatobi Right: Just off the base of Wakatobi Resort’s jetty is the drop-off of the house reef wall
THE ZOO
Just a quick boat ride from the resort is one of the fishiest places in central Indonesia. Close to shore, a patch reef within a sand-bottom bay provides shelter for a wealth of interesting marine life. And a leisurely look among the corals will expose frogfish, ghost pipefish and leaf scorpionfish hiding in plain sight. Closer scrutiny may reveal smaller prizes such as hairy squat lobsters, while a survey of the bottom will yield bizarre burrowers such as the stargazer and the alien-like mantis shrimp. Check the mushroom anemones for their namesake mushroom pipefish, which is a small white pipefish with a triangular head that gives it the appearance of a small underwater python.
Zoo is a favourite site for night dives as well. Residents include frogfish, octopuses, ghost pipefish, mantis shrimp, leaf fish, funky hairy squat lobsters, and more. Later, under the cover of full darkness, a new range of nocturnal animals such as hunting cuttlefish, colourful flatworms and many species of lionfish scour the reef, including the elusive twinspot lionfish. Bobtail squid and octopuses are found here, and dive lights will reveal thousands of glowing eyes from the various shrimps and crabs that hang out in just about every crack and crevice.
At the dive site Zoo, a school of two-spot snappers (lutjanus biguttatus) with a small school of yellowfin goatfish (mulloidichthys vanicolensis)
THE BLADE BECKONS
Wakatobi offers something for all. Divers can spend relaxing hours on shallow reefs and exploring sheltered bays, or drop on coral-covered pinnacles that attract large schools of fish. Reefs that begin very close to the surface drop to depths of more than 100m, creating opportunities for long multi-level profiles, and providing extended-range divers with new opportunities. The unique site known as Blade is within range of the resort’s day boats. A distinct formation consisting of a row of elongated parallel seamounts rises from a deeper ridge to within two metres of the surface. When seen in profile, the entire formation resembles the serrated teeth of a giant knife set on edge, hence its name.
The individual pinnacles are long but quite narrow. Divers drifting close to the surface can actually view both sides of the formations simultaneously from above. Blade is about as picturesque as it gets, complete with colourful arrays of giant sponges and sea fans that can at times grow to upwards of 2–3m (6–10ft) across.
Red whip corals grow thick on the steep sides of each pinnacle, providing fantastic photo opportunities. Multi-hued crinoids can often be seen perched on the tips of gorgonians, extending their tentacles to catch passing morsels of food. Mild currents allow divers to drift from peak to peak, evoking a sensation of weightless flight. All in all, Blade is an experience not soon forgotten. The dive yacht Pelagian carries guests on one-week excursions through the Wakatobi archipelago, spending some quality time at Blade, as well as the bays of southern Buton Island for world-class muck diving.
The top of the site Blade is as picturesque as it gets
BRING THEM ALONG
Divers won’t have to leave significant others and children at home, as the resort also offers a range of water, beach and land activities, and is family friendly. Bungalows are large enough to accommodate families, and there are one and two-bedroom waterfront villas offering even more space. A nanny programme frees up new parents, and Bubblemaker and junior diving programmes let youngsters experience the underwater world. The same premier reefs that wow divers are equally inviting to snorkellers who are welcomed aboard boats headed to any site with a shallow component, and are given equal respect. This creates unique opportunities for non-diving members of the family to join in the fun.
And finally, in an era when going green is the right thing to do, Wakatobi remains a regional leader in conservation and environmental protection. The resort’s award-winning Collaborative Reef Conservation Programme was among the first of its kind, creating a new paradigm for sustainable tourism. The resort operates recycling and waste-water mitigation stations sponsors weekly village cleanups that involve up to 100 local people, and works closely with local communities and governments on the issues of waste management. The resort owners have been instrumental in bringing clean solar power to the region, and most recently tied Wakatobi into a local solar cooperative that supplies most of the property’s needs during daylight hours.
Want to learn more about Wakatobi Resort, or perhaps schedule your own visit to their little piece of paradise? Visit www.wakatobi.com, where you can complete a quick trip inquiry, or e-mail their team at: office@wakatobi.com.
To read the rest of this article, check out our latest issue of Scuba Diver Issue 2/2019, Volume 115 here or download a digital copy here.
Welcome to the Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park on Singer Island, Florida. As you scan the car park, just a couple of metres away from the water’s edge, you begin to realise there must be something very special about this place. Countless people are donning dive gear. A parade of dive flags make their way into the shallow water.
Phil Foster Park lies between the mainland and Singer Island – a tiny spit of sand in the middle of the Intracoastal Waterway. Part of its secret lies about a kilometre south of the park – the Lake Worth inlet. This inlet is the passageway into the vast Atlantic Ocean. With the ebb and flow of the tides, and the rich Gulf Stream just a couple of kilometres offshore, nutrients and marine life are constantly nourishing this unique dive site.
Secret’s Out
For countless years this was a secret spot for the locals. Palm Beach, Florida was vaguely on the scuba diver’s map. When the words scuba diving and Florida were mentioned, it was the Florida Keys where everyone headed. But word soon leaked out about the uniqueness of the dive at Phil Foster Park and the amazing creatures that are found here.
Numerous species of seahorse, frogfish, nudibranch, ray, batfish, octopus, jawfish, stargazer and many others are regularly seen. Even manatees and sea turtles are often encountered. The list of unique creatures seems to grow on a weekly basis. This is a fish nerd’s paradise where the diving is free and less than six metres deep.
The dive site is separated into two distinctive parts: the smaller bridge on the southeastern side, and the larger bridge on the southwestern side of the park. Both areas are separated by a long stretch of beach containing a snorkelling trail and the public’s guarded swimming area.
To read the rest of this article, check out our latest issue of Scuba Diver Issue 4/2013, TTL No.7 here or download a digital copy here.
“That was just incredible!” gushes Maria Gomez, a volunteer diver from Medellin, Colombia. We’ve just surfaced from a coral outplanting dive at Pickles Reef in Key Largo, Florida. Maria and I successfully put 10 endangered staghorn corals back onto the reef. The other dive teams on our boat also restore 10 corals each. High fives are heard as we announce our totals: 40 corals restored for the day. “It feels great to use your best hobby for a good purpose, doesn’t it?” adds Maria.
Our boat glides along the turquoise blue water back towards land, and Kyle Krause, a local 17-year-old tells me, “It was a new view of things. Really cool.” He’s right. It’s not every day we get to touch an endangered species, let alone act to help increase its chances of long-term survival in the wild.
Maria and Kyle are just two of many divers from around the world who come to the Florida Keys looking to scuba dive but also looking to do more with their time underwater. They join us at the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) on one of our dive programmes to figure out what that “more” might mean to them.
Left: Volunteer divers assist CRF staff Right: Structures known as “coral trees” help grow corals two or three times faster (Photos by Alexander Neufeld of Coral Restoration Foundation)
These programmes – unique, one-day dive experiences – transform interested citizens into coral restoration warriors and ocean stewards helping to restore the imperiled Florida Reef Tract. The morning starts with an information session and hands-on training. We CRF staff and interns show a series of pictures of iconic Carysfort Reef, once revered as the jewel of the Caribbean and it begins to sink in: Our reefs are in danger. There’s just one to two percent of the historical cover of staghorn and elkhorn corals left. But why? There’s discussion of all the local and global factors contributing to this coral crisis, from agricultural runoff to irresponsible boaters and divers to global warming.
To read the rest of this article, check out our latest issue of Scuba Diver Issue 2/2019, Volume 115 here or download a digital copy here.
Marissa Stein, Communications Manager for the Coral Reef Alliance, provided a checklist for divers to make sure that the operators you choose to dive with are really committed to sustainable diving tourism.
A sustainable operator should:
Ensure and educate on sustainable diving practices, such as:
1. Using the buddy system
2. Maintaining proper buoyancy
3. Not touching or standing on reefs
4. Using properly fitted equipment needed
Protect wildlife by:
1. Not touching corals or coral reef animals
2. Not feeding or providing food to attract animals
3. Rotating among dive sites with fragile habitats
Practise sustainable boating behaviours, such as:
1. Using mooring buoys when available
2. Complying with all local, national, and international laws and regulations
3. Refraining from littering or polluting the water
4. Using boat ramps and piers when available
5. Taking proper measures to anchor boats into sand instead of coral reefs when necessary
Limit waste and pollution by:
1. Maintaining a zero-waste policy
2. Properly securing and disposing of trash
3. Maintaining equipment to prevent hazardous waste from entering the marine environment
4. Complying with local, national, and international laws regulating the disposal of sewage
Support and encourage community engagement and ownership by:
1. Complying with any user fee systems that are in place
2. Complying with local regulations and guidelines
3. Educating on the environmental, physical, and biological features of the sites they visit
4. Providing guests with information about local practices and sustainability efforts
5. Employing local staff where possible
6. Enter revenue sharing or shareholder agreements with the local community
Maintain a reef-friendly landscape by:
1. Using design techniques that reduce water runoff
2. Limiting use of pesticides and herbicides
3. Planting native plants that do not require high-levels of irrigation
4. Using recycled water for irrigation
Reduce water usage by:
1. Using water-saving fixtures such as low-flow showerheads and toilets
2. Adjusting irrigation schedules
3. Properly maintaining all HVAC and pool equipment
Purchase sustainable products such as:
1. Paper goods made from recycled materials
2. Environmentally-friendly cleaners
3. Contracting services with green providers
Reduce waste by:
1. Reducing the amount of waste produced
2. Recycling
3. Reusing, repurposing, or donating materials
Educate guests through:
1. Outreach materials
2. Signage
3. Presentations
4. Activities and events
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 3/2015, AA No.82) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Underwater360 scours the earth for the most extreme dives on the planet and locate the spots where the most endangered species of marine animals can be found.
The World of Extreme Dives
A. VALHALLA MISSILE SILO, TEXAS, USA
Get your nuke on: Drop into a 40-metre-deep pool of 14ºC water that used to be a storage facility for nuclear-tipped Atlas missiles.
B. CENOTE ESQUELETO, “TEMPLE OF DOOM”, MEXICO
Extreme even for a cenote, with no ladder, entry is a jump into a dark, seven-metre-wide hole, and a potentially disorientating mix of salt and fresh water.
C. BLUE HOLE, LIGHTHOUSE REEF, BELIZE
The famous, perfectly circular, inky blue hole drops to more than 140 metres, like a portal to another world.
D. LAKE TITICACA, PERU
Dive at the top of the world, at 3,810 metres above sea level. This is practically the highest altitude dive on the planet that is accessible to recreational divers.
E. Y-40 MONTEGROTTO TERME, PADUA, ITALY
The deepest pool in the world, at 40 metres, stole the title from Belgium’s Nemo-33. Immerse yourself in in deep water from underground thermal springs!
F. PRINCESS ALICE BANK, AZORES, PORTUGAL
Powerful deep-sea currents meet at this remote seamount. Stunning visibility and megafauna await experienced divers.
G. WHITE SEA, RUSSIA
Highly saline water that can hit temperatures of minus 2ºC, and currents that can sculpt ice into magical forms, green water and alien-like life forms make this a unique destination.
H. HE DEAD SEA, ISRAEL
Feel like you are on another planet, diving hot and dense water, with ice-like salt deposits. This is possibly the lowest (over 400m below sea-level) and saltiest place you could dive.
I. LUE HOLE, DAHAB, EGYPT
More than 100 people have died in attempts to traverse the tunnel between the hole and the open water at this infamous dive site.
J. MCMURDO SOUND, ANTARCTICA
A trip to the world’s coldest and most remote dive destination will set you back many thousands of dollars. But breaking through the thick ice is rewarded with stunning visibility and unique marine life.
K. SAN FRANCISCO MARU, TRUK LAGOON, MICRONESIA
As extreme as wrecks get here, this passenger cargo ship rests in 64 metres of water, one of dozens of Japanese ships sunk by U.S. forces during Operation Hailstone. This is an advanced dive that needs serious training.
L. OLWOLGIN CAVE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
A “muddy pool” in the middle of nowhere hides bizarre underwater topography. A mixture of salt and fresh water means the visibility is poor, and, in a maze of passages this makes for one extreme cave dive.
Eleven Ocean Species On the Brink
1. MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL
Monachus monachus, with a population of just 350–450, are the most endangered pinnipeds in the world. Once hunted for skins, and despite being able to dive up to 100 metres, depleted food sources are just one of many threats they face today.
2. RIVER SHARK
River sharks of the genus Glyphis are possibly the most critically endangered of all shark species, with their habitats directly and regularly affected by human activity. Most have barely been studied before they are disappearing.
3. VAQUITA
With fewer than 100 left, these tiny porpoises, Phocoena sinus, are some of the world’s most endangered cetaceans. Found exclusively in the Gulf of California, they were only described by science in 1958.
4. KEMP’S RIDLEY TURTLE
One of the smallest and most endangered of all the turtles (which is really saying something), Lepidochelys kempii populations are slowly recovering from an estimated low of just 1,000 nesting females in the mid-1980s.
5. BELUGA STURGEON
Critically endangered due to demand for their “roe”, which is eaten as caviar, the Huso huso is also the largest European freshwater fish – the largest one ever caught measured over seven metres long, unsurprising when you consider they can live for more than 100 years.
6. BLUEFIN TUNA
Commercial fishing has driven tuna populations to the brink of collapse, with Thunnus maccoyii, southern bluefin, listed as critically endangered. These fish grow to an average of two metres long, and reach speeds of up to 70km/hour.
7. SAWFISH
The nocturnal Pristidae family comprises seven species of ray, some of which are recorded to grow up to seven metres long. They are adapted to live in rivers, estuaries and the ocean: Their eyesight is relatively poor but their “saw” is highly sensitive.
8. ORNATE SLEEPER RAY
All we know about these electric rays. Electrolux addisoni comes from just a handful of sightings and specimens. They are endemic to a 300km-long strip of South African coast and their conspicuous colours advertise their “shocking” defense mechanism.
9. AMSTERDAM ALBATROSS
Nesting only on the tiny Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean, Diomedea amsterdamensis has a wingspan of almost 3.5 metres. Pairs mate for life but only produce one chick per season. There are likely fewer than 100 left.
10. CHINESE PADDLEFISH
There is a chance that the huge (up to seven-metre) Psephurus gladius is already extinct. As a result of the Gezhouba Dam and overfishing, none of these filter-feeding “elephant fish” have been seen in the Yangzte River since 2003.
11. GIANT SEA BASS
Jewfish or black bass, Stereolepis gigas, are now critically endangered due to overfishing, vulnerable due to their massive spawning aggregations that make them an easy target. It is thought they might be able to change their patterns of spots at will.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 6/2015, OP No.5) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Frolicking with
beluga whales
in a bizarre
experiment
designed by
Russian scientists
who believe
belugas dislike
artificial materials
such as clothing
and diving suits (Photo by Viktor Lyagushkin)
I WON THE TITLE of World Champion in 2006 and then again in 2008, the latter being memorable, having set a world record in the most difficult, but purest freediving discipline: Constant Weight No Fins. At the time that record was set, I had about 50 percent of my regular vital lung capacity due to an injury, which I sustained six months prior. The episode proved that freediving is more about the mental aspect rather than the physiological one.
I loved the water from childhood and it’s no wonder I eventually became a competitive swimmer, competing at an international level. I was a specialist in breast-stroke, so it must be why my favourite discipline is diving with having no fins. When I retired from competitive swimming, I tried scuba diving and fell in love with it. I remember it was an incredible moment to realise that you can “walk” and “breathe” underwater and to see the beauty of marine life… The ocean is an incredible world, which is so close to us and yet we know so little about it!
After 12 years of scuba diving, I became a freed-iver, for reasons unlike many others. You see, my scuba equipment was stolen. Then I thought, what a chance to start a new kind of communication with the water having no tanks and heavy equipment!
So, in a no choice situation, I had to try freediving and after the first week of a deep diving session, I realised that was the moment when I decided to dedicate myself to freediving – it was a moment experienced with complete harmony and calmness… At a depth of 42 metres, there were no external sounds, I couldn’t hear my breathing, my heart rate was very slow and there were no thoughts in my mind – it all became sharp and clear…
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 5/2013, Volume 128) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Every diver has a bucket list of dream islands. For me, the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean harbour a number of these idyllic destinations. The tropical atmosphere of the region is legendary where leisure and comfort beckon divers from afar. The welcoming local waters are crystal clear, perfectly warm, rich with life and varied terrain, as well as being home to a remarkable trove of World War II shipwrecks.
The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth of the USA, and are located at the northern end of Micronesia, approximately 2,000km south of Tokyo and 2,200km east of Manila. The Marianas consist of 14 islands stretching across more than 600km above the Western Pacific, just like a string of pearls scattered on the sea.
DIVING AMONG MOUNTAINS
The world-famous Marianas Trench is a stone’s throw away, with a maximum water depth of 11,034 metres – the deepest part of any ocean on Earth. In fact the islands themselves are the peaks of only a few mountains in that extraordinary submerged mountain range. The three main islands – Saipan, Tinian, and Rota Island – are blessed with sunshine throughout the year. With an average temperature of 29 degrees Celsius, and average sea temperatures of approximately 28 degrees Celsius, you can dive all year round, but the recommended season is from May to October.
For divers, the first questions that come to mind are likely: What are the most popular dive sites that must be visited and what marine life can be seen?First of all, no matter if it’s Saipan, Tinian or Rota, you can be assured of great visibility in any season, so you know you’re going to be happy. And while all three islands have very special cavern dive sites, Saipan’s Grotto is at the top of the list.
The famous submarine of Saipan (Photo by Yorko Summer)The sunken tank at Kilili Beach, Saipan (Photo by Yorko Summer)
SAIPAN
The Grotto’s unique cave terrain is arguably the most “prestigious” dive site in all of the Marianas, attracting both scuba divers and freedivers. There are three submerged tunnels and when you jump into the water, you can choose from the three large pockets that seem to transmit blue light from the sky above. The central tunnel is especially beautiful as it is adorned with many sea fans which hit peak density at around 22 metres. However, it is not easy to see such a fascinating underwater wonderland, because The Grotto is a shore dive. You’ll need to overcome more than 100 steps to reach The Grotto’s entry point, but believe me, if you can manage the trek it’s definitely worth the effort.
Even mermaids love Saipan! (Photo by Yorko Summer)
In the northeast of Saipan, there is another underwater cave that I personally like, called Spotlight. Around noon, a powerful beam of light enters the main opening above and illuminates the cavern. Like the name of the site, a diver can swim into this shaft of light and be transformed into the protagonist of a drama, performing on a stage. There is also a small chamber to the side of this famous location, where you can ascend to the surface, take off your mask and second stage, and take a look around and enjoy a quiet cavern, before diving back down and on with the rest of your dive. This dive site, however, does have seasonal restrictions, as it is less affected by wind and waves between May and October.
To read the rest of this article, check out our latest issue of Scuba Diver Issue 2/2019, Volume 115 here or download a digital copy here.
In-water skills are important for productive interactions with often elusive marine life. Here are a few tips that may accelerate the learning curve.
DIVE GEAR
Mask
The mask is probably the most significant piece of personal gear because it’s important to both see your subject clearly and have an unobstructed view through your camera housing’s viewfinder.an underwater photographer will likely prefer a low-volume mask with a black skirt. The low volume gets the eye closer to the viewfinder so the frame can be viewed at a single glance, preferably edge to edge, and the black skirt blocks extraneous light. A clear silicone mask lets in so much light that the contrast in the viewfinder glass is diminished, and detail is more difficult to discern. (Masks with side windows to enhance peripheral vision have the same problem.) A mask that doesn’t leak is crucial as well.
Regulator
Ease of breathing is important, of course, but a regulator that exhausts completely to the side prevents bubbles from percolating in front of the housing and interfering with vision. I prefer a
regulator with a knob to adjust breathing resistance according to the task. Exhaust bubbles can ruin the shot if I am shooting an overhead subject, so the ability to inhale softly without the regulator trickling gas is important. For that task I’d increase breathing resistance.
Buoyancy Compensator
A buoyancy compensator (BC) with the wings in the back minimises the volume along the front of the torso, which is useful when getting through tight places on the reef or on wrecks. Because underwater photography often requires travel, I try to find a lighter BC that still offers reasonable lift and durability. I prefer fewer hoses, so I like an inflator/regulator that eliminates the traditional spare second stage from my kit and allows me to breathe from it in an emergency while sharing my primary with another diver. The integrated inflator concept is de rigueur for a photographer whose hands are otherwise occupied with camera gear.
To read the rest of this article, check out our latest issue of Scuba Diver Issue 2/2019, Volume 115 here or download a digital copy here.
2,700 METRES
Mid Atlantic Ridge | The medusa is
Crossota millsae | 6 cm across | Drifting a few metres above the seafloor (Photo by David Shale)
(Photo by David Shale)
2,700 METRES Mid Atlantic Ridge | An enteropneust and was collected from the floor | A new species now known as Yoda purpurata | Never been collected and studied before (Photo by David Shale)
400–500 METRES Mid Atlantic: Fangtooth Fish (Anoplogaster cornuta) | A fairly common midwater fish found at this depth | About 12 cm in length (Photo by David Shale)
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 5/2014, Volume 134) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Founded by diving industry pioneer Bob Hollis in 1972, Oceanic is a provider of modern, reliable, accessible and easy-to-use dive equipment to recreational divers. Bon Hollis founded Oceanic to make innovative, reliable dive equipment accessible to every diver every year, everywhere. This philosophy is central to the values of Oceanic and is the main reason behind Oceanic’s continued excellence as a best-in-class, recreational dive brand.
In 1972, Hollis founded American Underwater Products, doing business as Oceanic. The company started out with a dozen diving products, including the Anchor Shack’s photo line. After four years, Hollis took a big leap forward when he acquired Farallon, a manufacturer in nearby Belmont. That acquisition instantly gave Oceanic a full line of diving equipment, with an innovative line of instrumentation products.
“I saw digital instrumentation as the key to the future of diving,” explains Hollis. “Divers need to quickly and accurately calculate many variables, such as their depth, safe dive times, and decompression requirements to avoid the bends.”
After the acquisition, Oceanic went to work researching and developing radically new instruments. In 1981, the company introduced the DataMax, the first mechanical depth gauge with automatic digital timer. The product was an instant hit and propelled Oceanic to the forefront of dive equipment suppliers.
In the early 1980s, Hollis helped introduce the concept of an electronic dive computer to the industry. These sophisticated instruments track, calculate, and display a wealth of critical information for divers, including dive time and depth, ascent rate, air consumption, nitrogen absorption, and other essential information needed to dive safely. The dive computer revolutionized diving safety and is considered a mandatory piece of equipment for all divers.
Designing reliable and easy-to-use dive equipment goes to the heart and soul of Oceanic’s ethos. Oceanic is constantly thinking, developing, building and testing products that make diving better. The team at Ocean doesn’t just use their own products, they feel responsible for them.
In 2017, Oceanic was acquired by Huish Outdoors, a leader in connecting people with the best brands in dive. Oceanic will continue to develop the most innovative dive products and technologies in pursuit of advancing the dive industry like Bob Hollis did when he founded the company in 1972.
Oceanic is a global dive leader that appeals to all levels of divers who are seeking a brand that will support their discovery of the best sport in the world. Wherever diving is available around the world, Oceanic is there.
Whip coral goby, Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III, f/4.5, 1/60s, ISO100 (Photo by James Costello)
Brunei is more likely to conjure images of oil fields and grand mosques, but the tiny sultanate is also home to some of Southeast Asia’s most surprising dive sites. Wreck lovers and macro enthusiasts have plenty to occupy them, with numerous shipwrecks and a plethora of tiny critters to choose from. On some deep dives in unfavourable visibility, it’s an ideal destination to put your camera’s autofocus and low-light capabilities to the test.
On my recent trip to the country to do some teaching at one of the local dive centres, I was given the opportunity to try out the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III. The first Canon zoom compact camera to boast a large APS-C size sensor, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III features 24.2-megapixel resolution, a useful 24–72mm (equivalent) built-in lens, and the Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus system found in Canon’s DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Partnered with the company’s dedicated underwater housing (WP-DC56), the camera seemed to have all the specifications needed to tackle Brunei’s challenging waters.
Depth-rated up to 40 metres (130 feet), compact, and comfortable to hold, Canon’s underwater housing puts the PowerShot G1 X Mark III’s important controls within easy reach of your right thumb, with your index finger easily accessing the zoom and shutter buttons. Adjusting for flash, macro shooting, and white balance are just one press away. I found I only had to move my hand when I wanted to adjust the aperture, by rotating the knob on the front right of the case.
Discarded live rounds, American Wreck, Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III, f/5.6, 1/60s, ISO100 (Photo by James Costello)
During my dives, the visibility was rather challenging due to a recent full moon, and there were plenty of suspended particulates in the water, making photography more difficult. However, even with the tough diving conditions, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III was still able to produce some great shots of the macro life around the wrecks. Many of the wrecks are from wartime and have to be approached with care.
Making use of the camera’s macro mode, I was able to get in close to small animals like gobies and nudibranchs to nicely fill the frame, with the camera’s impressive autofocus system locking onto subjects with ease. With its large, high-resolution sensor, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III produced shots with a level of detail and dynamic range unlike other high-end compact cameras, and I was able to crop images without sacrificing quality.
Whip coral goby, Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III, f/4.5, 1/60s, ISO100 (Photo by James Costello)
Back on the boat, I loved the PowerShot G1 X Mark III’s ability to transfer photos via Wi-Fi to my laptop or phone, which made it a breeze to closely review images and share images with my fellow divers aboard. Encased in the WP-DC56 underwater housing, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III offers impressive performance and a wide range of features that make it ideally suited to the most difficult underwater scenarios – and proved to be more than capable of taking on Brunei’s tricky photo subjects.
Canada’s picturesque province of British Columbia is a whitewater paddler’s paradise – as well as top cold-water dive destination Equipment: Nikon D2X, Nikon 10.5mm fisheye, Aquatica housing Settings: f/4, 1/500s, ISO200 (Photo by Daryl Leniuk)
Diving, Australia
There’s perhaps no better destination than Australia for having amazing nature to photograph both above and below water. The big, the small, the weird, and the wonderful – Down Under has it all! Australia has the largest reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, but the diving does not end there. Amazing diving can be found all around this huge continent.
From the giant, friendly cod fish that love a good cuddle in the northeast and surprise visits from curious minke whales, to leafy and weedy sea dragons in the south and almost-guaranteed
whale shark encounters in the east, there are plenty of reasons why every diver has Australia on their dive wish list. And it’s not just the big stuff: there are hundreds of different fish species, colourful anemones with clownfish, nudibranchs, and much more.
Photo by Stephen Whitesell. Canon EOS-1D Mark II, 17–35mm lensat 18mm, custom housing, f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO320
For Aussies, scuba diving is just one of many ways to get your adrenaline pumping off the spectacular coastlines of this sportobsessed country. Kitesurfing is another, and Western Australia is a great place to find loads of top-class locations. There are spots for all levels of rider, from beginner flat-water sites like Shoal Water Bay to expert-only waves like Margaret River. Kitesurfing is best in the summer months, from November to February, when the winds are the most consistent.
As a photographer, staying well positioned with respect to the rider, yet out of the way is a balance. But being prepared, anticipating the moves of the athletes, while keeping an eye on the roll of the waves is vital to getting the shot. And as always, in Australia, keeping an eye on Mother Nature is not a bad idea as well.
Equipment & Exposure: Canon EOS-1D Mark II, 17–35mm lens at 18mm, custom housing, f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO320
By Stephen WhitesellSurfing, Bali
Photo by By Tommy Schultz. Canon EOS-5D Mark II, 70–200mm lens at 109mm, LiquidEye water housing, telephoto zoom port, f/8, 1/1000s, ISO400
Big wave surf photography is all about calculating risks and rewards. Swim close enough to the action and you’ll capture the emotion of surfers doing their magic on an Indian Ocean canvas. Swim too close and a five-metre wall of that same canvas is going to take you to Davy Jones’ locker. You’re keeping an eye on the complicated chess game that’s playing out in the lineup, as surfers, stand-up-paddle riders, and boogie boarders jockey for pole position before the next set darkens the horizon line.
It’s not like this every day. Bali surfers wait for huge storm systems in the Antarctic to generate powerful swells that can take seven to ten days to finally arrive at the island’s famous surf spots. Conversations revolve around when the next one is going to hit and which surf break is going to be firing. It’s the nerdy side of surfing that I never knew existed before I picked up a board in Bali and dived into the game. Who would have guessed that a surfer dude has to be an amateur oceanographer to catch the best waves?
Equipment & Exposure: Canon EOS-5D Mark II, 70–200mm lens at 109mm, LiquidEye water housing, telephoto zoom port, f/8,
1/1000s, ISO400
By Tommy Schultz
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 6/2013, TTL No.8) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Photo courtesy of Green Fins, Reef-World Foundation.
Green Fins is a UN Environment initiative, internationally coordinated by The Reef-World Foundation, which aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally-friendly guidelines to promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry.
The Reef-World Foundation – the international coordinators of Green Fins – is pleased to announce Antigua and Barbuda has become the first English speaking country in the western hemisphere to implement the Green Fins initiative. The country is the 10th government worldwide to officially adopt Green Fins and the second in the Caribbean.
Antigua and Barbuda, which has a population of just 100,000, received 285,000 overnight visitors and 1,000,000 cruise ship tourists in 2018. It is estimated there are over 30 businesses which provide either snorkelling or diving activities to these tourists. Reef-World hopes the initiative will significantly reduce the environmental impact on coral reefs by reaching 10,000 tourists in the next year.
Photo courtesy of Green Fins, Reef-World Foundation.
The country now has a national team of 2 senior Green Fins Network leaders, 3 Green Fins assessors and 3 dive schools joining the global network of more than 560 trained and assessed Green Fins member dive and snorkel operators. Following a week of training by Reef-World, a national team comprised of the Ministry of Tourism and the Fisheries Division are now certified to recruit, train and conduct assessments of new Green Fins members in the country. This involves providing training about the ecology and threats to coral reefs, simple and local everyday solutions to these threats and Green Fins’ environmental standards to dive and snorkel operators.
Photo courtesy of Green Fins, Reef-World Foundation.
The newly trained Green Fins Assessors will be carrying out robust assessments to evaluate the environmental impact of dive and snorkel operators and providing one-to-one consultation to help the business develop and implement best practice to improve the sustainability of the marine tourism industry. The individual feedback and support provided – which includes practical, low-cost alternatives to common threats to the marine environment such as anchoring, provision of single use plastics such as plastic bottles and lack of awareness to existing rules and regulations – is based on each company’s area of highest negative impact on the reef, as determined by the assessment.
Green Fins provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance. Reducing diving and snorkelling-related damage to sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, helps to make them more resilient to other local and wider stressors, such as over fishing or run-off from land containing pollutants and plastic debris as well the impacts from climate change, such as rising sea temperatures.
The newly qualified Green Fins assessors, who are now certified to conduct assessments of Green Fins dive centres in Antigua and Barbuda, are Trevor Joseph – Fisheries Division, Sophia Steele – Environmental Awareness Group / Fauna and Flora International and Akeem Daley – Ministry of Tourism. The dive operators who have already been trained and certified by the Green Fins initiative are: Antigua Reef Riders, Dive Carib and Jolly Dive. There has also been significant interest from other operators who have signed the Membership form and are looking forward to their training and assessment.
The implementation of Green Fins in Antigua and Barbuda was made possible through a partnership with the ethical cosmetic company Caudalie, facilitated by the 1% for the Planet movement. In addition to Caudalie helping the environment by dedicating 1% of its global sales to funding reforestation projects, the company has recently released a new reef-safe sunscreen range. By creating a range of sun care products which do not include the harmful chemicals Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, Caudalie is helping to increase the resilience of coral in areas of high tourism.
JJ Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to have received the funding from Caudalie that now allows us to implement Green Fins in Antigua and Barbuda and ensure the sustainability of both the programme and the marine tourism industry. Tourism has been growing steadily for several years and the government has shown a strong desire to pro-actively protect the country’s coral reefs and marine life through the implementation of Green Fins’ best practices and standards. This funding that now makes expansion into Antigua and Barbuda possible will not only significantly improve the diving and snorkelling industry’s conservation impact in the region but is also a huge step in the global expansion of the Green Fins network.”
Hon. Charles Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister for Tourism and Economic Development, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity. I really applaud the initiative. I congratulate the fisheries department for collaborating with us. It is very important for tourism but even more it is important for us as a people.”
Photo courtesy of Green Fins, Reef-World Foundation.
Vashti Casimir, Antigua and Barbuda’s Senior Tourism Officer Responsible for Sustainable Tourism, added: “We’re hoping that through this programme we’ll have more diving and snorkelling businesses coming on board to ensure the practices across that industry remain environmentally friendly.”
The funding to implement Green Fins in Antigua and Barbuda has been provided by the French cosmetic company Caudalie. The company has recently partnered with Reef-World through the 1% for the Planet movement thanks to consultative advice Caudalie received from PUR Project.
Tricia Lovell, Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer at the Fisheries Division, said: “We recognise our coral reefs are under a myriad of threats; not just from use but also from larger issues like climate change and so we figured it would be best to look at ways of improving the way we use the system. This week is just the start and a lot can come out of it and benefit the marine environment.”
For more information, images or an interview with a Reef-World Foundation spokesperson, please contact:
The Reef-World Foundation is a UK registered charity that operates internationally to support governments and communities in sustainable consumption and production of coastal resources and marine life. Reef-World is a technical implementing agency of the UN Environment for the Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly SCUBA diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally.
Green Fins is a proven approach to reduce the threats and pressures from the SCUBA diving and snorkelling industry such as anchoring, chemical pollution and diver damage to coral reefs through providing training and tools to the businesses who are in a position to act. Look for the Green Fins logo when booking your next dive trip.
Here’s looking
at you kid: The
dream of truly
being like a fish! (Photo by Alan Bodner)
SCUBA DIVERS, crews of conventional (non-nuclear) submarines and aquanauts living in underwater habi-tats have several things in common. One of them is reliance on compressed air cylinders for air supply. This has several drawbacks, the most obvious one being time limit.
What if we split the water molecules into separate oxygen and hydrogen atoms? That’s a great idea, and in fact this method is used by nuclear submarines. Only problem with this is that it needs a lot of energy and you literally need to carry a nuclear reactor on-board to do it.
A diagram showing the workings of the Like-A-Fish system
The best solution is much simpler: if you want to be with the fish, then do like the fish. Let us look at a fish tank. What do we see? Bubbles! In aquariums, the bubbles are artificially created to replenish the air dissolved in the water, which the fish breathe. In the ocean you don’t need a bubbler, because the wave action naturally supplies air that is dissolved and distrib-uted throughout the seas. The fact is that ocean water contains about 98 percent H2O, while the remaining two percent is dissolved air, and this is what the fish use for breathing. Separating dissolved air is much easier than splitting a water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen, and requires a lot less energy.
This is what the Like-A-Fish project is about: sepa-ration of dissolved air from the water for breathing purposes. The separation is performed with a mechanical device, after which the air removed from the water is directed to a chamber for a person to breathe.
The science behind the separation is based on a phenomenon that all of us witness on a daily basis, which is akin to opening the cap from a bottle of soda (or beer). When the cap is removed, we witness air bubbles rising and escaping out from the soda. We call this “fizz”.
This phenomenon occurs because of a law in chemistry called Henry’s Law, which states that the amount of gas that can be dissolved in a liquid is proportional to the pressure on the liquid. The soda is bottled under relatively high pressure. When we remove the cap, we lower the pressure. This creates a state of “over-saturation”, which causes some of the gas to escape from the liquid. In our project, we use a centrifuge to lower the pressure on the liquid.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 5/2013, Volume 128) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Lucky blue water divers may get a special bonus: a blue whale passing below them Equipment: Canon EOS-5D Mk III, Canon 16–35mm lens at 16mm
Settings: f/7.1, 1/250s, ISO640
IT WAS NOT long ago that I was utterly devoted to my macro lenses when I dived locally. I worked hard to build a portfolio of colourful local nudibranchs and blennies, largely ignoring the fact that there were photographic subjects in local waters that were greater than three inches in diameter.
This is not an unusual pursuit. It’s a fact that incredible small marine life abounds in California while great visibility does not, and it is very difficult to produce a lovely wide-angle image on days when the water colour is more muddy brown than Caribbean blue. However, a few missed opportunities were enough to convince me that I needed to change my outlook: first was a friendly sunfish approaching for a scratch, next a harbour seal biting at my fins, and finally a huge sea nettle jellyfish pulsing past me on my safety stop. I decided that enough was enough. I dug out my shiny dome port and purchased the widest fisheye lens available, and I never looked back.
It isn’t all sun balls and shark reflections. When we mount fisheye lenses to our cameras around here, we’re well aware that we chance coming home with nothing to show for a day on the water besides fish butts and backscatter. The rewards, however, can be worth the risk, for the Golden State offers some of the most incredible and varied wide-angle imaging opportunities in the world.
A cabezon (a member of the sculpin family) rests among anemones on an offshore oil platform Equipment: Canon EOS-5D Mk II, Canon 8–15mm lens at 15mm, dual Sea&Sea YS250 strobes Settings: f/14, 1/100s, ISO320
Wrecks and Rigs
The 366-foot (112-metre) HCMS Yukon is the most well-known wreck dive in Southern California, though its fame has rightfully spread internationally. Located a short distance outside of San Diego’s Mission Bay, this purpose-sunk Canadian destroyer can provide multiple days’ worth of incredible diving. Its superstructure and propellers are famously covered with brilliant corynactis anemones and clusters of giant white metridium anemones, and large schools of blacksmith commonly swirl above the structure.
Although the Yukon tends to attract the most attention, plenty of other artificial reefs in the area deserve equally lavish praise. Among our favourites are the Long Beach oil platforms, dive sites that are accessible out of Los Angeles-area harbours. Anemones, sponges, and tangles of starfish and brittle stars coat the intimidating steel beams, and close inspection can reveal a multitude of fish life, such as cabezon (a type of sculpin), scorpionfish and greenlings.
A sea lion is followed closely by her tiny pup underneath an offshore oil platform Equipment: Canon EOS-5D Mk II, Canon 8–15mm lens at 15mm, dual Sea&Sea YS250 strobes Settings: f/7.1, 1/250s, ISO320
California sea lions love to buzz unsuspecting divers, and they are often in pairs or small groups, making for wonderful photo opportunities. Perhaps best of all, since these towering structures are located in the open ocean – extending to depths of between 250 and 700 feet (60–215 metres) – they also offer divers a chance to see swirling schools of baitfish and a wide array of pelagic creatures, such as jellyfish and molas.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 6/2013, TTL No.8) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
An amazing natural phenomenon that sees millions of tiny cells spewing out of effervescent living corals, this annual event is too good to pass up. We trace the triggers that set off spawning at distinctive times around the world.
1.FLOWER GARDEN BANKS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY, GULF OF MEXICO
7–10 nights following full moon (Aug) The corals coordinate their efforts such that only one species is spawning at a time
2. THE FLORIDA KEYS, US
➢ Aug/Sep after full moon
➢ The Elkhorn coral and Staghorn coral, both protected under the Endangered Species Act, can be seen spawning here
3. CAYMAN ISLANDS, WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA
➢ Aug/Sep after full moon
➢ Star coral is the most abundant species, with colonies that spawn simultaneously and within a few seconds
4. BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA (CARIBBEAN COAST)
➢ 3–9 days after full moon (Sep)
➢ 5–7 days for most common species
➢ Several species spawn at the same time, yet the corals are able to avoid crossbreeding – a phenomenon that is still being investigated
5. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
➢ Feb–Oct
➢ Despite having been through two bands of warm water (El Niño), which can kill several corals, the reef is now recuperating
6. GULF OF EILAT, RED SEA
➢ Jun–Sep
➢The majority of corals spawn in summer, when algae populations decline and there is more space on reef flats
7. KENYA, AFRICA
➢ Oct–Apr
➢➢Calm winds allow corals to reproduce before the eggs and sperm disperse, thus corals on Kenya’s coast, which has months of light winds, have long spawning periods
8. MALDIVES
➢ Mar–Apr
➢ It is the norm for mass spawning events to take place in two subsequent months rather than one event a year
9. KOH TAO, THAILAND
➢ Mar
➢ Programmes are in place to capture coral eggs and sperm during spawning, for selective breeding and eventual restoration of the local reefs.
10. SINGAPORE
➢ Mar/Apr after a full moon
➢➢Singapore’s reefs have almost half as many coral species as the Great Barrier Reef, but are only 0.01% its size
11. DONGSHA ATOLL NATIONAL PARK, TAIWAN
➢ Apr
➢➢Formed over 10 million years of reef building, this is the only fully developed coral atoll in Taiwan’s waters
12.OKINAWA, JAPAN
➢ May–Sep
➢ Some species spawn over two or three months, so there is less synchrony, but the Acropora species’ spawning is highly synchronised within the species
14. GUAM, MICRONESIA
➢ About a week after a full moon
(Jul)
➢ Since Guam’s wet season coincides with coral spawning and reduces fertilisation rates, researchers collect eggs to fertilise and culture before transplanting them to the reef
15. HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
➢ Apr–Sep
➢ Hawaii is the only site where certain coral spawning can be observed during the day rather than the typical night phasing
16. NINGALOO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
➢ On/after full moon night (Mar)
➢ More than 200 species of corals spawn and the waters are filled with brightly coloured polyps
17. GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA
➢ After full moon
(Oct–Nov, inshore reefs)
(Nov–Dec, offshore,
northern, southern reefs)
➢ Mass coral spawning phenomenon (several species spawning simultaneously)
➢ Discovered in 1981
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 2/2014, Vol.131) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
All divers love to dive, sometimes they do so in spite of themselves. The following are in the list of NOs for safe diving:
Very serious head injury even in the remote past, epilepsy, active asthma, spontaneous pneumothorax, CNS (brain and spinal cord) disease, including tumours and previous CNS DCS, uncontrolled psychiatric disorders including drug abuse, very high blood pressure, heart failure and chronic pulmonary disease (including obstructive, tumour, infection or barotrauma).
Patients suffering from any of the above do not usually go on diving trips (though I have seen people dive with each one of them), but some conditions can develop after a diver has planned the trip:
Pregnancy is always contraindicated, for the safety of the mother and baby.
Recent surgery needs individual evaluation. Simple skin sutures, as from a cut, are a common concern. One should wait a few days at least after suture removal. It is never a good idea to dive with an open skin wound as these will infect and fester easily.
Respiratory tract and ear infections such as common cold or influenza. Also inability to perform the Valsalva manoeuvre (pop the ears).
Traveller’s gastritis or diarrhoea, if severe, can also be a problem, and one should wait until fever and bowel motions have stopped.
Acute alcohol intoxication is a common occurrence with divers! One should remember that even a couple of beers the night before carries a significantly increased risk for diving.
Any form of severe psychological distress or anxiety (such as receiving bad news) is also a relative contraindication, as a diver under these conditions will not react well in an emergency.
Photo by Stephen Frink, DAN
One of the most important and common of the relative contraindications is diabetes mellitus. If the condition is well controlled and stable, these patients can dive with relative safety. Different dive doctors give varying, sometimes complicated, advice. Personally, I like to advise the diver to do a single daily morning dive and omit the medication before the dive if their condition permits this. This eliminates the greatest single risk, which is a hypoglycaemic faint underwater. Divers with a history of ischemic heart disease (heart attack or angina) like diabetics need individual assessment. Some doctors will quote other factors such as gross obesity, deafness, blindness, physical handicaps or advanced age as disqualifying. I tend to disagree. As long as the diver/instructor knows their limitations well, these people can safely enjoy the sport too.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 4/2014, Vol.133) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
SITTING ON A DARK, lonely beach in Irian Jaya, watching the stars move across the sky, waiting to photograph a leatherback turtle, Larry McKenna began to wonder if one would ever appear. Then, almost imperceptibly, a break in the surf line signalled a leatherback hauling herself out onto the beach.
In search of the leatherbacks
It was during a dive trip to Raja Ampat, Indonesia more than 13 years ago that a discussion about photographing and videoing a leatherback turtle led to a meeting with the chief of a nearby village. The chief told Larry that there used to be hundreds of these giant turtles nesting on the village beach; so many piled over each other that the sand was hard to find. “Now”, he said, “We see very few. Can you help us?”
“I had a real desire to photograph this gigantic turtle; I asked the captain of the boat I had chartered to take us to that beach. He flat out refused,” Larry said.
Undaunted, Larry returned to Sorong alone, and rented a small boat with four outboard engines and several drums of fuel. After a rough eight-hour journey around the “Birds Head”, Larry reached what they thought was the right destination.
“None of us knew exactly where the turtles would come out of the sea; we were going by the description the chief had given me. The sun was setting, so we picked a spot and stopped, hoping we were in the right place,” Larry related. “As the night wore on, the boatmen wanted to return home, saying we would not see a turtle. I had to convince them that we would stay till morning. Not long after that, I heard someone say, ‘There is a big turtle and it is headed directly for us’.”
“I was transfixed as I watched this enormous turtle drag herself up onto the beach, begin to dig a nest and lay her eggs. I had goose bumps from the excitement. As I watched her, I named her Sophie, and as she turned to return to the sea I walked with her, talking to her as we went. Before disappearing into the surf, she looked directly at me and nodded her head. This encounter sparked a sense of inspiration in me to see ‘Sophie’ and her eggs survive.”
An organisation is hatched
Following a rigorous funding campaign, and largely thanks to organisations including Disney World-Wide Conservation Fund (DWCF), DEMA, Asian Diver, Aeris/Oceanic, Atomic Aquatic, the Charles Knopf Family Foundation and many global volunteers and donors including artist Wyland and photographer Michael Aw, Larry’s dream was realised: the founding of the Save Our Leatherbacks Operation, or S.O.L.O. SDAA
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 7/2015, No.84) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
James was born in the United Kingdom, with his first diving experience over 25 years ago in the cold, green waters of Cornwall, UK.
“Being able to see things I had only previously seen on TV, and experiencing weightlessness as only an astronaut can (made me fall in love with diving),” James revealed.
James knew he had found his calling when he realised that he “had become part of a small but special global community of others who also loved these experiences”.
Photo courtesy of James Costello
“Opportunity knocked when someone suggested (to me) to become a Divemaster and then an instructor. I realised the professional side of diving was something I greatly enjoyed – meeting and bringing strangers to distant shores, educating and showing them about ocean life,” added James on what made him pursue diving as a profession.
James moved to Singapore in 2001, and started his path to becoming a professional diver; gaining his Open Water Instructor license in 2006. James has a range of diving experience in varied conditions from four degrees centigrade in Tan Lake (The Great Wall) in China to 40 degrees centigrade in Baracuda Lake in Philippines. His passion is diving and teaching, as an SDI/TDI Instructor Trainer he has the pleasure of passing on his passion to divers of every level in the region.
James has stated that “strong motivation and love of diving” were the driving forces behind his sustained passion for the diving industry but after becoming an instructor, he got even more motivation from “seeing the effect” he had on people’s lives by passing on his enthusiasm for diving and the ocean.
There were, however, difficult challenges that he had to overcome in his long career in diving. One of them was complacency.
“After teaching hundreds of recreational divers and thousands of dives, I realised I had become too complacent about my own skills, it was all just easy! That was the trigger,” remarked James, “that made me take up Technical Diving and push myself and my skills further. The things I learnt made me come back and change the way I taught my recreational divers,” he added.
Looking out at the next 10 years of the diving industry, James has this to observation to share.
“The diving industry is on a slow decline and needs to be nudged back on track to grow. It’s lost some of the glamour of being a ‘dangerous’ sport as it is so mainstream now. With some clever marketing, we need to bring it back to being the ‘cool’ sport so we can see growth again.”
James pioneered the recreational Sidemount diving market in Singapore, and commercialised one of the first recreational Sidemount harnesses available. With his background in mechanical and electrical engineering, James is the chief designer for all of the house products at Diving Solutions Asia such as LED torches, Nitrox analyzers and Sidemount harnesses.
With more than 25 years of experience in diving, James had this little nugget of wisdom to share with our readers.
“Learn to sell yourself on experience, knowledge, skills; they are what make you unique. Understanding how you can best market these attributes (will help you) to achieve your dreams.”
The co-founder of Waikiki Dive Centre, John’s love of being in the water started when he was young. As he gradually moved into the ocean, the calmness of the sea along with the view of the amazing marine life in the ocean fuled his love for the ocean. John decided to go for the dive instructor course in 1994 in Hawaii. The clear blue waters of Hawaii and the thought of being able to pass on his diving knowledge inspired him to pursue diving as a career.
From a humble dive shop, John has steadily grown Wakikiki Dive through the years in order to serve his customers better. “Moving on from a diving centre to a flull-fledged retail store, we constantly strive to bring out a wide range of quality diving gear to the divers out there,” said John.
One of his most difficult challenges occurred when he had to move his shop while he was away. However, with the full support of his partner and the dedication of his crew, the entire company pulled together to complete the move while he was away.
With 25 years of experience in the diving industry under his belt, John sees a bright future for diving.
“New divers will continue to grow, and divers will also be more aware of arising environmental issues, thus protecting our ocean more.
As a parting note, John had this piece of advice for all passionate divers out there: “Never stop believing in yourself.”
Alex Tan and his partner founded Fishermen Scuba Studio in 1989. Their decision for a diving agency was done purely out of love and enthusiasm for the sport. Their goal was to let everyone enjoy the benefits and fun of diving.
Alex, who has eight years of experience in military as well as commercial diving, served as the only scuba diving Instructor Trainer in the company during that time.
Although diving is believed to be a dangerous hobby to adopt, Alex himself was determined to prove to everyone that accidents are usually being excessively emphasised and can be minimised if the diver is given quality training and mental uplifting throughout the entire process. Thus, fun can be enjoyed to the fullest while mishaps are practically reduced to none.
Over the years, under the leadship of Alex and his partner, the agency has received numerous recognitions from various large organizations, especially the Scuba Schools International (SSI). One of the highest awards presented to Fishermen was the 200 DIVERS/ANNUM award, which signified that Fishermen had certified more than 200 divers annually. However, the exact amount far exceeded that as the actual quantity of Open Water Divers being certified for the past 3 years alone went beyond 2000 people!
Polycephalys is the term given to creatures with more than one head. This rare nudi, with two heads, is “bicephalic”, and is likely to have
two separate brains. These mutations
normally occur as a result of the fusion of twin embryos (Photo by Aaron “Bertie” Gekoski)
I’ve always been a fan of big things: big hamburgers, big gestures of affection, big bangs. Even the occasional big woman. Most of the time this sentiment applies to the ocean. What greater thrill than connecting with a superpod of dolphins or witnessing a manta mating train?
However, sometimes it’s the smaller things in life that can provide the biggest surprises. Recently, whilst enjoying a cold beer (large, of course) after a day’s filming off Mabul Island, a rather intriguing story emerged. One of Scuba Junkie’s divemasters, Nas, had found a Nembrotha kubaryana with not one, but two heads.
Staff cameraman Will, and I clamoured to see the photographic evidence on a customer’s laptop. There it was: blurry, yet undeniable proof of a double-domed sea slug. Much Googling ensued: “two-headed nudbranch/nembrotha/sea slug” yielded no results of note. This was a truly a unique find, potentially a world-first. Will and I had to see it for ourselves.
To see the incredible encounter with this mutant nudi, and for more marine stories from around Borneo, check out the new online series Borneo From Below.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 5/2015, No.83) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
You may not be a town planner, a resort owner, a construction magnate or even a fisherman, but there are still things you can still do to help reduce the adverse impact of humans on corals.
1. DO support reef-friendly businesses when you go on holiday. Look for the passion on their website and in their publicity materials to tell them apart from those who are merely paying lip-service.
2. DON’T use chemically enhanced washing and cleaning products.
3. DON’T eat reef fish.
4. DON’T drop litter ANYWHERE!
5. DO pick up litter dropped by others.
6. DO conserve water.
7. DO learn more about coral reefs and their inhabitants and spread the word.
AND WHEN YOU DIVE OR SNORKEL…
DON’T touch anything! Really, no touchy-touchy! Apart from the fact that many of the reef structures are hard and sharp and cuts can easily become infected, a careless hand or fin stroke can have the same effect on the reef as a mini fish bomb. DON’T kick up sand near the reef either as stirred-up sediment can settle on the reef and cause the corals and algae to die from lack of sunlight, and finally… DO take a training course to learn how to fine tune your buoyancy and control your position in the water.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 2/2014, Vol.131) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Gideon Liew has been diving since 1984 and is passionate about scuba diving. He began his experience just like most divers, being in awe of diverse environments available in South East Asia from pristine reefs to mysterious wrecks. His love of the sport drove him to seek out a career in the diving industry in 1994, working with different dive stores and resort operations in the region.
He developed his experience diving frequently as a guide as well as teaching divers from island bases to liveaboard boats. His desire to dive beyond the limitation of “recreational” boundaries also moved him to seek out further education in exploring new environments, especially on deep wrecks in the South China Sea. His exposure to the GUE approach led him to further his experience diving in many other countries.
Gideon has been teaching diving fulltime since 1994 and has trained many divers. Starting as an instructor with Scuba Schools International, he has been certified with different agencies like PADI, TDI, DAN and finally GUE. He is now particularly interested in bringing diver education to new heights and is excited about introducing the philosophy of GUE diving to those who are interested.
Gideon remains actively diving and is concerned about the conservation of these environments. He presently travels and teaches GUE classes wherever he can.
Founded by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain in 1735 in his native village of Villeret, Blancpain is the world’s oldest watch brand and remained family-owned for almost 200 years.
In 1815, Frédéric-Louis Blancpain, grandson of Jehan-Jacques upgraded the Villeret workshops and modified Blancpain’s watch encasement design in addition to developing an ultra-thin construction. In 1830, Frédéric-Louis’ son renamed the company Fabrique d’horlogeris Emile Blancpain and started building what will eventually become the largest watch manufacturer in Villeret.
In 1859, Louis-Elysée Piquet started his watchmaking workshop in Vallée de Joux and transformed the old mill at Le Brassus. This is where Blancpain Artistic Crafts and workshops for complicated watches are presently located. After establishing his renown, he went on to create complicated movements for prestigious brands in Geneva and Switzerland.
In 1932, Frédéric-Emile Blancpain, the seventh generation of the Blancpain family running the business, passed away, leaving the company to his long-time assistant Betty Fiechter. Fiechter became the first female CEO of a leading watchmaking company. In 1950, Fiechter started co-managing Blancpain with her nephew Jean-Jacques Fiechter. They worked together for 20 years until Betty’s retirement.
In 1953, Blancpain created the world’s first modern diving watch with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. An avid diver, Jean-Jacques Fiechter pursued his passion to create a diving watch for critical military diving armed with the utmost levels of accuracy and functionality.
In 1961, Blancpain joined Omega, Tissot and Lémania in the Société Suisse pour l’Industrie (SSIH). In addition to Blancpain watches, Blancpain became the centre for production of movements for the SSIH group.
In 1982, Jacques Piguet, the heir to Louis Elysée Piquet’s family business bought Blancpain, which started serving as the watchmaking manufacturer to Frédéric Piguet’s watchmaking movements. In 1992, Jacques Piguet agreed to sell Blancpain and Frédéric Piguet to the Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and Watchmaking Industries, which is now known as the Swatch Group. In 2002, Marc A. Hayek became the president and CEO of Blancpain.
Fifty Fathoms is celebrating its 66th anniversary in 2019. Over the years, Blancpain has worked closely with passionate divers, scientists, environmentalists and photographers through the Blancpain Ocean Commitment to devote resources towards preserving the ocean. Blancpain strongly supports major scientific expeditions such as the Pristine Seas Expeditions and Laurent Ballesta’s Gombessa Expeditions. Each year, Blancpain releases Edition Fifty Fathoms, a publication dedicated to the underwater world and distinguished by the quality of its photographs. Since 2012, Blancpain has been the founding supporter of the World Ocean Summit, an “outcome driven dialogue between global leaders to bring fresh perspectives to the ocean agenda”.
May 19, 2019 – The second day of the Philippine Depth National Championship 2019 held at Freedive Superhome at Panglao Island in Bohol, Philippines saw seven more new national records being set as Thibaut Guignes (France), Park Jeong Min (South Korea), Marese Secades (Philippines), Yen Wanyu (Taiwan), Julian Jones (Philippines), Cezar Sayosay (Philippines) and Elaina O’Brien (Ireland) all set new national records for their respective countries.
The results for the second day of the Philippine Depth National Championship
After turning early on the first day, Thibaut Guignes was relaxed about his dive and had expressed absolute confidence that his renewed focus the next day would bring the results that he has achieved countless time during training. It was thus no surprise to all in attendance when Thibaut achieved a depth of 114metres to set a new national Free Immersion Apnea freediving record for France. Thibault was heartily congratulated by everyone at Freedive Superhome and his relaxed smile across his face confirmed to all that the issue was never in doubt in the first place.
Thibault Guines set a new freediving record in FIM for France on the second day of PDNC.
The third diver of the day, Park Jeong Min set a new FIM national record of 95 metres for South Korea after turning early on the first day. Welcomed to howling cheers on his return to the organiser’s table, Jeong Min was all smiles as he waved back to the crowd.
Park Jeong Min was warmmly received by the crowd and was all smiles.
“Actually, yesterday I had an early turn so I was disappointed,”Jeong Min revealed. “But today, I did well. It was a nice dive and was fun, so yeah, I’m happy.”
Park Jeong Min checking his oxygen saturation after his record-breaking dive.
“Actually, I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Ninety-five metres is a depth I’ve reached already in training so it’s not too hard for me. Yesterday, I was nervous but today my coach just told me, ‘relax, just relax and do the same (you’ve always done) at training’ so, yeah, just like training…and (I just did it).”
After the PDNC, Jeong Min will be organising a freediving workshop for his students and he’ll also be part of the field taking part in the upcoming Asian Feediving Cup where he intends to try for deeper depths.
After the end of the competition, all the competitors were convened at Bamboo Place, Alona in Panglao for the PDNC Awards Ceremony and closing party. Freedive Panglao owner and Chief Safety and Logistics Manager Stefan Randig addressed all the competitors, organisers and crew as he thanked AIDA Philippines, AIDA International, the safety crew, judges, medics, media team, volunteers and freedivers for their dedication to the event and for staying safe. Stefan also expressed his hopes in making PDNC an annual event and even extending the competition into an annual championship circuit in other parts of Philippines such as Manila that could cover more disciplines. Stefan also thanked the event’s sponsors and partners:
Bronze Sponsor: Kataw Freediving and Lifestyle Hub
Supporters: AIDA International, Department of Tourism Philippines, Dive Philippines
Media Partner: Underwater360
Charesse Salaysay was named the Best Overall Female Newcomer in the Filippino category. Upon receiving the award, Charesse had this to say, “This is just for fun and experience. I have been freediving for three years. This is my first time competing. I just wanted to try it for the experience.”
The Best Male Overall Performance in the Filippino category went to Oka Espenilla. who won with a total points score of 107.9.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” said Oka of his win.” I came into this competition just wanting to dive my best dive and apparently it was enough to win the best overall, so I’m very very happy for that.
“I’m definitely gonna train more, gonna compete hopefully next year. Try to get my record back again. Let’s see where it goes. But I’m really happy about the community – the Philippine community. It’s my first time seeing like really deep divers from the Philippines. I’ve been diving for like six years and it’s only now that I’m seeing these people that are competing – it’s my first time seeing them. It’s really nice. Hopefully this continues on for the next few years.”
Lady Lisondra, Best Female Overall Performance Winner with Oka Espenilla, who is the winner of the Best Male Overall Performance
Lady Lisondra won the Best Female Overall Performance award with a total points score of 96 points.
“Oh, it was very unexpected but I’m so grateful and I’m so excited for the whole competition,” said Lady about her win. “So it’s really been amazing, diving, and hopefully there’ll be more competitions to come. I still want to continue competing and continue training.”
The list of winners and categories at the PDNC Awards are as follows:
Open Category for Best Discipline Newcomer
(The deepest dive in each disciplines for newcomers only)
-Best Constant Weight Newcomer male and female
Male: Robert Garcia 52 metres
-Best Constant Weight Bi-fins Newcomer male and female
Male: Julian Jones 53 metres
Female: Charesse Salaysay 37 metres
-Best Free Immersion Newcomer male and female
Male: Eldio Gulisan 55 metres
Female: Charesse Salaysay 45 metres
-Best Constant Weight No Fins Newcomer male and female
Male: Cezar Sayosay 45 metres
Open Category for Best Discipline
(The deepest dive in each disciplines)
-Best Constant Weight male and female
Male: Sendoh Wang 111 metres
Female: Suzanne Lim 62 metres
-Best Constant Weight Bi-fins male and female
Male: Andriy Khvetkevych 80 metres
Female: Yen Wanyu 57 metres
-Best Free Immersion male and female
Male: Thibault Guignes 114 metres
Female: Aki Shimoyama 48 metres
-Best Constant Weight No Fins male and female
Male: Gert Leroy 56 metres
Female: Bing Larocque 36 metres
Filipino Category
Best Overall Female Newcomer
-1st Place
Charesse Salaysay total points of 87.55
Best Overall Male Newcomer
-1st Place
Eldio Gulisan total points of 98.75
-2nd Place
Barnaby Crisostomo 97.75
-3rd Place
Robi Castillejo total points of 94.9
Grand Prize
Filipino Category
Best Male Overall Performance
-3rd Place
Barnaby Crisostomo total points of 97.75
The third prize winner received a Molchanovs Performance Hooded Suit, Octopus Noseclip and Octopus EQ Tool.
-2nd Place
Eldio Gulisan total points of 98.75
The second place winner received a Double K One-piece 2mm SCS Challenge Wetsuit, Double K Freediving Bouy, Octopus Lanyard, Octopus Noseclip and Octopus EQ Tool
-1st Place
Oka Espenilla total points of 107.9
The first prize winner received a Bestdive Custom-Made Performance Wetsuit, Alchemy V3-30 Carbon Fiber Blades, Alchemy HD Fin Bag, Garmin Gift Certificate worth 10,000PHP, Octon Diver Watch, Double K Freediving Buoy
Best Female Overall Performance
-3rd Place
Maria Noella Zosa total points of 63
The third prize winner received a Molchanovs Performance Hooded Suit, Octopus Noseclip and Octopus EQ Tool
-2nd Place
Charesse Salaysay total points of 88
The second prize winner received a Double K One-piece 2mm SCS Challenge Wetsuit, Double K Freediving Bouy, Octopus Lanyard, Octopus Noseclip and Octopus EQ Tool.
-1st Place
Lady Lisondra total points of 96
The first prize winner gets: Bestdive Custom-Made Performance Wetsuit, Alchemy V3-30 Carbon Fiber Blades, Alchemy HD Fin Bag, Garmin Gift Certificate worth 10,000PHP, Octon Diver Watch, Double K Freediving Bouy
All the following National Record Holders were presented with Certificates of Achievement:
Andriy Khvetkevych from Ukraine
Azam Hamid from Malaysia
Eleina O’Brien from Ireland
Jeong Min Park from Korea
Julian Jones from Philippines
Marese Secades from Philippines
Maria Noella Zosa from Philippines
Sendoh Wang from China
Thibault Guignes from France
Yen Wanyu from Taiwan
The lucky draw for the prize of a Suunto D4F was conducted for all-white-card holders:
Adrian Gjurasic
Aki Shimoyama
Andriy Khvetkevych
Barnaby Jake Cristostomo
Cezar Sayosay
Charesse Mae Salaysay
Christophe Jeanson
Elaina O’Brien
Eldio Gulisan
Farhan Sharief
Gert Leroy
Julian Jones
Lady Lisondra
Mishael Ardoña
Odessa Bugarin
Oka Espenilla
Richard Lo
Robi Lexeme Castillejo
Suzanne Lim
Yen Wanyu
Another lucky draw for the prize of Double K Freediving Bouy Large, Octopus Pulling System, Alchemy HD fin Bags was conducted for non-Filipino athletes:
Thibault Guignes
Sendoh Wang
Jeong Min Park
Daniel Koval
Andriy Khvetkevych
Kristin Kuba
Ken Kiriyama
Azam Hamid
Suzanne Lim
Michael Nelson
Yen Wanyu
Gert Leroy
Adrian Gjurasic
Aki Shimoyama
David Mellor
Elaina O’Brien
Christophe Jeanson
Wayne Tu
Special thanks to Bamboo Place, Freedive Panglao and Freedive Superhome.
May 18, 2019 – The first day of the Philippine Depth National Championship 2019 held at Freedive Superhome at Panglao, Philippines, saw new national records being set for China, Ukraine, Malaysia, Ireland, Philippines and South Korea as a total of nine new national records were established with four of them being from the Philippines.
The day, however, started with a near miss as Thibault Guines of France was disqualified for failure to perform surface protocol.
“The conditions were absolutely perfect today. Very flat water, warm water, good visibility, organization is perfect, everything was good, but for me, today was not the perfect dive,” said Thibault to Underwater360 after his dive.
“Actually this was like the first time in competition I tried to go without any warmup. I felt a bit different from usual and I felt like I was much shallower so I turned early thinking I wouldn’t make it to the bottom but (actually) I turned early very close to the bottom. But it’s ok. In competitions, it happens . And I don’t really mind because it gave me a lot of confidence for tomorrow. I will be a bit more focused on which depths I am (at), and I’m pretty confident tomorrow I am going to do it properly.”
The first new national record to be set was by Wang Jin (Sendoh) as he rewrote Wang Aolin’s 110 metre CWT China national record with a new depth of 111 metres.
Wang Jin (Sendoh) on his way to a new national record
“Before the contest, I was quite nervous, actually,” said Sendoh to Underwater360. “Because this was my first competition for the year and I really didn’t get a good night’s sleep but once I got into the water I was fine. The conditions are better than the area I usually train at so I felt very relaxed in the water because there were no currents and thermocline. It felt pretty great!”
Even with a new record in the bag, there is no letup for Sendoh as he resumes training tomorrow – his philosophy for success is predicated on consistency.
“Actually it all depends on the results of my training. My performances are entirely dependent on whether I’ve achieved the standards I need to be at during my training. I’ll only try out for competitions when I’ve reached the standards I’ve set for myself,” added Sendoh.
Besides Sendoh, Jang Ji Hoon (South Korea), Andriy Khvetkevych (Ukraine), Azam Hamid (Malaysia), Maria Noella Zosa (Philippines), Julian Jones (Philippines), Oka Espenilla (Philippines), Elaine O’Brien (Ireland) and Lakambini Alto-Larocque) also set new national records for their country.
The official results for Day One
For Eldio Gulisan (Philippines) though, the PDNC is not a quest for glory but a chance to lift up his people. A member of the famous Sama tribe, an indigenous group whom have traditionally been sea nomads living off the catches they retrieve from the bottom of the ocean, the Sama are famous for their natural freediving skills which they’ve honed for generations.
Odessa (Left) and Eldio (right) registering at the competition
Speaking to Underwater360 through his “coach” Odessa Bugarin (Philippines), who was also competing at PDNC, Eldio has only “freedived” six times within the structure of a modern freediving competition, having been naturally freediving without any protocols or rules all his life, like most Sama tribes people.
In order to prepare for the PDNC, Odessa agreed to instruct Eldio on the idiosyncrasies and protocols of static and dynamic freediving.
“The handlers of their tribe and he, we all decided that I come to train with him so that he will know all the surface protocol and stuff,” said Odessa.
“So we decided to train him first in the pool, static and dynamic because we wanted him to get used to the techniques. We didn’t want him to be shocked by the atmosphere of freediving competition, so we brought him to Moalboal, Cebu on May 5, 2019, for the Moalboal Static Competition where he was able to pull off a five minute five second breath hold, that’s his first competition!”
The most impressive part of Eldio’s ability is that he has been freediving without doing the modern freediving, big full breath.
“Everybody was so impressed that he’s still able to pull off a five minute breath hold with just a simple small breath. And even now it’s (with) a simple small breath (that) he went down to 55 metres. The Sama tribe would be very proud of that. He will surely inspire a lot of young Sama.
Odessa, Eldio and the Sama tribe have plans to bring the talents of the younger Samas to the sport of freediving. They hope freediving can reveal the Samas’ talents to the freediving world and envision a future where all Sama tribes people will be able to “get the same attention as a normal Filippino gets from the government such as a birth certificate and the proper educational programmes”. It’s an ambitious goal but if the Samas’ natural freediving abilities can lift up their entire tribe, that would be worth more to Eldio than any sports prizes that he can win on his own.
The competitors of the Philippine Depth National Championship - ready to take on the depths in Panglao!
Organised and hosted by AIDA Philippines and Freedive Panglao, the first Freediving School in Bohol, supported by the Department of Tourism (Philippines), Dive Philippines and Freedive Superhome, the Philippine Depth National Championship is a top freediving competition in the Philippines and is sanctioned by AIDA International. Located at Panglao Island’s beautiful turquoise waters, with its stunning visibility and snug water temperatures of around 29 degrees Celcius, the Philippine Depth National Championship welcomed more than 40 competitive freedivers from all over the world at the Kasadya Function Hall in Linaw Beach Resort on May 17, 2019, 2pm, as everyone gathered for the competition’s opening ceremony.
With the competition proper being held on May 18 and 19, 2019, the function hall was a cacophony of smiles and laughter as the athletes, armed with their passports and lanyards for CWT, FIM and CNF, registered for the event with medic Normandy Albuero examining the athletes who needed to be cleared for the competition. Head judge, Air Yang (China), second judge Jayden Kim, third judge JooYoung Chun (South Korea) and fourth judge Carlo Navarro were all on hand to answer queries with Hyge Zafra, John Tolentino, Jen Plecerda handling the administration duties while Martin Zapanta, Jake Alejandre, Edwin Castillon handled media duties.
PDNS Pre-Competition Briefing
Seated next to John Folkvord, the consultant for PDNS, Freedive Panglao founder, PDNS organiser and Chief Safety Officer, Stefan Randig, took the microphone and addressed the entire congregation of PDNS competitors as he provided a detailed breakdown of the mechanics of the competition.
Open to freedivers of all levels in good health, the competition allocates one point per metre of depth for CWT and FIM, 1.15 points for CWTB and 1.25 points for CNF, less any penalties. The Filipino male and Filipino female athletes with the greatest number of points will be crowned the men’s and women’s overall champions respectively, with the best discipline awards open to all nationalities.
Announcing the starting point to be Freedive Superhome, Stefan detailed the location of the official line and the distances between the four buoys in the competition area, where the standby boat and shuttle boat will be. The standby boat will have oxygen for surfacing freedivers and a medical doctor on hand to handle any emergencies. The shuttle boat will take only five minutes to ferry the freedivers to and from the competition site.
As there were a lot of freedivers competing for the first time, Stefan then went through a checklist for all competitors. Citing the start list created by John Folkvord, competitors will see their names, their nationality, their announced dive and the three important times they need to remember. First is the official top time, the official start time at which a freediver needs to begin a competition performance. The second important time that competitors must remember is their warmup time, which is exactly 45 minutes before their official top time (ie the start of their dive). The judges and safety divers will keep an eye out on who is diving and who is warming up and competitors caught warming up too early ie longer than 45 minutes before their official top time, will be disqualified. The third time that is important is the check in time, which is one hour before your official top time. Athletes must be at Superhome at least one hour before their dive.
When the athletes are checked in at the registration table, they will be measured for their oxygen saturation levels in their body with an oxymetre just as a baseline before their dive. They can then warm up before their dive.
The competitors of the Philippine Depth National Championship – ready to take on the depths in Panglao!
Stefan also reassured the new freedivers that there will be safety divers in the water to watch out for any competitors who need help. He also gave pointers on when to move to each warmup buoy as their top time approaches.
The safety diver will give freedivers their dive computer, the official watch, which be worn on the wrist that has no lanyard. There will have no alarms set on them. The freedivers will be told when they are allowed to move to the official line. Stefan advised the freedivers that the judges will let the contestants know when they can get closer to the official line. Those who want a 10 minute preparation to start their breathing preparations should at the buoys as once you approach the official line, there would be at most a four to four and half minute horizon to the start of their dive.
When freedivers come to the official line, they are to clip in their lanyard. Then the officials will give a countdown, 2 minutes, 1 minute, 5,4,3,2,1. When freedivers are instructed to start, they will have 30 secs to take their final breath and then dive. The dive starts once your airways are submerged so freedivers are cautioned not to accidentally resurface out of the water once their airways are submerged.
The rope is set to the diver’s announced performance. On the way down, freedivers can slide their hand across the rope, they can make a ring with their finger around the rope, that’s fine too. However, Stefan cautioned that they are not allowed to twist the carabina of the lanyard to manipulate it to slow their dive.
Stefan cautioned that freedivers are only allowed one turn in their dive. Freedivers are not allowed to turn to equalize then dive down again to continue their dive. Once they turn, they have to start ascending. Freedivers are also not allowed to stay at any depths for more than five seconds.
Stefan also gave tips on what to do when divers reach the white bottom plate at their announced depth – the two-metre brace zone demarcated by the “candy cane” stripe on the official line and a tennis ball located one metre before the bottom plate. The tennis ball is there to stop the freedivers’ lanyard so they will not crash into the bottom plate. Freedivers were instructed to get to the tennis ball and reach down for one velcro tag. If they are doing constant weight, its alright to keep the tag in their hand. They can also put it into hood or stick it into their jacket.
Safety divers on underwater scooters will also be stationed at half of the freedivers announced depth to provide any safety assistance if necessary. If you have any trouble, just reach out and open your palm as a signal that you are in need of rescue.
After going through the rest of the pointers needed to complete their dive, Stefan also gave a breakdown on the white/yellow/red cards shown by judges in the competition. A white card means a good performance without any penalties, a yellow card is a good performance with penalties and a red card is for disqualifications. The contestants were also briefed on surface protocol – which is a series of actions freedivers are required to perform following any competition dive, swim or static. The diver must remove all face equipment, give an okay signal and say “I’m okay” in English within 15 seconds of their airway breaking the surface. Failure to do so results in a disqualification.
After a short question and answer session, everyone was gathered for a group photo on the beach as the entire contingent looked forward to the official competition on May 18 and 19, 2019.
Free ranging whale
sharks dive to over
979.5 metres, making
primarily diurnal deep
dives and remaining
in relatively shallow
waters at night (Photo by Howard Chen)
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, in the pursuit of underwater discoveries, you stumble across something unexpected – but deeply fascinating. Such were the sentiments of Dr Nicholas Higgs, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Plymouth’s Marine Institute, upon viewing a recent video recorded by remotely operated vehicles surveying the seafloor around the Southern African nation of Angola for industrial exploration.
Amazingly, the footage shows the remains of a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and three devil rays (Mobula sp.) sitting on the seabed, at an astonishing depth of 1,200 metres – well beyond the limit of tek divers. Fed on voraciously by a range of fish, each carcass represents an island of food down below. The scavengers did not even have to travel very far for their next meal as all four carcasses were found within approximately one square kilometre of one another, over a period of two years. The video reveals a remarkable concentration of bodies, as previous estimates of nearest-neighbour distances for whale-falls (the incredible habitats created when a massive whale carcass sinks to the deep bottom) were about 16 kilometres in the ocean’s most whale-rich areas.
When these large animals die, they create complex localised ecosystems that supply sustenance to deepsea creatures
The discovery of so many ocean giants at this deep-sea graveyard is miraculous in itself. Finding a single large animal at such depths is a significantly rare event; only a handful has ever been discovered in the 50-odd years of deep-sea photography. While scientists have long suspected that the flesh of dead marine creatures might provide a food bonanza for specialist scavengers of the deep, corroborative evidence of such phenomena has been limited. We now know that whale-falls support specialist animals like Osedax worms, which consume the whale skeleton itself. However, despite intensive research on whale-falls, this is the first time ever that the carcasses of other large animals have been observed, let alone discovered together on one isolated portion of the ocean floor.
A pod of pilot whales lie stranded on a beach in Ireland
The phenomenon of whales and cetaceans beaching themselves in mass stranding events has frequently been explained by some scientists and media outlets as unexplained “suicidal” behaviour caused by some unknown misalignment of the whales’ “sonar” abilities underwater. In findings published by The Royal Society B entitled Advances in research on the impacts of anti-submarine sonar on beaked whales, it has finally been determined that most of the “atypical mass stranding events” of beaked whales are caused by naval mid-frequency active sonars deployed by ships and submarines. Deployed by the US Navy at 235 decibels underwater, these sonar waves can resonate around the whale’s ear causing tissues to tear. These sonar waves cause such intense fear and stress in beaked whales that they ascend to the surface too quickly and suffer decompression sickness, like scuba divers, eventually dying of “the bends”.
Typical vs Atypical Mass Stranding
Typical mass strandings of whales are defined as two or more cetaceans beach themselves while alive at approximately the same time and location[1]. This could be due to sickness, disorientation, or being chased into shallow water by a predator.
A typical mass stranding of whales are defined as two or more whales are found washed up within a 6-day period no more than 74 kilometres apart [2][3]. These atypical mass strandings are most often associated with sound [4].
In the US Navy’s new draft environmental impact statement, it is stated that the sonar exercises planned for 2014 to 2018 may unintentionally “harm marine mammals 2.8 million times over five years.” This estimate includes two million incidents of “temporary hear loss” and 2,000 cases of permanent hearing loss. Without the ability to hear, there is no way for whales to navigate, communicate and find food – effectively handing them a death sentence.
Indonesia. Banda Aceh August 4, 2016. A sperm type whale or box head whale (scientific name: Physeter macrocephalus) was found stranded in the waters of Krueng Aceh Besar
According to the findings written by Y. Bernado de Quirós, A. Fernandez, R.W. Baird, R.L. Brownell, N. Aguilar de Soto, D.Allen, M. Arbelo, M. Arregui, A. Costidis, A. Fahlman, A. Frantzis, F.M.D.Gulland, M. Iñíguez, M. Johnson, A. Komnenou, H. Koopman, D. A. Pabst, W. D. Roe, E. Sierra, M. Tejedor and G. Schorr, before the 1960s, there were only about 15 reported cases of mass strandings of beaked whales worldwide and none of these were atypical mass stranding events. Using frequencies of 8KHz or higher, naval mid-frequency active sonars (MFAS) were developed in the 1950s to detect submarines in the oceans around the world[3][6]. When these mid-frequency active sonars onboard naval vessels were shifted to frequency ranges of 4.5 to 5.5 KHz, atypical mass stranding events around the world increased as did the number of species affected [7]. Between 1960 and 2004, there were 121 reported cases of atypical mass strandings of beaked whales [3].
The first case of Curvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) happened in Corsica, France, and was followed by beachings in Italy, the USA and the Bahamas during the 1960s [3]. The causal relation of atypical beaked whales mass stranding events to naval exercises was first observed in the Canary Islands, Spain in the middle of the 1980s [5].
A pod of pilot whales lie stranded on a beach in Ireland
In September 2002, 14 beaked whales were stranded in the Canary Islands during a NATO naval exercise where mid-frequency active sonars were used. In 10 necropsies (animal autopsies) performed on the deceased whales, disseminated microvascular haemorrahages associated with widespread gas and fat emboli within blood vessels and vital organs were found – classic symptoms of decompression-like sickness [8][9]. When a ban on mid-frequency active sonars around the Canary Islands was enacted in 2004, beaked whales mass stranding events in the area stopped.
In an experiment conducted at the Southern California Blight, blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) were tagged to find out how they would respond behaviourally to mid-frequency active sonar. Even though the sound levels used in the experiments were far below that of most military systems, the blue whales in the experiment stopped feeding, increased their swimming speed in order to move away from the source of the sound [10].
Besides beaked whales, pygmy sperm whales (K. breviceps), pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), pygmy sperm whales (K. breviceps), long-finned pilot whales (G. melas); and several dolphin species (Stenella attenuataand S. coeruleoalba) have also stranded due to naval exercises [11]
Besides mid-frequency active sonars, the proliferation of commercial ships on the oceans around the world also contribute to the noise pollution underwater. The amount of noise from commercial shipping activities cause cetaceans to stop feeding activities and swim away with long term exposures to noisy underwater environments leading to long term hearing loss as well.
References
[1] Geraci JR, Lounsbury VJ. 2005Marine mammals ashore: a field guide for strandings, 2nd edn. Baltimore, MD: National Aquarium in Baltimore. Google Scholar
[6]Brownell R, Yamada T, Mead J, Van Helden A. 2004Mass strandings of Cuvier’s beaked whales in Japan: US Naval acoustic link. Paper SC/56/E37 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee (unpublished), 10pp. (Available from the office of the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management). Google Scholar
[7]D’Amico A, Pittenger R. 2009A brief history of active sonar. San Diego, CA: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center. Crossref, Google Scholar
[8]Fernandez A, Edwards JF, Rodriguez F, de los Monteros AE, Herraez P, Castro P, Jaber JR, Martin V, Arbelo M. 2005‘Gas and fat embolic syndrome’ involving a mass stranding of beaked whales (Family Ziphiidae) exposed to anthropogenic sonar signals. Vet. Pathol.42, 446-457. (doi:10.1354/vp.42-4-446) Crossref, PubMed, ISI, Google Scholar
[9]Jepson PDet al.2003Gas-bubble lesions in stranded cetaceans—was sonar responsible for a spate of whale deaths after an Atlantic military exercise?Nature425, 575-576. (doi:10.1038/425575a) Crossref, PubMed, ISI, Google Scholar
[10]Goldbogen, J. A., Southall, B. L., DeRuiter, S. L., Calambokidis, J., Friedlaender, A. S., Hazen, E. L., et al. (2013). Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar. Proc. R. Soc. B280:20130657. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0657
[11]Kaufman, 2004, 2005; Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2005; Hohn et al., 2006; Wang and Yang, 2006; Parsons et al., 2008a).
A red frogfish sits
well camouflaged, its
flamboyant colouring a
way for it to mimic the
corals within its habitat
WITH WORLD-CLASS DIVE SITES in the Philippines too numerous to count, diving in the Philippines is often defined by a handful of exceptional options. One of the most deserving but underrated spots is Mactan, just 40 minutes’ drive from Cebu City and with its own international airport. Boasting resorts to suit every pocket, Mactan has a 30-year history of diving and its warm waters make it the perfect place to learn to dive.
The “hard-core” divers that land in Mactan tend to head straight for the more well-known dive destinations two to three hours’ drive away, failing to realise that Mactan offers easily-accessible underwater secrets of its own, including some spectacular wall dives. The quality and variety of diving is such that local divers call it their “quick fix”.
“Punta West”, short for the west side of Punta Engaño peninsula, is Mactan’s secret macro heaven. Known to a very select few, this dive site’s charm is revealed when you take things slowly, inspecting every rock face, searching every feather star, and staring carefully at the white sandy bottom until you realise there is something looking right back at you!
It is the location of this dive site that makes the critter count especially unique. The Cebu-Mactan channel straddles it, sheltering the site from the monsoon winds. While the mild currents play their part, the abundance of rare and hard-to-find critters here is likely due to the presence of an aquaculture company since 1995. If the farm’s standards are not met, or an order falls through, excess prawn larvae are released into Punta West’s waters, each release providing an added nutritional boost that allows the small critters living here to thrive.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 6/2014, Vol.135) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
The term “marine protected area”, or MPA, is bandied about quite a lot. It’s a very broad definition, though, often used to refer to anything from a place that is simply not supposed to be fished but where little effective enforcement takes place, to a well patrolled area that is completely restricted to anything but scientific exploration. But well managed MPAs are places where life flourishes, spilling out into surrounding waters to help replenish the oceans as a whole.
Dive tourism is providing economic incentives for governments to start declaring more protection for marine ecosystems and species. If we keep putting our money where it counts, experiencing for ourselves areas where life is safeguarded and conservation measures are succeeding, and going on to raise awareness about the need to protect our oceans, then we can be an incredible force for helping to save the seas.
Here are just some of the literally hundreds of MPAs in Asia Pacific, that, as divers, should be on your radar. These are places where the diving is off the chain, and we have conservation organisations to thank for it.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 3/2015, AA No.82) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
As divers, we obviously care about the marine environment. So what’s stopping us from being at the forefront of change to protect it? Is it really because there is “nothing” we can do? Or is our apathy a result of the way the issues are presented and the solutions are designed?
We went to ask the experts. The Opportunity Lab, part of Singapore’s University of Technology and Design, is an interdisciplinary laboratory that is researching the roles of designers in creating social change. This is their response.
In the drive to promote sustainability, a few simple guiding principles make efforts all the more effective:
KEEP IT NORMAL
Make sustainable behaviour “normal”, not radical
KEEP IT POSITIVE
Focus on the benefits, not the barriers
MAKE IT DEFAULT
Focus on the benefits, not the barriers
GET TOGETHER
Connect with like-minded people
REWARD IT
Give praise and recognition, even when wins are small
KEEP IT PERSONAL
Speak to the individual, and to their tastes and priorities
MAKE IT FUN
Sustainability can be more than just the “right” choice
PROVIDE CHOICES
Let people engage with sustainable behaviour on their own terms
FOSTER COMMITMENT
Challenge people to commit to positive changes for the long run
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 3/2015, AA No.82) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
A truly intense dive the moment you hit the water
(Photo by Eunjae Im)
ALIMATHA JETTY is a dive site located in Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives. The shallow sandbank near the jetty of one of its popular resorts is where most of the action happens. The average depth is 10 metres and the maximum is only 15 metres deep. To say the least, it’s a very easy dive for a massive return of being able to watch the exciting feeding frenzy of nurse sharks, blacktips, marble rays, jacks and more.
A truly intense dive the moment you hit the water (Photo by Eunjae Im)
One of the reasons for this dramatic site is the resort’s food disposal process. Its seafood restaurant cleans the fish for dinner on the jetty itself, dumping the guts into the sea, thus making the area an attractive dinner party for the marine life there.
Nurse sharks here aren’t afraid of divers, rubbing up against your legs with apparent glee
Plunge in and get ready for an amazing show. The lights from the jetty illuminate the waters and with the many underwater torches creating an unusual atmosphere, the site is transformed. As soon as you submerge to about two metres, metre-long nurse sharks, large marble rays and giant trevallies freely swim all around you. They get so close, they sometimes brush past you. Keep calm on the seabed and enjoy the show.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2015 Issue 4 Volume 139) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Pom Pom Island is a small coral reef island in the Celebes Sea, its waters home to many rare and uncommon species like this Zanzibar whip coral shrimp
MENTION SABAH, and Sipadan Island comes to mind. What many don’t know is that Sabah has a secret. One hour north of Semporna lies a cluster of relatively undiscovered islands that are Sabah’s hidden diving gems. These islands boast healthy reefs with impressive biodiversity and interesting macro life.
One particular island that stands out from the others is Pom Pom Island. While the island may be small, it is arguably the best macro dive destination in Malaysia and a firm favourite among underwater photographers. There are countless fabulous critters you can photograph in and around the island, but if you really want to shoot rare critters, Pom Pom can guarantee you just that.
Here, rare and sought-after mandarin fish are waiting to be found amongst the sea urchins at a mere five metres (Photo by Nurul Yazid)
A popular site for night diving is the Mandarin Playground, an aptly named hangout situated right underneath Pom Pom Island Resort’s jetty. Swimming anywhere along the reef, from a depth of six metres all the way down to 20 metres, one can find mandarinfish displaying their mating dance. Divers don’t need to worry about hogging this stunning species, as there are plenty for everyone.
Another very popular dive site is the house reef at Celebes Beach Resort, which is known for its super macro critters. Shine your torch anywhere and you’re bound to see several pairs of eyes reflecting light back at you. At a depth of 10 metres, you’ll find a variety of hairy shrimps ranging from white to green, yellow to purple, especially at night when they come out to feed. Other small critters include humpback shrimp and pygmy seahorses. If you’re interested in critters of a more super-macro variety, look closer for the tiny Idiomysis crustaceans and isopods, amongst other things.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2015 Issue 4 Volume 139) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
MANADO was my first ever overseas diving trip back in 2010. Back then, there was still so much hype about the huge walls of Bunaken in the west and the world famous macro haven, the Lembeh Strait in the east.
I couldn’t believe my eyes: There were so much action in the water when I got there – each and every dive was exciting, not knowing what would appear right before me in the next moment. Armed with only a small pocket camera then, I was busy capturing many photographs, but in my heart, I knew I had to return… and I did.
Manado became my second home for the next four years. Travelling back and forth numerous times for different seasons, I thought to myself, if I could stay for longer periods, it would be extremely exciting. Then slowly but surely, trips that started from six days would sometimes be extended to 10 days and recently, for almost three weeks!
There was just too much to see at the sites just off the coast. And because the waters off the mainland are vast, you seldom get another operator sending divers down at the same spot, unless you were diving at a particularly popular site in Bunaken. Back closer to the mainland coast, I knew I could have the dive site all to myself, with experienced dive guides pointing me to where they last saw that favourite candy crab I wanted to photograph. With dive sites relatively untouched by many, it’s almost possible to revisit and re-photograph the same critter within the same trip!
Did I even mention that Manado’s dive masters are world famous for their sharp and keen eye, locating tiny little critters? Sometimes, I wonder how they even spot that little shrimp that’s barely half a centimetre long!
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2015 Issue 4 Volume 139) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
According to the Centre for Biological Diversity, fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 US tons of PLASTIC each year.
By 2050 there will be more plastics in the world’s ocean than fish by weight, unless we change our approach to plastic consumption
While the thought of eating plastics with your next seafood meal is an unpleasant and scary thought, all hope is not lost. If humans are able to shift the tides on plastic pollution and reduce the input of waste, and more specifically plastics entering oceans, there is still light at the end of the tunnel. With large scale frameworks being established and consumer-driven shifts away from unncessary plastic, a reduction in waste is possible.
Cleanup efforts are successful in rejuvenating areas that were once choked by plastic products and restoring their former ecological functions. It is critical that we, as a species, take responsibility for our actions and enact real and positive change for our oceans.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2019 Issue 1 No 152) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
A)80% of the 8 million US tons plastic entering the oceans comes from land-based sources
B)75% of plastics from land-based sources comes from uncollected waste or litter, entering the oceans via rivers, sewage outlets, and storm drains
C) Rivers deposit 2.75 Million metric tonnes of plastic into the seas every year
D)20% of ocean plastics come from marine-based sources including oil rigs, fishing vessels, and boats transporting either goods or passengers
E)640,000 Tonnes of ghost fishing gear is abandoned in our oceans every year
F) Abandoned fishing nets make up 46% of the 79,000 metric tonnes of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, according to a study published in Scientific Reports
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2019 Issue 1 No 152) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
A diver from Wakatobi’s cleaning team removes plastics and other rubbish found underwater
Text by Karen Stearns, Images by Walt Stearns
The world is waking up to the realisation that the oceans are not a dumping ground. And while some are calling for plastic bans and government regulations, a growing number of organisations and communities are confronting the issue head-on by organising waste reduction, recycling and cleanup projects at a local level. This is the case at Wakatobi Resort. More than two decades ago, Wakatobi’s founder, Lorenz Mäder, established a community-based conservation programme that provides proactive protection for some 20 kilometres of coral reef.
This initiative has helped restore and maintain these reefs in near-pristine condition by eliminating destructive fishing practices, anchor damage and other human impacts. And these efforts don’t stop at the waterline. Lorenz and others at Wakatobi are committed not only to protecting the reefs, but to keeping waters, beaches and the islands free of trash and waste through sponsoring a variety of local campaigns and engaginghands-on projects.
A diver from Wakatobi’s cleaning team removes plastics and other rubbish found underwater
This all begins at the resort Wakatobi has established its own recycling station, and actively works to reduce the use of disposable plastic items in all phases of resort operations. This includes measures such as providing guests with reusable aluminium water containers to eliminate the use of disposable plastic water bottles. To combat the problem of plastic waste carried by ocean currents, the staff engages in a number of ongoing debris removal efforts. Four times a day, the staff cleans more than a kilometre of surrounding beaches, removing plastics and any other debris that may wash ashore. On a daily basis, the dive teams remove any trash and debris that may collect on the reef, while team members working from the dive centre, operating taxi boats and otherwise assisting snorkellers and divers make similar efforts to keep the shallow reef tops clean.
Dive site Roma, Wakatobi, Indonesia
Wakatobi’s commitments to environmental protection and cleanup go far beyond the resort boundaries. The resort sponsors weekly village cleanups that involve up to 100 local people, and works closely with local communities and governments on the issue of waste management. Wakatobi provides waste bins, organises waste collection vehicles and sponsors additional waste storage and removal mediums for the adjacent island of Tomia. To enhance local awareness of the issues, and promote sustainable practices, the resort pays a team of 20 well-respected community leaders and influential individuals. These spokespersons use their social status within the community to increase public awareness on the issues of reef conservation and waste management on Tomia.
Lorenz also remains personally committed to the issues of waste management and water quality. “In my voluntary function as an ecotourism consultant, I had countless discussions with ministers, governors and other high-ranking politicians and policy makers,” he says. “I always urge them to improve nationwide waste management on land and on boats.”
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2019 Issue 1 No 152) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
Leatherback Beach, Papua, Indonesia. To sit on a sand hill under a starred canopy at the equator along a deserted beach is to hope for an experience that less than 300 have shared. Most who visit have travelled over 20,000 miles by air, land and boat to one of the most remote places on our planet where Aboriginal villagers scratch out a bare sustenance without external world motivations. These are the sacred lands of the Papuans and the largest leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting beach at about 18 kilometres long and up to 100 metres wide.
Should you go there to see a leatherback-nesting event, the wait on the beach can be one of patience in the dark of the night. The only illumination will be a reflection of the moonlight on the white foam of a breaking wave on the beach. All is quiet, except the gentle lapping of the surf while waiting for an appearance of a living dinosaur to exit the sea and labouriously climb the slope of the beach. It will locate where she was hatched 12 or more years ago. She is repeating the 150-million-year drive to reproduce so the species may survive. Left alone, this ancient hatching process would continue unimpeded, but we humans have introduced the specter of extinction of this most valuable creature of the seas.
Efforts by a few dedicated environmentalists to stop the senseless killings, egg poaching, trophy collecting and stripping of the skin for purse and leather fashion items while the turtle still lives, fight an uphill battle. The leatherback hatchling faces a host of threats at the nesting beaches, including jungle predators (such as wild pigs and dogs, salt water crocodiles, crabs and pythons.)
Another plateau of destruction that is destroying the nest and eggs is the ever-rising tides of global warming. At the equator, the high tides drown or cook the eggs in its shell, pre-hatched, deep in the nests as the seawater drains over them. The nesting female is in danger of having its throat slit by those who want her skin for handbags and fashion items as she is in her egg-laying trance.
This glorious creature is considered the world’s largest turtle
The leatherback is the largest of the seven sea turtles. A male adult can measure over three metres long and up to five metres wide at its front flippers and can weigh up to about 1,360 kilogrammes. Females are a bit smaller at 908 kilogrammes and about two metres long. The most unique difference of this turtle from the other six species is its skin – NOT a hard shell. Evolution has equipped this turtle with a soft, mottled, black skin attached to an expanding rib cage as in humans, to allow it to dive to or below 914 metres in search of the giant jellyfish, its major food source. To survive, a leatherback must eat its weight every day in jellyfish. Here is the critical environmental issue. The leatherback controls the jellyfish population off the wild fish spawning rivers. The killings of the leatherbacks reduce their efficiency in controlling the jellyfish populations; therefore reducing the availability of wild caught fish to our tables. The balance of the seas is collapsing because of the greatly diminishing leatherback populations.
The males are not observed as they rarely exit the sea after hatching. The females at a nesting beach provide the data for research and survival efforts. Being able to examine only half of a population skews the results
Dropping her eggs: This is the moment she is most vulnerable
To have an occasion to actually sit beside a nesting leatherback, watch her deposit a clutch of about 100 eggs and cover the nest using her large body and flippers is truly a “goose bump” creator. This creature will then struggle back to the sea to return six or seven times in the season. Another “goose bump” experience is observing a nest of about 100 hatchlings climb out of its four-foot-deep nest in the dark of night, especially in its native and remote environment. I admit to this, even though I have observed hundreds.
Once safely on the beach, all locate a sand spot and await the instructions of the trained Papuan and crew as they search for a leatherback turtle to emerge from the ocean. During that time, no lights, talking or smoking is permitted, as any unnatural actions can scare the leatherback from nesting or not emerging from the sea. Should that occur, 100 possible hatchlings will not be born. In the present conditions of the rampant at sea killings, to lose one nest becomes a critical loss.
When the leatherback selects her nesting spot and begins to dig a four-foot-deep nest, she goes into a trance and does not recognise any activity. It is then we can approach and marvel at the amazing beauty nature provides and touch her skin to feel the velvety texture. We can take all the photos and videos needed and more. One caution: Do not point a flash or a video light at her eyes closer than one metre. Use your camera zoom function. The leatherback’s eyes are perhaps the most light-sensitive of any creature in the oceans. Their ability to see at over 900 metres deep in search for jellyfish in an otherwise black ocean requires that. A close flash can injure her ability to see and to feed, resulting in another great loss, should that happen.
A rare sight: A leatherback swims towards shore
After your first encounter, it is quite normal to want to see more. A high excitement ripples through all on the beach, as sets of people roam up and down, looking for more photo opportunities. Our village boys are quite talented in locating them in the dark with no lights. It is normal to marvel at an equatorial sunrise over a placid sea and wonder where all the time went. All who stay that long have a decision to make: go back to the dive boat or stay on the beach and begin the search for hatchlings emerging from the eight-week-old nests. Many stay and are later happy they made that decision.
While the nests are supposed to hatch at night so the hatchlings can go to the sea unobserved by many daytime predators, some nests hatch and the hatchlings come from the sand at early morning. These “little guys” are about four inches long at hatching. They cannot crawl over a twig.
We’ve all seen those iconic images of plastic trash draped over reefs, or photos of dead or injured marine animals entangled or struggling in carelessly discarded debris. And who can forget the viral video of mantas swimming through a sea of floating plastic trash? You don’t need to be a genius to see that plastic is having a massive effect on our reefs and marine life.
However, the invasion of microplastics in our ocean, tiny plastic particles smaller than five millimetres, is much harder to see. It’s also hard to trace where these microplastics come from and where they end up, and the impacts these are having on our reefs and oceans.
Nevertheless, microplastics are the focus of a group of dedicated researchers at James Cook University (JCU) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), and microplastic research is more difficult than it sounds.
The Challenge
Microplastics can be really hard to accurately isolate and count. If you’re looking for them in the environment, you need to strain seawater, sift through sediment, or look inside animals to find these tiny particles and fibres. Imagine a bucket of beach sand, or the slimy, partially digested contents of a fish or turtle’s stomach. How do you properly separate out all the tiny plastic fragments from these contents?
Well, JCU and AIMS researchers have developed new techniques of chemically digesting, separating, and identifying microplastics from difficult materials such as turtle stomachs. The process includes using infrared spectroscopy, a tricky technique where samples are blasted with infrared light. The researchers then interpret the resulting absorption, emission and reflection spectra to work out what type of plastic it is.
Sensing the Scale
Testing the protocol on turtles, the research team found paint chips and synthetic fabric particles in turtle stomachs1. It’s a big problem. Another research team that included JCU scientists found plastics in the stomachs of every single one of 102 turtles examined, the most common being fibres from clothing, tyres, cigarette filters, and maritime equipment such as ropes and fishing nets2. While small amounts of microplastics may not be enough to block the digestive system, they could be leaching toxic chemicals into the animals that ingest them, an issue that needs to be studied.
And it’s not just turtles: Even fish such as the iconic coral trout (Plectropomus spp) have been found to have plastic in their guts3. It’s not just divers and conservationists who are worried about this; fishing industry representatives have called for more research on the effects ingested plastics could have on fish health and reproduction.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2019 Issue 1 No 152) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here. The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
There is no question that art is a powerful tool of expression during times of environmental and social injustice, which are often related.
Today, visual artists of various mediums are pushing boundaries, joining forces with conservation organisations, and leveraging social media, to raise awareness about plastic pollution and its toll on the ocean. Many are even calling themselves “artivists” (artists+activists) as their pieces aim to achieve large–scale, societal awareness and change. This increase in ocean art has helped galvanise people around the world to curb their plastic consumption and demand changes in their communities.
Benjamin Von Wong
Benjamin Von Wong is a Chinese Canadian conceptual photographer currently focused on conservation and social impact projects. Through the years, Von Wong has mastered the art of bringing his imagination to life by staging beautiful and complex installations, and using hyper-realistic photography to capture them. His most recent artwork “The Parting of the Plastic Sea” was made possible with the help of Zero Waste Saigon and Starbucks Vietnam, and is currently exhibited at Estella Palace Shopping Mall in Vietnam. Since its completion on January 20, 2019, it has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest straw installation, and its viral status is amplifying people’s concerns with single-use plastics around the world.
See more at www.vonwong.com
Mandy Barker’s “SOUP: 500+”
In this image from Mandy Barker’s “SOUP” series, the artist compactly arranges and photographs more than
500 pieces of plastic debris found in the digestive tract of an albatross chick in the North Pacific Gyre.
See more at www.mandy-barker.com
Washed Ashore
Founded by the visionary artist Angela Pozzi, Washed Ashore creates large-scale sculptures of sea life with plastic marine debris collected along coastlines. These unique pieces are used as powerful education and outreach tools and have been exhibited at various high impact areas including the United Nations, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and many zoos and aquariums across the US.
See more at www.washedashore.org
PangeaSeed’s “Sea Walls”
“Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans” is PangeaSeed Foundation’s public art programme initiated in 2014. Its objective is to bring the message of ocean conservation into streets around the globe through large-scale and breathtaking mural paintings. To achieve this level of awareness, PangeaSeed has established an ever-growing community of 200 artivists and has created nearly 300 murals in 12 countries around the world.
See more at www.pangeaseed.foundation
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2019 Issue 1 No 152) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here. The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Bioluminescent plankton, dinoflagellates, off the New South Wales coast, line the beach at Plantation Point, Vincentia, with a glow that rivals that of the stars
By Lindsey Dougherty
Sea creatures like to show off. Whether it’s to attract a mate, scare away a predator, or blend in with the sometimes equally flamboyant surroundings, there’s no shortage of wow factor in the sea: Divers are delighted by mesmerising cuttlefish, alluring anglerfish, and the undeniably flashy “disco” clam. When we think of creatures lighting up the oceans, bioluminescence might FLASHY be the first thing that comes to mind. What many people don’t realise, though, is that you don’t need to make light to be flashy – animals put on thrilling underwater shows using structural colouration, pigmentation, and fluorescence. Here are just a few examples of the science behind this conspicuous behaviour.
Bioluminescent plankton, dinoflagellates, off the New South Wales coast, line the beach at Plantation Point, Vincentia, with a glow that rivals that of the stars
BIOLUMINESCENCE
1. BOBTAIL SQUID DISTRIBUTION:
INDO-PACIFIC This tiny squid is off the “cute factor” charts. Watching these miniscule squid hide from predators by placing pieces of sand on top of their head with their tiny arms may very well make them your new favourite animal. Bobtail squid have a unique symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria that inhabit a special light organ in their body. The bacteria are fed nutrients by the squid, and in return, produce light through a chemical reaction. This light – when viewed from below – hide the squid by matching the amount of light that hits their mantle from above. The light organ even has a filter that can slightly alter the wavelength of light produced to match the squid’s body.
2. PLANKTON – DINOFLAGELLATES DISTRIBUTION:
GLOBAL (BOTH MARINE AND FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS) Dinoflagellates – small, single-celled marine plankton – can be toxic, but are also often bioluminescent. Watching a surfer at dusk during an algal bloom is a very memorable show, as dinoflagellates produce light when they are disturbed, and therefore light up the board’s movement through the water. If you’ve ever looked down at the wake the boat creates on your way to a night dive and seen bioluminescence, you should probably thank dinoflagellates. It is hypothesized that dinoflagellates create brief flashes of light when disturbed to act as a “burglar alarm”. This way, whatever potential predator disturbed them will now be in danger of an even larger predator that was attracted by the light and en-route to 1 get its own dinner!
3. ANGLERFISH DISTRIBUTION: GLOBAL, SOME SPECIES ARE DEEP-SEA DWELLERS
The deep-sea dwelling anglerfish is not, shall we say, the prettiest fish in the sea. With its lucifer-esque appearance, it isn’t too surprising that the enzyme that speeds up the reaction to create its bioluminescent light is called “luciferase”. These teeth-centric animals use their light lure to draw in prey and attract mates. In some species, the female can be 60 times the length and 500,000 times the weight of the male, who becomes permanently attached as a parasite after mating. In the case of the anglerfish, therefore, it’s probably best not to go “towards the light”.
The bobtail squid, Sepietta oweniana, have a symbiotic relationship with the bioluminescent bacteria that give them their flash Image
STRUCTURAL COLOURATION
1. BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS DISTRIBUTION: INDO-PACIFIC, BEST SEEN IN INDONESIA
The deadly blue-ringed octopus is a favourite villain in various crime stories, including James Bond’s Octopussy and Michael Crichton’s State of Fear. The flashing blue rings are produced by an interesting mechanism: multiple tiny layers reflect blue-green light, and dark pigments below each ring enhance their contrast. In order to hide the rings, the muscles above the ring contract. To expose the rings, those muscles relax and muscles outside the ring contract. Structural colouration such as the tiny layers in the blue rings interfere with the wavelengths of light and can dramatically alter what they look like. Organisms use all kinds of structures, such as spheres, gradients and crystals to interfere with light. For the blue ring, between the flashy warning and the impressive muscle show, predators are keen to stay far away from this small but potent creature.
(L)The lobed comb jelly, Bolinopsis infundibulum, gathers zooplankton with its large oral lobes, while flashing reflected rainbows from its cilia (R) Juvenile pinnate batfish, Platax pinnatus, have a striking colouration that helps deter predators
2.DISCO CLAMS
DISTRIBUTION: INDO-PACIFIC, BEST SEEN IN INDONESIA, JAPAN, THE PHILIPPINES AND AUSTRALIA
The newly crowned king of flashing is also sometimes the queen, as disco clams are thought to start out as small males and mature into large females. They have a highly reflective strip on the edge of their mantle that is filled on one side with tiny silica nanospheres. Silica is an ideal reflector and scatters ambient light, so one side of the tissue appears a brilliant white, while the other side appears dark red. Rolling the two sides back and forth two times a second creates a “flashing” appearance that’s quite dramatic, and amazingly, is not producing any light (just reflecting what ambient light is already there). Whether the clams are trying to lure prey, attract a mate, or scare away predators still remains to be seen, but their flashy display is quite a treat – if you can find them!
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver 2014-2015 Issue 8 No 2) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
A Korean Haenyeo diving in the sea collecting shellfish
The Primordial Form of Underwater Diving
Mention underwater diving and images of compressed air tanks, air regulators, wet suits and snorkels inevitably come to mind. With the constant innovation of diving gear enabling us to go deeper and longer underwater, it’s easy to forget that underwater diving began as a simple act of holding your breath and diving into the depths of the ocean. Indeed, with the advent of modern underwater breathing apparatus, this most primordial form of diving now has to be differentiated from its more mainstream cousin by being renamed as freediving. Underwater360 reveals how underwater diving began more than 8,000 years ago and charts its evolution through the centuries to its present-day status as the extreme sport of competitive freediving that has been rising in popularity over the past three decades.
An illustration of Exostosis, or surfer’s ear, where the constant diving in water causes structural changes in the inner ear to occur.
Freediving in Ancient Times
The first recorded evidence of freediving humans can be traced back more than 7,000 years ago to the Chinchorro[1], an ancient people from 5,000 BC who lived along the coast of the Atacama Desert in what is present day northern Chile and southern Peru. In a study of Chinchorro mummies, archaeologists discovered that the bones of their ear canals had started to grow across the ear canal’s opening to protect their eardrums from recurrent exposure to water – a telltale sign of exostosis, a condition that afflicts people whose heads have been frequently dunked underwater. Exostosis is a common condition among people who surf, dive and kayak. The Chinchorro were a people who freedived for seafood. Shell midden fossils and bone chemistry tests on the mummies have proven that their diet consisted of 90 percent seafood. Besides the Chinchorro in South America, seashell fossils found in the coast of the Baltic Sea also revealed an ancient people living approximately 7,000 to 10,000 years ago who freedived for clams for sustenance.
Plato’s writing mentioned sponges being used in Greek bathhouses. Here we see a picture of Greek sponges harvested in from the Aegean.
Freediving in Ancient Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia & Persia
There have been plenty of archaeological evidence of diving in Mesopotamia (West Asia – present day Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) which dates back to 4,500 BC and in ancient Egypt in 3,200 BC.The Greeks have been freediving for more than 4,000 years. Artefacts and scripts from the Minoan civilization, which flourished from 2,700 BC to 1450 BC on Crete and other Aegean islands, include figures of seashells as well as colours produced by seashells in Minoan ceramic art. The Greek sponge trade can also be traced to as far back to Plato and Homer who mentioned the use of sponge for bathing in their writings. The Greeks would dive for sponges at Kalymnos island, using a skandalopetra (the Greek word for stone) like granite or marble weighing eight to 15 kilograms as a weight to descent quickly to up to 30 metres underwater to collect sponges. There is no exact date of when the Greeks started the sponge trade but Plato would have been 40 years of age at around 388 BC.
A sample of Minoan pottery illustrating their diving exploits
Divers have also been used by the Greeks in war. According to Thucydides, the famous Athenian general and historian who recounted the Peloponnesian War[2] (431– 404 BC) between the Delian League led by Athens and the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta until 411 BC, divers were used to infiltrate past underwater barricades that were set up to defend against invading ships. Messages would be relayed by these divers to allies or troops blocked by these barricades. These divers would also be used to scout the seabed for ship barricades to dismantle them.
The Persians have also been recorded to have used divers in warfare. Having conquered Phoenicia (now Lebanon) in 539 BC, King Cyrus the Great of the Archaemenid Empire used divers during the Siege of Tyre (now Lebanon) in 332 BC against Alexander the Great to cut the anchor cables of Alexander’s ships which were using battering rams against Tyrian defences.
Freediving in Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
For thousands of years, the Gulf of Mannar along India and Sri Lanka was known for the pearls and chanks (large spiral shells) harvested from the waters off Mannar island by Sri Lankan and Indian freedivers. According to the Mahawamsa, the historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, King Vijaya, a Kalinga (now Orissa, a state in India) Prince, landed in Sri Lanka in fifth century BC and sent a gift of a shell pearl worth twice a hundred thousand pieces of money to the Pandu King upon upon taking the hand of his daughter. The ancient Greeks, specifically Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan royal court in India, also wrote in third century BC about the brilliance of the pearls from the island of the Taprobane in Sri Lanka. In ancient Greece, Sri Lanka was known as “Palaesimoundu”.
Literature from the Sangam-era (third century BC to fourth century AD) such as the Agananuru, an anthology collection of classical Tamil poetic work dated around the first and second century BC, talked about a community named Parathavar which fished but also dived for pearls and chanks. Arab traders and divers from the Persian Gulf also entered into the pearl fishery trade in Sri Lanka between seventh and 13th century AD.
Research shows that the divers would go out to sea in crews as large as 23 in a boat. On each boat would be a tindal or steersman, a saman oattee who was in charge of the boat, a thody who was tasked with bailing out water in addition to cleaning it, 10 divers including the adappanar or lead diver and 10 munducks or operational assistants who pulled up the oysters and the stone counterweights the diver uses while also pulling the divers up from the seabed into the boat.
The boats would go out late at night around midnight. The tindals (steersmen) would’ve started getting ready to hoist the sails more than an hour or so before with the adappanar (lead diver) hoisting a light at the masthead as a signal to set off. The divers in the boat would then get ready in the early hours of the morning by attaching the safety ropes around their waists which would be used to haul them up. Stones would also be tied to ropes to act as counterweights for the divers to do a fast descent to the seabed. As the ropes with the weights are released into the water, the diver would take a deep breath and descend rapidly by stepping on the weights. They would then start collecting oysters into the nets around their waists the moment they reached the seabed while the weights are pulled up into the boat. After about a minute, the diver would tug on the rope tied to him to signal the completion of his task, upon which he would be pulled upwards with the oysters he collected.
Ama: Freediving in Japan
The Ama（海人）are coastal people in Japan who make their living diving underwater to depths of up to 25 metres to harvest abalone, turban snails, oysters and pearls. Many ancient Japanese references[3] have stated that the Ama have existed for at least 2,000 years. One of the oldest references which refer to the Ama is the Gishi-Wajin-Den (魏志倭人伝) one of the oldest historical texts in Japan, which is believed to have been published in 268 BC. Some of the oldest archaeological evidence from Japan has shown that the Japanese have always depended on seabed resources. According to an ancient Chinese chronicle containing sporadic references to Japan, the northwestern part of what is now Kyushu has a lack of arable land to enable its people to survive on agriculture, which has compelled them to depend on the sea to barter for staples such as rice.
Woman Ama divers preparing to go to sea with their wooden barrels in tow.
According to Minoru Nukada from the Department of Health and Physical Education at Toho University[4], male and female Ama engage in different activities. Male Ama (海士) usually catch fish, either by hand or with a spear, whereas the female Ama (海女) will dive to the bottom of the seabed to collect seaweed and shellfish. Through time, the men engaged in off-shore fishing or became sailors on ships while the female Ama stayed at home and dived to supplement the farming harvest.
The Ama divers in Japan use a wooden barrel as a float.
Usually females, the Ama traditionally dive in only a fundoshi (loincloth) for ease of movement with only a tenugui (bandanna) covering their hair. These headscarves are sometimes adorned with symbols in order to bring luck to the diver and ward off evil. They also use a safety rope attached to a wooden tub or barrel that serves as a buoy which they can rest on in between dives. The barrel is also used to hold their catch. Their most important tool, however, was the tegane or kaigane – a spatula-like tool used to pry out abalone from between the rocks on the seabed. In the early 1900s, goggles were introduced and adopted by the Ama. In the decades after World War II, the Ama started wearing a white sheer garb for modesty while others started wearing rubber wetsuits in the 1960s.
There are various theories about why the Ama are mostly female. One is that the Japanese consider women to be more biologically capable of withstanding cold due to the distribution of fat in their bodies. They are also believed to be more adept at holding their breaths. The Ama are trained as early as 12 or 13 years old by elder Ama. At this stage of their training, they are known as Koisodo or Cachido and dive in shallow depths of only two or four metres from the beach. After they have been trained a few years (15 to 20 years old), they graduate to being Nakisodo, Okazuki or Funedo and are allowed to dive to four to seven metres in groups from a boat controlled by one or two boatmen who also act as watchmen for their safety. The Koisodo and the Nakaisodo both use the wooden tub as a buoy. A fully trained Ama is known as an Ooisodo, Okiama or Ookazuki. Usually more than 20 years old, the Ooisodo can dive to a depth of 10 to 25 metres and usually operate alone on a boat with a boatman for assistance. They use counterweights like a lead belt or a counterweight (haikara) connected to the boat with a rope and a pulley for a fast descent and are then pulled up quickly after harvesting the shellfish.
Hae-Nyeo: Freediving in Korea
Like the Ama of Japan, the Hae-Nyeo（해녀; 海女）or Jam-Nyeo are women freedivers who make their living from diving and harvesting shellfish and seaweed from the seabed. They are found in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, especially Jeju island. Although the exact beginning of freediving in Korea is not known, Korean history experts agree that Jeju was the place where the Hae-Nyeo were first found. Historical records reveal that as early as 434 AD, pearls were found in the Shilla Kingdom.
A Korean Haenyeo diving in the sea collecting shellfish
It is not known when the men dropped out of the diving work. The only explanations we have is the physiological advantage that women have – greater subcutaneous fat and an ability to withstand the cold better.
The Haenyeo women freedivers in Korea operate out of Jeju Island.
Like their Japanese counterparts, the Hae-Nyeo start learning to freedive in shallow waters at age 11 or 12 and as their skill level progress, they graduate from being a lower level diver to intermediate and finally to an advanced level when they turn 17 or 18.
The Hae-Nyeo wear a black swimming trunk and a white cotton jacket. Diving goggles were introduced during the 1930s, with eye glasses used for almost two decades before diving face masks became available. They also use hollowed-out gourds around 12 inches in size as floats.
Sama-Bajau: Freediving in Southeast Asia
All freedivers are familiar with the “mammalian dive response” – when your heart slows down, blood vessels constrict and your spleen contracts because your body is trying to keep you alive while you are holding your breath underwater. For the Sama-Bajau – a group of sea nomads of Austronesian ethnic group from Southeast Asia who live off the sea in waters around the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Borneo – a study about human hypoxia tolerance published by the journal Cell[5] has revealed that a genetic DNA mutation has given them larger spleens which allows them to be able to freedive underwater to harvest shellfish and food at depths of up to 60 metres for as long as 13 minutes.
Sama Bajau are nomads who have an unnaturally large spleen which allow them to hold their breaths for up to 13 minutes at a time.
In the human body, the spleen recycles red blood cells and helps to support your immune system. After previous studies revealed that diving mammals like elephant seals, otters and whales have disproportionately large spleens, Melissa Llardo, the author of the hypoxia study in Cell was eager to find out if the same was true in humans. Her studies revealed that the median size of the spleen of a Sama-Bajau person was 50% larger than that of the Saluan people, a related group of people on the Indonesian mainland. The Sama-Bajau also had a gene called PDE10A (which the Saluan did not have) that is thought to control a certain thyroid hormone that in mice is known to be linked to spleen size.
Modern Freediving
The Legend of 1913
Most freedivers cite the legendary retrieval of the missing anchor of the Italian navy ship, Reggina Margherita, by a Greek sponge diver on 16 July 1913, from an estimated depth of about 88 metres underwater, as the first incidence of modern freediving. While the exact name of this Greek sponge diver has varied from Stotti Georghios, Stathis Hatzis, Stathis Chatzi to Haggi Statti and Chatzistathis, what is not in dispute was his pulmonary emphysema, his perforated eardrum from years of diving without proper equalization and the fact that he tied a safety rope to his waist and proceeded to descend quickly to the seabed using the primitive Greek “Skandalopetra” method of holding onto a giant rock as a counterweight. He is also consistently described as being a man of average height (1.7 metres), weight (65 kilograms) and age (35 years old). And it is unanimously agreed that he successfully retrieved the anchor by freediving and was rewarded for his efforts with £5 and the lifelong permission to fish with dynamite.
The Race to the Bottom Begins
In the years after the legend of 1913 grew, freediving started to evolve as a sport with some notable people setting and breaking records as the motivation to be record breakers in freediving led to divers developing techniques and discovering natural physiological responses like blood cooling, our diving reflex and blood cooling among others.
Freediving Tools Take Shape
In 1927 Jacques O’Marchal invented the first diving face mask that enclosed the nose.
In 1933, Louis de Corlieu patented fins you could wear on your feet. Calling them “swimming propellers” they were later mass produced by Owen Churchill, an American
In 1938, Maxime Forjot improved upon O’Marchal’s design by using a compressible rubber pouch to cover the wearer’s nose, thus enabling divers to pinch their nostrils shut to make it easier to equalise the pressure in the ears
Britain and the United States purchased huge quantities of Owen Churchill’s flippers during World War II
In 1951, Hugh Bradner, diver and physics student came up with the first diving wetsuit made out of neoprene, which the US Navy snapped up for US Marines in the Korean War
Competitive Freediving Begins
Like the one-minute mile, the 30-metre freediving mark was an important milestone that kickstarted the modern competitive freediving movement. Although scientists had openly predicted pressure-crushing death at that depth, in 1949, the era of Italian domination of competitive freediving kicked off in earnest when Raimondo Bucher, an Italian air force captain (and an avid spear fisher) born in Hungary, officially became the first man to dive to a depth of 30 metres. Using a large rock as a counterweight, Bucher dived to the bottom of the sea at Naples without breathing apparatus. He was met at that target depth by Ennio Falco, a fellow Italian diver, who had staked 50,000 lire against him completing the feat. Bucher won the 50,000 lire but Falco would take his record two years later.
The Italian Job
Bucher’s freediving record fired up the competitive freediving scene in Italy and the next two decades saw the Italians dominate the freediving record books with freediving legends like Alberto Novelli and Enzo Maiorca spearheading the sport of deep freediving. Together with Brazilian freediving Americo Santarelli (who retired in 1963) and later Jacques Maol, the famous French freediver who used yoga techniques and mediation to calm his body, freediving records were taken to ever greater depths. Mayol would achieve 11 world records and was the first freediver to go past 100 metres. Despite the fears of scientists who believed that high pressure in deep depths would collapse human lungs, Enzo Maiorca broke the 50 metre barrier in 1962 and would go on to achieve 17 world records. Maiorca and Mayol’s rivalry was immortalised in Luc Besson’s 1988 film, The Big Blue, a fictionalised take on the two freedivers’ rivalry. Angela Bandini of Italy would shock the freediving community in 1989 by become the first human to freedive to 107 metres underwater, breaking Mayol’s world record by two metres.[/vc_column_text]
Women Freediving
In the 1960s, women freedivers such as Gilliana Treleani (Italy) and Evelyn Patterson (Great Britain) had flown the flag successfully for women freedivers by diving deeper than 30 metres. Treleani achieved the mark of 35 metres in 1965. Constant Weight Apnea, one of the three disciplines of freediving recognized by AIDA was pioneered by women freedivers Francesca Borra and Hedy Roessler, both from Italy in 1978. [Constant Weight Apnea (CWT) is a freediving discipline whereby a freediver descends and ascends with the help of their fins or monofin and/or their arms without pulling on the rope or changing their ballast. Only a single hold of the rope, either to stop the descent of start the ascent is allowed] During the 1980s, Enzo Maioca’s two daughters, Patricia and Rossana Maiorca were also responsible for furthering women’s freediving as Patricia freedived to 70 metres while Rossana freedived to 80 metres.
Modern Freediving in USA
One of the pioneers of freediving in the United States is Robert Croft, a US Navy diving instructor who taught navy personnel how to escape from a stricken submarine. Croft could hold his break for more than six minutes and was studied by US Navy scientists for signs of “blood shift”. Croft set three depth records in a one-and-a-half-year period and in 1967, he overcame what scientists believed to be the human physiological depth limit for freediving by becoming the first person to dive deeper than 64 metres. Croft also developed the Glossopharyngeal Breathing Technique, a technique of forcing more air into your lungs before a dive called lung packing. He would go on to become to first freediver to dive beyond 70 metres by achieving a freediving depth of 73 metres before retiring from competitive freediving in 1968.
The flagbearer for US freediving after Croft is Tanya Streeter. Streeter reached 113 metres with a No Limits dive in 1998. She broke world record that surpassed the men’s apnea record with a No Limits dive of 160 metres in 2003 and a Variable Weight record of 122 metres that lasted for seven years.
No Limit Freediving
With the retirement of Mayol and Maiorca, a new freediving rilvary was born with Italian Umberto Pelizzari and Cuban Francisco Rodriguez (better known as Pipin Ferreras) both appearing on the scene around 1990. With advent of new freediving disciplines such as Constant Weight and Variable Weight Apnea (a discipline where the freediver descends with the help of a counterweight and ascends using his own strength, either by pulling or not pulling the rope), the traditional form of freediving, i.e to dive as deep as possible on one breath, going down with weights and coming up with a buoyancy bag, was now renamed as No Limit. Pelizzari and Rodriguez pushed No Limit Apnea to new depths, going to 110, 120 and 130 metres and beyond. The current no limits world record holder is Herbert Nitsch who dived to 214 metres on June 14 2007 in Spetses, Greece. An Austrian freediver, Nitsch has held 32 world freediving records across every freediving discipline.
The Founding of AIDA
Freediving continued to grow and develop internationally in the 1980s and 90s and in 1992, the Association Internationale pour le Developpement del’Apnée (AIDA) was founded by Frenchmen Roland Specker, Loic Leferme and Claude Chapuis in Nice, France, with Specker serving as its first President. Set up to organise clinics to grow the sport of competitive diving, the International Association for Development of Apnea, aka AIDA, is the worldwide body responsible for keeping the records and rules of competitive freediving events worldwide. AIDA establishes the safety standards and the ratification of official freediving world record attempts and freediving education. AIDA International is the parent organization for national clubs of the same name.
Besides Constant Weight, Variable Weight and No Limit Apnea, another discipline of freediving that has captured the public’s imagination is Static Apnea, which measures how long a person can hold their breath (apnea) without swimming any distance. The current record for Static Apnea is held by Aleix Segura Vendrell, who set a record of 24 min 3sec on February 28, 2016.
Iconic Modern Freedivers
One of the most iconic freedivers who was considered as “possibly the world’s greatest freediver” was Natalia Molchanova. A Russion champion freediver, Natalia was the most decorated freediver at the time of her death. She was the holder of 41 world records and had won 23 gold medals when she went missing on 2 August 2015 while giving a private dive lesson near Ibiza, Spain. The first woman to go past 100 metres (she freedived to 101 metres in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt) while freediving with constant weight, Natalia could hold her breath for nine minutes. On the fateful of her accident, she had dived to about 40 metres in Ibiza, and was believed to have been caught by a current and never resurfaced.
Her son Alexey Molchanov is the current world record holder in the constant weight apnea category for men with a world record of 130 metres achieved in 3 min 55 sec.
[1] Arriaza, Bernardo T. Beyond Death: The Chinchorro Mummies of Ancient Chile. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1995. Print.
[5]Cell journal at www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(18)30386-6_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867418303866%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
The Lembeh Strait, at
the very eastern tip of
Sulawesi in Indonesia,
is the undisputed
“critter diving” capital
of the world
Text and photos Tim Ho
Ever so often we go on dive trips and come back with a collection of photos that we share online to receive the oohs and ahhs of family and friends who think the bottom of the ocean is lined with all these amazing creatures we’ve photographed.
Having spent most of my professional years teaching, the recent move into underwater photography taught me to appreciate the “backstage crew” who specialise in assuring one doesn’t return home with empty memory cards from a great dive holiday.
As a dive professional, I was great at pointing out a turtle or manta in crystal blue waters, Lembeh-like environments, however, tend to challenge the untrained eye in finding the rarest of marine creatures in the most camouflaged environments. Lembeh is one of the few places in the world that is home to some of the best spotters in the world!
The star gazer, pygmy cuttlefish, harlequin shrimp, as well as the hairy frogfish, provide colourful contours to Lembeh’s one-of-a kind reefscape
Lembeh’s seabed consists mainly of sandy bottoms and powder fine silt with clusters of pebbles. This has only been my second visit to Lembeh, but having spent the last year or so muck diving in Anilao, the importance of a good spotter is something I am well familiar with. The dive spotter you get on a muck dive can make a world of difference in how good a yield you will get!
In critter-land, you may decide to go in search of the rarest of critters recommended by divers you may meet along the way; the subject you’re looking for may be the size of a single grain of rice and the dive site the size of a football field. Getting someone new is likely to get you swimming a lot over long patches of nothingness.
My assignment to Ben Sarinda at YOS Dive Lembeh was one I welcomed with happy flipping fins. Ben’s been diving these waters for years and the confidence that he’ll be able to show me something new was on an all time high.
Lembeh shines as the quintessential undersea oasis for the weirdest and wildest creatures
Choosing a guide who is in the water almost everyday gives the assurance that he knows where all the good stuff is as these tiny critters don’t travel long distances over one or two days. Getting a guide who is also personally into photography guarantees that he knows animal behaviour well enough to be able to make a clownfish open its mouth for you when you need it to.
On my recent visit, I also discovered that, on the occasion you find yourself teamed-up with a group of non-photographers who don’t wish to stay in one spot for more than a minute, the option of having a personal guide is available from as low as US$50 a day. Should you also decide to go to a specific dive site that nobody else wants to go to, or the cost of having your own private boat for the day won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
For most divers who visit Lembeh, the real stars of the show are the gaudy octopuses, from blue rings to mimics and hundreds in between’
When planning your holiday to Lembeh, you’re likely to experience less rain in the months of April to October. The waters here can warm up to 28°C, but starts to cool by August to October. These cooler months are when critter finds are at its best.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 3 No 132) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
With the world’s leading divers and eco marine tourism business and thought leaders coming to town for ADEX 2019, we talk to Robert Scales, the co-founder of Ceningan Divers Resort, about his journey and how he’s protecting the marine bio-diversity of Asia.
Robert Scales and his wife Sandra at Ceningan Divers Resort. (Photo courtesy of Ceningan Divers)
Underwater 360: Could you tell our audience more about yourself, your journey and what inspired you to go into this field?
Robert Scales: My name is Robert Scales, I am a PADI Master Instructor, Tech Instructor and EFR Instructor Trainer. I am originally from Canada. I started diving when I was 12 years old. In 1997, while travelling in Central America I did my Divemaster certification at Utila Dive Center. I fell in love with the ocean, diving and the lifestyle. Sadly, that year my mother passed away and I returned home. After I returned to Canada, life kind of got in the way – working, going back to school, I eventually started a marketing agency where I worked until 2010 when I decided to make some changes in my life and return to my original passion. I have now been living in Indonesia for eight years. In 2015, my wife and I, along with our partners, started Ceningan Divers and the past four years have been an amazing experience as we build up and grew Ceningan Divers from a dream to a multi-award winning Dive Resort.
UW360: What are some of the most surprising things you’ve learnt about yourself and others in your journey in diving?
RS: That’s a complex question to ask and answer. Humans and business are in a constant state of flux. We evolve and change as we experience new challenges. It’s the beauty of perpetual movement and growth. The past four years managing our newly established dive operation has certainly been a great learning curve. I am constantly amazed by how little I know and how much there is still left to learn – whether its about yourself, others, cultures, business, sustainability or languages. Life is full of amazing challenges and the journey is an interesting one for sure.
UW360: Do you have any memorable stories you can share with our audience?
RS: Another awkward question. As a resort owner, I find myself juggling many positions including playing host to our guests which often involve sharing interesting anecdotes and stories. The reality is that good stories are often prescribed by the moment and situation. So, as much as I would like to share one now, it is best to catch me live during ADEX or at our resort.
UW360: In your travels while diving, how has plastic pollution impacted the places you’ve been to, products you’ve worked on or policy and strategic planning for the future?
RS: As a dive operator, we decided shortly after we opened our PADI 5* Dive Resort to develop and build a sustainable operation and adopt eco-friendly values and policies.
This has been an ongoing challenge and certainly something that I have aimed to improve for myself. We are lucky to live in a moment of history where there is an urgency in changing our actions – how we consume, the choice we make and the impact we have on the world around us. It forces us to change our routine and behaviour.
At Ceningan Divers and Ceningan Resort, we’ve adopted several initiatives to ensure we meet our goals in building a sustainable eco friendly dive operation. This includes saying no to single-use plastics such as drinking straws, plastic water bottles, needless packaging for the products we sell and selecting local, organic fair-trade products whenever we can. It includes incorporating education into our programmes with our employees and guests; Hiring an in-house marine biologist to develop new educational programmes and conduct community programs; Becoming a Green Fins dive operator and abiding by their code of conduct and speaking at conferences about building sustainable business practices and how we can reduce our impact in our dive holidays. However, despite all of these efforts, this is an ongoing battle and only through education and leading by example will we be able to make the changes needed to have a positive impact. It is a global crisis. We need to have corporations, government and citizens working together to ensure that our ocean planet remains sustainable for generations to come. I am hopeful that we can make a difference.
On a side note, as a dive operator, we have taken various steps in the past years to ensure we limit our impact and our divers’ impact. In 2018, we became a Green Fins dive operator and adopted their standards in our briefings and operations. We eliminated single use plastic some years ago and since Q3 2018, we have banned non-reef-safe sun protection cream on our boats and in our pool. We sell and promote alternative reef safe products.
Slowly, as we are made aware of new solutions, we offer alternatives to our guests which help promote safe and sustainable options while providing education regarding our personal impact while on a dive holiday.
UW360: The diving industry actively advocates for sustainable marine tourism. Which of the two do you think would make more of an impact – reducing/eliminating marine tourism altogether or encouraging sustainable marine tourism?
RS: Sustainable marine tourism is the only path forward. When combined with education and active programmes such as a beach clean up or a dive against debris, tourists can take actions to help. I believe these powerful motivational tools help people better understand their impact, the importance and fragility of our various ecosystem and assist them in taking appropriate actions to both decrease their impact and the impact of their business on the local environment. Sustainable business development, sustainable tourism and education all go hand in hand together to ensure everyone can enjoy the ocean, coral reefs, travelling and exploring new places with limited or no impact.
UW360: Going forward, where do you see the diving industry heading towards?
RS: Again, another essay style question in multiple parts. To keep it short and simple, I think the industry as a whole certainly understand the impact we as dive operators and divers have on our ocean planet. We also understand how we can dedicate our time and resources in improving, helping and developing new programmes and solutions to reduce our overall impact, help reduce the global issues and provide education to ensure people and companies better understand their impact and how to reduce such impact or take actions to help eliminate waste and destructive practices. I believe that through communication, education, sharing best practices and working together, these changes are already taking effect.
Uw360: What are your plans for your own consulting company?
RS: Over the next year, we are developing new facilities at Ceningan Divers. This include our new pool which was completed in February, our new briefing area coming in April, our new reception and office coming in June and our new training centre scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2020.
We recently hired a full time marine biologist on our team. In her role, she is developing new workshops and training programmes for our guests. This will allow us to deliver more details briefings and educational programmes to our guests and students. We can take a more active role in working with local people on the Nusa Islands to contribute to locals gaining new skills and vocational training. It also allows us to make more meaningful contributions to ongoing reef checks and coral monitoring projects already in place around Nusa Penida.
As we near the end of the implementations of our various eco initiatives around our resort and dive operation, we are now concentrating on improving our educational programmes by adding new resources and the facilities to support our goals.
UW360: What do you see the diving industry and your company ultimately transforming into?
RS: The short of it is that I believe we will see a drastic change in the way dive operators deliver their services. Whether it’s by taking advantage of new technologies or adapting new eco-friendly philosophies and values, ultimately, I believe that we are in constant flux; we evolve. Diving agencies such as PADI, SSI and RAID all seek to deliver the best in class. Of course, as a PADI 5* dive resort, we focus on what our agency is pushing while we aim to add new value-added services which meet our client’s needs and reflect our own values and believes. We certainly see a movement towards more eco-friendly, environmentally responsible operations and programmes. I believe this will continue to grow. The use of digital media will also extend our reach, attracting new markets and a different demography that we have seen in the past. This is certainly an exciting time to be involved in the marine tourism industry.
Freediving Lanyu’s warm, crystal clear waters is another way to enjoy this unique region
Text and photos Howard Chen
LANYU (literally translating into “Orchid Island”) original name was Pongso-no-Tawo, meaning “people of the island” until 1946, when it was renamed after the local Phalaenopsis orchids.
The island, located in one of Taiwan’s east coast most remote islands, is accessible by sea or air. Daily Air is the only airline to offer flights from Taiwan Island through Taitung Airport in Taitung City to Orchid Island through its Lanyu Airport. The flight duration is half an hour and the daily frequency is dependent on weather conditions. Ferry trips to the island are available from Taitung City’s Fugang Fishery Harbor. One can also hop onto a bus to the Tomioka fishing port to board the various ship classes into the island. For locals, the above route is the most commonly planned one. For foreigners planning a trip via Kenting in southern Taiwan, a route via Houbihu is also possible on a fishing boat; however, this takes nearly three hours of sailing time.
Freediving Lanyu’s warm, crystal clear waters is another way to enjoy this unique region
Home to the unique Tao aboriginal tribe, Lanyu offers some 40 kilometres of spectacular coastline. Its waters offer a year round clear visibility of 30 metres of infinite blue. Its waters boast a grand visibility of 30–50 metres all year round, allowing visitors to enjoy the infinite blue. With a consistent water temperature at 22–29°C, the region’s seabed topography offers rich, spectacular blue holes, faults, submarine canyons and other complex terrain. The best season to visit this paradise is from February to May.
Orchid Island’s largest dive spots include the Eight Generations Bay wreck, resting on the seabed at a depth of 40 metres. This magnificent undersea wreck reclines quietly and offers divers a genuine photographic adventure. I love to use a full-frame DSLR 5D2 camera with a 15mm fisheye, along with high-intensity photography lights. This particular sea shuttle service, carrying Korean nationals, was an unfortunate victim of a typhoon, causing it to sink. Fortunately, all crew members and passengers escaped unharmed.
Lanyu’s Badai Bay Wreck
My favourite dive site is known as Shuangshi Rock. Located north of Orchid Island and lying outside the reef, this site habours dragon snappers and eagle rays, surrounded by coral reefs, and it is constantly teeming with golden perch. It is sites such as this that have led many to wonder how Taiwan can retain such an original and natural offshore ecology.
Another popular dive spot is the Blue Hole, located outside Kaiyuan Harbor’s Blue Grotto. Accessing the hole via one of its three entrances, divers can discover spectacular corals, countless species of reef fish and multitudes of brightly coloured sponges. Continue to fin out to sea and you are greeted by huge sea fans, at least 4.5 metres tall, sitting on subsea cliffs at a depth of about 35 metres – a highly recommended scene to savour.
The aboriginal boats of the Yami tribe, an Austronesian people linguistically and culturally closer to the Ivatan people of the Batanes islands in the Philippines than to other aboriginal peoples on the main island of Taiwan
For macro photography enthusiasts, diving at night at the “coconut oil port” is what dreams are made of. Tiny creatures that are part of the nighttime revelry include the most amazing pom pom (boxer) crabs (Lybia tesselata), which brandish anemones in their claws for defence – like boxing gloves. At the same time, some of Lanyu’s dive sites are known for their strong currents, carrying large migratory fish such as tuna, barracuda and eagle rays.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 5 No 134) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
It has been one of the most incredible stories of cave diving today, having made an entirely new discovery in what is an unseeming location for diving. Reminiscent of the Himalayas, the clandestine caves discovered are protected by imposing summits and Everest-like statures. Arriving for the first time in 2011, I thought it was indeed the most remarkable places on Earth.
This virgin expanse is located in southern China, within the Guangxi province. The magnificent Du’an County landscapes offer deep valleys surrounded by mountains. The Yao people, an ethnic majority in this region, have been guardians of this paradise, a utopia of water between mountains, in the valleys and close to the villages. Water is everywhere, and so are sub-aquatic places to explore.
The cave entrances at Du’an are mammoth in size, some a hundred metres wide
The Yao villagers have treated these springs as sacred for centuries, believing that spirits reside in every spill, such as the one they call the “white cow”. These sites are also sources of sustenance, where drinking water is collected and fruits are washed. Even the laundry is done at various spots. Thus, seeing a bunch of divers in their springs took a bit of getting used to.
In the beginning, a scatter of explorers would come through, which left the villagers relatively unfazed. The first influx of voyagers arrived in the late 80s from the UK. Then a long spell of nonentity ensued until 2011, when a French team descended for another bout of search and survey. Soon after, it seemed like the world had arrived at the tailend of 2013, as it became host to the first cave diving conference in China, the Du’an Diving Week. It was a gathering no one had expected.
During the Du’an Diving Week, Pascal Bernabé and Mia Pietikäinen set the Chinese deep cave diving record: 130 metres
Du’an County is one of the most attractive places for diving, both technical and cave. More than 400 places have been identified in the area, with springs, karst windows and caves. Some are small, some are big, all are virgins and most parts are deep, very deep.
After the first French exploration, a second and more ambitious one took place a year later, in 2012. Divers soon realised how big this discovery was. They even made a dive at 121 metres in the Daxing spring, located in the south gallery. The water flows from the deepest and most ancient karst from two main tunnels, one south, one north. A river is birthed from this spring and flows into the valley. Daxing spring could also be a nice place just for scuba diving. The pool is large with clear water. During the dive, you can observe many fish, shrimps and crabs – a very nice dive with big stones, algae and vegetation as well.
The karst plateau of Du’an is exceptionally thick, reaching to more than 100 metres
At the end of the expedition, the French team had explored and discovered many new caves, realising the significance of this event and the place, no doubt with the support of the local government. The glorious collection of pools, springs and karst windows can become a major destination for scuba, technical and cave diving. Certainly, it is one of the most impressive and attractive locales in the world, giving locations like Yucatan in Mexico, Florida in America or Lot in France a good run for their money. While it may very well be a new paradise for exploration and explorers, it is now also a new Mecca for diving and tourism, especially in accordance with the direction the Du’an government has decided to promote this destination.
Water levels in the caves rise and fall an estimated 10 metres between wet and dry seasons
It was a surprise even for the French explorers, who started out exploring Du’an with an innocent passion and have ended up triggering a diving tourism project. In the beginning, some were a little afraid of such a rapid move, but they soon discovered it to be the way things are done in China! Seven months later, I was introduced as an official consultant on the diving project. The government wanted to open a dive centre in December of 2012 and so we literally started from zero to create a modern and brand new diving centre. It was a huge challenge, but after countless trips and hard work from both the French and Chinese teams, the first Du’an dive centre was born at the end of 2013, mainly for tek and cave diving – a dive centre far from the sea, but close to the fresh water karsts of Du’an.
It is also the first dive centre that has opened right from the start of commercial exploration in an area, as most centres are slowly built after divers have been exploring the area for years.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 6 No 129) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
With the discovery of a World War I shipwreck over 100 years old, wreck diving becomes even more exciting in the island of Sri Lanka.
AMONG THE COUNTLESS blessings that Sri Lanka has, one of the best-kept secrets is hidden under the ripples of a beautiful blue ocean surrounding the island and waiting to be explored by scuba divers from all over the world.
With more than a thousand years of maritime trade and commerce from the days of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British, the island’s coastal waters have been subjected to heavy maritime traffic. Bad weather and the war inflicted a heavy toll on many of these ships, some of which sank beneath the waves, forever burying legend-worthy stories and hiding invaluable historical treasures. These are the more than 200 ships that have sunk around the coasts of Sri Lanka.
The bow of the SS Worestershire
Among the many ships that rest below the waters, one of the newest discoveries is the SS Worcestershire (SSW), a steam passenger cargo ship that operated under the British Merchant Navy during World War 1, which was sunk 15 kilometres southwest of Colombo by sea mines laid by German mine-layer SMS Wolf in February 1917.
Weighing over 7,000 tonnes, the SSW was en route from Rangoon (Yangon) to London when it met its untimely demise. Owned by Bibby Line, still one of the largest shipping groups in the UK, the SSW was built by Harland & Wolf Ltd, Belfast & Glasgow, the same people who built the RMS Titanic, which sank seven years earlier.
The identity of the wreck was discovered by Dharshana Jayawardena, the founder and editor of www.DiveSriLanka.com, the only comprehensive online portal for diving in Sri Lanka.
Antheas fish around the stern of the ship
“It was a huge area to explore,” Dharshana recalled. “The ship was quite large at 132 metres long.” One key breakthrough came when he measured the beam (or width) of the ship. It turned out that the difference between his measurement and that recorded in the original archives was only about 30 centimetres. “The proximity of the last known location and the measurements of the beam of the ship was strong circumstantial evidence that this could be the SS Worcestershire.”
The site also turned out to be home to a lush paradise of marine life. A massive shoal of big eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) usually surrounds the ship, forming a huge bait ball, while fully-grown giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) patrol the outer area, making dizzying high-speed lunges at all sorts of fish. Colourful soft corals have grown on the hull of the ship, covered by thousands of bright orange Anthias fish.
Something about shipwrecks: Fish are magically drawn to structure, taking advantage of niches within
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 4 No 134) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
The collection is shot at many of the Philippine islands’ best dive sites, including Anilao, Mactan, Moalboal, Malapascua, Bohol and Dumaguete.
While the bright hues of coral reefs are indeed an impressive sight, the spectacle of colour and movement creates a challenge for the photographer wishing to focus on the beauty of a single organism. By using a black background, creatures are allowed to stand out from their normally cluttered environment and we are able to see them in all their glory. Shot without the addition of false backdrops or postprocessing techniques, The Black Chronicles aims to emphasise the beauty of the marine world in its simplest of details.
Philippines: Places to dive, things to shoot. Dauin, 20 minutes from Dumaguete city, is a muck diver’s paradise, with clear waters and dark sand allowing the critters to stand out. One favourite in Dauin is a dive site called “Cars”. It has to be one of the easiest and most fun shore dives in the Philippines. Night dives in Dauin are all about cephalopods, with ample opportunity to capture a range of behaviours, from hunting to mating.
Gato Island, Malapascua, Cebu: Seahorse (genus Hippocampus)
Malapascua’s Monad Shoal is worldrenowned for its daily thresher shark encounters. However, many don’t realise that Monad also has great macro possibilities. The night dives here are especially thrilling; you never know what big fish might be swimming with you in the dark.
Gato Island, Malapascua, Cebu: Tiger nudibranch (Notodoris minor)
Gato Island is another much-loved dive site in the vicinity of Malapascua. Once used as a shelter from bad weather by poachers, Gato is now popular among macro enthusiasts. Seahorses of every kind can be found in the island’s waters, and divers can take their pick from the rice grain-sized pygmies to the bigger species. The fortunate few may also encounter the rare Bornella anguilla nudibranch.
As for Anilao, there’s a reason why it has become the archipelago’s most popular macro dive destination. Some of the ocean’s rarest critters are found in abundance here and the variety is unbelievable. Feather stars (Florometra serratissima) are common in Anilao, and they normally harbour a squat lobster or a well-camouflaged shrimp.
Mactan is the dive hub of the Visayas. Just a quarter of an hour from the international airport and you’re in its clear, calm waters.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 4 No 133) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Brunei is home
to endangered
corals such as the
Blue Coral
Text and photos Anuar Abdullah, ADEX Coral Reeef Ambassador 2014–2015
THE SOUTH PILONGAN Coral Nursery began on May 7, 2014, as part of the Coral Propagation Project by SCOT/ HSBC Brunei. The 20 volunteers involved in the programme received training on regional corals, through an initiative called the Sea Shepherd Dive.
The Pilongan Coral Propagation Project is a broadscale coral propagation plan, which is carried out by trainers from Poni Divers. Such coral propagation projects are aimed at benefitting both the environment and the community through active participation. The training is conducted in a straightforward and practical manner that can be easily understood by anyone. By empowering the public in coral “gardening”, coral reef rehabilitation on a larger scale can be achieved.
Ocean Quest has successfully simplified coral propagation to encourage public participation
The participants are taught coral-breeding techniques through a structured training system consisting of a textbook, lectures and practice. Ocean Quest in Malaysia develops the educational material and training for the Sea Shepherd Dive Programme. It is hoped that the programme will bring together members from different communities to strengthen awareness, education and conservation of coral reefs. The local community will also reap the benefits of the project through tourism.
Eight nautical miles (14 kilometres) outside Brunei Bay is Pulau Pilong Pilongan, also known as Pelong Rock. The rocky outcrop is six hundred metres long and three hundred metres wide, and encompasses 1.61 square kilometres of reef. Three areas in South Pilongan have been identified as potential coral reef rehabilitation areas. Each nursery is approximately 100 square metres and will provide enough coral broodstock for rehabilitation of the coral reef in the vicinity.
Acropora is responsible for building the substructure that supports a reef ‘s living skin
The reef at South Pilongan consists of scattered patches of mainly hard corals surrounded by rubble and sand. With depths ranging from four to eight metres at the outer reef crest, this site has been identified as an excellent potential site for coral propagation.
Branching Acropora coral has colonised mainly the shallow reefs, and scattered patches of reef on the deeper plateau have several species of plate-like and boulder-like corals. There are plenty of coral fragments on the sea floor for broodstock, and there is also plenty of substrate material – approximately three hectares of rubble area – that can be propagated with corals.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver No.133 Issue 4 /2014 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
When life gives you rubbish, use it wisely. People in low-income countries, including those in Asia, have been conditioned to accept the presence of waste dumped in their surroundings, whether it’s on open land or in the streets. As long as it is not literally in one’s own backyard, waste dumps are tolerated. Many people, decision makers included, are not aware of the harmful impacts to human health, to groundwater resources and to the environment in general. Moreover, few realise that waste is energy – a product that can generate electricity and income.
The World Bank estimates that about 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste is being generated worldwide annually, with at least one-third of that not managed in an environmentally safe manner. By 2050, global waste is expected to grow to 3.4 billion tonnes, more than double the rate of population growth. In low- and middle-income countries, food and green waste comprise more than half of the waste generated, while in high-income countries, the proportion of organic waste is about one-third due to the larger amounts of packaging and other nonorganic waste.
Recycle Bins at Changi Airport, one of the largest transportation hubs in Southeast Asia.
What is Waste-to-Energy? Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that produces a gas principally composed of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), otherwise known as biogas. These gases are produced from organic wastes such as livestock manure, green waste, food processing waste, and so on. Biogas feeds an engine-generator (i.e., a combustion engine), where the resulting mechanWical energy powers an electric generator to produce electricity. Most anaerobic digestion technologies are commercially available, and those that generate electricity are also widely available; it is no longer an “experimental technology”. There are millions of small, medium and large (> 0.5 megawatt) biogas power plants around the world, including Asia.
Using biomass to produce electricity reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, the primary energy sources for electricity and the largest contributors to the air pollution and greenhouse gases responsible for unpredictable changes in our climate. We will eventually run out of fossil fuels, so we have no choice but to find alternatives, sooner or later.
Alternative fuel: Pellets made from industrial wood waste. Short depth-of-field
Biomass electricity offers an alternative with many benefits:
Our supply of biomass is renewable, meaning it will not run out, provided that we have organic waste materials being produced and available.
The electricity produced by biomass reduces the threat of further global warming.
Making use of biomass waste eliminates the need to place it in landfills.
Using by-product methane gases to produce electricity eliminates the associated odour and reduces air pollution in surrounding areas.
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
With 7.7 billion people in the world, a drink and a trip to the grocer can have a terrifying after-effect
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
It is no secret that only 9% of our global plastic waste is recycled. The rest end up in incinerators, landfills and our oceans. Knowing the identity of the plastic you use is key in making sure that more of what is used is successfully recycled.
While the RIC labelling system seeks to promote recycling by facilitating the separation of different types of plastic, the effectiveness of it is unclear. Awareness of the importance of knowing and categorising our plastic waste — as well as how to recycle — is still low amongst many Asians.
I cringe each time I see people throw plastic straws, bags or food containers into the bin. Do we realise that our mindless consumption and insouciant disposal habits have already created massive environmental problems beyond our ability to cope? 91% of all the plastic waste we create is not recycled.China is the biggest importer of the world’s plastic waste, importing 45 percent of all plastic waste (106 million metric tons) since 1992. In 2016 alone, half of all plastic waste meant for recycling was exported by 123 countries, and China imported two thirds of it (10,225 million metric tons) from 43 of them.
It is hard not to question whether the plastic waste we make the effort to process and place in recycling bins really gets recycled. Much uncertainty over what we would do with our plastic waste has arisen with China’s decision to stop importing plastic waste since 2016 — which could displace as much as 111 million metric tons of plastic waste by 2030, according to a study published in Science Advances.
Nowhere is the need for action greater than in Asia, where chronic problems of overconsumption and inadequate waste management are severe. And we need to act now.
Type of Plastic Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)aka polyester Common Forms Beverage bottles, clothes, carpets, food jars,
mouthwash bottles
Ease of Recycling Easy
Amount produced in 2015 (million of tonnes) 33
Type of Plastic High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) Common Forms Toys, plant pots, garden furniture, rubbish bins, detergent bottles, buckets, milk jugs
Ease of Recycling Easy
Amount produced in 2015 (million of tonnes) 52
Type of Plastic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Common Forms Synthetic leather, credit cards, medical equipment, shampoo bottles, window and door frames, pipes, gutters, fittings, cable sheathing
Ease of Recycling Manageable
Amount produced in 2015 (million of tonnes) 38
Type of Plastic Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Common Forms Shopping bags, trash bags, packaging films and bags, bubble wrap, fabric for clothes, furniture, and carpets, wire and cable insulation, squeezable bottles
Ease of Recycling Manageable
Amount produced in 2015 (million of tonnes) 64
Type of Plastic: Polypropylene (PP) Common Forms Reheatable food containers, bottle caps, straws, medicine bottles, insulated cooler bags, fabric, tarps, diapers
Ease of Recycling Difficult
Amount produced in 2015 (million of tonnes) 68
Type of Plastic Polystyrene (PS) aka styrofoam Common Forms Takeaway/ disposable food containers, toys, insulation, packaging material, boards
Ease of Recycling Very Difficult
Amount produced in 2015 (million of tonnes) 25
Type of Plastic Others – all other plastics that do not fall into the above categories including synthetic resins and composite plastics (polycarbonate, polyctide, acrylic, acrylonitrilebutadiene, styrene, fiberglass, and nylon)
Common Forms Nylon fabrics, signboards, medical storage containers, compact discs, baby bottles, car parts
Ease of Recycling Very Difficult
Amount produced in 2015 (million of tonnes) 127
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
The Andaman: Among the last places in the world with a minimal human footprint
Text by Vandit Kalia & photos Vikas Nairi Subba
After chasing wrong leads on night diving in the Andaman, Asian Diver finds one of the only legit sources of information and plunges into a rather unknown destination to discover sleepless bliss.
While the diversity of marine life and the high biomass on the reefs of the Andaman Islands are making this jewel of the Indian Ocean a popular choice among the diving community, night dives remain a very underrated speciality in the region. For a variety of reasons, it has almost been an afterthought, which is unfortunate, as night dives here present opportunities to see and photograph “cool stuff” for divers and underwater photographers of all experience levels.
Diving off the beaten path: This region is one of the last unexplored diving frontiers in the world
One of the most accessible dive sites for all levels is The Wall. A ledge running northwest to southeast – with its top at nine metres, sloping gradually on its westerly side and dropping sharply down to 60 metres on its easterly side – The Wall is located at the mouth of a channel between Havelock and Peel Islands. It has nutrient-rich water flowing through it, which has resulted in a very high density of both fish and various macro species.
Popular during the day, it is also a very enjoyable night dive and accessible to divers of all levels. A nice strip of sand running along the western side allows student divers to rest on the bottom while watching the marine life. This is a boon for photographers too. Given the dimensions, one doesn’t need to do a lot of finning in order to cover the entire site. Indeed, some of the best dives to be had here are ones where divers hardly move at all!
Typically, descents are done at dusk, so that divers get to watch the packs of bluefin and giant trevally hunting the huge schools of fusiliers, and if you’re lucky, you may get to see passing bumphead parrotfish as they rush to settle in for the night.
The Andaman: Among the last places in the world with a minimal human footprint
Once darkness sets in, divers can expect to see plenty of scorpionfish, lionfish and parrotfish sleeping in a cocoon made of their mucus, the odd giant barracuda, giant moray eels, resident stonefish, filefish, cuttlefish and octopus, groupers, multiple species of snapper, pipefish, and various crustaceans, as well as a variety of nudibranchs, feather and basket stars, and a plethora of sea urchins. The lucky ones who plunge in at the right time/season have come back having spotted the odd frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish, pygmy cuttlefish, and harlequin shrimp, just to name a few.
Depending on the interest of the diver, it is possible to get the opportunity to watch mating and spawning behaviour of select species such as the octopus and sea cucumber. For those who are interested in the extremely tiny, you can simply float in darkness over the reef marvelling at the different species of plankton.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2015 Issue 4 No 139) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
The eyes of the crocodilefish, Cymbacephalus beauforti, have frilly iris lappets, which help break up the black pupil of the fish, and thus improve its camouflage
Text by Chetana Purushotham & Images by Umeed Mistry
The ways of light in the ocean
The light spectrum comprises a rainbow of different wavelengths (400nm to 700nm) that are perceived as different colours.
Light operates in the ocean differently than on land.
Most of the light hitting the water surface is reflected back into the atmosphere. The rest is absorbed or scattered by the seawater and creatures living in it (such as plankton). Different wavelengths are affected to different degrees with increasing depth or horizontal distance.
Longer wavelengths of light are absorbed and scattered quickly and lost within tens of metres (like red and orange), while shorter wavelengths attenuate less and travel much further and deeper in the ocean (blue)
Despite being scattered easily, ultraviolet light accounts for a substantial number of the light particles near the water surface and sometimes up to 18% of the light available even as far as 100 metres deep in the ocean
Practically no light can reach beyond 400 to 700 metres deep, where fish produce their own source of light (bioluminescence) or utilise heightened senses other than vision.
Trumpet, or cornet, fish have incredibly good eyesight which assists them in capturing their prey
The wonders of UV
At least 100 species from 26 fish families can detect UV light. Several species are adorned with colours and patterns that reflect UV and can only be seen by fish equipped with eyes possessing the necessary light-sensitive pigments. Some examples are thread-fin butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga (on its dorsal fin-edge) and coral grouper, Plectropomus leopardus (markings on the flank).
The eyes of the mud skipper are actually better adapted to see in air than water
Colour vision helps fish communicate with competitors, allies and mates, hide from predators, and search for prey. UV vision is thought to enhance these functions further:
Detecting predators and prey, since objects appear in much higher contrast against their backgrounds when seen in UV
Identifying others of the same species (two-stripe damselfish, Dascyllus reticulatus)
Coordinating with neighbours while schooling (green chromis, Chromis virdis)
Some creatures, such as this splendour wrasse, may seem conspicuous, but to other fish their patterns appear to blend in with the background
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2016 Issue 1 No 140) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Situated southwest of India and Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea, the Maldives is comprised of 26 natural atolls that envelop almost 1,200 islands. Ninety-nine percent of the nation is covered with water, and what little land there is barely breaks the surface, averaging an elevation of only three feet above sea level. As such, this one-of-a-kind archipelago is a mecca for underwater photographers dreaming of dramatic manta aggregations, abundant fish life, and vivid soft-coral seascapes.
Diving in MALDIVES
The two most common types of dive sites in the Maldives are channels (kandu) and pinnacles (thilas). Because of the unique topography, currents sweep from the outer reefs of the atolls (dhuni) through channels and passages, carrying with them the nutrients that support the vast numbers of fish and dense assortment of sponges and soft corals that decorate almost every dive site.
A purple soft coral bommie is crowded with anthias
The northern half of the country is characterised by pinnacles and internal reef structure (faru), covered in clouds of colourful reef dwellers, while in the south, pinnacles are less common, instead giving way to current-swept channels full of sharks, making it more suitable for more-advanced divers. Though there is, of course, macro life on every reef, it’s surprisingly sparse photographic fare, especially in light of the tremendous wide-angle opportunities that abound.
The Maldives is a great place to shoot behaviour, not just on the operatic scale of the feeding aggregation in Hanifaru, but because of the many schooling fish and cleaning stations, where colourful smaller species add an interesting element to any shot of a larger animal. Most dives are drifts, and many are relatively deep; spending a large part of a dive between 20 and 30 metres is common.
Whale sharks are found all year round in the Maldives
Macro Subjects:
The Maldivian reefs have an abundance of small reef dwellers. Crustaceans and eels, gobies, blennies, frogfish, pipefish and nudibranchs can be found on many dives. DSLR users, cross your fingers that “Mr. Big” doesn’t arrive on the scene while you’re set up for the small stuff!
Wide-Angle Subjects:
The Maldives provides epic opportunities for wide-angle shooters. Dozens of mantas in a column, somersaulting backward as they feast on krill, make for dramatic stills and jaw-dropping video. Walls of bannerfish, whale sharks, guitar sharks, spotted eagle rays, mobula rays, dolphin, turtles and even sailfish are common sights. Reefs covered with multihued soft corals and teeming with vividly coloured reef fish are also perfect subjects for a wide-angle lens.
A classic manta feeding “train”
Tips and Techniques
Novice MANTAS AT CLEANING STATIONS
Stay back from the cleaning station until the mantas feel comfortable, and always stay below a manta’s flight path. Don’t chase them – let the mantas come to you, and don’t forget to look behind you from time to time. Agree in advance to keep your whole group on one side of the cleaning station, and choose the side with the sun at your back for easier exposures. Upward angles and strobes work well in shallow cleaning stations, especially if the animals get close. Change your diving schedule if other boats are on a station. Too many people may spook the mantas, making good images difficult.
SOFT CORAL
Soft coral needs current to bloom, so even though it’s a stationary subject, decide on an approach strategy. Set your camera to f/8 and about 1/160s, ISO100–200. Pull the strobes back and up, behind the handles and above the midpoint of your housing. The strobes should be as far from the housing as the subject will be from the port. Swim a little way upstream and fire off a few shots as you drift back towards the subject. Review and adjust your settings, and repeat the process.
Photographers follow a large school of jacks
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 6 No 129) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
As the giants congregated, I
realised that I was
fully accepted
Text and images by Kurt Amsler
American whalers came to the Azores, a distant 1,564 kilometres off the coast of Portugal, in the early 19th century. Although they did not initially operate in these waters, the islands were used for provisioning and supplementing crews with young men from the archipelago. In time, Azoreans took up whaling themselves, establishing their own whaling stations along the coast.
Whaling in the Azores significantly declined in the 1970s and officially ceased with the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ban in 1986. Instead, a lucrative business now thrives where visitors hunt whales with cameras rather than harpoons.
Both technically and physically, sperm whale imagery poses some of the greatest challenges to the underwater photographer. In addition to being extremely shy, sperm whales use echolocation to detect sound and movement for up to several kilometres. To avoid scaring them away with engine noise and bubbles, boats must remain far from the whales, and freediving is the only practical way to approach them.
For five, long days we cruised the islands of Faial and Pico in the Azores. Nine hours a day in a small boat gets extremely tiresome, but it is a necessary experience in order to gain close encounters with the magnificent giant sperm whales of the Atlantic.
Freediving is the only practical way to approach sperm whales
The day started promisingly with three sightings and an underwater encounter to within about 14 metres. From a small boat like ours, it was not possible to see whales from the surface. Therefore, we worked with two vigias da baleia who watch out for whales from hillside observation towers, remnants from commercial whaling days. The boat’s radio suddenly crackled, and from the driver’s reaction I could tell it was a good message. A group of about six animals had been spotted about one nautical mile to the south.
Courtesy of twin 150-horsepower motors, we reached the spot quickly and there was our prize. The pod was swimming in circles very slowly, which was decidedly unusual behaviour. We cut the motors to avoid scaring them away, and kept to a safe distance of about 150 metres. With a last look at the pod’s position, I gently slid into the water.
The mother’s massive head got bigger and bigger
For the first 80 metres I swam as fast as possible, scanning the blue to get a glimpse of the animals, but there was nothing but a big murky cloud. I soon realised that the cloud was blood, which appeared greenish because of the loss of red light underwater. This explained the pod’s strange behaviour. I thought they must be watching over a wounded member.
Soon the calf could swim independently for short distances
Female sperm whales are famously social. They form networks with their young and live in groups of 15 to 20 animals. Sexually mature males leave the pod and form associations with older males but travel alone. I assumed, correctly as it turned out, that this was a pod of females. As the whales’ communication sounds intensified and I got nearer, I could discern the group about 30 metres in front of me, huddled just below the surface. But with the sun directly in front of me it was difficult to see exactly what was going on.
I descended to about 15 metres to pass carefully beneath them. My descent revealed that my initial assessment was wrong. There was no wounded animal;it was a mother giving birth. The placenta and pieces of skin were floating in the water around the calf, which had left the womb only seconds earlier.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver 2016 Issue 6 No 9) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Not for the faint of heart: The world-famous dive site is, without a doubt, the most requested dive in Palau
Text and photos Francis Toribiong
I grew up in Palauafter the end of World War II; traditionally, every kid went spearfishing with his dad or uncles to bring home our next meal.
Swimming underwater with my WWII Japanese pilot’s goggles, I suddenly realised that I was not looking at the fish as my next dinner. I was fascinated by the richness of Palau’s underwater beauty.
Palau’s Blue Holes offer some of the best and most diverse dive sites on the planet
My goal was to stay as long as possible underwater on a single breath and explore it. In early 1960s, some of the pioneer divers came to Palau, including Jacque Yves Cousteau aboard his boat, the Calypso, leaving a great impression on me. They taught me how to dive and I made up my mind to become a professional diver.
From early days, I realised that the ocean has no limitless resources and we have to protect it. Fortunately, Palau’s traditional leaders and government were instrumental in declaring Palau a marine sanctuary and later, a shark sanctuary.
It took us, the diving community, half a century to convince the world that sharks need our protection and I hope it is not too late.
Get ready for the ride of your life: Strong currents upwelling from the depths attract some pretty awesome sealife
Blue Corner is one of the world’s most known dive sites and often divers ask why “Blue Corner”? After all, most corners in Palau are blue…
The story is that during the early diving days in Palau, we used to dive the magnificent Blue Holes and always turned right after exiting the cavern. One day, I decided to swim against the current and follow the reef to the left. A short swim underwater brought my divers and I to a corner with an explosion of marine and pelagic life. When I explained to my Fish ‘n Fins guides about the dive I explained, “From Blue Holes, swim left to the corner…” Shortly after that, the site got its name, Blue Corner.
Wreck in the midst: Blue Corner is a site that can be different every time you dive
One of my best memories underwater is of the WWII wrecks in Palau. We knew that on March 30, 1944, during operation Desecrate 1, more than 60 Japanese ships were sunk. With documents from the war and calculated guesswork, we managed to find them all. Diving for the first time on an unexplored wreck is a unique experience; you are in a territory no one has explored before you. From the beginning, we made sure that no one removed artefacts from the wrecks, so they can be preserved for future generations.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 6 No 129) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Always a nice find: The Tuberculatus Xeno crab (Xenocarcinus tuberculatus)
Text and photos Markus Roth
When looking for a destination that offers everything, from endless drop offs to a shallow house reef, from the smallest shrimps to a dugong, where the paradise-like landscape above the water is mainly jagged limestone islands, white sandy beaches and a mix of rainforest giants and palm trees that immediately evoke the South Seas, then the place where the Europeans first discovered pepper is the place to be. This is the Indonesian island of Saparua, the Pearl of the Banda Sea.
The way to paradise
The Moluccas island chain is located in the eastern part of Indonesia between Sulawesi and West Papua. Ambon is the largest city and the most important port of this eponymous island. It is also the capital of the Indonesian province of Maluku. East of Ambon are the Lease Islands, with the main island of Saparua.
Kurt Gross and his wife Eliane were the first foreigners who came to Ambon shortly after a stretch of religious unrests ended, which drastically affected the tourism industry. Their aim was to find a piece of land for their resort. The two experienced divers and Indonesia experts finally found what they were looking for on Saparua and started to build their Cape Paperu resort on a small peninsula, a perfect place that made visitors feel like they were in paradise.
The blue-ringed octopus (genus Hapalochlaena) wears some fascinating hues with delicate curling arms, but this small cephalopod is also deadly.
It is the combination of emerald-blue water, a beach with its pearl-like sand and tropical vegetation that created this beautiful atmosphere. Only a long jetty interrupts the idyllic scenery, which is needed because the tidal range almost drains the entire lagoon at low tide. It was on this very jetty where my hosts Eliane and Kurt, together with resort dog Cyrah, welcomed me from afar.
When good things are so close
The high temperatures and inviting sparkling water made me think of only one thing: Get into the tide as quickly as possible. The scuba gear and the camera were assembled in record time and off I went into the cool water.
I didn’t have to go far because the extensive, approximately two-kilometre-long house reef stretches right in front of the resort. With a maximum depth of 12 metres, it is inviting for extended dives providing a mixture of sandy bottoms, individual coral blocks and a dense collection of antler coral, a thrilling marine landscapecompeting for the heart of any diver. Night dives in particular are highly recommended at this diverse dive site.
Hey sugar: Found on coral and rocky reefs mimicking the soft coral in the Dendronephthya genus it sits on, the candy crab (Hoplophrys oatesi) is a precious find
During my stay, harlequin shrimps were found for the first time. Regular inhabitants include a wide variety of fish, snails and octopuses. Even dugongs were observed grazing on the sea-grass meadow.
The dive sites of Walo 1 and Walo 2 is just a short, five-minute boat ride away. They are characterised by a good number of fish and score particularly high on account of their biodiversity. Hard coral gardens alternate with white sand surfaces, on which great bommies are to be found again and again.
The third dive site in close proximity to the resort, Pombo Bool, is like an enormous aquarium. Even on the surface, this dive site is incredibly beautiful. Surrounded by crystal-clear blue waters, a mushroom-like limestone rock covered with lush greenery rises from the Banda Sea.
Bustling with life, the glory of a healthy reef system here in Saparua
Without exaggerating, I can say that I was extremely impressed by the vibrant life in this fairly shallow dive site. If the nearby dive sites were already this exciting, what could I expect from the advertised highlights of this isolated diving area?
Life pulsates off Molana
The actual reason for my trip was the endless dropoffs of the islands of Nusa Laut and Molana.The next morning, Kurt first sent me to Molana. With a broad smile on his face, he simply wanted to raise the excitement. Seeing my slightly flabbergasted expression, he told me not to go crazy. But there was more to come in the following days.
After a 30-minute boat ride, again, a beautiful setting appeared in front of me, an extensive hard coral garden reaching as far as you could see. Here, not only did the water sparkle, I could easily discern the different colours of the coral from the boat. This sight made me smile and I quickly found myself in the tropical warm waters.
Alfi, my truly outstanding guide, signalled me to follow him and we slid through a relatively narrow chimney-like gap in the reef into the depths. With the sun exactly on our backs, the infinite blue appeared to be even more fully illuminated.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 6 No 129) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The false clown anemonefish is found throughout Indonesia, but in Cenderawasih Bay, this true clown anemonefish is found. Usually known form the Coral Sea and Papua New Guinea, this is the most westerly part of its range
Text and photos Richard Smith
Well into the 21st century,we imagine the age of species discovery to be over. The great expeditions, which filled museums with new specimens, are at an end. Remarkably, northern Papua’s Cenderawasih Bay has kept its secrets for millions of years. Here, numerous indigenous fishes evolved in its out-of-the-way waters, which have only recently been discovered by western science.
The Bird’s Head
The Bird’s Head is the name given to the huge peninsula on the western end of New Guinea in Indonesia. Divers are likely to be most familiar with Raja Ampat, a cluster of islands located to the west of the Bird’s Head. The importance of these islands, in terms of global conservation significance, is well documented as they boast the world’s most biodiverse coral reefs.
Shallow hard corals grow just beneath the surface in Cenderawasih Bay
After realising the immense species diversity of Raja Ampat, scientists began to ponder how the reefs of the surrounding areas compared. The remoteness of this wilderness had previously hampered exploration, but finally in 2006, an expedition was mounted to document the reefs east of the Bird’s Head. Scientists could never have anticipated what they found.
An evolutionary crucible
Diving in Cenderawasih, which means, “Bird of Paradise” in Indonesian, is almost exclusively possible via a liveaboard. Due to the area’s remote location, there are few liveaboards that venture this far and to join one may take a little forward planning.
Flasher wrasse are small fish often found on deeper rubble slopes. The species in Cenderawasih Bay was found to be significantly different enough to warrant being described as a new species
Looking around on my first dive in Cenderawasih, something struck me as strange. Having come from Raja Ampat, where I had grown accustomed to the resident species, I noticed something amiss. For one, instead of the usual false clown anemonefish, for the first time in Indonesia, I was looking at the true clown (aka, Nemo), rather than the false clown found across the rest of the archipelago. The long-nosed butterflyfish also looked awry, with a dusky body colouration and yellow band behind the head.
This was in fact my first encounter with the bay’s unique assemblage of endemic fishes, which have only been discovered by scientific surveys over the past few years. At least 15 species found abundantly on its reefs are known from nowhere else, including the Cenderawasih long-nosed butterflyfish, Cenderawasih fairy wrasse, Price’s damselfish, Caitlin’s dottyback and a walking shark. Thinking outside the box, the scientists who discovered these new species came up with an innovative way of naming them. At a black-tie event hosted by Prince Albert of Monaco, the naming rights for some of these fish were auctioned, raising US$2 million to be channelled into their conservation.
We found this small velvetfish on a day dive in southern Cenderawasih Bay. It is uncertain whether it is a new colour form or a distinct Cenderawasih endemic species
Evolution in action
Darwin first floated the theory of evolution through geographic isolation using the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands as his model. Isolated from tortoise populations on other islands, the slightly different environmental conditions on each resulted in the tortoises evolving into distinct species. In the ocean, however, examples like this are rare, as the planktonic larval phase adopted by virtually all reef fish allows for the large-scale mixing of populations.
When scientists analysed the movements of landmasses in Cenderawasih, they found that over the past 14 million years, large island fragments have almost completely blocked the mouth of the bay on several occasions. These severely affected the flow-through of water, effectively isolating its inhabitants from the outside world. The different environmental conditions the creatures experienced acted as drivers of change and eventually moulded them into new species. In isolation, much like the tortoises and finches of the Galapagos Islands, the ancestors of Cenderawasih’s endemic fishes eventually became those we see today.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 6 No 129) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
With no ambient light deep within the cave, torchlight marks the way ahead
Text and photos by Chris Simanjuntak
The trees surrounding the cave mouth resembled the Ents from The Lord of the Rings. Massive branches reaching skyward, they looked as if they were guarding the place. The constant breeze tickled the leaves, as if whispering, “This ground is sacred!” Their oversized roots crept down the contoured overhang below, spreading like arterial veins. Thinner trees gripped feebly to the edge, as if they’d only been flimsily glued on.
Enormous rocks piled underneath the overhang showed evidence of a series of landslides from hundreds of years ago. The hole was about 50 metres wide, with the upper lip towering to a height of about 15 metres. The area had been receiving plentiful rain over the past two weeks, and we were surrounded by lush greenery covering the ground and enveloping the edge of the cave mouth. I started to follow the steep path down to the pond.
The formidable, 50-metre-wide entrance to the freshwater cave Gua Oehani
Clutching my underwater camera gear, I carefully placed each foot as I made my way over the sharp rocks and slippery slag. As we went deeper and the ambient light dimmed, torches took over to light the way. After around 20 metres, I reached a small pond, three or four metres wide and a metre and a half deep, filled with clear, silt-free turquoise water. We jumped in to cool ourselves, rinsing off the sweat from preparing and carrying our gear under the midday sun.
This is Gua Oehani, a freshwater cave situated about 30 minutes’ drive from the city of Kupang, the largest town in West Timor, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. It was first explored 15 years ago by a small group of cave divers who mapped the tunnel and installed guiding lines, or the “gold line”, as cave divers call it. Since it was first discovered, only nine divers have dived Oehani, which placed me at number 10. The total penetration in the first exploration went as far as 500 metres, but the tunnel keeps on going. Water depths vary up to 15 metres, with two individual air chambers along the way before a massive water chamber at the 500-metre mark.
Photographing the scene with the right light placement and without stirring up silt is no easy task
We donned our diving gear, tested all our lights and slowly floated at the surface into the narrowing tunnel. I was amazed by the pile of clothes at the tunnel’s mouth. Apparently, the villagers do their laundry here, which explained all the used plastic sachets of washing powder around the pond.
Daylight immediately disappeared, shifting to darkness with the first tunnel descent. Relying only on my torches, I exhaled and worked my way down, penetrating a tight crack. With strobe arms folded as compactly as possible, I pushed my camera forward, until I got to a horizontal tunnel at a depth of nine metres.
The light from my torches illuminated the passage in front of me. A guide line, fallen rocks, earthly colours, very clear water, and no signs of life. Haloclines at various depths blurred the scene, like peeking through an out-of-focus lens. The different layers created the illusion of surface ripples. Very gently, I frog-kicked deeper, taking care not to stir the fine sediment on the bottom. As soon as I paused and kept still, debris started falling as my exhalation bubbles struck the ceiling above. Occasionally, I used my index finger to cling to a rock or crack and pull my body forward.
[▴] No marine life: The surreal, solitary beauty of the underwater scene
Some moments later, the tunnel widened. As I pointed my torch up, I could see my bubbles creating surface ripples a few metres above me. We had arrived in the first air chamber. I took my dive gear off, carrying my lights, and started to climb a massive rock pile, leaving one light on and submerged, illuminating the pond behind us to mark our return path.
The plateau after the climb was amazing, with glittering materials embedded in the rocks, and impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Strange-looking serrated flaps lined the walls, like fossilised gill rakers of a giant prehistoric fish. The ground under my feet had originally been attached to the ceiling above until it collapsed many years ago, and it was certainly not a good feeling realising this fact as I stood there. Our logistical preparations didn’t allow us to continue to the next pond on the other side of the rock fall, where the tunnels would take us to the 500-metre mark. So I decided to keep my shoot to this pond only.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 6 No 135) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Robber crab and debris from MV Tycoon accident off Christmas Island, Australia, Indian Ocean.
Text and photos Justin Gilligan
The maritime disaster on Christmas Island represents a timely reminder that we must not sacrifice our marine environment for the sake of a quick buck.
In the dawn light, endemic Christmas Island frigate birds watch from the amphitheatre of cliffs that surround Flying Fish Cove, like silent sentinels in the darkness, as sea conditions worsen.
Down below, at the foot of the crescent-shaped bay, the MV Tycoon, an 85-metre Panamanian-flagged cargo ship is moored. Her crew awaits daybreak to finish loading bagged phosphate bound for Malaysia. But the swell rises before the sun, and the second mate wakes the Master to warn him of the deteriorating weather conditions.
Three hours later, with the swell still on the rise, the stricken Tycoon looms dangerously close to the limestone cliffs. Eventually, under the influence of the confused sea, the mooring lines give way and the vessel makes first contact with the jagged rock-face. Finally, the call for help is raised, but it’s too little too late.
In a desperate attempt to save the vessel, the ship’s crew cut through the remaining stern lines thinking that the Master would be trying to take the ship to sea – he wasn’t. This action seriously hinders the ship’s ability to avoid the cliff and her inevitable fate is soon realised. All 15 crew quickly abandon ship and are rescued by the Australian Navy.
Marine debris caused by MV Tycoon accident off Christmas Island, Australia, Indian Ocean.
For the remainder of the day and into the next, the Tycoon remains stranded on the shallow coral reef. Winds of up to 30 knots and a swell over three metres cause the starboard side to tear open against the cliff and spew-out an oily broth of pollutants that turn the bright blue Indian Ocean black.
Dr Jean-Paul Hobbs, a Post doctoral Research Fellow of the Oceans Institute at the University of Western Australia and I arrive on Christmas Island on January 19, 2012 – 11 days after the initial event. We are here to determine the impact of the release of 102 tonnes of intermediate fuel oil, 11,000 litres of lubricant oil, 32 tonnes of diesel oil and 260 tonnes of phosphate into a sensitive coral reef environment.
We are no strangers to Christmas Island’s unique marine ecosystem, having studied the reef here for the past seven years. During our first expedition in 2005, we conducted a visual survey of fish and corals for Parks Australia and have since made several return trips.
MV Tycoon accident off Christmas Island, Australia, Indian Ocean.
We are constantly taken aback each expedition; the crystal clear waters and diverse colour palette of the pristine coral reef are magnetic. The island’s steep and dramatic coastline continues into the sea with breathtaking underwater cliffs plummeting into depths beyond 5,000 metres.
A narrow ribbon of coral reef encompasses the island and acts as a living veneer of life that supports thousands of marine species, from endemic gobies smaller than a child’s finger to seasonal aggregations of threatened whale sharks. The reef’s precipitous walls are coated in extravagant fan corals, while in shallower water complex hard coral formations and dramatic cave systems set the perfect scene for massive groups of batfish and schools of nocturnal flashlight fish.
As we examined the reefs more closely, we soon discovered they are unlike any other in the world. The island’s unique position – 350 kilometres south of Java, Indonesia – means it is located within a convergence zone of Indian and Pacific Ocean marine fauna, making it a major meeting place for closely related species that are not normally found together.
Hermit crab and oil during MV Tycoon accident off Christmas Island, Australia, Indian Ocean.
This rare meeting of species presents a unique opportunity to interbreed and produce hybrids found nowhere else in the world in such high abundance. We discovered that Christmas Island has the most hybrid marine fish of any other destination in the world. Rare combinations have been found within a growing list of families such as angelfish, surgeonfish, wrasse, unicornfish, triggerfish, pufferfish, butterflyfish, damselfish and groupers.
Through our research, we soon found that the island’s marine environment is spectacularly unique and parallels its world-renowned terrestrial biodiversity. The two systems, however, are inextricably linked, as illustrated by the famous spawning migrations of land crabs that travel every year from the forest to the coast to release billions of eggs into the sea. Similarly, both systems also share the same threats posed by human activities, with the island’s phosphate mine having the most obvious impact.
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The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 2 No 131) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
At the footof the Pulaki Mountains in the northwest of Bali, lies the beautiful bay of Pemuteran. Here, you can find spectacular reefs and a huge variety of marine life only a five-minute boat ride from the coast. It is a real divers’ paradise with coral gardens, drop-offs, muck-dive sites and even an underwater temple! However, the story of Pemuteran was not always a happy one.
In 1998, two things happened, which caused disaster in Pemuteran. First, the Asian economy crashed and Indonesia was hit especially hard by it. It caused thousands of economic refugees to stream into Bali in the hopes of finding work here. Many who could not find work realised the only way to provide for their families was to fish in the waters around Bali, and unfortunately, quite a few turned to dynamite fishing as the fastest way to turn a profit. Others practised cyanide fishing, where poison is used to stun fish that can be caught for the aquarium and live fish trades. The problem with both of these fishing methods is that other than allowing them to catch the target fish, they also lead to the destruction of the reefs.
The second disaster in 1998 was that it was an El Nino year. El Nino is a natural phenomenon, which causes the temperature of the oceans to rise. It is not caused by global warming, but scientists believe that global warming is causing El Nino to occur more frequently and last longer than in the past.
An elaborate strcuture of a deity resting in the middle of a lotus-like construction, where coral gorwth is in an advance stage
Corals live in symbiosis with algae called zooxanthellae, which provide coral polyps with food and oxygen and are also responsible for giving corals their colours. When the water gets too warm, the algae abandon the coral polyps to float in the current as plankton. Without the algae, corals appear bone white and while not dead yet, they are slowly starving. If the water temperature drops, the algae will reoccupy the corals and they will survive, but if the water stays warm for an extended period, the corals will die. This is exactly what happened in many parts of the world, Pemuteran included, in that year. The corals bleached and could not recover, and big portions of the reefs died off.
The local community in Pemuteran in 1998 consisted mainly of fishermen, a lot whom still used traditional fishing methods. They were the hardest hit by these disasters because they had to go a lot further to find fish and their catches were a lot smaller. The tourism industry was also in an uproar because of extensive damage done to the reefs; divers and snorkellers stopped coming and hotels and guesthouses were standing empty.
A more customised structure at the beginning stage of development
The Pemuteran community leaders realised that they had to take decisive action, and fast! First of all, they banned all dynamite and cyanide fishing. To enforce this, they formed the Pecalang Laut or Sea Guardians to patrol the reefs in Pemuteran bay with small, high-speed boats. First time offenders were warned, the second time they got caught breaking the rules, the punishment would be more severe. Illegal fishing methods slowly started to decline, but the breaking point came after the Pecalang Laut arrested a big group of fishermen who had bombed a school of tuna.
They were all arrested, their catch confiscated and all the boats were impounded. After that, there was a marked change in the attitude toward fishing in the region and bombing and cyanide fishing stopped completely. It also helped that the community leaders explained to people what they were trying to do and the reasons behind it.
Bicycles! One of the many creative ideas for the Bio-Rock borough at Karang Lestari, here in early growth phase
Another big problem still remained. Most fish nurseries were destroyed and it would take ages for the fish stocks to recover. There were simply not enough healthy portions of reef left to shelter juvenile fish. Help then came from a totally different source! Towards the end of 1998, Yos Amertha, a Pemuteran resident who was also the President of the Balinese Watersports Federation at the time, attended a Coral Reef Restoration Workshop in Thailand. He met two men who would have a massive impact on the future of reefs in Pemuteran. They were Wolf Hilbertz, a German professor of architecture and Tom Goreau, an American marine biologist.
Both of them were worried about the decline of the worlds’ coral reefs and believed that they might have found a way to make a difference. Wolf Hilbertz had just discovered that it was possible to grow “rock” under water through mineral accretion, which is a natural process used by marine animals to build their limestone shells. He had found a way to speed up this process and hoped that it could be used to promote the growth of coral reefs. Tom Goreau had the scientific background in coral reef ecology that was necessary; all they needed was a place to experiment to see if it would work.
Yos Amertha invited Wolf and Tom to Pemuteran in the hope that they could help save the reefs. They started their first experiment in June 2000. The first step was to build metal structures, which would form the foundation of the artificial reefs. This was done with construction steel bars, also known as re-bar, roughly one to one and a half centimetres in diameter, which was bent into different shapes and welded together.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 2 No 131) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
One of the two massive propellers of the Hermes: When the ship sank, it flipped over so the top of the propeller is one of the highest points of the wreck
By Dharshana Jayawardena
At 53 metres and beyond recreational depth limits, the world of the HMS Hermes is surreal. It is also a favourite site to explore for veteran tek diver and Asian Diver Field Journalist for Sri Lanka, Dharshana Jayawardena. We sink into the darkness of the Hermes and discover how it’s stuff dreams are made of.
The month of April 1942, at the height of World War II, was a pivotal moment for Ceylon, as the country was known under its British rulers. A massive Japanese invasion was imminent and the same sea/air strike group that lay devastation to Pearl Harbor, led by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, was now gathered southeast of the island, poised for a surprise attack.
Then, in what the famous wartime Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Winston Churchill later called “The most dangerous moment of World War II”, the Japanese unleashed a wave of air strikes over the east coast of the island on April 9, 1942.One of their targets was the naval carrier group led by the HMS Hermes. The attack lasted only a few minutes, but Japanese VAL dive-bombers scored 40 direct hits on the defenceless carrier, causing it to sink within 10 minutes. Over 300 sailors died in the attack.
Today, the Hermes is one of the deepest dives and one of the best dive sites in Sri Lanka, lying 10 kilometres off the idyllic shores of Batticaloa, an easternmost town that was ravaged by three decades of war and the catastrophic tsunami of December 2004. The journey to Batticaloa can be arduous, often requiring a gruelling eight- to 10-hour drive through winding roads, thick jungles, fiercely inhospitable and uninhabitable bush country, and countless security checkpoints. Yet the trip is almost as exciting as the destination, because brief detours can be made to two wonders of the ancient world: the magnificent rock fortress of Sigiriya and the ruins at Polonnaruwa.
A typical dive plan to the Hermes is 25 minutes at the bottom with a primary dive computer, a backup computer and a plan on wrist slate as the third backup in case of computer failure
At 53 metres deep, beyond recreational depth limits, the world of Hermes is surreal and dream-like. It is a mysterious shadow world of low light, with ominous-looking structures that loom over the seascape. Because of challenging conditions, it is a dive only for tek divers. While trimix is the best gas option to explore the Hermes, especially if you are new to tek diving, it is also possible to dive with air, especially if you have experience in deep air-diving.
The conditions can vary at the Hermes, depending on the month. A strong colder-water current can be experienced at depth and fighting against it can really impair the judgment of a diver because of severe narcosis when air-diving. Because of the currents and the size of the ship, it is sometimes impossible to get back to the anchor line, so divers should be prepared for a drifting ascent during the long hour of decompression. Given that this is a remote location with scant access to medical help and hours away from a decompression chamber, it is certainly a dive requiring immaculate planning, proper procedures and safety equipment.
When it sank, the Hermes tipped over and came to rest on its flight deck, partly propped up by the “island” or superstructure. At 183 metres long, the wreck is huge and requires many dives to thoroughly explore it. The keel of the ship is at a depth of 48 metres, and like a magical white forest in a mythical land, the entire hull is covered with a beautiful outcrop of large black coral. At 53 metres, most of the upper deck is buried and beyond reach. Yet, to this day, you can see the great Bofors guns of the lower deck, anti-aircraft guns, the island superstructure, a huge propeller, and the massive caverns that once led to the lower deck. Also strewn across the wreck are unused anti-aircraft shells. While most of the wreck is largely intact, the bombing damage in some areas is so severe that it is impossible to ascertain at which part of the ship you are positioned.
A sidemount tek diver during the last two stages of staged decompression stops
It is the teeming marine life at the Hermes site that sets it apart from many other dives in Sri Lanka. Here, especially during the months of August to October, sea creatures are in great abundance. Large potato cods peer curiously through the black coral at intruding divers. Massive shoals of mangrove and bluestripe snappers congregate over the keel like large rain clouds. Solitary great barracuda, packs of huge dogtooth tuna and giant trevally join this melee by hovering around the ship and waiting for an opportune moment to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. The Hermes, it seems, is the theatre for an eternal ballet of life and death between predator and prey. Sometimes, even bigger pelagics such as sailfish and passing Bryde’s whales can be seen.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 4 No 139) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
The scientific vessel
Oceania of the Polish
Academy of Science
Text Bogdana Vashchenko Photos Marek Zajączkowski
During their annual expedition, the Spitsbergen Polish Academy of Sciences explores the ocean bottom. From year to year, sediments change the depth. The scientists wanted to know how quick it sediments affect changes at different depths, how it looks like and what plants and sea creatures live at a depth of 1,000 metres.
They could of course take samples but had nothing to take photos with from such a deep place. In 2005, scientists looked for a famous inventor, Bartłomiej Grynda to seek his help. Bartłomiej was asked to design a housing for a camera and develop a method on how to get pictures at depths up to 1,000 metres. Scientists at the time had a very good camera – the Canon 350D – and chose to use it with a 50mm lens to bring things down to the smallest of distortions.
Assembling details together on deck: The camera in the housing with two 35-Wt HID lights mounted on tripod
Although Bartłomiej said it was easy, the work was very laborious. Everything had to be done with intense accuracy and precision; that is why it took almost half a year to see any results whatsoever. To withstand the giant pressure of depth the aluminium walls of the housing had to be 20mm thick, with the window made of polycarbonate. To be sure that their expensive camera would be protected, they placed three O-rings under the window and at the closing wall. The housing was closed with four screw locks, which also fixed the closing wall. To everyone’s amazement, he succeeds with the very first model.
The next problem was light. It is dark as night down there at 1,000 metres – no sunlight can go through hundreds of metres of water. So, special lights had to be designed. Two HID lights, 35 watts each, were used with only two O-rings that could last for three hours. Camera and lights were mounted on a tripod. Now scientists had the possibility to bring their camera to the bottom on a wire rope. But who would take the shots?
The lights are switched on and the set up is ready to be immersed
They measured the distance from the bottom of the tripod to the lenses to be 1.5 metres and Bartłomiej had found a very simple solution – he would use a mechanical lever with weights on a 1.5-metre rope. Each time it touched the bottom, the rope released the lever, which would then push the button on the housing. The button itself was not mechanical but one with a magnetic sensor.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 1 No 124) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
When diving amongst a mass feeding aggregation of about 100 manta rays, I noticed an individual trailing a mass of fishing line. My mind immediately began to race. Before I could react, the manta peeled away from the other feeding mantas in the water column and swam over to me, circling within inches of my head. The manta was a three-metre female and as she moved closer, I could see her injuries were severe. The line was completely wrapped around her body several times, slicing a wound about 30 centimetres directly through her upper and lower jaw backwards into her head. The more she tried to open her mouth to breathe and feed, the greater the line dug into her flesh.
A manta’s best friend? Guy here in a somewhat regular position: underwater with a camera, chasing mantas
My dive buddy had already surfaced; I was at 15 metres and almost out of air. My dive knife was on the research boat anchored 100 metres away. What should I do? I decided to get my knife! I exchanged my empty tank for the only tank left with any air, which was only a quarter full. To make matters worse, it was beginning to get dark. It took me 15 minutes to get back down to the feeding mantas and I was worried that I had missed my chance to help.
But as soon as I descended, the injured manta again approached and began to circle me. I swam closer and began to cut at the line wrapped around her body; it did not take much to remove it all, especially as she remained calm throughout. With all the line removed, the manta continued to circle, but I had to leave. I was almost out of air and it was nearly dark. I quickly took some photos of her injuries and an ID shot so I could recognise her again if she survived, before heading back to the boat.
In the midst of a passion undying: Guy takes photo IDs
On several occasions throughout the following months, I was able to again dive with her and see her injuries start to heal. These encounters were even more intriguing for me because she again left the feeding group and came to circle above and around me. She did this for several minutes before returning to feed and I was the only diver she approached despite the presence of several other people.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 1 No 124) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019 in Singapore. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Birth of a manta ray, these rare images taken in 1968 are the only existing testimony of this event, there are not other evidences in the world of a manta ray giving birth in its natural habitat, the ocean; Red Sea, Port Sudan, Sudan, Africa, year 1968
Text & Photos Roberto Fabbri
This story of the birth of the manta ray goes back to 1967. I was 26, young, strong and experienced as a scuba diver, looking for an adventure.
I discovered scuba in 1959. It happened on the small island of Panarea, in the Aeolian archipelago, just north of Sicily. Each summer, I used to spend a couple of months spearfishing and free diving. My partner had just purchased a single air tank – there was no compressor on the island then – just to use it time to time to recover large groupers we could not get out from the den. One day, I used it and I got immediately addicted.
After a couple of years of scuba spear fishing, a legal and common practice during those times, I got tired of doing the same thing over and over again. So I purchased a Rolleimarin, the underwater housing for the then popular Rolleiflex, a 6×6 medium format camera. A new underwater experience began!
Underwater images Port Sudan-Red Sea, 1968
In 1967, a close friend was organising an ambitious expedition to the Red Sea, just off the coast of Port Sudan. I joined this small group of Roman divers, excited for a new adventure.
It was only free diving – yes, there were no air compressors in Sudan during those days as well – but instead, there were a lot of “Migs”, aircraft fighters from the friendly USSR. You see, we were in the middle of the Cold War.
Birth of a manta ray, these rare images taken in 1968 are the only existing testimony of this event, there are not other evidences in the world of a manta ray giving birth in its natural habitat, the ocean; Red Sea, Port Sudan, Sudan, Africa, year 1968
I knew it would be impossible to take underwater images free diving, so I carried with me my Cressi oxygen rebreather. I was able to get my tank refilled at the hospital in Port Sudan; oxygen rebreathers allow you a maximum depth of 16 metres (53 feet). Below this, you can easily experience hyperoxia, also known as oxygen toxicity syndrome, a medical condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen (O2) at elevated partial pressures.
We knew manta rays were common encounters in the Red Sea. We also knew they could weigh in excess of 1,200 kilograms with six metres of wingspan; we never saw one before, expectations were high, mixed in with a bit of fear.
Birth of a manta ray, these rare images taken in 1968 are the only existing testimony of this event, there are not other evidences in the world of a manta ray giving birth in its natural habitat, the ocean; Red Sea, Port Sudan, Sudan, Africa, year 1968
One day, while taking macro on the reef, the light above was suddenly clouded by an enormous shadow drifting overhead. I looked up, expecting to see the underside of our fishing boat. Instead, a gigantic pair of undulating wings sent a downward current that rolled and rotated me in my tracks.The underbelly gleamed white a couple of metres above me.
Moments later, it passed over me and I swam after the gigantic bat wing creature, which was disappearing fast.Suddenly, it started toward the surface and with several movements of its enormously powerful wings; it disappeared in a welter of bubbles and foam above the surface.This was my first encounter with a manta ray.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2012 Issue 2 No 119) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019 in Singapore. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Sharks are the basis for many fears in Man, including myself. My fear, however, is not of being attacked or eaten by a giant shark, rather, of a sea without them. Over the past 40 years, I have come to love sharks the way most people love beautiful dogs.
My love affair with sharks has led me to hand feed grey reef sharks, rolling them over and even petting them, riding Great Whites and playing “fetch” for nearly an hour with a 900-pound Tiger shark off the Bahamas using a car license plate with a 6-foot line attached. She would swim off to pick up the license plate and swim near me again so I could grab the line and yank it out of her mouth, which she reacted to with apparent enjoyment, then I would toss it away like a Frisbee only to have the process repeated again and again.
Scott’s commitment to saving the ocean and all innocent lives is only matched by his combat skills
Not so long ago, off SoCal, I would dive with dozens of blue sharks for hours on each kelp patty without chumming. Over the years, it became harder to find blue sharks until almost overnight, they all went away.
During my career, I spent years as a combat diver, sniper and counterterrorism operative, which I don’t discuss. I’m still hired as an independent contractor and my work involves sneaking into hostile bodies of water and using reconnaissance techniques; we go in and look for bad guys in teams of two. Simple is better. These techniques work well for protecting sea life!
Scott topside, on yet another mission to save the ocean
On one dive, I filmed the illegal catch of shark being pulled up to its death by a coward. I felt a sharp scratch on my chest… as I moved my camera away from my face I saw a broom handle next to my cheek… then felt the boat hook puncture my wetsuit, then the skin on my lower chest, and wedge into my xiphoid process and muscle. The panga fishermen had hooked me and tried to pull me up… but my head was wedged against the hull.
The O2 cylinder on my LAR V (closed-circuit O2 rebreather) stopped the hook from entering further, so I drew my fighting knife and slid the blade up the broom handle until I felt his hand, then I shoved my knife into his hand hard and cranked it over breaking the bones. He dropped the broom handle and yanked away so fast I lost my knife.
Final score? I got the shots of his lawless act and his $10 boat hook (plus a few scars). He got my $200 fighting knife (and reduced dexterity).
Scott in the midst of hunting poachers: You may want to quit poaching with Scott on the lose looking for people like you
Like night diving? I often use a LAR V to stealthily swim dive about half a mile (with no lights), sneaking into marine preserve harbours in the middle of the night, swimming underneath poacher boats and crawling onto land. I then disguise myself as a bush and spend two unmoving days capturing the poachers’ faces and boat numbers with night vision and a thermal camera. I have filmed them killing sea turtles, dolphin and sharks inside reserves. Often, our evidence mysteriously ends up on a district attorney’s desk. Poachers and shark fishermen are cowards. I’ve put over 10 poachers in prison.
Besides strong currents, cold water and risking boat strikes, I have also had to “tangle” with man-sized aggressive Humboldt squid. Over the years, these squids have broken my wrist several times (as I guard my face and life support gear), pulled my right shoulder out of its socket, ripped my face and neck open with their sucker disk ring teeth (they have about 30–50,000 of them) and ruptured my eardrum.
I’m impassioned about the declining shark population. Due to the popularity of shark fin soup and a bustling Chinese and Japanese economy, there have been more sharks and tuna killed in the last 20 years than all of history. The shrinking numbers have given rise to Humboldt squid, what I call the locust of the ocean. Sharks give birth to 10 to 20 pups in a lifetime. A single female Humboldt squid may have 20 million eggs! Without predators to keep them in check, the squid are wreaking havoc on the ocean’s ecosystem. It’s one indicator of many that oceans are failing.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2012 Issue 1 No 118) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019 in Singapore. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Support diver with all his equipment
on his way down to meet Martin
Text Bogdana Vashchenko | Photo Viktor Lyagushkin
The Blue Lake is a beautiful karst spring, which is located in Kabardino-Balkaria in the Caucasus mountains in the South of Russia. At 235 metres in length, 130 metres wide and 258 metres deep, the Blue Lake is currently considered to be the second largest karst source in the world.
Its sheer size is not the only reason to consider this lake a unique natural object. With the water temperature of approximately 9°C from the bottom to the surface, it offers excellent conditions for the preservation of artefacts. The lake offers enormous potential for discovering a host of historically significant objects on the bottom.
Martin Robson, deep diver, cave explorer and recordbreaker, joined the expedition to this lake to do a series of deep dives and with equipment like a 3D scanner, robots and a special detachment from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, attempted a dive to the bottom at 258 metres with the aim of photographing and recovering historically significant artefacts.
Martin prepares his rebreather for the dive
This was set to be the deepest photographic shoot in the world – at at least 200 metres – made with a camera in an exclusive housing provided by the Subal company.
Martin also attempted a series of deep dives to locate the cave system and source of the spring leading to the exploration of the deepest underwater cave system in the world.
This is the story of this expedition, straight out of the Kabardino-Balkaria region and a two-hour drive to find a connection. Asian Diver is the first to publish a snapshot of this journey…
Igor’s mission to hammer in an anchor for technical and safety aspects
To the South of Russia, there are Caucasian peaks shining white. Squinting, you will recognise sheer rocks and White Mountains. People who live here did not see the horizon for several thousands of years. For them, the distance does not matter. The only important thing is the concept of the vertical.
In their fairytales, a hero shoots an arrow to the sun, the first people come from the sky and the way to get beyond the grave is through the well on the edge of the village. Their heroes never go to unknown lands; their every waking moment filled with conquering mountains or descending hills.
Here, according to the beliefs of these people, there is unreachable sky over their heads and a bottomless lake beneath their feet – the Blue Lake.
An Expedition to the Blue Lake, January 2012
The newest of technologies gave us an opportunity to measure the depth and define the origins of the lake. What we can say in the most simple of terms is that it is really very deep. Its depth is about 260 metres, making it the second deepest karst lake in the world. Its waters are crystal clear and constantly cold. The temperature of the water in the lake is a steady 9°C. What was also discovered is that there is a river coming out of the lake and no spring coming in.
Strange formations inside and outside the lake; here, ice at a nearby waterfall
According to scientists, there is an underwater cave or caves in the lake where the water comes in from. But where the caves are located at exactly can only be imagined. The exploration of the lake by echo locators and robots was not successful – the information gathered was not good enough and data condition for the task assigned to these technologies was grossly insufficient.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2012 Issue 1 No 118) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019 in Singapore. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Life abundant: The Kuda Giri wreck at 31 metres in the waters of the Maldives
Text Nick Coburn Phillips, Photos Imran Ahmad
Wrecks have a profound effect upon marine wildlife. Built in all shapes and sizes and different materials, their contours and often-varied superstructure give rise to a myriad of “micro-habitats” upon which life can thrive!
Besides the substrate, which many of these “historic wonders” of man-made architecture sit upon, the setting of another dimension, that of height, adds another aspect for marine life to proliferate, adding a 3D structure, one where flow may occur through x, y or z orientation, thus creating a more varied habitat.
Life abundant: The Kuda Giri wreck at 31 metres in the waters of the Maldives
Surface roughness, primary algal bio-adhesion and the deteriorating process of rusting add to the complexity of a metal superstructure by creating additional contours and texture to the already existing wreck. Varied colonisation occurs, building up a biological matrix (biotic factors) of both flora and fauna, complete with interstices for flow to occur. Growth is fuelled by nutrients, which bathe the wreck and currents, often whizzing through portholes and engine rooms, adding to larval recruitment!
Many creatures extract particulate organic matter by active filtration, such as mussels, and whilst some pumping occurs, sponges are mostly passive filterers. These organisms lay down mats and “byssal” threads, which further increase the micro-matrix and surface area upon which other marine animals such as encrusting corals can thrive.
A sealife haven: The Kubu wreck at 11–20 metres in Tulamben, Bali, just down the road from the USAT Liberty wreck
The wreck height and size also affect currents generated by the wreck and in turn affect the natural currents surrounding the wreck, often creating eddies, which alter the dynamic flow of the water. Sometimes scouring and maelstrom storm effects (an abiotic factor) are evident around the hull, which many divers tend to avoid by not delving deeper into the murk!
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2013 Issue 1 No 124) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019 in Singapore. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Photographing commensal shrimp on a sea cucumber; Dominica, Caribbean
Text and Photos David Hall
My very first dive was in icy water at an abandoned quarry in New York State in early spring. The underwater visibility was less than a foot and I could barely make out the dive instructor’s hand signals as he watched me demonstrate my skills. I came away with basic scuba certification, but with no desire to dive again in cold water.
Over the next two decades I logged thousands of dives, all of them at tropical Caribbean or Indo-Pacific locations. I dived and photographed in more than 30 different countries, from Egypt to Fiji and from the Bahamas to Bonaire. My photography improved steadily and soon my photographs were being published regularly. Nevertheless, at times, I had the distinct feeling that I was repeating myself, turning out similar images of the same subjects, photographed again and again. My creativity seemed stifled.
From time to time, I had seen published photographs taken in colder waters by David Doubilet and others. These intriguing images provided my first glimpse into a different underwater world, one without reef-building corals, populated by sea dragons, wolf eels, and other seemingly impossible creatures. I eventually decided to experience this world for myself and focused initially on the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
Giant Pacific Manta with photographer (David Hall) Manta birostiris; Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
Diving in Cold Water
Water temperature in British Columbia does not vary much with the seasons and is typically 7–10ºC. Photographing underwater is technically challenging and requires good concentration, which in turn requires a reasonable level of comfort. In cold water, this means staying warm. Becoming familiar with a drysuit can therefore be reasonably regarded as a necessary first step toward mastering cold-water photography.
I acquired my first drysuit almost 20 years ago and immediately headed for southern California to try it out in 18ºC clear water. I made the initial mistake of bringing a camera on my very first drysuit dive, and spent a good part of the dive just struggling to keep my feet from floating up over my head. For the second dive, I left my camera behind and focused instead on learning how to control my trim and buoyancy. At first, air within the suit seemed to shift unpredictably, playing havoc with my body position in the water. I soon learned how to anticipate this phenomenon and modulate it.
The largest of the sea lions and the third largest pinniped (after elephant seals and walruses): males may weigh up to 2500 lbs. Hornby Island, British Columbia
By the third dive I was becoming comfortable enough to carry a camera and to capture a few images of the remarkable giant kelp environment. British Columbia, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, would become my first major cold water destination.
British Columbia: My initial photographic results in British Columbia were so encouraging that I returned many times, photographing in different seasons and at different locations.
Pterygophora californica & Sebastes melanops Hunt Rock, Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia
New Zealand came next, followed by South Australia and Tasmania. Then, Japan, the Izu Peninsula. I had long wanted to photograph in temperate Japanese waters, but dive services and accommodations there are difficult to access by visiting divers who do not speak Japanese. I was fortunate to become acquainted with Chris Bangs, an American dive instructor who was working with one of the dive shops in Tokyo several years ago. The owner of the shop was extremely helpful, and made advance arrangements for Chris and me to dive at several locations in and around Izu, including Jogashima, Yawatano, Futo Point and Osezaki.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2012 Issue 3 No 120) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019 in Singapore. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
Although the world’s plastic consumption problem seems herculean to tackle (try coming to terms with the mind-boggling amount of plastic we use and dump), these visionary companies believe that their sustainability solutions work and are set to change the face of plastic waste.
Miniwiz
Miniwiz was founded in 2005 by architect and structural engineers Arthur Huang and Jarvis Liu to address the great disparity between sustainability and environmental consciousness and the lack of financially feasible applications. Modelled around the closed-loop system, the innovative recycling company turns post-consumer waste into high performance materials that can be used in various products such as furniture, iPhone covers and interior and exterior building structures. It was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a technology pioneer in the Energy/ Environment/ Infrastructure category for the positive impact it has made on the world’s environmental and economic development. Miniwiz is dedicated to promote the mass adoption of a zero-waste circular system and has developed more than 1000 recycled materials which have been used in their various projects around the world.
EcoArk Pavilion (Taipei, Taiwan)
The nine-story high EcoARK Pavilion in Taipei is the world’s first fully functional structure made from POLLI-Bricks a building material innovated by Miniwiz from recycling 1.5 million plastic bottles.
EcoARK Pavillion in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo Miniwiz
House of Trash (Milan, Italy)
With the majority of the trash being sourced locally, the luxurious House of Trash in Milan has what used to be food packaging, mobile phones and fashion waste repurposed into furniture and decorative items all around the office and gallery space.
House of Trash in Milan, Italy. Photo Miniwiz
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
These individuals with their penchant for making a difference, are pushing themselves to do their bit for the environment.
Photo Credit: Miniwiz
Taiwan Arthur Huang Structural engineer & entrepreneur
Convinced that there was much more that can be achieved with the heaps of waste that was being generated on a daily basis, structural engineer and architect, Arthur Huang came up with Miniwiz – a cutting edge innovative recycling company headquartered in Taipei. Based on the model of circular economy, the company, under the leadership of Huang is responsible for several innovations that continue to challenge the existing linear supply chain.
Photo Cedit: Goldman Prize
China Ma Jun Environmentalist
Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun has been credited with creating greater transparency by creating a publicly available database that reveals the environmental supervision records of various companies while also revealing the biggest violators of the national environmental standards. Besides big brands like Apple, Hewlett-Packard and H&M using the database to monitor their suppliers, the database is being accessed by journalists, NGOs
and researchers who are advocating
for change.
Photo Credit: assembly.malala.org
Indonesia Melati & Isabel Wijsen Environmentalist
With Indonesia being the biggest plastic polluter after China, two teenage sisters in Bali took it on themselves to change the status quo. They found an NGO – Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB), while they were 10 and 12 years old with the aim of getting the population in Bali to say no to plastic bags. Their efforts have paid off with Bali banning single use plastics in 2018. The sisters continue on their journey with their NGO which has grown into an international movement for youth empowerment, while
still focusing on plastics.
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
These individuals with their penchant for making a difference, are pushing themselves to do their bit for the environment.
(Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
India Jadav Payeng Farmer
Also known as the “Forest Man of India”, Jadev Payeng created the man-made Molai forest on Majuli Island in Assam – the largest river island in the world. What makes this feat more extraordinary is that he did it all by himself after a reforestation programme to address erosion and flooding was abandoned. Payeng single-handedly planted several types of trees for over 30 years, resulting in an area where wildlife thrives today. Payeng intends to expand his forest and aims to start a similar project in other parts of the state.
(Photo Credit: UNEP)
India
Afroz Shah Lawyer & environmental organiser
Recipient of UN’s top environmental accolade – Champions of the Earth, the Mumbai based lawyer and ocean lover Afroz Shah initiated the world’s largest ocean clean up at Mumbai’s Versova beach. With dedicated volunteers taking over the efforts, he has now begun cleaning the city’s longest river – the Mithi river and predicts this mission will take at least 5 years, before the river returns to its original state.
(Photo Credit: Greens 2017)
Philippines Naderev “Yeb” Saño Climate activist
Filipino climate activist Yeb Saño has dedicated his career to fight against climate change and has been doing so for over 20 years. In the year 2013 when typhoon Haiyan struck Philippines, he made an emotional speech that resonated with many on the need for urgent action on climate change. Continuing his commitment to the environment, he currently leads theenvironmental group – Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
As the oceans warm, some fish species are migrating away from equatorial waters towards cooler areas closer to the poles.
The optimum temperature range for coral is between 18 and 29 degrees Celsius. Corals can withstand short periods of warmer or cooler water. Corals in some areas have been shown to be much more tolerant of fluctuations in temperature and studies suggest this may be a source of hope for the future of coral reefs.
Higher temperatures are also leading to an increase in large-scale, prolonged, coral bleaching events. Coral bleaching is one of the most visual indicators of thermal stress due to climate change.
Corals exist in a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae that live in the corals’ tissues and, through a process of photosynthesis, produce vital food for the coral polyps
When water temperatures are consistently too warm, the corals and zooxanthellae become stressed. The zooxanthellae will leave their coral hosts. The coral loses its colour, turning white. This will normally happen over a period of 4–6 weeks
If water temperatures do not drop, the coral will starve and die. The remaining skeleton will be colonised by algae, making it impossible for the coral to recover
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and for all you know, you might just liberate the inner diver in you! More details of the event here.
The plastic pollution that spills out from the waters in Asia is rooted in the consumption of plastic from rapidly growing cities that are directlycontributing to the growth of some of the fastest growing economies in the world. The impact of this pollution on biodiversity across land and sea is a far reaching problem that has affected far flung places from Mongolia, Russia and China to India, Vietnam and southeast Asia.
Amur River (Heilongjiang) The Amur River, Heilongjiang (in mandarin) or Kharamuren River (in Mongolian, the name means “black river”) is formed by the junction of the Shilka River, which rises in Russia (more than 500 kilometres inland at Siberia), and the Argun (Ergun) River, which rises in Inner Mongolia (more than 1,600 kilometres). Originating in the western part of Northeastern China, the river flows east, forming a significant part of the border between Heilongjiang province (China) and Siberia (Russia) and discharges eventually into the Sea of Okhotsk. The Amur River supports a population of almost 75 million people.
The Amur (Siberian) tiger is regarded as a symbol of national pride (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
The largest undammed river in the Eastern Hemisphere, the Amur’s watershed is over 380 million acres and forms part of the Amur-Heilong forest which straddles the border of China and Russia. The Amur flows for over 4,000 kilometres starting in Mongolia and forms the border between northeast China and southeast Russia.
One of the most biologically diverse forests in the world, the Amur-Heilong forest is home to the Amur leopard, one of the world’s most endangered large cats, and the endangered Amur tiger. A mixed woodland-grassland landscape, it houses an amazing array of plant species (like the Korean pine and wild ginseng) and animals that are facing huge threats from deforestation, illegal logging and infrastructure development.
The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered big cats on Earth with only 84 remaining in the wild (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
Several major tributaries of the Amur are already blocked by hydropower dams. Heavy industries and mines along its lower reaches are discharging waste and heavy metals into it. Sewage discharge from cities around it are a huge source of pollution. In 2005, the Jilin chemical plant exploded and about 100 tonnes of pollutants containing benzene and nitrobenzene were released into the Amur. An 80 kilometre long slick of toxic chemicals passed through the Songhua River into the Amur, passing through Khabarovsk Krai before exiting into the Strait of Tartary. The benzene level, at one point, was recorded to be 108 times above national safety levels. Benzene exposure reduces red blood cell count and is linked to leukaemia.
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and liberate the diver in you! More details of the event here.
Murky waters, barren reefs and trash-strewn beaches – these are likely the first images that come to mind when one envisions Singapore’s marine environments. Truth is, we also often stop short of exploring for ourselves what truly lies beneath the surface surrounding this tiny, island state – habitats teeming with colourful and diverse marine flora and fauna. And that comes as not much of a surprise.
Volunteers survey the exposed coral reefs of Beting Bemban Besar island, which lies off Pulau Semakau. It features sandy areas and seagrass meadows, alongside rubbly coral habitats.
Singapore is geographically situated near the Coral Triangle, a marine area in the western Pacific Ocean that spans the seas of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), this area is the planet’s richest in terms of marine life, with nearly 600 species of corals and six out of the world’s seven sea turtle species found here. But misconceptions about Singapore’s marine landscape often arise as a result of anthropogenic impacts, which the world’s second busiest seaport issusceptible to experiencing.
Land reclamation works at the majority of Singapore’s southern and northeastern coasts, along with its southern islands, have accounted for a total increase in the country’s land area by over 20 percent. Coastal defense infrastructure, frequent ship dredging along its channels and other extensive development projects have also led to habitat loss and coral degradation, most evident in the reduction of Singapore’s reef area from around 40km² in 1953 to a little over 13km² today.
The coral cat shark, Atelomycterus marmoratus, one of several shark species in Singapore’s waters is found at Terumbu Bemban, one of the country’s southern reefs.
As a result, high levels of sedimentation have reduced the visibility in surrounding waters to about 3 to 5 metres at best. Interestingly, this has not diminished the abundance of life around our shores. “Despite the sedimentation, we have actually quite a lot of diversity in our reefs,” reveals Samuel Chan, who currently studies the ecological history of local reefs at the Reef Ecology Lab of the National University of Singapore (NUS). “For example, what we find are more plating corals because those are the forms that have the most resistance against the sedimentation. Ultimately, these human activities have only increased the resilience of our reefs.”
Scientists like Chan have long gotten the support of volunteer-led initiatives like regular intertidal surveys. One example is WILD Singapore, a one-stop online platform founded by Ria Tan that catalogues facts about Singapore’s shores.
Ria Tan is the founder of WILD Singapore, a one-stop online platform sharing interesting facts and volunteer opportunities about Singapore’s shores
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and liberate the diver in you! More details of the event here.
It is a well-known fact that microplastics swimming in our oceans are a huge problem but have they already found their way into our stomachs? (Text Rachel Kwek and Terence Koh)
Ocean plastic pollution is a major and growing global problem. Scientists estimate that the Earth’s oceans may already contain more than 150 million metric tonnes of plastic, with eight million metric tonnes more entering the oceans each year. Plastics do not degrade easily. In the marine environment, plastics are usually broken down into smaller pieces by the sun, waves, wind and microbial action. These micro- and nanoplastic particles in the water may be ingested by filter-feeding marine organisms such as barnacles, tube worms and sea squirts.
What happens when plastics end up in the marine environment?
In a study funded under the Marine Science Research and Development Programme of the National Research Foundation Singapore (first published online in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering in March 2018), a team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) found that plastic nanoparticles – tiny pieces of plastic less than one micrometre in size–are easily ingested by marine organisms and accumulate in the organs over time, potentially contaminating food chains, threatening food safety and posing
health risks.
The NUS research team, comprising scientists from the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) and Department of Chemistry, used the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite in its tests to demonstrate for the first time that nanoplastics ingested during the larval stage are retained and accumulated inside the bodies of the barnacle larvae until they reached adulthood. “We opted to study acorn barnacles as their short life cycle and transparent bodies made it easy to track and visualise the movement of nanoplastics
in their bodies within a short span of time,” said Mr Samarth Bhargava, a PhD student from the Department of Chemistry in the NUS Faculty of Science.
Barnacle larvae were incubated in two solutions containing their regular feed and different amounts of 200-nanometre-wide plastics marked with green fluorescent tags:
“Acute” treatment: Solution with regular feed and 25 times more nanoplastics than the current estimate of what is present in the oceans on average for three hours
“Chronic” treatment: Solution with regular feed and a low amount of nanoplastics for four days
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and liberate the diver in you! More details of the event here.
Volunteers get hands-on guidance and practice in weighing, sorting and cataloguing the various types of marine debris collected from the reefs
Text and Photos Nathaniel Soon
Volunteer groups in Singapore are cleaning up the island nation’s beaches and waterways and helping scientists assess the scale of local marine plastic pollution.
We have all likely come across the common narrative of the boy who aspired to rid his beach of sea stars washed up and stranded at low tide. In the story, a sceptical passer-by expressed doubt about his gesturing at the tens of thousands of sea stars stretching tothe horizon. The boy proverbially responded that he may not be capable of making a difference for every sea star, but at least he did for the ones that he was able to move. Parallels can be drawn to the challenges presented by the burgeoning marine debris in our oceans today: The scale of the problem often appears too overwhelming to invoke any action that one would recognise as significant, yet the widespread adoption of such a mentality only risks exacerbating the issue. “I’m not causing much harm, and I can’t do anything to help” has become the dominant rhetoric.
Volunteers sieve through sand samples along Lim Chu Kang beach for microplastics
Yet, the numbers speak for themselves. A 2013 study by the Singapore Environmental Council, a non-governmental organisation, revealed that Singaporeans used nearly three billion plastic bags a year. The National Environmental Agency then followed up in 2017, reporting that 763,400 tonnes of plastic waste were disposed of that year but only six percent was recycled, earning Singapore the new name “throw-away nation”. Much of this plastic waste ends up in the oceans as a result of improper disposal and waste management practices. Litter that floats is then washed ashore by the tides and deposited along the high-water mark up shore while that which sinks often gets trapped among the rocky or silty substrate surrounding Singapore.
More attention has been given to ocean plastics particularly because unlike other forms of debris, they do not biodegrade but instead disintegrate into indistinguishable microplastic fragments – which when ingested by marine organisms, inevitably enters the food chain and into our bodies. Given that Singapore’s waters are a diversity hotspot with over 17,000 species of marine biota, it remains vital that these organisms are protected against plastic pollution.
Dive volunteers returning to the boat with baskets of marine debris collected from the reefs at Lazarus Island
How big of a problem are ocean plastics in Singapore? According to the Singapore Blue Plan 2018, research among the scientific community and awareness among people remain in their infancy – up till 2017, no fundamental protocol for microplastic monitoring in Singapore existed and many individuals still remain ignorant about its presence in products they consume. This knowledge gap spurred a collaboration between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National Parks Board (NParks).
Now in its third year, the marine debris monitoring programme frequently recruits volunteers to assist in monthly microplastic sampling sessions across six field sites, such as Sisters’ Island Marine Park and the mangroves of Lim Chu Kang, in hopes of uncovering marine pollution trends that can be used to establish baseline data for Singapore.
Joleen Chan, a research assistant at the Department of Biological Sciences in NUS, spearheads this citizen science project. “By engaging volunteers, it is a win-win situation as researchers get scientific data to answer important questions and participants benefit as they get to experience pressing environmental issues first-hand and learn more through interactions with scientists,” she says.
For the rest of this article (Asian Geographic No.134 Issue 1 /2019 ) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here
The 25th anniversary of the largest and longest running dive show, Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is set to occur on the 11-14th April 2019. Centred on the theme – Plastic free Future, ADEX is more than just a dive show with its commitment to the environment. Among an exciting lineup of programs, attendees can look forward to a Future Forward Series of Panel Discussion on the Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Asia, on 13th April.
So join us at the event, get inspired and liberate the diver in you! More details of the event here.
Blenny belvedere: Peekaboo at 82.5K in one of Taiwan’s best kept secrets, Long Dong
Green Islandis located southeast of Taiwan, a small primitive island 33 kilometres from Taitung City. The climate here is sub-tropical – warm, humid and windy conditions throughout the year. The average temperature is about 27°C during summer (July and August) and around 20°C during winter (January and February). Nonetheless, dive season lasts for a whopping 12 months with water temperatures hovering from 26–29°C (summer) and 22–25°C (winter). It should be noted though, there are typhoon risks from July through to September, when the strong southwest monsoon brings big waves.
A famous site at Green Island, known as Iron Reef, gaudy with marine life
Visibility is usually on the good side, exceeding 30 metres. There are more than 20 boat-diving sites and more than 10 shore-diving sites on the island, providing both fantastic wide-angle and macro dives.
One of the most famous dive sites around Green Island is known as Big Mushroom. Located west of the island, Big Mushroom is known for a specific multi-coloured stone coral (Porites lobata) that sits on the sandy bottom at 18 metres. Around 10 metres in height with a circumference of around 31 metres, Big Mushroom is said to be the oldest and largest living coral in the world today. It has been chillin’ here at Green Island for more than 1,000 years and is still growing towards the surface at a speed of a centimetre a year.
Big mama: Big Mushroom has been struck twice by submarines and thus has two indented holes, which are now covered by many soft corals
The reef at Big Mushroom is covered with beautiful carnation tree and tube corals and there are usually many red coral perches with damsel fish gathering at the top. The species to look out for around Big Mushroom are anemone fish, jade filefish, porcupine fish, cardinal fish, lionfish, goatfish and butterfly fish, painting a colourful world.
Another famous dive site at Green Island is Iron Reef, located southwest of the island. It is an artificial reef composed of four cubic iron structures 10 metres long on each side. Iron Reef is on the main path of the Kuroshio Current (Black Stream), which brings warm, tropical-like waters full of nutrients. Many marine creatures are attracted to feed, breed and linger in the area, forming a rich ecosystem. The creature coverage on the reef reaches over 80 percent.
Iron Reef: A diver enjoys the play with a longfin batfish (Platax teira)
One of the highlights diving Iron Reef is the encounter with a school of beautiful long-fin batfish. They are attracted by the sound of the boat engine and usually swim gloriously close to divers. With the company of batfishes, divers descend along a mooring line to the iron structures. The top of the reef is around 21 metres and hits bottom at 31 metres. It is covered with beautiful soft corals, sponges and barnacles. There are usually groups of goatfish, angelfish, parrotfish and wrasse gathering around the reef. Dive season follows that of Big Mushroom.
For divers big on macro, Gongguanbi is the site to get all excited about the little things. Located north of Green Island, the diversity of creatures in Gongguanbi is amazing. There, divers have a chance to see many species of rare nudibranchs, frogfish, ghost pipefish, boxer crab, Paguritta hermit crabs, candy crab, Harlequin shrimp, imperial shrimp, saron shrimp and tonnes more.
Long Dong’s 82.7K is home to this imperial shrimp (Periclimenes imperator)
On a trip out to Gongguanbi in June 2012, I was extremely lucky to see and photograph a very special nudibranch, a golden one with green tentacles and beautiful blue spots. It was later identified by Dr Richard C Willan from Australia to be a new species of Tritonia sp. It is also worth mentioning, for pygmy seahorse lovers, there are good chances of finding Coleman’s (Hippocampus colemani), Pontoh’s (Hippocampus pontohi) and Bargibanti’s (Hippocampus bargibanti) pygmy seahorses here. The best time to dive at Gongguanbi is from March to September.
Heading north, Long Dong is also a very popular site for divers in Taiwan, especially those who love macro. Long Dong is located northeast of Taiwan and getting there takes around an hour by car from Taipei City. In winter, the strong northeast monsoon brings big waves and the water temperature drops below 20°C, making the sea rough and almost impossible to dive. However, when spring comes, the sea is calm again, with beautiful temperatures.
A Paguritta hermit crab (Paguritta kroppi) at Gongguanbi
Diving season here starts in May and ends in September. Though there are typhoon risks during July, August and September, diving in summer is amazing if the weather holds up. There is an abundance of popular macro creatures, including rare nudibranchs, frogfish, ghost pipefish, imperial shrimp, sea horses, boxer crabs, scorpionfish, blennies, basket star shrimp, Harlequin shrimp, tiger shrimp and more.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 1 No 130) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
Conservation begins with the individual: An avid diver records his encounters with marine animals at potential new dive sites
The word “exploration” often sounds like too much work for the average recreational diver. However, there are strong links that explorers and exploration have with everyday diving and conservation.
If we look at the world’s marine parks and sanctuaries, we might wonder how they all started. The fact is, all parks, sanctuaries and destination resorts owe their creation to the exploratory efforts of one or more, often unsung, explorers. Indeed, the entire scuba industry was also born of exploration made popular by explorers like Jacques-Yves Cousteau. With their discoveries, many explorers have made the world aware that the riches of the ocean environment are not without limit, emphasising the need to conserve these resources so that humans and animals can coexist sustainably.
The dive sites in Bidong consist of fringing reefs and a few submerged reefs, a stunning sight to behold against deep clear waters
Our own exploration has been an ongoing activity since 1998. Foreseeing the impact of over-diving at popular reefs in our area, we decided that we should explore more sites. Such initiatives would decrease the impact of over-diving on popular reefs through the diversion of divers to newly established sites.
Case Study 1: Pulau Redang – How the discovery of Stinger Reef helped reduce the impact at Mini Mount
It was in 2002 when diving in Pulau Redang started dropping in quality. Popular sites like Mini Mount were being damaged to the point where marine life was beginning to disappear. After four years of rapid development from 1998 to 2001, the impact of over-diving was being felt at most of the reefs there, with corals dying off and other signs of reef damage. By 2002, one of the better-known reefs, Black Coral Garden, had been totally abandoned.
We knew that the popular sites needed time to recover, and we realised it was necessary to seek out new sites. Taking the initiative, we explored a few possible sites with the guidance of local artisanal fishermen. One of the areas we explored was a small bank reef located off the southeast shores of Pulau Redang. It is now a dive site known as Stinger Reef.
On our first dive at Stinger Reef, we recorded encounters with scorpionfish, stonefish, zebra lionfish, common lionfish, plain tailed lionfish, and demon stingers – this last creature lending its name to the site. Between 2002 and 2006, the reef became the most-visited reef in Pulau Redang, and fewer divers visited Mini Mount. The result was less stress on the impacted reef and a reversal of the damage. The blacktip reef sharks and whiptail rays returned, and the corals on the slopes of the pinnacle also recovered.
A beautiful midway illustration of Stinger Reef by Anuar
This is an example of how simple exploration can help reduce over-diving stresses on nearby reefs. By 2007, the number of visitors to Stinger Reef had also reached a plateau. Local divers continued to explore and establish even more new sites. As a result, Pulau Redang’s reefs, as we observed on a recent visit, are well on the way to recovery.
Case Study 2: The Midway Reef comparative modelling
This reef was discovered on our exploratory trips at the beginning of the monsoon in 1998. A bank reef that defines the concept of pristine, the site is located in the middle of a channel between Pulau Bidong and Pulau Karah. Neither islands have any tourism development nor is the number of visiting divers to this reef as regular as at the sites in other locations. Over the years of observation and comparing data, we have established a number of variables for our research. Among those variables is a comparison between reefs under people’s care and the undisturbed coral pinnacle at Midway Reef.
Exploration such as this, as well as the sheer length of time spent on location, has allowed us to gain valuable knowledge that has guided us toward a better understanding of the coral reef environment. The Midway Reef site is now open to recreational divers who are willing to go the extra mile to find it. Those lucky enough to dive it are sure to tell their friends about the pristine corals found there. Thus, continuing exploration has multiple benefits affecting travel, education, science and conservation.
Anuar Abdullah: “In the ocean is where life begins.”
Recognising this potential, our explorations have now been taken a step further. We have taken our exploration efforts to new heights through the use of advanced instruments and collaboration with other experts. We also recognise the need for more field researchers with the zeal to enhance knowledge further and develop innovative and more-effective conservation strategies.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2014 Issue 6 No 135) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
Mention Sabah,and Sipadan Island comes to mind. What many don’t know is that Sabah has a secret. One hour north of Semporna lies a cluster of relatively undiscovered islands that are Sabah’s hidden diving gems. These islands boast healthy reefs with impressive biodiversity and interesting macro life.
One particular island that stands out from the others is Pom Pom Island. While the island may be small, it is arguably the best macro dive destination in Malaysia and a firm favourite among underwater photographers. There are countless fabulous critters you can photograph in and around the island, but if you really want to shoot rare critters, Pom Pom can guarantee you just that.
Night diving is a must for every underwater enthusiast because when nightfall arrives, the reef becomes a hub for critter activity. This is when they all come out to play. Divers who love macro life are sure to find this an island that they will keep coming back to because they’ll find something different on every single dive.
Paradise found, Pom Pom Island is situated in the heart of the Coral Triangle
A popular site for night diving is the Mandarin Playground, an aptly named hangout situated right underneath Pom Pom Island Resort’s jetty. Swimming anywhere along the reef, from a depth of six metres all the way down to 20 metres, one can find mandarinfish displaying their mating dance. Divers don’t need to worry about hogging this stunning species, as there are plenty
for everyone.
Another very popular dive site is the house reef at Celebes Beach Resort, which is known for its super macro critters. Shine your torch anywhere and you’re bound to see several pairs of eyes reflecting light back at you. At a depth of 10 metres, you’ll find a variety of hairy shrimps ranging from white to green, yellow to purple, especially at night when they come out to feed. Other small critters include humpback shrimp and pygmy seahorses. If you’re interested in critters of a more super-macro variety, look closer for the tiny Idiomysis crustaceans and isopods, amongst other things.
For the rest of this article (Asian Diver 2015 Issue 4 No 139) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The lure of Lembeh is both bizarre and exhilarating
The light of my torch’s beam illuminated a small circle of fine black silt, outside of which the darkness was absolute. My buddy and I had wandered deeper than planned, but one amazing critter after another had drawn us onwards until we found ourselves exploring a barren expanse at 25 metres.
A puff of black silt caught my attention as a seemingly unremarkable fish emerged. I was just remembering how nothing in Lembeh is unremarkable, as the unassuming beige fish suddenly spread wide an enormous pair of bright yellow pectoral fins that almost equalled its length. This was my first ever sighting of a longfin waspfish, and one I still haven’t repeated outside of Lembeh Strait.
Night diving isn’t for everyone, but I’m always dismayed when I see divers pass up a nocturnal foray in favour of an all too tempting gin and tonic. By night an entirely different cast of animals is introduced, and Lembeh offers some of the best conditions to witness a night dive in all its glory. There is a clear transition from colourful daytime animals, for which light plays a vital part in their biology and behaviour, to the nocturnal ones where light is less of a consideration.
At night, you’ll definitely start seeing red. Soldierfish, starry night octopuses and reptilian snake eels are just a few of the crimson residents that emerge after the sun sets. You’ll probably remember from your Open Water course that red is the first colour in the spectrum to be attenuated by the water column. This combination of reduced ambient light and the absorption of red light makes red the best colour for camouflage at night. There are many aspects of night diving that get me excited, but Lembeh particularly excels in a couple of these.
Behaviour
I am a fan of starting night dives slightly before the sun fully sets to enjoy the transition between diurnal (active during the day) and nocturnal creatures. This is also a period when many creatures are reproductively active.
It’s easy to understand why scuba diving in the Lembeh Strait has a reputation that’s hard to beat among discerning divers
Probably the most famous example is the mandarinfish, which shows off its saucy displays in the waning light. However, R-rated shenanigans continue for other species well into the night. I once spent a whole hour watching by torchlight the amorous foreplay between a trio of hairy frogfishes, although sadly an errant moray eel spooked the female just before they spawned and the group scattered.
Lembeh is fantastic as a location to watch other behaviours too. Voracious hunters, such as cuttlefish, prowl the sand for prey, while others simply wait for their food to come to them. The stargazer is a classic ambush predator, but if prey items are thin on the ground, it has another trick up its sleeve. The stargazer uses the tip of its tongue as a lure, which it wiggles to resemble a worm, to attract hapless fish. When they inquisitively approach, the stargazer opens its vacuous mouth and sucks them in.
Juvenile Creatures
With strong currents that flow through the middle of Lembeh Strait, numerous larval creatures are deposited on its sites. Many of these settle under cover of darkness. Larval fishes are quite distinctive, as they don’t yet have the pigmentation of their older kin; rather their bodies are transparent.
It is often still possible to see their internal organs, skeleton and swim bladder, as a lack of colouration would have conferred them some camouflage in the open sea. Although relatively large, I have seen larval octopuses, which also have limited pigmentation when they first settle on the reef. All of this quickly changes as they adapt to their new surroundings.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver 2015 Issue 4 No 139) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
The sheer numbers of mobulids being removed form the oceans are staggering. Especially considering that most of these individuals may still be too young to reproduce
When one thinks of manta and mobula ray research and conservation you might picture diving in crystal clear tropical waters while counting elegant rays flying overhead. In reality though it’s often much less of a dream job than one would think.
On a typical morning in the life of Daniel Fernando from the Manta Trust, the alarm rings at 4am, which means it’s time to visit the local fish markets. Daniel has mainly worked on the mobulid fishery trade in his native Sri Lanka, roaming the markets to collect data and better understand what drives these kinds of fisheries.
This data will hopefully lead to better conservation measures of these majestic animals and give us more insight into the lives of one of the most charismatic and captivating marine species.
A gory prize – the freshly butchered gill rakers
REMARKABLE RAYS
Mantas and devil rays (Mobula) belong to the Mobulidae family, which contains nine species of Mobula rays and two species of manta rays. Mobulids can be found in tropical water around the world.
As divers we all dream of encounters with these beautiful animals and if we do have the privilege of diving with them they will often be amongst the most memorable dives we’ll ever do. Their charisma and beauty also make them a flagship species for wildlife conservation. Who doesn’t love a giant fish that appears like it can fly underwater and occasionally leaps out of the water as well?
They’re also known to have the largest brain-to-body mass of any fish and some scientists even believe they can recognise themselves in a mirror. On top of all this they are an ecosystem indicator, and studies also suggest they play an important role in the food chain, decomposing on the bottom just like whales and whale sharks do. This phenomenon is called food fall and provides food for bottom dwelling species. Some studies suggest they can bring nutrients up from the bottom and transfer carbon from the surface to the deep sea. Unfortunately for these intelligent elasmobranchs they are overfished in many parts of the world, which is causing great stress on the health of their population.
THREATS, “MEDICINE”, AND THE TUNA INDUSTRY
According to the IUCN Redlist, out of all mobulids, four species are near threatened, three are vulnerable, one is endangered and three are data deficient (meaning we don’t know enough about them to determine how the population is doing). Mobulas and mantas are extremely vulnerable to overfishing as they mature late and have a low reproduction rate. Mantas might only have one pup every three to six years and only start reproducing when they are eight to 10 years old. While they are long-lived at 40 years, they still can’t handle much fishing pressure at all and it’s hard to believe any kind of fishery targeting these species can be sustainable.
A gory prize – the dried gill rakers
The main threat they face nowadays is caused by the demand for their gill plates, which are dried and then used as a pseudo-medicinal health tonic in China called ‘Peng Yu Sai’. Some believe it can cure many ailments, ranging from bad skin to respiratory problems, but none of this is based on scientific research; in fact it is proven that these gill plates contain toxins like arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead. This hasn’t stopped the gill plate trade from severely threatening mobulid survival. Another interesting fact is that mobulid gill plates are not officially recognised as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by most TCM practitioners nor are they listed in any standard TCM medical guides.
In Sri Lanka, where Daniel Fernando focuses his research it’s no different, the gill plates are the most valuable part of any dead mobulid and are dried and sold for “medicine”. The meat is often sold at a cheap price and consumed locally. In Sri Lanka manta and mobulas are not targeted but rather kept by fishermen as “non-discarded” or “targeted by-catch” since they can make a lot of money out of the gill plates. The fishermen who often catch and sell mobulid rays mainly go out for tuna; it’s the fishing method they use, such as purse seine nets, that catches a lot of mobulids. The worldwide demand for tuna definitely has an impact on these charismatic animals.
RAYS OF HOPE?
Sri Lanka has no tourism directly associated with mantas and mobulas at the moment. The tuna fishermen go out for days, and even weeks, on end and mostly catch these rays far offshore, making manta and mobula tourism not a very likely alternative to fishing.
Creating alternative livelihoods for fishers is the only way to curtail this destructive fishery, something Daniel hopes his work will achieve
Tourism related to wildlife encounters is on the rise in Sri Lanka and hopefully this will trickle down to more protection of species like mantas and mobulas. The data Daniel Fernando collects at the markets is essential in proving this is not a sustainable fishery and won’t last long. Currently Daniel’s research estimates that there are between 600-1,000 mantas and 20,000 to 50,000 mobulas landed every year in Sri Lanka alone, which can never be sustainable.
Globally there have been some success stories. In 2013 at the CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species), mantas were listed in Appendix II, meaning the export or re-export can’t be carried out without a permit within countries participating in CITES. In the Philippines, mantas have been protected since 1998 and Indonesia recently declared the world’s largest manta sanctuary by banning fishing for them within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
It’s easy to see why countries that benefit from manta ray tourism would protect the species. According to a 2014 report by Wildaid the estimated annual global tourism value of manta and mobula rays is US$140 million while the dried gill plate trade would be less then 25 percent of that. The tourism value of a single manta during its lifetime can be US$1 million while at a market they are sold for US$40 to 500.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver 2015 Issue 5 No 83) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
A calm mirror-like surface, crystal-clear waters, and hot sunny days; that was what I assumed my virgin trip to Tonga would be like.
On the contrary, we saw nothing but gloomy skies, rainy days, choppy waters, and plankton-rich waters – not the best conditions for us underwater photographers. Yet, it proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had to date. The word to describe what it felt like would have to be “awe”.
Moments before our first entry into the water, my heart was thumping furiously, full of adrenaline; I was trying to visualise shots despite not knowing what to expect – staying calm was the last thing on my mind. We had our eyes on our guide, who was already in the water confirming the location of our resting mother and calf. As he slowly raised his hand, we slipped quietly into the water, eagerly snorkelling towards the whales.
The mother and calf swimming in synchronity
The 50-metre swim felt like forever, as we could see nothing in the deep blue waters. But as we approached, a vague silhouette below our guide gradually took form. The silhouette split into two, the smaller blob was swimming upwards, towards us. As we neared, we could see it was the calf; and the bigger blob was the mother whale. As the calf slowly rose up, seeing us for the first time, it felt like time stood still. Rolling around, it playfully made some tail slaps, circling around us as it observed these strange beings.
We could see its white belly rippling with the water as it breathed. At this point, all the cameras were snapping away furiously; we didn’t want to miss a single moment of this first encounter. It was the mother’s turn to breathe. As she rose, her massive size, possibly the length of a bus, was revealed to us mere human beings who were gawking helplessly in amazement.
The calf breaking the surface for a breath of air
With the mother and calf now in full view, the mother seemed to have accepted our presence as she stayed with us at the surface, eyes closed all the while. She came so close that we could see the bumps on her face, the barnacles, the scars, everything. It was simply amazing.
As the calf swam around the mother, swimming below her and between her fins, the natural bond between the mother and calf was apparent – her gentleness as she used her fins to guide the calf’s breathing created a touching scene that magnified the inexplicable beauty of the humpback whale.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver 2017 Issue 4 No 110) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
Kizilburun, Turkey--Sheila "Xila" Matthews (bottom) and Kim Gash (top) work on removing wood piece # 5012 from U3/U4.
I hover above the ancient marble column about 45 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea. Holding my underwater camera housing in one hand, I use the other to direct my dive model through the azure water. The photograph I have visualised in my mind’s eye, and meticulously planned, comes together. I lift the camera and click the shutter. Two thousand years ago a Roman ship sank, lost and forgotten off the coast of Turkey. Today, I am here to photograph its excavation.
My journey began when I was 11 years old, studying a segment on oceanography in my sixth grade science class. Buried within the book were two short pages on underwater archaeology. Upon reading them, I decided then and there that that was “what I was going to be when I grow up!”
On the Bajo de la Campana Excavation in La Manga, Spain, Arianna Villani artefact a tripod bowl to the surface
I began gathering the pieces I would need. I earned my Open Water certification during high school in 10-centimetre visibility off New York City. To practise underwater photography, I burned through rolls of film shooting fluorescent orange golf balls in the local pool using my first “real” camera, a Sea&Sea Motormarine 35mm. In college, I majored in anthropology with a focus on archaeology and a minor in art history. My goal was to work with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA).
I solicited advice, wrote emails, made inquiries… The persistence paid off. One evening I got the call: “Would you like to come to Egypt to excavate and photograph a shipwreck?“ My life’s dream was coming true!
Assistant Field Director Staci Willis holds up an artefact that she has successfully mapped in, and is now preparing to raise, on the Godavaya Shipwreck Excavation, Sri Lanka
My role on the excavation is to create “sexy” underwater images both for publication and to help raise funds for the excavation. Once a significant artefact is found, I work out a plan to shoot it. I’ll conceive an image, then choose from the photographic tools in my arsenal to capture it. (Sometimes I make what I need on the fly, such as the snoot I crafted in Sri Lanka from a soda bottle, duct tape and black marker.)
If models are involved, I’ll sketch the shot and we’ll thoroughly discuss the photograph on the surface. Time and communication underwater are limited; the more that is hashed out ahead of time, the smoother the shoot will go. We dive in shifts, so to reduce the likelihood of backscatter, I usually go first. Descending onto an ancient artefact, knowing that the last person who touched it lived thousands of years ago, sends a chill down my spine!
To date, I’ve worked as the photographer on five underwater excavations around the world: Sri Lanka for the ship from the 2nd century BC carrying a load of heavy iron that likely caused its demise; Egypt for the 18th-century Ottoman wreck, its impressive wooden hull not yet devoured by shipworms; Spain for the 7th-century BC Phoenician shipwreck, its trade goods spilled along a gentle underwater slope; Turkey for both a Roman wreck carrying an entire column in sections, and a Bronze Age wreck.
Anancient amphora in Kizilburun, Turkey
For the rest of this article and other stories, download a digital copy here of Scuba Diver No. 109 Issue 3/2017 here!
The classic coastal run along the pacific highway down the eastern coast of Australia is a well-worn path for avid travellers. For some, the trip can only take a few days; for others it can take an entire lifetime. Each year a similar path is forged by grey nurse sharks beneath the sea surface beyond the coast. Hidden from view they travel a complex freeway of rocky reefs, stopping at key locations to take shelter under overhangs, in caves and between steep-walled gutters. Like weary travellers that have spent too much time at the wheel, the sharks stop off at a number of reefs just offshore from several coastal towns.
Divers have known many of these stop-offs for decades. Others remain undiscovered. Throughout the sharks’ main distribution that extends from Rainbow Beach, north of the Sunshine Coast to Narooma in southern New South Wales, passionate dive operators have staked their claim in these quaint coastal towns. Their main business is to transport their customers from the sleepy seaside towns and coastal cities to the local reefs that lie submerged beyond the crescent-shaped beaches lining the coast. These operators share a common thread in that their reefs are not only visited by curious tourists, but also by grey nurse sharks during their migration along the coast.
In recent years hundreds of divers have been drawn into the water through a fascination with this species. Their docile nature overshadows their typical “shark-like” appearance. It is a thrill to turn a corner and be met by the toothy maw of a grey nurse, its beady yellow eye staring you over, before its large bronze body covered in dark spots cruises past with only the slightest movement of the elongated upper lobe of its caudal fin. Combine this encounter with some dramatic topography such as a cave or series of gutters and this really is a fantastic experience.
The grey nurse shark’s docile nature overshadows its fierce appearance
Car Diving
The ultimate way to get around the coast is by car. It provides the freedom to go where you want when you want, and means that you can stop at several of the best dive locations during your travels. Simply fly into Sydney or Brisbane, hire a car or a camper and the world of the grey nurse shark is your oyster.
Along the way you will be met by picture-perfect beaches partitioned by spectacular headlands with amazing panoramic views and animated lighthouses. The foreshores of these trendy coastal towns comprise café-claimed beachfronts, art galleries, diverse dining experiences and popular nightspots. There are also plenty of places to wind back the clock, slow right down and enjoy making the most out of life on your own time schedule.
The more time you have, the better your grey nurse shark encounters will be. If there has been a significant rain event, the sites may be inundated with brown floodwaters. You won’t be disappointed long though, as conditions will quickly improve. On many occasions, a sharp southerly breeze has saved the trip and delivered a blue pulse of East Australian Current back to the coast to envelop the reefs, making for ideal conditions to observe the sharks and their surrounding environment.
Zen-Like
On the really good days, you can be rewarded with some of the most amazing encounters to be had with any marine animal. These slow-moving sharks often gather in large numbers for unforgettable natural encounters, without the use of bait or a cage. If you control your buoyancy, breathe slowly and allow the sharks to come to you, they can approach so close that it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Unfortunately, we have not always had such an appreciation for this species. Its ferocious appearance led to greys being wrongly accused of shark attacks in Sydney Harbour and off metropolitan beaches in the early 1900s. By the 1950s and 1960s, large numbers had been hunted mercilessly, killed by divers armed with explosive power heads. Their aggregating behaviour and preference for shallow, inshore habitat meant they were easy targets, leading to a major downturn in population.
Dwindling numbers eventually led to legal protection in 1984. In an important step towards conservation, much of the shark’s habitat was protected with the creation of six marine parks along the coast of New South Wales and one on the Queensland coast. Although this is a positive step towards the management of this species, grey nurse sharks continue to be caught indirectly in recreational and commercial fisheries.
What follows is a short overview of key locations for encounters with grey nurse sharks, from north to south, along the east coast.
Sharks have recently been encountered near the Skillion off Terrigal
WOLF ROCK
Four volcanic pinnacles are situated north of Double Island Point, the westernmost two of which break the surface. The sharks can be found throughout the site, although they tend to frequent areas that are exposed to the most current on the day. Sharks can be seen here year round, although summer is the peak season. “Mating takes place here between November and December,” says Kevin Phillips of Wolf Rock Dive. “We have seen professional photographers here drop their camera and run when this happens, so make sure you don’t wear your grey wetsuit and lipstick.” According to him, Wolf Rock offers encounters with the biggest grey nurse sharks on the coast as the pregnant females spend time here gestating. “It’s the mother’s waiting room. We’ve had 50 sharks stacked up here in the current, one on top of the other – it’s an awesome sight!”
Seal Rocks offers spectacular encounters with sweeping views For divers who move slowly and are patient, breathtaking encounters await
JULIAN ROCKS
A pair of small islands breaks the surface off the coast of Cape Byron – the most easterly point on the Australian mainland. Julian Rocks is surrounded by rocky reef that comprises walls, gutters and overhangs. The sharks occur here between June and November and tend to frequent areas exposed to current on the northern section of the island. “The numbers of sharks that visit us are increasing every year,” says Caroline Price of Sundive Byron Bay. “During the height of the last winter we had around 40 grey nurses here – it is such a fantastic place to view and photograph the sharks.” The positioning of Julian Rocks means that it is influenced by a mix of tropical and temperate currents. “This area is very well known and photographers are drawn back each year by the grey nurse encounters and also the turtles, manta rays, wobbegongs, leopard sharks, whales and pelagic fish,” she enthuses.
Manta Arch off Coffs Harbour is a great place for greys
SOLITARY ISLANDS
A series of rocky islands and reefs cover around 75 kilometres of coastline. The grey nurse sharks can be found throughout Coffs Harbour, although the most consistent locations to see the sharks are on South, Northwest, North Solitary Islands, and Pimpernel Rock. The sharks predominantly occur here between May and November.
Manta Arch on South Solitary Island is one of best locations to see the sharks. Situated in 25 metres of water, the site is made up of a series of gutters and a large overhead arch. “Between May and July, it’s possible for us to have 40-50 sharks in an area the size of two basketball courts,” says Mike Davey of Jetty Dive. “By staying on one side of the gutter and keeping low, we often get sharks approach within 2 feet.” A highlight for Mike occurred when he and staff from the local Marine Park Authority removed rope caught on the tail of three sharks. “We put the video on Facebook and it went viral. It was a great feeling to know we had saved these animals’ lives.”
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver 2013 Issue 3 No 74) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
A new whale shark aggregation emerges of gargantuan proportions
Along a small stretch of uninhabitable coastline off the coast of Djibouti lies one of Nature’s treasures which, up until now, few have been privileged to witness. During the months of October to February, large aggregations of young whale sharks visit the Gulf of Tadjoura to feed on the plankton-rich waters within the Gulf of Aden. Although Djibouti is most definitely a no-frills destination that most governments advise against visiting, I can’t resist the lure of these gentle giants.
I have joined a team of researchers and volunteers from non-profit groups Megaptera and the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS). We are heading off for five days to build on the existing research data on the large aggregation of whale sharks that are attracted to this region. Sailing alongside the deserted coastline you gradually forget fears of threats such as piracy, and you give in to being unreachable, with no mobile reception. By the time we arrive at Acacia Bay, I find myself finally relaxing and enjoying the adventure. The skiff boats are lowered into the water and we prepare ourselves for a couple of hours of whale shark research.
The waters of Acacia Bay bloom with plankton
The Search Begins
Sitting in the skiff and moving at a snail’s pace just five metres from the shoreline, our research team sits in anticipation, surveying the surface for sharks. Suddenly one of the team members shouts and points and everyone grabs their cameras and enters the water. Timing your entry to meet a fast-moving shark is not easy, especially during your very first encounter. Invariably, I found myself waiting for the bubbles to clear in front of my mask only to find that the shark had raced past me.
Finning after the shark, I watch the team taking their photos for spot pattern identification. Using waterproof military-grade laser sights mounted on either sides of a camera, the team’s images can be used to determine the length of the shark, as well as the sex. Eventually, I give up trying to keep up and instead tread water to get my breath back.
As the cooler months arrive in Djibouti, so do young whale sharks measuring three to six metres in length, although sharks up to eight metres have been sighted. Little is known about where the sharks come from. Local reports from ecotourism operators suggest that these sharks move around a small area of coastline in search of food.
By late morning as the sun climbs higher in the sky, plankton is attracted to the surface. As the wind picks up, currents upwell creating plankton hotspots up and down the coast. Plankton is made up of small or microscopic organisms such as fish eggs, tiny fish fry, crustaceans, algae and protozoans. Whale sharks are filter feeders that swim through the water with their mouths wide open to feed. As they gulp at the incoming water they use their gill-rakers to filter out the microscopic plankton before exhausting the filtered water over their gills for oxygen transfer.
No one can yet say how many sharks are coming to Djibouti, but researchers from Megaptera and the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles are slowly piecing it together
Heads Up
Once the cruising sharks track down these blooms of plankton, their swimming patterns will change to either “ram feeding” or “vertical feeding”. Ram feeding sharks will swim very fast through the water with their mouths wide open trying to filter as much water as possible. As plankton density increases, the sharks will often start to gulp, which will invariably slow their swimming speed. Interestingly, if left undisturbed, a gulping whale shark will often stop swimming and instead rotate itself into an almost vertical position where it will continuously gulp, stationary in one area until the food source is depleted.
I find that it is far easier to find the sharks from the water, and so, as the boat comes to collect me, I instead wave them on, and ask them to come back for me in a while. Watching the boat further down the shoreline now, I keep an eye on the team jumping in on another shark 40 metres away. I know I now have a 50/50 chance of the shark coming my way. It’s not long before I spot the tip of the shark’s tail breaking through the water’s surface, sweeping quickly from side to side.
Dipping my head underwater, I come face-to-face with this majestic fish and fire off several shots. I swim alongside the giant for some time, giving me all the opportunities I need to get the photograph I want. As I follow the shark I notice that the density of the plankton cloud thickens, and as it does, the behaviour of the shark changes too.
Using “ram” and “vertical” feeding techniques, the animals move slowly from plankton cloud to plankton cloud
Slowing its pace, the whale shark opens it mouth and starts to repeatedly gulp at the cloud of plankton. In almost a trance-like state the shark stops swimming and instead manoeuvres itself so it can feed vertically in one spot. As I get perhaps too close to this feeding shark, I am reminded that this giant is fully aware of my presence. As it moves away from the cloud of food I realise that I have disturbed it.
With experience from my previous visits I have learnt not to chase the sharks and instead to stay with the food, and as I follow the cloud of plankton, it’s not long before other whale sharks join me to feed on the soup of microscopic organisms. It’s a great reminder that understanding an animal’s behaviour can pay off with fantastic encounters.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver 2013 Issue 3 No 74) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download a digital copy here.
Pontoh's pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus pontohi), courting pair of seahorses, female in fore, pregnant male behind, southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.
As enigmatic as they are charismatic; Dr Richard Smith’s research exposes the private lives of pygmy seahorses. Text & images by Dr Richard Smith
MINIATURE MYSTERIES
I could never have foreseen what fascinating subjects these diminutive fish would make. Setting out to discover the private lives of pygmy seahorses, I embarked on my doctoral research, studying the biology and conservation of pygmy seahorses, based on what we already knew of the larger seahorses.
Male pregnancy had already been confirmed from dead specimens, but their natural behaviours on the coral reefs of Southeast Asia remained a mystery. Ultimately, my notes after a research dive read more like an E.L. James novel than scientific records, but I was able to uncover many of these mysterious animals’ darkest secrets.
You might not expect pygmy seahorses to have distinct personalities, like characters from a soap opera, but after almost 1,000 research dives watching every last detail of these fish’s lives, I can certain attest to their fascinating and sometimes quirky behaviours.
I have already written about the group of Denise’s pygmy seahorses, Tom, Dick, Harry and Josephine, who shared a gorgonian coral on Wakatobi Dive Resort’s House Reef. These four showed us how a life trapped together on a gorgonian can take unexpected turns. Josephine shared her amorous attentions with both Tom and Dick whilst poor Harry bided his time for his chance to carry little pygmies of his own. This little “ménage à quatre” sparked plenty of rivalry between the males, but ultimately Tom and Dick shared parental duties in the group.
A Denise’s pygmy on its gorgonian home. The extended tentacles indicate that it has not been disturbed
THE “ROYAL” THREESOME
In hindsight it seems most distasteful, but my research dictated that I next turn my attentions to a female-biased ménage à trois. I had already seen that under the circumstances of a male biased sex ratio, the female (in this case, Josephine) was able to produce clutches of eggs just days apart in order to impregnate two males (Tom and Dick). Subsequently, I was intrigued to find out whether a single male would accept eggs from two females. Luckily, at Wakatobi there is no shortage of pygmies and I soon found a perfect group: Charles, Diana and Camilla.
Almost immediately after delivering the young, the female, in this case “Josephine”, impregnates Tom, the male, again
I spent many hours with the trio, observing and recording their every interaction. I found that Charles and Diana shared a “core area” on one side of the gorgonian. A core area is the term I gave to the area they carried out their social bonding dances, as well as where they mated and slept. They raised several broods together, but all the while Charles was also flirting with Camilla.
Each morning, after dancing with Diana, Charles would leave their core area and swim directly to the other side of gorgonian where Camilla patiently waited in her own core area. Camilla and Charles would carry out the same social bonding dances but they never mated. In the world of pygmy seahorses, it is always best to hedge one’s bets.
A Denise’s pygmy seahorse investigates its surroundings, securely attached to its gorgonian holdfast
Unlike the pugnacious males, the two females eschewed violence and the conflict of the male-biased group wasn’t seen. Tom, Dick and Harry would regularly attempt to strangle each other with their tails, sometimes resulting in three-strong tussles. The females, on the other hand, were indifferent to each other and much more measured in their behaviours.
Thailand begins with its people, who, like the food and the lifestyle, are often described as hot and spicy. Thailand’s beauty and hidden gems need no introduction, both above and underwater. But recently I was lucky enough to have been introduced to one of her most exceptional national treasures.
Entering the dining area on the MY Panunee liveaboard, I was greeted by the owner, Jakrin, the crew, and some of Thailand’s best photographers. Everybody gathered on the vessel was a Nature lover and professional shooter, with only one goal and mission: To collect data and images for the Andaman Sea, World Heritage Park Project. We set sail, overnight, embarking on a journey of adventure, to places with the kind of underwater beauty that I could never have imagined.
At the tip of Richelieu Rock you might be surprised by the vibrant green algae and shafts of sunlight penetrating the shallow water
Coffee. Checkout dive: Anita Reef. And boy, did Anita have her jewels on show from the moment we entered the shimmering, gin-clear water of the gulf.
The reef is blessed, everywhere you look, with soft, colourful hanging corals. It’s like being in wonderland, only better. Sixty minutes of sensory overload ensued, with colours beyond the palette of any artist. Life was bursting on every corner, rock, boulder and reef; amazed, I just hovered in the blue, admiring her.
I’ve dived some of the best sites in the world, and was under the impression that the best soft corals were found in Indonesia or Papua. But we might have a challenger here: These are reefs on steroids.
Colours and life are everywhere. With the current running, it’s like a rave party at its peak – fully loaded. Smaller fish rage against the current while the bigger tuna, snappers and jacks patrol in slow motion. Schools of fusiliers build pulsating force fields around the huge boulders. It is definitely an out-of-this-world experience.
Bling Bling Avenue is an easy dive for all levels. Located between Similan Islands five and six, it has a sandy bottom and an extraordinary, colourful reef covered with healthy hard and soft corals
It is important to point out that, despite the sensory overload of colours and life on the reef, this ecosystem is constantly at risk. We must work together to protect it, and to educate the next generation about this fragile environment. Although this is aprotected area, we must go above and beyond, making every effort to safeguard these reefs, or we risk losing this extraordinary beauty.
A green turtle rests amongst the healthy corals in this
marine sanctuary
Exploding in a riot of life, the waters around these islands in the Indian Ocean are every diver’s wet dream. Text and Images by Imran Ahmad
Where are all the fish?” An increasingly common question asked by divers and underwater photographers. However, if you dive in the Seychelles, this would be very last question on your mind: In the Seychelles, there are almost too many fish.
Paradise underwater
Known for its thousands of colourful marine species, rich biodiversity and clear water, the Seychelles is famous for its national marine parks and its UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve and the Aldabra Atoll. The Seychelles is also celebrated as the home to more than 150,000 giant tortoises, walking amongst beach-goers like relics of a prehistoric era.
A diver’s paradise awaits in the Seychelles, where the visibility is extraordinary and the bright water is filled with massive schools of fish
These amazing, untouched islands (115 to be exact) are a paradise for any diver in search of an unforgettable diving adventure. In these warm waters, you are greeted by schools of fishes, giant trevally, barracuda, fusiliers and squadrons of eagle rays. The azure water is also home to visiting whale sharks and grey reef sharks. Unique underwater granite formations leave you breathless, while lush soft corals sway in the deeper water; all evidence of how wondrous Nature is.
A diver’s paradise awaits in the Seychelles, where the visibility is extraordinary and the bright water is filled with massive schools of fish
Setting the example
This is all thanks to marine protected areas (MPAs) that the Seychelles have in place. MPAs in the Seychelles include Ste. Anne Marine National Park, Curieuse Marine National Park, Baie Ternay Marine National Marine Park, Port Launay Marine National Park, Ile au Coco Marine National Park, Silhouette, and Aldabra Atoll.
A diver’s paradise awaits in the Seychelles, where the visibility is extraordinary and the bright water is filled with massive schools of fish
The Seychelles is recognised as the first country in the East African Region to create an MPA. Over the years, this fragile ecosystem has faced serious threats from fishing exploitation, unsustainable tourism, irresponsible boat anchoring, destruction of marine habitats, and other harmful consequences of human development. However, the Seychelles government has gone above and beyond to ensure that these threats are reduced and damage to their marine ecosystems is minimised.
The wreckage
of a van from the Temple Reef, conceptualised and crafted by Rob Partridge
For man to act upon a call to save the ocean, and for the ocean to accept man’s offering – morphing it into a habitable home for its creatures – is a beautiful act of harmony between man and sea. Text by Tasneem Khan, Image by Tasneem Khan & Umeed Mistry
The ship is undoubtedly one of mankind’s engineering marvels – it represents innovation, application of physics, complex architecture, culture, history, trade, geographies, and migration. Every ship carries stories with it, and those that sink continue to gather stories and support lives long after their years of sailing. After traversing oceans and intimately knowing their character on the surface, these ships now witness the oceans’ depth and dynamics. Like everything that enters the ocean – they become a part of it, interact and react with it.
The ever-vital ocean yields an alchemic power – it conjures habitats and niches from what it is given. For centuries, humans have been tapping on this power by using sunken ships and other objects to create and enhance fish habitats in areas of low fish abundance or high fishing pressure. Quite like a rocky reef, these objects begin to house animals that require hard surfaces to attach to – tubeworms, oysters, scallops, snails and tunicates that weren’t able to live on the muddy seafloor now have a substrate that is critical to their existence.
A diver swimming through the bridge of the Thermopylae Sierra, found off Mt. Lavinia in Sri lanka
Shipwrecks are essentially new habitats with distinct communities living on and within them. The first organisms to arrive are usually algae and larvae. Over time, the wreck will tend to mimic adjacent and sometimes seemingly distant natural reef systems. This reveals an incredible amount of information about the movement and connectivity of plankton and genetic populations through the ocean currents. These submerged wrecks provide a snapshot into the evolution of reef systems, the movement of planktonic matter and the possibilities of artificial reefs.
If you have the opportunity to dive a recently submerged wreck and then visit it periodically afterwards, it is an eye-opening experience – observing the rapid colonisation by marine life and questioning how it simultaneously corrodes and preserves.
There are numerous examples of how wrecks make great artificial reefs and attractive dive sites, but they are also ideal in-situ laboratory and study sites. Marine biologists use wrecks and artificial reefs to investigate the effects of substrate complexity, observe changes that occur over time, and even for controlled species or community specific experiments. This furthers our understanding of the various ecological processes that occur in the ocean and on natural reefs, providing insight into how natural reefs may be able to recover from damage by natural or anthropogenic occurrences. Clues about adaptation, resilience, migration and mutation can teach us volumes about the origin of life, the future of our oceans, biomedical possibilities and survival in general.
The broken hull and cargo of the Thermopylae Sierra, now a thriving reef
In particular, sunken wooden ships provide a whole new world of exploration on marine invertebrates. All the wood that makes its way into the world’s oceans is also home to a staggering diversity of sea creatures. Research on the subject of ocean wood shows that these communities may even vary based on the species of wood itself.Like termites, wood-boring clams are often the first to arrive. They feed on the dead wood and digest cellulose with the help of specialised bacteria. This frees up carbon energy from the wood in the form of clam excrement that other life forms feed on. These clams, while boring through and feeding on the wood, also create a maze of tunnels and holes in which other animals take shelter.
Renowned as the world’s largest scuba diving training organisation, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) was dreamt up by two friends concerned about the state of the scuba diving industry some 53 years ago in the state of Illinois, USA.
Some 13 years after the invention of the aqualung had made scuba diving a reality, the certification of scuba divers was still not top notch with many scuba certification agencies providing instructions which were not up to date. Good friends John Cronin, a scuba equipment salesman for U.S Divers and Ralph Erickson, an educator, university water polo coach, champion swimmer, lifeguard and waterman, were suitably concerned about the future of the sport as they felt that scuba diving instructors needed better support to facilitate an easier learning process for people interested in learning how to breathe underwater.
One fateful night in 1966, while chatting in Erickson’s Illinois apartment in Morton Grove over Cronin’s favourite bottle, the duo finally decided to bring their vision for scuba diving to life. They would start a scuba training association which would provide professional support services to dive instructors with professional standards and professionally certified curriculum for diving instructors. With certified, relevant and instructionally valid scuba diving training, more people will be able to get easier access to enjoy the underwater world, thereby raising the numbers of confident scuba divers who dive regularly. With John insisting on the word “professional” for their new moniker and Ralph asserting the need for an “association of diving instructors”, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) was born.
Humble Beginnings
The first few start-up meetings for their new venture took place in “several restaurants in Morton Grove and Niles, Illinois”. Within a few months, however, the duo had established the first PADI headquarters in the basement of Cronin’s home on Main Street in Niles. They even hired Cronin’s next-door neighbour to stand in as a part-time secretary for PADI.
How PADI Got Its Diver’s Torch Logo
Inspired by The Silent World, Jacques Cousteau’s groundbreaking book on scuba diving, Erickson had come up with the idea of a diver with a torch in his hand in a globe after Cronin had mentioned that he wanted PADI’s logo to be something classy like National Geographic’s. Although they were essentially just a two-person operation, Cronin’s comments changed Erickson’s view of the company. Now, he could envision big things for PADI. After spotting a photo of French divers descending into the water with burning torches in hand, Erickson came up with the first PADI logo. This photo can still be seen hanging in the PADI Worldwide global office in California.
The Growth of PADI
The growth of PADI was organic in the early years. Instead of going with the military-structured “know it all entry level course” that most agencies were using at the time to “weed people out”, Erickson wanted PADI to have a “continuing educational course structure”. PADI introduced its first advanced diver course in 1967 along with its first specialty diver programmes. Although growth was slow, PADI had about 400 members by the late 1960s.
PADI’s first strategic move that aided its eventual success was the introduction of the “first positive identification certification card” that had the diver’s photograph on it. This idea for a photo on your certificate was suggested by Paul Tzimoulis, who eventually became editor of Skin Diver magazine, when Cronin first met him at a large National Sporting Goods Association show in New York City.
Still working at U.S. Divers, John Cronin was promoted to Sales Manager at his job and had moved with his family to Huntington Beach, California while maintaining his board position at PADI. Ralph Erickson also continued to pursue his career as a water polo coach at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois and continued to serve as a PADI board member, consulting with PADI staff, helping to expand PADI’s “continuing education offerings” for divers. The PADI office moved to California in 1970 with key operational staff making the move as well.
An active diver and instructor, Erickson continued to help develop standards and courses at PADI by working with PADI’s early training managers. The PADI Open Water Diver certification was launched in 1972 as the preferred entry-level rating. Divers now needed to complete two times the number of open water dives as previous courses.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, PADI had revolutionised scuba training by creating modular scuba training programmes with original integrated multimedia student and instructor educational materials. By the first half of the 1980s, PADI had successfully filled its ranks with the industry’s most experienced and professionally credentialed diving talent. Their expertise in instructional design, marketing, international business and development of educational systems, retail and resort programmes further established PADI’s leading status in the diving industry. PADI’s extensive scientific study in hyperbaric diver table research in the late 1980s led to the development of the Recreational Diver Planner.
When John Cronin retired as CEO of US. Divers/Aqualung and took the reins of PADI as CEO in 1986, PADI had become the leading scuba diving training organisation in the world. As the leading educator in underwater training, everyone at PADI felt the responsibility of educating the public on marine conservation. “We want to feel that our children, their children and generations to come will be able to enjoy the underwater world that has given us so much,” said John Cronin. “There are so many significant problems facing mankind, but as divers this is truly our cause. If scuba divers do not take an active role in preserving the aquatic realm, who will?”
With marine conservation in mind, PADI initiated Project AWARE as an environmental ethic in the late 1980s and the Project AWARE philosophy was integrated into PADI Diver training courses. [Project AWARE (Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility and Education) is a global movement for ocean protecting powered by a community of adventurers. It engages snorkelers and divers in activities such as beach clean-ups and establishing marine parks and marine protected areas]. Eventually, in 1992, the Project AWARE Foundation was established as a non-profit organisation in the United States.
PADI Today
John Cronin passed away in 2003 with his friend and PADI co-founder, Ralph Erickson, following suit three years later.
Led by Dr. Drew Richardson, President and CEO, PADI remains the world’s largest recreational diver training organization with more than 6,600 dive centers and resorts and 137,000 professional members worldwide. Issuing 1 million certifications each year, PADI continues to make underwater exploration, travel and adventure accessible to people around the world while maintaining the highest industry standards for dive training, safety and customer service.
PADI is committed to being best in and for the world, supporting social and environmental efforts through its Pillars of ChangeSM, empowering divers with information to get involved with causes they care about in a tangible way.
“PADI is committed to be a force for good,” says Richardson. “We’re privileged to have a powerful legacy to inspire us. By empowering divers and connecting them to the PADI family and global issues relevant to the dive industry, we can help make the world a better place and become an even more powerful catalyst for change. By engaging divers more effectively at the local level globally, global change is inevitable.”
Madison swims with tiger sharks. Her work challenges public perceptions of sharks as mindless killers
I was 14 when the world turned its back on me.I grew up around sharks – diving, sailing, I was part of an ocean-obsessed family, and I made my home amongst the reefs. I began to gravitate towards sharks before I can remember; I related to them, I fitted in with them, the fact that I swam with them separated me from other people.
Then, at 14 years old, the shark populations I had loved as a child began to disappear. I found myself in a state of panic, returning to spots I had always associated with sharks, only to be confronted with an empty reef. I can assure you, and ocean with sharks may be scary, but true fear is an ocean without them.
I later learnt that there was a dedicated shark fishery legally operating inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area, and the attitude of the Australian public towards sharks had blinded people to it. I began to rally against the fishery, expose its faults, to tear it down.
Madison has been swimming with sharks since she was a child, and has watched their populations decrease. Images like these seek to make the fight for their survival more accessible
After failing to change government policies, I realised I needed to take my fight to the public. Not long after, I left school to homeschool and agreed with my dad that my school fees would be spent on an underwater camera. That’s when I began to make films. I wanted to go to school and become a marine biologist; instead, I dropped out and happily took a more effective path towards filmmaking which gave me an avenue for change.
Now I’ve had extensive presence in the media in the name of sharks, including my documentary Shark Girl, which has won international awards. I act to break down the fisheries and the laws that allow the destruction of the animals I love, and change the perception the public has towards them, to make the fight for their survival more accessible.
My work against that fishery became a foundation for several other avenues of conservation that I pursued. These include research into toxins in shark meat, shark control programmes, international fin trades and more recently working with the surfing community to promote safety through education. These animals quickly became my responsibility, and my life passion, and I’ve learnt from them and fought for them. I began to understand that the human perception of an animal dramatically affects its chances of survival, and if people couldn’t love sharks, I would show them why I loved them, in ways that they could relate to. To this day I fight against the legal shark fishery that operates within the Great Barrier Reef and acts to remove 100,000 sharks a year from our reefs, often fed to us as flake or fish and chips.
We live in a society where injustice often slips through the cracks and only through individual vigilance and passion can we have any hope of fighting that. We should be taught in school that the natural world is more important than the economy. Wild and dangerous animals should be respected for their power, not condemned.
Over three weeks, scientists collected data on the status of Chuuk's reefs, the extent of coral bleaching and distribution of marine life (Photo by Simon Lorenz)
WHILE SOME HARD-HEADED politicians still believe climate change is a hoax, the vast majority of scientists are in agreement – our oceans and atmosphere are heating up. To make things worse, the world’s seas are polluted and under pressure from overfishing and natural disasters. To prove how climate change is having a direct impact on marine environments, research must be conducted in remote, undisturbed areas.
Few atolls are as remote as Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia, where 36,000 people share an archipelago of largely undeveloped jungle islands. Known to divers as Truk Lagoon, with its more than 60 well-preserved wrecks from the Pacific War, this is considered to be the world capital of wreck diving.
With its exposure to major ocean currents, Chuuk is perfectly located for maximum coral diversity, with hundreds of species of colourful hard and soft coral inhabiting its reefs’ outer walls and inner lagoons. The continued health of these reefs is crucial to local communities and the dive tourism industry, not to mention the health of the entire Pacific, as, when these corals spawn, they help repopulate reefs near and far.
One key threat to many Pacific reefs is coral bleaching, when distressed coral turns white as they expel the algae that live within them. Warming seawater and more frequent El Niño events accelerate bleaching and destroy coastal habitats. Chuuk sits smack in the middle of a zone defined as “high risk” by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Bleach Alert.
The team found differences in both diversity and abundance of marine life throughout Chuuk’s reefs
PRESSURE CHECK
In June 2016, an expedition of more than 20 scientists embarked on the largest reef assessment ever conducted in Micronesia. Over three weeks of hard work in the equatorial sun, scientists collected data on the status of the reefs, the extent of coral bleaching and the distribution of marine life.
Chuuk has also been exposed to several natural disasters: In 2015, super-typhoon Maysak hit the reefs hard, and a massive outbreak of the voracious crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) threatens whole segments of the outer reef. One of the world’s biggest starfish, it feeds on coral, leaving a trail of devastation.
“We are interested in finding out how successful the reefs are in responding to such threats,” says Dr Rodney Salm, a 45-year veteran of ocean conservation, and senior science advisor to The Nature Conservancy.
If reefs are resilient they bounce back from natural impacts quickly and effectively, as Salm explains: “Healthy reefs not only heal themselves, they also help repopulate other reef systems with regular larval spawning events.”
INTENSE SURVEYS
The project surveyed 75 locations around the atoll. Some teams conducted qualitative coral resilience assessments, while others focused on the quantity of every coral species. Even the youngest corals were counted, so-called “coral recruits”, with as many as 50 species in a location. Another team took photographs of the bottom, every three metres per search area. These photos were later analysed to get statistical measures of coral cover. Invertebrates were manually counted on the reef, the focus being on COTS and sea cucumbers, a highly-prized export, and therefore critically overfished. Coral recruit density and invertebrate diversity are a key indicator of reef recovery.
Studies of fish population also formed a critical part of the survey. Despite Chuuk’s remoteness and its low population density, the ecosystem is threatened by overfishing. Local communities rely on fish as their main protein source, depleting the reefs in the process.
Sharks are still abundant, though villagers report they are catching fewer fish than they used to
RESULTS
This massive data collection exercise showed that the health of Chuuk’s reefs varies considerably. While generally little bleaching was recorded, the reefs differed massively in coral diversity, coral recruitment and fish abundance. The northwest and southern parts returned the best results for larger fish, presumably showing less fishing pressure there. Many eastern and inner reefs showed signs of the devastation caused by dynamite fishing. Most reefs in close proximity to populated islands were more or less dead and covered in suffocating algae, with limited chance of recovery.
Ironically, our journeys to visit the reefs we love so much are directly contributing to their demise. What to do?
As we know, aeroplanes are not, as yet, solar powered, and jet fuel is not exactly eco-friendly. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that for every kilogram of jet fuel used on a flight, approximately 3.15 kilos of carbon dioxide, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. CO2 is one of the biggest threats to our planet’s reefs, causing ocean acidification and rising water temperatures. Both are killing corals, resulting in mass bleaching events, and creating an environment with a pH that makes it very difficult (and, if it continues to rise at these levels, will eventually make it impossible) for corals to grow their reef-building skeletons. But this information is pretty abstract. How does it relate to our dive holidays?
Remember that the figures shown only correspond to one person – you. Look around the plane: Every single person on it is also responsible for the same amount of CO2, and this is only one flight of thousands. To give you an idea, in 2014 there were 864,681 Singaporean visitors to Thailand, which, alone, added around 140 million kilos of CO2 to the atmosphere, or the same amount as burning over 67.4 million kilograms of coal. As you can see, the cost of our air travel soon adds up.
Qantas
Operates the largest airline voluntary carbon offset programme in the world
Qantas’ carbon offsetting projects include the provision of two million new stoves to replace traditional wood-burning stoves in Cambodia, projects protecting Tasmania’s wilderness and the Peruvian Amazon, and initiatives aimed at empowering rainforest communities in Papua New Guinea All employee travel is offset
AIR NIPPON AIRWAYS (ANA)
Offers voluntary carbon offsetting programme. Funds go towards reforestation initiatives in Japan. ANA has been engaged in reforestation efforts since 2004, working with volunteers to plant trees in seven areas around Japan. Their coral restoration project has also seen 1,600 heads of coral being planted in waters around Okinawa
AIR NEW ZEALAND
Offers a carbon offsetting scheme
The Air New Zealand Environmental Trust supports Nature conservation projects around the country such as the Mangarara project in Hawkes Bay, where over 85,000 trees will be planted in the next three years
They have invested NZD4 billion in designing new aircraft, with
the aim of producing the world’s most fuel-efficient planes in five years
EMIRATES
Offers a voluntary carbon offset programme.
Emirates invests in two conservation-based tourism projects, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve in the UAE, and the impressive Wolgan Valley Resort in Australia
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Offers a carbon offsetting scheme
Singapore Airlines, through Bird Life International, invested USD3 million in the Harapan Rainforest Initiative, which aims to conserve 100 square kilometres of rainforest in Indonesia. The forest is one of the few remaining tracts of lowland rainforest left in the country, and is home to diverse species such as the endangered Sumatran tiger
Invests in new and efficient aircraft and fuel-saving flight operations, and is involved with the development of sustainable aviation fuels
ASIANA AIRLINES
Passengers can opt to offset their carbon footprint from their flight; funds are given to governmental efforts to offset carbon usage
In 1996 Asiana was the first airline to achieve an environmental management certification
Serves Rainforest Alliance coffee on-board
Offsets corporate flight emissions.
THAI AIRWAYS
Offers passengers voluntary carbon offsetting.
Thai Airways started the Nong Bua Farm Ratchaburi Biogas Project, which makes use of the methane produced by swine farms to generate power. It provides local employment and a sustainable solution for potentially hazardous by-products
CATHAY PACIFIC
Offers a carbon offsetting scheme
Cathay Pacific invests in clean energy, through the Guangdong Chaonan Shalong wind project and the Guangdong Lankou hydropower project, which together offset 160,000 tonnes of greenhouse gasses every year. These initiatives also employ local manpower, contributing to the
local economy
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
But how many of us have world-class reefs on our doorsteps? And we’re not going to stop diving, right? Well, the good news is that you can mitigate some of the impact of your dive travel.
Choosing the right airline, and spending a minute and a few dollars contributing to a carbon-offsetting scheme means that your journey could end up being completely carbon neutral.
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
Carbon offsetting projects usually involve regenerating ecosystems (forests, mangroves, coral reefs, etc.) that can sequester carbon dioxide, and the cost of offsetting your carbon footprint is determined by the distance to your destination – the more carbon released, the more trees or mangroves will need to be planted to soak it all up.
A lot of airlines will offer you the chance to offset your carbon footprint, but that’s not all there is to it. Every part of the aviation industry’s infrastructure is responsible for releasing CO2 into the air, from the food you eat on the plane, to the company’s HQ. Many airlines have in-house carbon offsetting initiatives, and some are even going that little bit further.
Some of Asia Pacific’s regional airlines are investing time and resources into trying to reduce the impact of their operations (see above).
Other airlines are also trying to make a difference and “green” their businesses. If the airline you’re flying doesn’t offer carbon offsetting, or you’re booking through a third party that doesn’t give you the option, check out www.climatecare. org and do it yourself! The corals will be grateful.
IT MAY SEEM as if climate change presents an overwhelming problem. While the magnitude of the issues we have created cannot be understated, there is cause for hope!
The good news is that WE have created the problem, and so WE can also create solutions. Each and every one of us has the capacity to make small changes in our own lives that soon add up. We can also have a massive influence on the people making the big decisions on our behalf.
Changes are happening every day – cities going single-use-plastic free, more people choosing to eat less meat, electric cars are ever more popular. Even celebrities are stepping up to be a voice for our natural world. Being conscious of the environment has never been cooler or sexier. The time to act is now!
A diver photographs
in a giant kelp
forest, Macrocystis
pyrifera, Fortescue
Bay, Tasmania, in
Australia's Tasman
Sea. Tasmania is the
only place where
these forests are
found
CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN insidious entity, creeping up on the world and largely occurring so gradually that naysayers claim it to be an elaborate hoax by the world’s scientists. Whilst many effects of climate change happen so slowly they’re almost imperceptible, its impacts can be more concentrated in certain parts of the world. The most dramatic effects of climate change on the world’s oceans have been the three global coral bleaching events, where huge swathes of coral reefs have been decimated. In 1997–9, 16 percent of the planet’s hard corals died; worryingly the impacts of the world’s longest and most widespread event that began in 2015 are yet to be fully tallied.
ABOVE The Tasmanian blenny is a local species, which has potential to be affected by changing climatic conditions (Photo by Dr. Richard Smith)
FIRST HAND
Being a marine biologist, and having dived the world’s oceans for over 20 years, I have seen firsthand the effects of human-induced changes on our planet’s oceans. In 1998, I saw the Maldives at the pinnacle of their bleaching, and returned 15 years later to see how little some of these reefs have recovered.
Whilst the tropics are often the media’s focus, climate change isn’t only happening in tropical seas. In March of 2011, I dived the cold waters of the Tasman Peninsula in southeast Tasmania. At that time we dived an area called Waterfall Bay, which was home to one of the region’s last giant kelp forests. Previously, Tasmania’s kelp forests were so dense as to allow commercial harvesting, but in 2011 they were restricted to just a few small areas in the very south of the island.
In February of this year I returned to dive these giant kelp forests again, only to learn that they are no more. Warming waters, uncharacteristically vicious storms and the arrival of new species have all contributed to the kelp’s demise. But why has Tasmania been so disproportionately affected?
Spotted handfish in the Derwent Estuary (Photo by Dr. Richard Smith)
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TASMANIA?
Although the population of Tasmania is very small, it’s suffering a huge amount of marine degradation. The southeast of Australia is a hotspot of marine climate change, and among the top 10 percent of areas where the oceans are warming fastest. Australia’s southeastern waters have warmed at almost four times the average global rate and indications are that this will continue. Due to the huge amount of research interest in the area, it is acting as a living laboratory for how other areas are likely to change in the future.
When researchers began to notice the arrival of new species in Tasmanian waters some decades ago, they started to sit up and take note. Warming waters can have various different influences on the native organisms that live there. Some species move towards the poles or into the deep, where waters are cooler; some already exist in such a narrow window of biological tolerance that their numbers dwindle. Warmer waters can also change the timing of an organism’s life cycle as well as impacting their growth. Tasmania has seen many of these influences on its marine ecosystems.
TASMANIA’S WARMING WATERS
Why are Tasmania’s waters warming so much faster than other areas of the ocean? Thankfully there has been a long history of research off Tasmania and it’s been possible to collate all this data to give a clear picture of the situation.
One of the biggest influences in oceanic currents around the Australian mainland is the East Australia Current (EAC), which flows down the east coast, carrying tropical water south. Nemo, from Finding Nemo, was caught up in this current and it carried him from the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney, although this current also continues southwards beyond Sydney. Generally, the cool waters of the sub-Antarctic zone abut the EAC at its southern reaches and the Antarctic waters move northwards in winter when the EAC retracts.
However, over recent decades the EAC has penetrated some 350 kilometres further south, bringing its warm waters into areas that were previously dominated by cold. This change in the power of the EAC is believed to be a result of greenhouse warming and local ozone depletion.
ABOVE Thanks to the warming waters, Port Jackson Sharks have for the first time been recently found in northern Tasmanian waters (Photo by Dr. Richard Smith)
GOOD FOR SOME, BAD FOR OTHERS
Whilst I was diving in Tasmania, I met a group of researchers and citizen scientists who were searching for handfishes. This elusive and interesting group of prototype frogfishes are only found in southeastern Australia, and most are in Tasmania. Of the 14 species, several are known from only a single specimen. Meanwhile, many of those that have been historically more common have suffered dramatic population crashes and these are some of the species that the researchers were hoping to find. Some species haven’t been seen alive for a decade.
After diving the very south of Tasmania, we went in search of the spotted handfish, which is critically endangered and now only known from a small area within the Derwent Estuary outside Hobart. The introduction of the invasive North Pacific sea star has had a huge impact on its populations. These voracious invaders eat the tiny stalked sea squirts that the handfish lays its eggs on. The tiny planktonic larvae of these sea stars probably arrived here in the ballast water of huge tankers from the north.
Tasmania’s giant kelp, on the other hand, has been impacted by another Australian resident, not one introduced by man. Longspine urchins are common along the east coast of mainland Australia, but the cold waters in Tasmania have always hindered their extension southwards. As climate change has warmed the waters in Tasmania, the urchins have taken up residence in Tasmania, extending their range southwards by 640 kilometres over the past 40 years. They prevent young kelp from becoming established and create “urchin barrens” where they eat every living thing down to the rock.
(Text by Jon Aars. Photos courtesy of Norwegian Polar Institute)
A warm north pole poses complex issues for polar bears. Jon Aars from the Norwegian Polar Institute reveals all about the threats faced by polar bears.
POLAR BEAR PREY
Ringed seals are the polar bears’ most common prey. Ringed seals are highly dependent on sea ice, where they rest and make lairs for their pups. Spring and early summer are the best months for polar bears to hunt ringed seals: In spring, they hunt the pups in the lairs, and often the mothers as well; in early summer, when larger ringed seals shed their hair, they bask in the sun on the ice, where the bears can ambush them. Polar bears will also hunt ringed seals by waiting at their breathing holes, and taking them when they surface for air. This technique can be used year-round. So, in areas with sea ice year-round, polar bears may also hunt for 12 months a year.
Bearded seals are another important prey species. It is a big prey, and adults usually weigh more than a female polar bear! Even so, the adult female bears may take them. Bearded seals rest on drifting ice floes, and the bears will swim and dive between the floes, trying to catch the seals by surprise before they get into the water.
Harp seals and hooded seals are also hunted by polar bears.
Narwhals and belugas are also sometimes targeted by polar bears.
The most important time for polar bears to hunt and build up their fat reserves is spring and early summer. With a large fat reserve, the bears can survive for many months without eating.
Females need certain types of sea ice in which to make “dens” to give birth to their cubs.
Ice is important to enable polar bears to travel between feeding areas, and to make it to land where they can rest in the summer to wait for the sea ice to form again in autumn
A mother may give birth in a den where she will stay for half a year, nursing the cubs for several months, without eating any food.
Fast increases in the temperature in the Arctic and loss of vast areas of sea ice in many parts is considered by far the greatest threat to polar bears.
Scientists conducting research on melt ponds in the Chuckchi Sea (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Polar Institute)
SHIFTING ICE, SHIFTING HABITATS
The unique ability to survive for long periods without food means that polar bears can thrive and survive in many parts of the Arctic where sea ice is not accessible for significant parts of the year. But it is vitally important to them that sea ice is present in the critical period of spring and early summer. So, as the period of sea ice coverage gets shorter and shorter in many areas, we will see a shift in areas where polar bears can live.
NOT ALL BEARS ARE AFFECTED EQUALLY
How polar bears react to the changes in sea ice availability is more complicated than the picture one usually gets through the media:
In some cases, bears may be able to cope with a substantial reduction in the total number of days of sea ice, as long as prey and sea ice is available in the critical parts of the year.
Areas with a lot of “multi-year ice” (ice that forms over several years, and can measure several metres in thickness), actually makes it more difficult for bears to hunt. Thus, a milder climate may lead to more “annual sea ice”, a substrate where polar bears can hunt with larger success.
Temporarily, and in some areas, climate change may improve the conditions for the bears. A few areas in Canada and Greenland in the high Arctic may become places where polar bears could find a refuge, with conditions that may be better than today, or at least good enough to host a viable population.
HARD-HIT AREAS
The areas where we have seen the clearest effects on polar bear populations due to loss of sea ice are Western Hudson Bay in Canada and Southern Beaufort Sea in Alaska.
SVALBARD, NORWEGIAN ARCTIC
Nowhere else in the Arctic has the reduction in sea ice been as severe
In large parts of this area, we now on average have a three-to-four months’ longer sea ice-free period compared to a few decades ago
The Russian western islands of Franz Josef Land still have good sea ice conditions most years, although in 2016 there was no ice until well into the winter months
Sea ice has been unavailable in more southern areas of the archipelago
Impact on polar bears:
• Bears in Svalbard are part of the Barents Sea population, shared with Russia.
• Severe reduction in the number of dens on traditional denning islands in the eastern islands of the Norwegian Arctic archipelago – lack of sea ice in the autumn makes them inaccessible at the vital time of year.
• Likely more bears use Franz Josef Land in Russia as an alternative denning area, but there may be a cost for the bears that used to den in Svalbard to reach these areas.
• Large shift northward in the distribution of bears
• Male adult polar bears in Svalbard are leaner in spring in years with milder weather
• Despite the effects seen on denning areas and condition, polar bears still seem to be surviving in Svalbard: We found no evidence of a reduction in population size between 2004 and 2015
THE COMING DECADES WILL BE CRITICAL
There will be a critical point in the reduction of sea ice availability up to which polar bears can cope, and still be able to survive and reproduce. With the very fast reductions of sea ice availability seen around Svalbard, if the trend in sea ice reduction continues at the pace seen over the last decades, we may reach this point soon.
In some other Arctic areas, bears are struggling. In some, they are doing well, and may even thrive also in the coming decades. But for every area, there will be some critical level regarding how much sea ice bears will need, and for how long, to exist into the future.
Immortalised for all time as the tragically sympathetic devourer of a family of oysters in Lewis Carroll’s famous poem, ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter”, from Alice Through the Looking Glass, these majestic creatures were given a reputation as gentle, lumbering giants, soft-hearted victims of their own unavoidable appetite. And, as the world’s second-largest pinniped [narrowly losing out to elephant seals in terms of sizel, Carroll’s poem summed up their true natures rather well!
Almost driven to extinction in the 1950s, populations made a come back in the 1980s as a result of stringent conservation initiatives, but they are once again listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. It is almost inevitable, however, that the changing climate and melting sea ice will have a negative impact on walrus populations.
After collecting microplastic debris from Singapore’s coastline in the period from April to July 2018, marine scientists from the National University of Singapore have discovered more than 400 types of toxic bacteria on these microplastics that can cause coral bleaching and infections on wounds in humans.
The scientists from the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute, led by lead researcher Dr Sandric Leong, and Ms Emily Curren, a PhD at the Institute, discovered the Photobacterium rosenbergii bacteria on the microplastic debris after utilising DNA sequencing to analyse the samples. This type of bacteria is known to cause coral bleaching and disease. The team also discovered Vibrio, a marine bacteria that can cause wound infections in humans, and Arcobacter, a bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis, on the microplastic debris collected.
According to Ms Curren, the fact that the microplastic debris were collected in public recreational areas that were easily accessible reinforced the added importance of identifying the “potentially pathogenic bacteria” as this could be be an important step in “preventing the spread of diseases” in Singapore.
Microplastics, which are broken down from single-use plastic items such as plastic cutlery, straws and crockery disposed in the ocean, have a lifespan of hundreds of years and can be used by toxic bacteria as “safe havens” to propagate and thrive. Through time, these microplastic debris contaminated by harmful pathogens are eaten by small marine organisms like barnacles, which are in turn eaten by fishes – thus spreading harmful diseases to us by making their way up the food chain to humans.
With plastic pollution a major environmental problem and microplastics making up a large proportion of plastics in the ocean, the consumption of microplastics by marine organisms can lead to an accumulation and transference of marine pathogens up the food chain to human populations around the world.
Dr Leong cautioned that the analysis of the distribution of microplastics and the identification of the marine organisms associated with them are important steps to managing the problem of plastic pollution “on a national and global scale.
Before sunrise: The divers setting up their camera equipment prior to going underwater (Photo by Wu LIxin)
LOCATED AT a staggering altitude of 5,100 metres, Lake Puma Yumco (普莫雍错) would most certainly deter the amateur and the faint-hearted – but not a group of exploratory divers set out to conduct wildlife investigations in one of Earth’s most challenging freshwater environments.
According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), any time you scuba dive at an altitude higher than 300 metres above sea level, you’re altitude diving. Wu Lixin, one extraordinary tek diver and underwater photographer – together with his team – decided to take on Puma Yumco in February 2014, a wintry season when streams of water from the surrounding snow-capped mountains feed the freezing lake.
To date, there are no reference materials available for diving at an altitude beyond 3,000 metres. This historic photography project, commissioned by China Central Television (commonly known as CCTV), was targeted at documenting life beneath the surface of the Tibetan Plateau’s waters – a long-held East Asian mystery.
As they journeyed to the dive site, burdened by the weight of their equipment, Wu and his contemporaries were not spared the unforgiving effects of the extreme elevation. The lack of oxygen brought about impaired body movement and lethargy the team had never felt before while preparing to dive. In hindsight, Wu deems such debilitating environmental effects “unprecedented” – even for highly experienced dive “warriors”. At these altitudes, the actual maximum depth of 11 metres translated to a theoretical depth of 20 metres, demanding stepped-up planning, safety measures and adjustments made to their dive.
Beneath the ice: Besides the sound of himself exhaling, Wu also hears the loud groan of the ice as it breaks apart (Photo by Wu Lixin)
At the height of winter, the picturesque Puma Yumco, devoid of an outlet, develops intricate ice block patterns, caused by repeated cycles of freezing, fracturing and refreezing of the ice due to temperature variations as well as wind-induced ice motion. The name of this obscure geographical feature, 普莫雍错 (pronounced “pu-mo yong-cuo”), translates as “blue jewel that floats in the sky” – an apt description given that the lake inclines towards a blue to blue-green colour. This is due to the water’s ultra-oligotrophic nature – meaning that nutrient concentrations in both the water column and lake sediments are extremely low.
As February rolled around, the lake’s icy covering gave way to a water temperature of 2°C, guiding Wu’s choices of equipment: a DUI TLS350 drysuit, a 12-litre single cylinder tank with a Y-valve, a Halcyon Eclipse BC system (for single-tank diving) fitted with a stainless steel backplate, and two Apeks XTX200 regulators, ideal for cold-water diving (one intended as a back-up). Upon descending, the team was immediately accosted by several difficulties, the most impacting being drastic variations in buoyancy, typical at an altitude beyond 3,000 metres. This caused the divers to battle the risk of a sudden ascension due to loss of buoyancy control.
The underwater scene nearby the lake island (Photo by Wu Lixin)At an altitude of 5,000 metres, using a chain saw to create an entrance in the ice surface proves to be a highly physically demanding feat (Photo by Wu Lixin)Before sunrise: The divers set up their camera equipment prior to going underwater
Using a mini sonar altimeter to test the water depth (Photo by Wu Lixin)Finally, the team is ready to descend (Photo by Wu Lixin)
Contrary to common expectations, the environmental limitations prevented Wu from conducting any decompression stops at all. The key procedure aimed at minimising unforeseen contingencies was simply reducing bottom time. The team also stuck to a conservative ascension rate of three metres per minute, instead of the usual nine metres per minute.
1. Found in all the world’s temperate oceans, the basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus, is the world’s largest living fish, after the whale shark
Settings: f/6.3, 1/160s, ISO 320
(Photo by Tom Burns)
A large dark brown silhouette slowly emerges from edge of visibility in the cold water of the North Atlantic. Contrasting the cobalt green, the fuzzy bulk of brown increases to the massive form of a large shark – and it’s headed our way. We are off Chatham, Cape Cod, where only a few miles away white sharks ply the waters looking for an easy feeding opportunity.
But it is not the iconic great white shark that brings us back time again to these notorious waters. Here the cool Gulf of Maine floods to meet the Gulf Stream further south, producing a biomass of spectacular proportions. In these waters humpback whales feed by the dozens, grey seals are too numerous to count, and more than a few razor cool species of shark make this their summer home.
We are here to visit the common but seldom witnessed basking shark of the western North Atlantic. As I fin ahead the large silhouette comes into focus and begins a slow turn left. The large male basking shark quickly comes upon us. Sun dapples his rich tan back, contrasting his vanilla white mouth. With camera on subject, the 3,000-kilogram animal glides by with the ease of a warm knife through butter. As it swims by its small but curious eye gives us a second look.
Now turning back towards me, the basking shark surprisingly moves with a stature of more classic predatory sharks. Dozens of lampreys the size of cats flutter to adjust to the new course of their mother ship, adhered all over the shark’s interdorsal ridge and tail. As the large shark circles in for a closer inspection, it feels like I am witnessing a window into a world completely unchanged for millennia.
BEHEMOTH CITY
Basking sharks visit New England waters June through October. Population numbers are poorly understood but encounters with boaters off Cape Cod are common. They arrive following a biomass of krill and baitfish to the Cape for summer feeding season, as do large numbers of humpback, finback, and minke whales. The “whale show” offshore is often breathtaking, and it always seems the humpback whales steal the show, at times by hurling their 30-tonne bodies into the air.
There are also chances of sighting the elegant blue shark, Prionace glauca, off Cape Cod Settings: f/6.3, 1/160s, ISO 320 (Photo by Tom Burns)
And it’s not just the whales off Cape Cod that keep the basking sharks in obscurity. From ocean sunfish, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, leatherback turtles, to cruising blue sharks offshore, there are a lot of big fish in this ocean. Thousands of grey and harbour seals hug the coastline, with sightings almost guaranteed. And the seals attract perhaps the most notorious summer visitor of all – the great white shark. Increased numbers of sharks are visiting the region in recent years, and the data suggest that trend is only increasing. But for the most part the white sharks in this region keep a very low profile, and will most commonly avoid an encounter.
The basking sharks of the western North Atlantic were until recently poorly understood. But shark biologist Dr. Greg Skomal, perhaps better known for his work with the smaller but toothier cousins hunting just to our west, has given us insight into the second-largest fish and shark in all the oceans. And to many shark diving enthusiasts, seeing the enormous gape of a feeding basking shark first-hand goes unfulfilled on their bucket list.
ANCIENT MIGRATIONS
Satellite tagging work done by Skomel and the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries has uncovered the migratory habits of this species. Their surprising data revealed that basking sharks head south in the autumn months – far further than most had speculated – crossing the equator to congregate as far south as the Amazon River basin of South America. This transcontinental path has likely been used for a hundred million years, but only now do we have insight into their incredible range of travel. Each spring they likely repeat the trip north, to feed in the nutrient-rich waters of the North Atlantic.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 6/2014, OP No. 1 of Scuba Diver magazine by purchasing the issue here or check out all of our publications here.
Mediterranean
Sea, Nizza: The striped dolphin
(Stenella coeruleoalba) is an extensively studied dolphin found
in temperate and tropical waters
of all the world's oceans, fortunately
listed as “Least Concern” on the
IUCN Red List (Photo by Greg Lecoeur)
NEXT time you’re in Bali for a few days of diving, you might also want to consider adding dolphin watching to your agenda. But wait, are there dolphins in Bali?
Absolutely! Bali does indeed have dolphins roaming about its waters. The island has whales as well, although the sightings are not as frequent as that of dolphins. There are at least 14 species of whales and dolphins in Bali, including spinners, spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Fraser’s dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and rough-toothed dolphins.
You’re likely to see a variety of dolphin species pretty much all year round. Dolphins are regularly sighted in the mornings off the southern peninsula, just half an hour by boat from crowded Denpasar via Benoa Harbour. Here, you typically find spinner dolphins doing somersaults, as they hunt food in the early hours of the day, although other species such as Risso’s dolphins and false killer whales may be seen as well, if you’re lucky.
Eilat, Red Sea: Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), are the most familiar dolphins due to the wide exposure they receive in captivity in marine parks and dolphinaria and in movies and television programmes. This symbolic species is of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List (Photo by Tobias Friedrich)
If you’re in the north of this paradise island, or planning to explore this more tranquil region of Bali, you can head to Lovina or Bondalem in Buleleng for some dolphin sightings at the break of day.
Established around 1987, the industry in Lovina has grown exponentially, and it can feel rather crowded here when you have 40 other boats around you trying to catch a glimpse of dolphins as well. Bondalem, a village 40 kilometres east of Lovina, started the industry around 2001. Not as many boats operate in Bondalem, so the experience can be much more relaxing than Lovina. Spinners and Fraser’s can be seen off both Lovina and Bondalem.
The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is the third largest member of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae) and is listed as “Data Deficient” on the IUCN Red List (Photo by Amanda Cotton)
As responsible tourists, we need to ensure that there’s an adequate distance between our boats and the dolphins. Some international guidelines suggest stopping the boat 50 metres from the dolphins and from there, allow the animals to swim towards you – instead of the other way around. We also need to ensure people don’t feed the dolphins, or worse, throw garbage in the sea. It’s easy for these animals to misidentify litter as food and ingest it.
The pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) is a species found in all the world’s temperate and tropical oceans, under threat due to the mass killing of individuals in tuna purse seines, a method of fishing that employs a seine or dragnet (Photo by Amanda Cotton)
Dolphins and other marine life have been found dead at beaches around the world with plastic waste inside their stomachs. We can help by doing our utmost to prevent littering in the ocean. And if you do find any stranded whales or dolphins in Bali, contact the national marine mammal stranding network for help – they are trained to assist and hopefully save the lives of these hapless marine mammals.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 Issue 2 Volume 137 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
An illustration of the
recovered Lion City,
through the eyes of a
highly-trained tek diver, research explorer and underwater photographer (Illustration by Zuo Yan)
AS THE WORK WEEK ends in Shanghai, a group of divers prepares to journey 400 kilometres southwest to Qiandao Lake (千岛湖), meaning “Lake of 1,000 islands”, in Zhejiang Province, China – for an adventure like no other.
The mysterious lake was formed 60 years ago, in September 1959, when the Xin’an River was dammed to create a hydroelectric station. As a result, the Xin’an reservoir flooded a grand total of two counties, three towns, more than a thousand villages and the surrounding valley that together, played home to 300,000 people. Among the major two counties, there is one – officially named Sui An County (遂安城县) – that dates back to 1,800 years old ago. Later, it adopted the alternative name Lion City (狮城).
Fascinatingly, research divers discovered after extensive exploration (300 dives for myself) there that the submerged Lion City was constructed during the Han dynasty, way back in AD 208. It lay at the foot of Wu Shi Mountain (五狮山), but went beneath the surface with everything else positioned up to 108 metres above sea level then. So far, we have ventured down to as deep as 32 metres. While there is no current in the lake, the muddy, silty bottom means that visibility is far from ideal. At the surface and down to mid-depths of 16 to18 metres, visibility stands at 6 to 8 metres, but this quickly plummets to just 0.5 to 3 metres near the bottom.
The remains of ancient dwellings: Interiors are widely embellished with decorative wooden carvings (Photo by Wu Lixin)
Temperatures at the greatest depths are a constant 10 to 12°C, which demands a good dry suit. In recent years, a bright red line was installed as a means to guide recreational dives over the city’s external wall, towards one of its 16 memorial arches or pai fang (known locally as 牌坊), built in olden times by the order of the royal family to recognise certain exceptional talents or commemorate traditional Chinese values. These structures of various forms date back to the Ming and Qing dynasty, with some being composed by brick and others, stone and wood.
The most popular pai fang, which is made of brick, was erected in 1777, in accordance to Emperor Qianlong’s intention of celebrating a civilian woman’s chastity and piety (节 denotes purity and 孝represents filial obedience) – hence its name 姚王氏节孝坊. With each pai fang boasting four mind-blowing, intricate carvings depicting lions, expert divers have sighted eight of such beauties within two uncovered memorial arches.
This memorial arch, which has become popular with skilled divers, was constructed in 1777. Despite being subjected to freshwater erosion for close to 60 years, it still remains in excellent condition (Photo by Wu Lixin)
On our exploratory dives around the city we have discovered many streets and buildings that warrant further investigation. There are also a number of ground wells and large administration buildings close to the riverbed running through the submerged city. The darkness and the cold are not the only factors limiting dive time; Another significant hurdle to contend with is the lake environment itself, which challenges the highly experienced diver to be ready to ascend and descend at any point.
The most well preserved pai fang, named “姚王氏节孝坊”, was constructed under the imperial instruction of Emperor Qianlong – hence, the inscriptions “圣旨”(imperial decree) are prominently displayed (Photo by Wu Lixin)
Read the rest of this article in 2014 Issue 4 Volume 133 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
(text and photo by Imran Ahmad and Cassandra Dragon)
THE ISLAND OF Lombok is located in the West Nusa Tenggara Province of Indonesia, and is Bali’s neighbour to the east. Geographically, Lombok is similar in size and density to Bali and is surrounded by 13 small, largely uninhabited islands locally called Gilis. Lombok offers the simple pleasures of sunshine and white sandy beaches in quiet settings. A unique culture and exciting eco-tours make Lombok the perfect getaway for anyone looking for a peaceful and tranquil holiday, or for the more adventurous, who want to explore the many beautiful and wild treasures this island has to offer.
From Padang Bai Harbour in Bali, one can hop on the local speedboat across to Lombok. Making two stops along the way, first in Gili Trawangan and Gili Air before reaching the large, peaceful bay of Teluk Nara just 30 minutes north of Senggigi on Lombok Island. The speedboat ride from Padang Bai takes slightly over 1.5 hours. From Teluk Nara, a 3-hour drive takes you down the southwest coast. Meandering down the wildly rugged coastline, you will be overwhelmed by a wonderful palette of colours and some of the most breathtaking views of heavenly beaches that seem to go on endlessly. The sparkling turquoise water of bays nestled amidst lush rolling hills and spectacular sea cliffs, are interspersed with picturesque farming and fishing villages. It’s as if time stands still here, where ancient ways of living appear to be untouched by tourism or development. The journey ends in the town of Sekotong, where some of the best diving in Lombok can be found.
Diving the Uncharted Unlike the more popular northern Gilis, very little is heard of the diving in the southern Gilis Islands. Here you will find a lush underwater wonderland offering an abundance of marine diversity with plenty of new dive sites to explore and discover. Diving is available for all levels of certification: from protected bays to calm sea grass fields, to the more challenging dives sites in Belongas Bay.
Reefs here are in a pristine state due to a low volume of diver traffic. It’s rare to see any other dive boats in your vicinity, or to see other divers during a dive. The diving in general offers a good cross-section of what Indonesian diving is all about, with opportunities for true exploration that would please even the most widely travelled and experienced diver. Underwater photographers will be pleasantly surprised at what’s in store here, from rainbow reefs to stunning macro subjects and uncharted coral gardens.
A close-up view of the spines of a fire urchin (Astropyga radiata) (text and photo by Imran Ahmad and Cassandra Dragon)
In Sekotong, dive sites such as Stairs to Medang or The Lighthouse boast hard coral reefs that are popular with trevallies, barracudas and whitetip reef sharks. Other sites, like Gili Renggit, are made up of massive soft coral growth and are a paradise for macro photographers. The great variety of dive sites becomes obvious at Batu Gendang, where you experience a labyrinth of boulders covered with massive corals. This site is tide dependent and for the more experienced divers. Watch out for sweet lips, Napoleons and rays.
Huge barrel sponges sit on the seabed, adorned with flower-like crinoids (text and photo by Imran Ahmad and Cassandra Dragon)
Colour Buzz
Among our most favourite sites are Secret Garden and Gili Layar, with an impressive wonderland of soft corals that slopes downwards past 26 metres. The abundance of coral as well as the multitude of macro life is absolutely breath taking! After this incredible array, and a series of overhangs, most dives here end at a shallow plateau with some of the largest barrel sponges we’ve ever seen, as well as impressive hard coral formations. Another highlight here is the profusion of tiny yellow sea cucumbers (Colochirus robustus) making this dive site buzz with colour.
Lombok’s reefs are as colourful as any in Indonesia, growing lush with invertebrates like soft and hard corals, sponges and sea stars (text and photo by Imran Ahmad and Cassandra Dragon)
Day trips via land transfers can be made from Sekotong over to Belongas Bay. The main highlights here are dive sites like Magnet and Cathedral, where seasonal sightings of schooling barracudas, tunas, and other pelagic life is fairly regular. Apart from the schooling mobula ray season in September, hammerhead sharks like to school around Magnet from June until early November. As currents and dive conditions can at times be quite challenging at these two sites, it is recommended only for more experienced divers. Reef hooks are essential, as are dive computers and gloves, while surface marker buoys are mandatory. Unfortunately for us, we missed the season by a few months, but knowing that these kinds of animals inhabit the region helped make every dive that much more exciting.
Another delight in Belongas Bay is Gili Sarang. With pinnacles and impressive boulders rising up from a depth of around 35 metres, this dive site offers impressive big fish action. Giant trevallies, mackerels, sweet lips, surgeon fish, whitetips, blacktips and grey reef sharks can all be seen here, with August and September being the best season for sightings of schooling mobula and eagle rays.
Read the rest of this article in SD Issue 1/2013, AA No. 73 of Scuba Diver Diveraholic magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The Baikal seal, or nerpa, is the
world’s only freshwater seal. Pupping
takes place from February to March,
in lairs that have been hollowed out
on the fast ice.
Settings: f/20, 1/125s, ISO 200
(Photo by René Lipmann)
CAPE KHOBOY
We arrive by Jeep from Irkutsk and drive over the frozen Lake Baikal. We have to be careful; gas bubbles can make the ice very thin in winter. We see locals trying to save their sunken truck. We overnight on the ice at Olkhon Island, 300 kilometres from Irkutsk.
To get under the ice we’ve used a large hole made by adult seals for hunting. Adult seals have one breathing hole, but this hole has many auxiliary openings.
Suddenly, I’m hundreds of kilometres from any ocean and diving with a seal pup! With his beautiful silvery grey coat, the freshwater pup swims in circles around my bubbles. He is very interested in the dome port on my camera – it works like a mirror. He wants to play with that other “puppy” and tries to catch it! When I look through the lens, the pup is looking straight into my eyes. OK, it’s freezing cold, but now I’m melting! I can see his mother through the crystal clear ice floor. She is waiting to feed her pup. Then an adult seal slips through the hole, and starts maintaining it, scraping at it with strong claws to keep it open. Incredible!
This is the adventure I was looking for when I took the plane to Moscow.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Between 0.5 and 1.5°C.
VISIBILITY: The best visibility is usually between January and mid March where it is often around 40 to 45 metres. Ice diving is still possible in late March although the visibility may drop to around 10 metres as the snow starts to melt.
MAX DEPTH: 10 to 15 metres
OTHER CONDITIONS: Ice, ice, ice! Air temperature is –35°C!
HIGHLIGHTS: Lake Baikal seal, or nerpa. Massive colonies of sponges, bullheads, graylings. Unusual topography,
ice formations, caves and grottoes.
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS: You might be lucky enough to observe a school of endemic fish called omul, Coregonus autimnalis.
LIFE LIKE SCIENCE FICTION
A historic locomotive provides shelter from the cold as we change into our drysuits. The 5,500-kilometre railroad that connects the lake to Moscow ends here. What was once a vibrant destination on the Trans-Siberia Express is now desolate and nostalgic.
We are in Listvyanka, a small settlement not far from Irkutsk. Today we are conducting an open-water dive, because the stream of the Angara River prevents the water from freezing.
Thriving on a carpet of stone, lurid green sponges form a dense forest. All is energy and movement. Competing for any space available, these creatures are clearly alive. And so are the prehistoric arthropods, gamaruses, gastropoda, sculpin fish and much more. During the dive we even watch a comedy of ducks feeding on the underwater weeds!
Moving back to shallower waters the white, sandy bottom looks almost tropical, overlaid by a roofless water column and blue sky. Everything breathes. Diving here, you feel spring is at the front door.
Our ice dive safari proves to be one of the best dive safaris I have ever done, and we’ve only just begun to grasp why Lake Baikal is named the Pearl of Siberia.
The Lake Baikal sponges, Lubomirskia baicalensis, get their colour from their symbiotic dinoflagellates that help them survive in the iced-over lake in winter. Settings: f/8, 1/60s, ISO 200 (Photo by René Lipmann)
HIGHLIGHTS: The acanthogammaridae – a family of amphipod crustaceans, endemic to Lake Baikal – must be one of the weirdest amphipods around: it looks like an ancient fossil! Baikal shrimps, Acanto gammaridae. Sponges, bullheads, and schools of graylings on night dives.
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS: If you’ve got air in your tank, you can enjoy the magnificent drop-off, swathed in massive sponge colonies.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Between 0.5 and 1.5°C.
VISIBILITY: Very good, takes my breath away,
30 metres for sure.
MAX DEPTH: 30 to 35 metres.
OTHER CONDITIONS: Open water. Listvyanka is a popular tourist destination, the result of its local fish market, colourful houses and spectacular hiking routes.
LOGISTICS: Listvyanka is 70 kilometres by car away from Irkutsk, and the dive site is easily accessible.
NAVIGATOR
Getting there: Connect to Irkutsk airport: From Europe through
Moscow from Asia through Beijing, Shanghai, Ulan Bator, Bangkok or Seoul.
Best time to dive: There is ice from January to May, but the best months for ice-diving are March and April. For the Ice Diving Jeep Safari, February and March. The liveaboard Season is May to December.
Don’t dive without: Your drysuit and two ice-approved regulators.
Essential training: Advanced and Drysuit certifications. For diving under ice, specialist training is essential.
On arrival: Most foreign nationals need a visa to enter Russia, including citizens of European countries, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Check with your local embassy.
Dive with: Gennady Misan and Tanja Oparina own BaikalTek. Their dive operation is the largest in the area and provides ice-diving, liveaboards, seal safaris, technical and daily diving. Accommodation is primitive but comfortable. www.baikaldiving.ru
Currency: Russian Roubles
Time Zone: GMT + 9
Languages: Russian
For more information: www.visitrussia.org.uk
Read the rest of this article in SD Issue 6/2014, OP No. 1 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Diver Hollie Anderson captivated
by a group of eagle rays,
Aetobatus narinari
Settings: f/14, 1/80s, ISO 320 (Photo by Lia Barrett)
Why it’s always a good idea to man up, pile on that neoprene, and get back in the water for another go, even if cold water diving is not your thing.
It’s a personal life goal of mine to sneakily try to get myself to do things I don’t want to do. Sometimes this means tricking myself by planning something well in advance to the point that by the time it comes around, I’m already thrown in the deep end. Literally. And so when I finally noticed that I was spending heaps of time in Australia, I knew it was time to bite the bullet and start doing some of the true grit Aussie diving, some of the most interesting diving in the world which, to my dismay, means piling on lots of neoprene.
Yes, folks, the secret is out: A lot of Australia’s best diving is rather chilly.
From the shores below Brisbane skirting all the way down and over to lower Western Australia, the undergarments of Aussie diving require, well, warm undergarments. And so after seeing images of Fish Rock Cave, the type that make you salivate with envy and pull your hair out in excitement, I knew that atop my Australian bucket list was this little island that attracts a most spectacular aggregation of grey nurse sharks.
DAY ONE
The first day did not fail to meet the area’s reputation, which, as we were told, is one of being a bit temperamental. We jumped into a raging current, low visibility, water cold and green as pea soup. A bit dejected, I almost called off the next day’s diving, thinking we’d head back down south in search of seals or perhaps a few consoling beers and mince pies in Sydney. But, something kicked me into touch, and I decided we’d give it one more day.
DAY TWO
Sure enough, the next day, we had crystal clear conditions, a slack current, gutters overflowing with plump, snaggletooth sharks, wobbegongs of all sizes practically lying on top of one another forming a carpet along the gutter floors, a school of cow nose rays, eagle rays, swarms of schooling fish, whales singing themselves deaf in the distance… I can genuinely say that it was one of the top dives of my life. I didn’t even notice how cold I was.
As I exited the water, I couldn’t help but feel silly at the notion that I had almost missed this most spectacular symphony of Nature. So lesson learned: Sometimes pushing oneself isn’t so convenient: However, occasionally, efforts and discomfort pay off in sweeping displays of worldly splendour.
GUARANTEED HIGHLIGHTS:
Fish Rock Cave, which pretty much never moves, offers a thrilling respite from the outside ocean traffic. Inside the cave are critters including crabs, nudibranchs, juvenile wobbegongs, and much more. Outside the cave, coral, rock, and natural “gutters” house teeming life of all sorts. As I exited the water, I couldn’t help but feel silly at the notion that I had almost missed this most spectacular symphony of Nature. So lesson learned:
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS:
Depending on the season, grey nurse sharks are usually present during their season, as are wobbegongs. Cow nose rays, eagle rays, guitar sharks, turtles, nudibranchs, and perhaps even a glimpse of one of those passing whales during whale season are all possibilities.
WATER TEMPERATURE:
Theoretically fluctuates between 18 to 26°C, although I believe it was about 16°C when I was there. Prone to strong currents, temperatures can change day to day.
VISIBILITY:
Visibility also fluctuates, as one day we had maybe six metres, and then the next day, it was crystal clear, and I felt like I could see sharks at least 20 metres away.
MAX DEPTH:
Entrance of the cave (which runs 125 metres in length) is at 12 metres at the shallow entrance, and 24 metres at the deep entrance. Gutters where sharks aggregate range from 15 to 30 metres around the island.
Lia Barrett is an underwater, travel, and fine art photographer. Her work has appeared in numerous international scuba diving and travel magazines, newspapers and blogs. Inspired by life underwater, Lia is the creative mind behind the clothing line Prawno Apparel, a brand geared towards ocean lovers with an emphasis on conservation. Lia is also the Photo Editor of DivePhotoGuide.com www.liabarrettphotography.com
This was initially published in Scuba Diver Ocean Planet 6/2014. With stunning photos and articles covering conservation to the best diving destinations –get the latest issues by subsc
1. The moniker “Lake of Stars” was given to Lake Malawi by David Livingston, who was inspired by the fishermen’s night-time lanterns that turned the water into a replica of the night sky. Here, snorkellers at Masimbwe Island
Settings: f/8, 1/100s, ISO 160 (Photo by Scott Bennett
The massive Lake Malawi is no ordinary body of water. Five hundred metres above sea level and around 800 metres deep, it is home to more fish species than any other lake on the planet. (Text and photos by Scott Bennett)
Created by immense geological forces that are gradually tearing the continent apart, known as the “Lake of Stars” or “The Calendar Lake” (being 587 kilometres long and 84 kilometres wide), Lake Malawi’s voluminous depths are conspicuously lacking large underwater fauna. What it does have is cichlids. LOTS of cichlids. From a few initial colonisers, upwards of a thousand endemic species have evolved. The most colourful, locally known as “mbuna”, display remarkable degrees of evolution. Highly territorial, many reside in one compact area their entire lives, creating inbred communities that diverge into new species.
My first night on the lake would be spent in Cape Maclear. I would do a pair of dives en route to Domwe Island, for the next night. Then I would be picked up and taken to Mumbo Island for more dives before checking into the resort. I could hardly wait! Abounding with overseas backpackers and souvenir vendors, I felt like I was in Southeast Asia rather than Central Africa. With no electricity for the ensuing two nights, I embarked on a battery-charging marathon to ensure I wouldn’t be caught short.
TUMBE TO DOMWE
The morning’s first dive site was The Wreck, at Tumbe Island, a 15 metre steel-hulled vessel sunk specifically for diving. The water was 23°C; not bad for the middle of winter in Africa!
Visibility was limited to less than 10 metres, but the cichlids were everywhere in a staggering array of shapes and colours! It was hard to comprehend they had descended from a solitary species.
The terrain’s prevailing feature was granite boulders, some the size of houses. A large blue crab peered out from under a rock, scuttling to the safety of a deep recess as I approached. Vegetation was surprisingly absent, but every surface was shrouded with algae, the primary food for many cichlid species. A few however, eat, other cichlids.
Descending to the stern, we encountered a pair of two-metre kampango catfish, the lake’s biggest fish, which can grow up to two metres in length. Unfazed by our presence, they allowed a close approach for wide-angle photography.
At the next site, The Aquarium, we were instantly enveloped by cichlids of even greater numbers and varieties. A flat sandy area featured a number of curious crater-shaped formations. Remarkably, they were not natural but fish-made, courting arenas created by male cichlids to attract females.
Rising to 400 metres above lake level with a circumference of 11 kilometres, Domwe is Lake Malawi’s largest island. Granite boulders flanked the beach like giant scattered marbles while dense vegetation cloaked the rugged slopes above. The view of the lake from my tent was superb; I felt like Robinson Crusoe on my own private island!
CICHLIDS GALORE: Well over 500 colourful and diverse species of cichlid have evolved in Lake Malawi from a common ancestor over the last million years. They are broadly divided into two groups – haplochromines and tilapiines. Haplichromines are all mouthbrooders, while tilapiines are substrate-spawning (Photos by Scott Bennett)
MUMBO ISLAND
The next morning, we set out for Mumbo Island. Massive boulders flanked the island’s perimeter as baobab and candelabra trees crowded each other for growing space. Underwater, the scenery was equally impressive: Pinnacles descending to 50 metres, overhangs and swim-throughs to explore; on one safety stop, the water became crystal clear, with sheer rock faces dwarfing the never-ending parade of cichlids. At Mpipi Bay rocky slopes descended gradually to a depth of 100 metres, and, in the shallows, an abundance of water plants.
Back at the resort on Mumbo, once again, I found myself grasping for superlatives. My tent’s location was even more spectacular than at Domwe. Looking out over a small bay of aquamarine water, I ensconced myself in the hammock out front, as African fish eagles wheeled overhead. Sheer bliss!
3. Dramatic scenery, wildlife and accomodation at the Mumbo Resort. Settings: f/9, 1/329s, ISO 320 4. Masimbwe Island: The water is clear and warm, perfect for divers of all levels. Settings: f/8, 1/100s, ISO 160 (Photos by Scott Bennett)
MASIMBWE AND THE MOUTH BROODERS
On the first day, with profuse fish life and magnificent underwater scenery Masimbwe Island quickly became a favourite. Immense boulders tumbled to the depths below, with fissures concealing some hefty catfish. We were shown a curious linear pattern etched in the rock which some believe to be a carving. Nearby, I observed a freshwater sponge, something I didn’t even know existed in Africa! However, there was one photo subject that remained infuriatingly elusive.
Many Malawi cichlids are mouth brooders, with the juvenile fish residing within their mother’s mouth for protection. I couldn’t help but wonder if any had ever been accidentally swallowed! Having missed them at Cape Maclear, I really wanted to see this phenomenon in action. (The mouth brooding, not the swallowing!)
Happily, our second dive at Christian’s Point proved much more successful. The key was to search for a school of juveniles, an indication that the mother must be near. Soon enough, we spotted them and before long, witnessed the mouth brooding behaviour in action. We even witnessed some juveniles forming a miniature bait ball. Getting photos proved challenging, as the action was lightening fast.
Although small compared to its larger neighbours, Malawi’s attractions are big, both above and under the water. Known as the warm heart of Africa for its friendly people, I would certainly be back. Despite lacking mega fauna and the colourful reefs of a tropical ocean, Malawi’s subtropical waters offer easy, relaxed diving with no currents, calm conditions and decent visibility. But it is Lake Malawi’s dramatic scenery and remarkable biodiversity that set it apart – the Lake of Stars is dazzling. And unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Capturing a shot the famous mouthbrooding behaviour was a challenge. Settings: f/8, 1/100s, ISO 160 (Photo by Scott Bennett)
NAVIGATOR
Getting there:
Main international gateway is Johannesburg, with connecting flights to Blantyre or the capital of Lilongwe.
Best time to dive:
Year round but best time is between Sept and early December.
Don’t dive without:
A dive computer, but be sure to adjust the settings as the lake is 500 metres above sea level.
Essential training:
Basic open water certification is adequate for many dive sites.
On arrival:
A full valid passport is required for entry into Malawi. For tourist visits, visas are not required by citizens of most Commonwealth countries, the USA, Japan and most European Union countries.
For more information:
www.malawitourism.com
Dive with:
Kayak Africa, Cape Maclear www.kayakafrica.co.za, Kaya Mawa Resort, Likoma Island www.kayamawa.com
Currency:
Unit of currency is the kwacha. 1 USD : 396 MWK
Time Zone:
Central African Time Zone, GMT + 2
Languages:
English is an official language and is widely understood. A number of indigenous languages are also spoken, the most common being Chewa.
Read the rest of this article in SD Issue 6/2014, OP No. 1 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
ASIA HAS THE LARGEST and best coral reefs in the world, but its coral reef ecosystems are in rapid decline, an occurence which is part of a global phenomenon. More than 100 countries are seeing their marine biodiversity, fisheries, tourism and shore protection services collapse. Only the oldest divers can tell you what we have lost because all scientific surveys began long after the decline was underway.
My grandfather and father pioneered diving marine science and photography in the 1940s and I have the world’s largest collection of underwater photographs from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, including the first colour images of the Great Barrier Reef. You could cry to see any of these places now.
The causes of reef decline are complex, because so many different factors kill corals, but worldwide, the major factors are now global warming, new diseases and land-based sources of pollution such as sewage, fertiliser and soil erosion, although dredging, fishing with bombs and poisons and diver damage, among other causes, can all play important local roles.
Whale Rock, Misool: Raja Ampat’s version of a sea fan (Photo by A.B. Lee)
In the old days, most stressors were local in size and short in duration, like ship groundings or typhoons, and reefs would recover in 15 to 20 years. But now, chronic and worsening stresses from high temperatures, pollution, diseases, mud and algae overgrowth, amid other factors, mean most damaged reefs simply don’t recover any more, unless they are in very remote and untouched areas. And even those are succumbing to high temperatures and diseases.
Coral reefs are the most susceptible ecosystems of all to global warming and pollution. The best hope for maintaining coral reefs, and the vital environmental services they provide, will be to remove the stressor that are killing them. This is unlikely to happen however because they are caused by energy, land use, water use and waste disposal practices all over the globe, which would need to be seriously changed to save coral reefs. But fortunately, there is an alternative that can buy valuable time for coral reefs until humanity can put our planet back on a sustainable track.
To survive the stressors that will hit coral reefs in the years to come, we need new methods to help increase coral settlement, growth, budding, branching, healing, survival and resistance to stress. This is precisely what we have done all over the world since the 1980s using the electrical Biorock method. This process, invented and developed by the late architect Wolf Hilbertz and myself, uses safe, low voltage trickle charges to grow solid limestone structures of any size or shape in the sea.
Rain clouds form over a shallow reef at Alyui Bay, Raja Ampat, Indonesia (Photo by Ethan Daniels)
Biorock provides the only marine building material that gets stronger with age and is self-repairing (damaged areas grow back first). The material we grow from the sea is the same material that makes up coral skeletons. We have grown new reefs in front of severely eroding beaches, and have cultivated new sand, repairing beaches back in two to three years. These methods are the most effective ones for restoring beaches and protecting low-lying islands and coasts from erosion and global sea level rise.
What is also astonishing is that we get coral growth rates that are 200 to 1,000 percent faster in the electrical field, and we see up to 1,600 to 5,000 percent higher coral survival after severe heat stroke. Moreover, the benefits apply not only to corals, but also to all organisms in the surrounding areas, including oysters, clams, soft corals, sponges, fishes, seagrass and salt marshes. As a result, we keep marine ecosystems alive in places where they would die, and repair new ones in a few years in places with no natural recovery.
The Global Coral Reef Alliance works closely with local coral reef management groups all around the world in our Coral Arks Program. Our goal is to maintain healthy populations of all reef-building coral species so they can survive the stress that lies ahead. In Bali alone, we are now growing around 80 percent of all the tropical coral families (“genera”) and about half of all species. But many more Biorock Coral Arks are needed all around the world, wherever there are groups committed to long-term coral reef management. Around 400 or more Biorock reef structures have been built in more than 20 countries, with the majority in Indonesia.
For transforming an area barren of corals and fishes into a pristine reef swarming with huge fish schools, the Karang Lestari Biorock Coral Reef Restoration Project in Pemuteran, Bali, Indonesia, was a recipient of the United Nations Equator Award for Community-Based Development, and awarded the Special United Nations Development Programme Award for Oceans and Coastal Management at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012.
Stunning cabbage corals at Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia (Photo by Todd Essick)
These projects are eagerly supported by local fishermen, who watched in astonishment as a barren area was restored, and as huge schools of fish first moved in and then spread to nearby reefs, providing the fishermen with larger fish of greater abundance and diversity. Pemuteran fishermen are very proud of their results. They want all other fishing villages to follow their example!
In the Philippines, where some of the last remaining coral reefs were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, we worked closely with the Coral Triangle Conservancy to restore coral reefs in village-managed Protected No Fishing Zones in the Calamianes Islands, where 80–95 percent of the corals were smashed to rubble by the typhoon. The goal is to bring back their fisheries, as we did in Bali. Biorock coral nurseries in the Philippines showed prolific new growth and healthy colours just four days after the typhoon struck, a ray of hope amid the devastation.
Coral reefs can be saved for future generations if we start growing Coral Arks wherever we can. The technology is now readily available to restore our damaged coral reefs, fisheries and beaches. Our efforts to use the power of the sun, wind, ocean currents and waves to grow coral reefs need to be increased a million fold if we are to continue to enjoy the bounty of the reefs.
Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia: A diver looks on at a bright red soft coral Dendronephthya sp. and sponge hanging from the roof of a cave (Photo by Steve Jones)
Unfortunately, there is still little support for such efforts – no government anywhere is using the advanced technology that will be needed in the future. Governments and International Agencies claim that Marine Protected Areas can solve all coral reef and fisheries problems, even though they only work where prime habitat is being protected and fail elsewhere. They claim coral reefs are “resilient ecosystems”, so coral reefs and fisheries will bounce back from any damage. Thus, the right response is to do nothing and wait! These “conservation” efforts have largely failed to protect corals, and large-scale active restoration will be needed.
Read the rest of this article in 2014 Issue 2 Volume 131 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Scuba diving can open up a world of freedom of movement for people who might have physical challenges (Photo courtesy of Peter Wilson)
DAN AP Member Peter Wilson has endured huge challenges over the past decade, having nearly lost his life and being told by doctors he would be unlikely to walk again. Then he discovered scuba diving and felt extremely free in the water. Inspired, Peter is working to share a scuba diving experience with other people that are physically impaired.
In 2007, life as Peter Wilson knew it changed forever, when he lost control of his motorbike and was run over by a car. At aged 27, married and a father of two children, he was given a 20-percent chance of survival. Peter passed the critical survival stage and was told to prepare for the fact he may never walk again. Peter refused to believe this and within 12 months of the accident was walking again, not perfectly, but proving the doctors wrong.
Some two years later, Peter was getting on with his new life, when he came across a full set of scuba gear for sale. This triggered a memory of diving when he was much younger and how a career in scuba diving was always top of his list. So he purchased the set, and then quickly discovered he couldn’t use any of it because it was 30 years old.
After being told by the first dive operator he approached that he would be a burden to other students buddied up with him, and that he shouldn’t learn to dive because of his physical injuries, he obtained medical clearance and found a dive operator that was completely understanding of his needs and welcomed him. Peter says: “I quickly caught the diving bug and was soon an Advanced Open Water Diver and ticking off my specialties as fast as I could afford them. I currently hold six specialties and a Master Scuba Diver certification. When I first got involved in diving, I had no idea how much it would help with my long-term recovery.”
Scuba diving can open up a world of freedom of movement for people who might have physical challenges (Photo courtesy of Peter Wilson)
NEW POSSIBILITIES – CONTROLLED SCUBA EXPERIENCE WITH IMMERSION THERAPY
In 2015, having been in the same industry for 16 years, Peter resigned to explore how he could introduce other people to a controlled diving experience that was focused on the therapeutic benefits of being weightless, as opposed to open water diving: “I was also driven by the memory of how badly I was treated, and wondered how many other people with physical impairments were missing out because they were so disheartened by how they were treated. I thought it would be amazing to create a programme that could be part of a person’s therapy and rehabilitation. Diving had given me so much in so many ways; I had become strong where I was once weak; I had joy where once there was sadness; I had many friends where once I had few. I wanted to take all those benefits and bundle them up so I could share them with the world.”
ENTER DR DAVID WILKINSON
From this desire, Controlled SCUBA Experience was born. Peter approached Dr David Wilkinson, Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Director of the DAN Divers Emergency Service (Ed Note: Dr Wilkinson is also a DAN AP Board Member).
“In a first meeting with Dr Wilkinson, I was joined by 21-year old Ben Everson who is a C4–C5 complete quadriplegic who wanted to use scuba. Ben was keen to learn to dive and was prepared to participate in all the trials during the programme’s development.
Immersion therapy is being recognised as a valuable rehabilitation tool (Photo courtesy of Peter Wilson)
It was during the trials that the Immersion Therapy programme was born, which utilises scuba equipment in a controlled environment to give people living with a disability or significant injury a feeling of weightlessness to increase their activity and well-being. The programme was developed to allow special consideration towards those who may not necessarily meet existing diving medical restrictions, and would be excluded from scuba diving.
“Since our first trials we have held sessions with people with a range of disabilities and Dr Wilkinson has been there to guide us throughout the journey, creating a checklist for participants to complete and has been heavily involved in the assessment of each and every person within the Immersion Therapy programme. He hopes to produce key standards specific to the Controlled SCUBA Experience, and especially the Immersion Therapy programme, allowing others to assess those who previously couldn’t be assessed. Safety is our first priority, and every precaution has been taken to understand the needs of our clients.”
The programme has received support from various government departments, even gaining recognition as a form of rehabilitation from Return to Work South Australia. The Immersion Therapy programme is now an approved and registered provider, meaning injured workers are able to use Peter’s specialised programme as part of their recovery/treatment plan (Ed Note: It’s important to mention that the service is offered at no out of pocket cost to anyone living with a disability and the programme relies on support from the community as many clients don’t have access to mainstream funding like Return to Work SA.)
Many of the participants will never be able to become fully certified divers, but many have recorded a gain in strength and an improvement in their general well-being through the social aspect of the programme.
Read the rest of this article in No. 88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The extent of the most recent global coral bleaching event cannot be underestimated (Photo by The Reef-World Foundation)
WHATEVER KIND OF diver you are, you’ll know that your next great dive depends on healthy coral reefs. Coral reefs are the world’s bustling underwater cities. Home to at least one quarter of all marine life in the ocean they generate USD 300–400 billion each year from tourism, fisheries and coastal protection. If you’re a seasoned diver you’ll also know that coral reefs are dying faster than ever before. In the last 30 years we’ve lost half of our corals globally and, in 2016, a single bleaching event killed off 20 percent of coral on the Great Barrier Reef.
Divers have been witnessing mass bleaching events for decades across reefs in the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. These events have become more frequent and more devastating in recent years as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Scientists predict that the resulting sea temperature rise will soon cause severe annual bleaching events. It takes at least five years, but usually much longer, for a reef to recover from a single bleaching event. Frequent and severe bleaching will inevitably cause major changes to the reef environment we know and love. Unless we take action now, we could lose most of our reefs to the impacts of climate change by 2050.
THE WINNERS AND LOSERS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
But where do you start when the world is covered with over 294,000 square kilometres of coral reef? Cutting-edge research from UN Environment has recently determined that some reefs will not start experiencing severe annual bleaching events until years, or even several decades, after others. These are the winners of global climate change and are known by scientists as “climate refugia”. To predict the time when corals are most likely to be affected, scientists use Degree Heating Weeks. This is a measure of the intensity and duration of a warming sea. Widespread bleaching and coral mortality is expected to occur when the scale reaches 8 Degree Heating Weeks. This represents eight weeks of ocean warming that is at least one degree Celsius above the seasonal average.
A diver dwarfed by the sardines at Pescador Island in the Philippines (Photo by The Reef-World Foundation)
Many popular diving destinations across Southeast Asia have already been divided up into climate winners and losers based on the world’s current greenhouse gas emissions. Picture the central Philippines, for example; Moalboal is famous for submerging curious divers in enormous schools of sardines around Pescador Island. Under current climate projections, Moalboal will experience mass bleaching events, at least 10 times a decade from 2033. Just under 200 kilometres north however, the thresher shark diving hotspot of Malapascua, isn’t expected to experience this until 2050.
BATTLE THE BLEACHING
In 2016, the hottest year on record for the third year in a row, the global community listened to science and decided to invest in the future. One hundred and ninety-six nations signed the Paris Agreement and pledged to pursue concrete efforts to keep the warming of the Earth’s temperature well below two degrees Celsius. Already at +0.99 degrees Celsius, however, if current trends continue and the world fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, then severe bleaching will occur every year on 99 percent of the world’s reefs within the century.
By following best practices, divers can ensure that their dives have minimal negative impact on delicate reef ecosystems (Photo by The Reef-World Foundation)
Finally, diplomats, scientists and politicians have agreed to fight global climate change. But the charge doesn’t rest solely on their shoulders. We can all do our part to protect the Earth and its precious coral reefs from rising sea temperatures and coral bleaching.
WHAT CAN DIVERS DO?
Divers have a powerful connection with the ocean and are in one of the strongest positions to combat bleaching. They are in the water every day, noticing even the subtlest of changes to a reef. The Green Fins initiative recognises that unique connection and gives divers clear ways they can channel their strength for maximum effect. Dive and snorkel centres that sign up for Green Fins membership pledge to align their business practices to a set of environmentally friendly standards, known as the Green Fins Code of Conduct. These standards range from ensuring divers do not touch or harass marine life, to responsibly disposing of used oil. Centres strive to do everything within their power to remove the added stress of marine tourism so that corals remain strong enough to fend off bleaching.
A project now underway in the Philippines aims to focus Green Fins expansion to reefs that have been identified as climate refugia, the winners of global climate change. By prioritising conservation and management efforts on these reefs, efforts are focused on areas that may still have time to adapt to our warming seas. By adopting the Green Fins ethos, the diving community can take real action to fight coral bleaching. Dive operators can use the climate change projections to understand their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and, where necessary, plan other actions that will reduce their vulnerability, for example, explore business strategies that use, as well as ensure protection of, climate refugia.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 1 Volume 144 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Coastal communities in the Pacific rely heavily on the oceans' natural resources (Photo by Luke Gordon)
IN RECENT YEARS, it has become increasingly clear that small island communities and nations are amongst the first global communities to be affected by the current changing climate. Small coastal communities across the Indo-Pacific have, for generations, relied heavily upon natural resources and the traditional management of those resources as a successful means of survival on their island homes.
This, however, is changing. For coastal communities in the Indo-Pacific, marine resource management is becoming an ever more critical task, with climatic changes such as ocean acidification and rising sea surface temperatures as well as anthropogenic effects such as overfishing and nutrient loading. The future is uncertain for both marine ecosystems and the local human communities they support.
IMPROVING THE CHANCES
In regards to coral reef ecosystems and their associated biomes such as mangrove forests and seagrass beds, one component has been identified by researchers that greatly improves survival chances in the face of climate change – resilience.
Research over the last decade has proven that areas with so-called “high resilience” have a much higher chance of recovery after bleaching events and other climatic stressors such as those mentioned above. To use a real-world example, in 1998 a large and incredibly severe bleaching event affected reef systems across the Indian Ocean. Locations like the Maldives and the Seychelles lost more than 90 percent of live coral cover, a huge percentage.
However, from research conducted in the Seychelles from 1994 onwards at 21 coral reef sites, it was seen that 12 recovered close to pre-disturbance live coral states, an encouraging statistic (Graham N.A.J. et al. 2015). These 12 reefs all had one thing in common – a high level of resilience. Nine of these sites, however, went through what is known as a regime shift to an algal dominated system rather than coral, leading to a substantial decrease in biomass and diversity – the resilience of these systems was low.
Communities in Fiji are leveraging traditional resource management techniques to allow commercially important species to thrive (Photo by Luke Gordon)
WHAT IS RESILIENCE?
Resilience is seen as a measure of ecosystem complexity – an ecosystem displaying high levels of diversity, structural complexity and abundance of keystone species. Resilience hinges on a number of factors, but by far the largest is the effect that humans can have on a system.
Overfishing and nutrient loading are both examples of how resilience of a system is greatly reduced. The removal of herbivorous fish in large numbers, for example, or a large amount of sediment runoff from agriculture, can both lead to a reduction in resilience of that particular system. If resilience falls at a certain locale, the system could end up sharing the same fate as those nine reefs in the Seychelles; now dominated by algae, they are far less productive than their coral dominated cousins. This kind of shift could be the determining factor in the survival of coastal communities across the tropical Indo-Pacific.
BUILDING RESILIENCE
For communities to continue to thrive and ultimately survive in locations such as the Fiji Islands, a change in approaches to resource management is needed. And that is exactly what certain communities, NGO’s and governmental organisations are trying to achieve there.
Small island nations are no strangers to resource management. In Fiji for example the word tabu (pronounced “tam-bu”) is used for an area of traditional fishing ground which is protected. It is a very similar concept to the marine protected areas (MPAs) of today. Traditionally a tabu would be created after the death of a chief and would stand as a tabu area for 100 days. After 100 days has passed, the community would harvest the area and feast in memory of their lost leader.
The idea of protecting a natural resource and then reaping the rewards are engrained in the culture. However, traditional methods of just protecting one area of coastal fishing grounds has needed to evolve. Data now shows that this “traditional MPA” framework, the tabu, does not result in higher resilience, but by adapting management techniques, that can be changed.
Fiji’s inhabitants are being empowered to increase the resilience of their marine environments, by also protecting land-based areas (Photo by Luke Gordon)
PROTECTING RIDGE-TO-REEF
“Community-based adaptive management” is a phrase which has gained much momentum over the last decade. By working with NGOs and governmental organisations, communities are now implementing “adaptive management” strategies in a “ridge-to-reef” approach.
This approach goes a step further than just managing one small traditional area of fishing ground. These new management areas incorporate as many different productive ecosystems as possible. The usual productive coral reef area is now accompanied by mangrove forests and seagrass beds, allowing commercially valuable species to successfully complete their life cycles, as many utilise all three habitats.
Resilient reefs allow communities to reap the rewards (Photo by Luke Gordon)
This approach also encourages communities to manage land-based areas, to alleviate pressures such as nutrient runoff and sediment loading, preserving and increasing resilience.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 1 Volume 144 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The sun has not set on the esoteric traditions surrounding boat building in Sulawesi, Indonesia
FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, standing at the bow of a wooden schooner, scanning the 360-degree horizon, and seeing nothing but ocean, gives you that feeling of belonging to another time – a time when all the possibilities of the unknown were too great and wondrous to imagine. But few may realise that, in Indonesia at least, the very boat they are sailing in has likely been constructed using techniques handed down from another time…
Indonesia not only has one of the world’s richest cultures, underpinned by animist beliefs and thus imbued with daily reverence and communication with worlds beyond our normal perception, but it also has one of the most booming sail industries in the world: The country’s iconic phinisi schooner is undoubtedly the poster child for the liveaboard industry across the nation. When we dig a little deeper into this industry we unearth a fascinating culture and set of rituals that are entwined in the romance of these elegant vessels.
HISTORY AND COMMUNITY
Often mistakenly referred to as Bugis tradition, the boat-building techniques originated with a group of peoples called the Konjo. Primarily originating from a town called Ara in South Sulawesi, the Konjo people took their techniques to Kalimantan, as the pursuit of different quality wood became more essential. Nowadays, a strong boat-building culture exists in both locations.
Boat-building traditions are still handed down through the generations (Photo by Ricard Buxo)
The phinisi style itself is a copy of Dutch ship construction, using some Asian building techniques – an amalgamation of the two styles. They were originally used as Indonesian cargo boats. In this style they laid the keel first before adding the ribs, which is the opposite of the European style. The early pioneers who saw the potential of building the boats for passengers adapted the plans and build style to preserve the charm and character of the phinisi’s appearance, whilst applying their knowledge of comfort and safety to meet the requirements of a diving boat.
Normally the build process consists of two groups – the builders and the sailors. You first will order the boat with the builder, who will bring wood and staff and build the hull. They will then pass over to the sailors who are responsible for cauking, mast, rigging and sail making.
The art, culture and rituals are passed down from father to son. Often the boat builders have not even been on a boat at sea. They may not even understand why they are building things in such a way; they only understand the technique needed to arrive at the finished vessel. In fact, up until recent years, the Konjo people were forbidden by the elders to make any trips even within Indonesia on the boats that they had built, for fear that they would not return and their boat building heritage would be lost. And what a heritage it is, involving ceremony, a specific language, and a respect for superstition…
1 KEEL CEREMONY
The first part of any build would be to head into the forest and find the tree that could make the keel. In the Konjo language the name of the keel literally translates as “soul of the boat”. When selected, the boat builders will spend one day with the tree to ask its permission to be cut down. They will place all their tools against the tree. If the tools stayed in place for 24 hours, the tree has granted permission. If one falls, they have to go and find a new tree and repeat the process.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 3 Volume 142 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Darwin’s Arch, just off Darwin Island, is one of the most distinctive geological features in the Galápagos Islands. In the waters around this dramatic structure, divers can meet hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays, tuna, whale sharks and other megafauna. (Photo by Daniel Norwood)
Diving the best destinations in the world often requires adventure-seekers to embark upon long journeys to remote and distant locations. Their reward for travelling off the beaten track? Rare underwater encounters and unspoiled dive sites. In this regard, nowhere can compare to the Galápagos.
The nearest land mass to this famous archipelago of volcanic islands is the coast of Ecuador, some 800 kilometres away. Their isolated location in the eastern Pacific is also a meeting point for three different bodies of water. Over thousands of years, the Cromwell, Humbolt and Panama currents and their prevailing winds delivered an incredible diversity of life to the islands of the Galápagos, and it is this abundance of animals both on land and underwater that makes the diving here so special.
Nutrient rich upwellings from Antarctica meet warmer water from the north, resulting in the only place in the world where tropical fish can be seen alongside temperate water species. Many of these inhabitants are residents that can be encountered year round, including a variety of endemic animals that are a huge draw for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.
Scuba divers get to see the best of both worlds by combining land tours with underwater activities. While it is possible to dive in the Galápagos while being land based the only way to experience the best sites is to join a liveaboard.
These trips depart from San Cristobal, the busiest and most populated of the islands; simply arriving at the airport makes one feel they have just stepped straight into an episode of Planet Earth. Huge images of marine life cover every wall and after a short bus ride to the nearby marina visitors are greeted by a large group of rather noisy and smelly sea lions.
Mola mola ascend from the cold depths to be cleaned by little wrasse and other parasite-eaters (Photo by Daniel Norwood)
Most liveaboard itineraries begin in the southern island chain in the waters surrounding Fernandina and Isabela. The water temperature can be a surprise to people used to diving in the tropics, yet it allows encounters with a variety of marine animals that they will not find anywhere else.
Puppy-like seals offer divers unforgettable encounters (Photo by Daniel Norwood)
Sea lions that move so sluggishly on land suddenly become impossible to keep up with underwater, frustrating underwater photographers while delighting other divers. Those willing to go deep and brave the chilling thermoclines at Punta Vincent Roca stand a good chance of coming face to face with huge Mola molas. It’s not just the big stuff either. Frogfish, seahorses and batfish can all be found on the reefs if you can take your eyes off the blue and go into macro mode.
What makes this place really special though are two native species not found anywhere else on the planet. The Galápagos penguin is the only one of its kind that lives north of the equator and is able to survive only where the water is coldest. It is strange to see an animal normally associated with ice and snow standing around in the sun and lucky divers may even encounter one underwater as they take a dip to cool down.
Even more impressive is the marine iguana. Volcanic islands cannot normally sustain large populations of reptiles but evolution had other plans here and these lizards have learnt to dive for food. Nothing can really prepare you for swimming among these creatures as they hold their breath, dive down and munch on clumps of algae.
Mini “Godzillas”, marine iguanas are some of the most iconic inhabitants of the Galápagos (Photo by Daniel Norwood)
As if this multitude of life was not enough, the real reason most divers come to the Galápagos is to encounter other travellers, migratory pelagic species such as turtles, whales and sharks. These visitors are found further north at the iconic dive sites of Darwin and Wolf. The water is warmer here and at the right time of year it is possible to see huge groups of hammerheads and other sharks. Schools of jacks, barracudas, snappers and other fish provide a reliable food source that sustains these populations. Manta and mobula rays are common too and recently pods of orcas have been spotted actively hunting in the area.
Photo by Daniel Norwood
Scalloped hammerheads are present year round but numbers vary. These sharks migrate long distances and individuals tagged in the Galápagos have been recorded as far away as Cocos Island in Costa Rica. This data supports the theory that a shark corridor exists, linking oceanic seamounts in the eastern Pacific; an important consideration in the future protection of the species. Watching any number of hammerheads swim by is an impressive sight but anyone hoping to see numbers in the hundreds should try and visit between June and November.
Read the rest of this article in No.88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Blue sharks are elegant and curious, often coming in close to check divers out (Photo by Daniel Norwood)
Blue sharks are nomadic animals, have an extremely widespread distribution and can be found in both temperate and tropical waters. Perfectly designed to cover great distances, their long pectoral and tail fins and slender body help them to make lengthy migrations to reach areas of dense food resources and find potential mates.
Tagging studies have revealed these sharks commonly travel distances of up to 2,700 kilometres, and it is thought they use open ocean currents to conserve energy and follow a clockwise pattern around the Atlantic Ocean.
Fortunately for British wildlife enthusiasts, this route brings these beautiful sharks close to the southwest coast of England during the summer months, where local diver and photographer Charles Hood runs regular day trips for those interested in swimming with them.
Having travelled to many different destinations to photograph sharks, I was delighted to discover last year that blue sharks can be reliably encountered in the UK and made immediate arrangements to charter Charles’ boat during some peak season August dates. I had been advised to keep an eye on the noxiously unpredictable weather in the days leading up to our departure, for it can make or break the trip. Too much wind can cause problems getting to the site but luckily that day the sun was shining and the ocean was calm. After making our way offshore and putting bait in the water, we just had to wait and hope that a passing shark picked up the scent.
Minutes turned to hours as lunchtime passed and most of the group had given up hope when suddenly a small but distinctive dorsal fin broke the surface and made a beeline straight for the bait. As we frantically kitted up after hours of inactivity, more sharks arrived to investigate and we soon had three beautiful blues circling the boat.
Once the sharks arrive, all of the action is at the surface, so all that is required to swim with them is a mask and snorkel. Cautiously we slipped into the water, trying our best not to spook the sharks after waiting so long for them to show up.
Blue sharks have no problem sharing the water with divers, and make excellent photo subjects (Photos by Daniel Norwood)
I had imagined they would be a little skittish at first and keep their distance so was surprised when they immediately came within a few feet of my camera, taking particular interest in my strobes. It turns out that the blue sharks, is a very cooperative photo subject! As well as trying to capture nice pictures of the sharks I also made a conscious effort to look away from the viewfinder sometimes and watch them without the distraction of the camera.
I find it fascinating to see how different animals react to you entering their world, and blue sharks have no problem sharing the water with divers. After nearly three hours swimming with up to five different sharks, it was sadly time to pull out the bait and head back to shore.
As I watched the last of the sharks disappear below, I took a moment to reflect on the day’s events. I had just experienced one of the most exciting wildlife encounters of my life and it had happened right here in my own backyard!
Read the rest of this article in No.88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Predators gather in huge numbers, travelling from far and wide to feast on the sardines (Photo by Steve woods)
Port St. Johns, South Africa. There’s a reason why it’s called “The Wild Coast”. This year Shark Guardian and a team of diving enthusiasts, explorers and photographers travelled from around the world to be in this place, at this particular time in June. Each year from June to July a large migration of sardines make their way up north along the eastern coastline of South Africa, bringing with them several species of sharks, dolphins, whales, birds and so much more, all at the same time. This is the greatest diving event anywhere in the world!
After arriving in Durban international airport, we made our way one hour south to a town called Scottburgh. We spent the first three days diving the famous local reef, Aliwal Shoal. This was planned for the team to get accustomed to local diving procedures, including the white-knuckle launches through the surf – an integral part of the African diving adventure.
Aliwal Shoal lies within a marine protected area on the inner edge of the Mozambican current. The shoal is one-and-a-half kilometres wide, five kilometres long and approximately four kilometres offshore from Scottburgh. It was formed when sand and other deposits were washed into the ocean from sand dunes in the area; over time they formed a compound that laid the foundation of this sandstone reef. This dune rock structure was later submerged and was colonised by a variety of different types of coral.
The highlight of diving Aliwal shoal was many close encounters with grey nurse sharks also know locally as “raggies”. As many as 15 raggies can be seen hanging around Aliwal’s caves and overhangs. The reef is also home to other sharks such as blacktips, hammerheads, tiger and bull sharks, as well as many other types of marine life from large to small. Diving Aliwal is not just a warm up to the sardine run; it’s a great introduction to the awesome diving South Africa has to offer. It’s a must!
On their way up to the warmer waters in the Indian Ocean, the sardines must run the gauntlet of hungry cetaceans (Photo by Steve Woods)
On the fourth day we made the five-hour road trip further south to Port St. John, the gateway to the Wild Coast and home of the famous sardine run. Our base for the next six days was located on the banks of the Mzimvubu River with beautiful rocky cliffs leaving no question that you are indeed in Africa.
Day one of the run – it’s early and still dark. We head for breakfast and then march down to the riverbank to gear up and get ready to launch the boat from the river. A short ride from the lodge and we exit the canyon with the sunrise welcoming us to the Wild Coast and immediately the skipper shouts, “Whales!” In the distance, humpbacks. What a start!
Shortly we are surrounded by hundreds of dolphins, from the boat to the horizon; it is impossible to count them. During the six days, three different dolphin species were seen along with numerous species of birds including albatross and gannets. Several species of sharks were always found hanging around the end of these dolphin schools just waiting for the possible baitball action. The highlight was snorkelling just a few metres from a juvenile humpback whale as her mother swam somewhere in the mysterious waters below.
Some of the oceans’ largest creatures arrive for the banquet, like this humpback whale (Photo by Steve Woods)
The statistical possibility of actually being in the water and witnessing the baitball with dolphins and sharks, as seen on the amazing BBC footage, is only around 30 percent according to the dive operators in the area. Not bad odds considering this is Nature and you take what you can get. Even if you don’t get to see the full baitball show of sharks and dolphins, you will still see all these amazing animals one way or another. The baitball action is happening, but you have to be in the right place at the right time along the 50 kilometres plus of coastline. Some days we definitely had dolphins in their thousands. We had baitballs with birds enjoying a feeding frenzy; the dolphins were just not there at that time! But we had such a range of animal life every single day both above and below the water that this really was an ocean wildlife safari that everyone needs to witness.
Following this expedition, global eShark project from eOceans, led by scientist Dr Christine Ward Paige, is now live in South Africa. Shark Guardian implemented the project with Shark Guardian Dive Center Crystal Dive in Scottburgh and Pro Dive, which led the group for the sardine run. Christine is excited to have her project spread to yet another country by the team and looks forward to the data that can now be collected to help the management of shark and other marine life populations.
The sardine run will become an annual expedition for Shark Guardian, linking shark diving with research and educational opportunities for groups to learn more about sharks and marine life.
Find out more about all Shark Guardian expeditions at www.sharkguardian.org. SDAA
Read the rest of this article in No.88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
6. A silver tip shark, Carcharhinus albimarginatus, cruising the reefs (Photo by Michele Westmoorland)
Land and seascapes that put the “wild” in wilderness; diving in eastern Papua New Guinea is about being immersed in mystique, and surrounded by all creatures great and small.
As you approach from the air, clouds drape over the spine of the Owen Stanley Mountain Range, obscuring bits and pieces of the lush forests. Green fingers of land stretch out into the alluring waters of the Solomon Sea. Suddenly, there on a bluff is the beautiful Tufi Resort. The short flight is only one hour from the capital, Port Moresby, but the landscape could not feel further removed. Landing among this backdrop gets the excitement flowing for all the spectacular diving to come.
I have been to Papua New Guinea almost 30 times and never tire of the adventures that await me. In addition to the diving, the chance to see my wantoks (friends) in the surrounding villages makes visiting this location all the more special. Those who choose to come to Tufi for the very first time will discover experiences that will remain in their memory forever. The cultural interactions are rich, the landscape is breathtaking, and the marine life is incredibly diverse. Divers here are spoilt for choice.
A calm Solomon Sea allows access to the outer reefs where pelagic creatures play. Sharks cruise the dive sites and for lucky divers, a rare white hammerhead occasionally appears. The Tufi area is also so full of unexplored wrecks and reefs that it is one of the few places where new discoveries and first dives (maybe with your name on it) can be made. For now, here is just a taste of some of the highlights of Tufi’s diving…
2. Ornate ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus (Photo by Michele Westmoorland)
The HOUSE REEF rivals some of the best muck diving in the world: mandarinfish in the rubble, and, below the dock, ghost pipefish, crabs, shrimp, nudibranchs and numerous other strange little creatures. Along the wall and away from the “muck”, an unusually marked species of percula clownfish can be found. The site is also a baby cuttlefish nursery, and these mini cephalopods can be spotted hiding amongst the corals.
3. A pair of mandarinfish, Synchiropus splendidus, members of the dragonet family (Photo by Michele Westmoorland)
4. A thriving garden of scroll coral, Turbinaria reiniforms (Photo by Michele Westmoorland)
CYCLONE REEF is actually a small island that was formed from broken coral. As the name suggests, it was formed during a cyclone that hit the area in 1972. Today, it is a breeding ground for a variety of seabirds and a great mooring spot for a dive boat. The area has three distinct dive locations: Cyclone Bommie, Cyclone Wall and Cyclone Reef Outer Wall. Walls, overhangs and swim-throughs harbour everything from rare rhinopias to schooling fish. If you are willing to take your eye away from the blue and the chance of seeing pelagics passing by, scores of nudibranch species and other tiny creatures can be found in the cracks and crevices.
5. Spine-cheeked anemone fish, Premnas biaculeatus (Photo by Michele Westmoorland)
Only discovered about a year ago, HONEYMOON REEF was one of the more memorable dives I have made. It started at the wall and I was initially unimpressed until we got a bit shallower. An incredible field of cabbage coral appeared in absolute splendour. Mixed into the healthy expanse were plenty of Acropora corals, clams and brilliant orange anemones with large spine-cheek clownfish interspersed. The beauty of Honeymoon Reef is unmatched. It makes me wonder about new reefs that will be discovered nearby in the future and fuels my desire to return to Tufi once again.
6. A silver tip shark, Carcharhinus albimarginatus, cruising the reefs (Photo by Michele Westmoorland)7. Schooling big eyes, Priacanthus hamrur (Photo by Michele Westmoorland)
MULLOWAY’S REEF is the resort’s most famous. At depth, we experienced not only great numbers of batfish and barracuda but also a ball of brilliant red bigeyes. This was a photo I could not leave without. Some of the best visibility in the area comes from the upwelling ocean current. It brings bountiful food for the thousands of fish, which, in turn, draw in the predators. Time was short at 33 metres but we managed to catch a glimpse of the great hammerhead that frequently cruises the wall.
There are historic wrecks too of course, the most famous being BLACK JACK BOMBER. It is for skilled divers only and although I personally have the credentials and number of dives to consider it, it still remains on my diving bucket list.
When the weather is wet and the wind is blowing, I’ve also found diving the shallow reefs in the FJORD AREAS to be fascinating. The fjords are excellent for macro diving with gobies, nudibranchs, shrimp and clams. These animals can be seen while diving, but conditions are also ideal for snorkelling. Because there is very little current movement in the fjords, many sponges and coral species grow prolifically and there are some very large sponges and shelf corals that are not common on the outer reefs.
IMMERSED IN A TIMELESS CULTURE
I truly believe you cannot go to Tufi without learning about the people and culture. It can be experienced from the resort or you can choose to spend a day or so in one of the village guesthouses. For those who want a more hardcore adventure experience, try a trek on the Kokoda Trail. This is not for the faint of heart and training is necessary to complete it. Kokoda has significant World War II history and is deeply cherished by the Australian community. Anyone who completes it may walk away exhausted from the journey but with a sense of pride in completing the trek.
NAVIGATOR
Getting there: You can fly into Port Moresby with Air Niugini, Virgin Australia and Qantas. Flights leave Port Moresby three times a week. Tufi Resort can book these for you at great rates.
Best time to dive: Late October to May, when the average water temperature is 29-31Celsius and the visibility is 40 to 50 metres.
Equipment and training: An open water certification.
For more information: Tourist visa on arrival is an option for most nationalities. Check with your local embassy or visit www.immigration.gov.pg/visa/visa-all.html.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 7/2014, AA No.80 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
When the 16th-century Portuguese sailors sailed past Taiwan, they exclaimed, “Ilha Formosa!” or, “Beautiful island!” Little did they know that the most alluring part of Taiwan actually lay underwater, right beneath their ships.
In the summer of 2014, Ben Sarinda and I were invited to Taiwan by Fun-in Underwater Photographic Equipment Co. Ltd. on a recce trip for a possible future return with Ned and Anna DeLoach. We were fortunate to be able to dive the northeast coast, Green Island and Kenting.
The local Taiwanese divers are a tough lot. Diving here is an intrepid activity, and normally involves staying at a local home-stay, driving your own gear and rented tanks to your site of choice, climbing down a small cliff, and walking through tricky rocks or dead corals into the water. Nevertheless, boat dives and other added services are indeed available in Taiwan too – they just come with hefty additional charges.
1. Shrimp, Alcyonohippolyte dossena, in soft coral 2. An as yet undescribed species of Janolus, Janolus sp. 3. Red colour variation of the nudibranch Favorinus tsuruganus 4. Dwarf sea hare, Aplysia parvula 5. Unidentified species of shrimp with eggs 6. Juvenile Phyllodesmium koehleriwith 7. High-hat triplefin, Enneapterygius tutuilae 8. Undescribed goby, Trimmatom sp. 9. Unidentified crab in jellyfish10. The ancient Porites bommie at The Big Mushroom, Green Island
NORTHEAST COAST
At dive site 82.5, we followed our Taiwanese friends down a simple stainless steel ladder and walked through big boulders before we reached a seaweed-covered bay. But, just a short swim out and we were in nudibranch paradise! Searching the muck revealed nudibranchs of many different genera, including Ceratosoma, Cuthona, Dermatobranchus, Gymnodoris, and Trapania. I was also shown a Doto species that is common here, but still undescribed by science.
Just as intriguing were commensal crabs that played hide-and-seek in their large jellyfish host that drifted by, and a resident blenny that gave a super star-quality jack-in-the-box performance in front of my camera.
Our good friend Perry Guo offered us his boat to dive Secret Garden, a site that is challenging and potentially dangerous to access from the shore. Although the water can reach a comfortable 26 degrees Celsius on the northeast coast in the summer, we were shocked to see our computers reading only 19 during this dive!
But we were off to Green Island and Kenting, which, lying in the path of the warmer “Black Tide”, offer quite different diving experiences.
GREEN ISLAND
Green Island’s most famous dive site, The Big Mushroom, is marked by an immense Porites bommie of more than 1,000 years old. Even though it was an overcast day and the seas were choppy, we still enjoyed an incredible 50 metres of visibility underwater!
Our dive operator Vincent Yu of Airfish Diving Center not only knew all the critters by their Latin names, but had also undertaken many exploratory dives on the island. Ask him about anything on your wish list, and he will know where on the island it can be found. Coral spawning? No problem: Vincent has the spawning dates of each coral species at his fingertips too!
For more nudibranchs, Vincent took us to Blue Hole, followed by a night dive at Hot Spring Harbour. It was nudibranch galore at both places! Of the many beautiful nudibranchs we saw, quite a number were still undescribed.
Most of the dive sites on Green Island are accessible from the shore, and most are home to three species of pygmy seahorses: Hippocampus pontohi, H. severnsi, and H. colemani. H. colemani was first spotted in the summer of 2007, and by the famous actress Qian-Lian Wu. A recent study by experts at Kenting’s National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium also revealed that this might well be a totally different species from the Australian variety that we are familiar with.
NAVIGATOR
Getting there: Many airlines have regular international flights into Taiwan with airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Jetstar, Garuda, United, and Singapore Airlines.
Once in Taipei: Northeast Coast: Best to drive. You will need the car to transport your rented tanks and gear to the dive sites.
Green Island: Take a train from Taipei to TaiDong. Taxis from train station will bring you to TaiDong’s FuGang harbor, where you can catch an one-hour ferry to Green Island. There are also three 20-minute flights a day from TaiDong Airport to Green Island’s small airport.
Kenting: From Kaohsiung, there are buses to Kenting from Zuoying High Speed Rail Station, Kaohsiung airport, and the train station. At the train station, there are also shared taxis and minivans bound
for Kenting.
Best time to dive: Year round in Green Island and Kenting, but summer is the best time to dive the northeast coast.
Essential training: Open water and up.
For more information: Note that on Green Island only the larger hotels on the island accept credit cards. A single ATM machine at the Post Office across the street from 7-Eleven, doesn’t take foreign bank cards, so be sure to bring plenty of cash. Visit www.immigration.gov.tw.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 7/2014, AA No.80 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Andreas Klocker
gets up close with
species he never
expected to find here (Photo by James Parkinson)
WHEN YOU TALK to divers from all over the world about dive sites in Australia, they will most likely start a conversation about the Great Barrier Reef, and in very rare circumstances, if you’re lucky, they might mention Tasmania’s east coast. And talk to a local Tasmanian diver about their favourite dive sites, and you will probably get into a conversation about the best sites to catch crayfish or abalone (if they trust you), or you might hear about disappearing kelp forests and the best spots to observe weedy seadragons. But what you will hardly ever hear about are the mysteries of reefs that line Tasmania’s coast below depths accessible to recreational divers…
The reason for this is quite simple – there are maybe a handful of rebreather divers in the state, there is hardly any trimix available unless you mix your own, and the weather is, shall we say, “highly variable”. As a consequence, apart from a handful of dives to the famous wreck of the iron steamship Tasman in 70 metres, the ocean around Tasmania below 60 metres has only been sporadically visited by autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) used for marine science, which generally just bring back poor quality video footage. A mostly “undiscovered” underwater world… what better excuse is there to go for a deep dive and have a look?
Filefish hide among huge colonies of black coral (Photo by James Parkinson)
PLOTTING AN ADVENTURE
Luckily my dive buddy James Parkinson’s friend Neville Barrett, who works as a scientist on the biodiversity and ecology of local reef systems, is heavily involved in producing high-resolution maps of ocean bathymetry around the Tasmanian coast. Using these maps we put together a list of several interesting locations we’d like to dive, including some potential reefs extending from the shallows to more than 100 metres.
With this “wish list of dive sites”, now we just had to be patient and wait for the right conditions to head out onto the water – something easier said than done when you live in Tasmania with the Southern Ocean just around the corner.
Technical divers like James and Andreas are at the forefront of ocean exploration, discovering ecosystems that have never before been visited by humans (Photo by James Parkinson)
So, most weekends we get our rebreathers ready, fill scrubbers, top up oxygen and diluent tanks, check bailout tanks, drive the club boat to the boat ramp, and hope that the weather gods are feeling generous.
Nevertheless, more often than not the weather gods are instead way too excitable, and throw everything they’ve got at us, forcing us to go with Plan B and dive somewhere closer to shore and sheltered by Tasmania’s famous sea cliffs.
But sometimes you can get lucky – really lucky – like the day we planned to head around 10 kilometres offshore from Bicheno on Tasmania’s east coast, to dive a place known to fishermen as “Joe’s Reef”.
From Neville’s high-resolution bathymetry maps we knew that the reef was about 200 metres in length, and comes up from a sandy bottom at around 80 metres, to 58 metres at its shallowest point.
The AUV footage from this reef is quite poor, but it looked like there was some interesting life around. In addition, this site is well known to fishermen, which is generally a good sign. Before the allocated weekend, we topped up the oxygen and 16/50 trimix in our rebreathers, checked the state of our bailout tanks (we both carry two 11-litre tanks, one with trimix and one with 50-percent nitrox) and made a dive plan for a bottom time of 25 minutes and a runtime of 75 minutes.
THE GODS ARE SMILING
On the day of the dive we were woken up by great weather, and looking out towards the open ocean we could see that the ocean surface was amazingly calm. Full of optimism, we put the club boat into the water and headed towards the GPS coordinates of Joe’s Reef.
The deeper you get in Tasmania’s waters, the more abundant and colourful life becomes (Photo by James Parkinson)
Once at the site we dropped the shot line, which landed as planned on the shallowest spot at about 58 metres, and deployed the decompression bar next to it. Finally, it was time to jump into the blue and find out what lies in Tasmania’s deeper waters. This was going to be James’ and my first dive in Tasmania to those depths, and we really knew very little about what to expect. The only thing we did know was that on most of the local dives we had done recently, the local reef life becomes much more colourful and exciting the deeper you go (and, thanks to the helium, it wasn’t just the narcosis!).
Once in the water we dropped along the shot line, with visibility improving as we went. As we approached the bottom what we saw can only be described as an overdose of goodness!
THE GARDEN
The first thing we realised was that we had landed in a garden full of black corals, some more than a metre tall, sparkling with their amazing bright white colour (the name black coral comes from their dark central skeleton as I learned later, but their living tissue can be a range of colours).
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 2 Volume 146 of Asia Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Manta and mobula rays are fascinating and captivating creatures. Giants of their kind, they range throughout the tropical and subtropical oceans of the world. Born into a life of perpetual motion they must keep swimming to survive. Driven forward by powerful beats of their wing-like pectoral fins they travel the oceans in search of food and the urge to mate.
Despite the fact that manta rays in particular are hugely fascinating to divers and snorkelers around the world, it has only been in the last 10 years that widespread research into the mysteries and complexities of these animals’ lives has begun in earnest. This article details the fundamentals of what we know today about these fascinating creatures.
Two giant black morph oceanic manta rays (Manta birostris) circle Roca Partida, a remote seamount in the Revillagigedos Islands in Mexico (Photo by Guy Stevens)
Family History and Global Distribution
Like all cartilaginous elasmobranchs, manta and mobula rays have a skeleton comprised of flexible, fibrous and light cartilage as opposed to the dense bony skeletons of the vast majority of all other fishes. A close relative of all sharks and rays, mantas and mobulas must constantly keep swimming forward in order to ensure a steady supply of oxygen rich water flows over their gills; they can never stop to sleep or rest on the seabed.
The first rays appeared in the oceans approximately 170 million years ago. Radiating from shark-like ancestors, they adapted to a more benthic mode of life. The flattened body shape of rays is essentially a squashed version of the archetypal shark, with internal physiology very similar to that of their shark cousins. It was from these bottom dwelling rays that the pelagic mantas and mobulas (Mobulidae family – devil rays) evolved, taking to the open water around 20 million years ago, with mantas evolving even more recently around five million years ago.
The defining feature of the Mobulidae family is that they are all filter feeders, using their mouths and modified gill rakers to strain plankton and small fishes from the water. In general, mobula rays are much smaller than the mantas and can be distinguished by morphological differences in their mouths and cephalic fins (“head fins”). Mobula rays have a bottom jaw which is undercut, so that when their mouths are closed the edge of the lower jaw rests much further back than the upper, whereas the jaws of manta rays are aligned evenly.
The other differentiating anatomical feature between the two genus is the shape of their cephalic fins, which when rolled up look like horns projecting off their heads, hence the name “devil rays”. The primary function of these fins is to help funnel planktonic food into the gaping mouths of the rays when they are feeding. Unfurled, the mobula ray’s cephalic fins are just small flaps, but in the mantas, these fins unravel to form much larger paddle-like structures, which touch in the centre to form a complete funnel around the manta’s mouth. These fins are used by the mantas when feeding to help them channel their planktonic prey into their mouths.
The devil ray family contains 11 species of plankton and fish eating rays (see table). Within this family, there are two genus; Mobula and Manta. Very little is known about the mobula rays which, unlike the mantas, are generally very shy towards divers making it hard for scientists to observe their natural behaviour in the wild. Like mantas, they are found throughout tropical and sub-tropical oceans, sometimes aggregating in vast shoals of many hundreds, they come together possibly to feed or to seek safety in numbers.
A surface feeding reef manta ray (Photo by Guy Stevens)
These aggregations may also occur more frequently at breeding times and it is not uncommon to encounter these large groups attracting attention at the surface as the rays leap several metres out of the water. There are currently nine described species of mobula rays, but the taxonomy of this genus is likely to change in the coming years as advances in genetics allow scientists working on these poorly studied animals to further define the true nature of the species composition within the genus.
Within the genus manta, there are currently two recognised species, Manta birostris (the giant oceanic manta) and Manta alfredi (the resident reef manta). These two species have much in common, but a few differences exist. Mantas were re-classified as two separate species in 2009 based on a number of slight morphological features as well as differences in habitat utilisation and behaviour. Genetic work is continuing to further define the true nature of this separation and later this year, a third Caribbean species of manta ray is also likely to be announced.
Resident Reef Manta Ray (Manta Alfredi)
The reef manta is smaller than the oceanic manta ray, with an average disc-width of 3-3.5 metres (9-11.5ft). These reef mantas live quite different lives to their giant counterparts, occurring in the shallow waters along the coastal reefs of continents and around remote oceanic island and archipelagos. These mantas are more commonly encountered by divers and snorkelers and tend to be highly social. They are often resident to a specific home range, migrating around this area as they follow changes in the seasonal abundances of their planktonic food source, or are driven by the urge to find a mate and reproduce.
A black morph reef manta hovers over a cleaning station in Raja Ampat (Photo by Guy Stevens)
Reef mantas commonly frequent the same sites year after year for many decades, allowing researchers to gather in-depth data on the population as a whole and follow more closely the lives of specific individuals as they grow, reproduce and migrate.
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray (Manta Birostris)
As its name suggests, the giant oceanic manta ray is generally larger than its smaller reef resident relatives, with average disc widths of around four to five metres (13-16.5 ft) and in extremely large specimens, possibly exceeding seven metres (23 ft). Large oceanic mantas might weigh up to two tonnes (4,440lbs). The literature on these species also cites the presence of a nonfunctional spine at the base of the tail, which is not present in their reef manta counterparts, as a defining anatomical feature.
While the range of the two species overlaps, the giant mantas appear to be much more transitory in nature, wandering large distances across open oceans. The oceanic mantas are most frequently sighted along productive coastlines with regular upwelling, at oceanic island groups, offshore pinnacles and seamounts.
The reef manta feeds on plankton rich water at the surface during a storm in the Maldives (Photo by Guy Stevens)
Oceanic mantas also venture into the slightly cooler waters of the higher latitudes, with reported sightings as far afield as 31ºN (South Carolina, USA) and 36ºS (North Island, New Zealand). While divers and snorkelers still encounter this species, their elusive and migratory nature means that we know much less about these giants than their smaller reef dwelling relatives.
Life History
Like all elasmobranches, but unlike nearly all the other fish in the sea, manta rays reproduce through internal fertilisation, which means male and female must come together to mate. They give birth to live young that are miniature versions of their parents; ready to fend for themselves, they are completely independent from birth. Courtship rituals and actual mating events are relatively infrequently observed and the only documented accounts of a birthing manta ray come from a single female, which is housed in the Japanese aquarium at Okinawa. Many gaps still remain in our knowledge of the sexual lives of these fantastic creatures, and what little we do know is based on very little hard scientific data.
Mantas are ovoviviparous, meaning that once they have mated, the fertilised egg grows within the female’s uterus until it has developed into a fully functioning manta pup. In aquaria, the time between mating and pupping has been observed to take around one year. Mantas usually give birth to a single pup, but occasionally two developing embryos have been recorded inside a pregnant female during autopsies.
At birth, mantas measure around 1.5-2 metres from wingtip to wingtip. It’s thought that mantas are probably born at night, but to date no wild births have ever been recorded. It is believed that mantas become sexually mature at around 10–15 years of age, possibly even longer for females.
Courtship in mantas can last days or even weeks and is an intricate process led by the female. The males compete to mate with the female, following her around the reef in what is known as a mating train; as many as 30 males may line up behind a single female. Watching a mating train of mantas is an enthralling experience, with the female leading the males as she races, twists, turns and dives around the reef with each male following her every move. In doing this, the female tests the fitness of the males as they try to keep up with her and gain the first place in the train.
A mass aggregation of cyclone feeding manta rays at Hanifaru Bay你Marine Protected Area in the Maldives (Photo by Guy Stevens)
At the end of this process, the female selects a single male and the two mate as a pair, belly to belly in the mid water, the male biting down on the female’s left wing to secure them together. These bites leave permanent mating scars on the ends of the female’s pectoral fins where the wingtip is gripped by the male’s muscular pharynx at the back of his mouth. Just like humans, manta rays exhibit signs of lateralisation, with nearly all observed mating scars occurring on the left hand side of the females, suggesting the males favour this side of their body.
Currently, it is not known how often females give birth, but the latest research suggest birth rates average around one pup for each mature female every two to five years. This extremely slow rate of reproduction, coupled with the long gestation period, late maturity age and small litter size, makes manta rays very vulnerable to exploitation.
Research would indicate that mantas probably live for around 50 and possibly up to 100 years. However, until scientists have been studying these animals for several more decades, we are unlikely be able to answer this question more accurately.
Read the rest of this article in 2012 Issue 2 Volume 119 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The first time I visited Tenerife, I was captivated by the idea of shooting the resident pilot whales – a protected species requiring the permission of the Spanish government to swim with. It was a dream that seemed impossible.
Back home, I could not abandon the thought, so I busied myself researching how to gain approval from the Spanish government. I was determined to shoot these wonderful creatures that found their home around the Canary Islands.
Nine months later, I found myself in a small boat at the coastline of Tenerife Island, 1000 metres of water beneath me, waiting for the moment where I could finally meet the pilot whales. The weather conditions were ideal – calm waters, a slight breeze, with warm rays of the sun beating on our backs. At first, the whales were travelling too fast; we could only take surface pictures, or dip our cameras into the water. Even that in itself was a wonderful feeling: They were so close we even got a whiff of their breath – not a pleasant smell I must admit!
Suddenly, Sergio Hanquet, our guide, turned the boat and told us to get ready to slip into the water. I put my mask and fins on and sat at the edge of the boat, holding my camera tight. And then I heard the magic word, “Go!”
Immediately, I let myself slip into the water as quietly as possible. My husband did the same. We carefully swam in the direction of the pod – wow, what a feeling! The whales kept a distance, then turned and swam away. It was breathtaking.
Photo by Claudia Weber-Gebert
Back on the small boat, we repeated this procedure several times; Sergio would look for the best opportunities, watching the small groups of pilot whales in the ocean, and then advancing toward them. As we spotted a huge dorsal fin, Sergio once again instructed us to be prepared. I was already sitting on the edge of the rocking boat when I heard the “Go”.
I jumped into the water and found myself directly in front of a huge male adult. This one was huge, really huge, and it was coming closer. At that moment, a thousand thoughts were running through my head: “He must have seen me”, “Did he really see me? I hope not…”, “Is this dangerous?” The story of a woman pulled down 40 metres by a pilot whale came to mind. I was snapped back to reality, realising that I should be taking pictures. I put my camera in front of my body, as if that tiny thing could protect me against a whale, and pushed the trigger.
When I finally made eye contact with the whale, I was suddenly overcome with emotion. This majestic creature noticed me. He drifted past, keeping me in his field of view before disappearing into the blue. I will never forget those eyes, gentle and a little sad, and the strength I felt from them – what a moving moment!
When I lifted my head out of the water again, the two men on the boat were laughing. “That was a huge one, wasn’t it?” Sergio chuckled.
Photo by Claudia Weber-Gebert
Once, a young adult male with a newborn calf placed himself between his group and us. He started communicating with his group; we could hear the whistles of that male and the answers from the group behind. He gave us clear signs not to come closer to the pod so we swam back to the boat. It was obvious that he was not at ease with us in the water.
On the last day, the pilot whales bade us goodbye with a spectacle. A pod of 24 approached us, all in one line, passing under us as they neared. I could feel their strength through the water, the inherent sociability of whales suddenly so apparent. Being able to witness that moment, it breaks my heart to think of how whalers profit from this beautiful trait through slaughter.
Once, a young adult male with a newborn calf placed himself between his group and us. He started communicating with his group; we could hear the whistles of that male and the answers from the group behind. He gave us clear signs not to come closer to the pod so we swam back to the boat. It was obvious that he was not at ease with us in the water.
Photo by Claudia Weber-Gebert
On the last day, the pilot whales bade us goodbye with a spectacle. A pod of 24 approached us, all in one line, passing under us as they neared. I could feel their strength through the water, the inherent sociability of whales suddenly so apparent. Being able to witness that moment, it breaks my heart to think of how whalers profit from this beautiful trait through slaughter.
Read the rest of this article in No.110 Issue 4/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
BEYOND the 2,300 islands of untouched Palau, lies the famous Black Hole.
The journey begins at Rock Islands. Divers who have done Palau may recollect days where sky and sea merged and dive sites were immersed in cobalt blue. Past the thousands of islands of untouched Palau, lies the famous Blue Hole. It is considered one of the best dive sites in this island paradise.
Situated south of Ngemelis Island, the Blue Holes are four vertical shafts that open on top of the reef into a huge cavern. Popular with snorkellers, divers and underwater photographers, the site is famed for the spectacular rays of sunlight that penetrate through the openings into the blue water below.
The Temple of Doom is unequivocally a dive for only the qualified and experienced, for once through the small entrance, there is no direct access to the surface (Photo by .W.Alker/Westend61/ Corbis)
However, if you go further into tek terrritory, beyond the blue, there is Palau’s Black Hole. While little detailed information about the cave exists, there are various unconfirmed tales of fatal accidents that took place within, earning this magnificent expanse names such as “Death Hole” and “The Temple of Doom”. As such, the majority of divers have been deterred from exploring the fabled cavity, and there are likely only a few divers in Palau skilled enough to dive the Black Hole – those equipped with the proper knowledge, experience and equipment.
I made several attempts in 2013, but accomplished little due to a lack of tek gear and a support team. By 2014, I had started to set up a tek dive centre in Palau, complete with rebreathers, twin cylinders, deco cylinders, and more. I then tried again to unveil the clandestine black beyond the blue
I have to admit that the name sent chills down my spine. The horizontal topography suddenly changing to a sheer 70-metre drop; divers running out of air alone in the darkness – such tales have fed the rumours of death and doom. But the reality was bound to be different, and the stories only got me more curious, making me ever more determined to explore the cave – with the proper gear, of course.
INTO THE BLACK
Descending into the Blue Holes, we found a permanent line along the cave, as well as several arrows right in the middle of the cave, and we swam along the line to the end. Here, at a depth of 23 metres, just beside an Indo-Pacific electric flame scallop (Ctenoides ales), was the entrance to the Black Hole.
The opening to the Black Hole is very narrow – barely a metre wide – but beyond is an expansive, magical chamber. It measured about 15 metres wide and 24 metres high, leaving a ceiling-to-surface distance of 18 metres. A layer of fine silt lay on the bottom, at 42 metres. The cave seemed to be about 80 to 100 metres long. We found several small holes along the bottom covered with thick layers of silt that formed little mounds, but they were not branching caves.
Silt here is extremely fine, demanding excellent buoyancy control (Photo by .W.Alker/Westend61/ Corbis)
The Black Hole meanders southwest. The cave walls are covered in thick debris. The sand mounds on the bottom mimic a desert landscape, which then eventually leads to a floor resembling the topography of a canyon. What comes to mind is how all these would be perfect for wide-angle cave scenes. We found the remnants of two turtles: one was well preserved, the shape of its remains instantly recognisable; the other had left just a few bones as evidence of its existence.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 Issue 1 Volume 136 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Fish gynaecology:
Understanding
the induction of
spawning is highly
imperative to the
development of
urban fish farming (Photo courtesy of Martin P. Schreibman)
IT IS NOT AN EASY FEAT to achieve the dubious title of “Sex God”, and certainly not the “Sex God of Brooklyn, NY”. So how did this come about for a forever-young CUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Brooklyn College? It was earned – the old fashion way!
I have served as a university professor and scientist for more than half a century. I began using fish as research animal models in graduate school as a means to understand human (vertebrate) physiological processes. The small tropical fish that we studied helped to elucidate such fundamental processes as growth, sexual maturation, aging, olfaction, vision, pigmenta-tion, osmoregulation and neural regulation of endocrine (hormonal) processes, among a host of other func-tions. However, it became apparent to me early on that I was more interested in how fish (vertebrates/humans) courted, had sex and produced offspring, than in under-standing how they urinated!
Our research facilitated the understanding of how regulatory centres in the brain, by way of their multitude of transmitting factors, genetic makeup, olfaction, age and courting patterns enabled the successful procreation of future generations and, thus, ensuring evolu-tionary stability. The combination of fish and knowledge of how their reproductive systems functioned led us into the field of aquaculture – the growth of aquatic organ-isms under controlled conditions.
An aquatic love affair: A huge part of the neuroendocrinologist’s work involves conducting fieldwork in the estuaries and out at sea (Photo courtesy of Martin P. Schreibman)
At the time, fish farming was in its earliest days of expanding, even though fish farming, in one form or another, had been practised for thousands of years. One of the first questions that confronted the new wave of farmers was how to get fish to produce eggs and sperm and, thus, offspring all year long. This required understanding and controlling the induction of spawning. A whole new field of “fish gynaecologists” emerged, and I was among the first.
When NASA and DARA (the German Space Agency) joined forces to develop a programme that would study how vertebrate (i.e., human astronauts) reproductive systems would function in hypogravity, I was invited, along with other German and American scientists. We flew experiments on two separate space shuttle flights in 1998 and 1999 using an aquatic vertebrate – a small tropical fish, to address this issue. Why these fish?
In many ways their reproductive systems and processes are much like humans – they court, they copulate, sperm and egg meet and the fertilised eggs are retained within the female cavity until they are suffi-ciently developed to swim out of the mother’s “womb” to venture forth on their own. I have no doubt that there would have been a plethora of astronauts signing on to participate, but keep in mind this was for experimental objectives, not fun and frolic.
Martin and a couple of mating horseshoe crabs (Photo courtesy of Martin P. Schreibman)
In 1999, Brooklyn College opened the doors to its Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center (AREAC) – a research facility that I conceived of and developed. My career as a comparative neuroen-docrinologist took on new dimensions. We began to do more fieldwork in the estuaries and rivers surrounding New York City. It was there that I met and became enam-oured with Limulus polyphemus, the American horse-shoe crab. It became the focus of a significant part of my field and laboratory research.
The horseshoe crab is important and intriguing for many reasons: for its important pharmaceutical role because its blood is still the major way that we can detect pathogenic bacteria; for its major role in ecosystem stability by providing essential nourishment to shore birds on their northern migration in the spring; and for its evolutionary significance – all important and worthy reasons for studying and protecting these prehistoric creatures. But for me they are most exciting because of their life cycle and their manner of procreation (what did you expect from the Sex God of Brooklyn?).
Horseshoe crabs tend to mate in large aggregations, with a male to female ratio of 1:3 (Photo courtesy of Martin P. Schreibman)
MARTIN P. SCHREIBMAN is the founder and Director Emeritus of Brooklyn College’s Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center (AREAC), a research facility devoted to the study of aquatic organisms – mainly how they grow, adapt and reproduce. He is one the key experts in the horseshoe crab’s mating rituals.
Read the rest of this article in 2013 Issue 4 Volume 127 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
It was the summer of 2012, when I went looking for new and unexplored photo opportunities. It was then that I decided to venture into the open ocean and see what surprises this cerulean temptation may have prepared for me. First, I discovered that if I went far enough from the coast (about eight to 16 kilometres), I could always find crystal clear blue water.
Soon enough, I also realised that encounters with sea turtles were very frequent. They are easily spotted because they usually float at the surface. Obviously, I eventually started to approach them, albeit with great care. I learned that each one of them has a very particular personality, which doesn’t make it easy to loom in closer. The vast majority are very shy and as soon as you start getting too close, they rapidly disappear, taking a plunge into the deep blue. But there are others who will not freak out and stay, so if you are patient and persistent, great encounters can happen.
After many failed attempts, my very first encounter in the open ocean with one of these magnificent animals finally transpired. I entered the water at an approximate distance of six metres and very slowly started swimming towards the turtle. I was so happy and excited because she allowed me to get really close! Then, as soon as the initial shock of being alone in the middle of the ocean and so close to a huge and beautiful sea turtle passed, I started taking my first pictures.
The sea turtle’s penis is embedded in its long, thick tail (Photo by Christian Vizl)
For the first 15 minutes, I approach her very slowly and very gently and she was very gently and very slowly avoiding me. But then, she became curious and was the one who slowly and gently started to swim towards me. She came so close, to the point of touching me, that the roles got inverted and I was the one who slowly and gently started to swim away from her! It was a magical half an hour, being in the pres-ence of each other in a completely wild environment; we could each leave any time we wanted, but we both chose to hang around each other. In the end, I was the one who decided to leave first…
I completely fell in love with the whole experi-ence, so since then, every time I have a chance, I go out and look for sea turtles. That same summer, I encountered my first couple of mating turtles. I was fascinated instantly, but experienced some mixed emotions. On the one hand, I felt very privileged to be a witness of such an amazing moment, but on the other, I felt like I was intefering in such an intimate act. So I decided to take only a few shots and slowly swim away, leaving them alone to finish in privacy.
TITILLATING TURTLES
Marine turtles are often called the ancient mariners of the sea. They have been swimming in the oceans for more than 150 million years. Inhabiting tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world, they tend to live long lives, around 50 years, spending most of it swim-ming and following ocean currents.
They feed on a wide range of animals and plants, inclusing sea sponges, jellyfish, algae, sea anemones, seagrass, mollusks, shrimp, corals, sea cucumbers, starfish, bottom dwelling invertebrates and yes, even fish. They are known to feed and rest off and on during a typical day and are mostly omnivorous in their adult life, except the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), which is herbivorous. All sea turtles have the same general life cycle; they grow slowly and take decades to reach sexual maturity. They can sleep at the surface in deep water areas or at the bottom, wedged under rocks in near shore waters.
Copulation can happen both on the surface or under water (Photo by Christian Vizl)
Sea turtles are generally solitary creatures that remain submerged for much of the time they are at sea, which makes them extremely difficult to study. They rarely interact with one another outside of courtship and mating. Because of this difficulty in studying marine turtles in the open ocean, there are many things still unknown about their behaviour.
During mating season, males may court a female by nuzzling her head or by gently biting the back of her neck and rear flippers. If the female does not flee, the male attaches himself to the back of the female’s shell by gripping her top shell with the claws in his front flippers. He then folds his long tail under her shell to copulate.
Sea turtles are known to copulate for long durations, sometimes even lasting past an hour (Photo by Christian Vizl)
Copulation can take place either on the surface or under water. Sometimes, several males will compete for females and may even fight each other. Observers of sea turtle mating have reported very aggressive behaviour by both the males and females. Females may mate with several males just prior to nesting season and store the sperm for several months. When she finally lays her eggs, they will have been fertilised by a variety of males. This behaviour may help keep genetic diversity high in the population. After copulation, males return to the deep sea to feed. For several weeks, female sea turtles alternate between mating in the water and laying their eggs on land. AD
Read the rest of this article in 2013 Issue 4 Volume 127 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Showcasing the magnification of
the RRM Technique and a little bit of animal behaviour in Anilao, Philippines
I’ve always been intrigued by images that are different from the norm. To me, the world looks better sliding of the planet; using colours, composition, subjects, focus and occasionally techniques to change the way we see things. Back in the day, I used to spend hours in the library reading about experimental photographic techniques.
As a photographer, I think it’s important to explore old techniques and improvise new ones. Losing control doesn’t have to be a bad thing – it can mean getting comfortable with your imagination and creativity.
I’ve always loved shooting macro. Having both Nikon 105mm and 60mm f/2.8 Micro lenses really helped me get closer to my subjects. Then it was the +4 , +10 dioptres, magnifying glasses and all that. But I was not satisfied with the images. I wanted more magnification, but I also wanted images with some character.
In the old days, people got creative with what they had. You wanted magnification? Grab your DSLR and your 50mm f/1.8 lens, and then take a reverse ring adapter and invert it. And there you have it, reverse ring macro, or RRM.
The intention of this was shot was to showcase the eyes. Working with paper-thin depth of field and manual focus isn’t the easiest but it does get you what you want when you SDAA get it right
The beauty of RRM is that it allows you to get really creative. RRM allows you to get really close to your subject. However, it also means you have to work within a tight space, a narrow area, to get your images super sharp. Light is essential. You need light not only to see what’s in your viewfinder but also to get pin-sharp images. But it doesn’t stop there. There’s also the stacking of two lenses to get even more magnification and a creative bokeh background.
BOKEHLICIOUS: THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO BLUR
Bokeh is a Japanese word that describes the precise quality or appearance of out-of-focus areas in a picture. It’s sometimes used to describe blur in general, but that’s not all there is to it. When used creatively, bokeh takes images to a totally different realm. Bokeh is influenced by bright highlights or light sources in the background, or by the shape of the diaphragm (iris) in the lens. RRM allows you to take bokeh to a whole new level.
TYPES OF RRM TECHNIQUE
Before we get all crazy, here’s some basic understanding of the technique. The idea behind the reverse technique is that you allow the reverse lens to first magnify the subject in front of it; then the lens that is mounted normally will capture the enlarged image of your subjects. Bear in mind that a reversed 50mm lens alone has a magnification of +20 dioptres. The longer the focal length, the more magnification you’ll get.
1. Different combinations of lenses mounted together give different effects. RRM is about expanding your creativity with lenses you already have in your camera bag
There are essentially two types of RRM:
1. Single lens reverse, usually a 50mm f/1.4
2. The combo lens setup, combining a zoom and a 50mm f/1.4
Equipment for RRM:
1. DSLR
2. Zoom lens
3. 50mm f/1.4
4. A second zoom lens
(If you’re planning to have a combo setup)
5. Macro coupling ring
6. Reverse ring
2. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of RRM is the bokeh that you can achieve; it’s not only about magnification but also about lending your blur a little flair
The basics:
A reverse 50mm f/1.4 lens has got a magnification of at least +20 dioptres.
When using a double lens setup, experiment with focal lengths to achieve your preferred final image or magnification.
Light your subject appropriately, either with a strobe or torch.
The shorter the focal length of the reversed lens, the greater the magnification, and the shorter the working distance.
The longer the focal length lens, the more magnification you’
The results may vary and it all depends on the type of lenses you use. This opens up a whole new way of understanding your image capture and the character of the shot. While the process itself is relatively straightforward, it also involves a lot of trial and error.
CONTROL AND LOSING IT
Now that you have your equipment, you need to understand your camera’s controls: shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Every control plays its part in getting your desired effect.
The hardest part of this technique is the limited working distance between subject and camera: around 2.5 to 4 centimetres, or closer.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR APERTURE
Most underwater macro photographers typically use f/22 and f/16. These are good starting points and allow more of the subject to be in focus. However, sometimes going in the opposite direction gets you the best bokeh shots – it’s entirely a matter of personal preference.
FOCUS ON RRM
The Auto Focus is useless here: It’s best that you teach yourself to adapt to manual. The trick is to move back and forth in relation to your subject. Minor movements are best. Practise on land and later in the pool to familiarise yourself with the setup. Your depth of field is going to be very limited – “paper thin”. Stepping down your f-stop helps, as does avoiding all sudden movements. Of course, when you’re in the water, there are other elements to consider like current and other divers finning into your path. Discipline and good buoyancy control is the key. Practise makes perfect.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2014, AA No.79 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Compressed air has been the standard and most widely used breathing mix in recreational diving for decades. Breathing gas mixtures with a lower nitrogen content and higher oxygen content (enriched air nitrox) have gained popularity among divers looking to increase their bottom times or reduce the decompression stress of typicalduration dives. Today, after some 25 years of nitrox use in recreational diving, divers and scientists have gained very valuable operational experience. But some divers have made an observation for which science does not provide any evidence. Namely, they often report feeling less tired after diving on nitrox.
IS THERE ANY SOLID EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE OBSERVATION THAT NITROX REDUCES FATIGUE? WHAT IS A POSSIBLE SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION FOR THIS PHENOMENON?
Tiredness, or physical fatigue, is a physiological consequence of extraordinary physical activity. It is characterised by a subjective feeling of a transient reduced capacity to perform ordinary physical activities; it is often associated with somnolence and lethargy and sometimes with suboptimal cognitive performance. Fatigue is not uncommon following inconsequential dives in the absence of apparent decompression sickness (DCS), but it’s also frequently reported as a symptom of DCS.
Controversy surrounds divers’ subjective reports of reduced fatigue following nitrox dives. Contrary to these perceptions, objective studies have not found a reliable difference in fatigue or cognitive performance following dives on air versus nitrox.
Given an equal depth/time exposure, it is generally accepted that the higher the partial pressure of the inspired oxygen (PO2) and the lower the partial pressure of the inert gas (PN2), the less decompression stress will be experienced. It is then tempting to assume that lower decompression stress accompanies reduced perceptions of tiredness. However, a higher PO2 elicits more oxidative stress, and the PO2 of nitrox will be higher than that of air at a given depth.
Some studies of divers suggest that oxidative stress generated by nitrox’s higher PO2 might cause mild endothelial dysfunction, which may itself lead to some vague symptoms that may be perceived as tiredness. Observations from hyperbaricmedicine clinicians, who report that greater oxidative stress during hyperbaric oxygen therapy is associated with greater fatigue following treatment, support these findings.
We consulted two subject-matter experts to help us reconcile divers’ impressions of nitrox’s beneficial effects on post-dive fatigue with some controversial findings in studies of the phenomenon.
WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE CAUSES OF POST-DIVE TIREDNESS?
Richard Harris: Post-dive tiredness can be the result of multiple factors. Some of them could be dive related, such as thermal stress, decompression stress, energy expenditure, high and prolonged oxygen exposure, anxiety and seasickness. But there are many more potentially unrelated causes such as lack of sleep on holidays, alcohol, jet lag, etc.
Neal Pollock:Many people do not fully appreciate the physiological impact of being immersed in water. An immediate response to the hydrostatic pressure is that a substantial amount of blood normally remaining in the capacitance vessels (veins) of the legs is pushed to the central volume (in the chest). A well-known study of this effect found that an average of 700 ml of blood is pushed to the heart during the resting phase of the cardiac cycle. The heart is stretched by the increased blood volume and responds immediately by contracting harder and then, over a short period, by suppressing certain hormones to promote increased fluid elimination through the kidneys. This is a healthy response to the physiological perception of the presence of excess fluid volume. Practically, this is why people have to urinate even after fairly short periods of immersion.
After leaving the water, the diver may experience an immediate drop in the volume of blood returning to the heart. I specifically said “may” because a constricting wetsuit may shift some of the blood to the chest even without immersion. Post-dive (or post-wetsuit removal), the diver will experience a decline in the central blood volume and blood pressure. The effect exceeds the simple loss of hydrostatic pressure because the body has been actively reducing the fluid volume during the diving (or wetsuitwearing) period. Effectively, this set of events likely explains a substantial portion of the normal post-dive tiredness. Most important, fatigue is due to immersion, independent of depth and decompression stress.
ARE THERE ANY RELIABLE DATA TO SUPPORT CLAIMS ABOUT NITROX CAUSING LESS POSTDIVE TIREDNESS THAN AIR?
Harris:No. Three articles in the peer-reviewed literature (see the first three in the references box at the end of this article) contribute evidence to the nitrox and fatigue question, but I am not convinced that the size and power of any of them have addressed the problem comprehensively.
Pollock: The data supporting these claims are not compelling. This is not surprising since PO2 increases substantially in response to depth alone. However, there is no reason to argue over whether a person feels less fatigued. Research has shown that the placebo effect has physiological impact, so let the diver enjoy the sense. The important thing is for divers to stay within the PO2 limits to avoid oxygen toxicity.
Read the rest of this article in No. 108 Issue 2/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
If you like large, charismatic vertebrates, then you should be a fan of the gargantuan Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus). With a “family” history that stretches back to the dinosaurs, survival is in its genes. However, whilst possessing a unique genetic make-up contributes to its huge stature, it also brings unwelcomed attention, contributing to a rapidly dwindling conservation status.
The numbers are impressive. Reaching a staggering 180 cm in length and weighing over 30 kg; along with the world’s other two species of giant salamander – the Japanese giant salamander and the American hellbender – it’s been following a unique evolutionary trajectory for some 170 million years.
Setting live traps is a more efficient way to survey salamanders at lower densities (Photo by Ben Tapley/zsl)
Genetic distinctiveness unfortunately offers little resistance to conservation decline. Ongoing threats include habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, over-harvesting and disease. Historical information indicates that the species was once widely distributed in the middle and lower tributaries of the Yangtze, Yellow and Pearl Rivers. Yet in the past 50 years, populations have declined sharply in both range and numbers, falling by a frightening 80 percent, leaving it listed as Critically Endangered. This combination of evolutionary uniqueness and conservation concern means it is the second-highest-ranked Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered amphibian in the world (edgeofexistence.org).
But what do we know of this species in the wild? Surprisingly little, for such a seemingly conspicuous species. Actual population estimates are hard to quantify, though distribution surveys have identified regional genetic differences across their known range. They occupy rocky, mountain streams and rivers with clear, fast-running water, in forested areas at moderate altitudes (below 1,500 m). Their permanently aquatic lifestyle may have hindered our knowledge of their life history.
Mating behaviour is described for the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and is probably similar for the Chinese giant salamander. Reproduction appears to take place from late August to September, when individuals congregate at nest sites. Males occupy breeding cavities, which they aggressively guard, whilst females briefly enter to lay between 400–500 eggs, in a string of beads. Following fertilisation, the male protects them from predators, until they hatch 12–15 weeks later in the early spring. Little is known on breeding success, survivorship rates and indeed the demography of the species. But knowledge is increasing through captive breeding efforts. However, this is not the classic conservation breeding you may initially envisage.
This species has huge cultural significance. Hunted for medicinal reasons, as well as food; this market has fuelled salamander farming. The Chinese have developed a host of methods for breeding this species, which were largely unknown outside of China, where captive breeding has rarely been successful.
An example of a captive “farm bred” Chinese giant salamander (Photos by Ben Tapley/zsl)
The threats and opportunities of this farming were spotted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and others, as a means to consolidate conservation of this protected species. Farms have sourced wild individuals as new stock for breeding and whilst bred (and confiscated) individuals do get returned to the wild, there has been limited focus on disease and genetic screening. The potential impact of this “biological pollution” is huge, considering the genetic structuring amongst discrete wild populations, suggests the existence of multiple subspecies and/or cryptic species.
Rock turning is a method used for daytime surveys of salamanders. It is labour intensive, yet requires a degree of skill to ensure that salamanders don’t get crushed (Photo by Ben Tapley/zsl)
Previous in-situ conservation efforts have met with limited success. At least 14 nature reserves have been established to protect wild Chinese giant salamander populations, but their effectiveness is questionable, with more evidence of threats rather than salamanders persisting in each area.
ZSL spotted an opportunity to build on the existing conservation evidence and breeding skills, drawing together a multitude of partners. An international workshop followed, resulting in a Darwin Initiative* supported project that aims to complete more field surveys to assess populations, increase knowledge of conservation genetics and phylogeography, develop disease diagnostic and research capacity, and improve ex-situ protocols for conservation – amongst others. All of these will contribute to a range-wide Conservation Action Plan, implemented by Chinese partners.
Read the rest of this article in 2013 Issue 4 Volume 127 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Thanks, in part, to demonstrated economic returns from dive tourism, manta rays are now afforded protection throughout Indonesia’s waters, and sightings like these may become more common as populations recover (Photo by Shawn Henrichs)
That day is forever etched on my soul, and though the memory has since faded and the horror diminished, it is still there like an old scar – a constant reminder that there is important work still to do, and that every one of us can make a difference. The question is, how?
SANCTUARY FOR MANTAS AND SHARKS Raja Ampat, Indonesia
In 2006 I was diving in Raja Ampat, documenting the regency’s first no-take zone. After two weeks of filming, and only one encounter with a shark, we came face-to-face with a grizzly reality that was plaguing this region – shark finning. On the blood-stained deck of a nondescript fishing boat tucked in the corner of a serene mangrove-lined lagoon, we discovered a fisherman drying dozens of small shark fins in the sun. Beneath his boat, the bodies of finned juvenile reef sharks lay scattered across the vibrant corals, their lifeless bodies rolling back and forth in the gentle surge.
Fast-forward eight years and the situation in Raja Ampat is nothing short of miraculous. Since the establishment and enforcement of the Raja Ampat Shark and Ray Sanctuary in November 2010, the recovery of shark and ray populations has been astonishing. But continued recovery is predicated upon the community sharing in the prosperity of this exciting marine ecosystem recovery, and that is where divers have a role to play.
On my annual pilgrimage to Misool Eco Resort in south Raja Ampat, I can’t wait to reconnect with two of my favourite spots in the ocean – Magic Mountain and the resort’s shallow lagoon. I remember my last experience on Magic in April of 2013: with at least 40 metres visibility, the entire seamount was visible from a single vantage point. Tens of thousands of fusiliers enshrouded this underwater oasis, moving in a constant stream, and then suddenly raining down, retreating as squadrons of mighty giant trevallies launched repeated assaults. A school of several hundred orbital batfish drifted in out of view, as they navigated through tornados of jacks and barracudas hovering in the currents. Below, napoleon wrasse, groupers, and snappers accompanied whitetip reef sharks plying the reef in search of prey.
Descending deeper to the ridge, hefty grey reef sharks patrolled the walls of the seamount, racing up toward me on occasion as if to say, “This is our domain!” And then, from out of the blue, the giants descended on Magic.
One after another, seven massive oceanic manta rays glided over to the seamount and began their cleaning rituals. The mantas patiently hovered and circled, gently flapping their enormous wings as eager cleaner wrasse set about removing parasites. More than merely tolerating our presence, these mantas were incredibly curious and interactive. At the end of the dive I found myself on the seamount with one of the giants. Firing away, I captured sequences of brilliant images of this graceful creature hovering over the vibrant reef. But then somehow I sensed that this manta wanted to connect with me
I stopped shooting and lowered my camera. The ray twitched slightly, a signal to the cleaner wrasse that their services were no longer needed, and lightly pumped her wings. She came directly to me, lifted her wingtip over my head and gently brushed my hair. She circled again, even closer, looking me right in the eye. She circled a third time, approaching so closely that her eye almost touched my mask, and once again her powerful wing softly brushed my hair.
Low on air, it was time for me to leave. Ascending toward the surface, I looked down as she glanced back, then drifted off the seamount and disappeared into the blue. One of my pictures from this experience later served as a central image for our Indonesia Manta Sanctuary campaign.
Free from the threat of being hunted for their fins, young reef sharks hone their own hunting skills in Misool’s shallow lagoon (Photo by Shawn Heinrichs)
Back at the resort, we were greeted by several dozen blacktip reef sharks hunting in the shallows of the lagoon. Grabbing my snorkel and camera, I slipped into the bay and immersed myself in the hunting action. Safe from exploitation, and accustomed to snorkellers, the little blacktips set about their business chasing sardines and learning to patrol their waters. Several hours later, batteries drained, flashcard full and my back sunburned, it was time for lunch… but I had missed that hours ago! Though physically hungry, I was satiated by the realisation that divers who spend their holidays at places with a strong conservation ethic like Misool are playing an invaluable role in financing the conservation efforts to protect these highly vulnerable species.
BATTLE OF THE GIANTS IN WHALE MECCA Sri Lanka
All eyes were fixed on the horizon as we approached a melee of violent splashing on the ocean’s surface just ahead. After eight days of searching along the coast of Sri Lanka for the elusive blue whales, with little success, it was a relief to finally find something. At first we couldn’t figure out what this commotion was all about, but as we drew closer it snapped into focus.
Distressed sperm whales close ranks in an attempt to protect vulnerable members of the group from the orca’s expert attack (Photo by Shawn Heinrichs)
A huge dorsal fin cut the surface and charged into a logjam of long, dark, rolling shapes. Orcas attacking sperm whales! We grabbed cameras and fired away as a pod of perhaps five orcas tore into a family of sperm whales right next to our boat! The attack was violent and disturbing as the panicked sperm whales were clearly no match for the speed and manoeuvrability of the orcas.
I realised this was a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and summoned up the courage to jump in the water and join the frenzy. All eyes turned on me, wondering if I would become easy prey for one of the most formidable predators in the ocean. I grabbed my camera and slid off the back of the boat. Ahead of me was a frothing pile of massive dark shapes. Drifting away from the boat, one of the larger orcas in the pod broke off and made a beeline for me, pinging me intensely with its sonar.
Time slowed down as my mind battled with my intuition. I had heard warnings before about the extreme dangers of swimming with wild orcas, especially when these apex predators are engaged in a hunt. But in my heart I knew they were highly intelligent and evolved creatures that “should” have no interest in hurting me. As it approached, I thought to myself, “Well I am about to find out…”
The orca came right up to me then veered off at the last moment, drifting into the deep blue below. I spun around just in case another orca might be sneaking up behind me, but there was nothing. I watched the orcas return to the hunt and the battle continued. But it was difficult to keep up, and I returned to the boat as the sperm whales attempted to retreat from the predators. On the surface, we gasped as the assault suddenly turned into a violent frenzy. The orcas appeared to separate one of the juveniles from the rest and set upon it with fury. Dorsal fins sliced the surface on all sides, bodies rolled, and huge tails violently crashed down, as the sea turned to a frothing, churning mess.
It is unclear as to whether the orcas succeeded in their attack. We observed the family of sperm whales regroup and charge eastward, as the orcas briefly gave chase and finally peeled off. And then it was all over – the most incredible encounter I had ever experienced, and something I would never forget.
Each year, blue whales and other species are found floating dead, their bodies demonstrating definitive evidence of fatal collisions with ships in this busy shipping lane; without intervention, encounters with these whales could sadly become a thing of the past. Sri Lanka’s growing whale-watching industry may very well prove to be the most compelling argument for addressing the problem.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 3/2014, AA. No.78 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Two males face-off in a dramatic display of radiating colour (text and photos by Julian Finn, Museum Victoria)
AS WE STOOD on the shore at Point Lowly, looking out over the cold, grey water of South Australia’s Spencer Gulf, we had no idea that we were about to stumble upon a mass-mating phenomenon of world record proportions.
It was the start of winter, in the late 1990s, and I was part of a marine research team surveying marine life in the South Australian gulfs. On arriving at Point Lowly, a rocky outcrop east of the industrial town of Whyalla, we were immediately struck by the activity of marine life in the area. Point Lowly is an oasis, surrounded in every direction by dusty red highways, dotted with smelters and refineries. Looking out to sea, pods of dolphins frolick in the shallow waters, while flocks of Pacific gulls squabble over floating carrion.
As I donned my scuba equipment, enthusiastic to wash away the red dust of previous days on the road, I was intrigued to see thousands of cuttlefish bones littering the intertidal zone. Cuttlefish are cephalo-pods, relatives of octopuses and squids, that possess large, internal, chambered, chalky, white bones (cuttle-bones) that allow them to maintain neutral buoyancy – much like divers’ BCDs. While the odd cuttlebone is a common occurrence on southern Australian beaches, the presence of thousands of cuttlebones on a single shore was unheard of.
After clambering across the rocky shore and dropping down onto my stomach to snorkel out to deeper waters, the explanation for the density of cuttlebones (and the presence of feeding dolphins and gulls) was immediately explained. We had stumbled upon the largest known aggregation of cuttlefish recorded anywhere in the world – a hoard of Australian giant cuttlefish, mating and fighting in a spectacular display of colour and ink.
Male giant cuttlefish (left) tend to be more colourful and grow larger than females (right) who usually adopt a drab, mottled appearance (Photo by Julian Finn)
Australian giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama) are the largest cuttlefish in the world, reported to attain total lengths of up to one metre and weights exceeding 10 kilogrammes. Their distribution is known to extend from southern Queensland, through the cool temperate waters of southern Australia, to Western Australia. Male giant cuttlefish grow larger than females and are easily recognised by the presence of large banners off their ventral arms. The smaller females have shorter stubby arms without banners and usually adopt a plain mottled appearance.
Snorkelling out over the large slabs of bedrock, interspersed with patches of algae, I made a feeble attempt at counting the number of cuttlefish I observed: 10, 20, 50, 100, 1,000! It was pointless. Cuttlefish seemed to occupy every available space. On surveying the area, the rocky seafloor appeared to be a patchwork of isolated groups of cuttlefish as far as the eye could see. Later surveys would estimate the number of cuttlefish in this aggregation to exceed 180,000!
Settling down to observe an isolated group of cuttle-fish, it was immediately evident that this wasn’t just a social gathering. These cuttlefish were here for sex and it was happening all around me. Pairs of large males faced-off in dramatic displays of force, flattening their bodies and extending their arms, in an attempt to look as large as possible. As they approached their opponents side-on, waves of colour would radiate out over their bodies and down their arms. This show of force was usually enough to scare off smaller males, however, a confrontation between equally-sized males would quickly escalate to violence.
A confrontation escalates to violence as the aggressive male (background) attempts to grasp and bite an opponent male (foreground) (Photo by Julian Finn)
Turning to face an opponent, the more aggressive, or better positioned, of the two males would lunge, grasping with his suckered arms and biting into his opponent’s flesh. Females remained largely oblivious to, or unperturbed by, these displays of male violence, continuing to search for ideal egg-laying sites, as battles erupt around them. On finding a good cave or crevice with a clear level ceiling for egg attachment, the female would lay eggs one at a time, fertilising them with sperm stored around her mouth. When all challenging males had been seen off, the male would interrupt the female to mate. Grasping her face-to-face, he would transfer sperm into special pockets around her mouth, ready for the next batch of eggs she would lay.
As I settled on the sea floor, intent on documenting this behaviour with my camera, I suddenly found myself struggling to follow what was going on. Animals I initially thought to be females would turn out to be males, and vice versa. Putting my camera aside, I focused my attention on one suspicious looking female. While all other females in the area were actively laying eggs, this small mottled individual was just hanging about in the vicinity of a male and female pair.
Holding her face-to-face a sneaker male (right) places sperm in special pockets around the mouth of a female (Photo by Julian Finn)
Without warning, a competing male moved over my left shoulder to challenge the dominant male. As the dominant male became embroiled in a standoff, the suspicious female did something amazing; she revealed that she was in fact a male. Releasing the ventral banners, which had been concealed amongst the arms, the small cuttlefish instantaneously took on the colour pattern and appearance of a male. Without delay he darted in, grabbed the momentarily unguarded female and proceeded to mate with her. This little guy was a cross-dressing, sneaker male!
The research into the cuttlefish aggregation that followed revealed that there were in fact two strategies that males can take to get the girl. Firstly, they return to the first cuttlefish aggregation after their hatching (at the tender age of approximately seven months) and adopt a sneaker male strategy. Alternatively, they could wait another year, growing to a larger size and attend the next aggregation as a large dominant male. It was found that both strategies were successful, and the sneaky little male that took on the appearance of a female had as much chance of mating with a female as the larger guys. Sometimes, the females even favoured him.
Read the rest of this article in 2013 Issue 4 Volume 127 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Their elusiveness makes them a diver’s dream encounter, but for scientists studying tiger sharks, it is like finding a needle in a haystack. Since 2015, researchers from the Large Marine Vertebrates Research institute Philippines (LAMAVE) and Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) have been studying these top predators in the heart of the Coral Triangle.
Tiger sharks have almost disappeared from Philippine waters, with one exception: Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP). Located east of the island of Palawan, TRNP sits along the Cagayan Ridge, a string of extinct underwater volcanoes in the Sulu Sea. The park encompasses two huge coral atolls, the north and the south atolls and the Jessie Beazley Reef, which is a smaller coral structure about 20 kilometres north of the atolls. From the sky, the north and the south atolls appear as giant rings of corals – they are, in fact, all that remains after the volcanoes became extinct. Combined, they offer habitat for an array of species, from corals and invertebrates, to schooling fish and apex predators such as tiger sharks.
First discovered by divers in the late 1970s, Tubbataha Reefs were later declared as a strictly no-take marine protected area (MPA) in 1988. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is recognised as one of the Philippines’ oldest ecosystems and one of the most extraordinary dive sites on the planet. In a world where oceans are in peril, the boundaries of TRNP, which are patrolled by rangers year-round, provide a lifeline for biodiversity and the park is abundant in many species that have disappeared from coastal areas. TMO, which manages the park, conducts research, enforces the law and manages tourism.
Tourism plays a key role in the conservation of the park, as park entrance fees provide the necessary funding to manage and protect the site. Currently, 15 accredited liveaboards hold permits to visit the park, and while the fees contribute to the park’s management, the submission of photos and videos taken by visiting divers have also played a role in shark conservation.
TUBBATAHA’S SHARKS
Before 2015, only a few studies had been carried out to investigate the sharks present in the park. In March 2015, as part of an effort to confirm all shark species in TRNP, researchers from LAMAVE in collaboration with TMO made a call out to dive boats for shark encounters captured in images or on video. LAMAVE has been operating in the Philippines since 2010 and today it is the largest independent non-profit non-governmental organisation dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna and their habitats in the Philippines. The collaboration between LAMAVE and TMO is currently the biggest shark study in the country.
While photos sent in by divers provided vital information for establishing past tiger shark encounters, LAMAVE researcher Ryan Murray went to live on the TRNP ranger station and, together with the rangers, set about rigging the park with underwater cameras to see what shark species were present and in what numbers. Submissions from divers revealed chance encounters with tiger sharks within the recreational diving range, whilst the remote video cameras, which are mounted on a metal frame and lowered into the water by the team, allowed the collection of information down to 100 metres, revealing a new perspective of the park.
At least five different individual tiger sharks have been identified (by their first dorsal fin) from photos and videos submitted by visiting divers. While this established the presence of tiger sharks in TRNP, it did not reveal how they were using the park, and more importantly, if the sharks were moving outside its protected boundaries. Previous research has shown that tiger sharks are capable of making large scale movements; one study showed a tiger shark crossing the Atlantic Ocean, travelling 6,500 kilometres from northeastern US to the western coast of Africa. Another study by a research team in Western Australia tracked a female tiger shark over 4,000 kilometres between Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and Sumba Island, Indonesia. Long-distance movements have implications for the management and protection of tiger sharks, as sharks initially encountered in protected areas could be exposed to fisheries outside protected waters, and TRNP is no exception.
The park is the most successful marine protected area in the Philippines and is the country’s largest strictly no-take zone, covering 97,030 hectares – an area larger than Singapore (which is under 75,000 hectares). That’s very impressive, but when we take into consideration that some tiger sharks travel thousands of kilometres, and the fact that at its widest, TRNP stretches around 50 kilometres, it would not be a surprise if sharks moved beyond the boundaries of the park. Still, a rich environment like TRNP may decrease the desire to roam, depending on how the sharks are using the area.
To find out more, LAMAVE and TMO took two approaches: First, the team deployed satellite tags to find out where the sharks were going; they also used acoustic tags to understand how they were using the park.
TAGGING TIGERS
In May 2016, TMO and LAMAVE researchers successfully tagged the first tiger shark in the Coral Triangle: A 3.4-metre female was fitted with an ARGOS-transmitting dorsal fin-mounted satellite tag. The team tagged a second tiger shark in 2017. These tags have a small antenna and a wet/dry switch that is triggered when it breaks the surface.The tag interacts with passing ARGOS-system satellites, and when both the tag and satellite align, location and temperature data is transmitted. A successful transmission results in an email disclosing the location of the shark and whether the individual is inside or outside the boundary of the park.
However, the technology is not without its challenges and the shark’s position is only reported when the tag breaks the surface, a limitation when working with sharks, as unlike marine mammals, they do not need to break the surface. As a result, transmissions can be few and far between, offering only few, or no clear conclusions.
To date, 20 animals encountered in the park have been fitted with acoustic tags: two tiger sharks, 14 grey reef sharks, and four reef manta rays. The research is ongoing and many of the tags will last up to 10 years. New acoustic receivers are being placed in the park, which will help build a more detailed map of the animals’ movements. The team will also expand the acoustic network in 2018 deploying receivers in the waters of Cagayancillo, an archipelagic municipality located around 130 kilometres northeast of TRNP.
While acoustic data collection is ongoing, preliminary results from the satellite tags have shown that at least one of the tagged tiger sharks has ventured beyond the boundaries of TRNP – a worrying prospect, as tiger sharks do not enjoy general protections in Philippine waters. On August 8, 2017, the Philippine Navy seized 10 Vietnamese nationals aboard a fishing vessel intercepted in northwest Palawan; they were carrying around 70 sharks, including tiger sharks. Two days later, poaching charges were filed against them. While the fishing vessel was intercepted approximately 350 kilometres north of TRNP and had not entered the park, it is clear that sharks outside TRNP are in danger from illegal and unreported fisheries.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 1 Volume 149 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
At ADEX Singapore 2017, I was handed some drone footage that showed a trans-shipment of sharks from 15 industrial fishing boats just 200 metres offshore in East Timor. At the same time, I was also given a message that the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Jose Ramos Horta, the former Prime Minister/President of East Timor, was asking if Sea Shepherd could help in the same matter. After reviewing the footage, we began an investigation into the Hong Long fleet that was licenced to fish in East Timor. We tracked and monitored the mothership, which was first going to China to unload then onwards across the Pacific near the Galápagos. Upon seeing the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 meeting with several fishing boats, I notified our CEO, Captain Alex Cornellisen, who used to head our operations in Galápagos. Two days later, the ship was arrested inside the Galápagos National Park with 300 tons of shark on-board. The crew were placed in prison and the ship was confiscated.
Our investigation into the 15 vessels operating in East Timor was uncovering a lot of strange anonomlies. The fleet was claimed to be owned by Pingtan Marine Enterprises (PME) listed on the US Nasdaq, yet all signs pointed to them being owned by Hong Long Fisheries based in Fuzhou, China. The case became even more interesting when we discovered that the husband ran one company and the wife ran the other company, and “assets” were switched regularly between them. Also, the fact that the Pingtan fleet had made the news when they were kicked out of Indonesia by Fisheries Minister Ms Susi Pudjiastuti for illegal fishing made them a target of interest.
We devised a plan to send Sea Shepherd’s newest vessel, MV Ocean Warrior, on a recon mission to hunt down the fleet that was operating in waters offshore unseen by the East Timor authorities, who sadly lack the patrol capabilities to police their own waters offshore. Our mission was to find and document the fleets’ activities and share this information with the Timorese authorities in the hopes that they would reconsider issuing a new annual fishing permit to Hong Long.
The MV Ocean Warrior left Freemantle covertly and headed to the waters south of East Timor where we began our search patterns. After two weeks of fruitless searching, we were starting to think that they had already left for China when a target appeared on our radar. Keeping the MV Ocean Warrior over the radar horizon, we launched the small boat just before sunset so that the crew could approach under the cover of darkness.
We found two white Chinese-flagged longline type vessels, the Fu Yuan Yu 836 and 839. These were not our targets, but we proceeded to close in and monitor their activities. They had just set their driftnets – the “curtains of death” – which are indiscrimate killers, capturing anything and everything swimming in the top 12 metres of water. Because of this, the international community passed a law that they are not to exceed 2.5 kilometres in length.
The small boat crew approached the end marker beacon silently and logged its position on the GPS before carefully cruising along the net in complete darkness, being careful not to become its prey by fouling the propellers. This first net was 10.2 kilometres in length and when we got to the end, we noticed another beacon just 50 metres away; this was the start of a second net that we recorded at 11.6 kilometres. These two vessels were setting over 20 kilometres of driftnet each per night, a completely illegal activity which we reported to all relevant authorities.
Returning to the ship, our small boat crew had little time to rest when a new target appeared on the radar. Launching again, we slowly approached and began to stalk the vessel. As I looked through the binoculars at the light configuration, this vessel was different; it was one of the 15 – Bingo! We had found our target. We returned to the MV Ocean Warrior and followed it as it moved off. A few hours later, I was awoken and called to the bridge. There on the radar were all 15 vessels, at anchor above a bank, 150 kilometres south of East Timor in an area disputed between East Timor and Australia due to oil rights.
We closed in and sailed right through the fleet, this time not hiding, while compiling a photo log of each vessel before pulling alongside the Fu Yuan Yu 9608, which was starting to haul in its bottom-set gillnets. We documented the catch coming up which mostly consisted of sharks and broken coral. Besides removing the apex predators, this fleet was destroying the corals on the seabed without a care. We launched the drone to capture more footage to add as evidence later. After hauling their nets, the entire fleet headed north to East Timor, rounding the easternmost point and sheltering in a bay at Com. With evidence in hand, we took the MV Ocean Warrior up to full speed and headed west to the capital of Dili, where we met our onshore contacts and shared the footage with members of the Policia Nationale Timor Leste (PNTL).
PNTL Officer inspecting the fish hold (Photo by Gary Stokes, Sea Shepherd)
The PNTL were very keen to check out these vessels but had no boats of their own, so we offered to deliver them on the MV Ocean Warrior. A few hours later, we boarded some armed officers and headed off overnight whilst a larger force drove overland to meet us at 6am for a dawn raid. We launched our small boat, again in darkness, and our crew crept silently past the fleet, picking up some PNTL officers on the shore before dropping them off on several of the fishing boats. Once secure, Sea Shepherd crews boarded to assist in searching the holds and documenting the catch, while others went through the documents with the PNTL.
Descending the ladder into the frozen fish hold, we were met with carnage on an industrial scale: Sacks upon sacks of sharks, mostly small or juvenile, were stacked high in both freezers. We made some rough calculations based on numbers per sack and sacks per row and found that each boat had between 10,000 and 15,000 sharks on-board. Speaking with the crew, their last offload had been two months earlier. These numbers blew us away, this fleet had already been fishing for 10 months: How many sharks had they taken? How could there be any left?
That evening, the fleet was left at anchor with only the MV Ocean Warrior standing between them and freedom. We patrolled back and forth, like a guard dog, never anchoring. Around 8pm, one of the vessels started to move. We hit the spotlights and raced towards it, hailing them on the VHF radio in Chinese, “Stop your engines immediately, and anchor!”
Drone footage of the Fu Yuan (photo by Sea Shepherd)
They complied but something wasn’t quite right; this was a test. An hour later, all of the vessels weighed anchor and started driving randomly around the bay. Again, we hit the spotlights and radio whilst also starting up engine #3. This is one of the Ocean Warrior’s four huge engines that powers the fire fighting water cannon. Once started, I jumped into the aft facing helm seat and fired up the water cannon. The bridge had erupted into a hive of activity, all under the red night light. Captain Mike Dicks had the helm and was manoeuvering the Ocean Warrior towards three of the fishing boats, whilst Jaki, our Chinese translator, was calling them to stop their engines again. As we closed in, we gave them a warning that if they did not stop, they would be fired upon with the water cannon, targeting their communications gear on top of the bridge. The water cannon seemed to be a great persuader as they all stopped immediately.
Like true shepherds of the sea, we then rounded the fleet back up, moving stragglers back in towards the centre before continuing to patrol. We continued to watch over the fleet for 10 days whilst the PNTL awaited the prosecutor to proceed with the case in the courts. When the PNTL finally got approval to move all the vessels to Dili, we departed East Timor bound for Darwin.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 1 Volume 149 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Once these little gems capture your attention, it’s very hard to break their magic spell. A gateway critter if ever there was one, nudibranchs combine the beauty of our ocean and natural history in a photogenic and scientific symphony like no other.
Often referred to as “slugs” due to their evolutionary path, the grand designs of nudibranchs are as fascinating and varied as there are slugs themselves. There are over 3,000 species and each one of them seems to have evolved in a special way to speciate and proliferate in each of the different and challenging habitats in which they are found. Cold water to warm water, benthic or pelagic and at every depth, they occur globally and have even been found in brackish rivers.
Different gill structures help to differentiate the species. Aeolids have Cerata (Photo by Mike Bartick)
Just as interesting and as detailed as the slugs themselves is the community that they have ensnared along the way. The common thread in the community of “Nudiphiles” seems to be the data list that each and every self-respecting “brancher” develops. This data list becomes a central foundation of why and where a diver will go next, and comparing lists to one another is certainly a point of pride at every meeting.
Nudibranchs are actually Opisthobranchs falling under the gastropod family that feature some wonderfully fascinating anatomical designs, from their appearance down to their physical reproductive organs.
DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS
Hydroid (Picture by Mike Bartick)
1 Some nudis can acquire stinging cells from the hydroids they eat; hydroids contain delicate, spring-loaded nematocyst cells (like jellyfish). The nematocyst cells are ingested and stored in the slugs’ cerata, forming stinging “body armour”. The sting causes their predators to drown in their own saliva soon after being bitten
2Apasmatic defensive colours, meaning colours that warn potential predators that they are dangerous to eat
3Camouflage, mimicry
THR TRICK IS TO KEEP BREATHING
Nudibranch (Photo by Mike Bartwick)
1 The word “NUDIBRANCH” actually breaks down to mean “NAKED GILL”
2 Most nudis have some kind of gill or gill-like structure that is clearly visible. Some are protected and therefore not visible, as in the case of PLEUROBRANCHUS or SIDE-GILL SLUGS (like those found in the mushroom-like crown of the Pleurobranchus pictured above)
3 Their gill makes direct contact with water and enables the slug to respire through conventional gas exchange. CERATA, which also help aeolids to respirate, can be transparent or opaque and in some cases even act as solar panels to assist in a photosynthetic process to create a simple sugar from sunlight.
RHINOSPORES
Rhinospores (the red portion of the Dorid nudibranch in the picture below) are a sensory organ located at the front of the animal that helps them to SMELL AND DETECT FOOD OR PREY
Rhinospores are VARIED IN SHAPE, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES. Some are finned, some are smooth, some retreat into a protective crown while others retreat into a protective sheath.
Different gill structures help to differentiate the species. Dorids have a visible Gill Plume (Photo by Mike Bartick)
REPRODUCTION
A. Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites but cannot self reproduce; they will mate with another from the same species
B. The reproductive organ occurs on their right sides
C. Organs look like a docking station and use a hooked medieval weapon-like penis to lock themselves together for successful mating in the worst of conditions
D. They lay fertilised eggs in various colours and patterns: vertical egg ribbons or circular horizontal pattern on rocks and sand; squiggly pasta-like designs in hydroids and soft corals
E. The colour of the eggs depends on the type of nudibranch
Photo by Andrew Wu MingXiong
LIFE CYCLE
Photo by Andrew Wu MingXiong
1 Critical mass reproduction: They will reproduce to populate an area to take advantage of all of the available food
2 They lay an egg mass
3 Eggs hatch and nudis emerge into a larval pelagic phase (larvae drift in the open water)
4 Larvae will eventually settle on the substrate
5 Some slugs only appear once every few years while others are more commonly spotted. The cycle is believed to be related to the food source and larval settling
6 Lifetime varies upon species, from months to a year
7 Nudibranch life spans range from up to a year to only a few weeks. There will be a mass die-off once the food source is gone
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2016, AA No.87 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Port Jackson sharks, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, are a sociable species that aggregate in large numbers. Juveniles tend to remain in mixed-sex groups in their nursery bays and estuaries until close to maturity. Eventually they move into deeper waters where they separate into female and male groups
Crowds of metre-long sharks lie motionless on the seafloor within gutters etched into the rocky reef. Some are piled up under overhangs, others are lying isolated and out in the open. Beneath a waving frond of kelp, one of them raises its head and pivots upward on a pair of pectoral fins. With a few beats of its club-like tail it propels forward revealing a pencil-sized cylindrical device attached to its flank.
A diver motions forward to grab the shark. He catches it by placing one hand on the back of its head, and the other around the tail. It struggles and bucks back and fourth, before finally admitting defeat and allowing the diver to swim it up to the small canoe waiting above.
“Yes, this is the recapture we are after!” the diver exclaims, as he hits the surface. This is Nathan Bass, a PhD candidate with Macquarie University, who is studying the social networks of Port Jackson sharks in New South Wales, Australia.
He passes the shark up to the team in the canoe. They work methodically to gather as much data as they can in as a short a time as possible, to limit any undue stress on the animal.
The shark is measured from the tip of the snout to the upper lobe of its dorsal fin before being placed gently in a bag and hoisted into the air to be weighed – the average size of a male Port Jackson is 95 centimetres and six kilos, while the females are slightly larger at 120 centimetres and 14 kilos.
The team collect a tissue sample for DNA analysis, and record all the data and the unique identification number on the orange tag attached to its tail. Finally, the receiving device that drew Nathan to this particular Port Jackson is removed, and the shark is released back into the sea at the survey site.
Each interaction with these gentle sharks occurs with the utmost care. The team works within the constraints of strict animal care and ethics guidelines to ensure minimal impact on the shark during the encounter. Each step of the scientific process is calculated and performed by researchers with a passion for shark conservation.
Port Jackson sharks, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, are a sociable species that aggregate in large numbers. Juveniles tend to remain in mixed-sex groups in their nursery bays and estuaries until close to maturity. Eventually they move into deeper waters where they separate into female and male groups
HANDS ON IN AN UNDERWATER HEAVEN
It’s Nathan’s second winter studying the sharks, which are endemic to southern Australia. Like all sharks of the primitive order Heterodomtiformes, or horn sharks, the Port Jackson has a blunt-shaped head and spines on the leading edge of the two dorsal fins. Yet its unique colour pattern is distinguishing and intricate. Dark harness-like markings cover the eyes, run along the back and cross over along the side of the body.
A Port Jackson portrait reveals the curled nostrils, plate like teeth and prominent eye ridges eye ridges, which distinguish the bullhead shark family from other species of sharks
They gather in numbers off New South Wales between June and September, during which time Nathan divides his time between two study locations in Jervis Bay and off Sydney.
The sharks are a popular favourite amongst avid groups of divers who are also drawn to the same temperate reefs along the popular southern New South Wales coastal fringe. Peppering the reefs throughout their distribution, some of the key locations for encountering this species include Forster and Seal Rocks, Fingal Island off Port Stephens, Bare Island off Sydney and throughout Jervis Bay.
The diving in Jervis Bay has been rated amongst the best in Australia. Shallow seagrass meadows provide a haven for a diverse suite of colourful characters such a weedy seadragons and pyjama squid. The kelp-dominated, shallow, rocky reef gives way to boulder fields encrusted in sea tulips, sponges and ascidians. Large blue groupers, schools of old wives and inquisitive giant cuttlefish are regulars, whilst red Indian and blue devilfish are some of the hidden gems to be found within the Port Jackson’s domain.
During one exploratory dive in Jervis Bay, Nathan recalls discovering a huge aggregation of Port Jackson sharks off the southern side of the bay. “There were so many sharks there it was unbelievable. Hundreds of them were all sitting there on the seafloor in small groups. It was a remarkable encounter for our team,” Nathan says.
Macquarie University researcher Nathan Bass releases a tagged Port Jackson back into the wild. Each shark is handled very carefully, with volunteers adhering to strict guidelines to minimise stress and negative impact on the animals
Eager to assist with the research is an enthusiastic troop of volunteers hoping to get hands-on with a wild shark. Many of them have their own marine post-graduate research projects, while others are just keen to get involved. Once properly trained, the volunteers have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the fieldwork.
It’s the perfect project for budding marine scientists to hone their diving and field skills, which can then applied to their own projects. The volunteers spend a lot of time in the water, making up to four dives a day at the study sites, and sometimes further afield during exploratory excursions.
Jo’s own PhD examined the social networks of dolphins. “These two projects are quite similar in that they are both asking questions about the social relationships within a population and the factors that influence those relationships,” she says.
Hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, are another of the many draws for divers visiting this little patch of New South Wales coast
“It’s an amazing experience,” says Jo Wiszniewski the Research and Conservation coordinator for the Taronga Conservation Society Australia and co-supervisor of this project. “All the sharks have different personalities, some come quietly to the surface, while others can be feisty and whip around,” she says.
“We knew that social relationships existed amongst the dolphins, so we were looking more at the long-term changes and the stability of those relationships,” says Jo. “Because dolphins are well studied, we then wanted to move on to sharks, as there has been limited research in this field.”
RECORDING PROXIMITY
“We are trying to demonstrate how the sharks interact,” Nathan says. “The social structure of a population is closely connected to their behaviour, ecology, and evolution.”
To do so, the team are using proximity receivers, a new, acoustic technology that records and stores information about encounters with other acoustically tagged sharks. By recording the date, time and an identification number, research on interactions can take place without human interference, and over a continuous, extended period of time. For this relatively small and slow-moving species the recording distance is set at four body lengths (four metres), but it is possible to adjust the distance at which proximal receivers are detected and information is exchanged, to suit larger and more mobile species.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2014, AA No.79 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Only an hour and a half by fast boat from Bali, Indonesia, Lombok’s northern islands, or Gilis, are still just off the beaten track, despite their increasing popularity with backpackers, honeymooners and travellers looking to get away from it all.
No more than seven kilometres wide, Gili Trawangan is a place where Lombok’s traditions merge with Western style boutique shops, where bamboo beach bars sit next to trendy cafés, and basic bungalows share their sandy lanes with five-star villas. No cars, motorbikes or dogs are allowed on the island, making this small patch of sand a quiet and natural tropical paradise. Yet this island getaway is also the location of one of the world’s most intensive and futuristic reef restoration programmes – the Gilis are now home to a staggering total of 119 electric reefs – one of which is solar powered.
PARADISE ALMOST LOST
Indonesia’s waters are full of life and colour; the collision of the Indian and Pacific Oceans results in a wealth of fish and coral diversity, and the diving in Indonesia is considered by many to be the best in the world. Yet in many places, destructive fishing practices, combined with El Niño cycles, have caused enormous damage to Indonesia’s underwater heritage.
Lombok’s three famous northern Gilis sit closely, side by side. Huge volumes of water rush between them, creating incredibly strong currents that bring with them an abundance of life. Here, it is possible to see some of almost everything that diving in Indonesia has to offer – from vibrant nudibranchs and tiny pygmy seahorses to large reef sharks, thriving populations of turtles, and transient mantas. In the shallows, there are gardens of hard and soft corals, and endangered hawksbill and green turtles being cleaned by small butterflyfish and cleaner wrasse. Deeper waters harbour resident whitetip reef sharks, and, during the full moon, the reefs are subjected to the boisterous attentions of a school of bumphead parrotfish, which, like an otherworldly herd of cows, graze on the corals and play amongst the bubbles of divers.
Yet the Gilis also bear their share of scars. For many years, they were fished using dynamite, and in some places, you can still find patches of coral rubble on which nothing will grow. Rubble shifts with the currents and waves, making recolonisation by coral recruits very difficult. Without help, these reefs could take many decades or more to recover. On land, the effects of this annihilation can be seen with beaches eroding away, having lost their essential offshore protection from wave action – the coral reefs.
SCIENCE TO THE RESCUE
In 2004, Delphine Robbe and the Gili Eco Trust set out to change this, to rebuild the area’s marine biodiversity and biomass, starting at the very foundation of life in the ocean and restoring the islands’ coral reefs. Teaming up with coral ecologist, founder of the Global Coral Reef Alliance and creator of Biorock reef restoration technology, Dr. Thomas J. Goreau, they created the first living artificial reefs in the Gilis.
Biorock reefs are steel structures that employ the principles of electrolysis – a process by which electrical currents cause substances present in a liquid to come out of solution. Electrolysis requires one positively charged electrode, the anode, and one negatively charged electrode, the cathode.
When a positively charged anode and a negatively charged cathode are suspended in seawater and an electric current flows between them, calcium ions combine with carbonate ions and form calcium carbonate, which adheres to the cathode. A Biorock’s steel structure is, essentially, a cathode, and, once the current starts to flow, it soon becomes covered in calcium carbonate, or limestone, a mineral that has literally crystallised out of the water. This mineral is almost identical to the substance that forms coral skeletons, and is an ideal substrate for corals to colonise.
Biorock structures can be covered with coral fragments that have been detached from their mother reefs due to storm action, or that have been grown for the purpose. Once colonies take hold on the structure, their skeletal growth is also supported. This means that more energy can be devoted to reproduction, and to resisting stressors.
As time goes on, the structure matures and develops– coral colonies lend increasing structural complexity and the reef develops into a paradise for fish to inhabit for feeding, shelter and reproduction. Corals planted on these structures can grow up to six times faster than corals in the surrounding area and have also been shown to be a lot hardier. Every year, seasonally warm waters raise the sea temperature around Gilis to over 30˚C for extended periods of time. The corals on the Biorocks have proven to be a lot less susceptible to stress and bleaching than other reefs around the Gilis.
But the positive effects of this technology do not seem to be localised. Not only does the mild electric current stimulate the growth of corals attached to the structures, it seems that within a field of up to 15 metres around each Biorock, other corals benefit. In the Gilis, previously uninhabited slopes surrounding the structures have now become lavish coral gardens. And, just like natural coral reefs, Biorock reefs are also extremely successful in dissipating wave and current energy, and are helping to stem coastal erosion – beaches are returning.
The reefs around the Gilis now demonstrate areas of absolutely pristine corals and a healthy abundance of fish species. There is still an ongoing campaign to turn the Gilis into a Marine Protected Area, and with good reason – large areas of the reefs here are covered with a rare type of blue coral, found in few other places in the world in such healthy abundance.
GREEN REEFS
Even though the reefs around Gilis are healthy, colourful and diverse, growing development on the islands has led to an increase in anchoring and associated damage, and an ever-greater need for restoration projects such as Biorock. In recent years, the warm, clear, fish-filled waters have led to an incredible boom in the dive industry here. Slowly, more and more people are beginning to catch on that there is fantastic, yet hassle-free diving right off the beach. Protecting the natural resource that underpins this industry is vital.
I had intended to visit Gili Trawangan for about six weeks after finding out about the Biorock Reef Restoration Programme carried out through Trawangan Dive and the Gili Eco Trust. But after completing my two weeks of training, learning how the Biorock technology works and how successful the project has been around the Gilis, I swiftly made it my aim to stay and volunteer for as long as possible.
To enrol on this reef restoration course, students need little or no knowledge of Biorock, or any scientific background for that matter. All they need is a healthy desire to give something back to the ocean. In the first week, we trained in coral identification and learned how to recognise a whole variety of sponges, algae, fans and feather stars. In the second week we began the gruelling task of designing, measuring, cutting and welding locally sourced steel in the heat of a tropical rainy season. We installed 32 Biorocks, which, when put in place, created the form of a huge manta ray. Creative, yes, but, more importantly, this was to be the very first solar-powered, 100-percent sustainable Biorock reef.
NAVIGATOR
Getting there:
You can get to the Gilis via Bali or by flying directly into Lombok from Jakarta. A number of fast boats leave from Bali’s Padangbai, Nusa Lembongan and Sanur; some of them go via Senggigi. The fast boats take around an hour and half. If you’re arriving in to Mataram, you will need to take a bus to Pemenang and from there take a cidomo (horse drawn cart) to Bangsal harbor. Public boats from Bangsal harbour to the Gilis run between 8am and 5pm every day, and only leave when they are full.
Equipment and training:
Diving in the Gilis is suitable for every level, with a number of IDC centres offering courses up to Instructor. To take part in the Biorock workshops divers should be Advanced Open Water certified or higher.
Best time to dive:
Water stays a warm 28°C and above year round and between the months of March of May the visibility can reach up to 40 metres. Currents are stronger from July to September in the dry season, bringing sharks and schools of pelagic trevally and barracuda. August winds bring waves perfect for surfers.
More information:
To find out more on the Biorock workshops, or the one day PADI Biorock Speciality course, contact info@trawangandive.com
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2014, AA No.79 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
If you’re up for field-based science, Indiana Jones style, one of the world’s wildest, most remote, and most radical research stations is the place for you. Meet the Andaman and Nicobar Environmental Team, who are ready to host you in their living laboratory – India’s Andaman Islands, where the waters are bursting with life, and indigenous tribes are living stone-age existences, totally isolated from the modern world. (Text & Images by Umeed Mistry and Tasneem Khan)
Exploration or fantasy? Documenting volcanic underwater caves, pillars and walls and the life they harbour at The Brotto, on Barren Island (Image by Umeed Mistry)
I look down from my safety stop. This is one of those idyllic April mornings in the Andaman Islands. Shafts of sunlight dance down towards the depths, shimmering off a shoal of passing fusiliers. The ocean breathes peacefully, and I can see all the way down to the reef below.
From this perspective, the damage wreaked by the elevated water temperatures of 2010 is very evident. My memory of this dive site from five years ago is a far more vivid rendering of what I now see. But, as the ocean teaches us over and over again, everything changes and life prevails. Four-year-old stands of a variety of Acropora are already bringing vibrant patches to the grey-green, algae-covered skeletons of the reef that once thrived here. Clouds of bright orange Anthias cluster above these young coral stands, and ever-increasing seasonal numbers of butterflyfish and grouper bring colour and movement to my bird’s-eye view. While the reef is undeniably damaged, our dive was by no means a disappointment. A school of juvenile catfish, some moray eels, a turtle and a curious batfish kept us entertained amidst the general melee of this South Andaman reef. And we have come to love the ever-changing land and seascapes of this South Asian island chain, observing its cycle of destruction and rejuvenation over the last decade.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) are India’s most eastern frontier, and a spectacle both above and below the water. Over 500 islands span 830-odd kilometres from north to south, islets and rocks, each a peak of the submerged mountain range that connects Myanmar to Sumatra. They form an archipelago of immense biological diversity with a high degree of endemism – a volcanic creation hemmed in by ocean boundaries, enclosing a wide range of ecosystems in a very confined space.
The Andaman Islands have always held an aura of mystery, isolation and wonder. Stories of the ancient indigenous communities, anecdotes from explorer’s logs across centuries, war and occupation, black waters and ocean monsters have embellished travellers’ tales.
The emerald isles are an extravagant living laboratory with open ocean, shallow seas and reefs, sandy beaches, rocky shores and sea caves, mangroves and wetlands, littoral forests, giant lowland evergreens and hill-top forests. While each of these systems is a world worth exploring, the intricate connections between these habitats have fascinated explorers, photographers, scientists and travellers alike.
Some of the first documented underwater forays of this, one of the largest reef systems in South Asia, were conducted in the late 1980s by Jacques Cousteau’s team from the famous Calypso. Several subsequent documentations followed – by naval divers, sailors, shell divers and fishermen.
The coral reefs of the Andaman region successfully survived the massive bleaching event in 1998. However, a combination of the 2004 earthquake and the 2010 bleaching event have affected it substantially. The islands support a growing fishery and tourism industry and also harbour some of the few relatively undisturbed and biologically diverse coral reef ecosystems in this corner of the world. It is imperative, from both an environmental and a socio-economic perspective, that these reefs and resources are utilised sustainably and conserved. And so, it is important to understand the responses of these ecosystems to climate change and man-made pressures, as well as the critical factors that determine their recovery.
The Andamans have increasingly gained popularity among travellers, catapulting into global consciousness with the news of the Banda Aceh tsunami. Within a year of December 26, 2004 most of the damaged infrastructure had been rebuilt, and the islands saw the beginning of a second giant wave, this time of tourism, development and research.
A HUB OF RESOURCES, A MELTING POT OF IDEAS
Back aboard our dunghi everybody seems in good spirits. Some, like Dr. Naveen Namboothri, are researchers studying coral recruitment. Some, out for a bit of R&R, are wildlife biologists studying the endemic bats or birds of the island. And others are photographers documenting the health of the reef for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Environmental Team (ANET). The conversation quickly moves to the rejuvenation of the coral in the area. We observed a number of new recruits on the dive and are heartened by this. Sahir Advani, a researcher profiling the islands’ grouper fishery can barely contain his excitement at the sizes of the many Plectropomus groupers on the reef. A few years ago the groupers from this site had been fished out. And so, chatting away about Montipora, Serranidae and the camera housing for the Canon G15, we make our way back to the ANET research station in North Wandoor.
ANET is the largest and most well-established, non-governmental, non-profit research and education trust on the islands. ANET’s founding trustees recognised the natural wealth and potential for research in this unexplored archipelago back in 1988. What they couldn’t possibly have envisioned at that time was the current extent of ANET’s initiatives.
From its inception as a Centre for Herpetology, ANET has today become a hub for interdisciplinary work by scientists, students, designers, educators, artists and policy makers, exchanging ideas and working together. Being the only interdisciplinary, multi-institutional field station for island ecology in the Bay of Bengal, ANET brings the required tools, from electricity to expertise, to the places where science, education and conservation need to be carried out. The resulting pool of knowledge and energy provides space for learning without boundaries, and helps spawn the out-of-the-box thinking that leads to cutting edge work, regardless of the field.
Back at the base, Dr. Naveen Namboothri supervises the cutting of floor tiles. Naveen is a marine biologist, socio-ecological practitioner and a founding trustee of the Dakshin Foundation. He is also a postdoctoral fellow at the Indian Institute of Sciences. He will use these pieces of tile as controlled substrate for his coral recruitment study. With the bleaching of coral reefs in the Andamans, Naveen wants to know if population demography and marine protected areas enhance recovery of coral reefs.
He says, “I am convinced that the reefs here are unique and deserve much more attention. Contradicting conventional patterns of reef distribution and structuring, the reefs of the Andamans seem to be distributed and structured rather uniquely. To a marine ecologist they provide a fascinating challenge in understanding why these reefs are structured the way they are. Thanks to ANET, I now look forward to establishing a long-term coral reef monitoring programme as well as support for other academic efforts in the Andaman Islands.”
One such academic effort is the Treasured Island Project, geared towards education and ecological literacy of local students across the islands. Over the last year, ANET, along with The Dakshin Foundation, embarked on a long-term project to introduce “place-based learning” in the islands – where students grasp various academic concepts experientially, by engaging with their immediate surroundings. For a teacher, the ANI offer a multitude of ecosystems that can be used as classrooms and living laboratories to teach a range of subjects.
ANET, along with design students from the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, revised and re-illustrated the original textbook, Treasured Islands, by Sunita Rao, educator and conservationist. Identified as a useful resource by the Department of Education, these revisions were made in keeping with the National Council for Education, Research and Training syllabus. The final book is visually stunning, shatters the mould of books that have become the norm in Indian schools, and is tailored specifically to students of the ANI – using local references and highlighting the aspects of the archipelago.
At 4pm we drive down to the Wandoor fish-landing jetty with Sahir Advani. His work involves profiling fishing practices for sustainable local fisheries. These islands have witnessed booms, and the inevitable collapses, of multiple fisheries. It has taken Sahir many months to forge a relationship of trust with the fishermen we are about to meet, who are distrustful of strangers asking questions.
“My first encounter with the amazing marine life of these islands was in 2008 – I did my scuba certification on Havelock. When I was asked to travel to the Andamans in 2011 and develop a research project, I jumped at the chance. After interacting extensively with fishing communities throughout the islands, it became clear that there was a significant grouper fishery that was poorly understood and required a closer look.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2014, AA No.79 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
A calm mirror-like surface, crystal-clear waters, and hot sunny days; that was what I assumed my virgin trip to Tonga would be like.
On the contrary, we saw nothing but gloomy skies, rainy days, choppy waters, and plankton-rich waters – not the best conditions for us underwater photographers. Yet, it proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had to date. The word to describe what it felt like would have to be “awe”.
Moments before our first entry into the water, my heart was thumping furiously, full of adrenaline; I was trying to visualise shots despite not knowing what to expect – staying calm was the last thing on my mind. We had our eyes on our guide, who was already in the water confirming the location of our resting mother and calf. As he slowly raised his hand, we slipped quietly into the water, eagerly snorkelling towards the whales. The 50-metre swim felt like forever, as we could see nothing in the deep blue waters. But as we approached, a vague silhouette below our guide gradually took form. The silhouette split into two, the smaller blob was swimming upwards, towards us. As we neared, we could see it was the calf; and the bigger blob was the mother whale. As the calf slowly rose up, seeing us for the first time, it felt like time stood still. Rolling around, it playfully made some tail slaps, circling around us as it observed these strange beings. We could see its white belly rippling with the water as it breathed. At this point, all the cameras were snapping away furiously; we didn’t want to miss a single moment of this first encounter. It was the mother’s turn to breathe. As she rose, her massive size, possibly the length of a bus, was revealed to us mere human beings who were gawking helplessly in amazement.
Photo by Foo Pu Wen
With the mother and calf now in full view, the mother seemed to have accepted our presence as she stayed with us at the surface, eyes closed all the while. She came so close that we could see the bumps on her face, the barnacles, the scars, everything. It was simply amazing.
As the calf swam around the mother, swimming below her and between her fins, the natural bond between the mother and calf was apparent – her gentleness as she used her fins to guide the calf’s breathing created a touching scene that magnified the inexplicable beauty of the humpback whale.
There we were in front of these majestic and gentle giants, so small and insignificant, having the honour of being one of the many encounters these whales would have in their travels. There was not an ounce of fear in us, but rather, a deep gratitude for being accepted as friends, instead of treated as foe.
Read the rest of this article in No.110 Issue 4/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Descending through the clear blue water towards a huge rocky boulder, my guide leads me towards a photogenic pygmy seahorse. Clinging to a branch of coral and swaying to and fro in the gentle current, it’s a shy and elusive creature that turns its back to me before deciding otherwise. Doubt and disbelief turn to excitement as it turns to face me and I keep watching, determined to make the most of the little time I have there. Nearby is an area of whip coral playing host to a few gobies and gorgonian pandalid shrimp while further up in the shallows shoaling fish, from marauding sea goldies to patrolling square-spot fairy basslets, are resident in huge numbers.
BIODIVERSITY, LAND AND SEA
The gateway to this scene is Yakushima, a humid subtropical island in the East China Sea in southern Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture. But despite its prolific marine life, Yakushima is not exactly known as a diving destination. More commonly, visitors go to soak up the atmosphere of the ancient forest, see the giant Yaku cedar “Jomon-sugi” (said to be 7,200 years old) or experience the many hiking trails. Add to this is a huge amount of rain; at 40,000–10,000mm a year, Yakushima may have extremely high precipitation, but this creates a warm and rich natural environment that’s a stunning shade of green with pristine forests and vegetation. It’s precisely these features that led to the island becoming one of Japan’s first natural World Heritage Sites back in 1993.
CRITTER-CARRYING CURRENTS
But underneath this warm, temperate ecosystem lies another world that’s just as rich and varied. The seas off Yakushima are blessed with the warm Kuroshio Current that travels from east of the Philippines to the Pacific coast of southern Japan, heading past Yakushima and north towards the Pacific. As it passes Yakushima, it funnels water rich with nutrients, plankton and schools of reef fish from further south, promoting healthy growth and unique and varied marine life. The flow rate and direction change according to the season, winds and water temperature; this is another reason for the island’s rich underwater diversity. Yakushima is also at the biogeographic boundary between the tropical and temperate regions, and all the climatic zones of the Japanese islands are concentrated there. Despite this, the diving here is yet to be fully discovered, but for those who do encounter it, a treasure trove of life awaits.
Cuttlefish laying their eggs in Yukushima’s clear waters (Photo by Shigeru Haruzaki)
SITES AND HIGHLIGHTS
Yakushima’s main dive sites lie along the north coast. The area is a world of sandy carpets, rocky gardens, boulders and reefs that are jam-packed and vibrant with reef fish species such as damsels, butterflies, angels and more. Described as Japan’s premier nesting site for turtles, it’s also no surprise to occasionally encounter one or two disappearing into the blue when diving here. Gliding lazily by or 1. sniffing around in the organic detritus, the turtles are so relaxed around divers that they are more than happy to nestle into the rocks close by or put on a show of graceful floating. The north coast is also home to signature species like jawfish, brightly-coloured nudibranchs flourishing over the rocks, and yellow-spotted scorpionfish, while other treats lie in store: the ubiquitous lionfish, and Moorish idols hiding in the alcoves.
One of Yakushima’s most popular dive sites is “Zero-sen” in an area called Isso along the north coast, no more than five minutes by boat from the mainland. It’s the final resting place of a Mitsubishi A6M zero, a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Japanese Imperial Navy from 1940–1945. Dropping into the water, the scene seems a little monotonous with a carpet of white sand that spreads out for miles. But then a dark cluster emerges, and, descending to about 20 metres, it soon becomes clear that this is the front part of the aircraft, a safe haven for the many small fish species that dart out of harm’s way as divers approach. There are also huge numbers of sponges, from barrel sponges to the encrusting varieties, and a couple of territorial moray eels that curiously poke their heads out from within the wreckage. Communities of slender sweepers and black spot cardinalfish share their home with white socks shrimps and some ever-present cleaner shrimps.
NAVIGATOR
Getting there:
From Tokyo’s Haneda airport, fly with Japan Airlines to Kagoshima city and change for another flight to Yakushima. The journey from Tokyo to Yakushima is just over three hours. High speed jetfoil boats also operate daily between Kagoshima and Yakushima, departing every one to three hours.
Best time to dive:
Between July and November. Water temperatures range from 26°C to 29°C in July to 23°C to 25°C in November. Visibility can be around 20 to 30 metres.
Don’t dive without:
A camera. There is a staggering range of marine life to photograph!
Essential training:
Open Water is okay, but Advanced is recommended. Most dives can reach 20 metres or more.
Arriving:
Most visitors are permitted to stay in Japan for up to 90 days for tourism. Check with your local embassy.
For more information:
www.yesyakushima.com
www.yakumonkey.com
Dive with:
Yakushima Diving Service Mori to Umi
Currency:
Yen (JPY)
USD
Time zone:
UCT/GMT +9
Languages:
Japanese (some English is spoken on the island too)
Read the rest of this article in Issue 3/2015, AA No.82 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
One of the busiest dive destinations on the planet is setting an example.
The small island of Koh Tao, located in the Gulf of Thailand, has been a mecca for divers for over 15 years. Offering some of the cheapest scuba diving courses available anywhere in the world, this tropical dive destination has become a huge draw for young travellers on a budget. More dive certifications are issued here than anywhere else in Asia, placing it firmly on the backpacker trail. But this popularity also brings an environmental impact, putting pressure on the island’s coral reef system, either directly from the sheer number of divers or indirectly through terrestrial activities.
However, the island’s diving community has been galvanised under the guidance of Save Koh Tao and environmentalist Chad Scott, and is trying to mitigate the impact of these pressures and help preserve this tropical paradise for future generations
BEACH AND REEF CLEAN-UPS
(Photo by Alex Tyrrell)
Run on a monthly basis for the past six years through Save Koh Tao, with an average of 50–80 divers helping out at each event. If a net is reported on a dive site, normally on the offshore pinnacles that attract the fishing vessels, the community reacts quickly to remove it, causing the least amount of damage and the fewest marine life fatalities.
ARTIFICIAL REEFS
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
Structures have been deployed to relieve the pressure on busy training sites. The most dived is now Buoyancy World, which was created by a collaboration of eco-friendly dive schools adjacent to the popular dive site, Twins. The students of New Heaven Reef Conservation Programme have also created completely some new dive sites with artificial structures in Ao Leuk and Suan Olan. Junk Yard was built by Eco Koh Tao and is located just off Crystal Dive Resort in Mae Haad, and the Thai Navy scuttled the 49-metre-long wreck of the HTMS Sattakut, for divers, back in 2011.
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENTS
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
Established at some of the prominent dive schools on the island.
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
THE SAVE KOH TAO FESTIVAL
An annual event highlighting awareness for the environment; also raises essential funds for future projects.
THE KOH TAO ECOLOGICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME
Implemented in 2006, it has run continuously ever since. It has also been written into both SSI and PADI specialty certifications, with over 50 instructors trained and over 600 students certified, resulting in more than 420 surveys completed at 16 sites around the island. In addition it is being adapted by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to run in other areas in Thailand.
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
THE ADOPT-A-REEF PROGRAMME
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
Assisting with coral nurseries and reef rehabilitation, the programme was started in 2010 with Save Koh Tao, the Prince of Songkla University, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Eight dive schools signed up to “adopt” a dive site that they would take care of, and were supplied with coral nursery tables and relevant training in their deployment and ongoing maintenance.
Photo by Alex Tyrell
SEA TURTLE RELEASES
Sea Turtle Releases conducted regularly through Save Koh Tao, following the nursery programme run by New Heaven Dive School.
MOORING BUOYS
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
Installation and maintenance, coupled with training workshops of the techniques that have trained over 200 professional divers over the years. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Chevron, PTTEP, and Salamander Energies helped to supply the required materials for this ongoing project to ensure that dive boats do not need to drop anchors on any of the sites around Koh Tao.
THE ZONING AND COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Started in 2009, it was completed and signed off by the local government in 2012, and finally passed parliamentary government in December 2014.
GIANT CLAM NURSERIES
Developed in conjunction with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and Department of Fisheries to help these bivalves repopulate the local area.
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
CORAL PREDATOR COLLECTIONS
Carried out to lend a hand to stressed reefs, including the removal of Drupella snails and crown-of-thorns sea stars.
Photo by Alex Tyrrell
IS IT WORKING?
Are any of these projects having a positive impact on the environment and actually benefitting Koh Tao? I asked our local expert, Chad Scott from New Heaven Dive School, whose response was:
“All the artificial reefs have become covered in corals and are surrounded by an amazing biodiversity of marine life. In terms of replacing or adding reef structure, being a substrate for coral growth, and attracting a diverse range of fishes and invertebrates, all of the artificial reef sites are considered a success. In terms of creating alternative dive sites that reduce diver pressure on the natural reefs, Buoyancy World, Junkyard, HTMS Sattakut, and Suan Olan have been the most successful, the others are not dived quite so much. A study conducted in 2012 found that about 40-percent of divers coming to learn to dive on Koh Tao, have, at some point, dived on Buoyancy World, which means a lot less traffic on the natural reefs.
In 1999, there were only three mooring lines around the island, whereas now there are over 150! Plus there are lines to keep boats out of the shallow reef areas to minimise damage and keep visitors safe when swimming and snorkelling. These lines also allow the long-tail boats to moor up rather than drop an anchor. This is a huge success.
The creating of the Strategic Management Plan for the island is one of the bigger successes for me. This project took over five years of hard work, including lots of stakeholder meetings, focus groups, surveys, scientific studies, and writing/amending the plan.
Overall I consider the majority of our projects to be a success, having a positive impact on the environment, making Koh Tao a nicer place to live, and well worth the effort we put it to making them work.”
However the clean-ups and adopt-a-reef sites have had mixed success. Sometimes the turnout has been great, whereas other times have seen smaller numbers of volunteers show up. The island’s reefs are much cleaner now than when we started though, which is great. In the first year we were collecting 800–1,000 kilograms per clean-up, which over time has been reduced significantly, even compensating for the increased numbers visiting the island. So it wasn’t a complete loss, but for me clean-ups are more about getting people involved and doing something; the amount collected is just detail in my view. Unfortunately, most of the dive schools that signed up to the adopt-a-reef programme did it more from a marketing perspective than an ecological one, and never totally fulfilled their responsibilities. This is why we eventually dropped this programme.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 3/2015, AA No.82 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Do you want to dive like a boss? Alex Griffin reveals how you can fine-tune your diving technique and attitude, and why it matters (Text by Alex Griffin. Illustration by John Grainger)
Most of us have probably made contact with the coral reef at some point in our diving career. Usually it’s accidental, and how bad we feel about that would probably pose as some kind of indicator on the psychopath scale. We know we shouldn’t do it but may well believe that our behaviour is insignificant in the big scheme of things. The following article contains some surprising facts and tips that will hopefully have you reaching for the BCD before you crash land on the reef. Read on to find out why if you’re a male, novice diver with a camera, the coral polyps are already waving a white flag as your wonky giant stride hits the water.
HOW YOU CAN WRECK THE REEFS
We know that coral reefs are already under a huge amount of stress from a variety of factors: Changes in sea temperature and sedimentation caused by man-made factors have a hugely negative impact on reefs. Many people believe that the presence of divers causing the reef to be seen as a source of income helps offset any minor damage – but divers do cause damage to the reefs they visit. Many studies have documented breakages and abrasions to coral reefs that are frequented by divers and many of us have anecdotally witnessed the difference in life between further-flung, less-dived sites than popular training grounds.
Coral is very delicate and slow growing so even small amounts of damage can quickly mount up. With the reefs already under a huge amount of ecological pressure, we don’t really want to add any more.
As a diver, you don’t really want to do all that training, learn about the beauty of Nature’s underwater creation and then be the doofus who kicks off a large piece of staghorn coral because your catastrophic weighting strategy has caused you to swim through the water like you’re riding an invisible bike, do you?
WHAT CAN WE DO?
So, how to avoid leaving devastation in your wake, and the embarrassing situation of having to shake lumps of coral off your equipment at the end of the dive? Well, first of all a sex change might be in order if you’re a man, as you are much more likely to cause damage to the reef. Men are more likely to swim closer to the reef, enter swim-throughs and be less cautious. This could be charitably ascribed to a man’s adventurous spirit but is probably more likely due to our inability to listen to instructions and then not caring about the consequences.
Sort your buoyancy and listen to the briefing: A real man would listen to the dive briefing and not enter a swim-through full of delicate marine life whilst demonstrating the buoyancy control of a shopping trolley. So if gender reassignment surgery is not an option then you’ll probably need to work harder on your self-esteem issues. And your buoyancy control.
Ditch the camera until you’ve mastered a bit of basic buoyancy. That said, studies show that divers with cheap point-and-click digital cameras aren’t the worst culprits. That honour belongs to the owners of the giant DSLR setups. Those guys have a nasty habit of lying on the bottom whilst they set up their shots so if you do own one of those devices and you’re currently using the reef to anchor yourself in place, might I gently suggest some buoyancy control practice. Those cameras are big and heavy and need extra skill to handle whilst still diving properly.
Sort your weights: I’ve spoken about weighting before but it’s imperative that you get your weighting right. Don’t just chuck on several kilos of lead because you’re scared you can’t hold a safety stop. Do a proper weight check like you did in your Open Water course. As with the buddy check, it’s not optional. Once you’re sure you have the correct amount of weight then you need to sort out trim. This means you should be able to hover in a roughly horizontal position. Hovering vertically in the water is so mid to late 90s, but still strangely popular. It’s like the Maroon 5 of scuba diving.
Illustrated by John Grainger
GET A BIT TECHIE AND LOOK AT YOUR FINNING TECHNIQUES:
• Backward Fin Kicks: Very useful when reef diving and/or taking photos and are much more effective than windmilling your hands about.
• Frog Kick: Much better for the environment than traditional flutter kicks, the frog kick works like the kick you do when you breast stroke. Because the movement is lateral you don’t disturb the bottom. You should be horizontal with your knees bent and your fins flat. The kick is a sculling motion that comes from the knees and ankles.
• Reverse Kicks: These let you back away from the reef without knocking seven bells out of it. Whilst in the position for the start of a frog kick, extend your legs slowly with your fins flat and pointing straight behind you. Now angle your fins so they would look like ears pointing out and up at a 45-degree angle if someone were looking at you head on and return them smoothly and quickly to their original position. It takes a bit of practice but is a very useful skill to master.
• Modified Flutter Kick: Useful in tighter spaces, the modified flutter starts in the same position as the frog kick with your knees bent and fins straight but instead of sculling you perform a short flutter kick from the hips and ankles.
• Helicopter Turn: As it sounds, this is for turning on the spot. It’s a little difficult to describe but it’s like the frog kick where only one fin sculls whilst the other acts as a rudder to maintain position. Another way to describe it is one fin does half a frog kick and the other does half a reverse kick. Clear? Good.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 3/2015, AA No.82 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
When you started diving you may have begun in a swimming pool somewhere, wearing a wetsuit that had spent most of its long and overworked existence doubling up as an adult nappy. Weight would have been generously supplied with the overall effect of gluing you to the pool floor like an electromagnet.
During your open water dives there’s a strong possibility that you wore your weight-belt lower than a hipster’s jeans and walked vertically through the water column with a fully inflated BCD worn as an attractive scarf.
Most divers will start out over-weighted to some degree. This is an inevitability caused by an initial lack of experience. Unfortunately many divers assume that they need more weight than they do and are scared of fast ascents and holding safety stops. This means they eventually learn to dive around the problem instead of fixing it.
GETTING YOUR WEIGHTING CORRECT
BUOYANCY CHECK: There is a tried and tested way to get your weighting correct. On the surface, you simply hold a normal breath and let the air out of your BCD and drysuit and you should float with the surface at about eye level. When you exhale you should slowly sink. This tends to work pretty well so don’t be scared to ask to do a weight check at the start of a dive trip if you’re not sure what you need.
I once saw a very slim lady wearing a shorty wetsuit wander over to the dive guide and ask for weight.
“How much do you want?” he said. Lady (very unsure); “Um, eight kilos?” The dive guide wordlessly handed it over.
So, take control of the situation and do a check. Remember it’s easier to add than to take away. Also remember that if your tank is aluminium that’s going to get over a kilo positive by the time it’s down to 50 bar so make sure that you compensate by adding one to two kilos at the start of the dive.
WORK ON YOUR BREATHING: If you’re on the surface hyperventilating from heat exhaustion caused by gearing up in the blazing sun (not a problem for me, I spend most of my time in cold, dark British quarries) then you’re going to struggle to empty your lungs sufficiently to sink. Wait until your breathing has calmed down, then exhale slowly and allow yourself to sink. The most important part is to ensure that you fully exhale and allow yourself to sink before you inhale again. If you do need to breathe, take a short, quick breath in and then completely expel it again. If you instantly take in another full lungful you’re just going to bob up and down on the surface whilst your buddy wads bricks into your BCD.
LOOKING GOOD UNDER THE WATER
Now we’ve got our weighting right, we need to get our trim sorted. Trim works on the basis that hovering in a roughly horizontal position is the most efficient way to dive. No-one glides through the water in a Buddha hover either, so you can knock that one on the head.
What can you do to try and get into a horizontal trim? It’s all about centre of gravity. Here are a few tips:
MOVE YOUR TANK: You know that thing instructors do where they lift up the BCD collar and show it in line with the top of the tank valve? It’s a good start point but it doesn’t always help. If you’re long and lanky like me then hovering horizontally in a wetsuit is pretty hard. Moving the tank higher up my back brings my centre of gravity forward and brings my legs up. If I lift my head I can feel the tank valve but it doesn’t bother me. The opposite is true if you’re lucky enough to have floaty feet. Simply move the tank down a bit.
MOVE YOUR WEIGHTS: Try moving your weight belt up your waist until it’s in line with your grandad’s trousers. You can do this once you’re horizontal so that it won’t slip back down. You can also use the integrated weight pockets on the BCD or trim pockets around the tank. All of that will pull your weight forward and bring your feet up. Getting your weighting and trim right is an ongoing process. Keep doing weight checks as your experience increases and your gear changes and you should find you’ll keep improving. Alternatively you can ignore all of this and go and roll about on the sand looking at the fish. It is supposed to be fun after all…
Read the rest of this article in Issue 8/2014-2015, OP No. 2 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
RASDHOO MADIVARU is one of the Maldives’ most famous dive sites. Why? For its hammerheads, and for many divers, seeing these extraordinary sharks is their number one priority. I have guided countless divers at Rasdhoo Madivaru, and sometimes we have been lucky, but many times we weren’t, and not seeing them is always hugely disappointing.
Ever since I was a child, I have been interested in marine life, so I started to wonder about the reasons why sometimes the sharks could be found at Rasdhoo Madivaru, and sometimes they could not. I spent long periods of time in the area, diving to see these sharks. I dived the site many times, observing Nature, and comparing the conditions on each different dive. One thing I noticed was consistent in the shark sightings was the temperature; whenever I hit the thermocline, with temperatures between 28 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius, I saw several hammerheads, no matter the depth – from as little as 15 down to 40 metres.
I suggested my theory of seeing the hammerhead sharks whenever I hit the cold thermoclines to the scientists working for IUCN Maldives and they said that it might just be right. Since I am a tek diver, capable of doing deep dives, I suggested that I could place some temperature loggers (see box) in the Madivaru Channel. We placed five loggers from five metres to a depth of 60 metres.
I was the only one who was able to place the deepest logger at 60 metres, and I really wanted to do it – a friend, my deep diving buddy from Sri Lanka, Dharshana, and I had found a massive, beautiful coral block at 60 metres on one of our dives there. It’s a very unique looking coral block and we named it “Face of Fajer”. Ever since we found the place I have loved doing deep dives there.
Loggers placed at different sites by tek divers are helping scientists monitor water temperatures (Photo by Shafraz Naeem)
Some of the sites I’ve dived are deeper than 40 metres and require proper tek dives. To me, tek diving is really important in the Maldives, especially for research and scientific dives on these kinds of deep coral blocks and pinnacles. There are so many of these deep formations dotted all across the Maldives, places very few divers have seen.
On the day I went down to place the logger at 60 metres I saw five hammerhead sharks pass by me! The temperature was 26 degrees down there that day. It was amazing to see these sharks at that depth just swimming past, patrolling their kingdom, a place so inaccessible to so many people.
The loggers have now all been placed at different depths to record temperatures and to see how much it changes and how these temperature changes will affect the corals and other wildlife. This year we have had the hottest months ever recorded, probably as a result of El Niño, but possibly because the planet’s climate has been altered by us irreversibly.
I go back every week to collect the data from all the loggers. And every time I visit the logger on the “Face of Fajer” at 60 metres, I see the hammerheads. I just hope that despite our world’s rapidly changing changing climate, these beautiful sharks will be there long into the future.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 4 Volume 143 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Wakatobi Dive Resort is considered by many to be a model of sustainable dive tourism. One explorer heads there to discover if this Indonesian operator in the heart of the Coral Triangle really does live up to the hype. (Text by Wade Hughes FRGS Images by Dr Richard Smith, Wade & Robyn Hughes)
IT DID CAUSE a bit of a stir. I was a panelist at the Brunei National Environment Conference a few years ago. The panel’s topic was conservation of the oceans and the conference venue, the Empire Hotel, had shark-fin soup on the menu. When the moderator for the panel discussion called for a show of hands to indicate who would support boycotting the soup, I voted against it. In fact, I think I was the only one that did. Given that I’d just made some remarks about my own efforts to promote the conservation of sperm whales, there was some lively reaction from other panel members and some members of the audience. That was understandable. But when the temperature cooled a little, and I was asked to explain, I offered the idea that “Should we boycott shark-fin soup?” was the wrong question.
THE BETTER QUESTION?
To be clear. Shark-finning, and the demand for it by people who inanely and selfishly support it in order to consume tasteless, nutrition-less boiled sinews, is a devastating blight on the oceans. Healthy oceans underpin innumerable economic and biological benefits for the human race, not least the provision of such life-support “conveniences” as atmospheric oxygen. People who buy shark fins and shark-fin soup are effectively undermining all that for the rest of us. So, I have little sympathy for their behaviour.
But how to stop shark-finning? There are no easy answers. The change has to come from within the deluded and self-obsessed customer base, extend through irresponsible restaurants around the globe (easily found online) to governments, businesses, warehouses and middlemen spread through an array of locations and cultures, to the villages and homes of thousands of some of the world’s poorest fishermen. It’s very easy for a cool and comfortable affluent audience to vote to simplistically boycott soup and in so doing, vote to take away the livelihoods of fishermen who depend on this vile market to feed their families and kids. But unless the vote comes with some form of commitment to find or support meaningful alternatives for these fishermen and their families, it is meaningless. As I offered in Brunei, a better question might be: “Who’ll help find a better economic alternative for shark-fin fishermen?” Because, for conservation to be sustainable, it has to be founded on sustainable economics.
LOOKING FOR A LIVING REEF
Fast-forward a couple of years and I was looking for a diving destination somewhere within the Coral Triangle. They all look fabulous on their websites, but that’s to be expected. I don’t believe the “pristine waters and reefs” hype, so commonly splashed around in promotional materials. I doubt most people do.
Diverse reefs are home to crytic, Technicolour fishes, a paradise for macro lovers (Photo by Wade and Robyn Hughes)
There are now few, if any, coral reefs in the world that are pristine – that is, in their original condition, unaffected by human activity. Coral Triangle reefs, like any other marine environments rimmed by large populations, have been fished and exploited, and polluted, for centuries.
But this passage of text caught my attention on the Wakatobi site: “Prior to the (conservation) program, the locals were largely dependant (sic) on working with foreign, illegal fishing boats to make a living… These boats are owned and crewed by people who don’t consider the pressure they are putting on the marine-life. The owners don’t pay local taxes, the crew doesn’t care where they throw anchor or deplete marine resources. In the end, locals get very little gain from this kind of activity.
But there is no way that anyone with a sustainability agenda could have marched in and simply told the locals to not walk on the reefs and stop supporting the foreign fishermen, as these activities provided part of their living. Instead, what was needed was an alternative source of income whereby people could choose whether they wished to preserve or destroy. We believed, and still do, that the best and most sustainable alternative is to create employment and education opportunities through responsible, conservation-linked tourism.”
This frank summary of the problem of illegal and destructive fishing, and Wakatobi’s stated commitment to invest time and money in pursuit of a sustainable solution for it, seemed like a good enough reason to seriously consider Wakatobi as a dive destination. No talk of boycotting here! Just a commitment to work with the locals to find better and more-sustainable choices.
Then my own selfishness kicked in. Wakatobi offered a charter flight from Bali to the resort’s own private airstrip! This is a flight from an international airport right into the heart of the Coral Triangle, without having to fly the gauntlet of multiple domestic flights. The unreliability of many domestic services across Southeast Asia, the increasing hassles and costs associated with travelling with heavy diving and fragile photographic kit, and the lack of authority of the front-line counter staff to solve even minor problems for paying customers, for me, rapidly takes the gloss off travelling as a diving photographer. The idea of simply handing off all those logistical issues to someone else, and just enjoying the ride, was irresistible.
Pyjama cardinalfish school and dart above the corals (Photo by Wade & Robyn Hughes)
LIVING PROOF
So we went to Wakatobi to see for ourselves. And now we’ve been there, so far, five times, with a couple of those visits extended into three-week stays. We continue to return there because Wakatobi has done what its founders committed to achieving about 25 years ago. Given its remoteness, the challenges of building and maintaining substantial infrastructure under foreign laws and culture, the difficulties of introducing and sustaining change in the face of generations of entrenched practices, it could not have been easy – and very probably, still is not.
But it is paying off. Wakatobi’s efforts are creating economic value that is sustaining the reefs. Education and conservation programmes are creating new employment and career choices for local people. Around 18 local villages benefit directly from revenues generated by the resort through the provision of electricity and educational support. Local fishermen have a reliable customer willing to pay premium prices for high quality, sustainably harvested fish. No-take areas are, generally, recognised and respected by those local fishermen for their roles in replenishing the reefs.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 4 Volume 143 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Held on November 28 to December 2, 2018 in Mabini, Batangas, in the Philippines, the 6th Anilao Underwater Shootout photo competition organised by the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT)’s Office of Product and Market Development Dive Group is an annual photo competition that has been dubbed the “World Cup of Photo Competitions”.
Home to some of the rarest marine life in the world, Anilao is one of the world’s best diving spots and its rich bio-diversity is featured annually in the Anilao Underwater Shootout. This year’s competition saw more than 220 underwater photographers and divers from all over Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific congregate at Anilao.
This year’s competition featured a star-studded panel of judges with French naturalist photographer and marine biologist Laurent Ballesta, award-winning Belgian underwater and wildlife photographer Ellen Cuylaerts, macro photography expert and 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Indra Swari; renowned underwater photographer William Tan and Underwater360 founder and Asia Dive Expo’s official organizer John Thet.
Our UW360 correspondent, Andrew Lim, was one of the participants of the Anilao Underwater Shootout and wrote about his experience of the competition.
In the Open Class, Macro/Supermacro category, Thing Yun Na (Indonesia) clinched first place, Cai Heng took second place while Henley Spiers (United Kingdom, France) was third.
OPEN CLASS (MACRO/SUPERMACRO)
First place:
Thing, Yun Na (Indonesia)
Second place:
Cai Heng (China)
Third Place:
Henley Spiers (United Kingdom, France)
In the Open Class, Marine Behaviour category, Dennis Corpuz (Philippines) clinched the first prize, Brook Peterson (United States) took second place and Cai Heng (China) was third.
OPEN CLASS (MARINE BEHAVIOUR)
First place:
Dennis Corpuz (Philippines)
Second place:
Brook Peterson (United States)
Third place:
Cai Heng (China)
In the Open Class, Nudibranch category, Bebot Esteban (Philippines) clinched first place, Lai Kam Moon (Hong Kong) took second place while Mohan Thanabalan was third.
OPEN CLASS (NUDIBRANCH)
First place:
Bebot Esteban (Philippines)
Second place:
Lai Kam Moon (Hong Kong)
Third place:
Mohan Thanabalan (Malaysia)
In the Open Class, Fish Portrait category, Peri Paleracio (Philippines) clinched first place, PJ Aristorenas (Philippines) took second place while Marco Steiner (Austria) was third.
OPEN CLASS (FISH PORTRAIT)
First place:
Peri Paleracio (Philippines)
Second place:
PJ Aristorenas (Philippines)
Third place:
Marco Steiner (Austria)
In the Compact Class, Macro/Supermacro category, Ericson Yee (Philippines) clinched first place, Narumon Pimsirinath (Thailand) took second place while Ex Borrega Liao (Philippines) was third.
COMPACT CLASS (MACRO/SUPERMACRO)
First place:
Ericson Avendan Yee (Philippines)
Second place:
Narumon Pimsirinath (Thailand)
Third place:
Ex Borrega Liao (Philippines)
In the Compact Class, Marine Behaviour category, Maria Nerissa Fajardo (Philippines) clinched first place, Jayson Apostol (Philippines) was second and Lee Gyoungmi (South Korea) was third.
COMPACT CLASS (MARINE BEHAVIOUR)
First place:
Maria Nerissa Fajardo (Philippines)
Second place:
Jayson Apostol (Philippines)
Third place:
Lee Gyoungmi (South Korea)
In the Compact Class, Nudibranch category, first place went to Marc Stephen De Leon (Philippines), second place went to Lin Haojie (China) and third place went to Ronald Dalawampo (Philippines).
COMPACT CLASS (NUDIBRANCH)
First place:
Marc Stephen De Leon (Philippines)
Second place:
Lin Haojie (China)
Third place:
Ronald Dalawampo (Philippines)
In the Compact Class, Fish Portrait category, Regie Casia (Philippines) clinched first place, Lim Sudong (United States) took second place and Ajiex Dharma (Indonesia) took third place.
COMPACT CLASS (FISH PORTRAIT)
First place:
Regie Casia (Philippines)
Second place:
Lim Sudong (United States)
Third place:
Ajiex Dharma (Philippines)
SPECIAL AWARDS
In the Special Awards, Smart Phone/Action Camera category, Ria Crucero (Philippines) was named the winner.
SPECIAL AWARDS (SMART PHONE/ACTION CAMERA)
Winner: Ria Crucero
In the Special Awards, Blackwater/Bonfire category, Cai Songda (China) was named the winner
SPECIAL AWARDS (BLACKWATER/BONFIRE)
Winner: Cai Songda (China)
The Philippines swept both the DOT-PAL Photographer of the Year awards for the Open and Compact classes with Dennis Corpuz winning for his entry in the Open Class (Marine Behaviour) category and Regie Casia for his winning Compact Class (Fish portrait) photo.
Read the rest of this article in No. 114/2019 of Scuba Diver Ocean Planet magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Judi Lowe is about to release the results of her groundbreaking new PhD research, which will change the way we think about dive tourism and the conservation of coral reefs, forever.
Soon to be internationally recognised as the expert on sustainable dive tourism, with a revolutionary new approach that could be the key to safeguarding coral reefs, fish stocks and megafauna, Judi agreed to give us a tantalising glimpse into the results of her extraordinary research.
ASIAN DIVER: Tell us what, in your opinion, is real “eco-tourism”, or “sustainable” tourism?
JUDI LOWE: Eco-tourism is an important concept, defined by Ceballos Lascurain in Mexico in 1983 and adopted by the IUCN in 1996, to mean responsible travel to natural areas that promotes conservation, has low impact and provides benefits to local people.
Sustainable tourism is defined by the UN World Tourism Organization as “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.
For dive tourism to be sustainable, it must actively conserve coral reefs, not just passively enjoy them. Since 95 percent of the world’s coral reefs lie in the tropics, with fishers living in poverty along their shores, the future of coral reefs and local fishers cannot be separated. For dive tourism to be sustainable, there must be tangible benefits to local fishers.
ASIAN DIVER: Why hasn’t “eco-tourism” been delivering the results we need in terms of conservation? How have most of us been missing the mark until now?
JUDI LOWE: Eco-tourism is a popular concept and it sells well. Sadly, it has become a much-abused marketing tool, promoting the perception that a tourism product is sustainable when it is not. Science shows that most dive tourism is anything but sustainable.
There are many eco-tourism certification schemes but they are designed for terrestrial tourism, not marine. Principles tend to be general and vague and their effectiveness stops at the high tide mark. Eco-tourism has failed to deliver the conservation of coral reefs, fish, sharks, whale sharks, whales, manta rays, and turtles.
Coral reefs are under threat from destructive fishing and overfishing, climate change and pollution. Of these, destructive fishing and overfishing are the greatest threats.
Shark finning is highly lucrative. Sustainable tourism can create alternative livelihoods for people and help halt this fishery
ASIAN DIVER: How is your research about to change all this?
JUDI LOWE: My research shows that when dive operators in the tropics use integrated coastal management and recognise the traditional rights of local fishers to fish coral reefs, then provide livelihoods to fishers and their communities, they conserve coral reefs and reduce destructive fishing and overfishing around dive sties. This is a result every marine protected area manager in the world wants to know how to do.
My PhD research produces a best practice model of sustainable dive tourism, capable of letting dive operators know what they need to do to conserve coral reefs and reduce destructive fishing and overfishing. This is a fresh approach to the role of dive tourism in conserving coral reefs. It makes dive tourism a valuable contributor, which deserves a seat at the table in the management of coral reefs.
ASIAN DIVER: Are there any examples out there of a truly sustainable marine tourism model?
It has never been more important for dive tourism to be truly sustainable, to help secure the future of coral reefs and the communities they support
JUDI LOWE: Happily, there will be soon. My best-practice model of sustainable dive tourism is based on the most widely accepted model for conserving coral reefs, fish and megafauna, called integrated coastal management (ICM). ICM was developed from lessons from major coral reef conservation projects in the Philippines and Indonesia. There are 10 things you need to do to conserve coral reefs. Soon, I will explain these 10 factors in detail and why they are important to dive operators.
ASIAN DIVER: What’s the next step? How are you planning to take this out of the academic world and into the real world?
JUDI LOWE: Scientific journal articles can be expensive to access and hard to read, so I will also publish my results
in dive magazines around the world. I will roll out the best-practice model of sustainable dive tourism to interested parties on completion of my PhD early in 2017. Happily, the model can also be adapted to other forms of marine tourism including beach going, surfing, sailing and cruise ships.
ASIAN DIVER: What obstacles do you foresee with the implementation of this new approach? Have you been able to identify ways to overcome them?
JUDI LOWE: The most common objections from dive operators about engaging in conservation are “I don’t have the money for that” and “That’s the government’s job”.
Firstly, coral reefs and fish stocks are a dive business’s primary assets. Not protecting them runs down the value of the business over time. Divers are prepared to pay more to see healthy coral reefs, fish, sharks, manta rays, whales sharks and turtles. When a coral reef is damaged and fish disappear, divers simply go somewhere else. Conservation is an investment.
Secondly, in a perfect world, governments would have the resources and will to protect coral reefs. In the tropics, where most coral reefs lie, governments don’t always have the funds or the will to conserve them.
Given government failure, or low capacity, who is going to step in? Dive businesses make money from coral reefs. They are out on the water every day. It makes perfect business sense that dive operators would contribute, becoming partners in protecting coral reefs.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 4 Volume 143 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Spearfishing is an activity that generates passion, controversy and debate. Is it the most ecologically sustainable method of catching a fish or is it an activity that damages the environment? Is it preferable to catch your own wild local seafood or to buy it? Dr Adam Smith finds out.
THE GOOD
Proponents argue that spearfishing is selective and ecologically sustainable because:
• When best practices are adhered to, spearfishing has fewer negative impacts than other fishing methods such as:
— Little or no by-catch
— Minimal impact on non-target species
— No need for bait
— Little or no loss of gear
— Minimal damage to habitat
• Freedivers are restricted to shallow water
• Freedivers can target the size and species of their catch
• Some spearfishers have good knowledge and cultural connections to the ocean and can be considered “hunter conservationists”
BEST PRACTICES
There are, however, guidelines for best practices that, when enforced and followed, can ensure that spearfishing becomes a more sustainable way to consume seafood than most other commercial and recreational methods.
THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Yet it is also a highly efficient form of fishing, and so, when practised recklessly, with little training or information, spearfishing can also be very damaging to marine ecosystems. Spearfishing activities may also compete with and impact coastal communities when visiting spearfishers are removing fish that the local people depend on for their livelihoods.
FISH THE REEF NEEDS
Mass coral bleaching has occurred on many reefs around the world due to above-average ocean temperatures.
If left to grow, algae (seaweed) can quickly dominate reefs and stop coral larvae settling and starting the next generation of coral colonies.
Plant-eating fish, or herbivores, remove algae from reefs. In normal conditions, these fish act as Nature’s lawnmowers and keep seaweed levels under control. Following coral bleaching, these fish are critical to reef recovery because their grazing removes seaweed and provides space for new corals to grow.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
If you are fishing or spearfishing, these reef fish in particular should be avoided.
• Unicornfish (Naso unicornis)
• Bumphead parrotfish
(Bolbometopon muricatum)
• Steephead parrotfish
(Chlorurus microrhinos)
• All other species of parrotfish
• All species of rabbitfish
• All species of surgeonfish
KEYSTONE SPECIES
Some species fill other vital niches in the reef ecosystem, performing jobs that cannot, and never will be, filled by other species. These are known as “keystone” species. Without these species, the delicate web of life underwater soon falls apart.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 4 Volume 143 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The Hexanchidae family, or cow sharks, have seven gills and can be traced back 190 mi
(Text by Brandon Sing/Shark Guardian. Illustrations by Julius Csotonyi. Images by various contributors)
The history and evolution of sharks goes back a long time, but let’s define “a long time”, because that phrase alone really does not do it justice. Put it this way: Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic era, which began about 245 million years ago. Sharks, on the other hand, were living in our oceans 200 million years before the dinosaurs! Sharks are some of the oldest creatures this planet has ever known. How can we possibly know or prove this? Fossil records. Interestingly, shark fossils are extremely rare because sharks are mostly comprised of cartilage, and cartilage disintegrates too fast to become fossilised. For this reason, most shark fossils are made up of just prehistoric teeth, fin spines, and scales. From these few remains, we have been able to piece together a pretty good picture of the sharks that plied the ancient seas.
CLADOSELACHE
Scientists studying 400 million-year-old shark fossils from Cleveland, Ohio, found that their specimens turned out to belong to an ancient 1.2-metre Cladoselache shark. As one of the first species of sharks, the Cladoselache shared only certain characteristics with modern-day sharks. While they had gill slits and torpedo-shaped bodies, Cladoselache sharks had no placoid scales covering their skin (also known as dermal denticles), which provide modern sharks with added protection and aid in swimming. Cladoselache sharks also did not possess claspers, the male anatomical structures used in mating that are found in present-day sharks and rays. It is actually not known how they reproduced, but neither the lack of claspers nor dermal skin hindered their survival, because Cladoselache sharks lived in the oceans for about 100 million years.
STETHACANTHUS
Stethacanthus was a prehistoric shark that lived from 345 to 280 million years ago. These 60- to 70-centimetre-long sharks preferred to swim in shallow, warm waters. The Stethacanthus shark possessed a fascinating dorsal fin that was in the same position as the dorsal fin of a modern shark, but the top was flat and covered in large scales. Scientists are unsure what these dorsal fins were used for. One belief is that this headgear was used to ward off larger predators and protected Stethacanthus from injury if attacked, much like the protrusions of today’s horn sharks.
MEGALODON
From 16 million to 2.6 million years ago, megalodon ruled the waters of the Earth. Researchers have discovered that they had many physical and behavioural similarities to today’s great whites. While their exact size is still under discussion, megalodon was approximately 12 to 21 metres long. Megalodon teeth have been found in Africa, North America, South America, India, Australia, Japan, and Europe. It is believed that they fed on whales and other marine mammals. Why megalodon all died off remains a mystery. Some postulate that these sharks swam in warm waters, and a lowering of ocean temperatures may very well have led to their demise. Another plausible explanation is that their favoured prey began to migrate to colder waters, or even disappeared. Even though the megalodon is thought to have become extinct about 2.6 million years ago, it is still regarded as a “modern shark”.
SHARK EVOLUTION
Cladoselache and Stethacanthus are both types of sharks that existed during the Devonian period 419 to 359 million years ago, and based on the morphology and behaviour of present-day sharks, they are proof that these predators have evolved tremendously over time. Modern sharks all have tooth-like dermal denticles covering their skin, and skeletons made up of cartilage. In addition, the fins and gill slits of today’s shark species are all relatively similar. While one group of ancient sharks evolved to become rays and skates, modern sharks haven’t changed much for 140 million years.
Cladoselache: These sharks had neither dermal denticles covering their skin nor the male anatomical structures used in mating that are found in modern sharks and rays.
Ctenacanths: These early sharks are known for their fin spines much like the horn sharks of today (pictured on the left). Ctenacanth spines were combed like modern-day stingray spin
400 MILLION YEARS AGO
DEVONIAN PERIOD
It’s thought that at least 10 families of sharks existed during this time. They would later branch off to become other species.
Stethacanthus: The distinctive anvil-shaped dorsal fin of this species was a unique feature that no modern-day shark possesses.
The Carboniferous Period underwent a significant period of adaptive radiation giving rise to what is referred to today as the
“Golden Age of Sharks”. This continued until…
250 MILLIONS YEARS AGO
CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD
The Permian–Triassic extinction event killed 99 percent of all ocean species
Sevengill sharks: These sharks, also known as cow sharks, can be traced back 190 million years, to the early Jurassic. The group includes 37 species in 10 genera.
Hybodonts were sharks that lived in shallow seas 180 million years ago, and researchers once considered them to be candidates for the ancestors of modern sharks, though this thesis is now usually discounted. They lived in both fresh water and seawater, a tolerance shared with today’s bull sharks.
155 MILLION YEARS AGO
The lamnoids include some of the best-known sharks, such as the great white (pictured left) shark, thresher shark, basking shark, goblin shark, and sand tiger. Great whites have been around for some 11 million years.
The great white and megalodon coexisted for about 10 million years. It has been suggested that these mighty predators kept out of each other’s way by feeding on different prey (megalodon on whales, the great white on seals) and living in different areas (megalodon in warm water, the great white in cooler water).
65 – 35 MILLION YEARS AGO
FILTER FEEDERS (WHALE SHARK, BASKING SHARK AND MEGAMOUTH SHARK)
Sometime between 65 and 35 million years ago, several different orders evolved from being predators to filter-feeding plankton. The whale shark, the basking shark and the rare deep-water megamouth shark are the only known filter-feeding shark species today.
50 – 35 MILLION YEARS AGO
HAMMERHEADS – THE MODERN SHARK OF OUR TIME
Hammerhead sharks are the most evolutionarily advanced sharks, evolved to meet the demand of their changing prey and dietary preferences. Their heightened senses and behavioural tactics are like no other sharks. There are 10 known species of hammerhead sharks in our oceans today. Hammerhead teeth first appeared in mid-to-late Eocene deposits, from about 50 to 35 million years ago.
SHARK EVOLUTION FACT FILE
• The first fish appeared around 510 MYA
• Sharks appeared about 425 to 400 MYA
• Dinosaurs appeared about 230 MYA
• Some mammals appeared around the same time as dinosaurs
• Early modern humans emerged just 200,000 years ago
• The span of recorded history is only about 5,000 years
• Sharks have existed 100 times longer than humans
• Sharks have existed three times longer than dinosaurs, or twice as long if you include birds
• Sharks have survived five mass planetary extinctions
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2015, AA No. 83 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Held on November 28 to December 2, 2018 in Mabini, Batangas, in the Philippines, read on as Andrew Lim tells all about his experience taking part in the 6th Anilao Underwater Shootout photo competition organised by the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT)’s Office of Product and Market Development Dive Group.
The 6th Anilao Underwater Shootout is an experience I’ll never forget. The beach, booze, and amazingly talented beautiful people gathered together at a world-class diving spot (with an unlimited supply of nitrox) is every underwater photographer’s slice of heaven.
We touched down in Manila with the warmest of welcomes by the Philippine Department of Tourism, where a representative presented us with pretty hand-made wooden necklaces before ushering us to the car. Who knew, just a short two hour drive later, we would find ourselves at perhaps one of the best dive spots I’ve ever been to.
The contestants and judges enjoying the bartender performing his mixing routine (Photo by Andrew Lim)
We arrived at the charming Acacia Resort and Dive Centre where everyone was busy setting up and preparing for the welcome party. It was impressive. Handmade lights with colourful paper streamers hung from the branches of a large rain tree whose majestic shadow loomed above the pool. A DJ booth, stage, and screen were being set up right opposite, and the bar barely had enough space for me to rest my camera on. It was a familiar scene, very much like the full-moon parties you’d see along the beaches of Krabi, only this was better because everyone there had a shared common passion – the ocean.
By around 6pm, a crowd made up of sponsors, event organisers, media, and contestants started to gather. Music was playing and the food, oh the marvellous food, was being served. We had opening speeches by the organisers, talks by sponsors, and words of wisdom by the judges. The competition had finally begun.
The sumptuous buffet spread at the Anilao shootout (Photo by Andrew Lim)
My first day of diving was an eventful one. I heard incredible stories of how Anilao is a macro haven and I was honestly a little bummed out that I had to use my wide-angle setup because I had to document everyone who was shooting. I mean, media right? It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, however. I was completely blown away the second I got into the water. Vibrant and lush corals spanned as far as the eye could see, and visibility was spectacular. The reefs were teaming with life as the little red jewels that are Anthias blanketed the overall underwater landscape. No words could describe the beauty I witnessed, so thankfully I got some photos.
Laurent Ballesta hard at work looking at photos (Photo by Andrew Lim)
We had the pleasure of joining the judges on a number of dives where we saw the masters at work. It is one thing to hear them speak about what they’ve done and how they do it, and another to witness them in their element in person. Laurent Ballesta, rock star of the diving community and the first scuba diver to take photos of the Coelacanth, donned his really cool rebreather system and was busy shooting a pygmy seahorse while I swam past. Just the night before, he was sharing about his impressive expeditions at the Antarctic as well as The Gombessa Project.
Famous Belgian underwater photographer, Ellen Cuylaerts, giving a talk to contestants about underwater photography (Photo by Andrew Lim)
I spent quite a bit of time with the beautiful Ellen Cuylaerts, grand protector of our oceans. I noticed that she wasn’t shooting so much during the first few dives, but later realised that it was most probably because she was just living in that moment, soaking in the beautiful reefs that seemingly engulfed us. It showed so clearly her passion and love for the oceans, which ultimately should come first to us underwater photographers. It is so easy to forget why we even take photographs in the first place. We are always so caught up with getting the best shot that we forget to take a step back and fully appreciate whatever is around us. Ellen served as a reminder to me that getting the perfect shot is usually a by-product of enjoying a moment. Perhaps that is why her images have such a soul to it.
Indra Swari had a sharing session later that evening where she showcased her work. She talked about one thing in particular that struck me. Backscatter has always been a photographer’s nightmare and we are constantly cleaning our photos to make sure the background has no particles. She, however, pointed out that in some rare instances, backscatter could just add to the overall image and feel of a photo. I took that with me on my very first blackwater dive later that evening.
Backscatter providing depth in a photo taken during a blackwater dive (Photo by Andrew Lim)
The boats set out at about 8pm and the crew dropped a line of lights into the dark abyss. On normal night dives, all you see is the spot where your torch shines. This doesn’t happen here because you are basically floating in mid open-water and your light has nowhere to bounce off. You feel all alone, but only for a minute. Strange but magnificent creatures of the night started swarming around me. This is it. This is what Anilao is famous for and I was loving it.
The boats that are used to carry the contestants out to sea (Photo by Andrew Lim)
It took awhile for me to get used to this type of photography, but with William Tan’s tips and advice I believe I got the hang of it pretty quickly. William Tan, a master of macro photography, is actually the person who introduced me to underwater photography years ago when I was just a teenager. Here, he was one of the judges during the competition and he gave an extremely important talk about integrity in photography and how “a right photo is better than a good photo”. This again served as a perfect reminder to all of us, to not get overly caught up with getting the perfect shot at the expense of everything else around us.
After a good five days of back-to-back dives and talks, I found myself in a room with the panel of judges. It was judgement day and the contestants had given it their all. The judges were seated in a circle, quietly rating their favourite images on an online portal. As there were hundreds of photos to go through, it took them almost an entire day! The hard work paid off later that evening when we were all invited to the closing ceremony at the gorgeous Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort. It was grand. The nicely draped tables and chairs were laid underneath the stars and there was a tent at one side where two buffet lines spanned. We even had amazing performances by dance groups and singers.
The esteemed panel of judges of the 6th Anilao Shootout. From left: John Thet, Ellen Cuylaerts, Laurent Ballesta, Robert P. Alabado III, William Tan and Indra Swari (Photo by Andrew Lim)
John Thet, CEO of Asian Geographic Magazines, and the final judge of the competition, gave a closing speech talking about the importance of conservation and sustainability and how all of us have a part to play. He also gave the contestants an insight into how the judging was done and stressed the importance of fair play. It was something the contestants really appreciated.
The competition this year had a slight spin to it. It was the first time the Philippines Department of Tourism introduced live judging for the blackwater category. The shortlisted photos were anonymously flashed on screen one by one and the judges put up their hands indicating the points given with their fingers. It displayed true transparency and fair judging.
All the winning photos from the Anilao Underwater Shootout were truly amazing! You can see all of the winning photos here!
The well-deserved winners were called up on stage and the generous prizes by the sponsors were handed out. With such a well-planned and incredibly executed competition, I totally understand why the Anilao Underwater Shootout sees such a huge growth year after year. Like I said before, it is an experience I’ll never forget and one that I would highly recommend to divers. I look forward to the 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout because I know that it will be absolutely “rad”!
Fields of pristine coral lit by shafts of sunlight create a shallow underwater wonderland in Sulawesi, just beneath the boat...
You must have heard stories about diving in Manado, Indonesia, and if so, you will certainly have been inspired to dive there after seeing pictures of its exotic inhabitants and beautiful coral covered walls. Yes – it’s a beautiful place. However, I recently had the opportunity to discover some of Sulawesi’s secret spots, dive sites that are off the beaten track. These are plentiful, and a lot of fun to explore. The local dive community keeps many of them closely guarded secrets, only whispering about these spots to a lucky few. Others take years to locate and some well-known dive sites are seriously underrated. All in all, it can be said with confidence that there are new wonders and untold stories to be discovered in Sulawesi.
Bolsel
My journey started with a seven-hour car ride from Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado to a place called Bolsel in the South Bolaang Mongondow regency of North Sulawesi. The coast is lined with winding roads, snaking through the cliffs and greenery. The diving is as exciting as the journey there. During our dives, we were greeted with beautiful hard coral structures, huge, beautiful gorgonian fans and macro that rivals the Lembeh Strait. The outstanding clarity of the water is close to being gin clear and the fish life is abundant. Being on the coast, most of the diving is just 30 metres from the side of the road. We dived Sakau Point and Silver Tower – rumored to be visited by hammerheads and thresher sharks during the early morning. We have yet to see them, but we will be back on our next exploration.
The elusive teddy bear crab looks like something from a children’s fairy tale (Photo by Imran Ahmad)
Gorontalo
From shiny Bolsel we drove four hours further up the coast to a paradise called Gorontalo. I did the same trip 12 years ago and being back brought back loads of memories. Located within the Golden Triangle, the province is in the northern tip of the island of Sulawesi on the Minahasa peninsula. Nestled in the calm waters of the northern shoreline of Tomini Bay, extraordinary walls drop away from the coast and into a place I can only describe as “liquid art”. For Gorontalo is the exclusive habitat of the the surreal “Salvador Dali” sponge, and is also home to the elusive teddy bear crab.
Gorontalo’s seascape is famous for its Salvador Dali sponges (Photo By Imran Ahmad)
Once in the water, gigantic walls, soft corals, caves, inlets, overhangs and a huge diversity of marine inhabitants welcome you. An hour drifting on the wall is insufficient as there is simply so much to see. We were also very blessed to be able to witness the spawning of the mature Bennett’s tobies – a rare sight given that it’s an event that only takes place once or twice a year.
Another recent blessing for Botu Barani, in the Bone Bolango regency of Gorontalo Province, is the massive gathering of whale sharks that has been happening here for the last two years. A total of 12 whale sharks were reported and we were lucky to have swum with 11 of them in one dive. Locals were seen paddling out to see and interact with these gentle giants. The sharks are currently being protected and studied by WWF and the local authority. So, the diving in Gorontalo is for more than just the hard-core underwater photographer; it is also a fantastic family oriented destination – with accommodation ranging from four-star hotels to backpacker lodgings, and some the best local culinary delights with to entice those taste buds of yours.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2016, AA No. 87 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Coral reefs are places of enormous natural diversity. They accommodate some of the highest densities of animals on Earth and have more species than any other marine habitat. Coral reefs aren’t the only marine ecosystems that accommodate extraordinary creatures. Animals everywhere change over time to reflect the environmental conditions they find themselves in. Water temperature, availability of food and predators are just a few of the myriad factors that can influence the characteristics that are favoured in a population and passed on to the next generation. Throughout the Australasian region there are extraordinary examples of animals and their adaptations, many of which are high on divers’ wishlists.
THE CORAL TRIANGLE
The Coral Triangle is a region that holds the world’s richest marine diversity, and is home to more endemic species than anywhere else. Hawaii has 86 species of endemic reef fish, the Red Sea 41, New Caledonia 43 and the Great Barrier Reef 33. The Coral Triangle vastly outshines all these areas, with over 10 percent of its almost 2,500 species found only there. It is roughly triangular in shape, extending from central Indonesia and eastern Borneo, to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and further northwards to the Philippines. As you travel in any direction from the Coral Triangle the number of marine species decreases. But why is this? There is some debate, but there are three leading theories.
1. Centre of Origin
The earliest theory suggests that the Coral Triangle is a species factory, with many new species being created there adding to the area’s bounty.
2. Centre of Accumulation
The second theory posits that newly formed species from the Pacific and Indian Oceans end up in the Coral Triangle by drifting on ocean currents that converge there.
3. Centre of Overlap
Another explanation for high biodiversity in the Coral Triangle is that the geographic ranges of many species from the Indian and Pacific Oceans overlap in the Asian archipelago, causing higher diversity where they coexist.
MARINE VS. TERRESTRIAL EVOLUTION
The processes of evolution on land and in the sea are somewhat different. We have all heard about the ancestors of Darwin’s finches and the giant tortoises arriving to the remote Galápagos Islands. Here, in isolation from their mainland counterparts, they evolved to suit the local conditions on their particular islands. Their isolation from other populations is key to these new species forming. Evolution through geographic isolation is common on land, where obstacles to the free movement of animals, such as rivers, mountain ranges, or seas, can easily result in a species’ isolation and eventual genetic differentiation. The stark boundary between animals of Asian and Australian origin through the middle of Asia inspired the famed “Wallace Line”. In the south, the line passes between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok, which, despite being separated by just 35 kilometres, is enough to prevent the vast majority of birds and mammals from migrating across. The situation underwater, however, is rather different. Because marine animals usually have a planktonic larval stage in their life cycle, which floats around at the whim of ocean currents, they spread far and wide. As a result there are very few barriers to prevent them from reaching even the most remote atolls and many tropical marine species are found all the way from the east coast of Africa to the mid Pacific. On the whole, evolution through geographic isolation is much less common in the ocean than it is on land. Though of course there are exceptions…
The Species Factory
Thousands of species inhabit coral reefs, each of which has formed over countless years and generations. There are some fascinating examples of speciation in the Coral Triangle and the wider Australasian region.
Japan’s warm temperate waters offer a microcosm of evolution rarely visited by non-Japanese divers. The southern islands around Okinawa are similar in species composition to the nearby Philippines, but as you head northwards there’s a shift. The Izu Islands just south of Tokyo accommodate the stunning wrought iron butterflyfish and undescribed Japanese pygmy seahorse that prefer these cooler waters.
Muck dives are interesting as they host a diverse set of species you are unlikely to see in any other habitat due to their distinct set of environmental conditions. Ghost pipefish, seahorses, frogfish and countless other oddities make this their home. They are all suited to the specific conditions found on a muck dive: fine sediment, few places to hide and rich waters.
With a tail almost as long as its body, the thresher shark is an oddity in the ocean; however, there is always an evolutionary reason for the existence of such oddities. Sadly, one of the greatest sources of evidence for the function of their long tail came from fishing boats. Thresher sharks were often caught with their tail hooked on a long-line rather than having swallowed the hook as you might expect. Video capture has since confirmed that the tail is indeed an adaptation to assist in hunting. The long tail is used to strike schools of small fishes; the shark is then able to quickly turn and feed on the stunned prey.
These southern Australian waters also accommodate a variety of unique elasmobranchs (belonging to the shark and ray families), the Port Jackson among them. These ancient horned sharks have half a dozen species dotted around the globe. The Port Jackson lays spiral egg cases that become lodged among the rocks and hatch 10–12 months later. The perfectly formed miniature versions of the adults, almost a foot in length, aren’t able to undergo great ocean voyages, preferring to remain close to shore. This has effectively isolated them in these waters and stopped their wider distribution.
Endemic species aren’t only found in the tropics. Southern Australia has more than its fair share of indigenous species. The fabled seadragons are found only here. The weedy and leafy species were joined in 2015 by the ruby seadragon, which is known only from trawled deep-water specimens. It is a sibling (very closely related) species to the weedy, but has evolved a red colouration, presumably as an adaptation for living at depth where red light is removed by the water column, thus helping its camouflage.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2015, AA No. 83 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Green Fins monitors every aspect of a diver centre's operations, and staff are proud to be part of it (Image by J Tamelander)
In 2007, my partner JJ and I packed our backpacks and jumped on a flight for Southeast Asia. As UK-based marine biologists, we had little experience of tropical marine biology, and the lure of the Coral Triangle – the most biodiverse area of coral reefs in the world – was too great to resist. As it turned out, this would not only be the trip of a lifetime, but a journey that would change our lives forever.
Diving has been a huge part of my life since I first donned fins and got my Open Water qualification in the Red Sea when I was 12. By 15, I was a British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) assistant instructor, which saw me spending many happy weekends exploring the UK underwater world, and teaching others to do the same. Diving had a profound influence on my strength of character and drove me towards studying marine biology.
ON THE WAY HOME
As our year of volunteering drew to an end in early 2008, we decided to get our Dive Master qualifications and find work as dive guides. Sadly, we weren’t successful and it was with heavy hearts that we began our journey to Bangkok to catch our return flight home. Before we headed off, we stopped in Phuket, where we met the awe-inspiring Niphon Phongsuwan at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. He was running a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) conservation project called Green Fins that was promoting an environmental code of conduct within scuba-diving operations, aiming to reduce environmental impact and raise conservation awareness.
Having seen, firsthand, the destruction caused by the mass diving industry, we thought the concept of environmental standards for diving was brilliant but surely not unique. After a few days of sitting in sweaty, dark Internet cafés in Phuket searching for similar programmes, we realised that it was entirely unique – and desperately in need of support. We missed our flight and agreed to stay on as volunteers. It was the best decision we have ever made.
LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS
Over the next year, we worked hard to drive grassroots implementation across Thailand, working directly with the diving industry. We designed an assessment system to evaluate and monitor the environmental impact of independent dive businesses. Alongside this was a lot of strategic development to enable us to replicate Green Fins in other popular diving destinations.
By 2009, our work had attracted the attention of the UNEP and the UK charity The Reef-World Foundation, which had been working alongside Niphon since 2004. As part of the Reef-World team, we were awarded a US$15,000 grant by the UNEP to investigate the receptiveness of the diving industry and national authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia, and if there was indeed an environmental need for Green Fins; the answer was a resounding “yes”. Eventually, Green Fins was also introduced into Vietnam and the Maldives with tremendous success.
FROM DIVERS TO GOVERNMENTS
Green Fins membership for a dive centre is completely free, and consists of annual environmental assessments and training for their staff. The outcome is a sit-down session where Green Fins assessors talk the manager through how their dive centre is doing against the Code of Conduct. Both parties then agree on three (or more) points to work on for the next assessment. To maintain their membership, dive centres have to show improvement year on year.
My favourite part of this process is the staff training. In just 45 minutes, the assessor gives an informal presentation providing solutions for dive guides, instructors, and boat captains to protect their reefs. It’s fascinating to hear the passion dive staff have for coral reefs, and their enthusiasm for learning the tools needed to manage guests in a fun and sensitive manner.
Green Fins has now been adopted into national legislation, and national budgets are shouldering operational costs in four of the six active countries. We have nurtured unique collaborations between NGOs and national governments, and dive staff and local communities. But while the national success of Green Fins was booming, finding support for our work was proving exceptionally difficult. From the outset, we had agreed that any national funds should be used for Green Fins activities, not Reef-World’s international operations.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 3/2015, AA No. 82 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Freediver and model Flavia Eberhard in sinous symphony with the seascape (Photo by Pepe Arcos)
Descending into the abyss on one breath to enter a state of awareness and unity with the ocean (Photo by Pepe Arcos)
YOU MIGHT THINK that diving on a single breath sounds unnatural and weird but, in practice, the experience is actually the opposite. Freedivers will tell you that it is the most natural way to be in the ocean. Sometimes they even talk about it creating a deeper connection with the natural world, as well as with our own human nature.
It is quite often that scuba divers see freedivers as a bunch of crazies that can hold their breath forever and go deeper than you can with a tank. But freedivers know that it’s simply about physical and mental preparation, and that everybody can learn to do it without being some sort of gifted superhero.
ONE LAST BREATH, AND A SLIDE INTO THE WATER…
Freedivers tell us about freefalling, gliding, blending with the sea. Their movements follow a graceful rhythm, through which the freedom they so often describe becomes visible to the observers around them.
Before a dive on a single breath, the mind has to calm down, allowing thoughts to pass by, to focus only on the slow, deep breath up. This technique also slows down the heart rate, making you feel like you are entering a meditative state.
Movements are slow and the world around, the noises of your buddies, the sounds of the ocean, the birds, the wind, all become just echoes in your mind while all attention is focused on relaxation. At this stage, the body feels absolutely relaxed with no tension in any part of it; everything is just breathing and rhythm.
After a big final breath, the dive starts. Descending through the water column, other bodily adaptations kick in automatically to compensate for the changing pressure, and prepare the body to enter an “economical mode” in order to waste the minimum amount of energy and consume as little O2 as possible.
It is well established that the brain uses more energy than any other human organ, accounting for up to 20 percent of the body’s total usage, and this is the reason why relaxation is so important. No thoughts, just feelings, and a focus on becoming one with the ocean – that is the freediver’s mantra.
A LONG TRIP INTO THE WILD AND UNKNOWN
When freedivers aim for depth, they train extremely hard to prepare their bodies to go as deep as 128 metres; a very long trip into the wild and unknown ocean, a kingdom of darkness and extreme conditions. Only a few freedivers in the world can even think about crossing the 100-metre barrier and entering that solo journey, freefalling into the abyss. The pressure down there is enormous and equalising is complicated.
Some freedivers tell stories of dives that totally change their lives. There are almost no bigger challenges on land that expose us to such extremely radical conditions in less than a minute and a half. And then the way back from the depths is even more difficult – for it is that moment when the body seeks oxygen that defines the whole challenge.
There is always an aura of mysticism around this sport. It has been described as an addictive activity but without adrenaline, and a peaceful way to get to know ourselves and overcome our mental and physical barriers.
But the most rewarding part comes when exploration overtakes the pursuit of athletic performance. As ocean-lovers (like other water enthusiasts), freedivers talk about the incredibly exciting interactions they have with wild animals: Freediving into schools of fish with total liberation of movement, surrounded by hundreds or thousands of creatures is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 3 Volume 142 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
NOWADAYS IT’S HARD to find something truly new and unexplored; it seems that every part of our planet has already had its details revealed, from the northern pole to the southern one. Yet we still seek the unknown, the remote and untouched, and experiences that push the boundaries of the norm.
Can these experiences still be had? Yes, by combining technology with a diverse and complex atoll: rebreathers and the Maldives.
A CCR CRUISE
We chose the privacy and the freedom of a liveaboard, which allowed us to go further, venturing to places not accessible to the inexperienced, and exploring less well-known sites; places where there are no boundaries between the visitor and the ocean, and the scenery stretches almost to infinity. The boat also offered expert rebreather services, including courses.
Today, diving on a closed-circuit rebreather (CCR) is still a niche market and it is rare to find “rebreather-friendly” liveaboards, especially in tropical destinations. But the market is growing because CCR units allow us to enter a realm of silent and almost endless dives, and have intimate encounters that most of us can only dream about. But here in the Maldives on CCR, this is a dream that comes true.
The Maldives is located in the open Indian Ocean, 600 kilometres from the nearest land mass, and swept by nutrient-rich currents. The archipelago is on the route of a vast variety of deep-sea creatures, and the reefs support extraordinary arrays of marine life, both large and small. Powerful currents run through the atolls, carrying waters rich in plankton and food. They are like oases in the desert ocean, attracting life, from the tiniest on the first rung of the food chain (the plankton), to the biggest predators at the top: sharks, tuna and fast pelagic animals. These currents also sustain the growth of both hard and soft corals, which in turn create habitat for reef fish – abundant prey for pelagic predators.
But most of these animals are frightened by the noise of the exhaust bubbles of a normal, open circuit scuba setup, and they will hide in crevices, or give the water column a wide berth. Imagine being a fish, going about your business, when a group of noisy scuba divers arrive. You and your compadres would hurry to hide somewhere until the group of bubble-makers has gone and you can return to your daily affairs – and then laugh about them.
But if divers use CCR units, the behaviour of the fish changes totally: They are more relaxed, more confident, and we can approach them very closely before they move away. In fact, in the Maldives, we have never observed any fish fleeing from us or anxiously looking for a hole in which to hide.
Imagine having sharks and mantas cruising less than a metre above your head, completely immune to your presence!
A CURRENT AFFAIR
The atolls we visited – Malé Sud, Felidhoo, Meemu, Nilandhoo and Ari – are formed by coral islands separated by channels, the famous Maldivian passes. Within them are lagoons of exquisite beauty: sandy basins of calm water, where one finds numerous creatures. Few boats are rocking in the silence of the inner lagoons, grey gulls hover in the warm breeze and the light is so intense that it bleaches everything, even our thoughts.
In the placid and shallow inland sea of lagoons, equipped only with snorkel gear or our CCR units, it wasn’t uncommon to enjoy the company of whale sharks and manta rays intent on filtering plankton, or being cleaned at the cleaning stations.
Generally there are four distinctly different types of diving: the walls (inside the lagoons or outside the reefs), the thilas (pinnacles or seamounts ), the kandus (passes) and the wrecks; they are totally different and able to satisfy both beginners and skilled divers.
What they have in common is the necessity of the divemaster to be able to determine the right time and way to dive any site. Along the outer reefs, the thilas or the passes, the correct strength and direction of the current determines what we can see: Weaker water movement may mean no fish and deflated soft coral; a current that is too strong can end a dive within a few minutes, or, more dangerously, cause the group to become dispersed.
But the “right” current can make us suddenly forget all the dives that have come before, as the memories are washed away in an abundance of marine life – life that has no qualms about introducing itself to us in intimate and unexpected displays of acceptance.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 3 Volume 142 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
A north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean.
Similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and part of the North Pacific Ocean gyre.
Begins off the east coast of Luzon, Philippines, passing Taiwan and flowing northeastward past Japan, where it merges with the easterly drift of the North Pacific Current.
Its warm waters sustain the coral reefs of Japan, the world’s northernmost coral reefs.
A branch off from the Kuroshio into the Sea of Japan is called the Tsushima Current.
The Kuroshio and Tsushima are responsible for the mild weather experienced around Alaska’s southern coast and in British Columbia.
The Oyashio Current
A cold subarctic ocean current that flows south and circulates counterclockwise in the western North Pacific Ocean(also known as Oya Siwo, Okhotsk or the Kurile CURRENT)
Originates in the Arctic Ocean and flows southward via the Bering Sea, passing through the Bering Strait and transporting cold water from the Arctic Sea into the Pacific Ocean.
Collides with the Kuroshio off the eastern shore of Japan to form the North Pacific Current (or Drift).
A nutriet-rich current that is named for its metaphorical role as the parent that provides for and nurtures marine organisms.
Has an important impact on the climate of the Russian Far East, mainly in Kamchatka & Chukotka, where the northern limit of tree growth is moved south up to 10o compared with the̊ latitude it can reach in inland Siberia.
Forms probably the richest fishery in the world, owing to the extremely high-nutrient content of the cold water and the very high tides (up to 10 M) in some areas – which further enhance the availability of nutrients.
The AgulhasCurrent
the western boundary current of the southwest Indian Ocean. It flows down the east coast of Africa.
narrow, swift and strong. It is even suggested that the Agulhas is the largest western boundary current in the world ocean.
The sources of the Agulhas are the East Madagascar Current, the Mozambique Current and a recirculated part of the southwest Indian subgyre south of Madagascar.
The East Australian Current (EAC)
The southward western boundary current that is formed from the South Equatorial Current (SEC) crossing the Coral Sea and reaching the eastern coast of Australia.
The largest ocean current close to the shores of Australia.
The majority of the EAC flow that does not recirculate will move eastward into the Taman Front crossing the Tasman Sea just north of the cape of New Zealand.
The eastward movement of the EAC through the Tasman Front and reattaching to the coastline of New Zealand forms the East Auckland Current.
Also acts to transport tropical marine fauna to habitats in subtropical regions along the southeast Australian coast.
The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF)
An ocean current with importance for global climate, providing a low-latitude pathway for warm, fresh water to move from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean
Serves as the upper branch of the global heat conveyor belt
Higher ocean surface topography in the western Pacific than in the Indian Ocean drives upper thermocline water from the North Pacific through the western route of the Makassar Strait to either directly exit through the Lombok Strait or flow eastward into the Banda Sea
Weaker flow of saltier and denser South Pacific water passes over the Lifamatola Passage into the Banda Sea, where these water masses are mixed due to tidal effects, among other aspects
From the Banda Sea, the ITF exits Timor, Ombai and Lombok passages
Circulation and transport within the Indonesian Seas varies along with large-scale monsoon flow
DID YOU KNOW?
The sverdrup (Sv), named in honour of the pioneering Norwegian oceanographer Harald Sverdrup, is a unit of measure of volume transport. It is used almost exclusively in oceanography to measure the volumetric rate of transport of ocean currents.
The water transport in the Gulf Stream gradually increases from 30 Sv in the Florida Current to a maximum of 150 Sv south of Newfoundland. The heat carried within this volume equals roughly that transported through the atmosphere to make the relatively milder climate of northwestern Europe. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, at approximately 125 Sv, is the largest ocean current.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 issue 3 Volume 138 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Let your imagination take you back 300 years, to a small sheltered bay on the east coast of Australia. The bay is tucked in behind a headland which protects it from the ocean swell, it is fringed by palm trees and its golden sands lead into inviting turquoise water. Beneath the surface there are luscious kelp gardens, seagrass beds and tumbling rocky reef – home to a myriad different creatures. A young Aboriginal woman is launching a canoe made from tree bark. She is equipped with fishing line which has been hand-made from natural fibres, tied to a hook carved from shell. This bay is sacred in her culture and has incredible natural beauty. There is a plentiful supply of fish here, but she harvests only what she can carry home to her family of fellow hunter-gatherers.
Now jump forward in time to the late 1980s. This bay is now known as Cabbage Tree Bay and is located only a 30-minute ferry ride from Sydney’s iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, in the bustling suburb of Manly. The alluring natural beauty of the bay remains, but beneath the water the scene has changed. The Aboriginal clans have been all but decimated by European colonisation, and their sustainable harvesting practices lost with them. Modern commercial fishing has come and gone, depleting the bay of the abundant marine life that attracted it there in the first place. The bay is now popular with recreational line and spear fishers due to its calm waters and easily accessible location next to the city. However, there is concern amongst locals that the fish are being taken faster than they can regenerate. To add to this concern, a sewage outfall just off the headland has caused dangerously high pollution levels. The main beach in the bay, known as Shelly Beach, has been dubbed “Smelly Beach” for this very reason, and swimmers fear for their health.
SAVING CABBAGE TREE BAY
Something had to change. Fortunately, in 1990 the New South Wales government spent AUD300 million (USD224 million) on upgrading the sewage management system, diffusing the waste over a larger area three kilometres offshore. This improved the quality of coastal waters and minimised the environmental impact of the sewage.
Around the same time, the local community voiced its concern to Manly Council that Cabbage Tree Bay was becoming stripped of marine life by heavy fishing. The beautiful bay was being “loved to death”, and a small no-take zone needed to be in place to allow marine life to recover. More fish would have a chance to grow and breed, building much-needed resilience into local fish populations. Passive activities like snorkelling and diving would be encouraged, as well as sustainable research with the purpose of better understanding the local marine ecology.
A beautiful bright yellow weedy seadragon (Photo by Rosie Leaney)
Numerous meetings began being held. The progress was slow and not without strong opposition. Proposals for the no-take zone were knocked back many times but supporters were persistent. Scientific surveys determined that the bay was becoming depleted, and also confirmed that it was still a vital habitat for threatened species including the black cod, weedy seadragon and little penguin, as well as the partially protected eastern blue groper. On this basis, and with growing evidence from other parts of the globe that no-take zones were effective at restoring biodiversity, the case for protection grew stronger.
The blue groper is the largest reef fish in Sydney (Photo by Rosie Leaney
Persistence paid off, and in March 2002, Cabbage Tree Bay was declared a no-take aquatic reserve. This meant that fishing of any kind, as well as collecting organisms, living or dead, was now banned in this small bay. A vision that many of the local community had fought for, for over a decade, had finally become a reality.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 2 Volume 150 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
You will be spending most of your time in your swimsuit or your wetsuit. A couple of pairs of shorts, T-shirts, sarong, and something a bit warmer for the evenings is ideal. No need to rival Jackie O in the wardrobe stakes!
2 Location, Location, Location!
Check your arrival and departure locations. Make sure you know where the boat leaves from and where it will dock; you might not end up where you started! Also check to see if the operator provides transfers.
3 All Inclusive?
Do your research and find out what will incur additional costs. Dive gear? Drinks included? Remember to let the operator know well in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.
4 The Sun Has Got His Hat on.
Take sun protection. The best way is to cover up. Find a sunscreen with no oxybenzonate in it – this ingredient kills marine life (and ain’t all that good for you either!).
5 Flash the Cash
Whilst many liveaboards accept credit cards, tips are always paid in cash. The crew work incredibly hard, and they often don’t earn very much, so they deserve every penny.
6 Seasickness
Even the biggest and most stable boats are likely to experience some pitching and rolling. Start taking the tablets the night before3rf you embark. No-one wants to be feeding the fishes rather than diving with them!
7 Be Fussy with Your Flushing
Marine toilets clog easily. Minimise putting anything down the loo you haven’t digested. Enough said.
8 Etiquette
The dive deck is going to get pretty hectic. Keep your “station” tidy and organised. Be courteous and considerate of your travel companions to make the experience enjoyable for everyone.
9 Cabin Fever
If you get the opportunity to choose your cabin, midship cabins are the best if you want to keep the motion to a minimum. Midship will also keep you further away from any engine noise.
10 No Fly Zone
If you are flying home after your trip, remember to take account of your “no fly” requirements. Use the opportunity to check out the area for a day to two before flying home.
11 Insurance
Make sure you have specialist dive insurance. Standard travel insurance won’t cover you if you have to be airlifted to a decompression chamber. DAN Asia Pacific is the industry standard, and rightly so.
12 Wet Gear
There might not be enough time before disembarkation for your kit to dry. Pack a (reusable) waterproof bag that will hold your wet gear and keep it separate from the rest of your belongings. Wet gear also weighs more, so keep a couple of spare kilos when you do your packing!
Read the rest of this article in No.88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
With its rich, diverse culture, extraordinary natural history and exceptionally dramatic landscapes, Taiwan really is an underappreciated destination. It also happens to offer a variety of fantastic diving, all year round
1 YEH LIU GEO PARK
An alien landscape of incredible rock formations, weathered over the years to form a veritable geological Disneyland
2 YANGMINGSHAN NATIONAL PARK
Escape to a magical, volcanic world of hot springs, butterflies and birds, just outside Taipei
3 NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM
One of the world’s largest collections of ancient Chinese artefacts, home to over 700,000 relics of antiquity
4 LONGSHAN TEMPLE
Photo by: Shutterstock
One of the largest and oldest temples in Taiwan, built in 1738. Buddhist and Taoist deities both get a look in
5 TAROKO GORGE
A breathtaking gorge whose name, Taroko, means “magnificent and splendid” in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe residing in the area. In one afternoon, go from coastal cliffs to subtropical forested canyons, up to subalpine forests in some of Taiwan’s tallest peaks.
6 LANYU (ORCHID ISLAND)
It is a little known fact that Taiwan is home to a number of local, aboriginal tribes. Visit the island of Lanyu, where the matrilineal Dao people live, and experience a culture that is a world away from that of modern Taipei
Photo by: Shutterstock
7 HOT SPRINGS
An absolute must, the geothermal baths in Taiwan are some of the best in the world. All contain different combinations and concentrations of various minerals, in all sorts of settings. Check out BEITOU, WULAI, JIAOXI, TAIAN, and GUANZILING
Diving Spots
a) LONGDONG
For: Dramatic rocky topography and squid nests constructed by local dive operators
Conditions: Visibility is variable and often poor, water temperatures range from 23°C in the spring, up to about 27°C in the summer
When: May to September
Photo by Tommi Kokkola
b) GONGUANBI
For: Critters galore: nudibranchs, crabs, shrimps and even pygmy seahorses
Conditions: Shallow, protected water
When: Year round
c) SHIHLANG
For: Critters galore: nudibranchs, crabs, shrimps and even pygmy seahorses
Conditions: Shallow, protected water
When: Year round
Photo by Tommi Kokkola
d) DABAISHA TO MATI BRIDGE
For: Shore and boat diving, dramatic scenery, canyons, caves and gorgonian fans
Conditions: Currents can be strong, visibility is good
When: Year round
e) ORCHID ISLAND (LANYU)
For: Excellent diving: stunning corals, shallow reefs, walls and deep dives, pelagic life including sharks and tuna, sea snakes, turtles, possible sightings of manta rays, whale sharks and the occasional whale!
Conditions: Visibility can be great, water temperatures vary from 22 in winter up to about 28 in summer
When: West coast in winter, northeast coast in summer
Photo by Tommi Kokkola
f) KENTING
For: Pretty coral reefs, dramatic rock formations, swimthroughs and caves, interesting critters, lots of fish, turtles and rays
Conditions: Easy diving, good for training. Some sites can have a bit of surge. Colder in winter, water temperatures get up to about 29°C in the summer
When: Year round, warmer in the summer
Read the rest of this article in No.88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
David’s day of diving became marked by frustration after he had trouble equalising during his first dive. He was patient though, eventually reaching a maximum depth of about 27 metres (90 feet). The bottom phase of the dive continued without complications, but while ascending at a normal rate he experienced an onset of acute vertigo and disorientation. He had difficulty managing a safety stop and concluded it prematurely. Fortunately, the symptoms resolved on their own within a few minutes with no other untoward effects. The incident was unsettling; however, as he had never experienced anything like it before, it motivated him to learn more and ready himself in case it happened again.
THE PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT
Learning how to equalise ear pressure is part of every diver’s basic open-water training. Whether one is breathing compressed gas or freediving, changing depth requires equalisation of middle-ear pressure to the ambient (surrounding) pressure. Most divers are able to equalise effectively without major difficulty, employing a variety of techniques, from jaw movement to Valsalva, usually choosing the method that minimises middle-ear stress with the least effort.
Most divers understand that a failure to equalise properly during descent or ascent can produce substantial pain and risk of injury. What many do not realise is that unequal equalisation of the two ears can produce other problems that should be appreciated. This article will focus on one in particular: alternobaric vertigo.
AIR SPACES AND THE BODY
Changes in ambient pressure affect the gas volume of the air spaces within and adjacent to the body. Internal spaces include the lungs, sinuses, middle ears, gastrointestinal tract and possibly the teeth. Adjacent spaces include the mask, drysuit and sometimes the outer ear.
Some equalisation occurs automatically for healthy divers under normal conditions: The gas volumes in the lungs and sinuses equalise during breathing, the gastrointestinal system can generally accommodate gas pressure changes, and teeth, fortunately, rarely have closed gas cavities. The gas volume in drysuits and masks is easily adjusted with auto-inflate and exhaust mechanisms and by exhaling through the nose, respectively. Gas in the ear canal under a tight hood can be eliminated by briefly pulling away the hood to allow water to displace the air.
This leaves the middle ear, which is generally actively managed to equalise the pressure on descent and passively managed to equalise the pressure on ascent. Difficulty equalising middle-ear pressure can create problems for divers.
ANATOMY AND EQUALISING EAR PRESSURE
The purpose of pressure-equalising techniques is to open up the auditory tube (Eustachian tube), a duct that connects the back of the throat (nasopharynx) to the middle ear (Figure 1). The auditory tube allows gas to pass between these two spaces, balancing the pressure. On the surface, where ambient pressure changes are small, equalisation of the middle ear and the ambient pressure occurs naturally – when we yawn, swallow, laugh or chew, for example.
Image by DAN
Equalisation of middle-ear pressure is essential to avoid damage to structures involved with hearing and balance. Functionally, sound waves (pressure waves) make their way through the outer ear canal and across the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The eardrum translates the waves into vibrations, which then pass through three small bones in the middle ear (the malleus, incus and stapes) into the inner ear.
The stapes transfers the vibrations from the middle ear through the oval window into the fluid-filled spaces of the inner ear. The oval window acts as a direct line of communication to the cochlea (sensory organ for hearing), which translates pressure stimuli into sound. However, changes in pressure can also stimulate the fluid-filled semicircular canals of the vestibular system, which interprets head motion and orientation for balance. The inner ear is separated from the middle ear only by two delicate membranes: the oval and round windows.
The right and left cochlea can receive different sound stimuli, allowing for source localisation (distance and direction). Balance sensing is based on coordination of the semicircular canals between the two ears. Mismatched stimulation of the vestibular system is problematic. If the difference results from a pressure imbalance, a condition known as alternobaric vertigo can result.
WHAT IS ALTERNOBARIC VERTIGO?
Alternobaric vertigo (AV) is a highly descriptive term coined by Dr. Claes Lundgren in 1965.(3) “Alter” means “another”, “bar” means “pressure”, “ic” means “the condition of”, and vertigo is the perception that the body or its surroundings are spinning or moving. AV arises from unequal pressure between the two middle ears, usually because the pressures are changing at different rates. Failure to equalise pressure symmetrically can cause the brain to erroneously perceive the difference as movement.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe but are typically transient, subsiding within seconds or a few minutes as pressure equilibrates. Nystagmus (involuntary rhythmic movement of the eyes) can also occur, as can nausea and vomiting in severe cases. In addition to visual disturbances, AV events may be accompanied by the feeling of fullness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and muffled hearing in one or both ears. Some divers may notice a hissing or squeaking sound, indicating poor equalisation, prior to the onset of AV. Women appear to have a greater susceptibility to the condition than men.(1,2)
The challenge for divers experiencing symptoms for the first time is to avoid actions that may worsen the situation. Maintaining control and a stationary position will allow the symptoms of AV to resolve naturally, with minimal risk of complication. Persistent symptoms may indicate a more serious condition (see sidebar on next page). An isolated incident of AV does not necessarily indicate future risk or more acute health concerns. Divers experiencing AV repeatedly, however, should seek medical evaluation.
REDUCING THE RISK OF AV
Effective equalisation (early, often and with the most appropriate technique for the person) and not diving when congested are simple ways to reduce the likelihood of AV. The need to exert high pressures to equalise during descent can make equalisation during ascent, which is usually a passive process, more difficult. The impact can be substantial if the soft tissues have been made swollen by overly aggressive or poorly conducted equalisation manoeuvres. If properly conducted equalisation manoeuvres fail, one should abort the dive and evaluate the situation before trying to dive later.
Some divers find it easier to equalise in a head-up position. Performing gentle, active equalisation techniques early and often during descent will help to reduce stress on ear structures. Divers that encounter frequent AV should re-evaluate their equalising techniques and possibly their buoyancy control – after being cleared to dive following medical evaluation.
Any condition that can cause inflammation and congestion of the ears and sinuses could increase the likelihood of equalisation problems such as AV. Individuals choosing to dive despite symptoms of congestion or illness may be putting themselves at risk. Diving with congestion could also lead to reverse block, a condition where gas becomes trapped in the middle ear. A diver might manage reverse block by descending slightly and then reattempting a slower ascent. If this fails to work, however, the diver will have little choice but to risk more serious injury while continuing the ascent as slowly as possible for the circumstances. Ample gas supplies and conservative dive profiles will give the diver additional time to deal with any equalisation issues that might arise upon ascent.
Some divers may choose to rely on nasal decongestants as a solution for diving with congestion. Decongestants relieve symptoms temporarily, but they can mask issues. Using decongestants for four or five days may result in rebound congestion, making it more difficult to equalise.
References
1. Kitajima N, Sugita-Kitajima A, Kitajima S. Altered Eustachian tube function in scuba divers with alternobaric vertigo. Otol Neurotol. 2014; 35(5): 850–6.
2. Klingmann C, Knauth M, Praetorius M, Plinkert PK. Alternobaric vertigo – really a hazard? Otol Neurotol. 2006; 27(8): 1120–5.
3. Lundgren CE. Alternobaric vertigo – a diving hazard. Brit Med J. 1965; 2(5460): 511–3.
4. Uzun C, Yagiz R, Tas A, Adali MK, Inan N, Koten M, Karasalihoglu AR. Alternobaric vertigo in sport scuba divers and the risk factors. J Laryngol Otol. 2003; 117(11): 854–60.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 1/2016, AA No. 85 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Diver extraordinaire Dharshana Jayawardena has certainly racked up enough adventures to last a lifetime. Here, he takes on the massive waves and surge of the renowned Great Basses, where the waves can throw you forward and backward – and even slam you onto the reef if you’re not alert. And all this even before you descend! Read on for the ride of your life.
I AM AT a unique, strange, fearsome, wonderful place.
Towering in front of me, like a rocket ship about to be launched to the stars, is a gleaming white lighthouse 37 metres high. The strangeness comes from the fact that I am 12 kilometres southeast from the coast of Sri Lanka (latter day Ceylon); far out at sea and in the middle of nowhere, where no lighthouse should be.
Yet, there is a good reason for the existence of this lighthouse. As I watch in awe, and with a mild sense of fear, a massive wave crashes around the base of the lighthouse with a reverberating boom. Am I really supposed to dive beneath this? This explosion of surf is followed by white foam that starts breaking along an invisible line that runs for hundreds of metres to the west of the lighthouse. It betrays the presence of a arge monster lurking just beneath the surface of the ocean.
It is the Basses Reef.
The word “Basses”, derived from the Portuguese term for reef, baixios, is an approximately 40-kilometre-long underwater limestone geological formation. The areas surrounding two high points on this reef are known as the Great Basses Reef and the Little Basses Reef. These high points barely breach the surface and proved to be a curse for ancient mariners navigating the waters around the coast of Sri Lanka. All shipping from east to west and vice versa had to pass below the coast of Sri Lanka and for centuries, this mid-ocean reef claimed dozens of ships and hundreds of lives, forcing the British occupiers of Ceylon in the late 19th century to build two lighthouses to safeguard maritime commerce.
The Great Basses lighthouse was built in 1873 and the smaller Little Basses lighthouse, five years later.
The magnificent offshore lighthouse at Great Basses Reef (Photo by Dharshana Jayawardena)
Today, these two lighthouses are among the most famous offshore lighthouses in Asia. In the 1960s, moviemaker Mike Wilson and world famous science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke discovered the remains of an ancient Mughal ship just by the Great Basses Lighthouse. In the obliterated shipwreck were not only cannons and anchors but also tons of “Surat” silver coins belonging to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1658–1707), son of the great Shah Jehan, who built the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. This discovery and early diving attempts at the Great Basses is brilliantly chronicled in the book, Treasure of the Great Reef, by Clarke and is a must-read for all divers before diving the Basses.
Beautiful as the view above the surface is, the true wonders of this place lie beneath, making this one of the most sought-after locations for diving in Sri Lanka. Even though the dives are relatively shallow, from a depth of 18 metres to 3 metres, only experienced divers comfortable in strong current and surge conditions should attempt this dive. In fact, the shallower it gets, the more dangerous the dive becomes, because you can get smashed on the top of the reef.
A giant trevally swimming just near the Basses Ridge, as a wave breaks over (Photo by Dharshana Jayawardena)
Access to Great Basses is from Kirinda, a small fishing town in southeast Sri Lanka located near the famous Yala National Park, an area with one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. Kirinda is also as remote as it gets from Colombo, the financial capital of Sri Lanka. There are no dive centres here, but centres around Galle run regular expeditions as well as expeditions on request, during a small window of opportunity in which Basses can be dived. This is because the reef is virtually unreachable during the two Sri Lankan monsoon seasons.
It is mostly dived during mid-March to mid-April when the conditions can be at their best during the brief inter-monsoon period. Even then, the constant battering of huge waves on the reef will cause fierce currents. Also, in the afternoon, the wind can pick up, making the surface conditions rough.
The boatman expertly navigates the boat around the surf and positions it just a few metres south of a jagged rock. We are about 20 metres away from the lighthouse. I roll back into the foamy water with a splash and quickly swim to the bottom as fast as I can to avoid getting slammed onto the reef by an oncoming wave. At the bottom, I’m greeted by a startling visual panorama. All around me are magnificent forms and shapes made of limestone; carved over eons by the relentless wave action. Some are caves and swim-throughs. Some are grotesque geological deformities, and for a moment, they deceive me into thinking that I am in a distant and hostile planet.
The water is crystal clear. The sand at the bottom is a mixture of limestone grain and various seashells. It is furrowed into countless ridges by the constant surge action. The currents billow over the small ridges, like the wind creating a temporary cloud of dust and debris that soon clears up.
The Great Basses Location: Spanning almost 40 Km and being the last frontier against the merciless forces of a massive ocean, which only ends at the frigid wastelands of Antartica, this is the magnificent Basses Ridge, the great barrier reef of Sri Lanka
And the current is strong!
For the uninitiated Basses diver, the first dive can be an unnerving experience. You are literally thrust four to six metres forward and then after a very brief lull, shoved backward. At the same time, you have to avoid obstructive limestone formations and watch your head. It is quite funny to see a shoal of fish in the same body of water, as you move forward and backward. This is a great place to see fish go backwards!
Swimming in this environment and getting close to the reef is a constant battle. You move with the forward surge and as you are sucked backward, try to hold position by finning vigorously. Then dash forward and again hold position, and then again dash forward. Some of the limestone formations are narrow gullies and caves. Great care must be taken when entering these. You have to take it one step at a time – study the current, watch the movement of marine life and be prepared to turn back if you think it is going to be tricky.
It is easy to get lost in the maze and not be able to find your way to deep water away from the reef. Surfacing near the reef is the last thing you want to do, and one rule of thumb is to ensure that your depth is always below six metres. If you do get sucked up towards the surface, you must immediately turn head down and fins up, and propel like crazy towards the bottom away from the upward surge.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 Issue 3 Volume 138 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Benefitting from the nutrient-rich currents that rupture the sometimes-calm Erythraean waters, the Brothers Islands offer some of the Red Sea’s most spectacular diving. Take shelter from the tide in some of the most intriguing wrecks and get ready to drift within this blue abundance.
AFTER six years of almost only diving from RIBs and spreading my clothes around my house, villa, or hotel room, I’d decided it was time to see if I’d enjoy a week on a boat with a bunch of strangers. As a frequent solo traveller, I wondered whether the close confines of a cabin with a random snorer would see me sleeping on the deck by the second night. The allure of remote dive sites, unreachable by day boat, was strong enough for me to give it a go.
About 68 kilometres off the Egyptian coast, the Brothers Islands rise up from the floor of the Red Sea, 800 metres below, forming two small flat tabletops, surrounded by steeply sloping fringing reefs. The larger of the two seamounts, the cunningly named Big Brother, is approximately 300 metres long. It’s one kilometre from its sibling, has a lighthouse, a 12-man army garrison, and would be a great location for a back-to-basics series of the reality TV show of the same name. With the Brothers having the only reefs around, and being washed by strong, nutrient-rich currents, I was attracted by their reported combination of soft corals, pelagics, and sharks – not to mention two good-condition wrecks.
Covering six metres of the eight-metres width of the MY Blue Pearl, the mid-ship dining area had an open plan affair adjoining the lounge that led onto the outdoor dive prep area at the stern.
My fellow shipmates, all liveaboard veterans and mostly return customers, were an eclectic, if slightly Germanic bunch: a German-Dutch couple; two German father-and-son combos; an Austrian quartet made up of a father, his son, the son’s wife and a friend. The 12th man was James, a middle-aged, Libyan-based Scottish teacher, and naturally, my buddy.
The lighthouse on Big Brother built in 1883 (Photo by Christopher Bartlett)
I awoke to the sound of water lapping gently on the hull below my open cabin portholes, the early-morning light peeping in. From the deck, Big Brother and its Victorian lighthouse took on a red-brown hue as we boarded two RIBs and headed to the northern tip of the island. The legendary currents appeared absent from the surface, but we did a negative buoyancy entry and went straight down to 10 metres, meeting up above the beginning of the wreck of the SS Numidia, claimed to be one of the best wrecks in the Red Sea. She certainly looked huge and in good condition, given she had spent more than a century exposed in her current-washed resting place.
Built in Glasgow in 1901, the 140-metre long, 6,400-ton Numidia was on her voyage out of Liverpool bound for Calcutta with 7,000 tons of railway and general cargo when in the early hours of July 20, Big Brother’s lighthouse was sighted off the port bow and the captain ordered a slight change of course to continue south passing alongside the island before retiring to his cabin. Fortunately for us, his orders were misinterpreted and the ship ploughed straight into the northern tip of the island. No lives were lost, and much of the cargo was salvaged, but the ship went down, her keel digging into a rocky ledge. Now, she sits on a steep slope, her bow melded into the top of the reef, her stern some 72 metres below.
The wreck of Numidia (Photo by Christopher Barlett)
Descending to join the group, going close to the wreck, I saw it was covered in soft corals and awash with burgundy and white striped Red Sea anthias and lionfish, accustomed to strong currents, sheltering inside. On this day, there was no need, with no current and good visibility; conditions were ideal and we spent the whole dive there, ascending past some coral-encrusted rolling stock bogies at 10 meres, before being picked up by the RIBs and taken back for breakfast.
After catching a few rays on the sun deck, Pia and Mimo said it was time for a shark hunt on the southern plateau. As we were moored off the southern tip and in the absence of current, we would giant-stride off the rear deck and return to the boat at the end. Starting at a depth of 20 metres and sloping down to 40 metres, the plateau is a hotspot for thresher sharks. As we reached 25 metres, Mimo’s arm shot out, finger extended towards the unmistakable scythe-like tail of a thresher shark swimming through a school of fusiliers.
It stayed within view for a couple of minutes before we lost it. We hung around 28 metres as long as our 30 percent nitrox mix would allow us, spotting a distant thresher twice more, before ascending to the top of the reef and chilling out with the sohal surgeonfish.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 Issue 3 Volume 138 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
What is the connection between diving, medical problems and acupuncture needles? uw360 delves into the ancient art of acupuncture with Dutch physiotherapist and acupuncturist, Janneke Vermeulen, as she reveals the remarkable impact of acupuncture on diving maladies in her new book
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture originated in ancient China and has evolved over thousands of years. Although largely utilised in the West as a complementary health approach, athletes are increasingly turning to TCM for treatment, especially after telltale cupping marks revealed Olympic legend Michael Phelps’ usage of cupping to relieve pain, inflammation, muscle tension and soreness from workouts. So what does acupuncture have to do with diving?
Diving Medical Problems
Not being able to clear the ears or having difficulty equalising is the most common problem experienced by divers and it’s often caused by a common cold, rhinosinusitis and allergic or non-allergic rhinitis. Having to stop a dive due to equalisation problems, when you’re just getting under the water surface, can be very frustrating. Besides that, it can be painful, with risk of ear drum perforation, if you ignore the ear pressure. The fact that acupuncture can help to get rid of these ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders and other diving medical issues is not well known to most divers around the globe.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has a long history as a therapeutic treatment dating back to around 4,000 BC and the earliest acupuncture needles were made of sharpened stone. One of the oldest medical books is the Neijing Suwen – compiled around 100 BC – which is written as a series of dialogues about internal diseases between the Yellow Emperor Huang Di and his physician. This book states that vital energy(qi) streams in our body through specific channels called meridians, which have connections with our organs (and each organ is connected to a specific emotion). Qi consists of a yin and yang component and these two opposites must be in balance with each other. If they are imbalanced, disease may occur. A Chinese medical diagnosis is based on an intake (medical history) combined with, among other things, pulse, tongue and facial diagnosis. This determines the selection of acupuncture points that need to be punctured and which food and/or lifestyle advice is required. Through the ages, the needles have gained a lot of subtlety and nowadays there are sterile and disposable acupuncture needles for single use, made of surgical stainless steel.
4,000 BC
Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture invented
100 BC
Neijing Suwen – a series of dialogues about internal diseases between the Yellow Emperor Huang Di and his physicians is written
208
Famed Chinese physician, Hua Tuo is executed by warlord Cao Cao, who was his patient. His medical techniques recorded in his Qing Nang Shu (literally “green bag book”), including his use of mafeisan as an anaesthesia for surgery, is lost
220
Shanghan Lun– the Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders – a Chinese medical treatise is compiled by Zhang Zhongjing at the end of the Han dynasty. It is among the oldest complete clinical textbooks in the world and one of the four canonical works that TCM students must study
256 – 282
Zhenjiu jiayi jing, AB Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion is compiled by Huanfu Mi, who assembled a consistent body of doctrines concerning acupuncture
280
Maijing Canon of the Pulse, a comprehensive handbook of diagnostics and therapy written by Wang Shuhe is published
1578 – 1950
Bencao Gangmu Compendium of Materia Medica is written by Li Shizhen during the Ming dynasty. It is regarded as the most comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of TCM. In 1950,Mao Zedong makes speech in support of TCM
1952
The president of the Chinese Medical Association in China announces that TCM will progress with a basis in modern natural sciences, absorbing the ancient and the new.
Benefits for the Diver
A physiotherapist, acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and specialist in Western diving medicine in The Hague, the Netherlands, I treat divers from the whole country with a wide range of health issues at my practice. This includes chronic or recurring ENTdisorders that affect pressure equalisation of the ears and sinuses, TMJ (your temporomadibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull) disorders, sea sickness, stress, tiredness, high blood pressure, migraine, lung disorders, addiction to smoking, obesity, neck and back disorders, muscle cramps, and more.
Image courtesy of Janneke Vermeulen
Divers with medical problems can benefit from the positive effects of acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture can transform phlegm and reduce its production, decrease swelling of the mucous membranes in the nose, sinuses, Eustachian tube and middle ear and address underlying energetic disturbances (such as deficiency or stagnation of qi). When the Eustachian tube has a free air passage, divers will normally be able to equalise the middle ear pressure well (as long as the clearing techniques are performed correctly).
Acupuncture can increase your energy, reduce stress and improve immunity – thereby reducing the likelihood of a diver becoming ill. The diver will definitely feel better under and above the water surface! Lung function can be improved, whereby breathing will be easier, enabling the diver to stay underwater longer. For those with lower back problems, jumping into the ocean may be fine but climbing the stairs of the boat can be very painful. Acupuncture can relieve pain, muscle tension and improve the mobility of the spine. Acupuncture can also help to lower certain risk factors of decompression illness (DCI), such as tiredness, being overweight, and decreased blood circulation.
Book
Image courtesy of Janneke Vermeulen
All of Janneke’s diving related knowledge is collected and structured in her recently published book, Diving Medical Acupuncture (published by Singing Dragon in April 2018). Targeted at acupuncturists, non-acupuncture doctors and divers worldwide, Diving Medical Acupuncture describes the medical conditions that can prevent, complicate or result from diving and other water sports, and provides effective clinical treatments. It’s an integration of Western diving medicine, diving techniques and Chinese medicine. Complete with anatomical diagrams and acupuncture point charts, the book is a practical resource for acupuncture clinicians who deal with the issues associated with diving. Advice for divers is given at the end of each chapter, and is available as a handout in downloadable form.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 3 Volume 151 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
A commensal shrimp, Periclimenes cornutus (Photo by Christian Skauge)
Most divers are aware of the relationship between clownfish and anemones. The colourful fish borrows the protection of the stinging tentacles, to which it is immune, and in return keeps the anemone clean and fends off potential enemies like butterflyfish by emitting a high-pitched sound.
This type of long-term symbiotic partnership is known as mutualism, since the biological interaction benefits both of the involved species. Hermit crabs that place anemones on their shell for mobile protection is another example – the anemone is rewarded with leftover food scraps when the hermit crab is feeding. Cleanerfish form a mutually beneficial relationship with fish, turtles, sharks and rays, even though they don’t share living space. They keep their skin healthy and free from parasites, and get a bite to eat in return.
Two other forms of symbiosis are parasitism and amensalism. They describe relationships in which the host animal is harmed while the symbiont either benefits or is unaffected by the symbiosis. Parasitic copepods and isopods are well known on marine species, while amensialism is more uncommon. However, most interactions between marine animals and humans are amensal: Humans have negative effects on many marine species, but the effects of most of these species on humans are negligible.
The most common symbiotic relationship is commensalism, when one species obtains benefits like food or locomotion from another species, without giving any benefit or causing harm to the host. This is common among small crustaceans and fish, and is also frequently observed with remoras that hitch-hike on sharks to better their chances of survival. Even barnacles growing on whales, turtles and dugongs are commensal, although it may be discussed if the host truly is unaffected by this relationship.
Sea Cucumbers, Urchins and Crinoids
Allogalathea elegan on a similarly-patterned crinoid (Photo by Christian Skauge)
Echinoderms are very popular host animals among crustaceans. On sea cucumbers you’ll find both the brilliantly coloured emperor shrimp as well as swimming crabs in various sizes. The tiniest ones are clawing onto the skin of the cucumber, while bigger ones sometimes seek refuge inside the anus of the echinoderm – have a look! If you’re lucky, you may even come across the pearlfish, which has chosen the same unusual living space.
A pair of colourful emperor shrimps sitting on a sea cucumber (Photo by Christian Skauge)
Starfish and cushion stars also host shrimp and crabs, and the numerous warts and protrusions on the surface of the animals offers good protection – if a predator comes too close for comfort they quickly hide beneath the host.
A sea urchin offers even better protection, and among the lethal spines you can find black cardinalfish and the beautiful and rare Coleman shrimp, which usually lives in pairs. When the host animal moves about looking for food, the tiny commensal passengers enjoy the benefit of free locomotion. They are brought to new feeding grounds without having to spend the energy to get there.
Crinoids, often referred to as sea lilies or feather stars, are a true treasure-trove of commensal shrimp, crabs, squat lobsters and even tiny clingfish. Although attached to the reef with special feet called cirri, crinoids can move around and even swim. They are experts at finding spots where the current brings in lots of food, and this makes them a prime piece of real estate for other animals. The shelter in between the arms or above the feet are excellent, and food is abundant.
Commensal crustaceans living on crinoids often have colouration perfectly adapted to match their host and thus become almost invisible to predators. This also suggests that their relationship is for life, and not just a one-night stand.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 2 Volume 150 of Asian Diver magazine by downloading a digital copy of the magazine here or subscribing here!
The southern state of Johor is blessed with beautiful islands located far from the mainland. Pulau Aur boasts pristine deep waters teeming with pelagic fish, while Pulau Lang offers sightings of green turtles, bumphead parrotfish and blue-spotted stingrays, a common inhabitant of the Malaysian coast. The corals in this area shelter a colourful variety of reef fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, as well as the beautiful but elusive Spanish dancer nudibranch.
Adventurous visitors will want to seek out the Zero wreck located south of Aur. Thickly encrusted with corals, this sunken Japanese fighter plane is home to teeming marine life like the comical dogface pufferfish, which prefers to swim solo and attracts plenty of attention for its elongated face and box-like body.
WHEN: March to October
WHERE: Johor’s east coast
HOW: From Mersing town, take a speedboat for about two hours
2. TURTLE ISLANDS PARK
Lying in the Sulu Sea off the northern coast of Borneo, Turtle Islands Park is a cluster of three islands – Selingan, Bakungan Kecil, and Gulisan – that are home to green and hawksbill turtles. Only the largest island, Selingan, is open to visitors, who have the opportunity to catch sight of these rare and endangered turtles when they come ashore to lay eggs
WHEN: August to September
WHERE: Northern Borneo
HOW: Take a flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan, and then hop on the only ferry from Sabah Park Jetty
3. TERENGGANU
Hailed as the “Gem of the East Coast”, Terengganu boasts a long coastline of aquamarine waters fringed by white powdery sand. Off Pulau Perhentian Besar are clear blue waters ideal for diving and snorkelling, while secluded Pulau Lang Tengah offers a peaceful experience and 15 stunning dive sites within a 10-minute boat ride from each other.
The farthest island from the mainland, Pulau Tenggol is where you’ll find mature coral gardens thanks to the nutrient-rich waters of the well-sheltered bay, while Pulau Kapas is home to a variety of both hard and soft corals rich in marine life. The island is also known for squid fishing at certain times of the year.
WHEN: Year round but avoid the monsoon season from October to February
WHERE: East coast of Peninsular Malaysia
HOW: Fly to Sultan Mahmud Airport, which serves the city of Kuala Terengganu. All the islands require boat rides from the mainland: Pulau Perhentian Besar from Kuala Besut Jetty, Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Kapas from Merang Jetty, and Pulau Tenggol from Kuala Dungun Jetty
4. PULAU SIPADAN
Lying just off the northeast coast of Borneo is Sipadan, Malaysia’s only oceanic island. This magical isle was made famous by renowned French oceanographer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, in his documentary Borneo: The Ghost of the Sea Turtle. But healthy numbers of green turtles are by no means the only creatures you’ll find here: Sipadan offers prolific marine life of all shapes and sizes.
Those with the Cavern Diver certification can explore the same mysteries that Cousteau and his crew did almost 30 years ago at Turtle Cavern. Inside lies a macabre chamber of skeletons belonging to turtles and dolphins that got lost in the labyrinth of tunnels, became disorientated and drowned.
WHEN: All year round, but visibility is best from April to August
WHERE: Off the east coast of Sabah
HOW: From Kuala Lumpur, take a flight to Tawau Airport, and then arrange a boat ride from nearby Pulau Mabul
Read the rest of this article in No.112 Issue 2/2018 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
A little-known piece of heaven lies between Redang and the Perhentians. This quiet, sleepy island is ringed by pristine, fish-filled water. Head out to dive the wrecks, and meet the whale sharks, and fill your surface interval with historical architecture and verdant topside ecosystems. Time to get Lang Tenggah on your radar!
1. TAMAN NEGARA RAINFOREST
Photo from Shutterstock
Around 130 million years old, this rainforest is home to tigers, macaques, and hundreds of bird species. Make your way to Kuala Tahan, the jumping off point for the canopy walk, river trips, and exciting treks.
2. CRYSTAL MOSQUE
The Crystal Mosque or “Masjid Kristal” in Kuala Terengganu is a grand, fairy-tale creation of steel, glass and crystal. Pop down to the Islamic Heritage Park on the island of Wan Man for an unforgettable visit.
3. SETIU WETLANDS
Photo by Li Yen-Yi
Part of the Setiu River basin, and the larger Setiu-Chalok-Bari-Merang basin wetland complex, this thriving ecosystem is teeming with birdlife – a must for any Nature enthusiast.
4. TENGKU TENGAH ZAHARAH MOSQUE
Photo from Shutterstock
The ethereal Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque is the first real “Floating Mosque” in Malaysia. It is situated in the Kuala Ibai Lagoon near the estuary of Kuala Ibai River, just 4km from Kuala Terengganu Town.
5. BUKIT PUTERI
Bukit Puteri, or Princess Hill, served as a defensive fortress and royal residence in 1831 under the rule of Sultan Baginda Omar. Feel the burn as you ascend the 200m to the top and enjoy the view!
a) KARANG NIBONG
For: Three dramatic boulders surrounded by healthy coral, nudibranchs, great barracuda, giant grouper, giant moral eel
Conservationist, researcher, freediver, filmmaker: Madison Stewart is possibly one of the most tireless and inspiring young women in the water today, but, as she explains, there is no other option. (Text by Madison Stewart. Images by Juan Medina)
I was 14 when the world turned its back on me. I grew up around sharks – diving, sailing, I was part of an ocean-obsessed family, and I made my home amongst the reefs. I began to gravitate towards sharks before I can remember; I related to them, I fitted in with them, the fact that I swam with them separated me from other people.
Then, at 14 years old, the shark populations I had loved as a child began to disappear. I found myself in a state of panic, returning to spots I had always associated with sharks, only to be confronted with an empty reef. I can assure you, an ocean with sharks may be scary, but true fear is an ocean without them.
I later learnt that there was a dedicated shark fishery legally operating inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area, and the attitude of the Australian public towards sharks had blinded people to it. I began to rally against the fishery, expose its faults, to tear it down.
After failing to change government policies, I realised I needed to take my fight to the public. Not long after, I left school to homeschool and agreed with my dad that my school fees would be spent on an underwater camera. That’s when I began to make films. I wanted to go to school and become a marine biologist; instead, I dropped out and happily took a more effective path towards filmmaking which gave me an avenue for change.
Now I’ve had extensive presence in the media in the name of sharks, including my documentary Shark Girl, which has won international awards. I act to break down the fisheries and the laws that allow the destruction of the animals I love, and change the perception the public has towards them, to make the fight for their survival more accessible.
My work against that fishery became a foundation for several other avenues of conservation that I pursued. These include research into toxins in shark meat, shark control programmes, international fin trades and more recently working with the surfing community to promote safety through education. These animals quickly became my responsibility, and my life passion, and I’ve learnt from them and fought for them. I began to understand that the human perception of an animal dramatically affects its chances of survival, and if people couldn’t love sharks, I would show them why I loved them, in ways that they could relate to. To this day I fight against the legal shark fishery that operates within the Great Barrier Reef and acts to remove 100,000 sharks a year from our reefs, often fed to us as flake or fish and chips.
We live in a society where injustice often slips through the cracks and only through individual vigilance and passion can we have any hope of fighting that. We should be taught in school that the natural world is more important than the economy. Wild and dangerous animals should be respected for their power, not condemned.
I’ve been in trouble with the law more than once (only laws that prevented me from exposing or stopping the destruction of Nature). I no longer make beautiful films; rather I find myself in the back of trucks housing tonnes of dead sharks, with blood around my shoes. I am not the average story of success, rather child-turned-activist due to the extreme necessity of our time. Some of us planned to grow up and fight for the things we love, and then for kids like me, it was never our choice: We fight or watch it be destroyed.
Read the rest of this article in No.89 Issue 1/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Salarias ramosus, starry blenny (Photo by Bent Christensen)
With over 18,000 islands to choose from, which ones should you visit for the best diversity in marine life? Discover the beauty of Indonesia with Cat McCann as she takes you on an insider’s journey into the waters of Komodo Island and Pulau Derawan.
If you asked a muck-diving enthusiast for their “must-do” list of muck diving destinations, it’s highly likely that places such as the famed black sand sites of Lembeh, Indonesia, would be top of the list. Or they may recommend a visit to Pulau Mabul in Sabah, Malaysia, where the term “muck diving” was first coined. Or perhaps Anilao in the Philippines, which sees hundreds of tourists heading there each year in the hope of seeing a well-hidden frogfish in the sand.
But what about places such as Komodo Island or Pulau Derawan in Indonesia?
“Muck” is not the type of diving that springs to mind when you mention these islands to divers. Komodo, for example, is famed for mantas and currents. And currents are not a diver’s best friend when it comes to looking for small, well-hidden animals, much less when trying to get that perfect shot with a macro lens.
Pulau Derawan is more well-known for its proximity to Pulau Sangalaki, which itself is known for mantas and astounding coral reefs, or for the turtles and whale sharks that can be seen cruising past Derawan itself.
But both of these areas have hidden treasures – incredible muck diving sites that aren’t more widely known, with an incredible array of species that are high on any muck diver’s wish list.
Eggs of a nudibranch situated on a sea squirt (Photo by Bent Christensen)
Pulau Derawan is where you will find the aptly named “Macro Mania” dive site, which boasts sightings of Papuan and stumpy spined cuttlefish, as well as pygmy seahorses, robust and slender ghost pipefish. Eagle-eyed guides can find several different species of shrimps for their divers: tiger shrimp, donald duck shrimp, sawblade shrimp and whip coral partner shrimp, to name a few.
Prefer cephalopods? No problem. In addition to the cuttlefish, you’re also likely to see mosaic octopuses and wonderpuses on this dive site.
If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot the blue-ringed octopus and if you’re really lucky, the blue-ringed octopus mating.
Derawan Reef is a sloping coral reef but as beautiful as the reef is, ignore it (sorry) and spend the dive in the seagrass and rubble looking for decorator crabs and unusual nudibranchs, as well as seahorses
A night dive in the seagrass beds off the Scuba Junkie jetty yields bumblebee shrimp, marbled shrimp and the ever elusive harlequin shrimp, as well as frogfish that are sometimes too small to identify correctly. Divers often spend their time watching bobtail squid bury themselves in the sand.
However, Komodo is the place that can give you a real crick in your neck. There are not many places in the world where you are torn between looking at a hairy shrimp or a manta, but at Mawan in Komodo National Park (KNP) you will find yourself in just such a position.
The KNP is one of the jewels of Indonesia. It was the impressive Komodo dragons that originally drew tourists to this area but it is now famed for strong currents, stunning corals and regular encounters with manta rays.
As the area has grown in popularity over the past decade, a new element of diving has emerged; one that only strengthens the fact that this truly is one of the best dive areas in the world for muck diving.
Karang Makassar (the aptly nicknamed “Manta Point”) is a surprising site that hosts a plethora of rare macro species. As mantas cruise over your head, be sure to check the rubble below for blue-ringed octopuses, hairy octopuses and an incredible number of nudibranchs.
But it’s not just the famous and popular sites where we see such rare species. If you explore the KNP you’ll come across dive sites such as Gindang and Wainilu on the north coast of Rinca island. These are both hot spots for blue-ringed octopus, Rhinopias, wonderpuses and frogfish. They are also home to the shy and much sought after mandarinfish and photogenic dragonets – a fantastic early morning or sunset dive spot, especially for observing their mating behaviour.
These two sites have sloping sandy bottoms with sprinklings of soft corals. They are also home to seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, sea moths and overhead, the odd devil ray or two, and are ample proof of the rich diversity that exists in almost every dive site in Komodo.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 3 Volume 151 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
For divers and snorkellers, the benefits of Wakatobi’s ongoing commitment to conservation are plain to see. Delve into the waters of the private marine preserve that surrounds the resort and you will find pristine coral formations and thriving fish life. But perhaps even more impressive are the things the big picture doesn’t reveal. Take a closer look, and you will discover dive sites rich in macro life, including hard-to-find and rare treasures that will delight fish watchers and photographers alike.
At Wakatobi, you don’t have to go far to find the small stuff. Prime hunting grounds are as close as the resort’s famed House Reef, which starts right off the beach with a drop-off just 70 metres out, encompassing hundreds of acres of coral slopes and shallows. The search for macro treasures can begin right at the resort pier. In addition to providing shelter for schools of fish, the pier’s large concrete columns and beams are home to an assortment of shrimps and crabs. The wealth of macro subjects in this area is seemingly innumerable, with the list running from the more expected such as anemonefish to special finds such as frogfish, juvenile cuttlefish, octopuses and pairs of leaf scorpionfish.
The upper shelf of the House Reef extends from shallow grass beds to a coral lip less than two metres below the surface. Along this edge, ample ambient sunlight makes it easy to locate invertebrates such as imperial, bubble, and crinoid shrimp, or to penetrate the camouflage of a frogfish. The light also brings out the full colouration of the numerous species of nudibranchs that move among the corals. Just beyond the lip, the reef drops away sharply, with slopes and walls that are riddled with crevices and ledges where numerous species of invertebrates make their home. Among the more intriguing finds on the House Reef are the compensate pairs of shrimp gobies and pistol shrimp, which share a burrow and divvy up the tasks of housekeeping and watch keeping. The shallow seagrass beds between the reef and beach are also excellent macro hunting grounds. It is here that keen observers may find cryptic species such as ornate and halimeda ghost pipefish hiding in plain sight.
Almost every dive site in the Wakatobi marine reserve offers a chance for small finds, with favourites such as Cornucopia, Magnifica, Teluk Maya or Zoo delivering thousands of species. Sites with minimal currents and shallow depths allow for relaxed hunting and long bottom times. This is the case at the site known as Dunia Baru, where snake eels slither among the corals, Spanish dancers flit about, and mantis shrimp stalk their prey. A closer examination of the bottom will reveal saron shrimp and an abundance of flatworms and pleurobranchs. Dunia Baru is also a favourite for night dives, and one of the best sites to find the polka dot-adorned pajama cardinalfish.
A pair of pajama cardinalfish strike a post at Dunia Baru (Photo by Walt Stearns)
For a different macro diving experience, Wakatobi guests can book a cabin on the dive yacht Pelagian, which departs the resort weekly for cruises to more remote areas of the Wakatobi archipelago, and to the southeastern coast of Buton Island. Here, the focus is on the near-shore shallows, where divers engage in underwater treasure hunts for the small and often highly cryptic critters that burrow into the seafloor silt, lurk in debris fields or hide among the supporting columns of village piers. This is muck diving, which is all about moving slowly and looking closely to discover hidden sea life.
Pelagian visits a number of top-notch sites where divers can hover over seagrass and rubble terrain in search of unique finds. This type of close-quarter manoeuvring can be challenging for even experienced divers, but it becomes easier when you borrow a little trick that underwater macro photographers have used for years. Rather than attempting to use fins and body language to hold position above a tiny and fragile subject, they deploy what is known as a muck stick into an appropriate piece of bottom, and use it as an anchor point to control their distance from the sea floor.
Cheeky Beach is a favourite site visited by the Pelagian. The beauty of this and most surrounding muck sites is that it can be dived repetitively, rendering unique and different finds every time. The big news at Cheeky Beach is the small stuff, as it is a shrimp breeding ground for several of the more exotic species found in the Wakatobi region. Found here in abundance are class favourites like the Coleman shrimp. Often found in pairs, these exquisite shrimps live exclusively on fire urchins, taking up residence in the middle of the urchin’s toxic spines. The host urchin’s spines do not harm the shrimp, but they usually clear an area on the urchin where they perch, making for a compelling macro subject.
A mated pair of Coleman shrimp on a fire urchin at Cheeky Beach. (Photo by Walt Stearns)
Several varieties of mantis shrimp also take up residence at Cheeky Beach, including the enigmatic peacock mantis, as well as a host of smaller species that can require a bit of visual detective work to locate. Find a blue starfish and there’s a good chance there will be a few harlequin shrimp nipping away at its flanks, as starfish are this species’ favourite food. A closer look at a seemingly unimpressive find such as a sea cucumber may yield a pair of imperial shrimp. For a more colourful composition, photographers look for this same species attached to a colourful nudibranch such as a Spanish dancer. Divers with keen eyesight can scan algae-covered rocks in search of the tiny hairy shrimp, or check among the spines of an urchin for a chance at locating the colourful bumblebee shrimp.
Plan a visit to Wakatobi Resort or on the Pelagian liveaboard and you’re sure to discover a plentitude of small treasures and unique marine life. AD
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 3 Volume 151 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
IT WAS A BLAZING hot morning and the water was as clear as glass. Cameras in hand, we descended slowly towards the coral reef below, inviting in its soft glow under the constant play of sunlight. Only minutes into our cruise, we were joined by a large school of neon fusiliers that was also exploring the reef. The schooling fish swam elegantly and in perfect synchrony, stopping ever so briefly at a cleaning station along the way. Their colours, with those iridescent hues and that gorgeous background of azure blue, made for a perfect picture to capture. It took barely a matter of seconds to adjust the exposure on my camera. But in those fleeting moments, without warning and out of nowhere, a crocodilefish burst onto the scene. In one clean swoop, it swallowed one of the fusiliers whole, scattered the rest of the school in all directions, and left us all rather stunned
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK
The crocodilefish, whose presence we had clearly missed before its attack, now looked colourful and intricately shaded in pinks and mustards. How had we not seen it? We got our answer quickly enough. The fish sank swiftly to the bottom and, as we watched in amazement, blended in with the dark pink boulder beneath it. We had just witnessed a startling display of exquisite camouflage.
For marine animals, life in the ocean is not easy. They encounter all the challenges faced by any terrestrial animal in its environment. In addition, oceans are constantly in motion, with temperature and light always changing. Just staying still can be a challenge too. And with so many neighbours on a bustling reef, add to the list of difficulties the fear of being watched by predators each time one ventures out for a meal.
To cope with this “kill or be killed” survival challenge, some animals in the marine realm have turned to the use of camouflage. And for camouflaging carnivores like the crocodilefish, finding food is quite like playing hide and seek – only here, the stakes are rather high. A predator is under constant pressure to bring its “A game”, especially if it wants to keep up with nimble prey that are also constantly getting better at escaping its clutches.
WHEN PREDATORS PLAY WITH LIGHT
In parts of the ocean where sunlight can penetrate, the lives of many plants and animals are largely governed by the dynamic play of light. Light not only determines where animals live and what they eat but also how they are coloured and consequently, who can see them. A camouflaging predator behaves much like a photographer would underwater, constantly evaluating how best it can utilise the presence of sunlight falling on its immediate surroundings. And so, the positions and movements of a hunting predator in camouflage are rarely an accident or coincidental. More often than not, the predator’s every move is carefully calculated before execution, ensuring that it constantly blends in.
THE ART OF BLENDING IN
As it turns out, the crocodilefish we had seen was “background matching” as a form of disguise, using prominent structures in its vicinity to blend in. While being very much present, it remained almost entirely out of sight. To achieve such exceptional results these camouflaging predators need to pay close attention not just to the movement of sunlight but also the brightness, contrasts and patterns of objects they want to resemble.
Sometimes, animals can change the texture and contours of their body and masquerade as other plants and animals. A frogfish often convincingly fools us when it mimics a brightly coloured sponge or urchin. Their plump and irregular shape breaks up their fish-like outline, keeping them hidden in plain view despite their bright colours. As if this weren’t enough, many have a handy-looking “rod and lure” on their forehead. Unsuspecting prey that venture too close to the worm-like lure get swallowed before they even become aware of the presence of their predator.
While some need to seek backgrounds that their bodies can camouflage with, other predators come biologically equipped with a kind of in-built camouflage toolkit. These animals can redistribute, intensify or dilute pigments in their tissues to match their backgrounds in colour, pattern and even textures, regardless of where they move!
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 3 Volume 147 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Diving injuries involving the nervous system, including decompression sickness (DCS), arterial gas embolism (AGE) and ear barotrauma (EBT), are blessedly rare, but when they do happen, these conditions require prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious and lasting injury.
1.Cerebral DCS vs. 3. Spinal DCS
Common symptoms: Distinguishing between spinal and cerebral manifestation of DCS is of academic interest only, and the treatment – emergency oxygen and hyperbaric therapy – is the same. Cerebral symptoms are present in 30 to 40 percent of neurological DCS cases, while spinal cord symptoms are found in 50 to 60 percent of neurological DCS cases
How to tell the difference: Spinal DCS is caused by spinal cord damage, most often in the thoracic segment. Patients complain of paresthesias (i.e., pins and needles) and sensory loss in the trunk and extremities, a tingling or constricting sensation around the chest or abdomen, ascending leg weakness that can range from mild to severe, lower back or pelvic pain and loss of bowel and/or bladder control. The neurological examination will often reveal weakness or paralysis of both legs and a partial or complete loss of sensation.
Cerebral DCS can occur alone or in combination with spinal DCS and manifests as confusion, weakness, headache, gait disturbance, fatigue, diplopia (i.e., double vision) or visual loss. The neurological examination may show hemiparesis (i.e., weakness on right or left side), dysphasia (i.e., disturbance of speech and language), loss of balance and difficulty with gait, partial loss of vision in both eyes and other focal signs. Behavioural and cognitive aspects of cerebral DCS may be persistent or slow to improve.
Special cases: In the case of a mild spinal DCS injury, a diver may initially complain of lower back pain and bilateral leg numbness and yet still have normal strength and sensation.
2. Ear Barotrauma vs. Inner-Ear DCS System
Common symptoms:
Both ear barotraumas and inner-ear DCS can cause vertigo (a severe spinning sensation), hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), nausea and vomiting.
How to tell the difference:
Ear barotrauma symptoms occur abruptly during descent or in the course of an ascent. Inner-ear DCS symptoms usually occur within 30 to 60 minutes of surfacing and generally require significant depth-time exposure.
Special cases: Middle-ear barotrauma is usually associated with the acute onset of ear pain. It may involve bleeding, rupture of the eardrum and fullness of the ear. Inner-ear barotrauma can develop secondarily in individuals with middle-ear barotrauma, causing rupture of the labyrinth and leakage of liquid from the inner ear.
In rare situations, the increase in middle-ear pressure during a normal ascent can cause reversible injury of the facial nerve and weakness of the facial muscles. Vertigo can also occur if the pressure is different on the vestibular organs of the ear (those in the middle cavity of the ear). That condition is alternobaric vertigo. Both conditions resolve after pressure equalisation.
AGE vs. DCS
Common symptoms: Arterial gas embolism, or “AGE”, can mimic DCS, and distinguishing between the two injuries may be impossible in some cases. In rare cases, both AGE and DCS can develop simultaneously. The two syndromes are often described and treated together using the more global term decompression illness (DCI).
How to tell the difference:
AGE symptoms occur within minutes after surfacing and can occur regardless of the depth or duration of the dive. Almost two-thirds of individuals with AGE have a reduced level of consciousness. Seizures, focal motor weakness, visual loss, vertigo and sensory changes are also frequently noted in AGE victims. DCS symptoms generally occur after deep or long dives, and symptoms may take up to 24 hours to present; however, in most DCS cases, symptoms were noticed within 12 hours of the diver surfacing.
Special cases: AGE may be associated with subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin of the upper chest and/or neck) or pneumothorax (collapsed lung), but pulmonary symptoms are not always present.
Read the rest of this article in No. 109 Issue 3/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
When it comes to fitness for diving, the recommendations for male and female divers are largely the same: good exercise tolerance, a healthy weight and awareness of possible concerns related to medical conditions and medications. Regardless of sex, all divers should use appropriate thermal protection, remain hydrated, understand the diving environment and dive conservatively.
Men and women, however, are physically and physiologically different. With women representing about a third of the recreational diving population – in 2013 the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) reported its population of certified divers as 66 percent male and 34 percent female, and males represent 64 percent of insured DAN members1 – it is important to consider specific health concerns that female divers face.
THERMOREGULATION
For both men and women, body temperature is centrally controlled in the hypothalamus and is affected by factors such as body fat content, fat distribution and body surface-area-to-mass ratio. Hormonal differences may affect thermoregulation, but body composition and size typically drive responses to cold exposure. Total heat loss may be greater in women because they generally have higher surface-area-to-volume ratios and lower muscle mass compared with men (greater muscle mass is associated with greater metabolic heat production). Some research suggests that women’s body temperature falls more rapidly during immersion in cold water while at rest. The bottom line is that every diver should wear a suit that fits well and keeps him or her warm – exposure protection helps compensate for any heat loss due to hormonal or anthropometric differences.
MENSTRUATION
No evidence suggests that women who dive while menstruating are harassed or bitten by sharks more often. However, anxiety, dizziness, feeling cold and the potential for panic may be exaggerated during menstruation or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Temporary iron deficiency during menstruation may reduce exercise capacity, so women should be prepared to modify their diving behaviour if necessary. Menstruation can trigger migraines, which are more common in women than men. Delay diving if migraine symptoms occur.
Research suggests there may be a slight increase in risk for decompression illness during the follicular stage of the menstrual cycle (the roughly two-week span preceding ovulation). Everyone should dive within established limits, but women might consider reducing their diving exposure during the follicular stage by incorporating additional conservatism into their dive plan. Completely refraining from diving while menstruating is not necessary, but women should be aware of how PMS and menstruation affects them and whether emotional stress, irritability, cramping, headaches or associated symptoms might compromise dive safety.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
Use of oral contraceptives (as well as a sedentary lifestyle and long-distance travel) may contribute to possible clot formation such as deep vein thrombosis. Research indicates that oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use can increase the risk of a thromboembolic event such as a pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke. A 1985 report showed that women who use OCPs and smoke more than 25 cigarettes per day have a 23-fold increased risk for a thromboembolic event compared with those who do not smoke.5 While a thromboembolic event may be at least somewhat manageable on dry land, it would be unmanageable in the water. Quitting smoking, exercising regularly and moving frequently during long trips can help minimise the risk of an emergency due to clot formation.
PREGNANCY
Not only should pregnant women refrain from diving, women who think they may be pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should likewise avoid it. For ethical reasons, there has never been experimental research investigating the effects of diving on a foetus. The retrospective anecdotal data regarding pregnancy and diving shows there may be a risk to the foetus should a mother continue diving during pregnancy. A survey of 208 mothers who dived during pregnancy showed higher rates of low birth weight, birth defects, neonatal respiratory difficulties and other problems.2 Decompression studies conducted on sheep demonstrated that a foetus may develop bubbles before the mother displays clinical symptoms of decompression sickness.3,4 (Sheep studies are relevant because the placentas of sheep and humans are similar.) The foetus runs the potential risk of death because the foetal cardiovascular system has no effective filter. Therefore, any bubbles formed are likely to go directly to the brain and coronary arteries. All sheep studies showed very high rates of foetal loss. Although it is limited, the available data seem to suggest strongly that women should refrain from diving while pregnant or trying to conceive.
Read the rest of this article in No.89 Issue 1/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The prop roots of the mangrove forests provide and important habitat for many species of reef fish
Famous for its rich biodiversity, Raja Ampat is located on the northwest tip of the island of West Papua, in the heart of the Coral Triangle. The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International have claimed that 75 percent of the world’s marine species live in the waters off Raja Ampat, making it one of the most biodiverse sites on Earth.
In 2002, a political unit called the Raja Ampat Regency was formed and aided in creating the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area, a network of seven protected areas. To protect the sites from high-traffic tourism, a decision was reached to introduce marine park permits. Raja Ampat has emerged as one of the must-visit destinations for recreational divers all over the world. The healthy shark and fish populations have been attracting increasing numbers of tourists, which has helped support the local economy.
In February 2014, Raja Ampat was declared a sanctuary for sharks, turtles, dugongs and manta rays. With the sanctuary set in place, destructive practices such as reef bombing and the aquarium fish trade are now banned, and scientists are constantly discovering new species.
MUST-SEE MIKE’S POINT – This island in the middle of the Dampier Strait has an incredibly interesting and unexpected backstory. During World War II, the US Air Force heavily bombed the island because of its remarkable resemblance to a Japanese warship from the air. Fortunately, the reef has recovered astoundingly well, with a magnificent coral wall that hosts a great variety of reef sharks like the whitetip, blacktip, wobbegong, and epaulette shark. The bombings also carved out hospitable overhangs where great schools of Spanish mackerel and other marine life like turtles and sea snakes abound. Depths of up to 30 metres and strong currents mean some experience is required to enjoy this site safely.
Raja Ampat’s healthy reefs support huge schools of fish, such as bigeye scads (Photo by Glenn Yong)
SARDINES REEF – A large reef situated in the middle of open ocean, this site is home to an incredible number of reef fish such as fusiliers, damselfish, surgeonfish, and snappers. The reef life attracts predators like barracudas and trevallies, sometimes even reef sharks, providing an exciting experience for divers who visit. Divers have to be prepared for strong currents and limited visibility due to sand being kicked up at depths of 30 metres.
CAPE KRI – One of Raja Ampat’s most famous dive sites, Cape Kri offers divers an incredible number of fish species. A steep slope of hard and soft corals houses myriad reef fish, which attract schools of predators such as dogtooth tuna, barracudas, trevallies, and many reef sharks. Opportunities for wide-angle photography are plenty, since huge schools are very common. The site reaches up to 25 metres deep and has strong currents at times.
Read the rest of this article in No.112 Issue 2/2018 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Discovering more about the whale sharks that visit the Maldives is vital in the fight to protect these beautiful animals.
Interview with Richard Rees of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP)
1. Can you give us a little background on the history of the project?
The MWSRP actually started out as a standalone research expedition in 2006, funded by the Royal Geographical Society. The team went back the following year to gather more data and we’ve been there in one capacity or another every year since.
2. What is your mission? What do you aim to achieve with the research you are doing? Why is this important?
Our stated mission is to advance the field of whale shark knowledge and to advocate for sound conservation policy in the Maldives. What that means in reality is to build a comprehensive overview of the whale sharks and factors which may impact or threaten them in the Maldives.
A lot of the research we do is built on the collection of very basic data, but is done so in a volume big enough to allow statistical trends on things like growth rates, healing rates and habitat usage questions. In 2013 we launched the “Big Fish Network”, an online portal through which tourism stakeholders around the country could contribute sightings data of whale sharks. We created a mobile app called “Whale Shark Network Maldives” as an output for this information. This year we added a feature to the app which allows people to identify the individual shark they saw then and there!
We now know that South Ari atoll is virtually unique worldwide in hosting a year-round population of whale sharks and that we’re seeing many of the same individuals there year after year (a few of our individual sharks have been seen over a 150 times over a 10 year period). Our work has shown that these sharks move around the atolls and take up temporary residences in other areas of the archipelago. We know the average injury rate of a shark in South Ari atoll and how long it takes for them to heal. The number of tourists visiting the South Ari atoll, their expenditure and their impacts on the sharks are all documented too. So as a tool to provide this kind of information to the decision makers who implement conservation measures, the work done by MWSRP is very important.
3. How do you involve the local community? What is the value of this for the project and for whale shark research and conservation in general?
We attach critical importance to enhancing the knowledge of whale sharks and conservation in the local community. The MWSRP is lucky enough to be based on a local island, Dhigurah, which has a rich whale shark heritage that included national fame for the hunting for whale sharks in bygone times.
The biggest event is the annual whale shark festival, launched in 2012. Up to seven local islands comprising several hundred people come together every year to celebrate the whale sharks of the Maldives. There is a large part for the Maldives younger generation to play in embracing and managing conservation of whale sharks in the future. The field team therefore invest a lot of effort in school visits using art as the basis of learning about the whale sharks and their environment.
These activities also work to promote the sciences and marine conservation as a genuine employment opportunity for the youngsters.. MWSRP has held a rolling six month internship position for Maldivian youth since 2013 which has led to several past members finding work in the field, including two still with the MWSRP team
4. Have you had any “big wins”? What about small ones?
Without doubt the biggest achievement thus far for MWSRP was the organisation’s role in the designation of South Ari atoll Marine Protected Area (S.A.MPA) in 2009. It’s the largest MPA in the country and was founded exclusively for the preservation of the extraordinary whale shark aggregation found there.
Personally one of my proudest moments might seem small but was sitting back and watching the first presentation given by Maldivian MWSRP staff to a local school in their language. Seeing faces light up and hands shooting into the air to ask questions was amazing. These little breakthroughs are exactly what our mission aim is all about.
5. What challenges are you facing?
Where you have a whale shark aggregation and a lot of tourism development in the region you will always have the ingredients for a situation where the number of guests wishing to see the whale sharks ends up putting pressure on them. The MWSRP has found in several studies that proximity of vessels and diver/snorkeller conduct are both much more likely to cause an avoidance reaction from an individual whale shark than a large group of well-disciplined people keeping their distance. So the challenge is to ensure that all stakeholders brief their guests on best practice encounter procedures and enforce them in water as well as mitigate the impact of their vessel. We offer free training on our research vessel and a multitude of free materials for tourists and guides interested in whale shark best practice encounter procedures. The main challenge is high staff turnover and an ever-increasing number of tourism providers, it takes time to embed an ethos of self-regulation.
Read the rest of this article in No.88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Evolution is often driven by the basic elements of survival. In this case, the need to eat.
From the massive to the microscopic, the number and kinds of Technicolor beings we encounter on a coral reef is simply breath-taking. Divers and snorkellers the world over will agree that few terrestrial places rival the astounding diversity of life harboured by our reefs. Attempting to observe a rich and colourful assembly of reef fish, for instance, is at once an absorbing and distracting experience, leaving us wondering where to look, whom to follow, or what to photograph.
A staggering 4,000 species of reef fish have been recorded worldwide. With a chance of seeing at least 20 species on a single reef, one question often arises – how do so many species occur in such close proximity to each other? Scientists worldwide are still debating the answer to this question. Yet, on any given dive, by choosing the appropriate lens with which to observe the reef (metaphorically speaking, of course), anyone can observe some interesting patterns.
THE FOOD FACTOR
One of the more intriguing patterns is the close relationship between what fish look like and what they eat – associations which start to make sense of the wide variation we observe in the structure and shape of different species of reef fish.
Coral reefs, being highly dynamic and crowded metropolises, provide an assortment of potential food for fish to choose from. There are hairy and leafy algae, microscopic drifting zooplankton, larger invertebrates like corals, jellyfish, crabs, squid, worms and, of course, so many other fish. Each food source offers different benefits and challenges to its consumers. Over evolutionary time, competition for these rich resources has led to an incredible array of unique adaptations and feeding mechanisms both in fish body structure and behaviour.
Perhaps now, looking around the bustling reef, it is not as hard to differentiate the herbivores, like parrotfish with their beak-like teeth, from the large-mouthed ambush predators like the grouper. But what determines what they eat? Which part of the reef do they prefer? Do they have dinner buddies too? Understanding fish through their morphology (structure and form) offers new perspectives.
Frogfishes demonstrate a variety of adaptations to their chosen prey. Image by Umeed Mistry
BIOMECHANICS OF A GOOD BITE
If having a meal were to be broken down into steps, it is evident that there are a number of challenges along the way. The predator first needs to encounter its prey. This is followed by an attack, which ultimately may or may not be successful. Among ambush predators, it is unlikely that a small lizardfish will feed on prey that are significantly bigger than its own mouth, while it is quite likely that big groupers will give very small fish a miss and wait instead for the larger ones to come along. A lizardfish, despite its camouflage and razor-sharp teeth, is still restricted in the size of its meal by how much its mouth can accommodate. On the other hand, a grouper may prefer fish on the larger side, gaining more energy from each onslaught despite the greater effort it would require. The design of the feeding apparatus, general body plan and energy requirements are therefore crucial in determining what a fish can and should eat.
At the core of their anatomy, the feeding structure of all fishes is made up of the same basic elements: a mouth opening, teeth, jaw bones and associated muscles. These are then modified in different species, to suit particular types of prey and modes of capture. For instance, the jaws may be modified to deliver a strong, forceful bite, like in the case of a shell-cracking porcupinefish, or to provide the advantage of speed for predators such as the barracuda, whose prey can be quick and elusive.
Read the rest of this article in SD Issue 5, AA No.83 of Scuba Diver magazine by downloading a digital copy of the magazine here or subscribing here!
In October this year, the Malaysian government announced a ban on plastic waste imports into the country following a public outcry when it emerged that more than 19 developed countries such as Australia, USA, UK and Japan had been sending their trash to Malaysia in the wake of China’s decision to ban waste imports in January 2018. Unfortunately, new research by Greenpeace Malaysia published on November 28, 2018, has revealed that most of this trash has not been recycled properly but has been dumped or burnt by illegal waste processing plants, resulting in harmful health problems for Malaysians living near these plants. Residents living near these plastic recycling plants have complained of itchy eyes and skin, and respiratory problems.
“The Malaysian plastic recycling industry is overwhelmed by the influx and cannot accommodate the waste in a way that is sustainable and acceptable by the government’s own standards. Our investigation found evidence of harmful plastic waste processing being carried out in Klang, on the western outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, and Jenjarom to the south,” said Heng Kiah Chun, a Public Engagement Campaigner at Greenpeace Malaysia.
According to Greenpeace Malaysia’s report, The Recycling Myth, Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia had been accepting increased amounts of plastic waste between January and July 2018. The amount of plastic trash imported by Malaysia during this period was a staggering 754,000 metric tonnes – the equivalent weight of 100,000 large elephants.
The Malaysian government cracked down on these illegal “plastic waste recycling facilities” earlier this year, shutting down 114 but Greenpeace Malaysia’s investigation uncovered the continued existence of large volumes of imported plastic waste in these facilities. The plastic is also often burnt on roadsides in the open-air, left to rot in the open and in abandoned buildings or thrown away in unregulated dump sites near to bodies of water. A study of 45 of these sites revealed that the waste came from US, UK, Spain, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Portugal, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austrlia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Argentina, Canada, Romania, the Philippines and Singapore. From January to July 2018, Singapore sent 11,524 tonnes of plastic waste to Malaysia.
One waste executive interviewed in Greepeace Malaysia’s report revealed that there are as many as 500 illegal plastic waste facilities in the state of Selangor alone. Globally, only 9% of all plastic waste is recycled with 12% incinerated and the remaining 79% dumped into landfills or the environment.
“The problem is not only a Malaysian problem. The international waste trade system itself is broken and based on false assumptions about what really happens with waste. All countries should put in place policies to reduce the use of single-use plastics to a point where waste export, landfill or incineration is unnecessary. Malaysia and other developing countries should not be the dumping ground for plastic waste that other countries should be dealing with themselves,” Heng concluded.
PALAWAN, commonly known as the Philippines’ “Last Frontier”, is famed for its rich biodiversity and complex ecosystems. The striking karst limestone formations of the northeastern zone trace back to the Permian age, about 300 million years ago. There are thousands of these breathtaking island landscapes, but so far only one has revealed a hidden spectacle – Paglugaban Island and its enormous underwater cave. Despite Paglugaban’s infamy being sealed with the unfortunate deaths of three recreational divers three decades ago, the cave is currently experiencing a growth in popularity.
Paglugaban’s deceivingly small and curved entrance spills into a large chamber, half dry and half submerged, but already gleaming with remarkable speleothems. Entering can be perilous when sizable waves and swells strike the entrance; worse, getting out may be impossible. Further inside and completely underwater are colossal formations perfectly preserved by the water. Some of the largest underwater chambers span 25 metres from floor to ceiling, with water-carved columns and jaw-dropping cave formations. We came prepared with five powerful video lights to document the expanse of these massive chambers. But how very naive we were.
Many of the cave walls and passages reveal distinct planes of discolouration, suggesting that the cave has existed during the freezing and melting that occurred over multiple ice ages. Skeletal remains of three giant groupers occupy the cave floor. The first two appear to be disorganised piles, but the third shows the perfectly formed skeleton, exactly as the grouper first laid to rest on its side. There is evidence of a fourth grouper almost completely buried under the cave floor, with just a hint of its protruding skull. If a major geological event was responsible for covering this fourth set of remains, it’s plausible that the floor may have anthropological value. Not far from Paglugaban are dry caves where fossilised remains of humans have been dated at 67,000 years old.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 Issue 1 Volume 136 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
We have much more mercury in our environment than ever before. Although mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal it is also highly toxic.
Conservation organisation WWF estimates that around 3,400 tonnes of mercury, two-thirds of the total amount entering the oceans, is emitted each year by human activities.
Mercury And Seafood: 5 Facts
1. Most fish have trace amounts of mercury
2. The bigger the fish, the higher the mercury
3. You can’t see, smell, or taste mercury contamination in fish
4. Cooking has no effect on mercury, and you can’t avoid it by cutting off the skin or other parts of the fish
5. The World Health Organisation (WHO) puts mercury in the TOP 10 CHEMICALS of major public health concern
GOOD NEWS FOR SHARKS
Eating shark is not just bad for conservation. As the predators at the top of the food chain, sharks can have the most mercury of all species. Campaigners have been taking advantage of this fact to protect sharks against the increasing demand for shark fin soup.
The US Food and Drug Administration says 1 in 3 sharks contains a high mercury concentration that passes safe limits.
Indonesia’s National Agency for Drug and Food Control found that sharks off their waters had levels of mercury harmful to human health.
HOW IS MERCURY GETTING INTO OUR SEAFOOD
Mercury finds its way to the ocean in a number of ways
It is released into the atmosphere as a by-product of fossil fuel burning, smelting or waste incineration
It returns to its liquid form and falls into the ocean or it can run off as a pollutant from industries like gold mining process and into waterways.
Mercury is then transformed by microbes in the ocean into a form that is digestible to fish (methylmercury)
Fish take in tiny amounts of mercury, but that mercury accumulates inside the body of fish – and the bigger the fish, the more mercury
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been recommending certain vulnerable sectors of society cut back on seafood, namely pregnant and breast-feeding woman and young children
WHAT DID THEY SAY?
1.Eat ONLY up to 12 ounces a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury
2.Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico because they contain high levels of mercury
3.Cut back on the amount of tuna
4.Check where your fish comes from HEALTH PROBLEMS OF MERCURY
Affects the nervous system even at low levels
May have toxic effects on the digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes
Harmful to unborn children
FINICKY ABOUT FISH
Taking predatory fish off your plate will reduce your mercury intake. Here are some to avoid:
King mackerel
Marlin
Orange roughy
Shark
Swordfish
Tilefish
Ahi tuna
Bigeye tuna
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 3 Volume 142 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Many marine animals undertake migrations over thousands of kilometres every year, often returning to the place of their birth to breed, or known food sources. Humpback whales have been recorded only altering their trajectory from previous migrations by a staggering 0.4 degrees. The question is: How do they know where they are going?
The answer is not simple unfortunately; little is known about this phenomenon, and navigation methods can vary from one species to another. It is believed the animals use a combination of different cues such as the Earth’s magnetic field and the sun. For those species that have sonar, they can “map” their environment, and for many species that migrate in groups it is also possible that the veterans lead the way, passing the rituals on through the generations. Although there are not many visual cues, things like water pressure will indicate depth, changes in chemical composition of the water can indicate for example where there are estuaries, sound and electrical currents travels better through water than air, and perhaps even the presence of other animals can indicate where or how far through their migration our pelagic friends have progressed.
Marine creatures migrate between countries, through some areas that are protected and through some that are not. This presents challenges for their protection, and necessitates increased collaboration between governments and conservation organisations
Whales
The longest migration on record was by a grey whale, clocking up a 13,987 mile (22,510 km) journey from Russia to Mexico and back.
The Sardine Run
Sardines can’t tolerate temperatures higher than 21 degrees Celsius so spawn then migrate to cooler climes.
Leatherback Turtles
Upon hatching, male leatherbacks spend the rest of their lives at sea; the females migrate back to the tropics to lay their eggs.
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin tuna migrate several times a year between the US East Coast and the West Coast of Europe in search of food, a round trip of over 10,000 miles (16,100 km).
Golden Cownose Rays
These rays migrate in groups of around 10,000, appearing to change the water surface colour to gold.
Bullsharks
These sharks have an unusual migration pattern because they move from fresh water where they give birth to
salt water.
Read the rest of this article in No. 88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Images by Giancarlo Brosolo, Jurgen Freund and various contributors
It’s winter in mid-July on the Great Barrier Reef, north of Cairns, and the sea is rough and cold. I’ve been floating in the ocean, hanging to this snorkel line for 15 minutes now, and I can’t help but question: “What on Earth am I doing here?” But just a few seconds later, two massive dark shapes appear from the blue depths. They glide gracefully and effortlessly through the ocean, just a dozen metres away from us. They’re beautifully streamlined, with sharply pointed snouts, large dark-grey backs covered with complex patterns, white flippers with dark tips at their sides, and long tapering tails. There is no doubt that the mighty creatures surrounding me are dwarf minke whales.
This magical encounter lasts for about 20 minutes, whilst the whales come and go as they please. Amongst the many wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, the opportunity to swim with the dwarf minke whales is definitely one of the most memorable. Overcome with emotion, we realise just how privileged we are to share the ocean with these gentle creatures, an awareness that makes us float through the day.
Every winter, from May to August, pods of dwarf minke whales migrate to the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, around the Ribbon Reefs between Port Douglas and Lizard Island, north of Cairns. The vast majority (about 90 percent) of sightings are between June and July.
This extraordinary aggregation doesn’t seem to happen anywhere else in the world, and provides rare opportunities for tourists. Like other baleen whales, minke whales appear to migrate from high latitude feeding grounds in the summer to low latitude grounds in winter. As of yet, scientists are unsure why the whales gather here, but for many this lack of clarity simply feeds the sense of mystery and intrigue that surrounds these incredible creatures.
MINKE EXPEDITIONS, RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Most countries do not allow tourists to swim with whales, but Australia has adopted a different and interesting approach by developing an ecologically sustainable form of tourism. The GBR Marine Park authorities, together with researchers and tourism operators, have developed a “code of good practice”, ensuring strict protocols for vessels, skippers and crew, as well as for snorkellers and divers, to allow interaction with whales in an environmentally responsible way.
But this cruise is more than just a dive trip; it’s a real exploratory expedition, dedicated to the dwarf minke whales. Hosted by Mike Ball, in association with the Minke Whale Project (MWP), it enables each snorkeller or diver to contribute to the research and monitoring programmes.
Dr Matthew Curnock is also on-board. He’s a passionate and awarded James Cook University researcher, whose fascinating briefings about the minke whale’s biology and behaviour help make this expedition such an outstanding experience.
Matt happily spends stints of six hours in the water in a row to study these mammals. When he’s not below the sea, he’s on the deck scanning the horizon, and it’s never too long before he, or another spotter from the top of the boat, roars “MINKE!”. Time for us to leap into the water, following along the two snorkel lines the crew throws out from the stern. Swimming towards the whales is not allowed, and frankly I don’t think it would have crossed anyone’s mind given the strong current. Anyway, it would be totally unnecessary as these whales are extremely inquisitive and often choose to approach humans. It seems we have a mutual interest in each other!
With the broad experience and depth of knowledge of the researchers and crew, amazing encounters are virtually guaranteed each day. These opportunities usually happen when snorkelling, but occasionally when diving, which is exactly how it happened on the last dive of our expedition, on Steve’s Bommie, when two whales approached the boat just as we began our descent and gave us the greatest of pleasure as they stayed with us for almost the duration of one hour dive.
Read the rest of this article in No. 88 Issue 7/2016 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Another mass stranding of whales occurred in southeast Australia when 28 whales were found dead on the beach on November 28. A pilot in a private aircraft had spotted a humpback whale and 27 pilot whales stranded on the beach after having flown over the Croajingolong National Park in Victoria state on Tuesday afternoon.
Eight of the whales were found in a critical state during an initial visit by park authorities later that Tuesday but all were dead when the rangers returned a day later.
Park authorities believe that the humpback whale may have been stranded and died well before the rest of the pilot whales.
“It’s one of the great mysteries, we don’t know why this happens,” said Gail Wright of Parks Victoria in an interview with AFP. She added that samples had been taken from the remains of the whales in a bid to understand the reasons behind the stranding of the whales.
THE pearls and chanks (large spiral shells) obtained from the Gulf of Mannar along the Indian and Sri Lankan coasts were some of the region’s premium exports. Accounts of their popularity feature in the journals of travellers like Megasthenes (third century BC), the anonymous author of The Periplus of Erythraean Sea (60 AD), Sangam-era literature (third century BC to fourth century AD), and archaeological excavations conducted at the ancient port town of Tamil Nadu.
THE CREW
» The history and techniques surrounding pearl fishing cannot be examined separately for India and Sri Lanka, as the people of both countries were involved in both regions.
» Hundreds of boats (sometimes more than a thousand) from the Indian and Sri Lankan coasts have engaged in pearl fishing together over the centuries.
» The number of divers in a boat was not fixed but varied according to the size of boats and the requirements.
» In 1746, the Dutch government created a rule that allowed only 10 divers at most in a boat. This continued during the British period.
» A total of 23 people were allowed in the boat:
› One tindil, or steersman
› One saman oattee, who took charge of the boat
› One thody, who bailed out water and cleaned the boat
› 10 divers
› 10 munducks, operational assistants who pulled up the stones and
oysters and aided the divers
WELL-DOCUMENTED METHODS
The first reference to South Indian pearl diving methods comes from Chau Ju-Kua, the author of Chu Fan Chi (1225 AD), who wrote about the trade between Arabia and China and the pearl fishery of South India during the rule of the Cholas. Others, including Marco Polo (1260–1300 AD), a Venetian merchant called Caesar Frederic (1563–1581 AD) and Father Martin, a Jesuit missionary in the early 18th century, have similarly documented the region’s diving methods. The 600 years’ worth of records between the 13th and 19th centuries all offer very similar details regarding pearl and chank diving techniques.
A COMMUNITY OF DIVERS
The literary text Agananuru, from the Sangam era, talks of a community named Parathavar. While the major occupation of this community was fishing, they were also pearl and chank divers, and continued diving even during the later Chola and Pandiya periods. The Muslims from the Persian Gulf were also a part of the diving industry in the Gulf of Mannar, beginning from as early as the 11th century.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
The start of each dive always created great interest and excitement. If there was moonlight, thousands of people assembled on the beach to watch and give their good wishes. At about 10pm, the tindals (steersmen) would get into position, ready to hoist the sails. At midnight, the adappanar (lead diver) would hoist a light at the masthead and set off. Within a few minutes, hundreds of boats would follow suit, amid much cheering from crew members and spectators. The white sails following the signal light of the adappanar’s boat could be distinguished for miles out at sea.
Weighed down by stones, divers descend rapidly while their assistants wait to pull the stones back upDivers place a foot between the stone weight and the rope while descending and let go before the stone is hauled back upTemporary huts were built along the coast to store the pearls before they were cleaned and sorted
In the early hours of the morning, the divers would get ready to begin. Ropes tying the divers to stones that acted as weights would be released, while each diver would take a deep breath and descend rapidly. As soon as they reached the seafloor, they would gather as many oysters as possible and put them into their baskets. Meanwhile, the stones would be lifted up by their assistants. Each diver would signal the completion of his job after about a minute by shaking the rope tied to him. He would then be hauled up. After a few minutes of rest, the process would be repeated. This would carry on until noon, with each diver making about 50 dives, before the boats returned to shore in the evening. Generally, a diver would cover an area of about two-and-a-half square metres at a depth of about 11 metres in a single dive.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 Issue 1 Volume 136 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
WHEN I was 11 years old, I played hooky from school, borrowed my brother’s 10-speed bike and went about 30 miles over the hills from Mountain View to Half Moon Bay on a dangerous twisty highway road to go snorkelling in the murky tide pools of Central California. These are some of the best memories of my childhood. In these tide pools were juvenile fish, lobster, invertebrates, sea stars, anemones and corals – it was magical.
In contrast, my family life was tortured with two heavy-drinking parents and near nightly beatings, one of which left me with a broken jaw. That is most of what I remember from my childhood.
The oceans gave me peace, focus and hope. When I tell people the sea is my mother, I mean it’s not only because up to 71 percent of the oxygen I’m breathing comes from her and the food I eat is a product of the favourable weather the seas maintain on earth, but because I love her as a mother. She was there giving me what I needed as a child when my parents did not.
rECOn “COMBAT” DIVES
There is nothing worse than a bully. Bullies cause wars, kill children, rob people and do what they can to further themselves without regard for others. I hate bullies.
Most commercial fishermen and all poachers are bullies. They kill or capture the innocent for personal gain with little regard for others or their effect on the environment. Most commercial fishermen I’ve met will often resort to loud profanity, threats or even violent behaviour if you challenge their “job” – solid signs of bullies. And poachers are much worse.
I can count over 13 times a poacher has attempted to kill me, from running me over with boats, stabbing me with a boat hook in my chest and trying to crush my head in with a rock, to name a few. Over the last 20 years, I have made countless rECOn dives into the bullies’ den. I prefer to perform rECOn missions completely alone to reduce the small footprint, thus making my efforts stealthier. These are called Solo Black Missions. The more secret I am, the better the evidence gathering and success of each mission.
In blacked-out gear – even wearing short underwater ghillie suits – with my O2 CCR leaving no bubbles, I operate directly under the killers’ boats, as they conduct their cowardly lawless acts upon Nature. Quietly, I hover below them and film the results.
Corpses drift past me, still-blinking sea turtle heads, still-alive finned sharks, entrails of endangered fish – all caught by my camera as evidence as my heart fills with hate for this filth of humanity.
The public seldom hears of what I do. My motivation has always been about preserving life, not getting attention. Working in the absence of the media has been a blessing. To this day, I don’t like public attention. Privacy is rich and I cherish it.
But now, some of my stories should be heard.
THE REALITY OF SEAFOOD
Organised crime reaches between 35 and 50 percent of all seafood around the world. Fish can be worth thousands of dollars and a person can be worth as little as $100 to eliminate. Totoaba swim bladders from Mexico, people have been murdered for; shark fins, people have been murdered for; sea lion penises, people have been murdered for. This is what people are responsible for when they eat these species.
A short time ago, I posed as a brightly dressed dumb American tourist at the fish market in Ensenada, Mexico. I discovered a baby great white shark (a protected species) for sale.
It was beheaded and the fins were cut off, but you could easily tell what it was. For the most part of over an hour, I hovered nearby until I watched it get sold to an American buyer of a California restaurant chain as “swordfish”. He avoided eye contact with me and I think he did not like the fact another American was around. Perhaps he saw me as a threat, but he concluded his purchase of the “swordfish” and continued his foray.
American officials and the media portray our fish as legal and safe. With my own eyes, I have seen that this is not true. Yet, Americans eat fish without true knowledge of what it is or where it comes from and blissfully suck down sushi without a clue… or maybe they don’t want to know? I honesty don’t know.
For a long time, local law enforcement from different countries would secretly accept my findings (evidence) from rECOn missions into their bag of weapons to be used as legal evidence against their countrymen as their laws permit. My actions had value and poachers paid the legal price for breaking the law and have been imprisoned. And just last month, all that changed.
Very recently, I faced a terrible reality. A friend in a foreign country that I have worked with for years to bring poachers to justice (whose name must remain anonymous) told me he couldn’t help me anymore. He explained that recently, a stranger walked into his office unannounced, right past his security. The stranger placed a picture of my friend’s wife on his desk, smiled and said, “She is very beautiful. After I kill your kids, I might [derogatory term for having forced sex] her before we send her off to the [sex trade]… then we will cut off your head.
“But, if you are real good and don’t interfere with our operation [illegal fishing], everything will be OK. You and your beautiful family go on like nothing ever happened. And if you are really good, I might just give you some nice gifts as well. Think about it. You don’t have to contact me. We will be watching you.”
Surprised and horrified, he watched the stranger smile at him, pick up the picture of his wife, place it into his back pocket and leave. This powerful, honest man – a good friend of mine – looked at me helplessly and asked me, “What would you do?”
Then my friend warned me that if “they” ever think I would become a problem, they would kill my loved ones. He then said that if I go public with what I just filmed, “They will kill you all.” I learned how real this was when a man near this village was shot and beheaded recently to prove a point to the police. Local rumour was that they made the “hit” for about $100.
To drive the point home, my friend explained it was probably “they” who sent the man to the island to (very likely) murder me. After 20 years of hunting bad guys and trying to bring local officials facts for prosecution – with limited success – I must stop all actions.
This is excruciating for me. Our oceans are dying at the hands of man. For years, I felt that some of my work was doing some good. Against my warrior spirit, for the sake of those I love, I have decided not to go public with any specific facts, locations or even species ruled by these criminals.
Read the rest of this article in 2015 Issue 1 Volume 136 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Text by Jae-Yeon Kim, translated by Christine Lee of Y.Zin Company. Images by Y.Zin Kim and courtesy of the Jeju Self-Governing Province
THERE IS A WRITTEN RECORD from the 6th century that tells of women who would make their living by diving, naked, into the ocean to collect seaweed and shellfish with a small sickle. History calls them the “Jam-Nyeo”, meaning, “diving women” or “Hae-Nyeo” meaning “sea women”. This tradition still exists today.
LEARNING ABOUT A RICH TRADITION
The essential reason that this seemingly “primitive occupation” has persisted for more than 2,000 years is that it is centred around a unique culture. This culture has played an important role, not only in the lives of these women, but also in history.
Most people think that the Hae-Nyeo are just divers who collect seaweed and shellfish to make money, but they don’t understand the culture. I also didn’t understand it properly, even though my grandmother, my aunt and my mother were all Hae-Nyeo in their lifetime.
I decided to work as Hae-Nyeo not for the money, but because of my affection for the spirit of Hae-Nyeo culture. Yet still it wasn’t until I decided to pursue this career that I discovered the considerate behaviour and fair competition that coexist together beautifully in a system which is all their own.
GUIDED BY NATURE
The Hae-Nyeo regard the ocean as their home and as a valuable asset at the same time. Every Hae-Nyeo thinks carefully about the ocean environment and makes as much effort as possible to preserve the marine ecosystem.
To protect shellfish populations, during breeding seasons they pause in the harvest of that particular shellfish and collect seaweed instead. This wise approach follows the providence of Nature, and is made possible by a natural order and an inherited system of rules that have been passed down through the generations for thousands of years.
The Hae-Nyeo ranks are divided into high, intermediate, and lower levels, determined by their actual experiences over the years, and their skill. It is not an authoritative, imposed hierarchy but is something born of careful consideration, responsibility, and fair leadership.
The older Hae-Nyeo lead the culture of the community, discussing issues and plans together. To avoid intense competition for resources, they cooperate, and don’t harvest areas that have recently been targeted by other members. They keep appropriate distances, yet still protect each other’s safety.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 4 Volume 143 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
As we finished one of the best wreck dives I have ever done, our boat released its mooring and sailed for about 10 minutes while we chatted enthusiastically about what we had just seen. Before we could even get it all out, we arrived at the next wreck. Which was just as good. This was the norm, apparently, but took a little of getting used to.
Welcome to Truk Lagoon, undoubtedly the WWII wreck diving capital of the world.
Staring out at the tranquil lagoon during our surface interval, it is hard to imagine the carnage that took place here over 70 years ago. Besides the rusted heavy defence guns that Nature promptly reclaimed, it appears as if little remains of the island’s military past. But of course, nothing could be further from the truth. For, at the bottom of the lagoon lay a snapshot of history, a place frozen in time, where there rested a Japanese fleet of over 40 ships.
On the morning of February 17, 1944, Japanese soldiers and sailors got a rude awakening after a night of partying. American planes from the carriers Enterprise, Yorktown, Essex, Intrepid, and Bunker Hill of Task Force 58, swooped down at the first light of day and began to strafe, bomb and torpedo anything of military importance. Operation Hailstone had begun, Japan’s “Pearl Harbor”.
The surprise attack destroyed almost every plane on the island and by the second day, every ship of significance was sunk as well. The strategic worth of Truk had dropped to zero literally over night.
From then on, the road to the Marianas and Saipan was open for the American forces. And it is from Tinian, an island Southwest of Saipan, where the EnolaGay took off to drop the atomic bombs which ended the war. As the world moved on and recovered from the horrors of WWII, the wrecks of Truk rested silently at the bottom of the lagoon, frozen in the moment they sank. For many years, they lay there, largely forgotten by the world above.
It wasn’t until the 1960s, during an outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish in the Pacific, that the Truk Department of Fisheries embarked on a programme to check on the explosive growth of this animal and how it was threatening the reefs around Truk. Men from the islands were trained to dive in the hopes of manually eradicating the starfish, and just like that, scuba diving arrived in Truk.
One of these young divers was Kimiuo Aisek, a man who would later be recognised as the most eminent figure in diving in Truk, and the local custodian of the sunken Japanese Marus. As a Micronesian, Kimiuo had an innate instinct for navigation and for noticing little secrets that the sea tries to tell.
One day, on the way back from fighting the crown-of-thorns starfish, he noticed a discolouration of the lagoon bed. He asked the boat to stop and dived in. The rest, as they say, is history, for he had stumbled upon the Yamagiri Maru.
Read the rest of this article in No. 109 Issue 3/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
OUROCEANSARE changing at an alarming rate – alongside localised pollution, reefs worldwide are becoming warmer and more acidic – which together threaten the survival of coral reefs. 2016 has seen the world’s third mass coral bleaching event. (Not sure what “coral bleaching” is? See the box below.) We have all seen images and videos from around the world showing fields of white coral skeletons, where only weeks before existed colourful, healthy coral reefs.
THE WATER’S HOTTING UP
Warmer seawater is often the cause of coral bleaching; this year alone, it is estimated that over a third of Australia’s Northern Great Barrier Reef has been killed due to coral bleaching from the warmer-than-normal water associated with an El Niño event.
Above average seawater temperature is the main culprit causing coral bleaching but it can also occur from other stressors such as disease, high light, pollution and changes in salinity.
Corals can only recover from bleaching if “host tissue” remains intact on the bleached skeleton to reacquire zooxanthellae and rebuild energy reserves. This is only possible given enough time between repeat El Niño (or stress) events.
Corals that lose their host tissue are dead, and collapse of the reef framework follows. Corals can only repopulate impacted areas from neighbouring reefs that are unimpacted or through “reef restoration” practices.
CORALS CAN’T STAND AN ACID HOUSE
Adding to the challenge for coral to survive our changing oceans is the rising acidity of seawater. As oceans absorb carbon dioxide they become more acidic. This is a problem for marine organisms, like corals, that build a calcium carbonate skeleton. In more acidic water, the ability for corals to build teir skeleton becomes compromised: Quite simply they need to invest more energy to sustain their skeletons or otherwise lose their structural integrity.
Each year the oceans absorb 25 percent of all carbon dioxide that we emit.
The ocean pH is around 8.1 (which is actually slightly alkaline) and is predicted to drop to 7.8 (still slightly alkaline) by 2100.
The oceans are nearly 30 percent more acidic than they were at the start of the industrial revolution.
By the year 2100, it is predicted that the oceans could be 100 to 150 percent more acidic.
ANSWERS IN EXTREME PLACES
With so much pressure on the Earth’s fragile coral reefs, their survival is uncertain. Scientists around the world are exploring how corals may be able to survive in the future, within a changed climate. One way that researchers can study this is by laboratory experiments, where future ocean conditions are simulated in a controlled setting.
Another approach is to locate environments where corals are already, naturally, living in extreme conditions. Here, scientists can explore which organisms are able to survive and how. Such natural extreme systems are more common than you would think, and it seems that if we look, Nature may already have provided some of the answers we are after.
WHAT IS CORAL BLEACHING?
Corals are animals that live in harmony with microscopic algae (commonly called zooxanthallae) that act as solar cells for the coral, producing energy by absorbing sunlight. Unfortunately, this relationship can break down under stressful conditions, causing corals to expel their microalgae, the sign of stress we know as “coral bleaching”.
Corals typically survive within a narrow range of environmental conditions [e.g., light, temperature pH (acidity) and salinity], which are critical to sustain optimum growth. However, accelerating human impacts are changing the world’s oceans, requiring corals to survive under conditions that are suboptimal. Many coral reefs worldwide are therefore now in a state of change as they attempt to keep pace with environmental change and successfully function under new conditions.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 4 Volume 143 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS come from all over the world to blow bubbles in Raja Ampat. But there are people who have lived here since long before all this, people who have made their lives from Raja’s rich waters and continue to do so. These people have seen huge changes, some of which may have affected their lives and livelihoods as well.
IS RAJA’S STATUS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE?
In 2004 Raja Ampat was listed as a marine protected area as well as the world’s first manta sanctuary. Local residents are still allowed to fish, although fishing species like sharks, mantas, turtles, and dugong is strictly prohibited, along with certain destructive fishing methods like dynamite fishing. With a steady influx of visitors, brought into the area largely by the the region’s incredible and now famous diving, the tourism industry is growing at a steady rate. As eco-resorts, homestays, and liveaboards slowly establish themselves here, they seem to be opening up a wide range of new job opportunities for people as boat captains, dive guides, construction workers and others.
From most peoples’ perspectives all these things sound like an instant win – protected waters and lots of new jobs. Winner! But it would be naive to think that everyone would perceive these new changes as a positive thing, specifically those whose lives are changing. After all, the people of Raja have been living here, in more or less the same way, for generations – making their living from what they’ve harvested from the land and sea – only to watch it all that change in less than a decade.
It recently occurred to me that maybe they don’t like sharing their fishing grounds with divers, or having tourists wandering around their villages as if they were some kind of attraction at Disney World’s Epcot Center. I decided it was time to stop just assuming everything is peachy and find out for myself.
I figured that asking some local fisherman would be the best way to get a feeling for how the local people see the evolving situation in Raja, so I set out to find some fishermen on a small sandy island called Arborek. I chose Arborek for several reasons. The first is that it is still very much a fishing village, which means lots of fishermen, and the second is that it has become quite popular with tourists. To me, it seemed the perfect place to explore some of the questions that I had bouncing around in my head.
ANSWERS IN ARBOREK
I didn’t have to walk far (about two metres) down one of Arborek’s well manicured, white-sand pathways before I came across a bare-chested man wearing an old, weathered pair of athletic shorts, as most of the fishermen in Raja do. I introduced myself and shook his hand and I noticed how powerful, calloused, and scarred his hands were. I assumed this strength had developed as a result of a lifetime of wrestling unwilling tuna and other large pelagics into his small boat. While physically he appeared to be in his fifties, his eyes looked like those of a much older man, with that thick glaze, characteristic of too much sun. That being said, I’m sure he could spot fish better than any electronic fish finder. His name was Yance, and he was indeed a fisherman and had been one for nearly 40 years.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 4 Volume 143 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The term “muck” originates from diving in muddy and murky conditions in an environment where the seafloor consists predominantly of sediment, sand (often black volcanic sand), fine silt, rocks and dead corals or coral rubble.
At some muck diving sites you’ll also find small, sporadic clusters of coral or patches of anemones but nothing that could be described as a reef. Many muck diving sites also “feature” manmade debris ranging from tyres and paint cans to air conditioning units and beer bottles – ask any experienced muck diver – they will have probably seen them all.
WHY DIVE MUCK?
Muck diving offers a completely different experience to reef diving. Muck diving takes a much more focused approach which can best be described as “critter hunting”. Once your eyes have adjusted to water visibility the fun really begins. You’ll cover a relatively small area in a lot of detail. Usually you’ll start at one end of a site – or the deepest section and work your way along or up the muck in a zigzag pattern – leaving no patch of sand un-examined. The thrill of finding critters is one of the major draws to this type of diving. With little coral growth to camouflage themselves again you’ll find critters which are doing an astonishingly excellent job of hiding in plain sight and often displaying unusual behavioural traits including mating, laying eggs, hunting, feeding and even hatching. On these desolate looking sites you’ll find some of the world’s rarest and most bizarre marine life. With iconic critters such as hairy frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue ring octopus, mandarinfish, harlequin shrimps, wunderpus and mimic octopus, decorator crabs and a countless array of shrimps it’s no wonder that the world’s most elite underwater photographers spend so much time muck diving.
ESSENTIAL TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
FOR MUCK DIVING
Go Slow: This is not a race and it takes time to find critters that are camouflaged. Give your eyes time to catch up and study objects closely – not just by giving a cursory glance. Look out for features such as distinguishable fins or eyes and try to peer underneath debris, numerous cleaner shrimp and commensal shrimp species hide in the shady areas around the base of rocks, tree branches and even plastic trash. You will be covering a relatively small area so you can afford to go slow.
Buoyancy: Remember to maintain excellent control of your buoyancy at all times. Many critters at muck diving sites lay just beneath the sand and can deliver a nasty sting if you accidentally brush up against them. Perfecting your buoyancy will improve your underwater photography in leaps and bounds too as you’ll be able to hover motionless without disturbing the bottom composition (or the critter) while perfecting your shots.
Keep your Fins Up:The fine silt on the bottom is very easily disturbed and a careless fin kick can result in a silt cloud which limits visibility and takes a longer time than sand particles to settle. When finning, kick slowly and use a froggie-style technique keeping your knees bent at 90 degrees and your fins up and raised behind you – much like the technique used by cave divers. Every now and then take a look back to make sure that you are not leaving a silt cloud behind you.
Look for Hot Spots: Although the critters at muck diving sites are perfectly at home on the exposed bare sands, they often still seek shelter from currents and places to hide from predators. With limited options this means that any foreign matter on the sand is a potential beehive of activity. Once you have spotted a possible “hotspot” (such as items of debris), approach slowly and observe and closely inspect it. Remember that you see what you expect to see, so if you are looking at some tangled rope, without really studying it, you will see only tangled rope and miss the ornate ghost pipefish that is hovering alongside it.
Learn about Marine Life: Find out more about the marine species you are hoping to see in order to increase your chances of a sighting. Experienced dive guides don’t just have good eyes; they are armed with a wealth of knowledge. Through learning some basic information about a critter, such as what it feeds on, its preferred habitat and depth range, you’ll be able to focus on areas where you are most likely to have an encounter. If you are hoping to learn more about marine life during your trip, look for muck diving resorts which have a marine biologist on staff.
Monitor your Dive Time: It’s extremely easy to lose track of your dive time when you become engrossed in critter hunting and underwater photography. Keep an eye on your no-decompression time and make sure you agree to a maximum bottom time with your buddy before the dive. Plan your dive and dive your plan.
Plan your Shots: Many critters’ eyes have adapted to the murky conditions in which they live and they do not handle constant flash photography well. Remember that muck dwelling critters rely on camouflage rather than swimming (flight) to remain undetected and so they will remain still when flashed. For this reason, limit your number of shots. It’s easy to find a stone, shell or coral and use it to take practice shots first so you can adjust your settings and gauge your distance from the subject. Once you have everything in place then take a limited number of shots of your subject. Some critters will turn away from the camera after one or two flashes (for example pygmy seahorses); take the hint and move on to another subject.
Share Your Critters:Let other divers in your group know when you spot a critter of interest – it will encourage them to do likewise.
Never Manipulate Marine Life: Many of the critters are extremely sensitive and manipulating critters to get a closer look or to take a better photograph is not acceptable. In recent years, underwater photography competitions have disqualified entry photographs where the critter appears to have been manipulated. Disqualification can occur when a critter appears to have been moved to an environment not common to that species or when the subject is displaying behaviour indicative of it feeling threatened. If you observe another diver manipulating marine life, report it to your dive guide. It is only through respectful diving practices that these intriguing marine species will continue to thrive.
WHERE TO GO MUCK DIVING
Many of the best muck diving sites in the world are located in South East Asia and most notably in the Coral Triangle, such as the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia (also known as the Critter Capital of the World), Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea, Mabul in Malaysia and Anilao in the Philippines. Other destinations worldwide include California, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Gulen in Norway and Nelson Bay in Australia.
So are you ready to dive into the weird and wonderful world of muck diving? Our final piece of advice is beware – muck diving is highly addictive!
Read more about muck diving in Issue 3/2018 Volume 151 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The first hurdle of night diving is to actually do it. Getting a beer at the bar and calling it a day is often more tempting than jumping into the water again. But once in, there is almost always one encounter or one shot that makes forgoing that beer worth it. For the best results, here are some important considerations to take with you.
The first and most important thing to bring is a torch. One for you and one for your camera. It’s equally important to be able to focus underwater at night as well as to communicate with your dive buddy or the boat that is going to pick you up afterwards. Underwater photographers often think that they have enough lights as they have their focus light or pilot lights built into the strobes. But when the focus light is on throughout the dive and the strobes have emptied out by the end, you face the risk of not having any light at the surface, which can be a serious safety hazard. It’s always better to bring a second, handy dive torch with you as a backup.
Regarding the focus light, wide and soft light will do the job well. Ideally, it should not be too strong or dimmable to low power to avoid scaring the animals away with the light. If you have the option of using a red light, it could be very useful for animals that are easily scared, but take note that the landscape will be set to a monochrome scene and it makes finding animals more difficult compared to using white light.
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
To start off, I would recommend using a macro lens with the focus light on top of the camera. The technicalities are similar to what one would apply during the day, though the environment has obviously changed: Animals are more difficult to spot and their behaviour is different. But this can be an opportunity to capture animals in situations that can’t be seen during the day, like a sleeping parrotfish or a hunting lionfish. At night, settings such as aperture and shutter speed are about the same as in the day. To avoid any light interference from the focus light, or from another diver, it is best to set the shutter speed to at least 1/200s. Make sure that there is no disturbance in the background when photographing subjects; you would want either a full black background or a textured backdrop from a soft coral. This can often be achieved by positioning yourself close to the seabed.
BLACK-WATER PHOTOGRAPHY
For black-water dives, where divers drift in the open water with the dive light attached to a line, it is ideal to use a 50mm or 60mm macro lens. Focusing can be very challenging and the best thing to do is to have your buddy hold a spotlight to the critter and shut off your own. This method will also help reduce backscatter. You can set the shutter speed on high to avoid interference from other lights. Strobes can come from the side or slightly from behind to emphasise the animals.
Read the rest of this article in No.111/2018 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Unsure about what to do when shooting sharks underwater? Daniel Norwood provides valuable tips on how to get the perfect shark shot in a responsible way
Sharks are some of the most amazing and successful predators in the animal kingdom, and despite years of rampant overfishing, which has decimated populations globally, it is still possible to dive with them in a number of different locations around the world.
Experienced operators in countries such as Fiji, the Bahamas and Mexico have been introducing people to sharks without incident for many years, and as the public perception of sharks finally begins to change for the better, the number of people wanting to swim with them continues to rise. This is good news for sharks, because participating in sustainable shark tourism provides countries with an economic incentive to protect them and their habitat. It is also the best way for underwater photographers to get close to sharks and capture a variety of iconic species.
SAFETY FIRST
Before joining a shark diving trip, it is important to consider your diving ability and experience level, while choosing the location and tour provider carefully. Do some research and dive with responsible people that know what they’re doing. Unfortunately, a small number of individuals in the industry continue to take unnecessary risks and intentionally harass or manipulate animals for attention. Recent trends such as riding sharks and aggressive nose rubbing only encourages other people to do the same, and more importantly shows a complete lack of respect for the animals. If you happen to find yourself on a shark dive where the operator goes too far in an effort to put on a show, refrain from taking or posting images of the incident and by all means voice your concern after the dive. Avoid such dive centres and dive with companies who genuinely care about the welfare of sharks instead. Photographers are also often guilty of pushing the limits in an effort to get a better shot, but no image is worth risking your safety for, so avoid acting foolishly and abide by the rules.
GETTING GREAT IMAGES
Before discussing techniques specific to different types of shark dives, it is important to first prepare your equipment and camera settings.
All shark photography will require some kind of wide-angle lens and ideally two strobes. Always shoot in RAW for non-destructive post-processing and use a shutter speed no slower than 1/125s unless you are intentionally shooting motion blur images. Start with an aperture around f/8 and make adjustments to experiment with different shades of blue water. Finally, increase the ISO if you are deep or if light is an issue. Most modern cameras still produce great results at high ISO levels and on certain dives you will need it.
Now that the camera is ready to go, it is time to consider the type of sharks you will be shooting and how you can make the most of each situation and come away with some great images.
BAITED SHARK DIVES
Contrary to popular belief, most sharks do not normally approach humans, and will avoid groups of divers at all costs. For this reason, it is often necessary to attract them with food. There are a number of ways to do this that all serve the same purpose: to get as close as possible to otherwise elusive species. This type of diving is great for photographing large predatory sharks such as tiger sharks and great hammerheads in the Bahamas, bull sharks in Fiji and Mexico, and blue sharks and makos in the Azores and California.
My lens of choice for these dives is a Tokina 10–17mm (used on a cropped-sensor DSLR), but if you do not like the fisheye effect, a rectilinear lens in the 12–24mm range would also be a good choice. Having the ability to zoom in and out is a huge plus and I tend to make constant adjustments to my focal length throughout each dive. I also manually adjust the power output of my strobes; it can be easy to blow out the white belly of a shark if the light is too bright, so start low and adjust accordingly.
While sharks are mostly gentle by nature, inappropriate behaviour by divers may cause unnecessary accidents. Here are some general guidelines that should be followed by everyone participating in a shark dive:
– Never reach out to touch
or grab the sharks
– Never touch the food
or the bait box
– Always wear appropriate
safety equipment
– Never chase or harass
the sharks
– Do not spend unnecessary
time on the surface
– Always pay close attention
to the safety briefing and
any rules specific to that
particular dive
– Always pay close attention
to your surroundings and
the sharks close to you
Most importantly, always remember that sharks are wild and potentially dangerous animals that should always be treated with caution and respect. For a list of recommended dive centres, go to www.globalsharkdiving.org
Read the rest of this article in No. 111/2018 of Scuba Diver Ocean Planet magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
A warming world means that sea ice is melting earlier and forming later every year. Polar bears thus have less time to hunt for food, and female polar bears have less time to build up the fat reserves essential for when they hibernate and give birth.
This also leads to lower reproductive rates, as undernourished bears have fewer cubs.
Oil Exploration
Ongoing exploration for oil in the Arctic has a number of consequences for polar bears, including:
1 Their latin name, Ursus maritimus, means “sea bear”
2 Polar bears are the largest land-based carnivores in the world. Adults can grow to over 2.5 metres long and weigh almost 700 kilos!
3 Most of their life is spent on sea ice and in the water. They are easily able to swim at speeds of around 10 kilometres an hour
4 Polar bears have been spotted swimming more than 100 kilometres from land
5 They have incredible adaptations to their environment, including huge, webbed paws, a streamlined skull and long neck for swimming, and thick blubber for insulation and buoyancy
6 Their diet consists mainly of seals, which they hunt from the sea ice, ambushing breathing holes. They also feed on walruses, beluga whales, whale carcasses, and seabird eggs
7 Polar bears have in incredible sense of smell – they are able to detect prey from many kilometres away
8 Individual bears may travel thousands of kilometres each year to find food
9 Polar bears are generally solitary animals, except when breeding or rearing their cubs
10 Polar bear fur isn’t really “white”. It is transparent with a hollow core that reflects the light
Breeding
Polar bears normally mate from late March to May
Gestation is around eight months
Pregnant polar bears will seek out maternity dens, in October or November, in which to hibernate and then give birth to their cubs. Pregnant polar bears need to build up fat reserves to survive the “denning period”
Cubs are born from November to January while the mothers are hibernating
Sows can have up to four cubs at a time, though one or two is more common
Cubs weigh about two kilos when they are born, and will nurse until they reach about 10 to 14 kilos before emerging from the den in March or April
Cubs will stay with their mothers for a little over two years
Female polar bears can produce five litters in their lifetime
Polar bears have one of the lowest reproductive rates of any mammal
Vulnerable
With such low reproductive rates, as well as a high degree of specialisation to a vulnerable ecosystem, polar bear populations are extremely vulnerable
Population
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimates that there are between 20,000–25,000 polar bears in the world
Distribution
Polar bears are distributed throughout the Arctic region in 19 subpopulations. They are found in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and Norway.
The most important habitats for polar bears are the edges of pack ice, where the melting and refreezing of ice creates patches of ice and patches of water where they can find the greatest number of seals
Read the rest of this article in No. 89 Issue 1/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
In the deep blue sea off Okinawa’s Yonaguni Island lies a stone structure of epic proportions. But is it natural or manmade? Mystery, history, mythology and geology all come together at this enigmatic underwater structure off Japan – the Yonaguni Monument – that raises more questions than it answers. Does this underwater structure provide evidence of a sophisticated, ancient civilisation? Or have years and years of seismic activity given way to a bizarre natural formation?
YONAGUNI, 100 KILOMETRES from Taiwan and 2,900 kilometres from Tokyo, is dotted with green sugar cane fields, tropical scrub, and grassy patches of land grazed by the tiny Yonaguni horse. With stunning lookouts, white sandy beaches and colossal rocky cliffs falling into the clear blue-green seas, the island also happens to be Japan’s westernmost inhabited place and the last in the chain of Ryukyu Islands in Okinawa prefecture. One small town, two very small villages and two sheltered harbours form the human addition to the island, while coral bommies rest in the shallow water. Benefitting from the full brunt of the Kuroshio Current, it’s known for swordfish, tuna, giant cuttlefish, barracuda and schools of hammerhead sharks that gather in the waters to breed during the winter – so ubiquitous, in fact, that divers travel from all over the world for a chance to swim with them.
MYSTERY UNDERWATER
But underneath the clear blue waters lies something else, a mystery of epic proportions, literally and figuratively. Yonaguni is famous for some mysterious underwater ruins called the Yonaguni Monument, and the mystery comes from the fact that nobody knows what they really are, when they were built or by whom. Their existence has led to countless debates, and neither the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs nor the government of Okinawa Prefecture recognises the ruins as important cultural artefacts. In fact, no government research or preservation work has been carried out on them.
Fifteen minutes away from Yonaguni’s harbour, the seas can be mildly rough with fairly strong currents, and the breaking waves look like dark, roiling storm clouds creating the perfect atmosphere for something strange and mysterious. Here, where the ruins are, the stones (sandstone and mudstone dating back to around 20 million years ago) are cleft at sharp angles and there are other shapes like arches and steps, waist-high passageways and conical borings in the rocks. The main feature, the “Monument”, is rectangular, with its top about five metres below sea level.
What is known, however, is that the ruins were discovered in 1987 by a local fisherman named Kihachiro Aratake, who happened to be diving for hammerheads in the hope of finding a new spot to show tourists the huge sharks. Instead, he came across something even more exciting, and felt shivers up his spine as he back-rolled on top of an enormous pyramidal structure that began relatively close to the surface before its walls plunged into the deep. Aratake, who now runs his own dive centre, Sou-Wes Yonaguni, was convinced that he had discovered the remains of an ancient civilisation, and named the dive point Iseki Hanto, or “Ruins Point”, from the structure’s resemblance to an old pyramid-like temple.
Word then spread across the island, as Aratake began to seek the advice of experts. As the ruins were visited by divers more often and their structure mapped out, further discoveries were made, such as arched entrances and carvings, narrow passageways and matching obelisks that seemed perfectly aligned. Over the following years experts descended upon the site to determine whether the structure was natural or man-made. Yet to this day, it remains a great, unsolved mystery.
Read the rest of this article in 2016 Issue 3 Volume 142 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Around the INDO-PACIFIC, as part of an international effort called the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project, people and organisations are being mobilised to help protect dugongs and their habitats. SDAA talked to Christina Shaw of the Vanuatu Environmental Science Society (VESS), one of the smallest of these initiatives, about what it means to be working on the front line of the fight to protect these wonderful creatures.
1.Why is it important to better understand and protect dugongs and their habitats? And why is it important in Vanuatu specifically?
Dugongs are iconic marine mammals and we have a duty to ensure they do not become extrinct. Dugongs live around the coasts and are at risk because they are competing with humans in the same ecosystems.
Vanuatu is the most easterly country of the dugong’s range, and we think that here there are perhaps not quite as many threats to them (such as habitat loss) as in other industrialised countries or countries with higher populations.
Vanuatu might be one of the places that gives them a better chance of survival. But we don’t know how many are here, and so we don’t know if the population will be too small to survive or whether there is a realistic chance we could be a haven for future generations of dugongs.
Seagrass beds have a hugely important role in the ecosystem as fish nurseries, coastal protection and carbon skinks to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Many people in Vanuatu live a subsistence lifestyle, near the coast, and rely on natural resources for food. Ensuring seagrass beds, along with coral reefs and mangroves, stay healthy in Vanuatu is important for security.
2.How did you get into dugong research and conservation?
I came to live in Vanuatu seven years ago to work as a vet and was going scuba diving at the weekends. Occasionally a dugong would join us on a dive and it was an amazing experience sharing the water with one of these iconic gentle giants.
Dugongs here have a reputation for being more friendly than they are in other places, possibly because they don’t face many threats. They seem curious and will often stick around for several minutes, even going to the surface and coming back after they have taken a breath. The surfers see the dugongs regularly in one of the villages just outside the capital, Port Vila.
When I decided to stay in Vanuatu indefinitely, I completed a masters in Veterinary Conservation Medicine and wanted to move into work in conservation. Dugongs were one of the threatened species in Vanuatu I had always hoped to work with.
It just so happened that the Global Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project was about to begin and I met Donna Kwan from the dugong CMS MoU (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Memorandum of Understanding) Secretariat who was looking for partner organisations in Vanuatu to implement the project here.
We don’t have many conservation NGOs in Vanuatu and none that had a focus on science. So I set up a new organisation (with funding from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund) and VESS was born. We were then asked by the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, Vanuatu (DEPC), and the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD), if we could implement the project here with DEPC and VFD as project partners. So that is what we’re doing!
Since living here, my fiancé has become one of the owners of the Big Blue dive shop (which is where we met) and we still dive with the dugongs sometimes.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2016 No.87 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
This is teh Fijian variation of the three-spot Dascyllus trimaculatus, which exhibits a rich golden belly. Photo by Dr. Richard Smith
IN A TIME of such hyperconnectivity, a population of seven and a half billion souls, and space probes that relay information from beyond our solar system, you might expect that we’d have a pretty fair idea about the number of species in our oceans. The truth of the matter is, scientists are still discovering hundreds of new species each year – unsurprisingly, given that undiscovered species are believed to account for 70-80 percent of all marine species. As the first generation with the ability to freely explore the oceans using scuba, our community has made a huge contribution to the discovery of new species.
With the ease of capturing digital images, the rate of new discoveries made by recreational divers has skyrocketed. It is an exciting time to be diving the Coral Triangle.
Where have all these species come from?
Marine animals are fundamentally different to their terrestrial counterparts. More often than not, marine creatures have a pelagic larval stage in their life cycle, during which time their babies can float far and wide at the whim of ocean currents. As a result they are distributed across huge distances.
Land-living animals on the other hand are constrained by oceans, mountains, rivers and other physical barriers that they are unable to cross. Even birds can be scared to cross narrow stretches of sea; Wilson’s and red birds of paradise are found only on Waigeo and Batanta Islands in Raja Ampat, despite Salawati being the other side of a strait just a few kilometres wide. As a result of marine creature’s pelagic stage, there are very few barriers to prevent marine animals from reaching even the most remote atolls. Many coral reef fish species are found all the way from the east coast of Africa to the mid Pacific.
How do new species evolve in the ocean?
Although much less common in the ocean, evolution through geographic isolation does occur in our seas. From Triton and Cenderawasih Bays in remote West Papua, to the Calamian Island group in the Philippines, isolated areas of the ocean have contributed disproportionately to recent new marine discoveries.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 2 Volume 146 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
THERE ARE FEW TIMES SS Turkia’s sinking in the Gulf of Suez is still not clear even after 76 years. Some sources say that a fire in the third cargo deck was the reason why the 91-metre ship sank; others say that a German warplane bombed the wreck, similar to the famous SS Thistlegorm. What we do know is that the ammunition in her cargo caught fire, causing a big explosion that led to her 24-metre plummet, where she can be found today. This is an excellent depth for divers, especially those using nitrox. The wreck lies 14 hours by boat to the north of Hurghada, Egypt, which keeps the wreck out of reach for most liveaboards. As such, not many divers visit the wreck, which makes it excellent for marine life and the preservation of the fully intact wreck – a rare sight for wrecks in the Red Sea.
Under the name of the Livorno, the ship was originally built in Hull, England in the year 1909. She was formally used to service between Hull, London and the Adriatic for trading cargo. After her first year, she sailed between Hull, Constantinople, Novorossick and Odessa, as well as between St Petersburg and Cronstadt. During World War I, the ship was used to trade along Manchester, Liverpool, St. Petersburg and Riga. After the war, she was involved in a variety of routes carrying perishable fruits and bulk cargos such as coal. After a hiatus from 1920 to 1935, she was sold to Greece and used under her last name, the SS Turkia.
Since her last voyage, the ship sits upright on sand between 10 and 24 metres. Although the hull is still quite intact, the surrounding seabed is full of bits and pieces of the wreck, which is an exciting sight for divers to discover. Like the Rosalie Moeller, the bow of the SS Turkia looms high above the sand, wrapped in fishing nets from the endless attempts of fishermen to trap the mass of marine life that hides along the huge cargo decks of the sunken ship. Hundreds of barracudas and trevallies, unlikely to be found elsewhere in the Red Sea, have made their home here in the middle of the Gulf of Suez. The density of the sheer mass of fish is so high that divers sometimes can barely see the actual wreck. Diving between the schools of fish is like entering the portal to discovering what hides within.
The large cargo deck contains an endless mass of tyres, possibly as replenishment for the troops during World War II. Swimming through the spacious engine room, divers will emerge out of the other cargo deck, where some ammunition and intact grenades can be found. The deck is covered in a mass of mussels that have crusted over vehicles used as transporters carrying fuel and ammunition. Intact bottles of wine can be found on the upper deck and inside the small cabins. The SS Turkia truly contains some treasures which are rarely found in wrecks from its time.
Photography Tip
The visibility in the Gulf of Suez is not as good as in the other parts of the Red Sea, making it difficult to capture the whole wreck at once. For photographers, it is best to concentrate on the bow and stern of the wreck. There are also interesting highlights inside or up on the deck.
When To Dive
The best time to dive is during the high season in Egypt, which is between June and October. Outside of those months, the wind can be quite strong and the waves are usually very big in the Gulf of Suez at that time.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 4 Volume 148 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Underwater cameraman Jason Isley, co-founder of the underwater filming and photography company Scubazoo, takes us back to a storm on the sea where he feared for the worst.
Back in 2001, we heard stories of an island in the Philippines where it was said you could encounter thresher sharks on a daily basis. Of course this was the now-famous Malapascua, to the north of Cebu Island, but back then there were just two resorts in the entire place and hardly any video footage or images of threshers to be found online. During the first week, we were completely blown away by the regular sightings of the sharks underwater, but little did we know we were about to be very literally blown away topside!
At that time, my main role was as an underwater cameraman, but I was also taking my marine stills photography very seriously. So I hatched a plan to try and make the most of my time underwater at the shark cleaning station. I took the video camera down as normal, plus a tripod with an extra weight belt to keep it secure on the rubble, but I also brought my underwater DSLR along, complete with strobes. After positioning the tripod in the cleaning station and pressing record on the video camera, I would back off and wait patiently, hoping to capture some still images. On one particular morning, I could feel the surge down at 20 metres. I was alone at one of the cleaning stations and when I glanced up at the surface, the conditions were not looking good. As there were no sharks around, I decided to cut the dive short, gathered all the kit and slowly made my way to the surface.
Once there, I could see that the bow of the boat, where the ladder was located, was giving the sea an almighty spanking. I swam for the ladder and attempted to pass the video camera up to the crew; they snatched it from my hands along with the extra weight belt before the ladder decided my head was next for a spanking. Eventually, I managed to gather myself and throw the tripod onto the boat, but when I reached down to grab the DSLR, I found it had come loose from my BCD attachment. In a moment of panic, I swam around on the surface, but my search was in vain. It had simply disappeared. After a very rough journey back to the resort, I reported my sad loss to the dive manager.
Read the rest of this article in No.110 Issue 4/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
In recent years, debate on the subject of baiting the water to attract sharks has been on the rise. Many people feel that this practice may be harmful for both humans and sharks while others insist that it is necessary to help preserve the shark population.
A study published in July 2013 in Marine Policy reported that approximately 100 million sharks are killed by humans each year. This number is unsustainable and the consequences of the prolonging of this practice could be substantial to our marine ecosystems. It is reasonable to assume that most of us should have a vested interest in the preservation of the ocean’s top predator, as our own ecosystems are intertwined with the health of the ocean. But how we go about bringing awareness about the need to preserve shark populations remains a matter of controversy.
Arguments against baiting the water for sharks include the belief that sharks may become accustomed to associating humans with food. This could harm innocent swimmers or divers because more sharks may be in the area where food is frequently dispensed. In fact, this belief does have some truth in it. Ralph Collier, who heads the “Global Shark Attack File”, reported that in the short term, there may be some correlation between shark feeding and shark bites. Indeed, some areas such as Hawaii, Florida, and the Cayman Islands outlaw shark feeding.
Some argue that baiting undermines shark conservation efforts because sharks that become habituated to receiving food from humans are instead caught by fishermen taking advantage of easy prey.Others claim that operations that use bait to attract sharks for their customers are exploiting the shark population for the monetary value in tourism.
Tourism, however, may just be the thing the shark population needs. Some areas that were once fishing grounds are now protected from fishing, and the local population who once sold their catches now make their living as dive operators. It is estimated that a shark’s value when sold for food is about USD150–200. That same shark has a value of nearly USD2 million over its lifetime as a tourist attraction. Considering the number of people who now have an interest in sharks because of programmes such as Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, shark tourism has become a definite benefit for sharks.
Without images of sharks in their natural environment, conservation efforts would not be as effective. Advocates argue that photographers who take compelling images of sharks to inspire change can’t get close enough to their subjects without feeding them. In addition, allowing divers to participate in baited dives helps dispel the myths that movies have perpetuated. In truth, sharks are intelligent, graceful and beautifully powerful animals.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 1 Volume 149 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Nausea is nasty – there is no doubt about it. This debilitating symptom can strike for a number of reasons: dehydration, motion sickness, morning sickness, food poisoning, too much sun – the list goes on. But fear not, there are a number of things you can try before you lose the will to live! Obviously, identifying the cause of the problem is step one, and will help guide you to the best way of helping yourself, but even if you can’t resolve the root of the problem, there are a few universal cures you can try.
Hydrate
Dehydration can cause nausea, and will make it worse if it’s caused by something else. Make sure you’re drinking enough water, as well as replacing your electrolytes with an isotonic drink, or fresh young coconut.
Rest your noggin
Try to keep your head as still as possible, and rest with your head slightly elevated if you can
Pressure point
Try the ancient wisdom of acupressure with the P6 point. For the most effective relief, stimulate this point for as long as possible on both wrists.
Cool compress
Apply a cool, wet cloth to the forehead and temples, or to the back of the neck, depending on which position you find most relieving
Stomaching it
Ginger (fresh, as capsules, in ginger ale or as a tea) and peppermint (tea works best!) are widely recognised as some of the best natural remedies for nausea. Flat cola is also highly effective.
Have regular small meals and stick to bland, easy-to-digest foods.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, fizzy drinks and greasy or processed food.
Sweet smells soothe
Smelling pleasing aromas can cut through nausea quite effectively. Try slicing a lemon and gently inhaling the citrusy scent, or use like lavender or geranium.
Mind over matter
Nausea can often be exacerbated by anxiety, and then made worse by the worry that you’re going to vomit. Try to relax, if you need to let it out, then do – throwing up if you need to can be a huge relief!
Read the rest of this article in No.89 Issue 1/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
I close my eyes – something not recommended for underwater photography. But the visibility, floating at the surface of Canada’s Hudson Bay, is less than an arm’s distance, so all I can do is wait patiently.
And then the symphony starts: A crescendo of squeaks and clicks build until I feel my chest reverberating. It’s time to take a deep breath and freedive down. Six metres below the surface, the brackish haze turns into a dark emerald green and I can finally see with my eyes what all the commotion is about.
Each summer, more than 50,000 beluga whales gather in the mouth of the Churchill River in the Canadian subarctic to feed and give birth. Most often seen in captivity at zoos and aquariums, these Arctic whales are rarely photographed in their natural habitat. But the trek to the edge of the Arctic – where polar bears patrol the shores and button-sized mosquitoes buzz about in the summer sun – is worth the chance to meet the white whale.
THE CANARIES OF THE SEA
Just weeks earlier, the brackish water of Hudson Bay remained frozen solid. Even with most of the ice gone, the water hovers around 2°C to 3°C. It’s a shock to enter, despite my double-layered 7mm wetsuit, which is nowhere as thick as the 12-centimetre-thick blubber borne by the belugas.
Read the rest of this article in No.110 Issue 4/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The Underwater360 Expedition to the Banda Sea discovers a community flourishing on the slopes of an active volcano, guardians of a reef that attracts one of the world’s most impressive hammerhead aggregations.
IT SEEMS LIKE it would be tough living on a storm-swept island, days from civilisation, with no fresh water and limited electricity.
You would imagine that these conditions would breed a hardness in people, and that for them every waking moment would be spent in the service of tasks related to survival.
So, imagine our surprise, when, on landing on the island of Serua we were met with a pretty village, its paths lined with brightly coloured flower beds, cloves drying in the sun, and offers of refreshment in the form of fresh young coconut and dried banana. This was not what we had been expecting.
THE EPIC JOURNEY
We are halfway through our epic Underwater360 Expedition to the Banda Sea. Aboard the beautiful, luxury liveaboard Samambaia we have been tracking and documenting the cetaceans which use this unique habitat, under the expert guidance of Dr. Benjamin Kahn of APEX Environmental. The data we have been collecting is being used in his ongoing research, as a means of better understanding the Banda Sea, thus generating more support for its protection. Blue whales have been reported as aggregating here – stunning information for a species which is supposed to be solitary. We see a number of them, calves and adults, as well as spotted and spinner dolphins, melon-headed whales, and tantalising glimpses of orca.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 2 Volume 146 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
I vividly remember the first time I was told that my son, Richard, has autism. He had just turned four, and after his doctor said that he probably had a speech delay, further testing was done. When the diagnosis finally came back as autism, I was heartbroken, thinking that there would be so many things that this sweet, kind little boy may never be able to do; I wondered what the quality of his life would be like. As it turned out, Richard would show us that he was capable of much more than we ever imagined. At the age of 16, he became a scuba diver.
Richard had always loved the water and was a very competent swimmer, but I assumed that scuba diving was out of the question for him. While Richard is verbal, he has difficulty speaking in sentences, and sometimes it is hard for him to understand what others are asking him to do if they don’t demonstrate it first. Even though he is always eager to learn new skills, there would be no way that he could comprehend dive tables or be able to assist a fellow diver in an emergency. My husband, Scott, and I, both experienced divers, had come to the conclusion that snorkelling would be as far as Richard would be able to go breathing underwater. But all of that changed when we learned about the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA).
In 2013, an instructor at our local dive shop had earned his HSA instructor certification, and explained that with the proper training and supervision, Richard just might be able to dive. Richard would not be expected to know dive tables or assist others in an emergency, but he would need to know how to signal and react to an emergency should he have one.
Tanya and Richard snorkelling with whale sharks and manta rays near Isla Mujeres, Mexico. (Photo by Tanya Houppermans)
However, we first had to find out if Richard was even comfortable diving underwater.
My husband and I, along with Richard’s instructor, held a Discover Diving class for Richard in the local pool. Within an hour of first breathing through a regulator, Richard was swimming around the deep end of the pool in full scuba gear, as relaxed as could be. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The best part was seeing the huge smile on Richard’s face. I remember thinking, “This might really happen. My son may actually become a scuba diver!”
Like many people with autism, Richard is very visual; he learns best by observing. He also has a remarkable memory. These traits allowed Richard to easily learn and perform the diving skills that were demonstrated to him by his instructor. We did make a few modifications to help him. For instance, we couldn’t say, “Pretend you’re out of air,” because Richard can’t relate to that. So to teach him what to do in an out-of-air emergency, we had to turn his air off while he stood up in the shallow end of the pool breathing through his regulator. Then he could experience what it felt like to be out of air, and learn what to do if that happened underwater. Once he knew what to do, it took very little time for him to demonstrate these skills in the water. The more he learned, the more he was proud of himself for what he was accomplishing, and my husband and I could not be prouder.
Read the rest of this article in No.110 Issue 4/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
As the oceans warm, some fish species are migrating away from equatorial waters towards cooler areas closer to the poles
These changes in distribution will:
Impact delicately balanced ecosystems in which each species plays a vital role
Have consequences for coastal communities in equatorial regions who rely on fish for livelihoods
What is Coral Bleaching?
Higher temperatures are also leading to an increase in large-scale, prolonged, coral bleaching events. Coral bleaching is one of the most visual indicators of thermal stress due to climate change.
Corals exist in a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae that live in the corals’ tissues and, through a process of photosynthesis, produce vital food for the coral polyps
When water temperatures are consistently too warm, the corals and zooxanthellae become stressed. The zooxanthellae will leave their coral hosts. The coral loses its colour, turning white. This will normally happen over a period of 4–6 weeks
If water temperatures do not drop, the coral will starve and die. The remaining skeleton will be colonised by algae, making it impossible for the coral to recover
Coral reefs that are already stressed are more vulnerable and less able to recover from bleaching events. Other stresses for coral reefs include:
What Is El Niño And What Does It Have To Do With Coral Bleaching?
The term El Niño refers to the large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate interaction linked to a periodic warming in sea surface temperatures across the central and east-central Equatorial Pacific. The presence of El Niño can significantly influence weather patterns, ocean conditions, and marine fisheries across large portions of the globe for an extended period of time. Combined with warmer-than-average water temperatures, El Niño events are likely to have increasingly dramatic and severe impacts.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 1 Volume 144 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
An aerogel made of PET material. (Photograph from NUS News online)
Plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are one of the most pervasive plastic rubbish items being dumped in rivers and oceans around the world with annual consumption of plastic bottles set to reach more than half a trillion by the year 2021. In a revolutionary breakthrough, research scientists from National University of Singapore (NUS) have created the world’s first aerogel from recycled PET bottles, which can be used for heat and sound insulation, oil spill cleaning, carbon dioxide absorption and other fire safety applications. This is an important discovery which could greatly reduce the amount of plastic bottles being dumped into oceans.
An aerogel made of PET material. (Photograph from NUS News online)
Led by Assoc Prof Hai Minh Duong and Prof Nhan Phan-Thien from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering in NUS, the research team set about its aerogel project in a bid to reduce disposable waste in the environment.
“Plastic bottles are one of the most common types of plastic waste and have many detrimental effects on the environment. To combat this, our team has developed a simple cost-effective and green method to convert plastic bottle waste into PET aerogels for many exciting uses,” said Assoc Prof Duong in a press release statement from NUS.
What is an aerogel?
An aerogel is a synthetic, porous, low density, ultralight solid material derived from a gel where the liquid component in the gel has been replaced with a gas. Being made from PET plastic, the aerogel created by the team from NUS Engineering, has the advantage of being flexible, soft and very durable. The aerogels can also be customised for different uses by applying different surface treatments to it.
Versatility is its middle name
In addition to its strong absorption capacity, the aerogel also has great thermal insulation properties which makes it suitable for use as a lightweight lining for firefighter coats. After coating the aerogels with fire retardants, the PET aerogel can withstand temperatures of up with 620 degree Celsius. That’s more than seven times higher than existing firefighter coats and yet they are 90% lighter than conventional thermal lining. Its soft and flexible properties also provide the coat wearer with better comfort. Prof Nhan also emphasised the value of using PET aerogels as a safer, lighter, cheaper and more comfortable alternative to existing firefighter coat lining materials.
When treated with various methyl groups, the aerogel can absorb large amounts of oil quickly and can be used to clean up oil spills as they outperform today’s commercial sorbents by a factor of seven.
When coated with an amine group, the aerogel is found to have carbon dioxide absorption abilities comparable to materials used in existing gas masks today. The aerogel can be pressed into a thin layer in a commercial dust particle mask and be able to capture dust particles as well as carbon dioxide, capabilities that are not available on the market today.
Producing Aerogels
According to Assoc Prof Duong, a single plastic bottle can be recycled into an A4-seized PET aerogel sheet and the fabrication technology used also scales easily for mass production.
The team collaborated with Dr Zhang Xiwen from the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to develop the technology to produce the PET aerogels.
The technology to fabricate the PET aerogels was developed over two years from August 2016 to August 2018 and was published in the scientific journal Colloids and Surfaces A in August 2018.
Looking ahead
The research team is looking to make more modifications to the PET aerogels so they can absorb toxic gases such as carbon monoxide. The team has filed a patent for the PET aerogel technology and are looking to work with companies keen to bring the technology to market.
Read more about plastics and its harmful effect on marine and human life in our November 2018 Issue 3 Volume 151 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
A snippet of Vincent Truchet's photo series on manta rays. (Photo by Vincent Truchet)
For over 150 years, the Salon des Beaux Arts exhibition, a major artistic and cultural event organised by the National Society of Fine Arts (SNBA) of France, has exhibited the greatest names in painting, sculpture, engraving and has been at the forefront of art development, keeping a watchful eye for new reflections on the art of each era.
This year, for the first time in the history of this show, the National Society of Fine Arts of France has invited an underwater photographer, Vincent Truchet, to exhibit his work at the Salon des Beaux Arts exhibition. A world famous diver, underwater photographer and past speaker at ADEX Singapore, Truchet’s work will be exhibited from December 13 to 16, 2018 at the Carrousel du musée du Louvre in Paris, France.
Founded by Theophile Gautier in 1861 as an association of independent artists which accommodated all artistic expressions and taught artistes to do their own business, the Salon des Beaux Arts has selected Truchet’s evocative photographs of manta rays for its exhibition.
Vincent tells us the story behind his pictures of manta rays taken in French Polynesia:
A photo of a shark’s gills (Photo by Vincent Truchet)
At the time in Tikehau Lagoon, there was a manta ray cleaning station. I dived there every day for more than four years. A dozen rays frequented the spot daily. By dint of photographing them, I decided, out of sheer curiosity, to undertake an identification assignment. I quickly collected thousands of images, identifying more than 140 individuals. Among them, I recognized 30 by simple visual identification and especially one in particular that I had seen for the first time while she was still very young. It did not exceed 1.5 metres in wingspan (a manta ray at birth is between 1.20 and 1.40 metres in wingspan). During the four years spent consecutively on this atoll, this was the manta ray that I spent the most time around. And the few times I did not see her diving at the cleaning station, I found her at night close to the jetty of the village, coming to feed on the plankton attracted by the artificial light of public lighting.
A shark’s eye (Photo by Vincent Truchet)
It’s amazing to see a wild animal evolve and grow over the years. The last time I saw Téa, that’s the name we gave her, it was in 2017. Up until now, I had only met her in the lagoon, but for our last meeting, she had joined the ocean and had grown to over three metres in wingspan.
Had she grown old enough to venture into the big blue at last? Had she returned to the lagoon since? I do not know yet but I cannot wait to dive back to Tikehau to find out.
A snippet of Vincent Truchet’s photo series on manta rays. (Photo by Vincent Truchet)
What was especially amazing with Téa was her behaviour. She came to play in the bubbles of the divers, revelling in those curious things she had not been wary of for a long time. Our instructions to the divers that we supervised, being also dive masters, were simple and strict: “We stay at a distance, we land on the bottom of sand and let the animals come to us. Never force the encounter.” There was no need to wait a long time with Téa. She came to be placed a few metres above a diver, stopped in the flow of bubbles and then let herself gently “sink” until she came crashing on the skull of the lucky diver; then enjoying the comfort of his hair by scratching it! Every diver who has had this experience with Téa or any other manta ray in the world has an undying memory, I am sure.
I spent more than a thousand hours underwater in contact with these incredible animals. It must be said that the site was shallow, between zero and eight metres. The day I made these photos, I stayed more than six hours on the spot, emptying three tanks consecutively. I know it’s hard to believe but Téa was there as soon as I started in the morning. I spent my first tank with her. Worried about losing her when I was back on the boat changing my tank, I acted as quickly as I could but I needn’t have worried. Téa had remained under the boat. I had the pleasant feeling that she was waiting for me. Then I made my second dive without leaving her for more than two minutes. Other manta rays passed by. Téa was going to pay them a visit and we met again as soon as her fellow mantas went away. That’s how I spent my longest dive with the same animal, reiterating the same experience at the second tank change. Luckily, no other diver or boat came to the spot that day. We were alone, Téa and me.
A snippet of Vincent Truchet’s photo series on manta rays. (Photo by Vincent Truchet)
A few years later unfortunately, the site and the manta rays were victims of their success. In spite of the very clear instructions from the divers about the approaches to the mantas, excessive attendance and unsuitable behaviour of snorkelers, in particular towards the animals, forced them to desert the site. Of course there are always some that go by but nothing comparable to what we experienced in the time when there were quiet and respectful tourists. In short, to live happily, let’s live in hiding.
Maybe one day I will meet Téa again, in the meantime I keep preciously the photos she gave me and all my memories to not forget her.
Bio
A resident in French Polynesia since 2010, having spent more than eight years in the Tuamotu Archipelago, particularly on the atoll of Tikehau, Vincent Truchet’s passion for the ocean was first ignited by his diving experiences in the French coastal waters in Normandy on the wrecks of the world war in the Mediterranean Sea, both on the continent and on Corsica island. But it is in Polynesia, however, that his work as a photographer matured and began to be published. Truchet has collaborated with Swiss watchmakers such as Blancpain (he was one of the photographers for their 2016 Fifty Fathoms Edition) and Breitling (his work has been used for the Breitling SuperOcean watch). His images have also been used for the advertisement campaigns of Canon and in commercial collaterals like the annual calendar produced by BBC Wildlife.
About the 2018 Salon
The National Society of Fine Arts continues its tradition of encouraging and supporting artists of all stripes by organizing its exhibition each year at the Salon at the Carrousel du Louvre. It is today presided over by Michel King, Official Painter of the Navy.
During its four-day duration, the show invites the public to discover for free 600 international artists: painters, sculptors, photographers and engravers. The show brings together French artists and a dozen foreign delegations (Canada, China, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey) which exhibit the formal singularity of artists over 2000 m2 of exhibition space.
The curator of the exhibition is Catherine Severac, who is a painter, and Isabelle Lawson, executive director of SNBA. The jury is made up of members of the SNB office.
1 The vaquita, Phocoena sinus, is the world’s smallest cetacean, weighing around 55 kilos.
2 Females grow to be around 1.5 metres long. They are longer than the males, whose length tops out at about 1.4 metres.
3 They eat small fish and squid.
4 They have unique facial markings with a black ring around each eye and curved, black lips that make them look as if they are smiling.
5 Their dorsal surface is dark grey, their sides pale grey, and their underside is white with light grey markings. Newborn calves are darker.
6 Vaquita have proportionally large dorsal fins, possibly as an adaptation to warmer water to allow heat to dissipate.
7 Like other porpoises, vaquitas use sonar to communicate and navigate.
8 Vaquitas are very rarely seen. When they are spotted, they are either alone or in small groups of two or three. They are thus thought to be quite solitary animals.
9 Researchers estimate that vaquita live for around 20 years.
Threats
Vaquita are disappearing as a result of their being caught and drowned by gillnets, as bycatch.
Many of their numbers have been killed by gillnets as part of the illegal fishery for a fish called “totoaba”.
The totoaba is also a critically endangered fish species, targeted for its swim bladder, which is mistakenly believed to have applications in Chinese medicine; tortoaba swim bladders will sell for as much as USD 8,000 per kilo on the black market.
Breeding
• Females reach sexual maturity between 3 and 6 years old, and will give birth roughly every 2 years.
• Vaquita will mate during April and May.
• They will have one calf which gestates for 10–11 months.
Most vaquita calves are born in March and April.
• Vaquita calves are around 70 centrimetres long at birth, and weigh about 8 kilos.
Population
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
In 2017, it was estimated that the vaquita population had dropped to fewer than 30.
Their population was thought to be around 600 in 1997.
Distribution
The geographic range of the vaquita is the smallest of any marine mammal – it is a patch of water of roughly 2,330 square kilometres, in the northern part of Mexico’s Gulf of California. The vaquita is also the only porpoise species found in such warm waters.
Their habitat is specialised; they live within 25 kilometres from shore in shallow lagoons, in water between 10 to 28 metres deep.
Read the rest of this article in No. 109 Issue 3/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Natural history filmmaking is more than just a job. It defines your goals, characterises your ambitions, becomes your way of life. I’m often asked how I got into this business. It’s a career no one (especially me!) would have imagined, much less predicted, for my future.
I grew up a city girl, born to city folks. My idea of an outdoor adventure was a Sunday walk in a city park or sunbathing at a hotel swimming pool. As a child, we didn’t visit national parks and only once did I travel outside the continental US, on a short trip to the Bahamas.
Being a registered nurse was the only job I ever wanted. While in nursing school, I’d have laughed at the suggestion that I would have a second career 20 years later as an underwater filmmaker; I would have found the idea terrifying.
A few years after college graduation and a move from Kansas City, Missouri to San Diego, California, I began dating a doctor whose favourite pastime was scuba diving. That provided me with the motivation to take up the sport, a daring act to me at the time, and in May 1975 I became a certified diver.
A LIFE-LONG LOVE AFFAIR
I soon found myself literally immersed in the Pacific Ocean and enthralled with the new world I’d discovered in the sea. I’d fallen in love. First with the ocean and its inhabitants, and later with my instructor, Howard Hall. I’m sure my parents were horrified upon discovering my romantic attentions had drifted away from a doctor and future plastic surgeon, and toward a diving instructor! Eventually Howard became my wildlife guide.
When we first met, Howard was working full time at a dive shop and teaching diving, but he knew he wanted something more. His search for a career in diving prompted him to leave behind spearfishing and take up underwater photography. He began using his spearfishing skills to pursue fish, whales, and other sea creatures for photographic opportunities. His affinity for observing and understanding wildlife behaviour paid off as he began capturing unusual photographs. By 1976 he’d developed a reputation for photographing sharks, which led to being hired as “shark adviser” on the feature film The Deep. This assignment gave him enough financial capital to build an underwater movie camera. Soon he was making a modest living marketing his still photos. Having acquired underwater cameraman’s skills, by 1978 he progressed to doing assignment work, gave up scuba instruction, and “Have Camera, Will Travel” became his slogan.
I went on my first underwater filming expedition with Howard in August 1980. He was producing his first film about the hammerhead sharks that (used to) school in great numbers over the Marisla Seamount in the Sea of Cortez, Baja California. Underwater cameraman Stan Waterman and author Peter Benchley were along as hosts for the show. During this expedition I had an experience that changed my life forever.
RAY OF CHANGE
Returning from a dive, I saw an enormous Pacific manta ray soaring over the seamount, its wings spanning more than five metres tip to tip, with fishing net wrapped around one of its cephalic fins. I watched the manta begin to fly by, then turn in my direction and stall beneath me. I couldn’t believe it, but there was no mistaking the ray’s intent. I settled down on its back and succeeded in removing the embedded fishing net.
Whether this behemoth thought me Androcles or what, I’ll never know. But it then took me for the “ride” of my life.
Read the rest of this article in No.89 Issue 1/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
In the middle of September this year, French authorities hired specially equipped boats with lifting gear to haul to the surface thousands of old tyres from artificial reefs. Researchers had discovered that the tyres were leaking toxic chemicals, including heavy metals, into the sea. This tyre reef sanctuary, located 500 metres from the Mediterranean coastline between the towns of Cannes and Antibes in the southeast corner of France, was created in the 1980s by dumping 25,000 car tyres into the sea after local fishermen and French authorities envisioned a protected area where fishing was banned and corals and marine life could populate the tyres, thereby rejuvenating the marine life in this stretch of the Mediterranean.
Photo from Shutterstock
With increasing focus on the harmful effects tyres can have on the environment and the ocean, policymakers and tyre companies are becoming concerned. In addition to the toxicity from tyres submerged in water as stabilisers in breakwaters or as structures in artificial reefs, tyre waste transmitted through the air from vehicles on roads is also one of the issues being addressed by the European Commission in a White Paper drafted in January 2018 stating their strategy in dealing with plastics in a circular economy. Besides acknowledging that more research is needed to comprehend where microplastics come from and how they affect the environment and human health, the commission is looking into ways to cut down on microplastics that come from tyres. One of the ways they intend to do this is by looking into setting an EU-wide standard for the abrasion rate of tyres through establishing a common testing method along with a requirement for producers to inform consumers.
HOW TYRES GET INTO THE SEA
A 2017 scientific study led by PieterJan Kole of the Open University of The Netherlands* estimated that about 10 percent of the microscopic pieces of plastic in the ocean are from tyres as they wear down. What most people question – or are ignorant about – is how much tyre waste is in the environment, how much of it ends up in the sea, if and how it gets into the food chain, and what danger it poses.
According to the study on the wear and tear of tyres by Kole et al., every car tyre weighs about one kilogram less when it is scrapped compared to when it was first bought. The missing kilogram of tyre material is eviscerated into the environment through wear and tear from driving and braking. According to a report by Eunomia, 500,000# tons of tyre waste from 290 millions cars in Europe escape into the environment through the air, scattered on streets and highways, or swept into rivers and the sea.
The tyre reef being dismantled in France this September was one of five experimental tyre reefs deployed in the 1980s on the French coasts of Palavas-les-Flots, Langrune-sur-Mer, Arca-chon-sur-Mer, Port-la-Novelle and Golfe-Juan, and they are still in place today. After a study done in 2005 by researchers at the University of Nice revealed that the toxic chemical leak from the tyres are a threat to marine and human life, an initial removal operation was conducted in 2015 at the Golfe-Juan site to remove 2,500 tyres as proof that the tyres could be removed safely. Divers and boat crews were scheduled to remove 10,000 tyres in October 2018, while the remaining 12,500 tyres will be removed in the second quarter of 2019. The removed tyres will be sent to recycling centres in Nice, where they will be broken up into granules and used in construction projects. The removal of the tyres is said to cost more than one million Euros and will be paid for by the French authorities as well as the manufacturer of the tyres, French tyre giant Michelin.
France, however, is by no means the only country that has created artificial reefs from tyres. Although there are an estimated 90,000 cubic metres of artificial tyre reefs in France, there are around 20 million cubic metres offshore in Japan. Scientists estimate that there are around 200 artificial tyre reefs around the world with the bulk of them in the waters off the United States, Japan, Malaysia and Israel. Around two million tyres were sunk off the coast of Florida in 1972 to create artificial reefs to promote marine life.
*Wear and Tear of Tyres: A Stealthy Source of Microplastics in the Environment by Pieter Jan Kole, Ansje J. Löhr, Frank G.A.J. Van Belleghem and Ad M.J. Ragas. Published online Oct 20, 2017
#Annex of Eunomia draft report v4 “Investigating Options for Reducing Releases in the Aquatic Environment of Microplastics” available at http://www.eunomia.co.uk/reports-tools/investigating-options-for-reducing-releases-in-the-aquatic-environment-of-microplastics-emitted-by-products/
Read the rest of this article in our November 2018 Issue 3 Volume 151 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Gender-related topics almost invariably come up when I talk about my work as a scientist. Conversations that start about my work with manta rays always seem to circle around to probing questions about the challenges of being a female researcher. I find people’s interest in this subject perplexing. Sure, being a field researcher is hard… but what does being a woman have to do with that? I fight the same defensive feeling when I see eyebrows raise upon learning that I am the CEO of an international conservation organisation… like for a moment they find this fact hard to believe. Have we seriously not moved past this?
While this line of questioning can sometimes get a bit tedious, I have started to reconcile myself to the fact that this issue is indeed important and worthy of addressing. The main reason for this conclusion is the hundreds, maybe thousands, of young girls that have contacted me throughout my career looking for advice – girls who see me as a role model, that aspire to have a career like mine, or that want to work in the field like I do; young women of all ages that are looking for recommendations or for advice; ones needing to hear first-hand that they can make it. Sometimes I can tell that they are looking to reassure themselves; others are looking for ways to assuage the fears of their family or friends. Strangely, I never get these kinds of letters/e-mail/questions from boys. Is that because I am not a role model for them, despite being an authority in my field? Or is it rather because they do not have the same reservations that young girls do. Logic tells me it is the latter and I see evidence all the time that young girls are somehow less confident about career paths in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) fields than young boys.
When I was young, it never occurred to me that as a girl I would face discrimination in the workplace or that that I might be discouraged from pursuing my dream of being a scientist. I kindly blame my parents for this ignorance. I blame them because they raised me to believe that I could be anything when I grew up; that no goal, however impossible it seemed, was unattainable.
Despite being an only child, I had a wonderfully fulfilling childhood chock-full of adventure and travel. My mother was a veritable powerhouse, raising me in a loving home and achieving career success at the same time. She was always very supportive of my dreams and aspirations. I attended the best schools and she made sure that I was exposed to as many marine related extracurricular activities as possible.
ADVICE FOR A “BRIGHT YOUNG GIRL”
So, there I was, blissfully ignorant, pursuing my dream of becoming a marine biologist. However, despite being one of the top students in my class in high school, I started to feel the first inklings of gentle encouragement to go into a field that might be more appropriate for a girl. Always in very complimentary ways, I was told that I was a strong writer and that I should consider a degree in literature or creative writing. I was told that I was a great debater and that I should consider a career in law. Each time, it was also casually suggested that science was a difficult field to “break into”. Everyone seemed to want to steer me toward more practical options for careers, since “shark researcher” really did not seem like a particularly suitable career path for such a “bright young girl”.
Strangely, the advice usually came from people that seemingly cared about me, people who ostensibly knew what was best for me. I was made to feel that I might regret my choice to pursue a career in science, that I might waste valuable time only to find out at a later stage that it was not a “viable” option for me.
Up until then I had never even considered what it meant to be an intelligent young woman with options; never suspected that being a girl might complicate my choices. I admit I was perplexed by all of this unsolicited advice. I have wanted to be a marine biologist since I was five years old. In fact, many people tell me that they have never met such a focused child – I don’t think that I waivered once along the path to my chosen profession.
Read the rest of this article in No.89 Issue 1/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
For 60 years, the blue whales of the Antarctic-Indian Ocean were massacred by commercial whalers. They are now one of the most endangered of the whales, but scientists are only just discovering their integral importance to the ocean.
In 1964, the guns fell silent. A massacre lay before them, a familiar sight from the relentless slaughter of blue whales in the last 60 years that brought a species to its biological knees and the brink of extinction.
With the advent of the industrial age, a modern way to “harvest” whales saw the evolution of a global industry that operated with increasing surgical precision. A lack of scientific reasoning meant an absence of a sustainable limit or yearly quota, and numbers rapidly declined to a point almost beyond a species’ genetic ability to continue.
Prior to industrialised whaling, the number of blue whales was estimated at around 260,000 (now thought to be an extremely conservative figure) in the Antarctic-Indian Ocean group alone, but from 1904 to1964, industrialised whaling saw this number plummet to a mere thousand or so.
Sri Lanka provides a rare opportunity to interact with and photograph the largest of beings known to have lived on this planet. For the sake of conservation, a small number of divers are given this privilege, venturing out in small boats with guides who are also collecting photographic data of flukes for identification of individuals. Just like a human fingerprint, each fluke has a unique appearance.
Now numbering an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 globally, blue whales are still considered one of the most endangered of the “great” whales. With records indicating some 26,500 blue whales slaughtered each year in the Indian Ocean, it’s a wonder how they are not already extinct. Sadly, new threats from increased ship strikes, abandoned fishing nets, ocean floating plastics and global warming pose a challenge to the genealogical recovery and stability of the species.
With the end of legal whaling, two whale sanctuaries have been established by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in the Southern Hemisphere. One is the Southern Ocean waters surrounding Antarctica, and the other is in the Indian Ocean surrounding Sri Lanka.
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 2 Volume 150 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Manta rays are the biggest rays in the ocean. Despite their size, these majestic beauties pose little threat to humans, making them very popular among divers. They are generally found in warm waters across the planet, and are declared as “vulnerable” by the Internation
1.KONA & THE BIG ISLAND, HAWAII (Kona Coast)
Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
<350. Main attraction is the night dive/snorkel with mantas off Kona
2. REVILLAGIGEDO ISLANDS, MEXICO (The Boiler)
Manta birostris
Peak Season:
Year round
(best Nov-Jun)
Population:
>350 but expected to be much larger. This location consistently has sightings of very large individuals with wingspan >5m. Black mantas are also common at this site
3.ISLA MUJERES & ISLA HOLBOX, MEXICO (Bahia de las Mantas)
Manta birostris
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
Unknown. This Caribbean manta could well be a third species of manta ray
4.ISLA DE LA PLATA, ECUADOR
Manta birostris
Peak Season:
Year round
(best Jun-Oct)
Population:
~350 but expected to be much larger. Weather conditions make this site hard to access at certain times of the year
5.MALDIVES
Manta birostris/Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Jul-Sep
Population:
5,000-6,000
6. KOH BON,SIMILAN ISLANDS, THAILAND (West Ridge, Koh Bon Pinnacle)
Manta birostris
Peak Season:
Year round
(best Jan-May)
Population:
Unknown
7.YAEYAMA ISLANDS, JAPAN (Manta Scramble)
Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round, but bad weather in the winter often prevents diving at the main manta site
Population:
300
8.YAP, PALAU, KIRIBATI & GUAM (Manta Ridge, Manta Ray Bay, Valley of the Rays)
Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
~100. All these small islands have small populations of reef mantas year round
9.KOMODO NATIONAL PARK, INDONESIA (Manta Alley, German Flag, Batu Tiga, Karang Makasar, Tatawa Kecil, Tatawa Besar)
Manta birostris/Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
Unknown. Black morph mantas are found at this site. Mantas migrate from the north to south of the park with the seasons
10.KADAVU ISLAND, FIJI (Manta Reef)
Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
Unknown, but likely to be fairly small
11.GREAT BARRIER REEF, EASTERN AUSTRALIA (North Bommie, Coral Grotto, Plate LEdge, Pam’s Point, Heron Bommie)
Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
>500
12.CORAL BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
>500
Note: Coral Bay is a location along the Ningaloo Reef, where the manta population is said to be between 1,200 and 1,500
13.NUSA PENIDA ISLAND, BALI, INDONESIA (Manta Point, Mola Mola)
Manta birostris/
Manta alfredi
Peak Season:
Year round
Population:
Unknown
14.TOFO, INHAMBANE, MOZAMBIQUE & SODWANA BAY, SOUTH AFRICA (Bass City, Shallow Malongane, Bread Loaf, Paradise Ledge, Turtle Creek, Fingers, Checkers, Doodles, Ponta do Ouro)
Though they rarely get any recognition, dive guides are more often than not the ones responsible for the beautiful images captured by underwater photographers
Text and images by Wade Hughes
Underwater photographers do more than create pretty pictures. By documenting undersea landscapes and marine life, they become ambassadors for the ocean. It’s often been said that humans only value and protect the things they know and understand. If this is true, the creation and sharing of underwater images with the broader non-diving public serves to heighten awareness and appreciation for the marine environment, and the need for the protection of these unique ecosystems.
The photographers who create these images are justifiably lauded for their technical and artistic ability. But as many of these same shooters will be the first to attest, creating these portfolio prizes is often a team effort that includes topside support and, most importantly, an experienced dive guide. This fact isn’t lost on veteran underwater photographer Wade Hughes, who is a Member of the Explorers Club and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. “Photo dive guides almost never appear in the picture credits, but they are the ones that can make the difference underwater,” he says.
Wade has documented underwater sites in some 30 countries and territories around the world, and now focuses an increasing amount of his time photographing the reefs and marine life of Indonesia’s Wakatobi region. Wade recently wrote about some of his experiences working with Ketut Suardika, who is one of the highly-experienced guides working at Wakatobi Resort.
Bumphead parrotfish spiral up to the reef top from deeper water. They’ll crunch and grind their way through living corals, digesting the soft tissue and excreting the pulverised sand.
Night Moves
It’s dark. Out of the gloom, Ketut’s slate suddenly materialises in front of my face, weakly illuminated in the few rays of his dive light escaping between his fingers. He’d written one question on the slate: “bobtail?” It was a classically understated question. What Ketut had found in the blackness – and was asking me if I wanted to photograph – was a juvenile bobtail squid, about a fifth of an inch long.
The minuscule squid was hunting around a hydroid, seemingly picking off pixel-sized crustaceans. It was flitting around on a jutting corner of reef, and being swirled randomly back and forth, up and down, by the eddies of a current that, in open water, was almost too strong to swim against. Ketut finding it in the first place was impressive enough, but then he turned and led me back through the darkness and the current, and somehow relocated it. There followed 20 minutes of that all-too-familiar cramping exertion underwater macro photographers experience when the only thing not moving is the reef itself. Ketut sidled in like a living beanbag to help brace me against the current. With my legs and fins pumping, hands attempting to hold the camera steady, neck craning, and eyes squinting hard through the viewfinder in search of the squid, I eventually resorted to just squeezing off a frame every time something blundered into focus.
Ketut’s benighted, bobbing and weaving miniature squid
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 2 Volume 150 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Diving into the Blue Abyss need not be an outdoor activity anymore. Next year, Blue Abyss, the biggest, deepest indoor pool in the world will open in Colchester, near London. Reaching as deep as 50 metres, the Blue Abyss is ten metres deeper than the Y-40 in Italy and is set to be the most comprehensive deep sea and space research training and test facility of its kind in the world. By offering an unmatched array of training configurations, Blue Abyss will be able to simulate extreme environments to develop both human and robotic missions for industries such as the offshore energy industry to the growing human spaceflght sector and even adventure tourism.
The brainchild of John Vickers, a former IT consultant from London, the pool is set to be 40 metres wide with a long tunnel reaching 50 metres deep at the far end of the pool. It will hold 42,000 cubic metres of water, which is five times more than the capacity of Y-40. The facility will have hyperbaric chambers, commercial diving and micro-gravity facilities. With high definition cameras positioned strategically in the pool and controls which can mimic sea and lighting conditions in the pool, Blue Abyss will enable the commercial diving sector to conduct the most realistic testing, training and pre-operational exercises. Its 30-tonne crane, tie-down points and lifting platforms and roof access allows for the insertion of large training craft into its pool. There is also a highly qualified dive team, supervisors and a hyperbaric support team.
An artiist impression of the completed Blue Abyss. Illustration taken from Blue Abyss at blueabyss.uk
Its hyperbaric chambers are able to simulate operating depths of thousands of metres for submersible craft training with the pool offering depths of 50 metres to practice manoeuvres. Blue Abyss will also have a Research and Development department supported by leading universities and commercial partners to help take new ROVO and AUV sub-systems to market.
Blue Abyss will also prove to be a boon to spaceflight training with neutral buoyancy, parabolic flight and centrifuge training facilities along with hyoer and hypobaric chambers and a micro-gravity simulation suite.
The Kuehnegger Human Performance Centre at Blue Abyss will also house specialist astronaut and athlete test and evaluation facilities. The centre’s microgravity simulation suite with a “traversable, full-body suspension system plus hypobaric chambers” will enable “hypoxia and altitude training, rehabilitiation and physiological studies”.
The Similan Islands has a beguiling variety of coral and marine life
As the liveaboard diving industry grows, new boats are introduced every year and existing boats are renovated with updated amenities. These wonders of modernity have everything you could ever need on a floating scuba diving vacation – from air conditioning to onboard Jacuzzis. The new liveaboards for 2018 traverse waters around the world, including routes in the Caribbean, Indonesia and Egypt. Grab a spot on one of these well-equipped liveaboards for one of the best scuba diving vacations available in 2018.
While divers are busy exploring the reefs and wrecks of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Island, the crew are preparing to make the journey smooth and enjoyable. Trips on the Cayman Aggressor V include 4 to 5 dives per day at some of the best dive sites in the Caribbean. In addition to diving, guests can enjoy deluxe accommodation, a complete photo editing centre, the Jacuzzi on the sun deck and complimentary beer and wine.
The 35-metre ship boasts comfortable accommodations and plenty of space to relax between dives, but the best feature of the boat is the panoramic windows in all the cabins. Waking up on the water has never been better. And after four dives a day (including plenty of shark diving), guests can enjoy a sumptuous international buffet in the outdoor bar and dining area. A trip on the Bahamas Master is one of the best ways to explore this Caribbean diving paradise.
This shark diving hotspot can be enjoyed from the luxury ship thanks to its 12 well-equipped cabins and full service staff. Onboard, guests will enjoy the Jacuzzi on the sundeck, complimentary beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and shore excursions. But the real beauty of the Jardines Aggressor II is its photo centre. Underwater photographers will love the camera table complete with a blow dryer, dedicated rinse bins and an indoor photography room with a desktop computer for photo editing.
The Vortex joins the Pelagic Fleet in 2018 as the most luxurious liveaboard vessel travelling to the Socorro Islands and Guadalupe in Mexico.
The former Canadian Coast Guard vessel has been completely refitted with the needs of discerning scuba divers in mind. As such, it features complimentary WiFi, complimentary drinks which can be enjoyed at the sky bridge bar, a helipad and even submarine capabilities for deep-sea exploration. Furthermore, guests will enjoy gourmet food and high-quality mattresses in each cabin. This ship was built for adventure but fitted with all the comforts of home.
She features 12 oversized cabins, all with separate bathrooms and adjustable air conditioning. Free internet is available throughout the ship. Furthermore, the food onboard is outstanding thanks to the experienced chef, and draft beer and wine is available for order each evening. As a final note, safety is of utmost importance on the Lighthouse Miracle 1, and the boat has been fitted to the highest standards.
The second recently renovated liveaboard on our list that’s cruising the Egyptian Red Sea, the MY Samira received an update in 2018.
The 37-metre ship is a beautiful wooden vessel designed for the comfort of scuba divers. There’s plenty of space in the 11 double cabins and the communal areas for everyone to relax between dives. Plus, free WiFi is available throughout. In addition, the diving facilities on the MY Samira are top-notch and Nitrox is available free of charge for certified divers.
One of the best features of this boat is the ease of diving. Nitrox and rental equipment is available, and there are plenty of dive guides on the boat. The average dive guide to diver ratio is three to one. Plus, the MV Mermaid II boasts an amazing amount of leisure space. In addition to the main saloon with its panoramic windows, most of the cabins now have large windows for beautiful ocean views. A trip on the MV Mermaid II is truly an escape both above and beneath the surface.
In 2018, the Ratu Pelangi went from being any old Phinisi liveaboard to being a beautiful ship full of modern amenities.
A trip to Indonesia on this sailing ship will open your eyes to the beauty found above and below the waves. The ship was made using a method perfected over several centuries in Indonesia. Materials include Borneo solid teak wood planks and an iron wood hull that keeps this ship strong and sturdy. However, inside this traditional construction, you’ll find modern luxuries like great accommodations, air conditioning and a huge upper deck full of sun beds and a shaded sofa.
Extensively renovated in 2018, this boat, which is now officially known as Cheng I Sao, is a traditional, Indonesian, gaff-rigged Phinisi style yacht with 7 sales. She boasts 7 en-suite cabins that can comfortably accommodate up to 18 guests. The main deck features a spacious lounge area with a full multimedia system, while the large sun deck is half-covered and has plenty of cushioned sun loungers for relaxation between dives. In addition to being newly renovated, the Phinisi will add an additional dive destination in 2019. From February to April, this liveaboard will be offering trips to the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar.
If you’d like any more information about these new liveaboards or you’d like to book a vacation on one of them, PADI Travel would be happy to answer all your questions.
Largely closed off to tourists, the volcanic islands of Narcondam and Barren offer some of India’s most pristine and exotic dive sites. But these islands are facing a grim reality, and it’s time for divers to step in and intervene.
The first islands in the Andaman chain to witness a new day dawning are India’s two volcanic islands – Narcondam and Barren. These two sentinels stand alone, further eastward into the Andaman Sea, with Thailand being the next great landmass 500 kilometres away. Barren and Narcondam are located along the north–south trending volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Myanmar, with Barren still erupting to this day.
The two volcanoes are isolated mountains in the Andaman Sea, with the foundations of Barren Island resting more than two kilometres below sea level. It is only natural, therefore, that both the active Barren Island and the dormant Narcondam Island have aroused curiosity and a sense of adventure in those of us who like to wander. And with the bureaucratic and administrative whimsy regarding visits to these islands – making them sometimes accessible, and at other times off-limits to civilians, tourists and diving vessels – these are adventures for the taking, should the opportunity arise!
Barren Island
There are many things that are unpredictable about a visit to Barren island. Sometimes the island is quiet, almost serene against an absurdly blue sky and a placid sea. Other times, a giant plume of ash and smoke rises from its caldera, blotting out the sun, raining ash into a sea that roils with crazy currents. The eastern and southern side of the island have trees that have colonised the parts of the landmass that no longer are affected by the lava flow. White-bellied sea eagles, feral goats left there by British sailors, bats, rats and crabs inhabit these areas. The western side, in direct contrast, is an ash-brown lava slope ending in jagged rocks at the ocean’s edge.
Underwater, Barren goes from long, seemingly empty, black sandflats to near vertical drop-offs covered in massive gorgonian fans. A submarine circumnavigation of the island reveals grottos, weird geometric rock formations, slopes and ridges carpeted in purple soft coral, sheer dark drop-offs that have no visible bottom, and shallow coral gardens that sparkle in the sunlight. There are days when the visibility is so good, and the water so still, that a manta ray near the surface can be spotted while observing coral-covered shelves 60 to 80 metres below. The black substrate is sometimes almost devoid of life, until the next corner where, supposedly, the high mineral content of the lava flowing into the water has created a bay of some of the most healthy and fast-growing coral in the entire Andaman chain.
One part of the dive, a site called Washing Machine, has divers clinging to the wall, their fins flailing towards the surface in an up-current that threatens to shoot them up and over the shallow anthias-covered ridge. Round the next corner, just 30 metres away, exhaled bubbles are swirling downwards along the steep drop-off, disappearing into the blue-black. Manta rays always seem to be around Barren, sometimes solitary and other times in small groups. Whether they are transient visitors or year-round residents is hard to say, because nobody has spent the time diving Barren through the year. Dive boats tend to visit these sometimes treacherous waters only in the calmer months of February to May.
Read the rest of this article in No.113 Issue 3/2018 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Holtuis' anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes holthuis) (Text and Images by Alex Tyrell)
Holtuis’ anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes holthuis) (Text and Images by Alex Tyrell)
Known by many as “student central”, this famous destination has some incredible muck diving on offer for divers willing to put their prejudices on hold
“MUCK” AND “CRITTERS” are two words not normally associated with the popular dive destination of Koh Tao, located in the Gulf of Thailand. Renowned for diver training, there being more dive certifications issued here than anywhere else in Asia, the hope of most visiting divers, plus the majority of working dive professionals, is to see a turtle or a sea snake whilst on a dive. Those with greater ambitions have the largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark, at the top of their wish list of marine life encounters.
However, away from the tried and tested dive sites, out in the sand, there is another world to discover that is home to many different creatures not encountered on the reefs. You need to know where to go though, as not all sand is the same. You need to find the nutrient rich “muck” that supports a variety of benthic marine life: sea pens, various species of algae, solitary corals, heart urchins and stinging hydroid colonies. Areas that can be prone to current are rich in fields of soft coral in the genus Dendronephthya. This is a completely different environment to the established dive sites around the island, which are formed from granite boulders or pinnacles, covered in hard coral growth.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 3 Volume 147 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Immerse yourself in the mysterious and enchanting world of Uluna. Trapped in the middle of Tondano, North Sulawesi, Uluna reveals that there is so much more to this iconic destination
For years, Uluna has been a secret known only to the locals; this is their magical, private swimming pool. Children from the village would come after school with their friends to swim and enjoy an afternoon of relaxation.
It was their amusement park.
Four years ago, while searching for my next project, I heard rumours that a local guide used to talk about a lake of clear water in the mountains. My first guess was that he was talking about the Tondano Lake, but, to my surprise, he wasn’t. Roy Legi discovered this beautiful space and invited me to photograph it. It took four years to get the word out and attract the attention of local and international divers. Was it worth it? Yes.
I always remind myself that it’s never just about the location or the camera; it’s about the idea or about making something ordinary, extraordinary. Anybody can buy a ticket to a beautiful place, but not everybody can change people’s perspectives.
An hour-and-half’s drive from Manado, a two-tank dive in a water just three-metres deep with a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and you could be photographing something so unique that it is comparable to being in the cenotes in Mexico.
As you take on the role of an underwater photographer with an assignment in mind, you will soon discover how easy it is to turn Nature into a fairy tale.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 3 Volume 147 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Air molecules also absorb the reds and reflect blue light, and so the same process is responsible for the sky being blue!
Air molecules also absorb the reds and reflect blue light, and so the same process is responsible for the sky being blue!
Even though small amounts of water appear to be totally clear and colourless, larger bodies of water look blue. What’s going on?
All colours are the result of matter absorbing some parts of the visible (white) light spectrum, and reflecting others. The parts of the spectrum that are reflected back to us, give objects their colour.
But how can something that appears colourless, like water, also have an intrinsic colour?
Some of what we see as water’s colour is caused by it reflecting the colour of the sky, and some of its colour will depend on any impurities or suspended particles. But water itself also absorbs, reflects, and scatters light. Water molecules absorb light with longer wavelengths more easily that light with shorter wavelengths. Red, orange, yellow and green light have longer wavelengths than light at the blue end of the spectrum. So, the blue light, which is not absorbed, is reflected by the water molecules and gives water its colour.
This is why the colour of water actually becomes deeper and darker the more of it there is: Swimming pools with white surfaces will appear light turquoise and shallow water over white sand is aquamarine, while deep, clear seawater will look dark, indigo blue, as the blue light penetrates deep into the water column and continues to be reflected and scattered throughout the process, further accentuating the blue colour of the water body.
However, the purity of seawater varies. Particles suspended within it can increase the scattering of light. Sand and silt carried into the sea from rivers, or kicked up from the seafloor by waves and storms, can affect the colours of coastal waters. And organic detritus such as decayed plant matter – known to scientists as colour dissolved organic matter – can also complicate the picture, by adding greens, yellows or browns.
Phytoplankton are also responsible for changing the apparent colour of a body of water. They also absorb electromagnetic radiation in the red and blue parts of the visible light spectrum, and reflect green light. So, water that is very green is likely to be full of plankton or algae.
Read the rest of this article in No.108 Issue 2/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
1Mangroves are some of the most important ecosystems on Earth
2 Mangrove forests grow in intertidal zones and estuary mouths between land and sea. They anchor and protect coastal ecosystems, and make up a transitional zone between land and ocean, connecting and supporting both
3 Most mangroves live on muddy soils, but they also can grow on sand, peat, and coral rock
4 Mangroves vary in height from small shrubs to 40-metre-tall trees
5 Mangrove forests are comprised of salt-tolerant plant species that are highly adapted to their environment of highly saline water and soil. Mangroves have specially adapted aerial and salt-filtering roots and salt-excreting leaves which enable them to occupy saline wetlands where other plant life cannot survive
6 Some mangroves have unique “breathing roots”, called “pneumataphores”. They contain pores called “lenticles” through which the plants absorb oxygen. They are not active during high tide, when they are submerged. These delicate lenticels are highly susceptible to clogging by pollutants (such as oil), damage from parasites, and prolonged flooding. Over time, environmental stress can kill large swathes of mangrove forest
7 The largest remaining tract of mangrove forest in the world is found in the Sundarbans on the edge of the Bay of Bengal
8 There are 54 to 75 species of mangroves worldwide, with the greatest mangrove diversity found in Southeast Asia
9 Mangrove forests are essential nursery grounds for all kinds of marine life including fish, rays, and invertebrates
10 They also provide critical habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species including manatees, tigers, and hundreds of species of birds
REPRODUCTION
• Mangroves reproduce through a process known as “viviparity”
• During this process, the “embryos” will germinate on the trees themselves. These are called “propagules”. During this phase, these propagules gain essential nutrients from the parent tree that prepare them for the next phase of their growth
• The propagules will then drop into the water beneath the tree, and may take root there, or they may float for a period of time, dispersing to another area
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
• Recent research shows that mangroves are incredible carbon sinks, sequestering more carbon than any of their terrestrial counterparts. Mangrove forests sequester approximately1.5 metric tons/hectare/year of carbon
• Mangroves protect coasts from erosion and from violent storms, and provide a host of economic benefits and ecosystem services to human communities
DISTRIBUTION
• Mangrove forests are found between the latitudes of 32°N and 38°S, along the tropical and subtropical coasts of Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Americas
• The distribution of mangrove forests is mostly determined by sea level and its fluctuations. Other factors are air temperature, salinity, currents, weather patterns, shore slope, and soil substrate
THREATS
More than one in six mangrove species worldwide are in danger of extinction as a result of a number of factors, including coastal development, climate change, logging and agriculture.
We have already lost over half of the world’s original mangrove forest area, estimated at 32 million hectares (approx. 80 million acres).
About half of mangrove loss has occurred in the last 50 years, mostly in the last two decades, due to:
• Shrimp farming
• Tourism
• Urbanisation
• Expansion of agriculture
• Roadways
• Marinas and ports
• Other coastal development
The current rate of mangrove loss is approximately 1% per annum (according to the Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO), or roughly 150,000 hectares (approx. 370,000 acres) of mangrove wetlands lost each year.
Read the rest of this article in No.108 Issue 2/2017 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
After a proposal was tabled in May by the European Commission to ban the top 10 single-use plastic products that pollute oceans and beaches, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted 571-33 to approve measures that would ban commonly used plastic items like plastic bags, plastic straws, cotton swabs, disposable plastic plates, cups and cutlery by 2021. The directive also included measures to collect 90 percent of single-use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles by 2025. The ban is expected to be enshrined in EU law by the end of the year.
The new measures introduced compel plastic producers to cover the costs of waste management and cleanup in addition to raising awareness about the polluting impacts of plastic packaging. The directives also include targets for the reduced usage of certain plastics to be met. Plastic fishing gear, which is often found in marine litter, will also be subject to harmonised standards with minimum collection and recycling targets set as well. Producers of plastic fishing gear will also be compelled to cover the costs of waste collection in ports. Synthetic textiles and non-decomposable microplastics in cosmetics are however not covered under the new measures.
Lise Kingo, the executive director of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with more than 13,500 signatories from 170 countries, had warned at the European Forum of Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB) that “our oceans will contain more plastics than fish” by 2050 if our current plastics usage habits are unchanged. The figures presented at the EFIB indicated that less than 10 percent of plastic waste in Europe is recycled if incineration is excluded. Plastics in the ocean are broken down into nanoparticles and ingested by micoorganisms and eventually end up on our dining table.
Read more about how plastics are polluting our oceans in our upcoming Muck Diving issue by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Sharks are a group of fish that first appeared around 420 million years ago and have since diversified into over 470 different species that inhabit every ocean on our planet. Their size ranges from the tiny dogfish measuring only 17 centimetres to the incredible whale shark, the biggest fish in the ocean, which can reach lengths of up to 12 metres and weigh over 20 tons. Although these fish come in many shapes and sizes, they all share unique characteristics that make them a shark.
1. MULTIPLE GILL SLITS
Most species of sharks have five pairs of gill slits, but a few have six and even seven, typically located on the side of the head. Tiny membranes in the shark’s gills extract oxygen from the water.
2. AMPULLAE OF LORENZINI
Located near the nostrils, around the head and on the underside of the snout are small jelly-filled pores. These sensory organs are able to detect electrical fields underwater and are used by sharks to help locate prey and navigate.
3. JAWS AND TEETH
Most sharks have multiple rows of teeth that continue to grow and replace the ones that are lost throughout their lifetime. Much of what we know about sharks has been learnt from fossilised shark teeth, as unlike the rest of the body, they can remain intact on the seabed for hundreds or even thousands of years
4. DERMAL DENTICLES
A shark’s skin is composed of hundreds of tooth-like scales called dermal denticles. These ‘teeth’ are what makes a shark’s skin tough and also incredibly effective at reducing drag.
5. CARTILAGINOUS SKELETON
Unlike other fish, sharks’ bodies contain no bones and their skeleton is made of cartilage. This material is considerably less dense and more flexible than bone, making sharks lighter and more agile. Sharks use forward movement to control vertical position. In most species, the tail acts as the shark’s propeller while the pectoral fins are used for balance and direction
6. Prominent Dorsal Fin
Most sharks have a prominent dorsal fin that is located on top of the animal behind the head. This fin is often seen breaking the surface and it plays a vital role in propulsion, buoyancy and direction
7. Lateral Line
A visible line along the side of the shark’s body consisting of sensory organs that help to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water, providing spatial awareness and the ability to navigate
8. Pectoral fin
Like most fish, sharks have two pelvic fins behind the head, but these are rigid, not flexible, often elongated and are used for buoyancy and steering
9. LARGE LIVER
Most fish have a swim bladder that they fill with air to help control their buoyancy but sharks rely instead on a large, oil-filled liver to reduce their overall density and provide some measure of hydrostatic lift
Read the rest of this article in 2018 Issue 1 Volume 149 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
This jellyfish has a bright-red stomach, seen in the middle of its transparent bell. Its edges are lined with 80 to 90 white tentacles, though given its small size, they are barely visible.
No bigger than a human pinky, Turritopsis dohrnii, commonly referred to as the immortal jellyfish, possesses the baffling ability to live forever – that is, until a predator pounces.
1 All jellyfish exist in two forms: polyp form and medusa form. While most grow from polyp to medusa, the immortal jellyfish can alternate between both forms
2Like all jellyfish, it has no brains nor a heart
3 The immortal jellyfish reproduces both sexually and asexually. When on the brink of death, theimmortal jellyfish can revert back to the polyp stage and start its life cycle all over again. Fortunately, there is no limit to the number of times they can do this!
4This ability is achieved through a rare process called transdifferentiation: the action of a mature, specialised cell transforming into a completely different mature, specialised cell. Scientists have been studying this cellular mechanism for its potential use in medicine
5 Despite being discovered way back in 1883, the special ability of this species was only realised in the mid-1990s
6 Scientist Shin Kubota, who has spent more than 15 years studying these organisms at Kyoto University’s Seto Marine Biological, found that certain conditions prevent reinvigoration: starvation, large bell size and water colder than 22 degrees Celsius
7Immortal jellyfish are also known to be “hitchhikers”. They have been recorded hitching rides on cargo ships that use seawater for ballast. This phenomenon has allowed the species to rapidly populate the world’s oceans in recent decades
Read the rest of this article in No.113 Issue 3/2018 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
In the unassuming province of Negros Oriental in the Philippines, Roni Ben-Aharon walks you down the timeline of how Apo Island, the oldest continuous marine protected area in the Philippines which is home to 650 documented species of fish and over 400 documented species of corals, became a Marine Protected Area
The Road to Protection
Apo Island’s population reaches near a thousand, but infrastructure, access to fresh water and electricity are lacking, so a heavy reliance on the ocean has been instilled. Traditionally, the fishermen used the unsustainable practices of dynamite fishing and muroami – a destructive method of fishing that involves smashing large rocks or cement blocks onto the reef to scare fish into huge nets. In the past, no one saw this as a problem, as they assumed that the abundance would prevail. But gradually, their catch started depleting, and concerns developed.
1974
The Marine Science Department of Silliman University initiated a marine research project in Sumilon Island. This project was led by Dr. Angel Alcala, a pioneer scientist who grew up in a fishing community in Negros. The project studied the effects a pilot marine protected area would have on the surrounding fishing communities.
The idea – to sell the concept of marine conservation to the local fishing communities as a method of improving yields – was revolutionary. Dr. Alcala’s theory was that a marine protected area would benefit the fisheries around it through two factors:
There would be a spillover of adult fish from the protected area into the surrounding area, where the protected area functions as a shelter for fish to escape, mature and spawn
Fish spawning in the protected area would produce larvae that is carried by the currents to other communities on the reef
As such, Sumilon Island became the Philippines’ first small marine protected area, where fishing and other human activity was banned.
1980
Seeing political forces clouding conservation efforts, Dr. Alcala understood the importance of involving the community in marine protection efforts. So when he went to Apo Island in the early 1980s, he carried the gospel of marine conservation as a means to achieve greater fish yields for the local community. Those who heard him may have only been teenagers at the time, but today they have become influential political forces.
1982
Despite the skepticism, the Apo Island community declared about 10 percent of the reef area of the southeast side of the island as a marine protected area.
1984
Dr. Alcala and Garry Russ of James Cook University in Australia successfully proved that the spillover of adult fish from the marine protected area had a positive effect on the surrounding fishing communities.
Being able to prove this relationship not only validated the need for marine protected areas from a conservation perspective, but also attached a solid economic value to it.
Unfortunately, the political support in sustaining the nation’s first marine protected area were inconsistent, and local elections marked the end of Sumilon’s protected area.
1986
Apo Island’s Marine Management Council was established, and declared the end of unsustainable fishing practices, allowing only line and spearfishing, traps and gill nets. It also appointed the Bantay Dagat – gatekeepers to enforce their no-take policy. These practices are still in effect to this day.
1992
Dr. Alcala was appointed the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
1994
Apo Island became part of the National Integrated Protected Area Act (NIPA) and under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), a national plan to conserve aquatic and terrestrial treasures.
Read the rest of this article in No.112 Issue 2/2018 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
About as far off the beaten path as you can get, discovering Georgia’s little-known rivers and canyons is not for the faint of heart! (Photo by Viktor Lyagushkin)
When Viktor and I I travelled to Georgia for a holiday, we thought it would be exciting to find somewhere to dive. The Black Sea, which washes Georgia’s western shore, did not attract us; it is dull and lifeless, the same as the waters of the Russian coast. We couldn’t find anything else on the Internet, and so we decided we’d need to do some more digging….
Via National Geographic Georgia, we finally track down Irakli Julakidze, a professor at Kutaisi University; he is an avid traveller, and head of the youth travellers’ club “Tetnuldi”. We ask him about places to dive, and, at first, he just shrugs. But then he shows us a short video that has been taken by some members of his squad – young guys having fun splashing about in a mountain river in a beautiful canyon. The water looks calm… and quite deep!
Georgia is a magical land of forests, mountains, and hidden canyons (Photo by Viktor Lyagushkin)
Water is the world’s greatest sculptor, and here it is displaying the very best of its artistry. The rocky canyon is carved into whimsical patterns, like something from the pages of Tolkien, a place elves might dwell. Clear waterfalls, falling from steep cliffs covered with ferns, hanging branches of ivy resembling festive lights; everything is insanely beautiful. Viktor is immediately inspired to go and explore, to dive and photograph this “undiscovered” place…
“Beware! The water is so cold!” Irakli tells us, frightening us into our 5mm wetsuits. And we are off.
Jungle wanderings
For two hours, we walk along a riverbed of ankle-deep water, as the sun rises ever higher. The heat is unbearable. Even the stones along the river can’t withstand the onslaught of the scorching sun on one side and the cold mountain water on the other; punished by these extremes of temperature, they crumble into dust.
Scaling waterfalls to find a good dive spot. (Photo by Viktor Lyagushkin)
I am no longer able to play the lady and start sitting down in every puddle, using my helmet to pour water over my head to cool me down. Finally, the canyon begins, the temperature drops, and we all perk up a little. But after just one hour, Irakli informs us that the “difficult part” is yet to come.
Telling us that the path ahead would be risky for our photographic equipment, he invites us to bypass that part of the route, and take a detour guided by another club member. We are to meet him on the other side.
So, we crawl into the jungle in the 45-degree heat, and wander there for six hours. The thorny creepers make it impossible to strip off our stifling wetsuits. From time to time our guide approaches the edge of the canyon and pitifully shouts down, “Irakli!” There is no answer.
This time, Viktor’s photographic vision is left unrealised.
Round two
So, it’s hard to explain why we would agree to go looking for undiscovered canyons with Irakli again. Maybe because the blessed land of Georgia casts a spell that puts everyone into a warm and happy mood? This magical sorcery is probably the reason why Georgia has survived for thousands of years – all invaders quickly lose their sense of aggression and forget why they actually came. The only other reason we can think of is that Irkali is the only guide we have.
And so, we set off again, in search of a new canyon. The road leads us through many villages, lined by the typical Georgian landscape: wooden houses with intricate staircases, buried in greenery and vineyards. Cows block our way from time to time, standing idle or lying prostrate in the road, determined not to let us pass. The only other place we have ever met cows with such a blatant sense of entitlement was India. We ask the shepherd for directions. He explains there is a fork in the road, and that we need to be sure to take the correct path. “I know, I know!” answers Irakli – though, of course, taking the wrong route…
Yet finally, incredibly, we do find the canyon. We put on our wetsuits and masks and descend into the clear, cool water. At five to six metres, it is certainly deep enough. But only for a while; rounding a bend in the cliff, the river grows shallow. And again, we find ourselves wading through water up to our knees. Wetsuits quickly dry in the hot summer sun. Irakli throws up his hands, “Only one in every 30 expeditions is successful! Therefore, we must also be wrong 27 times, and by the 30th, we’ll find what are looking for!”
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 2 Volume 146 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The Indo-Pacific encompasses the richest marine ecosystems on the planet, and houses some of the most incredible marine life. Here, the staff of Scubazoo picks our personal favourites, to showcase some of the wonderful creatures that would be on most divers’ wish lists, ranging from the tiniest critters to the biggest animal that has ever lived. How many have you ticked off your list so far, and which will you choose next?
Blue Whales: Sri Lanka
Over the last few years, Sri Lanka has opened up to tourism, and people are now flocking to meet the greatest of cetaceans. Blue whales can be seen throughout the year off the south of the island. Most people get a whale-watching boat early in the morning and spend the day watching dolphins, sperm whales and blue whales. However, if you want to get in the water with them, you will need to arrange a special tour to (hopefully) get close enough to catch a glimpse of these gigantic creatures from below the surface. Patience and stamina are required, but swimming with the biggest animal ever to have lived on Earth is not something that many people can say they have experienced.
As with most large nomadic ocean creatures, coming across a passing whale is a rare experience for a diver, and it is only by knowing more about their behaviour that we can up the chances of seeing them underwater. Humpback whales migrate from colder feeding grounds to warmer waters, where they mate and give birth, and Tonga is now one of the places where they can be seen regularly. These animals are, thankfully, protected by strict laws so permission has to be obtained to swim with them, but the effort is well worth the unforgettable experience of sharing the sea with an inquisitive mother and her playful calf.
Manta Rays & Whale Sharks: Hanifaru Bay, Maldives
Now a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Hanifaru Bay is one of the few places in the world where you can encounter two of the largest and most majestic fish in the ocean and watch the behaviour of both in a relatively small area. Large schools of manta and whale sharks gather in this bay to feed on the plankton trapped there by the ocean currents. In what appears to be an orchestrated dance, trains of mantas feeding in formation can be seen “barrel-rolling” through the rich waters, sometimes up to 150 at once, whilst huge whale sharks suck large volumes of water through their gills to extract the tiny plankton.
The largest bony fish in the sea, the Mola mola, otherwise known as the sunfish, is also one of the most bizarre looking. These huge animals are best seen when visiting cleaning stations; they wait patiently in line for bannerfish to rid them of parasites. Currents can be strong and unpredictable, and the water can be (relatively) cold, but the experience is a must-have for many divers. Sunfish sightings are better during certain stages of the moon, so make sure you check your lunar calendar before you go.
Great White Sharks: Neptune Islands, Australia
For the most dramatic and exciting underwater experiences, diving with sharks is as good as it gets for most divers, and great whites are the ultimate encounter. Nothing can match the rush of adrenalin you get when you encounter a great white shark face-to-face for the first time, when you experience their sheer size and power up-close. Diving off the Neptune Islands in South Australia offers you the chance to see these magnificent creatures from cages at the surface and on the seabed.
Hammerhead Sharks: Layang Layang
Layang Layang, lying off the west coast of Borneo in the South China Sea, is Malaysia’s only atoll. It is blessed with stunning coral reefs, colourful and diverse fish species, and even hawksbill and green turtles. But this is not what divers come for. Divers here spend most of their time hanging out in the blue waiting for pelagic fish to swim by, the highlight of these being huge schools of hammerhead sharks. Hammerheads are solitary hunters by night, but during the day they can be seen en masse in social groups, sometimes numbering hundreds of individuals.
Malapascua Island in the Philippines is still the place to go for sightings of the beautifully elusive thresher shark. Its large eyes are an indication that this shark usually spends its time in the depths of the open ocean, so the best chance of catching a glimpse of its streamlined body is when it visits shallow reefs and accepts the services of cleaner wrasse and other cleaning species that remove parasites from its body. Rare sightings of the shark using its long tail to stun shoals of sardines are also possible around this area.
Sipadan Island off Borneo is a famous dive site for many reasons. Some say it has everything – stunning corals, sharks, huge schools of barracuda, turtles, and even passing mantas and whale sharks. At certain times of year though (around July we have found) the turtles there get somewhat frisky, and it is possible to see several pairs mating during a dive! This is a frantic time for the turtles and it is possible to see many males competing to mate with a single female over many hours, leaving the female struggling for breath as she desperately attempts to reach the surface under the weight of the pursuing pack.
Read the rest of this article in Issue 3/2014, AA No.78 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Heading into Silfra fissure in Thingvellir, Iceland – a dive between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates, where the continents are pulling away from each other
Settings: f/13, 1/50s, ISO 640 (Photo by Alex Mustard)
Unusually, the wow moment comes right at the start. When diving in the crystal clear waters of the Silfra canyon, it is the process of dipping your mask beneath the surface that really blows your mind.
Silfra is Iceland’s most famous dive site – it even has a celebrity fan club. Movie stars Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller have both logged its total immersion assault on the senses. For such a celebrated dive, the start is incongruous, with a clumsy climb down a swimming pool ladder into the fissure, followed by a minute or two where you bob about on the surface, buoyed by your layers of thermal insulation. Once the group is ready, it is time to submerge, and that moment of brain scrambling, sensory overload.
“Silver” canyon gets its name because the dark waters, shaded by the narrow walls of the canyon, conspire with the smooth surface to reflect the white clouds above. The mirror-like surface reveals very little of what lies beneath. It’s only at the moment of submergence that you pass through the looking glass and everything is revealed.
The unparalleled visibillity of Silfra is impossible to measure as the canyon winds and twists along its length Settings: f/11, 1/25s, ISO 800 (Photo by Alex Mustard)
The cold water (1–3˚C) bites into any exposed skin on your face and you inhale sharply. Reeling, your eyes struggle to make sense of the scene. The scale of the chasm is suddenly apparent, and because you can see so much more than you could from above the silver surface, at Silfra you get the feeling that the water is even clearer than the air. In fact, the stunning visibility is almost impossible to gauge because, despite the scale of this jagged fracture that divides the North American and Eurasian continental plates, you can never see far enough in a straight line to judge it. There is always a turn in the canyon before the visibility runs out. The water is glacial melt, which has filtered through the porous volcanic rocks over hundreds of years and is pure enough that it could be bottled and sold as mineral water. In fact, it is delicious to sip during the dive.
“Silfra always gets amazing reactions from people,” Finni Finnbjornsson of Scuba Iceland tells me. “Wow!So unique! I hear these every day. Divers are always surprised by the visibility, however much they have read about it before.”
There is little life to see in Silfra, but the visibility and scenery secures its place firmly on almost every diver’s bucket list. It is less than an hour’s drive from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, and many people travel to Iceland specifically to dive it. All the dive centres have first-class rental gear and can teach you to use a drysuit, so you just really need to arrive to dive.
Silfra is clearly world class, but I am interested in what other diving adventures Iceland offers. Is it a place to visit for a weekend and just dive Silfra, or come for a week or two and take in a range of dive sites with tongue twisting names?As Finni says enticingly, “What I like most about Iceland diving is that it is almost entirely unexplored underwater. Icelanders have been diving Silfra for more than 30 years, but it has only been attracting overseas divers for little more than a decade. And all our other sites are dived much, much less. We’ve 1,600 wrecks in Iceland and we dive fewer than eight regularly.”
Read the rest of this article in Issue 6/2014, OP No.1 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
The Uluburun II,
a replica of the original one, built by the Turkish scientific group "360 degrees" using same technologies as used in the Bronze Age, here, cruising in Aegean waters. (Photo of the Uluburun II is published with kind permission of the 360 degrees research group, Turkey)
1300 BC: A merchant ship, laden with treasures from seven different cultures and commodities of Cypriot origin, was traveling on a 1,700-mile trade route when it sank for unknown reasons at Cape Uluburun (near Kas on the south coast of the Antalya region of Turkey). Much knowledge about prehistoric trade and nautical navigation during the late Bronze Age, including secrets that could rewrite history, began a slumber on the seabed for 3,300 long years.
1982 AD: A Turkish sponge diver discovered the remains of the wreck. This triggered euphoria among archaeologists around the world and the later recovery and analysis of the findings definitively established underwater archeology as a serious science. Science was able to answer 1,000-year-old questions, driving traditional analysts into desperation and changing the existing historic worldview substantially.
Named after the place where it was discovered (Cape Uluburun), the Uluburun is the oldest known shipwreck in the world and a finding of superlatives. She brought answers to many questions, but she also introduced many new mysteries that science has yet to explain, even today.
The Bronze Age
The Uluburun sank during the so-called Late Bronze Age. The Bronze Age – it sounds terribly old, doesn’t it? It is! It was a time when the invention of the wheel was as remarkable as the invention of social networking today.
The Bronze Age succeeded the Stone Age and is the predecessor to the Iron Age. It lasted from about 2200 to 800 BC, but did not occur everywhere at once, because different cultures experienced different stages of development.
The namesake of this period was the metal alloy bronze, which comprises 90 percent copper and 10 percent tin. The use and processing of metals was already known to human, but it was limited to sterling metals (naturally occurring pure metals), such as gold, silver and copper.
The “invention” (mainly in Europe and the Middle East) of Man’s first alloy (which was much harder than copper) triggered a worldwide change with lasting consequences. We could say the last trip of the Uluburun was, in some way, a consequence of these changes.
Along with the invention of bronze, the necessity to organise a “metallurgy chain” became apparent. Production needed tin, which was rare and not available everywhere. The appropriate logistics became essential.
Uluburun II Wreck, a replica of Bronze Age wreck at Kas (Getty Images/WaterFrame RM/Borut Furlan)
With bronze, it became possible to accumulate wealth that was easy to transport: Bronze ingots were a common payment currency of the time and where there is wealth, conflicts arise. The simultaneous emergence of heavily fortified settlements and the invention of the sword show that our ancestors experienced troubles with jealous neighbours who tried to get a piece of the pie.
Bronze also caused a serious upheaval in the social structure. The access to, and control of, resources (such as metals, metallurgy, communications and trade routes) resulted in the emergence of an upper social class and induced differentiation among people, the consequences of which we still feel even today.
The geographically uneven distribution of metal deposits (particularly tin) resulted in a far-reaching and almost global trading network that also spread cultural ideas in addition to goods. Bronze was essentially pioneering the cross-border communication of knowledge between cultures. Even today, good ol’ bronze has an essential word to say in the world of digital communication: No computer works without the elements of bronze. No bronze would mean, no online social networks.
While Uluburun sailed the seas, the world-famous bust of Nefertiti was made in Egypt. Odysseus returned home from his long odyssey. The Egyptian Pharaoh Echnaton established the first monotheistic religion. Moses’ successor Joshua led the Israelites and the Hittites dominated an area five times larger than Germany. These were turbulent times from Haithabu to Karnak, as well as at Cape Uluburun on the southern Turkish coast, and this is where a merchant ship with a cargo of priceless goods sank to its grave.
The Uluburun II, a replica of the original one, built by the Turkish scientific group “360 degrees” using same technologies as used in the Bronze Age, here, cruising in Aegean waters. (Photo of the Uluburun II is published with kind permission of the 360 degrees research group, Turkey)
The ship
The ship was built of cedar using the so-called “spigot technique”, which involves building the outer hull first and adding the underlying “skeleton” (the frames and bars) later. One thousand years after the demise of the Uluburun, this technique was still used to build Roman and Greek ships.
Archaeological finds in Egypt suggest that the archetype for this ship probably came from ancient Egypt. In particular, Pharaoh Echnaton drove the development of more resilient oceangoing ships to advance trade and transport at the time.
However, a fine structural difference with the Uluburun is that its pegs were not secured by wooden pins. This technique would later be called “Fenike-mortising” by the Romans. The Uluburun was certainly built for use at sea, which refutes the thesis that sailing in the Bronze Age was done exclusively within sight of the coast.
Because only about 3 percent of the ship’s original hull was recovered, drawings from ancient Egypt, specifically the pictorial representation of the “fleet of Queen Hatshepsut in the land of Punt” (1500 BC), provided a significant visual reference for reconstructing the ship.
After extensive research, we now know that the Uluburun was 15 metres long, five metres wide and had a draft of 1.4 metres. Her cargo is estimated to have been 20 tonnes. The width of the ship’s trim was six centimetres, and the pegs were at a distance of 20 centimetres.
The ship used a triangular sail, which provided a maximum speed of two nautical miles per hour, and two rudders to manoeuvre.
The Turkish research group “360” proved this ship was oceangoing in 2005. By using techniques and materials from the late Bronze Age only, the “360” group built an identical replica of Uluburun and successfully sailed the Mediterranean.
This was the probable route of the Uluburun: From her homeport on the Levantine coast, she sailed fully loaded to her (unknown) Mycenaean destination port. At night, she anchored in ports along the Turkish coast. The planned way back may have then taken her towards Marsa Matruh in northwest Egypt. The currents and winds in the area suggest such a route, as the Uluburun was unable to cross winds due to her simple sail.
Read the rest of this article in 2013 Issue 1 Volume 124 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Diving, when done properly, should be a Zen-like amble through Poseidon’s realms. But to maximise your safety and keep any stress at bay, it’s still important to ensure that your bod is dive ready.
Full body
A certain degree of flexibility is important in diving. We’re not suggesting you need to be able to tie yourself into a pretzel, but being able to competently touch your toes, and reach behind your back is important to allow you to manage your equipment or any issues underwater. Recovering a regulator, picking up dropped pieces of gear, turning to look for your buddy, or removing a cramp will all require some basic suppleness. If you need to up your physical pliability, think about practicing some basic yoga or regular gentle stretches.
1. Heart and lungs
According to recent research by DAN, around 26 percent of dive fatalities involve cardiovascular emergencies. So you need to set your heart on ensuring that you are fit enough to dive.
Exercises that involve cardio reduce hypertension (which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease), increase stamina, and help your breathing. Both running and swimming are great ways to up your cardio, which will not only make those surface swims a breeze, but will also help to shed the pounds, making slipping into your wetsuit even easier.
2. Core
Strong core muscles (your abs and lower back) are the key to improved balance and stability. Diving presents unique challenges to the core muscles because the load placed on the body by dive gear is distributed differently than your normal body weight. While most of the time you will be underwater and essentially weightless, lifting tanks, weights, stabilising yourself on the edge of the dive tender, and maintaining good (horizontal) trim underwater will all test your core strength.
Try exercises like the plank to avoid muscle strain, lower back pain or injuries, and total wipe outs on the dive deck; plus you can feel like a Men’s Health cover star by getting that middle in shape.
3. Thighs
From standing up and sitting down while kitted up, to climbing boat ladders, and proper flutter kicks, your thighs are the driver of your journey to and through the blue. Regularly exercising your lower limbs will help improve muscle endurance and flexibility – making for a safer, and more enjoyable dive. Exercises like the wide stance squat will help prep your pegs.
4. Calves and Feet
Kicking into high gear, moving across currents or manoeuvring yourself into position to snap that next SDAA cover shot, your lower legs and feet can get quite a work out underwater. Foot and calf cramps can strike even the fittest of divers, and can be caused by a number of factors including muscle strain, dehydration or overuse.
Be sure you’re properly hydrated; replacing the essential salts as well as the water you’re losing. You can also give yourself an advantage and tone up your calves with exercises like the standing calf raise.
**Note for disabled divers: Diving is not off limits to many people with disabilities: there are alternative ways of entering, exiting and moving around under the water, and other exercises that can help strengthen the specific muscles you will using. Divers who have a physical disability are starting at exactly the same point as any other new diver – with zero experience. For more information visit Disabled Divers International at www.ddivers.org
Read the rest of this article in Issue 7/2015, AA No.84 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Have you ever wondered why you need to pee as soon as you hit fifteen metres? Or why diving gives you a mouth that’s dry as the Sahara? Does effective equalising elude you? Or are you yet to get your head around the freaky phenomenon that is narcosis?
Ponder no longer. We have the answers.
The urge to pee is caused by immersion diuresis and is a result of the body’s response to cold water. (Illustration by John Grainger)
The Science Behind The Narc
Narcosis. Some divers like it, some divers really don’t, and others claim they aren’t affected by it at all. For many, it’s simply a gentle buzz – the high without the low. But going deep to get the hit is a risky business.
The reported effects of narcosis are a variety of emotions and sensations that can manifest at a whole range of depths. Along with a sense of joy and wellbeing, narcosis can result in anxiety, fear, giddiness, euphoria, blackouts, and silly behaviour. Some divers even claim not to experience narcosis at all. Physical differences and susceptibility aside, never feeling a thing seems a little unlikely. But how does it work, physiologically?
Under pressure
Research is on-going and scientists are still divided over the exact causes of nitrogen narcosis. We do know, however, that it involves the effect of the “partial pressure” of the gas you are breathing. Under one atmosphere of normal air (i.e. on the surface, with nothing but that big blue thing above our heads) we are subjected to one atmosphere of pressure (which figures), or 1 ATM. With nitrogen making up around 21 percent of the air that we are breathing, the amount of this pressure that the nitrogen is responsible for exerting is 0.21 ATM. We call this the partial pressure.
As we take this air underwater, the partial pressure of the nitrogen increases as the ambient pressure increases. At 10 metres, the ambient pressure of the air we are breathing is 2 ATM and the nitrogen is now responsible for around 0.42 ATM of it. As we continue to descend, the pressure increases, and, as the partial pressure of the nitrogen goes up, so does its narcotic effect. But why?
According to the Meyer-Overton hypothesis, narcosis happens when the gas (nitrogen in this case but other inert gases can have the same effect) penetrates the lipids of the brain’s nerve cells causing interference with the transmission of signals from one nerve cell to another. Recently, specific types of receptors in nerve cells have been isolated as being involved with narcosis, but the general idea of nerve transmission being altered in areas of the brain, remains unchallenged.
Susceptibility varies from one individual to the next, but also from one day (or even one dive) to the next. Some factors that influence the effects of narcosis are hard work, cold water, alcohol (even the effects of a late night the day before), fear, descent rate, fatigue and illness, and medication, to name a few.
The Martini Effect
In diving circles, some people refer to this as the “Martini Effect” to express the amount of mental impairment that we can expect to occur at different depths. The exact depth at which narcosis starts to have an effect is not precise and is very much dependent on physiological differences, susceptibility, physical fitness and environmental factors. But thirty metres (100 feet) is a widely accepted, rough starting point for the initial sensations.
People liken being at 30 metres to the feeling of having had one martini on an empty stomach. The idea is that if you continue to descend past 30 metres, for every subsequent 10 to 15 metres the effect on mental impairment is the equivalent of having had one more martini.
In the same way that being a little drunk is unlikely to kill you, narcosis itself is not life threatening, but your actions or reactions due to your “inebriated” state could be. Three martinis on an empty stomach might not be lethal, but getting in your car could well be, endangering yourself and possibly others. Food for thought?
Read the rest of this article in Issue 5/2014, AA No.79 of Scuba Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.
Paul Allen often deployed his megayacht Octopus for research and exploration missions for marine conservation organisations.
Paul Gardner Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, who invested his wealth in philanthropy and was an avid diver who fought for conservation and the health of the ocean, has passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Seattle on 15 October 2018. He was 65.
Allen’s death was announced by his company, Vulcan Inc.
Allen was a passionate advocate for marine conservation. He set up Global FinPrint, the world’s largest reef shark and ray survey. Global FinPrint brings together research teams from StonyBrook University, Florida International University, James Cook University, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Curtin University, Dalhousie University and a network of collaborators in a global effort to assess coral reef sharks and rays, understanding how they affect vanishing ecosystems and informing emerging conservation actions. With one quarter of the world’s sharks and rays threatened with extinction and the rest either approaching threatened status or are too poorly studied to be assessed, Global FinPrint’s role in educating the public on the endangered status of these marine animals is essential to their survival.
Through his charity foundation, Allen was also one of the founding partners of the Shark Conservation Fund (SCF). The SCF was set up to protect the most endangered sharks and rays by enhancing legal protections in priority countries and international forums. It also combated unsustainable trade in shark and ray products by listing the top species of sharks and rays in global trade that meet CITES listing criteria and promoted the sustainability of shark and ray fishing through the adoption and implementation of conservation and management measures through international forums and in priority countries.
Paul Allen often deployed his megayacht Octopus for research and exploration missions for marine conservation organisations.
Allen’s passion for marine conservation saw him support many research initiatives like the University of British Columbia’s Sea Around Us initiative. He also conducted exploration work on his own research vessel, the RV Petrel. Allen had a passion for wreck diving as his father served in the Second World War. The crew of the Petrel helped discover the wreck of the U.S.S. Indianapolis in August 2017, the U.S.S Astoria in February 2015 and the world’s largest sunken battleship, the Musashi in March 2015. Besides the Petrel, Allen would also deploy his megayacht Octopus for research and exploration missions for other marine conservation organisations.
After leaving Microsoft, Allen dedicated his energies to philanthropy, starting the Allen Institute to further research in bioscience and giving away more than USD$2 Billion to conservation, science, technology, education and the arts and community.
Leonardo Di Caprio, whose Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) is also a founding partner of the SCF, paid tribute to Allen on Monday.
“Sad to hear of the passing of Paul Allen, who was a strong advocate for environmental protection. He and the team at Vulcan played a pivotal role in developing the Shark Conservation Fund alongside LDF. His legacy lives on via his incredible work as a philanthropist and investor.”
Of all his achievements, Allen will probably be remembered most for co-founding Microsoft with Bill Gates. Gates toasted his old friend in a written statement.
“Paul loved life and those around him, and we all cherished him in return. He deserved so much more time but his contributions to the world of technology and philanthropy will live on for generations to come.”
The distribution of marine species is not the same between different areas of the ocean. Richness differs dramatically between regions due to the many pressures that have moulded each community over millions of years. The world’s highest marine biodiversity is found in a relatively small area known as the “Coral Triangle”. The Coral Triangle encompasses six countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, which together form a roughly triangular shape. The further you travel from the Coral Triangle in any direction, the fewer the number of marine species.So, unsurprisingly, it has been the main hub of recent marine discoveries.And is just on our doorstep…
1. Calamian Islands, Philippines
This small group of islands off the northern tip of Palawan in the Philippines has offered up a number of new discoveries over the years.It accommodates two of the three known damselfishes that lack a pelagic larval phase and another has recently been discovered from the same area and is in the process of being named. Damsels lay their eggs onto the reef and generally then guard them.Whilst the fry of the other 380 or so damselfishes then float off in ocean currents to distribute far and wide, these three subsequently guard their young, which stay in a small group around their parents.As a result they never get chance to reach another reef, and the species has become trapped only around these few islands.
2. Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia
The island chain that spans from Bali in the west to Timor and Tanimbar in the east has been rich in new discoveries.The islands in the chain are very close to each other, the next island in the chain is almost always visible, but deep oceanic trenches separate them.Strong currents flow through these trenches and impact heavily on the free movement of animals across the channels.As a result this has been a hotbed of diversification and many new discoveries have been made in this area.Several small bottom-dwelling sharks such as the Bali and Alor catsharks have been discovered in recent years, as well as the Indonesian wobbegong shark.Several new flasher wrasses have also be found here, including Renny and Alfian’s flashers from Komodo and Alor respectively.
BIRD’S HEAD SEASCAPE
The high biodiversity of the Bird’s Head Seascape is well documented, but this special area has also been the location of many recent marine discoveries. Each of the three main areas of the Bird’s Head have contributed new and exciting discoveries to the catalogue of life.Notably, Cenderawasih, Raja Ampat and Triton Bay each has it’s own endemic species of walking sharks.Whilst the Raja species was discovered almost two centuries ago, the other two were only discovered and named in 2008.
3. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Raja Ampat was the first of the Bird’s Head’s three main regions to be prospected for new species. Funnily enough, Raja Ampat was the site of many historical species discoveries. The blue-finned trevally and black-tipped reef shark, both have their type specimens recorded from Raja Ampat a couple of hundred years ago. Along with an outstanding number of known species, in fact the most of any coral reef in the world, there were many new discoveries when scientists rediscovered the area over a decade ago. The ubiquitous Ammer’s dottyback, was named in 2012 after the diving pioneer of this region, Max Ammer.
4. Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
In 2006 Cenderawasih was visited for the first time by ichthyologists. They were shocked by the number of new discoveries they made during the trip. The huge bay has been periodically closed off due to ice ages and tectonic plate movements. These effectively isolated the animals in the bay and over time they evolved into new species, ripe for discovery. A glut of new species were named from the bay in the past decade, including Walton’s flasher wrasse, Cenderwasih fairy wrasse, Caitlin’s dottyback and Cenderawasih butterflyfish. Just last year another endemic, Maurine’s demoiselle, was named after Maurine Jones in honour of her work conserving the Bird’s Head.
5. Triton Bay, Indonesia
Triton Bay was first explored in 2006 by scientists who had been titillated by other areas of the Bird’s Head.They found this to be another endemic-rich area, with several species found nowhere else on Earth. Jamal’s dottyback and Nursalim flasher wrasse are two of the most charismatic, discovered in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Jamal’s is a small, but locally common species that mimics the black bar chromis, whilst the Nursalim is as flashy and stunning as you’d expect for a flasher wrasse.Another dottyback that is very rarely seen, and was only named in 2008, is the zippered dottyback. They are found at the very limits of recreational diving. It has been suggested that two large river outflows on the boundaries of the bay act as freshwater barriers to the spread of these marine species.
Read the rest of this article in the 2017 Issue 2 Volume 146 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here.
Corals get their colours in two ways. They have photosynthetic marine algae living inside their cells which convert sunlight into energy. The brownish green colour you see in corals under normal daylight is from these algae, called zooxanthellae. When corals are bleached, they turn white because they expel the zooxanthellae.
But then there are the blues, the greens, purples, and reds which come from a family of Nobel prize-winning fluorescent proteins. The short answer is there are protein pigment in the tissue of corals which absorbs light in one colour, and re-emits the light in a different colour. These pigments look different under white light, daylight, and blue light.
In 2008, the Nobel Committee awarded Osamu Shimomura, Marty Chalfie and Roger Tsien with the Chemistry Nobel Prize for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Using GFP, we can see when proteins are made, and where they can go. This is done by joining the GFP gene to the gene of the protein of interest so that when the protein is made, it will have GFP hanging off it. Since GFP fluoresces, one can shine light at the cell and wait for the distinctive green fluorescence associated with GFP to appear.
White Light
Using only a white light, brighter reds, orange and yellow can be seen. Some of the light is absorbed into the protein while the colour we see is what is being reflected or re-emitted. That is also why companies sell red filters to go over cameras to bring the red back to life.
Daylight
In regular sunlight, the deeper you dive, the bluer corals will appear. Any deeper than a few metres and longer wavelengths of light such as red, orange, and yellow are quickly absorbed in the water column. Once you reach 10 metres, everything looks blue. A flashlight or external LED or strobe light will bring these colours back into the environment.
Blue and Ultraviolet (UV) Light
To see fluorescent colour, a long wavelength of light must be used, such as blue and UV light. When shined on certain corals, the protein re-emits a fluorescent pigment as biofluorescence, glowing a bright neon colour. This colour is invisible under normal light conditions and they can only be seen when pigments are excited.
Galaxea coral showing brilliant yellow and green fluorescence
Fluoro Light
Though UV lights were often used in the early days of fluoro diving, they have been found to be less effective at making corals fluoresce and may even be harmful to the organisms. We’ve been told that staring into the sun isn’t good for our eyes due to the UV light it emits. The same concept applies to marine animals. As such, today UV light has been replaced by precision blue LEDs emitting light in the range from 450 to 470 nanometres.
To see the psychedelic colours of fluorescent light, it is highly recommended to use a blue excitation light, which are commonly called fluoro lights, or fluoro torches. It’s important to purchase a blue light made with blue LEDs for fluoro diving, and not a purple hue UV light or a white light with a blue filter.
Fluoro torches feature a dichroic, interference or excitation filter in front of the lens. The filter is there to optimise the range of fluoro light and only lets a certain wavelengths pass through, while reflecting all other colours. Any new LED light that markets itself as a fluoro light should have these features.
When using a blue fluoro light, corals will glow in psychedelic shades of blue, pink, and purple. If the thought of night diving makes you feel uncomfortable, you can still see these colours during the day, although not as bright. I personally love using blue fluoro light to search for little zoanthids in the sand. They look like colourful flowers, each around three millimetres wide. The tiny polyps close when disturbed and unfurl when at rest. A fluoro light is perfect for spotting these little treasures as they light up amongst the muck.
Read the rest of this article on the fluorescent world of corals in Scuba Diver Australasia + Ocean Planet No. 113 Issue 3/2018 by downloading a digital copy here!
Pulau Satumu was recommended to be designated as a Marine Reserve
The third iteration of the Singapore Blue Plan was presented to Second Minister for National Development and Minister for Social and Family Development, Desmond Lee, at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on 13 October 2018.
Building on the second Singapore Blue Plan submitted in 2009 (the first Singapore Blue Plan was submitted in 2001), the Singapore Blue Plan 2018, which was drawn up by science and expert contributors as well as stakeholders, campaigns for the conservation and sustainable use of the marine ecosystems and resources in Singapore through an action plan jointly executed with government agencies and stakeholders.
The Singapore Blue Plan lists out six broad recommendations, distilled from dialogue with contributors, stakeholders and the community, for conserving coastal and marine ecosystems in an integrative and sustainable manner.
Recommendation 1: Establish formal management systems for marine environments
Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a process that brings together multiple users and stakeholders of the ocean, including energy, industry, government, conservation and recreation, to make informed and coordinated decisions on how to use marine resources sustainably. Similar to land-use planning but for marine waters, MSP usually uses maps to more comprehensively identify how and where a marine area is being used and what natural resources and habitat exists in that area.
The Singapore Blue Plan 2018 calls for a MSP regime to be formed within Singapore’s existing integrated urban coastal management framework. This is especially important for ecologically sensitive areas. This MSP regime should also have legal provisions for Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and inputs from the public so that there is greater transparency and accountability in the way we police and protect our environment and the way we conserve and promote the sustainable use of our coastal and marine environment.
The Singapore Blue Plan 2018 also calls for an EIA law matching the scope and content of international standards to be put in place. This is to ensure there is adequate protection and study of the risks of impacts on depleted, threatened or endangered species and rare and fragile ecosystems. The plan also calls for a legal framework to be set up to monitor components of coastal and marine biodiversity. These monitoring records should also be made available to the public.
Recommendation 2: Provide sustained funds for research initiatives and long-term monitoring programmes.
After the submission of the second Singapore Blue Plan in 2009, the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey (CMBS) was organized by the National Parks Board and National University of Singapore from 2010 to 2015. More than 350 surveys were conducted in coastal and marine areas within the Johor and Singapore Strait from the depths of 0 to 200 metres. The survey, however, revealed that there is more diversity to document. A good example of this is the lack of knowledge on the diversity and distribution of several groups of marine organisms like copepods, flatworms and insects.
Sustained funding support is needed to regularly monitor and assess natural and artificial coastal habitats and to sustain long-term monitoring of environment parameters and marine organisms. There is currently little knowledge on the connectivity of organisms and habitats in Singapore. This knowledge is crucial to ascertaining local and regional source and sink areas — the source is a high quality habitat that on average allows a population to increase while the sink is a low quality habitat that, on its own, wouldn’t be able to support a population (The source-sink dynamic is a theoretical model used by ecologists to describe how a quality of a habitat can affect the population growth or decline of organisms). This long-term monitoring of environment parameters and marine organisms is integral to our ability to record how how marine ecosystems adapt and respond to impacts over longer time scales. It is also crucial to our ability to predict changes in the health of our marine ecosystems.
Marine sciences have already benefitted tremendously from National Reseach Foundation’s Marine Science Research and Development Programme (MSRDP) and Technical Committee for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (TCCME). However, for marine science in Singapore to remain resilient and successful, there needs to be a variety of funding sources in place, including continued support from agencies.
The Singapore Blue Plan 2018 calls for Pulau Satumu to be designated as a Marine Reserve
Recommendation 3: Enhance legislation to protect marine biodiversity and environment
There needs to be updates to current legislation and administrative practices to plug gaps in regulation and detection of offences. One example is the Wild Animals and Birds Act (“WABA”) which can be amended to include aquatic and marine animals. The Fisheries Act can also be changed to include the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act offences on marine pollution applicable to fishing vessels. In this way, pollution offences can be brought under the jurisdiction of the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (“AVA”). “The storage and disposal of wastes, the import of live specimens of alien species by fish farms and the indiscriminate disposal or abandonment of fish culture equipment can be regulated by the Fisheris (Fish Culture Farms) Rules and the Fisheries (Fishing Gear) Rules”.
AVA species-specific product codes should be updated to better manage the trade of endangered marine flora and fauna and regulate illegal sales. There also needs to be new legislation put in place to better regulate current and emerging threats.
Singapore should also increase our commitment to international cooperation by implementing international treaties such as the 1979 Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and its relevant Memoranda of Understanding. Other such treaties include the 2003 Protocol to the 1992 International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, the Protocol of 1996 to amend the 1976 Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims and the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea and its 2010 Protocol. And lastly the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter and its 1996 Protocol.
Recommendation 4: Improve intra- and inter-agency coordination of public marine database
There needs to be streamlining of the processes and improvement of the coordination between the various agencies and researchers. This will greatly improve the management of marine areas and resources. There should be a lead agency or a coordinating organisation, supported by scientists and senior government managers, acting as a focal point or representative group with a broad overview of the management and use of natural marine areas and biodiversity. The organisation must include the principles of marine spatial planning, manage EIAs related to marine areas, coordinate scientific information and efforts and oversee public participation. The successful application of these ideas from the point of permit application to the completion of a research project will definitely be a big help in attaining our research goals.
Recommendation 5: Protect remaining natural marine habitats from unnecessary biodiversity loss
The protection of natural marine habitats must not be restricted to one great site but must be expanded to protect as many habitats as possible. This is because the results of the CMBS have revealed that the marine habitats found in Singapore, despite being small and fragmented, are each unique and house a lot of biodiversity. All pristine natural areas should ideally be protected from further development so that they can continue to serve as safe refuge for marine organisms. We are at present not able to quantify the intangible ecosystem goods and services that these habitats provide us with. The Singapore Blue Plan 2018 has prioritised three areas for immediate conservation — Pulau Semakau and its adjacent islands Pulau Hantu and Pulau Jong, Pulau Satumu and the adjacent Pulau Biola and Pulau Ubin and its intertidal and subtidal marine areas (including Tanjung Chek Jawa). All these areas should each be designated as a Marine Reserve.
The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is home to endangered milk stocks, seen here feeding at a mud flat. The Singapore Blue Plan 2018 recommended that it be listed as a No-fishing Area.
Lazarus Island, St. John’s Island, Kusu island and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve should also be given elevated protection status. Lazarus Island, St. John’s Island and Kusu island are established sites for coral nurseries as their shoreline offers ideal sheltered areas for coral growth. By designating these areas as No-fishing Areas, we can bolster their rehabilitiation. and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve should also be accorded elevated protection status. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve should have its boundary lines expanded to include its adjacent mudflats as the health of these mudflats are interdependent on their adjacent mangrove systems.
Recommendation 6: Include topics on natural environment into school syllabus and promote science communication
Although Singaporeans are islanders who enjoy coastal parks, fishing and diving at the southern coral reefs, most of us are not aware of how much our lives are intertwined with the marine ecosystem and we are mostly ignorant about the ecosystem processes around these natural areas too. In addition to increasing science communication through various engagements with the public, we need to educate our students about the basic concepts in natural history in school. The syllabus of primary, secondary and pre-university levels should include topics on biodiversity and the natural environment which systematically approach larger environmental issues. It is only through education that our population will start supporting conservation and embark on environmentally sustainable lifestyles. Our success as a “Garden City” should be expanded to include the sea.
Singapore Government Pledges Support
Upon receiving the 220-page, Mr Lee has espoused the Government’s support for further funding on marine research as well as an expanded outreach and educational efforts to enable Singaporeans to better appreciate Singapore’s biodiversity.
Mr Lee announced that the government will approach the proposal laid out in the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 with the “same spirit of collaboration and openness” the government has shown towards the Blue Plan over the years. He also confirmed that the various agencies concerned will study the recommendations in close detail over the next few months and work together with the marine community to realise the common goals laid out.
Beautiful but deadly, the Glaucus atlanticus, commonly known as “the blue dragon”, is not what one would expect of a mere slug. Not only is it visually stunning, it possesses abilities unlike any other creature on Earth.
Appearance: The blue dragon has three pairs of arms, each one shorter than the last as they go further down it’s body. On these arms are single rows of tendrils called cerata which hold stinging cells – there can be up to 84 of these on a single blue dragon. The dorsal side is a silvery gray colour while the ventral side is covered in a light blue. Its feet on the dorsal side have dark blue stripes. The jagged teeth of this mollusk help it to scrape food particles and draw them into its mouth
CLASS: Gastropoda
OTHER NAMES: Sea swallow, blue angel, blue glaucus, blue dragon, blue sea slug, blue ocean slug
1 Though part of the nudibranch family, the blue dragon is vastly different from your average sea slug, and is known to be pelagic, using the ocean currents to carry it along
2 The blue dragon floats upside down for camouflage: Its blue side faces upwards to blend with the blue water, while the downwards facing silver side blends in with the ocean’s surface
3 They only feed on venomous creatures, often much larger than itself, such as the Portuguese man o‘ war and can deliver a powerful sting to paralyze its prey
4 The immune system of a blue dragon is built to resist the venom of its prey
The male reproductive organ is especially large and hooked
5 All blue dragons are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs
6 When two blue dragons mate, they both produce egg strings. These egg strings lack a hard substrate to attach to, and are often left to float freely in the water or are placed on the remains of their prey until the larvae hatch
During mating, both female reproductive organs will release an egg string containing about 20 eggs
7 These little slugs have the amazing ability to swallow the nematocysts of its venomous prey. These venomous cells are stored in the extremities of their cerata, making the blue dragon’s sting pack an even more powerful punch
What happens when plastics end up in the marine environment?
In a study funded under the Marine Science Research and Development Programme of the National Research Foundation Singapore (first published online in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering in March 2018), a team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) found that plastic nanoparticles – tiny pieces of plastic less than one micrometre in size — are easily ingested by marine organisms and accumulate in the organisms over time, potentially contaminating food chains, threatening food safety and posing health risks
The NUS research team at the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) used the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus Amphitrite as the model organism in its tests to demonstrate that nanoplastics ingested during the larval stage are retained and accumulated inside the bodies of the barnacle larvae until they reached adulthood. The acorn barnacles were used as test subjects because their short life cycle and transparent bodies made it easy to trace and visualise the movement of nanoplastics in their bodies within a short span of time.
Barnacle larvae were incubated by the team with regular feed & 100 nanometre sized plastics, tagged with green fluorescent tags in two different treatments – “acute” and “chronic”
According to Dr Neo Mei Lin from TMSI, even though the barnacles are at the bottom of the food chain, the nanoplastics they consume are transferred to the organisms that eat them. As plastics absorb pollutants and chemicals from the water, these toxins are transferred to the organisms when they consume contaminated plastics and can cause further damage to marine ecosystems and human health.
Read more about how plastics are polluting our oceans in our upcoming Muck Diving issue of Asian Diver (Issue 3 Volume 151) in November
IUCN CATEGORY IA Strict Nature Reserve: A marine reserve where the ecosystem is particularly fragile and important. Human activity here is strictly controlled, consisting of environmental monitoring, scientific surveys, and indigenous practices such as aboriginal subsistence fishing. Indigenous practices have to meet conservation objectives and may be subject to catch limits and other restrictions.
E.g. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California
TYPES OF MPAS
IUCN CATEGORY IB Wilderness Area:
A large natural area that is mostly untouched
by human activity and free of any modern infrastructure. Its management aims to preserve its natural condition for future generations. E.g. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska
TYPES OF MPAS
IUCN CATEGORY II National Park: A large natural area set aside to protect its natural biodiversity and ecosystems, but with more lenient policies on human visitation and infrastructure to support education and recreation. E.g. Hallyeohaesang National Park, South Korea
TYPES OF MPAS
IUCN CATEGORY III Natural Monument or Feature:
A small protected area around a natural monument such as a submarine cavern or a seamount, or a man-made monument. The latter must have ecological, historical or cultural significance to qualify. Policies centre around protecting the biodiversity and ecosystems that have formed around these monuments. E.g. Blue Hole Natural Monument, Belize
TYPES OF MPAS
IUCN CATEGORY IV HABITAT/Species Management Area: A protected area set aside to conserve a specific species or habitat. Policies aim to conserve or restore these species or habitats. Since these areas are so specific, they are commonly set up within a larger MPA to support conservation efforts.
E.g. South Ari Atoll, Maldives
TYPES OF MPAS
IUCN CATEGORY VProtected Seascape: One of the more flexible classifications, these areas allow a balanced amount of for-profit human activity. They are established where human activity has greatly influenced the surrounding ecosystem and has formed its own culture, such as ecotourism hotspots and dive sites. However, such activity is allowed on condition that the surrounding biospheres continue to be ecologically protected and restored.
E.g. Apo Island, Philippines
TYPES OF MPAS
No-take zone: An area set aside by the government where no extractive activity is allowed. Extractive activity is any action that removes, or extracts, any resource. Extractive activities include fishing, hunting, logging, mining, and drilling. Shell collecting and archaeological digging are also extractive.
E.g. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
(about one-third is a no-take zone)
TYPES OF MPAS
IUCN CATEGORY VIProtected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: These areas allow an extensive amount of human involvement, usually low-level, non-industrial use of natural resources. With non-industrial harvesting, authorities ensure that conservation as a main aim is still viable within this area.
E.g. Menai Bay Conservation Area, Zanzibar, Tanzania
TYPES OF MPAS
World Heritage Site: Initiated by UNESCO, this area exhibits extensive natural or cultural history. Maritime areas are poorly represented, however, with only 46 out of over 800 sites.
Thailand will mark World Ocean Day 2025 with the launch of “30+ Islands Clean-Up: So Cool Mission,” a nationwide campaign under the Heart-Made Islands Project. Taking place on Sunday, 8 June 2025, in Koh Chang, Trat Province, this large-scale effort under the theme “WONDER – Sustaining What Sustains Us”, brings together communities, international volunteers, government agencies, and private partners in a shared mission to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable island living.
Supported by Asian Geographic Go, the travel experience arm of Asian Geographic Magazines, and hosted at Aiyapura Resort, Koh Chang, the day will feature a wide range of collaborative and action-driven events.
A highlight of the event will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), through which island communities formally commit to reducing or eliminating single-use plastics, straws, and foam products. A symbolic moment will then signal the synchronized start of clean-up efforts across all participating islands. These efforts will include comprehensive beach, mangrove, and underwater clean-ups, led by both Thai and international volunteers. The collected waste will be sorted, weighed, and analyzed, with data recorded to estimate the environmental impact, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The event will conclude with a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and a high-level Roundtable Discussion, “Collaborate & Innovate to Solve the Island Waste Crisis,” featuring panelists including community representatives from three islands, Dr. Wijarn Simachaya (Thailand Environment Institute), Hidy Yu (Bling Bling Ocean Foundation), John Thet (Underwater360 Founder, ADEX CEO), Ms. Chawche Tevaburana-Trakul (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies), along with representatives from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Ogga-Circular, and Indorama Ventures.
International volunteers are especially welcomed to join activities on Koh Chang, Koh Lanta, and Koh Tao, where special participation packages are being offered. Koh Lanta will kick off its clean-up efforts earlier on 5 June, in celebration of World Environment Day 2025.
In preparation for the clean-up, trained divers and volunteers will also take part in a special underwater ghost net removal training, facilitated by the Bling Bling Ocean Foundation, in collaboration with local dive teams.
The “30+ Islands Clean-Up: So Cool Mission” reflects Thailand’s growing leadership in marine conservation and sustainability. Under the theme “WONDER – Sustaining What Sustains Us,” this campaign highlights the urgent call to protect ocean ecosystems and empowers island communities to drive meaningful environmental change.
“Tentacles of Doom”: Best of Show, Cephalopods, PJ Aristorenas (Philippines)
By DPG Editorial Staff, April 10, 2025 @ 12:00 AM (EST)
Underwater360 Group, the organizers of the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) have announced the winners of the show’s signature photo/video/art competition, ADEX Voice of the Ocean. The big winner was Filipino shooter PJ Aristorenas, whose stunning image “Tentacles of Doom” was crowned “Best of Show” during the live judging session held on the final day of the three-day show. PJ’s prizes included a Seacam camera housing worth $10,000, a 10-day dive package with Lembeh Resort and Murex Bangka, Sulawesi, Indonesia (worth $3,600), a Backscatter Hybrid Flash package (worth $1,260), a Shearwater Peregrine TX dive computer (worth $750), and an XDEEP NX ZEN 28 Ultralight Deluxe BCD (worth $825).
Attendees are in for a treat at ADEX OZTek 2025, as Professional Tek Diver Andrew Oakley shares insights into the t recent discovery of the Dutch submarine HNLMS K XI off Perth Waters, at the OZTek Advanced Conference Theatre.
In January 2025, a team of WreckSploration divers—Andrew Oakley, David Jackson, and Patrick Morrison—conducting an investigation of potential wreck sites using Magnetic Survey data from Maritime Discovery Group, unexpectedly discovered the wreck of the HNLMS K XI. Clearly identifiable as a submarine, the team swiftly began surveying the site, capturing over 6,000 images to create an impressive 3D model of the wreck.
Originally launched in 1924, the HNLMS K XI played a role in World War II and was involved in the rescue of HMAS Yarra survivors in 1942. Though its service history was relatively quiet, the submarine remains an important part of Dutch-Australian naval heritage.
Andrew’s presentation at the OZTek Conference will focus on the technology behind deep-water photogrammetry and its role in shipwreck discovery.
Join Andrew Oakley and an incredible lineup of speakers at ADEX OZTek 2025, happening on March 15-16, 2025, at ICC Sydney. Learn on fascinating topics of history, discovery and more.
Make sure to visit www.adex.asia to secure your tickets for the OZTek Advanced Diving Conference and the ADEX Dive & Travel Expo. Two incredible events under one roof—each with its own unique experience and ticket pricing!
Singapore, April 4-6, 2025 – The highly anticipated ADEX Ocean Festival Singapore 2025 will be held at Suntec Singapore from April 4 to 6, 2025. Marking its 31st year, ADEX remains the platform for divers, conservationists, and ocean enthusiasts to come together, share their passion, explore innovative solutions to ocean challenges, support conservation efforts, discover the latest in diving technology, photography,videography, and much more. This year’s festival promises three days of exciting events, inspiring talks, and must-see attractions for divers of all levels.
ADEX Voice of the Ocean Photo + Video + Art Competition 2025
One of the most awaited highlights of ADEX 2025, the Voice of the Ocean Competition, will return with the live judging event with entries in five categories: Animal Behavior, Cephalopods, Waterscapes, Artwork, and Short Film. This year’s edition celebrates marine life behavior with a special focus on cephalopods. The panel of judges includes Berkley White, Erin Quigley, Kay Burn Lim, Nicolas Remy, Robert Stansfield, and William Tan, with Chloe Harvey from the Reef-World Foundation. Each category will have multiple prizes, including the Best of Show award. More details on VOO 2025 – ADEX
Surface Interval – Health and Fitness for Diving Enthusiasts
For the first time, the Surface Interval zone will be a key feature at ADEX, focusing on divers’ health and fitness. Attendees can explore booths offering medical consultations on breathing issues, posture correction, and diving-related injuries. This area will also feature a hypnotherapy workshop for divers with phobias like fear of sharks etc. The latest Surface Interval Magazine will be launched during at ADEX Ocean Festival 2025.
Dive Tank and ADEX Mermaid Festival
ADEX Ocean Festival 2025 will once again feature the ADEX Mermaid Festival, where skilled mermaids and underwater performers from across the globe will stand a chance to be voted ‘The ADEX Most Voted Mermaid of the Year’, based on audience votes. The Dive Tank will also host underwater rugby matches and live painting performances by ocean artists, providing unique underwater experiences.
Scuba Try-Outs and Technology Demos at The Pool
The Pool area will provide attendees the opportunity to experience scuba diving for the first time through guided try-outs. This area will also be the stage for the latest advancements in dive technology, giving visitors a firsthand look at new diving gear demonstrations.
Industry Experts
ADEX 2025 will feature insights from leading experts across multiple fields, including Tek diving, conservation, underwater photography and videography, new dive technology, education, freediving, and marine life research and much more. There will be three dedicated stages focused on conservation, Tek, and underwater image/film/book, where speakers will share groundbreaking insights, discoveries, and experiences.
Exhibitor Booths
The festival will bring together top international dive brands under one roof, with exclusive deals and offers for visitors. Explore a wide range of booths showcasing the latest in dive gear, dive apparel, accessories, global dive destinations and more.
Exciting Lucky Draws and Giveaways
Attendees will have multiple chances to win exciting prizes from vendors through daily lucky draws.
Be a part of Asia’s largest dive show!
This year, ADEX Ocean Festival 2025 is dedicated to cephalopods and celebrates the remarkable behaviors of marine life. ADEX is more than just a dive show. It is a gathering of ocean explorers, conservationists, and tech pioneers who are shaping the future of diving and marine conservation. Connect with experts, discover cutting-edge gear, or listen to the stories from the deep. Visit www.adex.asia for entry tickets.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of ADEX Ocean Festival 2025, April 4-6, at Suntec Singapore!
John Garvin, renowned diving consultant, screenwriter, and actor, will be a featured OZTek Conference speaker at ADEX OZTek Australia 2025, where he will share exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the making of James Cameron’s Avatar sequels and the highly anticipated film Last Breath. Last Breath is set for release in the USA and UK on February 28, with an Australian release to follow.
John has been diving since 1990 and is recognized as one of the world’s leading technical diving instructors. He specializes in closed-circuit rebreathers and has trained elite divers worldwide. His expertise has made him an integral part of major Hollywood productions, including Deepsea Challenger and Sanctum, where he wrote the screenplay and coordinated underwater stunts.
As the head of diving operations for the Avatar sequels and Last Breath, John played a crucial role in bringing these visually stunning underwater scenes to life. At ADEX OZTek Australia 2025, he will discuss the innovative diving techniques and challenges involved in creating these groundbreaking films.
For those interested in the intersection of deep-sea exploration and filmmaking, John Garvin’s talk will be an unmissable event. Catch him live on the OZTek Advanced Diving Conference stage at ADEX OZTek Australia, where he will join a lineup of compelling speakers and topics from March 15-16, 2025, at the ICC, Darling Harbour. Get your tickets now for a lineup of fascinating talks from top technical diving experts at the OZTek Advanced Diving Conference.
Returning after 2022, we are pleased to once again celebrate and honor the achievements of Australia’s leading Divers and Dive Industry personnel in 2025. These awards recognize those who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge and exploration, driving the development and innovation of new diving technologies.
The presentation of the (usually) biennial OZTek Awards is a much-anticipated aspect of OZTek and in 2025, a simple Award Ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the show on Saturday 14 March (Time to be confirmed).
Deserving winners are nominated by the diving public and the final decision is made by the Award Panel from the information provided.
Award Categories
Industry Recognition Award– For Exceptional Contribution to the Growth and Development of Diving.
Outstanding Achievement Award– Recognition of deserving individuals whose achievements embody the spirit of diving advancement, adventure, and teamwork.
Media Excellence Award– For Ongoing Promotion of Ocean Awareness and the Diving Industry. (Note: This award is only given in outstanding circumstances).
Lifetime Achievement Award– Recognition for a lifetime of dedication and passion in diving.
Technical Diver of The Year Award– For Exceptional Contribution to the Growth and Development of Technical Diving.
Emerging Explorer Award– Acknowledgement of an up-and-coming diver for their contribution to exploration, research or training in the spirit of teamwork and community.
For a look at past winners and their incredible contributions, visit OZTek Awards History. If you know someone deserving of recognition in 2025, you can submit a nomination here: Nominate for 2025.
ADEX OZTek Australia 2025 Underwater Photographic Competition Now Open for Entries
The highly anticipated ADEX OZTek Australia 2025 Underwater Photographic Competition is back, inviting divers and photographers to showcase their creativity and passion for the underwater world.
Open to entrants worldwide, the competition welcomes submissions across five exciting categories: Wreck, Cave, Marine Life with Diver, Open Category (Wide Angle/Marine Life), and Macro/Super Macro Marine Life. Winning images will be printed and exhibited at ICC Sydney during ADEX OZTek Australia 2025 and featured across the event’s website and social media platforms.
All skill levels are encouraged to participate for a chance to win exciting prizes and gain international recognition. Entries close on February 15, 2025. Each entrant can submit up to 15 images with a maximum entry fee of $40.
An underwater photographer holding her camera swimming between some beautiful vibrant colored soft coral
Text courtesy of DAN World
Task-loading (doing or managing too many things at once) is a common reason divers become distracted from keeping track of their depth or air. A very good example of such a distraction is when divers become too focused on underwater photography.
While diving is an enjoyable and relatively safe activity, divers should never forget that it involves using life-support equipment to venture into an environment that’s not conducive for humans. Most dive accidents result from a series of small deviations from safe procedures, and in almost all cases, the accident could have been avoided if the problem was noticed, its implications understood, and an appropriate response was implemented.
THE CONTEXT
The diver was a 48-year-old woman who was open-water certified but had not dived for many years. She had recently completed a second open-water diving course and was on a seven-day liveaboard trip in Australia.
THE SITUATION
On the second day of diving, the diver reported “getting carried away taking pictures.” When she looked at her gauges, she only had 69 bar remaining and was at 30 metres. Her dive buddy was motioning for her to ascend and she began to do so. She reported feeling worried but determined that she would not shoot to the surface and was able to make a steady ascent. She had about 20 bar remaining as she got to six metres and opted to make a safety stop, watching her gauges intently. When it was completed, she signalled for her buddy to ascend the mooring line, which she did in a slow, controlled manner. Her mind raced as her depth gauge approached zero.
On the surface, the diver tried to inflate her BCD, but her tank was completely empty, and had to orally inflate it. She recalled: “It was a 30-metre dive, and I was very embarrassed. My dive buddy was holding it back, but I could tell he was upset with me. I never told him how close I came to running out of air on the ascent, but I apologised profusely. I spoke with another diver, a former instructor, and told him what had happened. He told me he had made the same mistake once – got carried away with taking photos and forgot to watch his gauges. I was shocked at how easily you can lose sight of the time and depth.”
The marine world holds so many wonders, it’s easy to get distracted
Analysis
This diver was lucky that she realised she was low on air when she did. If she had stayed much longer at that depth, she would likely have run out of air before she made it back to the surface. Running out of air doesn’t automatically lead to death, but when coupled with panic and a rapid ascent, the consequences can be grave.
Always Dive with a Buddy
Many divers who enjoy underwater photography admit to being distracted when their attention is diverted to photographing their subjects. It is very easy to forget to keep an eye on your depth or air, and this is one reason why DAN resolutely suggests recreational divers dive with a buddy. Generally, a buddy would be able to track the gauges and depth, and look out for each other.
Never Compromise Safety
Task loading should be gradual enough so that mastery on the added task can be achieved without ever compromising safety. Situational awareness is a skill that is instrumental in staying safe while diving.
This diver had a close call, learned a valuable lesson and lived to dive another day. Staying calm during her ascent, staying near her buddy and inflating her BCD at the surface were all essential elements in preventing a dive incident.
Regardless of whether you take up underwater photography as a creative pastime or a photographer eager to capture the beauty of the marine ecosystem, you’ll find that complementary diving skills and shooting skills are integral to success.
If you’d like to see more of the magazine, why not get the issue out now!
Head out to the fringes of Asia-Pacific for diving adventures in the middle of nowhere – places that are so far east they are practically in the west. The island nations dotting the eastern expanse of the Pacific are gateways to clear, warm, pelagic-filled water; paradises of coral and tropical fish.
There’s something about our gaudy marine invertebrates that keeps the big blue buzzing with exciting revelations. Suss them out in greater depth as Underwater360 brings you 10 amazing facts about corals.
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Before starting this technique, finish as much of your usual editing workflow as possible.
WAKATOBI – EVERYONE’S DREAM DESTINATION
Oceans provide
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For the rest of this article (Asian Diver Issue 4/2016, Volume 143) and other stories, check out our 
In 1972, Hollis founded American Underwater Products, doing business as Oceanic. The company started out with a dozen diving products, including the Anchor Shack’s photo line. After four years, Hollis took a big leap forward when he acquired Farallon, a manufacturer in nearby Belmont. That acquisition instantly gave Oceanic a full line of diving equipment, with an innovative line of instrumentation products. 
The best solution is much simpler: if you want to be with the fish, then do like the fish. Let us look at a fish tank. What do we see? Bubbles! In aquariums, the bubbles are artificially created to replenish the air dissolved in the water, which the fish breathe. In the ocean you don’t need a bubbler, because the wave action naturally supplies air that is dissolved and distrib-uted throughout the seas. The fact is that ocean water contains about 98 percent H2O, while the remaining two percent is dissolved air, and this is what the fish use for breathing. Separating dissolved air is much easier than splitting a water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen, and requires a lot less energy.
James pioneered the recreational Sidemount diving market in Singapore, and commercialised one of the first recreational Sidemount harnesses available. With his background in mechanical and electrical engineering, James is the chief designer for all of the house products at Diving Solutions Asia such as LED torches, Nitrox analyzers and Sidemount harnesses.
From a humble dive shop, John has steadily grown Wakikiki Dive through the years in order to serve his customers better. “Moving on from a diving centre to a flull-fledged retail store, we constantly strive to bring out a wide range of quality diving gear to the divers out there,” said John.
Alex, who has eight years of experience in military as well as commercial diving, served as the only scuba diving Instructor Trainer in the company during that time.
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 3/2015, AA No.82) and other stories, check out our 
At some muck diving sites you’ll also find small, sporadic clusters of coral or patches of anemones but nothing that could be described as a reef. Many muck diving sites also “feature” manmade debris ranging from tyres and paint cans to air conditioning units and beer bottles – ask any experienced muck diver – they will have probably seen them all.
Never Manipulate Marine Life: 
According to Dr Neo Mei Lin from TMSI, even though the barnacles are at the bottom of the food chain, the nanoplastics they consume are transferred to the organisms that eat them. As plastics absorb pollutants and chemicals from the water, these toxins are transferred to the organisms when they consume contaminated plastics and can cause further damage to marine ecosystems and human health.
