High-res Well, Whale Sharks, you are a bit too friendly aren’t you? The whale shark pictured snuck up on me, as they do apparently. It didn’t even say excuse me.  Just a quickie before I collapse on my bed. I SAW MY FIRST WHALE SHARKS/ BUNTANDINGS TODAY. And it was crazy. First of all, what fish is that big, even as a juvenile? Secondly, because they are fed, their behaviour is … unnatural, for want of a better word. Some of the are quite aggressive  focused on feeding. They just don’t care about getting close to you. The nudge the boats to get more food, they speed at you, just missing you. It is unreal. And quite unnerving.  It was a surreal day. I was so excited to be seeing them (there was about eight), and so sad to see them begging at the boats, and the scars that they have on their mouths and fins from scraping against the boats.  Come 0530 tomorrow, I’ll be up and going through it all again. It’s time to learn how to identify the regular individuals, get up to scratch on the surveys, and prepare for the next set of volunteers.  This my friends, is science. 

Well, Whale Sharks, you are a bit too friendly aren’t you?

The whale shark pictured snuck up on me, as they do apparently. It didn’t even say excuse me. 

Just a quickie before I collapse on my bed. I SAW MY FIRST WHALE SHARKS/ BUNTANDINGS TODAY. And it was crazy.

First of all, what fish is that big, even as a juvenile?

Secondly, because they are fed, their behaviour is … unnatural, for want of a better word. Some of the are quite aggressive  focused on feeding. They just don’t care about getting close to you. The nudge the boats to get more food, they speed at you, just missing you. It is unreal. And quite unnerving. 

It was a surreal day. I was so excited to be seeing them (there was about eight), and so sad to see them begging at the boats, and the scars that they have on their mouths and fins from scraping against the boats. 

Come 0530 tomorrow, I’ll be up and going through it all again. It’s time to learn how to identify the regular individuals, get up to scratch on the surveys, and prepare for the next set of volunteers. 

This my friends, is science. 

discoverynews:

Alarming Images of Oil-Drenched Gulf

Over two years after the BP oil disaster, the environmental group Greenpeace has received more than 300 new images, taken in 2010, of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill showing oil-covered turtles and sperm whales swimming through oil. The images were taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Greenpeace had submitted a Freedom of Information Request for images and information related to the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010. The request finally came through and what was offered was this first batch of files.

The disturbing images, all taken in 2010, show oil-drenched turtles and sperm whales swimming through oil.

more images here

We lost two legends today…

You will have no doubt heard of the great loss to the music world, Adam Yaunch, but today has also brought the loss of an ocean giant, Neville Coleman.

You may know him from various nudibranchs named for him including 

Neville Coleman pioneering underwater exploration and documentation, leading first underwater photographic fauna survey of an entire continent ever attempted in the world in Australia in 1969, despite mass skepticism on his being able to come back alive, let alone complete it.

He has published over 1000 published articles in over 150 magazines, 100,000 images and 60 marine life natural history books (29 self published) to his credit he was one of the most accomplished underwater educational authors in the world.

He has discovered over 450 species new to science, and has inspired and educated thousands. Few divers anywhere have contributed as much to the science and literature of marine identification/biology, or the adventure experience of sport diving.

“Whether we like it or not, divers are the only group of individuals that could ever act as guardians to the World of Water; there are no other groups in the world with the access, training and opportunity… there is nobody else.

As guardians of the world’s greatest resources we must understand that we really have an important job to do, far more than most could ever imagine.” - Neville Coleman. 

Rest in peace Neville, Grandaddy of Nudibranchs. 


High-res Harlequin Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) by Samantha Craven The ornate ghost pipefish or harlequin ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus, is a pipefish of the family Solenostomidae.  This pipefish has short skin filaments on its snout, body and fins with jagged edges. Anecdotal evidence suggests that all ghost pipefish settles as males and later, with proper environmental or social cues some change into females. They are frequently found hovering head down among crinoids (and are well camouflaged here) and soft corals and feed primarily on crustaceans.This is the male variation.  

Harlequin Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) by Samantha Craven

The ornate ghost pipefish or harlequin ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus, is a pipefish of the family Solenostomidae.  This pipefish has short skin filaments on its snout, body and fins with jagged edges. Anecdotal evidence suggests that all ghost pipefish settles as males and later, with proper environmental or social cues some change into females. They are frequently found hovering head down among crinoids (and are well camouflaged here) and soft corals and feed primarily on crustaceans.This is the male variation.  

Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) by Samantha Craven

This incredible cephalopod is one of only two octopuses that have been recorded to display bipedal locomotion!

It has also been observed using tools for defense, and the use of available debris to create a defensive fortress. Although octopuses often use foreign objects as shelter, the sophisticated behavior of A. marginatus when they select materials, carry and reassemble them, is far more complex.

This one obviously got a bit lazy and settled for plastic.