MINKE MAGIC
FIJI’S BLIGH WATER
DIVE RITE O2PTIMA CM
SNORKELLING WITH MINKE WHALE ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
WHERE THE HOUSE REEFS ARE AS GOOD AS THE BOAT DIVES
WALT STEARNS RATES AND REVIEWS THE CHEST-MOUNT CCR
Hunting the
BLACK ANGLER HOW TO CAPTURE THE ULTIMATE PHOTO OF THIS WEIRD CRITTER
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EDITOR’S NOTE FEELING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE
Times are changing, and to keep the magazine free, we’re asking dive stores to cover their own postage costs. If you enjoy reading the magazine, think about helping out your centre with a small donation to help cover their costs.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Mark Evans Email: mark.evans@scubadivermag.com
DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGER Matt Griffiths Email: matt@scubadivermag.com
CONTRIBUTORS
At last, some great news! As I write this editorial, the COVID-19 vaccine roll out around the world is gathering pace. The UK has vaccinated millions while here in Australia, and across the Tasman in New Zealand, the process has begun in earnest. Governments are understandably cautious, and it is clear that we are not out of the woods yet, but it is impossible not to feel a sense of relief and be optimistic about the future for the first time in a long time. It might take a while for long-haul international travel to become a reality. So those of us with family in farflung corners of the word will probably have to wait until the end of the year, or even early next year, to once again see loved ones. Still, it is not unrealistic to think that travel bubbles will pop up between some of our neighbours in the Pacific and around certain parts of Asia throughout 2021. These travel bubbles will bring some much-needed relief for the countries that rely on tourism and give eager divers the chance to visit those yearned-after exotic dive destinations. In this issue, we have the next instalment of our series of articles about Papua New Guinea. This month, Don Silcock focuses on the diving delights of New Britain. Fiji, another of our closest neighbours, is also featured, and Simon Dougherty extols the virtues of diving in the beautiful Bligh Waters. Undoubtedly, the pandemic has been an unmitigated disaster, but it has highlighted the fantastic diving on offer in our own backyard. Deborah Dickson-Smith snorkels with minke whales on the Great Barrier Reef, while Nicolas Remy shares his insights on how to photograph black anglerfish. Our final feature is on the Coromandel region of New Zealand, and what this spectacular area has to offer.
Adrian Stacey, Editor-at-Large (Australia and New Zealand)
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CHANGE THE WAY YOU DIVE FOREVER WITH MERIDIAN ADVENTURE DIVE Access to the most Dive Sites in Raja Ampat, Indonesia Best eco-conscious Dive Boats in the world Top of the range Aqualung Dive Equipment and Gear Fusion restaurant, Honest Food made to order Cleanest Barefoot Luxury hotel in the jungle Adventure Activities for all ages above and below the water On-Site Professional Dive Specialists Community Driven, eco-conscious, socially responsible hotel and diving facility At Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, the Raja Ampat you’ve dreamed of is waiting. CALL US
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WHERE THE HOUSE REEFS ARE AS GOOD AS THE BOAT DIVES
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: NICOLAS REMY
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REGULAR COLUMNS
FEATURES...
8 News
18 Australia
A night dive goes wrong off Port Noarlunga, orcas seen off Sipadan, a new pontoon for Lady Musgrave Island, the launch of Conservation Action Focus, efforts to protect the marine life of Chowder Bay, phase 2 of Dive Munda’s teaching campaign, and new dates for OzTek 2022.
18 Medical Q&A
The experts at Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific discuss getting back to diving after having a pacemaker fitted, and what any implications might be.
66 Conservation Corner
Conservation projects in and around Australia, New Zealand and SE Asia - this issue, a regenerative travel campaign by Kokomo Private Island in Fiji.
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Each Australian winter, the Great Barrier Reef plays host to some very special visitors. In fact, it’s the only place in the world where you can snorkel with dwarf minke whales. Diveplanit’s Deborah Dickson-Smith shares her ‘minke magic’ experience.
26 Papua New Guinea
Underwater photographer Don Silcock is a regular visitor to Papua New Guinea, and here he describes the topside and underwater delights of New Britain Island.
32 Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific
This month, the experts at DAN Asia-Pacific discuss the importance of gas management, and offer advice on ways to maximise your dive time.
34 Underwater Photography
Following his last article on photographing in black and white, Martyn Guess provides some insight into, and also tips on looking for and capturing, interesting behaviour in macro subjects.
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CONTENTS
...CONTINUED
GEAR GUIDE
38 Black anglerfish
58 Test Extra
Nicolas and Lena Remy go on the trail of the rare black anglerfish in a quest to capture the ultimate photograph of this weird-and-wonderful critter.
44 Fiji
Fiji’s Blight Water is world-renowned for its stunning dive sites, but as Simon Doughty explains, guests at Volivoli Beach Resort don’t have to look far for two awesome dive sites - on the double house reef.
50 New Zealand
The Eastern Coromandel has much to offer divers of all abilities, and as Ryan Hanson explains, you never know what you are going to see when you head off to explore beneath the surface.
This issue Scuba Diver USA and Canada Editorat-Large Walt Stearns rates and reviews the Dive Rite O2ptima CM chest-mounted closed-circuit rebreather.
62 What’s New
New products coming on to the market in 2021, including the Suunto D5 in a neat copper colour, and the Mares XR-Rec Silver backplate-and-wing system.
56 Wreck Hunter
Underwater archaeology expert Mike Haigh discusses the skills and equipment necessary to survey an archaeological site underwater.
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Each month, we bring together the latest industry news from the Asia-Pacific region, as well as all over our water planet. To find out the most up-to-date news and views, check out the website or follow us on our various social media (@scubadivermag) www.scubadivermag.com.au
NIGHT DIVER RESCUED AT
PORT NOARLUNGA, SA
O
ksana knew when she stepped out of her car on Monday evening that something didn’t feel right. It had been a long day already, and a long drive to Port Noarlunga for her very first night dive. The sun was setting and the surface conditions looked dark and choppy – not unusual for the Noarlunga Reef, but not what she was used to. But in spite of feeling uneasy, she met her PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course mates, geared up, jumped into the ocean from the jetty platform and started her descent. Some three hours later, SA Sea Rescue Squadron picked her up drifting in the ocean near O’Sullivan’s Beach, over 2km north of the Noarlunga Reef and 1km offshore. This story is about an experienced diver who ran into trouble on what should have been a straightforward training dive. There are lessons here that Oksana believes are important to share. Oksana is a nurse well trained in trauma care who has lived and worked internationally for most of her career. While based in Libya 20 years ago, she learned to dive with BSAC, logging over 100 dives in the Mediterranean. After moving to the UK, she continued to do a little dive travel but eventually let her diving lapse. And then she came to South Australia, where she decided to start diving again. She took a refresher course, insisting on both a comprehensive pool session and an ocean dive. After logging another 20 dives, she invested in her own gear and signed up to do an Advanced Open Water Diver course so that she could experience some of the deeper dives that South Australia has to offer. However, despite her experience, she had never done a night dive. That particular evening, the swell was over one metre combined with 24km per hour winds. Divers who frequent Noarlunga are familiar with the ‘washing machine’ effect that these conditions can create at and below the surface near the reef. But Oksana wasn’t used to such conditions, and was uncomfortable with jumping into choppy waters off a jetty platform. All her previous experience in the Mediterranean had been shore diving – easy swims out to drop-offs, returning the same way. To add to her anxiousness, she had not settled on the weight that she would need with her new gear. She started her descent and found she was struggling to stay down. She surfaced and tried several more times to rejoin
8
her buddies, able to follow their lights but unable to get to, or stay back down, with them. She finally decided she would have to abort the dive. But by then, the swell and current had taken her some distance along the reef away from the jetty stairs. She considered swimming back to the jetty but as a shore diver, she thought she might have better luck going into shore. But the swell and wind were increasing, and the currents were taking her further away. Eventually she realised she would simply have to drift with the ocean, waving her torch in the hopes that she would be seen and rescued. Back at the reef, her buddies went into their own rescue mode for a missing diver. They checked around the bottom –
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no luck; surfaced and looked for her - no luck; swam back to the jetty, climbed the stairs and only then were they able to spot her light in the distance. SA emergency and SA Sea Rescue were called immediately, executing a successful boat rescue, but only after searching for Oksana on the surface for quite some time. Oksana’s experience was a classic case of task overload - dealing with a general feeling of unease at the start, training for a new skill, challenging surface conditions and a new gear setup. Any one of these factors could have been managed, but all four at the same time led her into a crisis situation. Matters were complicated by the fact that she had left her SMB (surface marker buoy) in her car, making it harder to spot her at the surface. She also had no back-up torch, but fortunately the batteries lasted just long enough in the one she was carrying. So, what can we learn from Oksana’s situation? She strongly advises that everyone should pay attention to how one is feeling at the start of any dive. If you aren’t up for it, there is no harm in telling your buddies that it’s a no go for you. You should become very comfortable with any changes in your gear before taking on a new experience, whether it’s a new course or a morechallenging dive. Even a simple switch to a thicker wetsuit can affect your diving performance underwater. And make sure you have your emergency tools with you at all times. Oksana didn’t have her SMB but she did have her snorkel, which probably saved her from taking in too much seawater at the surface when her air ran out. On night dives, be sure to carry a back-up torch just in case. Finally, discuss an exit strategy with your buddies – if you have to abort a dive, make sure you all know the best places to return to on the surface, whether it is the boat, the jetty or shore. It is believed that at least ten divers have died on the reef at Port Noarlunga since the first recorded diving fatality in 1951. This latest incident is a sober reminder that although the site is popular, easily accessed and relatively shallow, divers should not underestimate the risks involved with different levels of experience, weather and water conditions, and should be adequately prepared for emergencies. After a couple of nights in hospital to make sure her lungs were clear of the effects of the salt water, Oksana has recovered. She is determined to go diving again – although it may be a while before she tries another night dive.
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New South Wales Abyss Scuba Diving
02 9583 9662
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Adreno Scuba Diving
02 9669 6214
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Dive Centre Manly
02 9977 4355
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Dive Forster At Fisherman's Wharf 02 6554 7478
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Dive Jervis Bay
02 4441 5255
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Feet First Dive
02 4984 2092
feetfirstdive.com.au
Frog Dive Sydney
02 9958 5699
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Jetty Dive Centre
02 6651 1611
jettydive.com.au
Scuba Warehouse
02 9689 1389
scubawarehouse.com.au
South West Rocks Dive Centre 02 6566 6474
swrdive.com.au
United Divers
02 4228 5962
uniteddivers.com.au
Wilderness Sea & Ski
02 9822 4112
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Windang Dive & Spearfishing
02 4296 4215
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Queensland Adreno Scuba Diving
07 3895 8119
Brisbane Dive Academy
07 3890 0342 brisbanediveacademy.com.au
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Dive Dive Dive
07 3890 4443
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Sportys Watersports
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Diversworld
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Remote Area Dive
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Sunreef Diving Services
07 5444 5656
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Tech Dive Academy
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South Australia Dive Shack - Snorkel Safari
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Diving Adelaide Pty Ltd
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The Dive Shop Port Lincoln
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Tasmania Canoe 'N' Surf
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Go Dive Hobart
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Academy Of Scuba
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Adreno Scuba Diving
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All About Scuba
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Bayplay
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Dive Gear Australia
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Diveline
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Extreme Watersports
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Geelong Dive Centre
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Mr Dive
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Professional Diving Services, CarrumDowns 03 9775 0998
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Professional Diving Services, Portland 03 5523 6392
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Victoria
Robinson Sportscene
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S.E.A.L Diving Services
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Snorkel & Dive Safari Altona Beach
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Warrnambool Diving & Firearms
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Western Australia Adreno Scuba Diving
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Batavia Coast Dive
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Coastal Water Dive
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Diving Frontiers & Charters
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Dolphin Scuba Diving
08 9353 2488
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Ningaloo Whale Shark & Dive
08 9949 1116
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Oceano Dive Centre
08 9535 2047
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Perth Diving Academy Hillarys 08 9448 6343
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Perth Scuba
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Southcoast Diving Supplies
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PARTNERS 10
AMAZING ORCA ENCOUNTER AT SIPADAN Marine biologists have been encouraged by the sighting of four orcas at Pulau Sipadan in Sabah last month, saying the encounter highlighted the importance of the Semporna region for marine mammals and provided valuable data for ongoing cetacean studies in the area. Footage of the encounter posted on social media by the award-winning dive operator Scuba Junkie showed two adult orcas and two calves swimming to the north of Sipadan. One of the adults was recorded splashing the surface of the water with its tail - ‘lobtailing’ - which is thought to be a communication between individual orcas, or a warning to stay away. As incredible as this sighting was, it is not uncommon for the Semporna region. The region has been identified as a key part of the Western Celebes Sea Drop Off ‘Area Of Interest’, as designated by the IUCN Marine Mammals Protected Areas Task Force, because of the high number of marine mammal sightings reported there in the media, and on tourism and nature forums. To date, 21 species of marine mammals have been recorded, most of which are oceanic or deep water species. Many of the species sighted are poorly understood, meaning that their presence in the Semporna region presents a unique opportunity for researchers to find out more about these enigmatic species – even if it is just to confirm a sighting there. “It is not unusual for our guests to see marine mammals on their way to Sipadan or on the south side of Kapalai,” said Arapat bin Abdurahim, Divemaster at Scuba Junkie. “Quite often, it is dolphins – but on other occasions we are treated to rarer species such as the orcas sighted last week, melon-headed whales and even sperm whales. “It is incredibly exciting for guests and staff to spot a marine mammal on the surface and be able to contribute to the body of research on rarely seen species - for example in 2017, when we reported the first confirmed sighting of dwarf sperm whales in Malaysia.” The regular reporting of both orcas and sperm whales in the Semporna region, as well as observations of oceanic marine mammal species migrating through the Sulu and Celebes Sea, earmarked the region as one for closer investigation by scientists. Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S, the marine conservation organisation based at Scuba Junkie’s Mabul Beach Resort, is working with researchers to gather data on the marine mammals that occur in the area and enable more accurate identifications. Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S received funds from the Society of Marine Mammalogy (SMM) to conduct a study on the whales, dolphins and porpoise in this region, in partnership with national NGOs. “Orca have been documented in this region before, however, the partnership with Scuba Junkie S.E.A.S has enabled training to be given to local dive operator staff, so we now receive good imagery and clear descriptions from such encounters. This has helped enormously in documenting other species with certainty. It is exciting to see this species in the Sipadan area and to have the diving community engage so enthusiastically with our study,” stated Dr. Lindsay Porter (Awards Committee, SMM).
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For further information visit your local Submerged Nation Partner or www.submergednation.com
LADY MUSGRAVE EXPERIENCE UNVEILS THREE-LEVEL PONTOON Brett Lakey, owner and director of Lady Musgrave Experience in Bundaberg, has been working tirelessly throughout these unprecedented times of COVID restrictions to introduce the Lady Musgrave HQ pontoon to his fleet. Lady Musgrave HQ is a brand-new, custom-designed, three-level pontoon which will be based in the heart of the Southern Great Barrier Reef in Lady Musgrave Reef lagoon. Nestled in the sheltered waters of this 3,000-acre lagoon teeming with resident turtles and tropical fish life, Lady Musgrave HQ will boast a 14-metre underwater observatory capable of accommodating up to 20 guests in bunk-style berths. This new sleeping experience allows 360-degree underwater viewing from your pillow. Sleeping under the stars will also be an option with provisions for glamping tents on the upper deck. The two open air levels above host a fully stocked bar/kiosk area, shower and toilet amenities, snorkel, and diving stations with large in water access via platform areas, undercover seating, and tables. She is machinery free, powered by a 52KW battery bank which is kept charged by twin 2KW wind generators and a 5 KW solar farm. This new world-class platform will allow guests to experience the unique Turtle Experiences whereby they swim with them during the day and witness the nesting and hatching phenomenon throughout the season at night. Scuba divers will have direct access to some of the world’s best dive sites. Utilising the pontoon as a liveaboard facility, our high-speed custom built 12-metre dive vessel Underworld takes groups of up to 20 divers to explore the best dive sites surrounding Lady Musgrave reef, and the remote sites of Boult, Llewellyn Reefs, Fairfax, Hoskyn and Lady Elliot Islands. The pontoon rates will be fully inclusive of transfers, catering, and activities. Seaplane transfers available. Lady Musgrave HQ is due to be introduced to the dive / tourism industry in the early quarter of 2021.
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DIVE MUNDA LAUNCHES PHASE 2 OF YOUTH TRAINING SPONSORSHIP CAMPAIGN Dive Munda trained 105 local Solomon Island youth by the end of January 2021, and you can continue to sponsor your youth or contribute via their ClicknDonate fundraiser campaign to help them continue the work they have started with the islands’ amazing youth in 2020. As borders remain closed, Dive Munda want to ensure the Solomon Islands’ youth continue to dive and train. It will be near impossible for the youth to afford this, and Dive Munda will work with their sponsors, partners, ambassadors and guests to ensure the youth stays active in diving. You can help - do something good during this lingering COVID-19 crisis. You can donate via the dedicated Dive Munda ClicknDonate project page – visit www. divemunda.com for more information. Or you can get involved with one of the projects below: Work with a group of 12 local girls certified under phase one to start off the Munda plastic recycling project, making arts and crafts for sale from the rubbish and plastic collected in and around Munda (above and below the water). Dive Munda have already partnered and secured some funding from PlasticWise Solomon Islands to help launch the training component of this project. Dive Munda will work with a group of 15 local Munda-certified youth to spearhead the coral restoration and rehabilitation programme started last year with reefdivers.io. With your help, Dive Munda will start with the SSI Coral ID Ecological course certification component during closed borders. Practical training will commence once borders re-open and we can bring expertise from abroad in to help the team further expand the existing coral nursery at Alice in Wonderland Reef and add another coral nursery at Sosu Hite Reef. We also invite you to visit us on the other side of all of this as we launch the ‘volunteerism’ programme to help plant, maintain and grow our coral restoration gardens. With your donation, Dive Munda will embark upon monthly beach and underwater clean-up dives with the youth to give them more dive experience in a safe, controlled environment under instructor supervision while doing something good! Making a difference in local communities and in our ocean as an SSI Blue Oceans Centre. Dive Munda want to train as many youth as possible to complete the SSI Advance Adventurer certification course. We will offer this course at the same special subsidized rate of $250 AUD per certification. You can sponsor any one of the youth that certified under phase 1 or you can again work with your own youth sponsored under phase 1 to get more dive education and training. Dive Munda have already received five sponsorships for the Advance Adventured course and the team are starting training shortly.
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EMPEROR PRICING MEANS NO HIDDEN EXTRAS WE ARE DIVING IN THE RED SEA AND MALDIVES NOW! TO HELP YOU PLAN, WE’RE CONTINUING OUR “NO DEPOSIT SCHEME“ Contact us for the latest updates on new flight arrivals
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CHOWDER BAY CONSERVATION INITIATIVE Friends of Chowder Bay group formed to help protect local Mosman marine residents, as Deborah Dickson-Smith explains. Chowder Bay has been a popular dive site for Sydney scuba divers for many years. One of very few easily accessible shore dives on Sydney Harbour, the site is teeming with fascinating marine life that has long attracted scuba divers and free divers. It’s a macro-photographer’s dream, with tiny pipefish, several species of nudibranchs and anglerfish, moray eels, decorator crabs and, of course, seahorses. One particular moray eel couple have been residents of a hollow, broken pylon for several years, named affectionately by regular divers as Murray and Ellie. The recent installation of ‘seahorse hotels’ at Chowder Bay has attracted the attention of even more scuba divers and freedivers, eager to see the progress of this marine conservation initiative. The ‘hotels’ were installed to create habitat for reintroduced juvenile seahorses in a programme managed by the Department of Fisheries, Sydney Institute of Marine Science and Sealife Sydney Aquarium to help boost the dwindling population of Sydney’s endangered White’s seahorse population. But the experience divers and snorkellers have is not always positive. An increase in activity in neighbouring Clifton Gardens Reserve over the summer holidays, and an increase in the number of fishermen on the jetty, has seen the ‘hotels’ inundated with fishing debris - everything from leftover bait and plastic bags, to fishing line, lures and sinkers, caught on the hotels. Last week, after a busy few weeks on the Harbour foreshore, which saw a beach crowded with families and a jetty crowded with fishermen, divers found a bumper amount of debris on the seafloor and seahorse hotels. Even more distressing was the discovery of Ellie the eel, dead on the seafloor, strangled by fishing line. Likely entangled by accident - just an innocent victim. It has prompted a group of regular visitors to form the Friends of Chowder Bay, a group that aims to educate visitors to the wonders that lie beneath the water (and the jetty), help clean up the debris with regular underwater and beach clean-up events, and engage locals and visitors alike to help gain better protection for this unique marine environment. If you’re interested in finding out more about protecting Chowder Bay, join the Facebook group Friends of Chowder Bay, to find out about upcoming educational and clean-up events.
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DRYSUITS
PACEMAKERS
Q: Can I dive with a Pacemaker? A: Pacemakers are small, battery-operated devices that help the heart beat in a regular rhythm. They do this by generating a mild electrical current that stimulates the heart to beat. The device is implanted under the skin of the chest just below the collarbone. It connects to the heart with tiny wires that thread into the heart through the major blood vessels. In some individuals, the heart may need only intermittent help from the pacemaker if the pause between two beats becomes too long. In others, however, the heart may depend entirely on the pacemaker for regular stimulation.
IMPLICATIONS IN DIVING
The need for a pacemaker usually indicates a disturbance in the heart’s conduction system. The disturbance might be from structural damage to the heart muscle, as is often the case following a major heart attack. In this case one might lack the necessary cardiovascular fitness to dive safely. You might depend on a pacemaker because the area that generates the impulses that make the heart muscle contract does not function consistently or adequately. The circuitry that conducts the impulses to the heart muscle may be faulty, resulting in improper or irregular signals. Without the assistance of a pacemaker, one might suffer episodes of loss of consciousness or fainting. Due to the risk of drowning, any medical condition that could predispose a diver to suffer a sudden loss of consciousness is a contraindication for diving. A mild heart attack could cause minimal residual damage to your heart muscle. Even with minimal damage, the conduction system could be unreliable and dependent upon a boost from a pacemaker. A cardiologist can determine if your level of cardiovascular fitness is sufficient for safe diving. Your pacemaker needs to be rated to function at a pressure of at least 40m to be considered fit for recreational diving. Any divers with heart issues should have an evaluation for medical fitness before diving. A significant number of recreational diving fatalities each year are attributable to coronary artery disease. If you have a medical question or need more information regarding pacemakers, send an email to: medic@dan.org
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Each Australian winter, the Great Barrier Reef plays host to some very special visitors. In fact, it’s the only place in the world where you can snorkel with dwarf minke whales Diveplanit’s Deborah Dickson-Smith shares her ‘minke magic’ experience PHOTOGRAPHS BY JULIA SUMMERLING, JEMMA CRAIG AND SPIRIT OF FREEDOM
ON THE 18
MINKE WHALE
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A
n encounter with one of these gentle giants is a life-changing moment, a moment you’ll remember for years to come, each time you recall it, feeling the same raw excitement and emotion you felt the first time. In fact, even writing this article, I feel those emotions bubbling up now! My first encounter was several years ago, but I remember it like it was this morning. After steaming north overnight from Cairns, we woke up bright and early on the Ribbon Reefs and slipped quietly into the water not long after sunrise. It was a hushed atmosphere as we quietly waited for our first sighting. And then they’re there. One, two – maybe six minkes. Some appearing and disappearing quickly, nothing more than a brilliant flash of white. And they gradually became bolder, swimming closer, until they were cruising by at eye level. If there’s a more-humbling experience than staring into the eye of a five-tonne mammal on the world’s most-famous reef, I’ve yet to find it. By the time I dragged myself in for breakfast, I was shivering with excitement, babbling to anyone that would listen, my fingers resembling prunes as I tried to scroll through the hundreds of photos I’d managed to take. Dwarf minke whales visit the northern Great Barrier Reef in June and July each year, forming the only known predictable aggregation of these whales in the world. The extroverts of the whale family, they are incredibly inquisitive and often approach boats and snorkellers, sometimes interacting for extended periods. The second smallest member of the baleen whale family, growing up to eight metres long, they are only found in the Southern Hemisphere, spending the summer months feeding in sub-Antarctic waters and migrating to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef over winter to breed and give birth. While dwarf minke whales can be seen almost anywhere on the Great Barrier Reef over winter, they are most frequently seen in the north on the Ribbon Reefs, sometimes visiting the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs accessible on a day tour from Port Douglas.
WHO TO DIVE WITH
Operating out of Port Douglas, Quicksilver’s Silversonic and Poseidon Cruises, as well as Calypso Reef Charters, visit the Agincourt Reefs where minkes have been sighted between June and September each year. These operators each hold one of the few permits available from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority that allow guests to swim with dwarf minke whales if encountered.
Dwarf minkes are highly inquisitive and often approach snorkellers and divers to within close distances, sometimes interacting for extended periods
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Minke approaches a snorkeller
FIND OUT MORE
The 2021 minke whale season is already heavily booked, so it is recommended you book early for the 2022 season. Talk to a dive specialist travel agency for individual and group booking enquiries. In June and July, the dive liveaboards visiting Ribbon Reefs further to the north can almost guarantee an encounter. Operating out of Cairns, permit holders Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Spirit of Freedom and Divers Den run multi-day trips, offering a mix of diving the Ribbon Reef’s best sites and encounters with dwarf minke whales on snorkel. Liveaboard trips are suitable for both snorkellers and scuba divers. For divers, the whale action combined with excellent winter visibility on the Ribbon Reefs makes for a great experience. The short two-month season gets booked up months in advance, so it’s advisable to book early. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (www.mikeball.com) run three, four and seven-day Minke Whale Expeditions aboard Spoilsport. There are up to four scuba dives (and snorkels) loosely scheduled each day. But when the minkes are out, it’s everyone in — no tanks required. Since commencing Minke Whale Expeditions in 1996, the company boasts a 98 per cent success rate. The largest pod seen was 28 whales, the longest encounter was 10 hours. While Spirit of Freedom (www.spiritoffreedom.com.au) is not operating in 2021, the boat will be back in the water
The powerful tail of a minke
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Snorkellers are treated to a minke flypast
A code of practice is in place to manage safety for both divers and whales, providing the maximum opportunity to see whales at very close range while ensuring the whales interact on their terms in 2022, in time for minke whale season. Normally Spirit of Freedom offers a three-day Minke Whale and Ribbon Reefs Adventure, a modification of its Cod Hole trip, spending time exploring the amazing dive sites of the remote Ribbon Reefs, with an underlying focus at all times to maximise in-water encounters with the whales. Divers Den (www.diversden.com.au) offer four-day, fournight minke whale expeditions every year during June and July on board OceanQuest. Tours are open to both snorkellers and divers, with whale interactions strictly controlled. They boast a 90 per cent success rate for close sightings, with interactions sometime lasting over two hours. If you are interested in learning more about these fascinating creatures, Divers Den also offer a PADI Minke Whale Awareness Specialty which can be completed on your trip. On the course, you’ll learn about their biology, how to identify them by their markings, how they behave as well as gain insight into the pressures and threats to their populations worldwide, and what conservation efforts are being made to protect them. For a more-luxurious encounter, guests at Lizard Island Resort can book a three-hour or full-day private snorkel or dive charter for up to six people aboard its Riviera Cruise vessel, the MV Duyfken. Although there is no guarantee of a sighting on tours, the inquisitive minkes often come up to boats in the waters surrounding Lizard Island.
Minke whale
Divers investigated by minkes
SAFE ENCOUNTERS… FOR MINKES AND DIVERS
A code of practice is in place to manage safety for both divers and whales, providing the maximum opportunity to see whales at very close range while ensuring the whales interact on their terms. Most diver and whale interactions occur while snorkelling. The voluntary approach to the vessel (and swimmers) by minke whales creates a unique in-water experience. Abiding by these codes, a maximum of two surface ropes are placed in the water with swimmers then positioned
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Silversonic at anchor
THE MINKE WHALE PROJECT
Minke at the surface
three to four metres apart for a safe encounter. The whales actually control the encounter in that they decide how close they interact. Dwarf minkes are highly inquisitive and often approach snorkellers and divers to within close distances, sometimes interacting for extended periods. Close approaches (within three metres) occur occasionally and are more likely to happen when snorkellers are stationary in the water, holding onto a rope, remaining relatively still and calm. Very close approaches of one metre or less are rare, but have been experienced, usually in longer encounters where the whales’ confidence has increased, possibly due to the predictability of swimmers’ movements.
Most of the Great Barrier Reef tour operators that offer dwarf minke whale expeditions contribute to scientific research into these enigmatic creatures, and guests are invited to participate. Based at James Cook University, the Minke Whale Project conducts multi-disciplinary research into dwarf minke whale biology and behaviour, the social and economic values of the whales and the sustainable management of swim-withwhales tourism. With assistance from charter boats like Mike Ball’s Spoilsport and Spirit of Freedom, the project has been ongoing for almost 30 years and has started to shed a little light on these mysterious cetaceans. Both operators host volunteer minke whale researchers on each minke whale expedition, and guests are encouraged to assist the research by using data collection forms to record whale observations and by sharing their photos to the database. Research is continuing to define the exact species of dwarf minke whale that visits the Great Barrier Reef. There are two known species, the North Atlantic minke whale and the slightly larger Antarctic minke whale. It is thought that the Great Barrier Reef dwarf minke whale is related to the North Atlantic minke or is an un-named species. Ongoing research aims to map migratory paths, identifying critical habitat and potential feeding grounds and identify risks and threats beyond the protected waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Guests can also contribute to the future of the Minke Whale Project by donating. More informationcan be found at the website: minkewhaleproject.org n
Minke whale
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Australia is blessed with some of the most-amazing marine life encounters in the world. Here are just 6:
GIANT CUTTLEFISH IN NSW, VIC AND WHYALLA
Between May and July each year, giant Australian cuttlefish, the world’s largest species, congregate by the thousands in the shallow waters between Fitzgerald Bay and False Bay in Whyalla in South Australia’s Spencer Gulf to breed. It’s one big cephalopod orgy and it’s spectacular to witness. After this marathon of three to four months of endless sex, most die from the sheer exhaustion. Giant Australian cuttlefish are also seen frequently at Sydney and Melbourne dive sites, and along the NSW and Victorian coastline.
MANTAS AT LADY ELLIOT ISLAND DWARF MINKE WHALES ON THE RIBBON REEFS
The dwarf minke whale is the smallest member of the baleen whales, growing to only eight metres in length. This species is only found in the Southern Hemisphere, spending the summer months feeding in sub-Antarctic waters and migrating to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef over winter to breed and give birth. These small whales are very different to their larger cousins, as when in reef waters they are strangely attracted to stationary boats, often hanging around for hours and even days. The season is short, from early June to late July and the best way to have an encounter is on a liveaboard trip with Divers Den, Spirit of Freedom or Mike Ball Dive Expeditions.
WHALESHARKS ON THE NINGALOO REEF AND CHRISTMAS ISLAND
Whalesharks can grow up to 16 metres in length, with a mouth over a metre wide. So-named because it is as big as many whales and like many whales, a filter feeder. Indeed, the whaleshark holds many records for sheer size, being not only the largest extant fish species but also by far the largest living non-mammalian vertebrate. On Australia’s west coast, Ningaloo is the place to go for a whaleshark encounter. Between mid-March and mid-July, whaleshark swimming tours are operated from the towns of Coral Bay and Exmouth. Whalesharks can also be seen diving or snorkelling Christmas Island between November and April, where your encounter is likely to be very intimate, with very few divers visiting this remote island each year.
Lady Elliot Island is well known for manta activity – indeed, the island advertises itself as ‘Home of the Manta’ and is used frequently as a base for the research team at Project Manta which has identified over 700 individuals in waters surrounding the island. There are mantas at Lady Elliot all year round with numbers peaking between mid-May and mid-August. Mantas can be seen while snorkelling as well as diving, and there are a couple of known cleaning stations, around Lighthouse Bommie where mantas are reliably sighted. The resort is also deeply involved in manta conservation and they offer lots of information about mantas.
TURTLES AT RAINE ISLAND
Did you know, the world’s largest green turtle rookery can be found in Australia? Roughly 620km north of Cairns lies Raine Island, the world’s largest green turtle rookery, which itself is surrounded by pristine colourful reefs teeming with life. During nesting season between October to March, upwards of 15,000 egg-laden turtles come here to nest. The island itself, a world heritage site, is off limits, but it is possible to dive the surrounding reefs, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions operate a couple of special expeditions here in November each year.
LEAFY SEA DRAGONS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Up there with the most-ornately camouflaged creatures on Earth, leafy sea dragons are adorned with gossamer, leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies, perfectly outfitted to blend in with the seaweed and kelp formations they live amongst. Endemic to the waters off south and east Australia, they are closely related to seahorses and pipefish. While they have been sighted in waters along the entire south coast of Australia they are more frequently sighted on the Fleurieu Peninsula at Rapid Bay Jetty and Victor Harbour Bluff. Scott Portelli runs photography tours that include both leafy sea dragon and giant cuttlefish encounters in South Australia. Contact Diveplanit.com for more information and how to book these unique experiences.
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DISCOVER THE CONFLICT ISLANDS -PNG-
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P
apua New Guinea’s ‘second island’ sits right on the interface of some incredibly powerful forces of nature. Physically located along the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire, New Britain is a large crescent-shaped island that is defined by the incredibly high mountain ranges that run down its spine – together with its many volcanoes… So high are those mountains, they create separate and independent weather systems on the north and south coasts of the island, making New Britain a remote, different and very interesting place that has some really great diving.
NEW BRITAIN DIVING – THE BENJAMINS
While Bob and Dinah Halstead were the catalyst for bringing Milne Bay and PNG to the attention of the global diving community, a pair of Australian agronomists in New Britain came to the realization that in their ‘backyard’ was a world-class marine ecosystem. Max and Cecilie Benjamin arrived in New Britain in the late-1960s on a short-term assignment for the Australian colonial government of the time. They were actually on their way to a new life in Canada, but all that changed in 1969 when they decided to buy the 800-acre Walindi plantation on the shores of Kimbe Bay. Casual weekend diving made Max and Cecilie aware that what was underwater in the bay was really quite special and, in 1983, they started Walindi Plantation Dive Resort. If you go to the town of Kimbe today, you will find supermarkets, hardware stores and many other trappings of modern life. But in 1983, there was virtually nothing, apart from a landing strip left over from World War Two. Yet divers started to come to Walindi to experience Kimbe Bay and, over time, it became clear just how special it really was.
In between those reefs, are incredible channels that offer some of the best diving on the south coast. Add in some excellent reefs inside the lagoon, plus a World War Two aircraft wreck and you can see why Linden Harbour rates so highly 26
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New Britain Island Regular Papua New Guinea adventurer Don Silcock describes the topside and underwater delights of New Britain Island PHOTOGRAPHS BY DON SILCOCK
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Sadly, Max passed away in July 2020, but Cecilie is still very much a presence at Walindi, with the business now run by their son Cheyne and his wife Emma. From those humble beginnings in 1983 is a significant resort that focuses on day diving in Kimbe Bay, together with two liveaboards that cover some of the very best diving around New Britain.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Roughly the same size as Taiwan, New Britain has a population of just under 500,000 people - which compared to Taiwan’s 24 million people, means that much of the island is uninhabited. And the main reason for that low population density are those mountain ranges, which are so high (red and white) that they effectively isolate the north coast from the south, meaning that most of the population live in coastal (green) areas, with the majority concentrated around Kokopo, the capital of East New Britain Province, nearby Rabaul and Kimbe - the capital of West New Britain. From a biodiversity perspective, New Britain has one of the best possible locations, and physically, it is just south of the equator and to the east of PNG’s ‘mainland’ – the eastern half of New Guinea island. That location puts it in the epicentre of the eastern lobe of the Coral Triangle – the richest known area of marine biodiversity in the world. Uniquely though, New Britain is exposed to both the Indonesian Throughflow, as it flows down the north-east coast of New Guinea into the Bright orange anemone
Bismarck Sea and the Southern Equatorial Current (SEC) as it approaches from the Solomon Sea. As the SEC nears the south coast of New Britain, upwellings suck up the nitrogen and phosphorous-laden detritus from the deep basins of the Solomon Sea. Those rich nutrients are carried up the south coast and through the Vitiaz Strait and St Georges Channel into the Bismarck Sea, where they mix with those of the Indonesian Throughflow.
NEW BRITAIN DIVING – MAIN LOCATIONS
There are three main diving locations in New Britain, starting with incredible Kimbe Bay, together with the Witu Islands and the Father’s Reefs on the north coast. Then there is Rabaul and Kokopo on the eastern tip of New Britain, together with Waterfall Bay and Linden Harbour on the remote south coast.
THE NORTH COAST
Kimbe Bay – There is a line of thought among the marine scientific community that this large bay is possibly where the first corals originated - a theory that has evolved as a result of the surveys conducted to assess and quantify the bay’s biodiversity. The first of those surveys was done back in 1993 by The Nature Conservancy, which identified a staggering 860 species of fish together with 345 species of stony corals. Subsequent surveys have increased the total number of coral species
Airplane smothered in marine growth
The topside scenery is stunning
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The wrecks support plenty of marine life
The diving at the Witus falls in to two basic categories - classic but glorious fringing reefs, and interesting black volcanic muck identified to around 400 in addition to ten species of whales island of the group, which is the caldera left after a major and dolphins that were added to the overall mix! eruption some 250 years ago. The caldera’s crater is about To put that in a global perspective… In an area roughly 5km wide and surrounded by 100 to 150 metre high walls, the same size as California, it is estimated that Papua New which are breached on the southern side of the island, and Guinea is home to almost five percent of the world’s total the flooded crater forms a superb natural harbour. marine biodiversity. And just under half of that fish fauna and The diving at the Witus falls in to two basic categories virtually all of the coral species are to be found in Kimbe Bay. - classic but glorious fringing reefs, and interesting black The Father’s Reefs – To the north-east of Kimbe Bay are volcanic muck. The tops and sides of the reefs have dense the incredible Lolobau Island and Father’s Reefs, which offer coatings of beautiful, healthy hard corals that host a plethora wonderful diving on seamounts and coral topped pinnacles of reef fish together with superb photogenic sponges, sea that rise up from the depths of the Bismarck Sea. Lolobau is dominated by the large volcano on the western rim of the 6km Colourful corals wide caldera that forms the island. The and sponges on the reef area is directly exposed to the nutrientrich currents that circulate the Bismarck Sea, which means those seamounts and pinnacles are very well-nourished and able to sustain their own eco-systems. There are numerous sites to pick from in the overall area and some 14-16 of them are dived regularly – but only by liveaboard. The Witu Islands – These remote islands in the Bismarck Sea are actually the peaks of subsea volcanoes that rise up from the deep surrounding waters. They are visually spectacular - particularly Garove, the main
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fans, anemones and soft corals. Out in the blue are schooling jacks, barracuda and batfish, plus patrolling grey reef and whitetip sharks that hang back in the distance.
EAST NEW BRITAIN
Rabaul – Once upon a time the town of Rabaul had almost everything a diver could possibly want, with about 65 Japanese World War Two wrecks in and around magnificent Simpson Harbour in the calderas formed after a mega volcanic eruption some 1,400 years ago. Plus some excellent reefs, a couple of great macro sites and the town itself, which was often described as the ‘garden city’ of PNG with a resident population of around 20,000. Then in September 1994, everything changed when two of the seven volcanic vents around the caldera erupted. The dual eruptions destroyed the nearby airport and covered the eastern half of Rabaul with heavy volcanic ash. Kokopo in Blanche Bay subsequently became the provincial capital, with a new airport built at Tokuo, and Rabaul largely left to whither on the vine… But time heals Dive boats many things and as the years have ready for the off passed, the coral growth returned and some of those wrecks are now well worth diving again. Plus the macro sites are as good as they always were and there is the excellent Atun wreck, which sits on its keel in 21m near Little Pigeon Island at the eastern entrance to Blanche Bay.
Seahorse
THE SOUTH COAST – THE SECRET PLACE
Truly a remote location – the south coast of New Britain is isolated from the north coast by those rugged mountain ranges, with no real roads over or through them and no commercial airports. Only landing strips and old World War Two airfields that are used for small charter flights. Practically, the only way to get to the south coast is by boat from Rabaul. A long, typically overnight, journey that will take you down through the St George’s Channel in between New Britain and nearby New Ireland. That channel needs to be navigated with respect, as there are some fierce and complex currents flowing through it! Waterfall Bay – This large bay is the first dive location you will reach after passing through the St George’s Channel. There are two main areas to dive in Waterfall Bay - the Mocklon Islands on the western tip, near Cape Kwoi, and around the jetty at the village of Matong. Both offer quite different, but really interesting experiences. The two Mocklon Islands, one large and one small, have a number of sites to try. And which one you dive on depends on the time of day and the prevailing current. But overall the diving is very nice with a healthy fringing reefs and sandy slopes with intense patches of cabbage and other hard corals. Linden Harbour – Located roughly half-way along the south coast of New Britain is this superb dive location! Bounded by a series of outer barrier reefs, the inner lagoon at Linden Harbour provides a safe anchorage in a fantastic setting. In
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between those reefs, are incredible channels that offer some of the best diving on the south coast. Add in some excellent reefs inside the lagoon, plus a World War Two aircraft wreck and you can see why Linden Harbour rates so highly.
IN SUMMARY
Located as it is in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the island of New Britain has some amazing diving and is a visually spectacular place. The wonderful locations on the north coast around Kimbe Bay, the Father’s Reefs and the Witu Islands are simply fantastic, while Rabaul, on the eastern tip of the island, provides a really interesting alternative to the north coast. Then, if you want to add a generous dose of adventure with your diving, look no further than the remote south coast. n
DON SILCOCK
In more normal times, Don is based on Bali in Indonesia, but is currently hunkered down in Sydney… His website: www.indopacificimages.com has extensive location guides, articles and images on some of the best diving locations in the Indo-Pacific region and ‘big animal’ experiences globally. WWW.SCUBADIVERMAG.COM.AU
ain
West New Brit
E R O H S A THINGR THE REMOTE REACH FO
ADVENTURE ACROSS REMOTE ISLANDS As the world starts to slowly reopen, and as travellers make more conscious decisions about where they want to travel to next, we pose the following question – how about travelling to Australia’s closest neighbour, a mere 150km to the north of Cape York? Remote natural beauty and rich diverse culture abounds right on your doorstep. Have you added Papua New Guinea to your 2021 bucket list yet? Find your remote at www.papuanewguinea.travel
DIVERS ALERT NETWORK: ASIA-PACIFIC Divers Alert Network, widely known as DAN, is an international non-profit medical and research organisation dedicated to the safety and health of divers. WWW.DANAP.ORG
GAS MANAGEMENT 101
The DAN Asia-Pacific team discuss the importance of gas management, and offer some advice on ways to maximise your dive time
I
t’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of gas management — unless you have gills, running out of air will get you in big trouble underwater. Planning your dive around gas consumption isn’t difficult and shouldn’t take long, but both new and experienced divers continue to put themselves in harm’s way by forgetting or forgoing this type of planning. Checking your air a few times during a dive and coming up as the gauge nears zero is not dive planning. Before you hit the water, brush up on the basics of gas management — this will help keep you safe and might even extend your bottom time.
STICK TO THE PLAN
You wouldn’t want your pilot winging your next flight, or your doctor playing your next visit by ear, so why do it while you dive? Take a minute to plan how you will manage your gas during your dive before you hit the water. Start by noting a few notable features of the dive site that will help keep you on track (e.g. the bow of the wreck or the edge of the reef) and use the rule of thirds to govern your gas management plan. To do this, divide your initial tank pressure into thirds and plan as if you will use the first third during the descent and departure from your starting point, the second for return to the starting point and ascent, and treat the final third as a reserve in case of an emergency or deviation from the plan. This won’t cover all your dives, but it is a good rule of thumb for making sure you’ll have enough gas for your dive — and it adds a level of conservatism that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Keep in mind that current, workload and depth changes can all make the rule of thirds less relevant or insufficient, so make sure to double check your dive profile against your gas plan before you head in.
CHECK YOUR GAUGE
Checking gauges should be second nature for every diver, but in light of the frequency of out-of-air incidents, it bears repeating. Monitoring your air, depth and dive time are essential for making sure you return to your entry point without injury, but it can be easy to get distracted and forget to check your gauges. This is especially true if you’re a new diver or if you’re diving a new or exciting site. It is critical to remind yourself to check your gauges as frequently as possible. Whether you remind yourself to look at a gauge every minute or every few kick cycles or you keep it in your hand as a reminder during a particularly deep dive, take
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the initiative to monitor your air consumption regularly throughout a dive. Checking your pressure gauge regularly can also tell you if equipment is functioning properly. A slow leak may not be obvious on the surface, but an abnormally increased air consumption rate during a dive can clue you in on a leak before it leads to a serious problem.
CONSUMPTION CONUNDRUMS
There are many factors that increase your gas consumption on a dive, but the most common are depth, weighting, workload and personal fitness. As you dive deeper, work harder or carry more equipment your gas consumption will increase regardless of your experience. If you are trying to improve your gas consumption, start by checking your weight before a dive and removing any excess lead. You can further reduce your consumption rate by finetuning your trim and buoyancy, improving your fitness and minimising the amount of gear you bring on a dive. If possible, try to minimise your exertion, too. Factors such as wave action and current will work against you, but minimising your exertion will help you extend your gas supply while also minimising your risk of decompression sickness. DANAP.org
DAN EMERGENCY HOTLINE
In the event of a diving incident, we encourage all divers to call the DAN Hotline promptly for advice: • Within Australia: 1800 088 200 • Outside Australia: +1 919 684 9111 • Within Indonesia: 21 5085 8719
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UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY CAPTURING SUBJECT BEHAVIOUR
IN MACRO IMAGES
Following his last article on photographing in black and white, Martyn Guess provides some insight into, and also tips on looking for and capturing, interesting behaviour in the subjects we find to photograph in macro PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARTYN GUESS
B
ehaviour is defined as the actions and mannerisms made by individuals and organisms in conjunction with themselves or their environment, which includes other systems or organisms around. We have all done it and shot the subject that the guide points out and more times than not, the subject might not actually be in a position that is conducive for a good or particularly interesting image. The guide is doing his or her job, but it is up to you to see if you can get a good shot. Quite often it is worth watching very carefully to see if the subject moves or perhaps displays any interesting behaviour. You might need to wait a minute or two and carefully study the surrounding habitat to see if there are any eggs or babies or a mate, for example. Good guides will be very aware of interesting behaviour and will look out for it if they find a subject which can or commonly displays something which they know will elevate the images you are taking. I urge you all to improve your fieldcraft, read up about different species and definitely ask the guides if there is anything interesting currently going on with the subjects that you are likely to come across. It is amazing how quickly your knowledge base builds up. It is interesting behaviour which will make for a more-compelling image and capture the interest of viewers. For example, when I see cardinalfish hanging out maybe under an outcrop of rocks or under a wreck, I will always carefully look out for the egg brooding males (see image 1) or when there are little damselfish displaying some aggression to me, I will always then look out for their nest where their clutches of eggs have been laid – quite commonly in very open places on the surface of flat rocks. The fact that they are in these very accessible places is why they have to tend them carefully and ward off potential predators. When I spot
Best of Manado
Male cardinalfish with brood of soon to hatch eggs
the little blue tunicates on the reef I look out for gobies with eggs (see Image 2) When I find an anemone with clownfish, I will always look around the base of the anemone where it fixes to the rocks for the little eggs and the behaviour of the fish cleaning and aerating their clutch of eggs by blowing water over them (See image 3). We have all heard of cleaning stations and it is a very typical behaviour on the reef whereby the fish or other species get themselves cleaned up of parasites, dead skin, etc, by cleaner wrasse or shrimps and this can make for an excellent behaviour shot (See image 4).
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Goby minding its eggs on a blue tunicate
Images of a peacock mantis shrimp are always characterful as they are a photogenic subject, but when you find one with eggs this will elevate the image considerably (See image 5). The point here is that everything on the reef at some point will do something more interesting than just sitting there or hanging around in the water column be it feeding, cleaning, mating, aggregating or aggression. Fish in particular are also creatures of habit and they will often swim in a pattern and come back to the same spot so with behaviour photography you have to be patient and watch and wait for the peak of the action to occur as that is the precise moment you want to shoot. The male cardinalfish with the bigger square jowls will move around in a set pattern. When I see shoals of these fish I look out for the males and try to spot the one with eggs and then watch and wait and stay still working out my camera settings, lighting and the angle of shot I want to take. He will move around and sometimes disappear for a minute or two but almost always (unless you frighten him off) come back to the spot where you have the shot set up for. If you wait, every few minutes, he will open his mouth wide to move the eggs he is holding in his mouth to aerate them, albeit very quickly. You need to consider using as fast
Anemonefish aerating its eggs
Marbled moray being cleaned Peacock mantis shrimp with a huge clutch of eggs
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Photo Finish
Malapascua
Holiday highlights... Join photo pro Mario Vitalini on this Philippines workshop to hone your images of the biggest sharks to the smallest critters. The workshop includes 20 nitrox boat dives plus daily presentations covering all aspects of underwater photography. Your holiday package includes 7 nights in a deluxe room on an full board basis – optional room grades available. Airport transfers are included.
..award winning dive experts +44 (0)1483 411590 www.scubatravel.com/photography
UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY Mandarinfish rising from the reef to mate
Ceratasoma nudibranch with emperor shrimp in symbiotic relationship
a speed as you can to capture the image sharply as the aerating process is over in a second or two. Watch out particularly for the fish with the silver eggs – these are the ones about to hatch and they are more photogenic than the orange eggs which are young. With a bit of practice, you will be able to find and see all sorts of behaviour on a macro dive or even on a dive with a wide-angle lens with bigger subjects. You need to be aware of the time of year or moon phase when planning your dives and have an idea of what to look out for. This is why local knowledge is king. Certain phases of the moon or time of day or tide will provide opportunities for seeing subjects with their eggs or mating. For example, a mandarinfish dive at dusk in the tropics is often on offer for most macro diving destinations and it is well worth putting in the effort and reserving the time just before dusk to go and explore the patches of broken and dead coral at the edge of the reef to see if you can capture these amazingly colourful fish in their mating ritual (see image 6). Photographing the mating pair rising from the labyrinth of dead staghorn coral or rocky bottom can be extremely difficult but if you get a good shot you will be very pleased that you made the effort. My recommendation is to use a torch with a red light or shielded carefully by
your other hand to spot the male fish in the depths of its coral home and wait and watch. The colour or careful use of your torch will not frighten the fish away or stop them mating. You will see females in the harem moving towards the male, maybe several at a time and then watch carefully. As it gets darker there will almost certainly be rises where the pairs of fish come together and rise off of the bottom into the water column in an almost trance-like slow dance and then immediately turn and dash for the safety of the reef when the egg laying, and fertilization act, is complete. This entire spectacle will only last a few seconds, so you have to be ready. I use a long macro lens - my Nikon 105mm - and push the strobes right forward on their arms. I also sacrifice a higher ISO in order to get a relatively fast speed and an aperture with a reasonable depth of field. Image 6 was taken at 100th sec/ F 16 and 800 ISO. I also put my strobes on low power and the shutter on 3 or 4 frames a sec so I can get a few shots off. Image 7 shows off some interesting behaviour with the emperor shrimp riding on the back of the Ceratasoma sp. nudibranch displaying a symbiotic relationship between both of the subjects. One protecting the other and the other keeping his friend nice and clean. Not a common sight, but when you find opportunities like these, make the most of it. This image was lit with a snoot to hide the distracting and ‘mucky’ sea bottom and highlight the subjects in the snoot’s harsh light, helping to bring out texture. Next time you dive, make a point of moving slowly and watching subjects carefully for interesting behaviour. If you can get more interesting images like these into your portfolio, your photography will move on in leaps and bounds. n
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ho wouldn’t enjoy spotting an anglerfish (or frogfish, as they are called outside Australia) during a dive? They can ‘walk’ on the seafloor using hand-shaped pectoral fins, they agitate a cute lure to attract their prey, and their facial expression resembles an upset emoji - no wonder they sit high on many divers’ bucket list. Anglers are also wellcamouflaged ambushed predators, which makes finding one very rewarding. Lena and myself like to portrait charismatic, peculiar underwater critters, and while we are thrilled to see any type of anglers, we had been hoping to see a black anglerfish (black frogfish) for a while. After all, these are even rarer, and their dark robe certainly evokes a strong personality, which we were keen to try and capture on camera. Discussing our plan with fellow underwater photographers, some being pretty experienced, it struck me that all of them had given up on photographing black anglerfish. They just didn’t get pleasing results and thought these were too much hassle for little reward. So… we were onto a photographic challenge, but first things first we needed to find a black angler.
FINDING THE BLACK ANGLERFISH
Interestingly, black anglerfish isn’t a species per se several species of anglerfish can be found wearing black, such as the painted anglerfish or the sought-after striate anglerfish (aka hairy frogfish). What’s more, they can change colours during their lifetime, in a matter of weeks or days, to adapt to their immediate environment. This might be why we don’t see that many black anglers in Sydney, I reckon black doesn’t blend well into white sand or bright sponges. Over a two-year period, we have been aware of five black anglers across Sydney. Lastly, they aren’t exactly black - those we have seen were dark-reddish brown in colour.
THE ANGLERFISH PLAYGROUND
Back to our quest for black anglers! We spent quite some time in Clifton Gardens, Sydney’s best muck dive, where anglerfish are frequently spotted. Over two years, we saw three distinct individuals wearing a black robe, which we managed to spot by ourselves. Well, a curious octopus helped us once by spooking the first one. Another time the angler was taking a stroll along the jetty, ‘walking’ the seafloor in front of us.
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The hunt for THE BLACK
ANGLER
Nicolas and Lena Remy go on the trail of the rare black anglerfish in a quest to capture the ultimate photograph of this weird-and-wonderful critter PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICOLAS AND LENA REMY NICOLASLENAREMY.COM
You will not need much artificial light (if at all) to expose the immediate environment of the black angler, but you will definitely need a strobe to brighten up the dark animal. The most-effective way to solve the contrast issue is to use a snoot WWW.SCUBADIVERMAG.COM.AU
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‘DROPBEAR’ 4m MALE
GREAT WHITE SHARK ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME from international award winning conservationist, shark attack survivor and shark cage creator Rodney Fox. Over 50 years experience gives nature lovers and divers unrivalled education and research-based shark encounters. Snorkel with Australian sea lions, plus exclusive island access for nature viewing. No certification needed for surface cage dives. World exclusive ocean floor cage for qualified SCUBA divers. Tours from 2-12 nights.
www.rodneyfox.com.au
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Great tuition from beginner through to instructor training for family groups, small groups and one-to-one training. We are a PADI 5-Star IDC centre and offer 18 PADI Specialty course options on our Master Scuba Diver program.
DIVE THE ex-HMAS BRISBANE #1 Artificial wreck dive in Australia
Make an appointment for our personal fitting service, great for anyone wanting to get kitted out with scuba. We specialise in divers under 55kg and over 100kg with options to make you comfortable under water. 40 unique brands to choose from, we fit divers of all sizes.
02 96891389
judith@scubawarehouse.com.au
www.scubawarehouse.com.au 1/50 George Street Clyde, Sydney, NSW 2124
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• Suitable for Open Water Divers • 133m long artificial wreck dive • Located on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland • Over 400 species of fish and corals • Turtles, Rays, Grouper, Octopus, crayfish • Family run business for over 40 years • Hassle free diving – short 40m walk to dive vessel • Over 150 car parks nearby • 25min boat trip from our dive shop • Spend the 1 hour surface interval in calm waters
BOOKINGS/GENERAL ENQUIRIES
(07) 5444 8595 • info@scubaworld.com.au
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Black angler portrait
HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY
In Sydney, we are blessed with a very active and helpful online community, where thousands of divers exchange observations on visibility and report on wildlife observations. This helped us to keep track of the Clifton Gardens anglers which we knew about, know whether they were still around and whether they had moved, thereby increasing our chances to see them again. Even better, browsing Facebook for fellow divers’ photographs, we learned that another black angler was consistently spotted off Kurnell (south Sydney), and this little beauty was a poser, more often than not sitting high on some tubular purple sponges. A friend of ours took us to the last location where ‘blackie’ had been seen, and over the next few weeks we were able to spot it around the same area, although it did change position every few days. The key was knowing this individual only sat on the same species of sponges. Somehow, the black and purple association must have served him/her well!
FINDING YOUR BLACK ANGLERFISH
Our last year was the best - over an eight to nine month period, we have been able to locate and visit a total of thre black anglerfish. You can find a ‘blackie’ in other parts of the world, but my point is they are rare and hard to find, so do your research ahead of time if you are travelling, and ideally, get a local dive guide who knows where to go. Once you find a black anglerfish, let the photographic challenge begin!
PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE
So why are black anglerfish considered very difficult to shoot? Essentially, they tend to be much darker than their immediate surroundings, meaning the scene which you are trying to photograph is very contrasted, which poses issues both with strobe positioning/aiming, and with your camera sensor’s ability to record details in both shadows and highlights: • If you configure your camera and strobes so that the anglerfish is nicely illuminated, the surroundings will be too bright, and you risk having backscatter ruining your photo. • If you adjust your set-up for the surroundings to be pleasantly lit, and the sand not over-exposed, then the fish will appear pitch-black.
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They can ‘walk’ on the seafloor using hand-shaped pectoral fins, they agitate a cute lure to attract their prey, and their facial expression resembles an upset emoji Wide-angle shot of a black angler on the move
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The scene of the hunt
USING A SNOOT
You will not need much artificial light (if at all) to expose the immediate environment of the black angler, but you will definitely need a strobe to brighten up the dark animal. The most-effective way to solve the contrast issue is to use a snoot - these cone-shaped devices are mounted onto strobes, to narrow down significantly their light beam. With a tighter light beam, it becomes easier to control the spread of artificial light, and illuminate only the anglerfish, without illuminating the surrounding sand, sponges, coral. This way, you can effectively brighten-up the anglerfish without introducing highlights elsewhere. If your composition feels a bit gloomy, e.g. if the surrounding scene would benefit from a bit more colour, you can certainly use a second strobe (this one without a snoot) to ‘colour-paint’ these surroundings. You need that second strobe to be tuned-down compared to the snooted strobe, as your aim is to reduce contrast, not to maintain it.
WITHOUT A SNOOT
If you don’t have a snoot, your alternative will be to position regular strobes as close as possible to the anglerfish, and as far as possible from the brighter environment. Think of a black angler sitting on the sand (your worst nightmare) - you would position your two strobes in 2 o’clock / 10 o’clock positions (imagine a clock, the strobe are above the subject, not on its sides). Effectively, your strobes are much closer to blackie than they are to the sandy bottom. For instance, they might be 10cm away from the fish, and 20cm from the sand. This doesn’t seem like much, but the sand will effectively receive four times less light than the anglerfish.
The business end of a black angler
silty, and thin particulates would stay in suspension for ages after being stirred up. Without a doubt, the shallow angler was much more photography-friendly.
PRE-PLANNING AND CAREFUL APPROACH
While the poser I mentioned earlier was very static, others did move around the bottom. To minimize disruption to the animal and record a more-natural portrait, adjust your lighting and prepare your shot from a distance, before approaching the back angler and starting to shoot. I would typically adjust the positioning of my snoot before, by aiming onto a rock, or just the sand, making sure the light beam strikes where I want it to, and only then move closer to take a few photos of the anglerfish, then back off.
REVIEW ON THE CAMERA’S SCREEN
More than ever, carefully reviewing your shots on the LCD screen is key - remember we’re trying to deal with a highly contrasted scene, more contrasted than your camera’s LCD is able to properly display. To find out whether you succeeded at recording details in the shadows while not over-exposing the highlights, your need to check the photo’s histogram.
PICK THE RIGHT LOCATION AND CONDITION
Be it with a snoot or not, your light source will be close to the subject, which makes it difficult to avoid backscatter, when the visibility is poor. Early 2020, there were two black anglerfish living on the same muck diving spot (Clifton Gardens, north Sydney), but they were found on two different sand patches. One was in the shallows, 3m deep, on a spot where sand was rather coarse, and would quickly settle down after being disturbed. The second one lived near a small wreck at 12m depth, it was less visited by divers BUT its immediate environment was very
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AT HOME, DIGITAL POST-PROCESSING
This is the final hit to win your battle against contrast. Because you have made sure your photo recorded details both in the shadows and highlights (you checked your histogram during the dive), there are data for your editing software to manipulate. Reveal sufficient details onto the fish, by brightening up the shadows/blacks sliders, and take care of any distractive hot spot with the highlights/whites sliders. Then, proceed with the standard editing which you would do on any of your underwater photos. n
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Fiji is known as the ‘soft coral capital of the world’
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ON THE
HOUSE
Fiji’s Bligh Water is world-renowned for its stunning dive sites, but as Simon Doughty explains, guests at Volivoli Beach Resort don’t have to look far for two awesome dive sites – on the double house reef PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK EVANS AND RA DIVERS
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ver the last 31 years, the highly trained local dive crew of Ra Divers Fiji at the multi-awardwinning Volivoli Beach Resort has clearly established themselves as one of the stand-out operators in Fiji diving. With their amazing customer service skills, big bula smiles and, of course, that never-ending infectious laughter, we know you’ll feel like you are leaving family at the end of your vacation. When it comes to underwater, their attention to detail is clearly what sets them apart from a ‘normal dive guide’ and to stand out from the pack, they can almost ‘dial-up’ the critter on command – almost - while at the same time be ever vigilant and cast a watchful and caring eye on their charges. Here you will experience ‘valet diving’ at its absolute best – once you arrive everything is taken care of, they even wash and dry your dive equipment at the end of your trip while you’re enjoying an ice-cold beer or yummy cocktail. Talk about diving paradise! It is well known by experienced divers and leading specialist dive travel wholesalers from around the globe that, hands down, the Bligh Water is one of the top places to dive when coming to Fiji. Divers in the know simply can’t go past the family owned and operated Volivoli Beach Resort, one of Fiji’s premier dive resorts, who
specialize in diving the Bligh Water 365 days a year from their five purpose-built dive boats. With over 80 incredible dive sites, divers continue to come back time and time again to explore the beauty and kaleidoscope of colours this amazing and diverse ecosystem full of thriving, healthy corals and the fish that have made it their home has to offer. Some want to re-visit sites from previous trips while others continue to check off the long list of mind-blowing sites – no two days are ever the same. Whether you are an experienced diver or just a beginner, there are sites for everyone - you can even learn to dive with Ra Divers, or add to your qualifications with a diving specialty or marine ecology course during your stay if you like. It’s almost like a well-kept secret that there is more to ‘Diving the Bligh’ than many of these worldclass, well-written-about and immensely photographed sites like Mellow Yellow, E-6, Mount Mutiny, Black Magic Mountain, Instant Replay, Cannibals Cave, Dream Maker and Bula Maker. One such site, or to be more factual, the two House Reefs that lie just a few short paces in front of Volivoli Beach Resort deserve your attention. They boast easy walkin walk-out entry, or you can even get a 90-second ride and take advantage of a boat drop or pick up to discover the many wonders that lay in the shallows.
Outgoing tides and after heavy rain will reduce visibility, however this also has some advantages for the keen ‘muck diver’ as it helps focus on the small critters which are the true masters of disguise
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Vibrant anemones
Decisions, decisions, decisions, to dive the East or West House Reef – either way we’re sure you’ll be delighted. These two House Reefs literally start on the water’s edge The experienced friendly dive crew is always on hand to provide that special local knowledge, help lug dive gear, arrange boat drops or pick-ups or share their expertise on the amazing inhabitants. Some divers go as far as saying these House Reefs were one of their many highpoints during their stay. Decisions, decisions, decisions, to dive the East or West House Reef – either way we’re sure you’ll be delighted. These two House Reefs literally start on the water’s edge. The West House Reef follows the coconut palm-fringed white sandy beach for several hundred metres, and divers can choose to dive as far or as little as they choose. Our number one tip is go slow! There are lots to see anywhere from less than 1m of depth gradually undulating down to 18m, however our ‘hot-zone’ recommendation would be 5m-12m for the pick of the action. Now for the East House Reef, which is more of a dropoff or a wall, however again just like the West House Reef starts in the shallows, but this time follows the magnificent mangroves along the front of the resort for several hundred metres. The mangroves not only play a vital role in reducing coastal erosion but also act as a protective nursery for juvenile marine life, including blacktip reef shark pups. You will also see ancient fish traps highlighting traditional fishing techniques still used to this day by the local community. Both these House Reefs can be dived 24/7 and are teeming with life, however for best visibility incoming tides are
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Even on bad-vis days, the house reefs can deliver critters like this frogfish
Fiji’s reefs are healthy and full of life
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WRECK HUNTERS SEASON ONE 2021 Barefoot luxury in the heart of Indonesia
Calling would-be undersea detectives! A unique opportunity to take part in the beginning of a diving archaeology programme is opening up in the summer of 2021* on the Caribbean island of Utila. The Wreck Hunters project is offering a onemonth, limited availability window for divers to be a part of the Season One team. The focus this year is about getting to the heart of the story of a wreck called ‘The Oliver’, its rich history and the life of 18th Century mariners. Learn the skills of undersea archaeology, from traditional to cutting edge techniques. If you’re a relatively experienced diver with skills or experience in drawing (artistic or technical), surveying, photography or in construction work this could be just what you’re looking for (See website for full details). Project Director Mike Haigh’s ideal candidates have a ‘good sense of humour’ and enjoy teamwork. Check out www.wreckhunters.co.uk Or Telephone: +44 0117 9596454
Bunaken National Marine Park
So if you think this project would help put a smile on your face, why not get in touch to find out more at
www.wreckhunters.co.uk info@wreckhunters.co.uk *COVID restrictions may result in a change of operation dates.
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VOLIVOLI BEACH RESORT
recommended. Outgoing tides and after heavy rain will reduce visibility, however this also has some advantages for the keen ‘muck diver’ as it helps focus on the small critters which are the true masters of disguise, and more often than not are right in front of your mask. Photographers - don’t forget to pack your macro lens. During your next stay if you are feeling energetic and a ‘morning person’, why not try a dawn dive before the boats depart for the days diving, or consider a late afternoon or twilight dive after a full day of boat diving, or a night dive after dinner and before your desert. These sites are also excellent for any dive groups wishing to finish off dive training such as open water, navigation, night and limited visibility, etc, either with their own instructors or one of ours. When you stay at Volivoli Beach Resort on a dive package, you enjoy unlimited free of charge shore diving* on the House Reefs 24/7. The list of what you may encounter is almost endless, however, includes seahorses, frogfish, nudibranchs, flatworms, pipefish, octopus, ornate ghost pipefish, robust ghost pipefish, cuttlefish, sea pens, feather stars, sea cucumbers, anemone and anemonefish, sea dragons, starfish, ornate cowfish, banded sea crates, green sea turtles, moray eels, small stingrays, crustaceans and, of course, soft and hard coral… the list just goes on and on. It is a macro photographer’s paradise. Fiji is also an easy and safe choice for when travel restrictions ease - simple access from most countries, COVID-19 free, the pinnacle of diving in the South Pacific, the friendliest people on the planet and, of course, the natural beauty. You just can’t go wrong.
Some divers go as far as saying these House Reefs were one of their many highpoints during their stay
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The resort boasts a full on-site state-ofthe-art modern dive shop catering for air, nitrox, oxygen and sidemount as well as having over 200 aluminum DIN and yoke cylinders in seven litre, nine litre, 12 litre and 15 litre, plus some three litre O2 and diluent cylinders for rebreathers. Extensive hanging racks and hangers for BCDs and wetsuits, massive dedicated wash troughs and large rain head showers just add to the overall experience. Volivoli Beach Resort has 33 ocean-view fully airconditioned rooms, five on-site swimming pools, three bars and two restaurants as well as a beautiful boutique and day spa. Relax in a hammock strung between palm trees over white sandy beaches, laze by one of the pools, hike Fiji’s largest waterfall, check out the tomb of Ratu Udre Udre, take out a stand-up paddle board or kayak, learn to cook some traditional Fijian delicacies, or jump onboard an island discovery cruise, dolphin encounter charter or enjoy a tranquil sunset cruise – do as much or as little as you like. www.volivoli.com
Getting to Volivoli Beach Resort is also super simple – catch an international flight into Nadi, where your air-conditioned modern private transfer will be waiting, sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenic ocean drive up to the sensational Suncoast – the ‘Land of Endless Summer’. No wasting vacation, and more importantly dive time, waiting for additional flights or open sea transfers to outer islands, and no issues with reduced domestic luggage allowance. For those that are less budget-conscious, you may even consider a sea plane or helicopter transfer directly to the resort. It couldn’t be easier – arrive in the morning, dive in the afternoon. n
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Adreno is opening their BIGGEST ever dive megastore on the Gold Coast this year
Bringing the world’s largest range of dive gear, scuba courses, events & more to the beautiful ocean waters of the Gold Coast. Stay tuned for more details!
Shop online at scubadiving.com.au or visit our Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth Megastores.
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o matter how you get to the Coromandel Peninsula’s east coast, by the time you arrive you would have already witnessed some of the area’s stunning coastline and islands. Beautiful white sand beaches alongside rugged volcanic cliffs, an array of offshore islands scattered among the vista, all clad in picturesque native bush which during summer is laced with the unmistakable bright red flowers of the Pohutukawa tree. All roads leading to the temperate South Pacific Ocean, where adventure awaits. Mercury Bay is the ideal gateway to all that the Eastern Coromandel has to offer. Within an hour’s scenic boat travel from the town of Whitianga, there are miles of diveable coastline to explore, over 30 islands including the Mercury and Alderman islands, Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) marine reserve as well as countless rocks and pinnacles. For those averse to boat diving there is also excellent shore diving. The dive sites of the Coromandel are virtually endless.
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From shallow sheltered coves to deep vertical walls and everything in-between, there truly is something for everybody. With the water temperature in summer reaching a balmy 20-22 degrees C, it is not uncommon to see the odd local diver forgo their wetsuit for the day to enjoy the ‘practically tropical’ temperatures. Mid-winter temperatures can dip to around 14 degrees C and with the colder water often comes some of the best visibility, reaching up to 30 metres on a good day. Springtime brings a warming of the water and with that process comes an explosion of life. Salp, plankton, jellyfish, krill and algae all arrive and put on a buffet for the fish life. While most species can be seen year-round, this warming water and plentiful food brings with it a few members more commonly seen in the warmer months. Of note are the always impressive schools of kingfish along with giant lion’s mane jellyfish, and schools of bright yellow striped koheru. The shy and elusive bronze whaler shark are the most commonly
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The Eastern Coromandel has much to offer divers of all abilities, and as Ryan Hanson explains, you never know what you are going to see when you head off to explore beneath the surface PHOTOGRAPHS BY RYAN HANSON AND DIVE ZONE WHITIANGA
The nearby hot water beach is a great post-dive activity, a natural hot spring comes out of the sand and at low tide it is possible to dig your very own waterfront hot pool right on the beach encountered, but there is always a chance of spotting a hammerhead or a mako, more often seen from above the waterline. Giant boarfish also move in from deeper water during the summer to find food in the sand surrounding the reefs and are always a thrill to spot hiding behind a lone piece of kelp. All throughout the year there is great diving to be had and with the benefit of a sheltered harbour entrance and so many different dive sites offering protection from different weather directions, it is possible to find good diving on even
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the most-uninviting of days. Dive sites are as varied as the scenery surrounding them. For the less-experienced and those in training, there are picturesque bays with shallow sandy bottoms leading along rocky reefs covered in kelp forest, which is home to countless species. Some of the morecommonly encountered are the ever-curious leatherjacket and the bold and colourful Sandagers wrasse, red moki often in pairs. The black angelfish can be seen tending to and guarding its own piece of rock, chasing away any fish that dares come too close.
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Orca flypast
Setting off on a dive
Porcupinefish are commonly spotted hiding under rock ledges, as are rock lobster of the red and the packhorse variety. Butterfish families frequent the sunny shallow knolls and above the reef schools of jack mackerel roam. Hiding in the cracks you can often find a yellow moray eel that looks like its waiting for the punchline of a joke. Octopus homes can be spotted by the arrangement of shells laid around the entrance and a closer inspection will often result in a pair of eyes stretching out to spy you back. The patient diver may even manage an octi-handshake. Out on the sand a pair of eyes and a footprint shape will give away the location of a spotted stargazer buried and waiting for dinner and the slightly less-camouflaged nose of a snake eel head shows a fraction of the creature which has two metres of its body buried under the sand. Eagle rays frequent these areas and are always a highlight to see gliding gracefully around the reef or sleeping in a sheltered spot. Their slightly larger cousins, the short-tail stingray, are also a common sight undulating its wings around the reef like a magic carpet. The longtail stingray growing up to four metres long is a rarer treat, but has been known to congregate in large groups in the area. If your dive happens to be in the Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) marine reserve, then chances are there are a few very large snapper around you and the many large crayfish will boldly edge out of their hiding places to check you out. The nearby hot water beach is a great post-dive activity, a natural hot spring comes out of the sand and at low tide it is possible to dig your very own waterfront hot pool right on the beach.
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Spectacular archway
Not everything is on a large scale Divers swim through shoals of fish
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Nudibranchs come in all shapes and sizes
From shallow sheltered coves to deep vertical walls and everything in-between, there truly is something for everybody Topside is similarly dramatic
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Large rays are commonplace
Idyllic rocky beach Diver surrounded by fish swarm
Crayfish
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For every level of experience there are options for adventure and exploration. Around the area there are a number of sites which provide stunning topography, deep water and a bit of current. Just the recipe for an epic dive. Pinnacles which start just under the surface and drop into 50m-plus of water. Archways above and below water, swim-throughs, caves, house-sized boulders all teeming with life. For the macro lover there are walls covered with encrusting life, colourful sponges, anemones and hydroids. Clown, gem and Jason’s nudibranchs are the most common, but not the only varieties of the fascinating slugs to be found. Triplefins of various types, including the enchanting blue eyes. Blennies poking out from their tiny homes give a grumpy look to passing divers. There are great hangouts for schools of the vivid blue maomao as well as the ever-picturesque two spot demoiselle, underneath which can often be found lurking john dory - large, round and thin with rooster spikes above, these guys are always a favourite. Huge schools of kahawai and trevally can be found roaming, feeding on the surface and occasionally being chased by kingfish. Schools of pink maomao can be found on the deeper pinnacles as well as the elusive golden snapper. Scorpionfish and the creatively named big eye inhabit the darker areas, with the occasional red banded coral shrimp in there for good measure. During the cooler months New Zealand fur seals take up residence in the area and often take great joy in following divers around the shallower parts of their dive. These characters love to show off their underwater prowess with flips, spins and bubble blowing. Dolphins are a common sight year-round with bottlenose and common dolphin frequenting the area. The common dolphins are most often seen offshore while travelling between dive sites and generally travel in large pods of 20 plus dolphins. The local bottlenose population are more coastal and if the mood takes them, they will hang out with divers for the entire day, in some cases even following a boat between dive sites for a second play with the strange bubble blowers. Of course, these encounters are entirely dependent on the whim of the animals. Orca as well roam the coastline and the wider area and this particular variety are specialist ray hunters. If lucky enough to be around when the orca are, one may witness a pod patrolling the shallows working together to muster stingrays. A few lucky divers even get the opportunity to see these magnificent creatures face to face. Let me remind you that no orca in the wild has ever harmed a human. Turtles also have become an occasional sight for the lucky diver over the summer months and while out of their usual territory, those spotted of late have appeared in good health. Whales do occasionally pass through the area and sometimes on the way through they stop to put on a show. Among the species sighted in the area during 2020 were blue, minke, Brydes, pilot and humpback, one of which spent two days jumping and putting on a show near a local beach before carrying on its travels. The Eastern Coromandel has so much variety it is hard to specify a certain favourite area. Any site on any given day can produce something magical when you least expect it. It is this element of the unknown that adds to the adventure. A dive here will not be a dive where you have the whole dive described to you before you enter the water, you really are exploring and you never know what is around the next corner. That’s the beauty of it. n
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SURVEYING AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE UNDERWATER By Mike Haigh, Project Director, Wreck Hunters
S
o, you have found a wreck of archaeological interest, either by extensive research and exploration or just by chance. So, what now? The first activity in the investigation of a site is what is called a ‘pre-disturbance survey’. The object of this survey is to record the site as it is, including all topographical information and all other useful data, in order to tell ‘the story so far’. From this data, a more-detailed survey of the wreck can be planned, as well as any further investigative processes on the site. This may include excavation. The basic requirement is the production of an accurate three-dimensional picture of the area, recorded as a two-dimensional plan with supporting descriptions and measurements. So, what methods and techniques can we use to meet this objective? One big factor here is visibility. If you are working in clear warm water, then you have a choice of many methods. If you are working in a low visibility situation your options will be more limited. The type of seabed will be another factor, as will the type of wreck itself. It is straight forward enough to establish a grid around a site which is predominantly horizontal with a few exposed timbers. It is a totally different story if your wreck is a jumble of huge marble blocks. So, as ever in diving archaeology, your approach must be flexible. As anyone who has done any relatively complex tasks underwater knows, it is much easier to plan a certain activity underwater than to do it. My advice is – as far as it is possible - to practice all procedures on dry land first! Allowing for individual circumstances I would list ten key activities that, when combined, will allow you to collect enough information on your site to move forward. • The establishment of a grid of fixed points which act as a reference point from which survey measurements can be taken. The grid needs to encompass the whole site if possible, with a margin of at least one metre around it. Basically, what you end up with is your wreck site divided up into grid-squares which are numbered. Think rope/cord here rather than anything more permanent. • Setting up a baseline either following part of the visible remains of the wreck such as the keel or through the centreline of the gridded area. • Produce an outline plan of the site using measurements
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taken from the baseline and the grid. • Using a compass and tape measure, record the orientation of the grid and the wreck itself. • Make a sketch of the site and any other visible parts of the wreck. When the Studland Bay wreck was discovered in 1984, a member of the original Technical Committee made a sketch of the site. When compared to the photomosaic made three years later, the sketch proved to be remarkably accurate. • Make a contour plan of the gridded area using grid intersections and an accurate measuring device. • Produce a probe survey of the site. Same method as for the contour plan but this time getting some idea of the depth of material covering the remains. • Detailed drawings of visible remains of the wreck using planning frames along with photography of these areas – do not forget to use a scale. • Photographic and video recording. If the visibility is very good a basic photomosaic can be produced. • Metal detector survey - if you are fortunate enough to access to one. Set up lines within each grid along which the coil can be directed. Great for indicating where metallic remains may be located. The key point is that you need to record relationships not measurements. Get lots of sketches and photos. Just taking a lot of measurements is what is called Cultural Resource Management. Archaeology is about stratigraphy not just measurements. You are possibly recording the remains of a once-proud vessel. A part of maritime history – you need to bring it back to life! Of course, there is the option to survey the site electronically. This of course has a cost implication. You could set up an array of transponders around the site sending sonar impulses back and forth. Modern side-scan sonars can produce a contoured plan picture which is a sort of survey. We are here talking about an initial survey, so I think we can leave the discussion about the use of acoustic positioning systems in archaeology to another day. Next time we will be looking at how underwater metal detectors can be applied to assist the diving archaeologist. www.wreckhunters.co.uk
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Explore with a clear conscience
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BEYOND TECHNICAL
www.narkedat90.com
DIVE RITE O2PTIMA CM (SRP: US$6,300) Walt Stearns: ‘Incredibly versatile, self-contained, and travel ready’. That’s how Dive Rite describes their O2ptima CM rebreather. It is an electronic, fully-closed system, and in case you are wondering, CM stands for chest mount. Compact and tipping the scales at just 14.4lb - not including scrubber material or oxygen cylinder - the O2ptima CM is a truly unique design. While I am no stranger to closed circuit diving, having dived various systems for the better part of 18 years, I have never before encountered a fully closed chest-mounted design like this. And so, I was eager for the chance to evaluate O2ptima CM when Lamar and Jared Hires offered me the opportunity to try the unit in North-central Florida’s spring country. On initial examination, several features sparked my interest. The first was the breathing loop, which is reported to be the shortest of any rebreather on the market. The standard configuration includes a solidly built Dive Surface Valve (DSV) joined to the unit’s counter lung by two 30cm loop hoses. These hoses have threaded loop connections for easy removal and cleaning.
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Unlike military design chest-mount oxygen rebreathers like the Draeger Lar V, the Dive Rite O2ptima CM doesn’t have a large single counter lung, instead utilizes two separate three-litre lungs. The counter lung covers are made from Rhinotek, which is highly abrasion-resistant material that is still relatively flexible. The twin counter lungs actual working volume is closer to 5.5 litres (2.25 litres per counter lung) due to the counter lung covers, but when you add in the gas present in the CM’s scrubber, the total loop volume is brought back to six litres. Something to consider if you are an individual with a large tidal lung volume. What is a bit of a surprise given the CM’s compact design is that it shares the same horizontal cylindrical housing for its scrubber and Shearwater DiveCAN electronics system used in Dive Rite’s larger back-mount O2ptima CCR models. Mounted horizontally below the counter lungs, the CM’s scrubber is designed to accept the same Micropore ExtendAir SR-081C cartridges as its big brother. You can also utilize a self-pack scrubber that holds 2.2kg of 812 mesh granular CO2 absorbent. The CM’s electronic oxygen solenoid and four AI R22 oxygen sensors are governed by one of two devices. One configuration utilizes a Shearwater Petrel 2 controller paired with a basic triple LED HUD. The second configuration includes a Shearwater NERD 2 model controller mounted securely atop the CM’s DSV, paired with same HUD system. Because I am a big NERD 2 fan (having one on my personal CCR), I feel that this option is the way to go, as it makes the CM less cluttered by eliminating that cable running down your wrist to the Petrel controller. In addition to the Shearwater controller, the CM is fitted with an Oxygen Manual Add Valve (MAV) located on the right side of the counter lung, and an Automatic Diluent Valve on the left side. I found both of these to be conveniently located for easy activation with a press of forefinger or thumb. The CM featured on Dive Rite’s website is pictured with a 13 cubic-foot aluminum oxygen cylinder which is attached below the scrubber with two 1.5-inch cam straps. This configuration allows for a wide range of side or back-mount diluent tank
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We design, manufacture and retail scuba and rebreather equipment. We have fully equipped test and certification labs, and can pressure test large items in our vacuum chambers, as well as run fully automated leak test and dive simulations down to 400m. Our EMC and EMF lab is filled with state-ofthe-art equipment for testing electromagnetic compatibility and electromagnetic fields. We also have a large in-house laser for cutting and engraving on plastics and metals. www.narkedat90.com
configurations. The CM is also most travel-friendly fully closedcircuit rebreather on the market, as it has the uniquely ingenious advantage of being a true add-on rebreather. By that I mean you don’t necessarily have to change out your current open-circuit equipment to enter the world of silent diving. All that is required of your existing harness/BCD (be it single tank, doubles, or side mount), is that the shoulder straps can accommodate a single D-ring atop each shoulder, with a second set on each side of the waist strap. From there, CM’s four bolt-snaps are able to securely fasten it to your harness with the quick disconnect for the CM’s dil making the fifth and final attachment. My test rig utilized a standard Dive Rite Transpac XT harness with a EXP 25lb Travel Wing and 120 cubic-foot back-mount tank. Jared’s unit was attached to his Nomad LS side mount harness, while Lamar slung his CM on a Transpac XT harness with a larger 45lb Rec Wing and a set of small doubles. Having the ability to easily clip or unclip the CM either in or out of the water opens a diver’s range of possibilities. For example, in a cave-diving scenario, where a diver needs to pass through a tight restriction, he could the
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undo the CM’s two waist clips and swing the rebreather out front to move through a given opening without going off the loop. In a recreational line where a diver is on a trip in the Florida Keys, you could use the CM for the first dive on a deep wreck such as the Spiegel Grove or the Duane, then leave it in the boat while using the same tank they used on the first dive for the second dive on a shallow reef.
POST DIVE THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS
In a fully closed-circuit rebreather, the counter lungs are positioned one of three ways – on the back, over the shoulder, or on the chest. The positioning of the lungs has a direct effect on user comfort and the work of breathing (WOB) – meaning how much effort is involved when breathing through the loop
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view all products online
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while in a prone position. A rebreather with back-mounted counter lungs is highly desirable to some as it frees up the diver’s chest. With this configuration, the counter lungs are above the diver’s own lungs when in a prone position, requiring more effort during the inhalation side of a breath cycle than during the exhalation side. With a chest mount-system, the reverse is generally true, as the diver can expect some resistance during exhalation. This occurs because the counter lung is below the diver’s body, and the gas in the lungs wants to rise. This can create enough back pressure to cause what most CCR divers call ‘chipmunk cheeks’. Even properly positioned over the shoulder counter lungs, which some attest as being the best of both worlds, can generate the same effect. Given its chest-mounted counter lungs, the work of breathing on the CM was not what I expected. The dual counter lung
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design, which I should mention feature dual water traps, actually provided a very comfortable WOB with just a touch of back pressure when resting in a prone position. Even when rolling all the way over to an inverted position CM’s breathing comfort was still good. One niggling issue I have with all electronic CCRs is that when you are at depths shallower than 9m, the oxygen solenoid generally fires more often to retaining a high constant volume in the loop. As a result, the counter lungs may already be filled before you try to exhale, requiring you to vent off that excess gas through the nose or out the corner of your mouth. One work around to this phenomenon is to place the controller’s set point around .5 or .6, shut off the dil, dump everything from the counter lung and replace it with pure oxygen, which will cause the solenoid to take a break. This was something I forgot to do during our trial dive, as I was focused on photographing Lamar and Jared demonstrating their CMs in the shallower depths of Blue Grotto’s spring basin. On a final note, although the CM is compatible with a number of oxygen cylinder sizes all the way up something as hefty as a HP steel 32, but I would say not. I am what would be described as average height and build (5’ 9” at 175lb) and not at all too happy with the position of the AL 13. Despite it being the recommended cylinder size for streamlining, it added enough length to the unit’s overall profile to make it annoying when trying to take my fins on and off, or simply climbing a set of stairs or ladder to exit the water. Dive Rite recommends that people with a shorter frame might want to reposition that cylinder (or one larger) off board, perhaps under their right arm in sidemount fashion. If it was my personal system, that would be exactly what I would do, thus reducing its overall profile underneath. Because the CM is not dependent on one particular size cylinder for oxygen or diluent, and is void of a hard frame or backplate, it can become a really small carry-on for airline travel. Place a Micropore ExtendAir SR-081C cartridges in the scrubber, with two in the check bags and you’ll have 12 plus hours of diving. Alternately, you could include the self-pack scrubber for whatever granular absorbent is provided at your destination, and configure your diluent based on preference and tank availability. Ah, the possibilities. www.diverite.com
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www.GoldCoastDiveAdventures.com.au info@goldcoastdiveadventures.com.au 0404 286 599 We are Gold Coast's local diving experts; a family-owned and operated dive centre specialising in our offshore Reefs & Wrecks double-dive trips, six days a week to more than 15 awesome dive sites, including:
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We offer a full range of PADI scuba and freediving courses, from Open Water Diver through to Master Scuba Diver and Divemaster. Let our highly experienced and passionate instructors take you offshore on an underwater adventure. They'll teach you in a relaxed and proficient manner to become safe, capable and environmentally conscious certified divers.
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MARES XR-REC SILVER (SRP: $1,499)
The XR-Rec Silver Single Backmount Set includes everything you need to enter the world of XR diving without compromising comfort. The unit features XR’s innovative back padding - lighter, faster-draining, nontwisting, and easy to install, this new back padding is a tech diver’s dream. This BCD comes as one-size-fits-all. All you need to do is adjust the harness for a customizable fit. Because this backmount set is perfectly streamlined and lacks the bulkiness of most jacket-style BCDs, it is perfect for travelling. It also folds up easily for storage and transport to your favourite dive site. The unique handle on the set also makes transporting the system more manageable. This complete mounted set includes a 16-litre standard single tank donut, 3mm aluminum silver backplate, 6mm aluminum silver D-rings, a Stainless Steel 316 silver buckle, and a standard webbing harness. The left shoulder also features a unique, aluminum two-point quick-release silver buckle, an exclusive design only featured by Mares XR that makes donning and doffing the unit easier without compromising the set’s integrity like other manufacturers’ units that still use plastic buckles. Storing your dive accessories is not a problem with this Single Backmount Set. In addition to six D-rings, the BCD includes a pocket with a lower extension. Easily add additional weight with two removable side-weight pockets. The double tank straps are made of stainless steel 316 buckles and black flat-head bold screws. www.mares.com
SUUNTO D5 COPPER (SRP: ($849.99) The all-new Suunto D5 in Copper has just been added to the already fantastic collection. The Suunto D5 is designed to be so clear and easy-to-use that you can just enjoy and focus on exploring the wonderful underwater world. When not diving, connect wirelessly to the Suunto app and receive notifications from the applications you use. Save and share your favourite dive spots using location tagging in the logbook function and share your data overlays with the friends, family and diving community. Follow your dive details on the super-clear, high-contrast colour screen. Choose from three dive modes (Air/Nitrox, Freedive, Gauge) and browse the simple yet intuitive menu with three buttons to easily switch between views and settings. Keep your device easily up-to-date with Suuntolink and make your dive life one step easier. You can now receive mobile notifications such as incoming calls and messages to your Suunto D5. When a mobile notification arrives, a pop-up appears on the watch face. You can also choose to allow sound and/or vibration to alert the notification. The D5 can connect to up to three Tank Pods for wireless air-integration, and you can switch between up to three gases (21-100 percent). You can quickly and easily swap straps with the handy clip system, so you are able to personalise your computer. www.suunto.com 62
HORIZON
A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH
AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES
QUEENSLAND
FEET FIRST DIVE
LADY ELLIOT ISLAND ECO RESORT
t: 02 4984 2092 e: enquiries@feetfirstdive.com.au a: 97 Stockton St, Nelson Bay, NSW, 2315 SDI/TDI SCUBA, Snorkelling, & Spearfishing Retail & Training Centre. Shore dives in marine sanctuary, grey nurse shark double boat dives. www.feetfirstdive.com.au
t: +61 7 5536 3644 e: reservations@ladyelliot.com.au a: Lady Elliot Island, Southern Great Barrier Reef, QLD Lady Elliot Island ‘Home of the Manta Ray’ boasts 20 incredible dive sites and is renowned for amazing marine encounters. www.ladyelliot.com.au
LETS GO ADVENTURES t: 02 4981 4331 e: fun@letsgoadventures.com.au a: Shop 8W, d’Albora Marina, Teramby Rd, Nelson Bay, NSW, 2315 PADI facility Introductory dives through to Instructor Courses. Guided shore & boat trips for divers & snorkellers. Retail Sales & Servicing. www.letsgoadventures.com.au
SCUBA HAVEN t: 0407 457 542 e: info@scubahaven.com.au a: 20 Merrigal Rd, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444 SCUBA Diving Port Macquarie and Laurieton Areas. Offering Dive trips, Courses, Introductory dives, Sales and services. www.scubahaven.com.au
SOUTH WEST ROCKS DIVE CENTRE t: +612 6566 6474 e: info@swrdive.com.au a: 98 Gregory Street, South West Rocks, NSW Australia’s best Shark and Cave dive. Family owned and operated for over 40 Years. swrdive.com.au
ST GEORGE UNDERWATER CENTRE t: 61 2 9502 2221 e: info@stgeorgeunderwater.com.au a: 1/148 Bellevue Parade, Carlton, NSW, 2218 We have been in the industry for over 62 years. We are a TDI SDI 5 star training centre. We service, train and travel. www.stgeorgeunderwater.com.au
WINDANG DIVE & SPEARFISHING t: 02 4296 4215 e: info@windangdive.com.au a: Shop 1, 239 Windang Road, Windang, NSW, 2528 Scuba Diving Courses to Instructor. Spearfishing needs and servicing of all brands of scuba and spearfishing. www.windangdive.com.au
MANTA LODGE AND SCUBA CENTRE t: 07 34098888 e: info@mantalodge.com.au a: 132 Dickson way, Point Lookout, QLD 4183 Amazing diving all year round. Manta Rays, Sharks, turtles and whales along with a huge variety of marine life. www.mantalodge.com.au
OZAQUATEC SCUBA SERVICE CENTRE t: 07 3399 1413 e: admin@ozaquatec.com a: 4/89 Gosport St, Hemmant QLD 4171 Brisbane’s largest SCUBA servicing centre. Servicing all brands of SCUBA gear, Air/Nitrox fills and SAI Global accredited Test Station for all your tank hydro needs. www.ozaquatec.com.au
PASSIONS OF PARADISE t: 07 4041 1600 e: Reservations@passions.com.au a: Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns, QLD Dive, snorkel and sail the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns onboard a sailing catamaran with locally owned Passions of Paradise. www.passions.com.au
BUNDABERG AQUA SCUBA t: 07 4153 5761 e: Julian@aquascuba.com.au a: 17 Walla Street, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670 Bundaberg has world class wreck diving sites, access to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and the best coral reef shore diving in Queensland. www.aquascuba.com.au
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RODNEY FOX SHARK EXPEDITIONS t: 08 8363 1788 e: expeditions@rodneyfox.com.au a: 107 Henley Beach Road, Mile End, SA, 5031 Great white sharks, SCUBA, Ocean Floor Cage, Surface Cage, Australian Sea Lions and our own wine all on the 32m liveaboard MV Rodney Fox! www.rodneyfox.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTHCOAST DIVING SUPPLIES t: 08 98417176 e: whale@divealbany.com.au a: 84b Serpentine Road, Albany, Western Australia, 6330 Diving Albany means diving anything from wrecks to reef, plunging drop offs to awesome canyons with unbelievable colours and fishlife. www.divealbany.com.au
VICTORIA ALL ABOUT SCUBA t: (03) 9939 4913 e: info@allaboutscuba.com.au a: Unit 17/30-34 Maffra Street, Coolaroo, Victoria, 3048 A fully equipped SCUBA service centre with a passion for servicing so we can safely explore the underwater world! www.allaboutscuba.com.au
DIVE GEAR AUSTRALIA t: 03 9702 3694 e: sales@divegearaustralia.com.au a: 11/53-57 Rimfire Drive, Hallam, Victoria, 3803 DGA is a PADI 5 star training dive store with a huge range of scuba diving, snorkelling and spearfishing gear. www.divegearaustralia.com.au
SCUBA WORLD t: 07 5444 8595 e: info@scubaworld.com.au a: 207 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba, 4557 QLD, Australia We create safe, comfortable, enthusiastic divers who always have a fun, personal and enjoyable experience at Scuba World. scubaworld.com.au
SCUBA CULTURE PTY LTD t: 03 9808 0033 e: info@scubaculture.com.au a: 117 Highbury Road, Burwood, Victoria 3125 Full service dive shop providing equipment sales, service, hire, training, dive club, dive travel and air/ nitrox fills. www.scubaculture.com.au
WARRNAMBOOL DIVING
TASMANIA QUEENSLAND
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
EAGLEHAWK DIVE CENTRE t: 0417013518 e: info@eaglehawkdive.com.au a: 178 Pirates Bay Drive, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS, 7179 We have world-class temperate water diving, with sites suitable for divers with skill levels from novice to advanced technical. www.eaglehawkdive.com.au
t: 03 5562 1685 e: scubaone@live.com.au a: 179A Fairy Street, Warrnambool VIC 3280 Warrnambool offer some of the best shore dives along the great ocean road with access to the ship wreck coast. www.divingandfirearms.com.au
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NEW ZEALAND SOUTHLAND
AUCKLAND AQUATECH t: +64 2156 3563 e: servicing1@yahoo.com a: 4 WOULDBANK Way, Welcome Bay Aquatech is a scuba service centre. We service scuba regulators / full face masks / oxygen regulators. Underwater Scooters. www.aquatech.kiwi.nz
WAIHEKE DIVE & SNORKEL t: +64 9217 4892 e: info@waihekedive.com a: 110 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland, NZ, 1081 NZ’s most fun little dive shop! We’re your choice for online retail, diving & snorkeling adventures – just 35 mins from Auckland CBD! www.waihekedive.com
DIVE DOCTOR t: +09 530 8117 e: info@divedoctor.co.nz a: 20R Sylvia Park Rd, Mt Wellington. (1 min off the M’way) Scuba servicing centre – all brands. Wide range of products and hard to find items instore and online. 300 Bar fills, NITROX, O2. Quality dive training. www.divedoctor.co.nz
DIVING ACADEMY LTD (AUCKLAND SCUBA) t: +64 9478 2814 e: info@aucklandscuba.co.nz a: 49B Arrenway Drive, Auckland 5* PADI centre, beginner to Instructor courses (student loan approved), quality equipment retail, rebreathers, scooters, dive trips, servicing, air fills. www.aucklandscuba.co.nz
GLOBAL DIVE t: +64 9920 5200 e: info@globaldive.net a: 132 Beaumont Street, Westhaven, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand NZ’s Premium Dive Store. Leaders in Training, Servicing and Travel. Home of Fourth Element, OMS, Shearwater, XDeep, Light&Motion, DUI, Cinebags. www.globaldive.net
KIWI DIVERS NZ LTD t: 09 426 9834 e: info@kiwiscubadivers.co.nz a: 8 Keith Hay Court, Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand Air, Nitrox & Trimix fills. SSI & TDI Rec, Tech & Rebreather courses. 2 dive boats. Brands: Hollis, Oceanic, Zeagle, Atomic, Bare/Stahlsac service centre. www.kiwiscubadivers.co.nz
NEW ZEALAND DIVING t: 00 64 9422 3599 e: dive@nzdiving.co.nz a: Unit 2, 23 Morrison Drive, Warkworth, New Zealand Leading dive centre offering training and charters. Tank testing, air/nitrox fills, gear sales, service, hire. SCUBA and Freediving/Spearfishing. www.nzdiving.co.nz
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CANTERBURY DIVE HQ CHRISTCHURCH t: +64 3379 5804 e: sales@divehqscuba.co.nz a: 103 Durham Street South, Sydenham, Christchurch South Island’s Premium Dive Centre, Specialists in Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Freediving. Brands: Hollis, Oceanic, Atomic, Zeagle, Beuchat, Bare & Rob Allen. www.divehqscuba.co.nz
MARLBOROUGH GO DIVE PACIFIC t: 0274 344 874 e: info@godivepacific.nz a: 66 Wellington Street, Picton, Marlborough, New Zealand Dive one of the biggest cruise ship wrecks in the world, the Mikhail Lermontov, suitable for recreational to advanced technical divers. www.godivepacific.co.nz
DESCEND NZ – MILFORD SOUND t: +64 (0)27 337 2363 e: info@descend.co.nz a: Deepwater Basin Milford Sound – bookings essential Dive in the majestic and unique Milford Sound where deepwater species such as black coral live in diveable depths. www.descend.co.nz
WAIKATO DIVE ZONE WHITIANGA t: +64 7867 1580 e: info@divethecoromandel.co.nz a: 10 Campbell Street, Whitianga 3510, New Zealand Dive charters, training, service and retail store. Many and varied dive spots. Beautiful coastal town location. Offshore islands & Marine Reserve. www.divezonewhitianga.co.nz
WELLINGTON DIVE WELLINGTON t: 04 939 3483 e: dive@divewellington.co.nz a: 432 The Esplanade Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand Wellington’s Padi 5 Star Centre, right across the road from Taputeranga Marine Reserve. Come and dive or snorkel with us. www.divewellington.co.nz
NORTHLAND DIVE NOW t: 09 438 1075 e: info@divenow.co.nz a: 41 Clyde St, Whangarei We’re Northland’s largest SCUBA, Spearfishing & Freedive retail store offering great deals on gear along with SCUBA and Freedive courses. www.divenow.co.nz
Q&A: WAYNE B BROWN
ROTTNEST IS CALLING WHY ROTTNEST ISLAND HAS PLENTY TO OFFER THE VISITING DIVER
SUBAQUA DIVE CENTRE t: 09 988 9508 e: subaquadivecentrenz@gmail.com a: 108 Cameron Street, Whangarei, NZ Friendliest dive shop in town. Stocker of Hollis, Ratio Dive computers, Atomic Aquatics, Bare, Oceanic and Zeagle. www.facebook.com/subaquadivewhangarei
TOP-OF-THE-RANGE RATED AND REVIEWED BY THE TEST TEAM
LIFE THE LIVEABOARD LYRICAL ABOUT
GEAR GUIDE: MASKS
SUDAN ODYSSEY
EXPLORING THE REMNANTS OF COUSTEAU’S PRECONTINENT II EXPERIMENT
SULTANATE OF OMAN
THE TEST TEAM RATE AND
MELBOURNE A RANGE OF REVIEW MAGIC NIGEL MARSH MASKS DIVING DIVES THE PIERS AROUND PORT PHILLIP BAY
TALKING SHARKS
INFORMATIVE QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GREAT WHITE EXPERT ANDREW FOX
TEST EXTRA SPECIAL RETRA FLASH PRO AND DIVE RITE XT FINS RATED AND REVIEWED
Dive into
PNG Don Silcock waxes lyrical about Papua New Guinea’s underwater
DISCOVERING WHERE SMALL THINGS ROAM IN THE PHILIPPINES
PAIHIA DIVE t: +64 9402 7551 e: info@divenz.com a: 7 Williams Rd, Paihia 0247, New Zealand We run daily trips to the Canterbury wreck, The Rainbow Warrior wreck and reef sites in the Bay of Islands. www.divenz.com
TO AGGRESSOR WE CHAT IN OMAN ADVENTURE GEAR GUIDE GROUP TEST ADVENTURES ABOUT WAXES STACEY ADRIANCEO REGS
delights
Over the
RAINBOW New Zealand’s Exploring Rainbow Warrior wreck
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
HOW TO COMPOSE THE PERFECT PHHEADS OUT ADRIAN STACEY DOLPHIN PHOTOGRA
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New Zealand
ON A DAYBOAT TO THE ICONIC REEF
‣ Q&A: Orkney and Shetland Charters
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DAN COLUMN
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EXPLORING NEW ZEALAND’S POOR KNIGHT ISLANDS UW photography
‣ Pete Mesley Q&A, pt II ‣ Sabah, Borneo
‣ CONSERVATION ‣ UW PHOTOGRAPHY
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Dig into regenerative travel with the Mangrove Reforestation Project
A
gold standard in mindful and sustainable travel, Kokomo Private Island - Fiji’s most-exclusive private island resort - has built its foundation on driving positive change in the arena of sustainability and minimal environmental impact led by the island’s remarkable marine biologist Cliona O’Flaherty and on-site marine biology team, including Viviana Taubera (the other marine biologist employed by Kokomo). As the property looks to re-opening its doors to the world in April 2021, Kokomo remains unwaveringly focused on their priority to connect and invest in the island, surrounding community and marine environment, and the principles of regenerative travel - the practice of advancing crowdfree, conscious and planet-friendly travel habits through the lasting impact of regenerative travel, ultimately leaving a destination better than you found it. The tourism industry has beat the sustainability drum for a decade now, but as we all collectively navigate the post pandemic-era of travel, it now has an opportunity to serve as an agent of change in combating climate change. Many are no longer satisfied with the statement that entities mean no harm to its environment, and believe that there is work to be done actively improve it. This is a concept that’s been employed in architecture and design for decades; unlike sustainability, which aims to slow down the effects of climate change, regeneration can completely
revamp and replace outdated systems of waste. As part of World Ocean Day 2020, Kokomo pledged to transplant 4,000 mangroves into neighbouring villages’ shores as part of the Kokomo Mangrove Reforestation Project. Kokomo Private Island proudly launched the Mangrove Reforestation Project last year, an initiative that gives back to local village communities and island through growing, planting and restoring mangroves. They collect mangrove seeds, which are grown in special nurseries, before being transplanted back into tidal areas on Kokomo and nearby small island villages. Guests of the resort are encouraged to learn about the role these plants serve in the ecosystem and help in the re-planting process. Mangroves are crucial in reducing the effects of excess carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere with their ability to efficiently absorb and convert carbon into oxygen. These plants also serve as crucial coastal protection against storms or tsunamis. As of now, Kokomo is proud to announce that 800 mangroves have been transplanted throughout various village communities along the island’s shores. Yet, the team’s mission is not over. They plan on expanding the nursery to allow for more mangrove cultivation and aim to transplant 2,000 new mangroves every three to four months. Kokomo has built its foundation on driving positive change in the arena of sustainability and minimal environmental impact, focused in their priority to connect and invest in the island, surrounding community, and marine environment - all of which is cradled by the stunning Great Astrolabe Reef, the fourth largest reef barrier in the world. n
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There are many moments like this in the future.
EUROPEAN MADE
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