Scuba Diver ANZ #46

THE CORAL COAST

DEBORAH DICKSON-SMITH TOURS THE DIVING HOTSPOTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Q&A: ANDREW FOX

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE GREAT WHITE SHARK PRO

INTO THE FREEZER

IVANA ORLOVIC GOES ICE DIVING IN THE LAKES OF AUSTRIA AND SERBIA

ADRIAN STACEY IS BLOWN AWAY BY THE ‘SOFT CORAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD’

INDONESIA

ALEX MUSTARD

THAILAND ISSUE #46

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mark Evans Email: mark@scubadivermag.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGER Matt Griffiths Email: matt@scubadivermag.com CONTRIBUTORS Terry Smith, Deborah Dickson-Smith, Ivana Orlovic, Janez Kranjc PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Ross Arnold Email: ross@scubadivermag.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Penney Evans Email: penney@scubadivermag.com

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTHEAST ASIA TEAM Adrian Stacey Editor (Australia and New Zealand) Tel: +61 422 611 238 Email: adrian@scubadivermag.com Don Silcock Senior Travel Editor www.indopacificimages.com

MAGAZINE To stock Scuba Diver in your centre, email: subscriptions@scubadivermag.com

PUBLISHERS Rork Media ANZ Pty Ltd 193 Latrobe Terrace, PADDINGTON, QLD 4064 Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publishers. Copyright for material published remains with Rork Media Limited. Use of material from Scuba Diver is strictly prohibited unless permission is given. All advertisements of which the creative content is in whole or in part the work of Rork Media Limited remain the copyright of Rork Media Limited.

is a registered trademark of Rork Media. ISSN 2515-9593

Times are changing and to keep the magazines 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. Your continued support is most appreciated.

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The return of the dive show

With the recovery from COVID well and truly underway, it is great to see more dive shows scheduled for this coming year. OzDive/Oztec is back and will be held at the Conference and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne on 1/2 October. The Australian International Dive Expo is also back and held at the ICC Sydney, from 28 July to 1 August. While further afield, The Dive Show, Long Beach, California, is returning in May after a two-year absence. DEMA will be held in November at the Orlando Convention Centre. The forecast for the dive equipment industry also looks positive, with an increase of US$537 million between 2020 and 2024 predicted.

This month’s edition has a fantastic article about Western Australia’s Coral Coast from Deborah Dickson-Smith. Plus, we have three great overseas features, starting with my trip report from a recent visit to the stunning Volivoli Beach Resort in Fiji. We have Terry Smith’s trip report from his liveaboard adventure in the Southern Andaman Sea onboard the Phinisi. With Indonesia now open to tourists there, we are publishing a terrific feature about the many different dive destinations that this fascinating country offers.

On a recent trip to see great white sharks, on board the Rodney Fox vessel, Don Silcock had the chance to sit down for a chat with shark conservationist extraordinaire Andrew Fox; this in-depth interview is a mustread piece, and not just for shark lovers. We also have our usual columns from training agencies SSI and PADI plus Alex Mustard’s regular photography column, the Diveplanit column, the DAN column, and our monthly look at what is happening in the world of conservation. There is our regular foray into the world of Tech, and we have some great new products in What’s New, plus some great equipment reviews in Test Extra.

Adrian Stacey, Editor (Australia & New Zealand)

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THE CORAL COAST

DEBORAH DICKSON-SMITH TOURS THE DIVING HOTSPOTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Q&A: ANDREW FOX

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE GREAT WHITE SHARK PRO

INTO THE FREEZER

IVANA ORLOVIC GOES ICE DIVING IN THE LAKES OF AUSTRIA AND SERBIA

ADRIAN STACEY IS BLOWN AWAY BY THE ‘SOFT CORAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD’

INDONESIA

ALEX MUSTARD

THAILAND ISSUE #46

PHOTOGRAPH © ADRIAN STACEY

Regular columns

Monthly features...

10 News round-up

22 Australia

Fresh efforts to combat crown-of-thorns on GBR, tragedy in Malaysia as teenage diver dies, liveaboard fire in Egypt, funds for Cape York, and PADI joins forces with SeaLegacy.

18 DAN Medical Q&A

The Divers Alert Network looks at the thorny subject of kids and diving.

46 Divers Alert Network

The DAN Asia-Pacific team discuss how being prepared is essential in diving, both above and below the water.

82 Conservation Corner

Two new vessels add fire power to Reef Star Wars against new outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish on GBR.

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Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef is famous mainly for whaleshark encounters, but the region has much more to offer divers, from the abundant marine life of Exmouth Navy Pier to the soft coral wonders of the Murion Islands.

32 Fiji

Adrian Stacey heads out to Fiji to see if the country deserves its title of the ‘soft coral capital of the world’, and at Volivoli Beach Resort, he finds his answer.

42 Mustard’s Masterclass

Underwater photography guru Alex Mustard turns his attentions towards optics and strobes, saying their importance is often overlooked by new buyers, who focus on cameras and housings.

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...continued

Gear & testing

48 TECH: Serbia and Austria

74 What’s New

Janez Kranjc and Ivana Orlovic break out the thermal protection and the chainsaws to go ice diving in frozen lakes.

54 Thailand

Terry Smith ventures to the South Andaman Sea aboard The Phinisi for a voyage with a distinctly marine conservation feel.

60 Indonesia

As Indonesia reopens its borders to international tourists, Adrian Stacey showcases what people have been missing out on these past two years.

We take a look at new releases to the market, including the Apeks Exotec back-inflate BCD. Fourth Element Aquanaut and Navigator masks, the Nokta Pulsedive 2-in-1 metal detector, and the innovative Folding Fins.

76 Test Extra

Underwater photographer Nigel Marsh rates and reviews the Sealife SportDiver underwater smartphone housing.

68 Australia

Scuba Diver Senior Travel Editor Don Silcock chats with great white shark supremo Andrew Fox .

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“We are thrilled to be returning in a few months! The reef systems here are the most unspoiled we have seen in our travels around the world and the resort is paradise. We can’t wait to see all our friends at Wakatobi.” ~ Robert and Barbara Hay

An experience without equal At Wakatobi, you don’t compromise on comfort to get away from it all. A private guest flight brings you directly to a remote island, where all the indulgences of a five-star resort and luxury liveaboard await. The Wakatobi dive team will ensure your in-water experiences are perfectly matched to your abilities and interests so your underwater encounters can create memories that will remain vivid and rewarding long after your visit is concluded. While at the resort, or on board the dive yacht Pelagian, you need only ask and the Wakatobi team will provide any service or facility within its power. This unmatched combination of world-renowned reefs and first-class luxuries put Wakatobi in a category all its own.

www.wakatobi.com

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/news

CALL FOR TRADITIONAL OWNERS TO HELP PROTECT GREAT BARRIER REEF Traditional Owners of Great Barrier Reef sea country are being encouraged to apply to join the Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) Control Program

W

ith an aim to improve inclusion and participation of Traditional Owners in the management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control and Leadership Program will deliver training to Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef catchment, aged between 20 and 30, with a focus on conservation and ecosystem management, marine operations, and leadership.

Funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the program is the first of its kind to be codesigned with Reef Traditional Owners, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and program partners. Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef wish to see tangible career pathways for specialised, culturally appropriate training and employment included in the design and delivery of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control program.

Traditional Owners working with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have informed the development of this new initiative through a co-design process. To enable implementation of this action, key partner the Great Barrier Reef Foundation supported its Traditional Owner Advisory Group to co-design the Indigenous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control and Leadership Program.

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This program is being implemented through a partnership between Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre and INLOC, and is a collaborative way to ensure Indigenous cultural considerations are taken into account in protecting the Reef and marine life. This co-designed program is rapid and impactful, and tackles the challenge with daily on-Reef action. Every day, vessels and divers from the COTS Control program are out on the reef to survey and remove CrownOf-Thorns Starfish from areas that need it most.

To ensure this program is carried out in a respectful way, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s COTS Traditional Owner Technical Working Group and Advisory Group will continue to be involved throughout the life of the two-year program.

Anna Marsden, Managing Director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF), commented: “The Great Barrier Reef is an irreplaceable ecosystem, however outbreaks of coral-destroying crown-of-thorns starfish are a significant threat to its health.

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MALDIVES

“The COTS Control Program is throwing a lifeline to corals, protecting the health of the Reef and the breeding corals that are critical to supporting Reef resilience in the face of a changing climate.

“The Foundation is proud to be a partner in this unique opportunity which has been co-designed with Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef to enable more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to actively participate in protecting the Reef from this coral-eating predator and gain valuable, transferrable skills in the process.”

The COTS Control Program uses bespoke management tools such as surveying and tracking apps to ensure every decision is impactful and effective, while Traditional Owners have added new design elements to ensure their participation in this program is well supported. The training is structured to give trainees a balance between classroom time and hands-on learning and ensures that participants can maintain linkages in their home communities.

To achieve this, the program incorporates block learning periods at the INLOC Training Centre in Cairns as well as community-based projects oncountry, over an 18-month period. Traditional Owners have designed parts of this program so that is a culturally safe and supported environment, with pastoral care added to the training and leadership program.

Sheriden Morris, Managing Director of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC), said: “The RRRC are committed to working closely with Traditional Owner groups to empower them to assist in the protection of their sea county, through constraining the outbreak of Crown-of-thorns starfish. Outbreaks of COTS pose a significant threat to the GBR, and through constraining these outbreaks, and keeping more coral alive, we create more opportunities to build the overall resilience of the Reef. And this is one of the most targeted and effective actions we can take.”

Paul Boag, CEO of the INLOC Group, explained: “We are recruiting 20 young Traditional Owners, aged between 20 and 30 years, to join this rewarding and challenging traineeship. Trainees will enjoy the full support of expert instructors, including indigenous mentors and pastoral care. The program covers both classroom and fieldwork (including deployments onboard COTS vessels). It’s a fantastic opportunity for young people to earn an income while you are gaining valuable new skills, including scuba accreditation, boat management while playing a vital role in the protection of their environment.”

The Great Barrier Reef, its islands and adjacent land, hold within them cultural identity. More than 70 Traditional Owner groups span the length of the Great Barrier Reef and continue to maintain Lore and customs through custodial responsibilities and obligations.

Interested candidates can apply for the traineeship by completing the online application form at www.cotsto.org

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The OZTek Advanced Diving Conference is back in 2022, with a unique combination of highaction, world-renowned presenters extolling their extraordinary feats of diving, exploration, discovery and inspirations at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre (Jeff’s Shed) on 1-2 October.

All this is supported by the OZDive Show, with photographic exhibitions, photography and freediving workshops, tips from the experts including training, travel, equipment, OZTek TV and fun virtual experiences, including those requiring you get wet!

Equipment on display includes AP Diving, Divesoft, Fourth Element, Halcyon Australia, Poseidon, Ursuit, Santi Drysuits, Scubapro Australia, Shearwater Research, TECLINE, TUSA and Waterproof wet and drysuits.

Photographic experts like Aquatic Imaging Australia, Digital Diver, Light & Motion, Sea & Sea. Travel within Australia with Mike Ball, Spirit of Freedom, Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions or further afield like Tourism Fiji, El Galleon, Papua New Guinea Dive, Sea Safari, Volivoli Beach Resort and Wakatobi.

Visit Dive Adventures and Diveplanit for exciting places to visit.

For all the exhibitors: check the websites: OZTek.com.au and OZDiveShow.com.au For further information, keep Scuba Diver handy, or tune in to the OZDive Podcast for up-to-date announcements on tickets, competitions, speakers and workshops.

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PADI JOINS FORCES WITH SEALEGACY Two of the world’s most-respected marine-focused organisations – PADI and SeaLegacy – have joined forces to accelerate much-needed ocean protection.

The first initiative of this multi-year collaboration kicks off this month, with a grassroots campaign developed to spark immediate and meaningful change for our blue planet.

Scientific research indicates that protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030 (i.e. 30×30) is critical to restore the health of the ocean, reverse existing adverse impacts, increase resilience to climate change, and sustain ecosystem services to humanity. But despite the clear need for increased protection, less than 5% of the global ocean is fully protected in no-take reserves.

The ocean is facing growing challenges triggering a global advocacy movement urging immediate and lasting change to protect it for current and future generations.

Illustrating the power of partnerships to amplify exponential change, PADI and SeaLegacy are harnessing one another’s strengths–leveraging the power of media, storytelling, and advocacy to compel ocean activists across the planet to take action and urge world leaders to step up to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.

“PADI is fueling a movement of one billion torchbearers to create ocean change, and we are thrilled to partner with like-minded organisations to scale this critical mission,” says Drew Richardson, CEO of PADI Worldwide. “Working with SeaLegacy not only allows us to rapidly grow the global torchbearer community, but also empower us all with meaningful ways to take real, positive action to protect our blue planet – and all life that calls it home.”

This April, PADI and SeaLegacy will launch a joint 30×30 campaign designed to generate immediate action from a combined global audience that includes millions of ocean enthusiasts, divers, snorkelers and conservationists looking for means to protect what they love.

The goal of the PADI and SeaLegacy 30×30 campaign is to urge world leaders to adopt the 30X30 target, calling for conservation of “at least 30% of sea areas globally through effective, equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas.” PADI and SeaLegacy will be pushing for an agreement to be reached at the UN Biodiversity COP15 in the third quarter of 2022 in Kunming, China.

“In a time when so many people around the world are concerned about climate change, biodiversity loss, sea level rise, and so much more, we need to channel that anxiety into action,” says Cristina Mittermeier, president of SeaLegacy.

“People everywhere are looking for hope and opportunities to have real impact, and one great way to get involved is to sign our petition to have the 30×30 target adopted at the Convention of Biodiversity.”

With their shared 30×30 goal, SeaLegacy and PADI will work to increase meaningful marine protection around the world, including the creation and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) and biodiversity conservation, while collaborating with local communities and

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© Cristina Mittermeier

© Shawn Heinrichs

leaders on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

“The ocean offers so many of the critical climate solutions we need, and MPAs are a major piece of that. MPAs not only protect local species and ecosystems, but sequester carbon, increase coastal resilience, and revitalize local economies.

We know that change is possible in this decade, and this kind of action will help us make major strides toward healing our ocean and saving our planet,” says Mittermeier.

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FIJI DROPS PRE-ARRIVAL COVID TESTING

Fully vaccinated visitors to Fiji are now no longer required to produce a prearrival negative COVID-19 test prior to entry, a move that reduces costs and lends greater convenience to those travelling to the country. The change applies to all visitors entering Fiji by air or sea who were previously required to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to their arrival to Fiji. This step is in line with best practice for entry requirements among highly vaccinated societies and follows countries such as Australia and Singapore, which have also removed COVID-19 testing as an entry prerequisite. The current requirement to book an in-country pre-COVID RAT test, prior to departing for Fiji, remains. The test must be done within 48-72 hours of arrival. In-country tests must be booked prior to arrival to Fiji on www.entrytestfiji.com.

The vaccination requirement for entry into Fiji has also been widened. All visitors above the age of 16 years must now display proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to entering the country. The lowering of the age requirement for the vaccine prerequisite comes as more children globally are granted access to vaccines. Fiji’s key visitor markets have considerably high coverage of vaccination among those below the 18-year age threshold.

In Australia, the vaccine coverage for ages 16 and above is significant across all key visitor market states of New South Wales (95%), Victoria (94%), and Queensland (92%). New Zealand has a vaccination coverage of 95 percent for those 12 years and above. In the United States, vaccine coverage for those between the ages of 12 and 17 years is 77.4 percent.

Requiring that all tourists aged 16 years and above provide proof of vaccination prior to visitors to Fiji further reduces the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and allows Fiji to capture a greater percentage of the fully vaccinated tourism market. All other existing conditions for entry remain applicable and can be reviewed at www.mcttt.gov.fj.

These moves follow Fiji’s continued effort to strengthen its in-country testing programme and wider community surveillance efforts designed to ensure the safety of visitors and Fijians alike.

MISSING MALAYSIA DIVERS – THREE FOUND, ONE DEAD

The recent reopening of Malaysia’s borders coincided with the tragic tale of four divers who went adrift, with three being found and one, a teenage boy, sadly dying. According to reports, 46-year-old Briton Adrian Chesters, his 14-year-old Dutch son Nathen and 18-year-old French national Alexia Molina were conducting a training dive for their advanced qualification with 35-yearold Norwegian instructor Kristine Grodem in the waters off Pulau Tokong Sanggol, near Mersing, on Wednesday 6 April.

The group had returned to the surface but could not see their boat, and were then left adrift.

On Thursday 7 April, some 22 nautical miles from where they were diving, Grodem was rescued around 8.15am. She informed the authorities that she had become separated by currents from the other three divers.

Around 1am on Friday 8 April, Chesters and Molina were plucked out of the water, some 50 miles from where they were last seen. He spoke to the Malaysian Coastguard, and told them that his son had become too weak to hold out and died while they were adrift.

As it was thought the boy would have drifted into Indonesian waters, the Indonesian authorities initially continued the search for the teenager’s body, but that has now been called off.

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$8.5 MILLION FOR CAPE YORK REEF PROJECTS

Cape York Water Partnership (CYWP) has launched an $8.5 million Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program in Cooktown in a new initiative funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Four eastern Cape York land management organisations will undertake land-based work to minimise erosion and sediment run-off to Great Barrier Reef waterways.

Coordinated by CYWP, the eight projects cover 631,000 ha of eastern Cape York in the coastal catchments of the Annan, Endeavour, McIvor, Starke, Jeannie, Howick, Wakooka, and Muck rivers.

The projects, which address key threats to water quality in eastern Cape York including erosion from fire, roads, tracks and gullies, will be delivered by Yuku Baja Muliku, South Endeavour Trust, South Cape York Catchments and Cape York Water Partnership.

Cape York Water Partnership Program Director Dr Christina Howley said receiving funding for the Eastern Cape York Water Quality Program recognised many years of research and advocacy from eastern Cape York land managers and provided significant opportunities for local organisations to address the key threats to water quality.

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said the Great Barrier Reef is an irreplaceable ecosystem, but poor water quality from land run-off is a significant threat to its health.

“This water quality improvement program is the first major investment of its kind for the Eastern Cape York region, bringing together and building on many years of effort by Traditional Owners, councils, landholders, local scientists and conservation groups to foster healthy land and water to benefit our Great Barrier Reef,” Ms Marsden said.

The program runs until June 2024. To find out more contact coordinator@capeyorkwaterpartnership.org

SCUBA SCENE LIVEABOARD DESTROYED BY FIRE

Red Sea diving liveaboard Scuba Scene has been gutted by a fire that broke out soon after its departure from Hurghada, but according to reports from Egypt all guests and crew were evacuated unharmed (apart from some smoke inhalation), and taken ashore to safety. The 43-metre steel-hulled vessel had been scheduled to begin a one-week Red Sea trip on a ‘Northern & Tiran’ itinerary on Monday 18 April when the fire broke out. It is believed to have started in the engine room.

Launched in 2011, the four-deck Scuba Scene was built to accommodate up to 26 divers in nine twin cabins and four suites. It was operated by technical diver and instructor Ahmed Fadel and marine biologist and shark diver Elke Bojanowski, both of whom hosted Scuba Scene diving safaris. Their emphasis on the liveaboard’s compliance with ‘the most rigorous safety standards in the Red Sea’ would appear to have paid off in terms of the reported safe evacuation of everyone on board during the emergency.

Scuba Scene’s safety specification included life-jackets, three life-rafts, fireextinguishers in every cabin, saloon, kitchen, engine-room and all public areas, a fire-fighting and alarm system and smoke-detectors throughout.

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KIDS AND SAFE DIVING Teaching children to dive and exposing them to the ocean can be a rewarding experience for everyone involved. But it’s important to remember that children are not miniature adults. Additional precautions and considerations will be required.

With a sound understanding of a young diver’s developing physiological and psychological needs, dive professionals, parents and children can work together to create a safe and enriching dive experience.

Physiological concerns

Every child develops differently and at different rates. Similar to adults, children should not have any medical conditions that could affect their safety, they should be physically capable of managing equipment and the environment, they should be comfortable in the water, they should understand how to react to different situations, they should grasp basic dive skills, and above all, they should have an interest in diving. Here are some physiological considerations to understand: • A child’s organs and systems are developing at various rates, and conditions like childhood asthma underscore how pulmonary function is still evolving.

• Because a child’s Eustachian tubes are immature, children are predisposed to ear infections and could have an increased risk of middle-ear barotrauma. It’s also harder for children to equalise.

• Children burn more calories and could be more prone to hypothermia once calorie stores are exhausted.

• The risks of diving do not discriminate based on age or experience, so the general risks of barotrauma, decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, panic and traumatic events still exist.

Even more significant are the concerns related to children’s developing maturity, cognitive abilities, patience, discipline and naturally short attention spans. Should an emergency arise, children may not have the capacity to react reasonably and calmly. If panic sets in, a child might bolt straight to the surface, putting themselves in danger of a decompression event. In addition, juggling the many responsibilities of a dive could be overwhelming, and a child may not fully grasp the invisible risks of diving. While children and adolescents may grasp scuba concepts in classrooms, they may have difficulty exercising the skills in real-life scenarios.

Most experts agree that most children can dive safely so long as there is strict adherence to the recommendations concerning training, supervision and scope of diving dictated by major training agencies.

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HOW DIVE PROFESSIONALS CAN HELP TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

T

he thing about climate change is that it is a difficult pill to swallow.

For example, if we do not limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C within the next decade, we could see a loss of up to 99% of the world’s coral reefs, the disappearance of seagrass meadows and kelp forests, and a global redistribution of marine species.

Not to mention a serious increase in the intensity (and frequency) of cyclones and coastal flooding. And the fact that humans are responsible for all this? It’s overwhelming to say the least. For this reason, although most people are aware and concerned about the impacts of climate change (according to the Peoples Climate Vote), many people do not feel motivated to take action.

But here’s the thing – we still have time to act. And the good news? We all have a role to play. Here are three important roles for dive professionals in the fight against climate change:

The trusted messenger (raising awareness)

The problem with sharing information about climate change (and its solutions) is that nobody trusts the messenger.

Scientists? Maybe. The media? Fake news. Politicians? Ha! What the climate movement desperately needs is trusted messengers – people who can speak with authority but without hidden agendas, people who can connect climate change to personal experiences, and people with whom we can relate. And who better to pass on the message of climate change than those whose livelihoods depend on it? Who play among the rays, turtles, and sharks knowing that one day they may not be able to? Who better to raise awareness of rising ocean temperatures and sea levels than those who have seen our impact on the ocean first-hand?

People already trust dive professionals to keep them alive underwater. It’s not a stretch to say they’ll trust their words on climate change too.

The experience broker (connecting with nature) Any dive professional knows the look on someone’s face when they surface from their

first underwater experience. Joy. Disbelief. Magic - a whole new world beneath the waves. Research suggests that nature experiences, particularly transformative nature experiences, can positively influence environmental attitudes and behaviours. This includes the extent to which one engages with climate change. It therefore follows that those who facilitate these experiences (ie, dive professionals) have a tremendous role to play. Imagine if, after opening someone’s eyes to the underwater world, you then provide them with the tools they can use to help protect it? If after every dive, you could shape the actions that people take when they get home? It’s a huge responsibility, but one I know will be embraced for sure.

The networker (mobilising communities)

Last but not least, being a dive professional comes with one huge advantage – we are a global network. Yes, it’s true that addressing climate change will require strong political will to phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy, but it’s also true that people have power, especially if we act together. And that’s where the global dive network comes in.

There are currently an estimated 6 million active divers per year, with at least 30 million people certified since the 1970s.

There are dive centres in almost every country and, be it through dive organisations, colleagues, or business partners – we are all connected. In sharing stories, experiences, and tangible climate solutions across this global network, dive professionals can help to mobilise ocean-climate citizens.

About the author: Yolanda Lee Waters

Yolanda is a dive instructor turned environmental social scientist, community organiser and ocean advocate. She is currently completing her PhD at the Queensland University of Technology. Her current research explores pathways to engagement with climate related behaviours, within the context of the GBR. She is a member of the Social Science Community for the Reef and is the community co-ordinator for the community-led initiative Divers for Climate. n

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Blizzard Ridge in Lighthouse Bay is named for the abundance of glassfish that turn the site into a snow blizzard. With a maximum depth of 14m, it is also known for its impressive fish life as well as regular sightings of reef sharks and sea snakes

Western Australia is Australia’s largest state, with a total land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). It is the secondlargest country subdivision in the world, surpassed only by Russia’s Sakha Republic, with 79% of the population living in the Perth area.

Shoal of Fish, Ningaloo Reef © Tourism Western Australia © @jesshaddenphoto

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Exploring the

coast

Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef is famous mainly for whaleshark encounters, but the region has much more to offer divers, from the abundant marine life of Exmouth Navy Pier to the soft coral wonders of the Murion Islands - Diveplanit Travel’s Deborah Dickson-Smith provides a guide to WA’s Coral Coast Photographs by Dive Ningaloo and Tourism Western Australia

The beauty of diving in Western Australia is that you can do it year round. Whether you plan to visit in whaleshark season (Mar-Sep) to get up close with the ocean’s biggest fish, or in Dec to Mar to catch the turtle mating season, you won’t be disappointed any time of year.

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Snorkellers using DPVs

The unusual coastline of Western Australia

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he UNESCO Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, established in 2011, stretches from Carnarvon in the south to Exmouth in the north. This fringing reef here extends out from the shore for two to three kilometres and has a wide variety of topography and depth range. Diving areas are divided into two areas West Side and the Muiron Islands. Many dive sites can be accessed on day trips and can also be experienced on a liveaboard trip with Sail Ningaloo from Coral Bay.

Warroora Station, south of Coral Bay © Tourism Western Australia

Grouper surrounded by glassfish

Ningaloo’s West Side Story

West Side is situated on the western side of the Cape Range peninsula and is exposed to ocean swells that travel from South Africa. It has visibility anywhere between ten metres up to 40 metres depending on the time of year and weather conditions. West Side is where the whalesharks, humpback whales, manta rays, dugongs, spinner dolphins and orcas are usually sighted. The reef here is mainly made up of hard corals with large impressive structures and surge channels.

Blizzard Ridge in Lighthouse Bay is named for the abundance of glassfish that turn the site into a snow blizzard. With a maximum depth of 14m, it is also known for its impressive fish life as well as regular sightings of reef sharks and sea snakes. Also in Lighthouse Bay, Labyrinth is known for its regular turtle sightings and schools of striped snapper. Nearby Nick’s Lumps has three pinnacles that rise

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Vibrant marine growth

from 18m up to a depth of 10m at the top and has impressive hard coral structures. This is a large site with a big area to explore, worth diving more than once.

Beverly Hills is a deeper dive, from 16m-24m, and consists of large, dense rising coral structures. This vast site is great for seeing sharks and larger pelagic fish. Three Fins is a shallower dive, reaching a depth of 16m, and is known for its gullies and overhangs full of glassfish. The impressive Dave’s Bommies site comprises vast mounds of coral rising from 18m to 8m, home to a large amount of fish life and nudibranchs. Milyering Passage is a shallow dive of 7m on the inside of the lagoon with large Porites corals and many types of crustations sighted at night. Hole in the Wall has large swim-throughs, with big schools of fish to be found sheltering on the shadowy structure. This site has a maximum depth of 16m. At a depth of 18m, Mandu Pinnacles has classic spur and groove shaped coral channels and large schools of grazing convict surgeonfish. Sand Patch is a shallower dive at around 6m-12m, a large sandy bottom fringed by overhangs and hard corals. Reef sharks and manta rays are commonly sighted.

Floats is around 12m-14m deep with varying structure, rocky outcrops and large hard corals. A good site for spotting mantas and turtles. Dibley’s Drop Off is further out from the reef edge, ranging from 16m-24m with swimthroughs full of cod. Gulliver’s in Lighthouse Bay is around

Milyering Passage is a shallow dive of 7m on the inside of the lagoon with large Porites corals and many types of crustations sighted at night Predators swarm around the corals

Manta rays and turtle

Quobba Station, north of Carnarvon © Tourism Western Australia

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Hard corals

14m deep and a good spot for more unusual marine life such as frogfish and mantis shrimp in the rocky outcrops.

Muiron Islands Signature Sites

The Muiron Islands are located on the edge of the Exmouth Gulf. The Gulf is located on the Eastern side of Cape Range peninsular, and water flows in and out of the Gulf past the Muiron Islands, providing an abundance of nutrients that makes the islands a soft coral paradise. Visibility at the islands is anywhere between eight to 20 metres and depths range from 5m-20m. The Exmouth Gulf and the Muiron Islands are predominantly known for the soft coral gardens and micro fauna such as nudibranchs, however humpback whales and manta rays also use the protected waters to rest and feed. Cod Spot is on the west side of South Muiron island. This site is one of the deeper sites at the islands with a maximum depth of 16m. The Muiron Islands are known for their rich, healthy and vibrant soft corals . Cod Spot is aptly named for sightings of many different species of cod as well as having a large rock cleaning station with a good chance of seeing manta rays.

Fraggle Rock is a shallow site, between 8m-12m and comprises two large pinnacles covered in soft corals. Look for nudibranchs as you circle the pinnacles. Aquarium features a lovely overhang covered in sea fans and a swimthrough. Depths range from 12m to reef top at 5m, great for hanging out with beautiful coral during your safety stop.

Whalebone is a favourite among divers. Large swimthroughs and an abundance of soft corals are a highlight at this shallow site. Maximum 8m allowing for lots of light and perfect for photography. Seeing this site at night is completely different as the feather stars and other echinoderms are active and the swim throughs are mesmerising in the dark.

Freediver at Blizzard Ridge

Shoal of Fish at Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay © Tourism Western Australia © @jakewiltonphotoon

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Aerial view of snorkellers

Warroora Station, south of Coral Bay © Tourism Western Australia

The Spit is on the west side of North Muiron and features three large swim-throughs filled with glassfish. Maximum depth on this wall dive is 18m, the reef top covered with soft coral gardens. The Maze named as such as the whole sites features tunnels and swim-throughs linking to each other.

Maximum depth 12m and again featuring plenty of the soft corals that the west side of these islands are known for.

East Side Bommies has a maximum depth of 8m and is known for its many huge porites coral bommies. These corals are impressive at around 500 years old. A great dive for macro photography, with numerous nudibranch, shrimps, cowries, tube worms and crabs.

Exmouth Navy Pier

Exmouth’s Navy Pier is best described as an aquarium without glass and has a reputation as one of the top 10 shore dives in the world, primarily due the abundant and biodiverse marine life found here.

Over 200 fish species have been identified under the Pier and as with any jetty dive, underwater navigation is easy. The pier structure itself is covered in soft corals you could spend several days diving the site and not be bored. Expect to see wobbegongs, giant potato cod, lion, angler, stone and scorpion fish; moray eels, octopus, large schools of trevally and huge rays dozing in the sand.

Swimming Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), Ningaloo Marine Park © Tourism Western Australia

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DIVE NINGALOO REEF WITH EXMOUTH DIVE & WHALE SHARKS

Australia’s iconic Ningaloo Reef is a pristine aquatic wonderland. Home to an abundance of marine life including dolphins, manta rays, turtles, humpback whales and of course whale sharks. Exmouth Dive & Whale Sharks have the experience and knowledge that will ensure you have an experience of a lifetime.

For more information about diving at Ningaloo Reef with Exmouth Dive & Whale Sharks, contact the team of experts at Diveplanit Travel. diveplanit.com phone: 1800 607 913 email: enquire@diveplanit.com

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Snorkeller exploring the shallows

A vision of purple on the reef

Aerial shot of Coral Bay

Coral Bay © Tourism Western Australia

Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay © Tourism Western Australia © @huntingforparadise

Ningaloo Reef’s remarkable eco-system attracts hundreds of whalesharks with its abundance of naturally-occurring food that starts with the annual spawning of coral in March As the pier is still a working naval base, and to protect the amazing diversity of fish life, all dives must be guided, and though neither navigation nor depth are challenging, the dive site is subject to tidal flow, and Navy Pier can only be dived at slack water. Dive guests should have a minimum of Open Water certification and logged at least 30 dives.

During their migration cycle, over 40,000 humpbacks use Ningaloo as a resting area between the the northern feeding grounds and their Antarctic home. Again, spotter planes are used to locate the gentle giants before the tour operators head out, and guests have a choice of watching them from the boat or swimming with them in small groups.

Whaleshark Swims

Abrolhos Islands

Ningaloo Reef’s remarkable eco-system attracts hundreds of whalesharks with its abundance of naturally-occurring food that starts with the annual spawning of coral in March, and continues with the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters from the continental shelf that lies beneath Ningaloo. With plankton drifting closer to the surface, whalesharks gather en masse at Ningaloo to take advantage of easy, abundant feeding.

There are a number of tour operators to choose from for a whaleshark encounter, most of which send out spotter planes each morning to locate the sharks before heading out, with some including Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks offering a ‘Whaleshark Good Swim Guarantee’.

Humpback Whale Swims

Thousands of humpback whales grace waters off Exmouth from June through to the end of October, as they make their migratory journey north from the Antarctic for mating and calving, and return south for the summer feeding grounds.

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Further south, the city of Geraldton is the jump-off point for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Lying in the stream of western Australia’s warm, southward-flowing Leeuwin Current, expect to both tropical and temperate marine life as well as marine mammals like the Australian sea lion, bottlenose dolphins and green turtles. Sea lions can be seen playing in the waters or basking on coral beaches in the sun at Peos Island, and if you’re visiting between July and October, keep your eyes peeled for migrating humpback whales.

The Abrolhos Islands are also famous for wrecks. The beautiful but treacherous reef-surrounded atolls have claimed many ships over the centuries, the most notable being the Batavia in 1629. Divers can explore the Batavia shipwreck site on a three-to-five-day liveaboard trip with Eco Abrolhos Cruises, although the dive is weather dependent. n For more information on diving Western Australia’s Coral Coast, contact the team of experts at Diveplanit.com

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IS 2022 THE YEAR TO BOOK YOUR ‘BUCKET LIST’ DIVE TRIP?

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fter two long years of border closures and lockdowns, many of us are starting to think about enjoying the here and now, while we still can, and booking those big ‘bucket list’ trips!

In fact, many resorts and liveaboards in these ‘bucket list’ destinations are already heavily booked through to 2024!

Here are a few ideas for the here and now…

Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Located 550km off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Cocos Island is one of the most spectacular dive sites in the world. Being so far offshore, similar to the Galapagos Islands 1,000km further south, Cocos is an oceanic island offering divers a pelagic experience. The presence of cleaner fish attracts large schools of hammerhead and other shark species as well as many other pelagics, including barracuda, giant trevally and jacks. Oceanic manta rays and whalesharks are also known to feed in the nutrient-rich waters.

Cocos Island is both tectonic and volcanic in origin and its remote oceanic location means it is only accessible by liveaboard. The island has about 20 dive sites all in compact locations, from shallow to steep vertical walls, to whitetip feeding frenzies and schools of snapper and grunts.

Galapagos, Ecuador

This remote volcanic archipelago is considered one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing, above and below water. Its isolated terrain shelters a wide diversity of plant and animal species, many found nowhere else. Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and his observation of Galápagos’ species later inspired his theory of evolution.

There are fantastic dives on many of the islands, though several islands are stand outs, including Darwin Island where there are often huge schools of pelagic species including hammerhead and Galapagos sharks, as well as some whimsical geologic formations. El Arco is renowned as one of the best dives in the world. On Isabela Island you can swim with sea lions and penguins and at Roca Redonda, sharks teem around an underwater volcano. The endemic wildlife here is spectacular and are completely contained within this detached location. You can expect to see marine iguanas, fur seals, and penguins during a dive, as well as manta rays and tunas.

Socorro, Mexico

On the east coast of Mexico, sailing to Socorro takes around 20 to 26 hours and the main attraction here is the population of giant oceanic manta rays that come regularly to the island’s cleaning stations from November through to June.

From February to April, you can also expect to see humpback whales and from April to June, schooling hammerheads. There are also common sightings of silky, Galapagos, hammerhead, whitetip and silvertip sharks, and whalesharks are usually spotted at the beginning of and the latter part of the season.

A highlight is the dive site Roca O’Neal, or Hammerhead Central, a pinnacle with a plateau at about 10m, where you can basically sit and watch the many shark species pass by in the current. Photographers may also wish to explore the cavern below.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Being both remote and having one of the lowest population densities makes diving Raja Ampat simply stunning in respect of the unspoiled nature of the marine environment.

It breaks records for biodiversity of all types of species from coral to fish and several Marine Protected Areas have been established.

Raja Ampat means Four Kings and refers to the four principal islands of Batanta, Misool, Salawati and Waigeo.

There are plenty of resorts and liveaboards offering diving throughout the area. Raja Ampat can be dived any time of year, the water temperature being between 28° and 30°C. It can be a windy between mid-June to September, so the liveaboard season runs from November to April.

Bikini Atoll, Micronesia

Located in the remote Marshall Islands near Micronesia, Bikini Atoll is one of the world’s most famous wreck diving destinations. Between 1946 and 1958 the US tested 67 nuclear bombs here, most notably during ‘Operation Crossroads’. Nowhere else can you dive such a fantastic collection of wrecks, including battleships, submarines, destroyers, and most notably the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. Over 60 years later, this nuclear ghost fleet rest in clear blue water and have since become home to an abundance of marine life with thriving reefs and corals. The region has only been open to diving since 1996, making this destination a one-of-a-kind combination of historic wrecks in a remote and otherwise untouched tropical paradise. n Talk to Diveplanit Travel’s experts to plan your bucket list dive trip! Diveplanit.com Email: enquire@diveplanit.com Phone: 1800 607 913 Dive Clubs: we offer the best group rates for resorts and liveaboards. Contact groups manager jess@diveplanit.com for more information.

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These days around 40% of the Fijian population are of Indian descent. Fiji was colonised by the British between 1874 and 1970.

Between 1879 and 1916 they gave 600,000 Indians free passage to Fiji in exchange for work on the sugarcane plantations.

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n 1 December 2021, Fiji reopened its borders to foreign travellers after being closed for almost two years. Fiji was one of the first countries in the Asia Pacific region to welcome back tourists, an essential part of the economy. Before the pandemic, tourism represented 40% of Fijis GDP, and over 35% of the country’s people were employed in the tourism industry.

Fiji comprises over 330 islands and offers a huge variety of diving. It also lays claim to being the ‘soft coral capital of the world’. Many tourists who visit this tiny Pacific nation are divers, drawn here by the warm waters, stunning corals, and abundant marine life. So, when the opportunity arose to dive the legendary Bligh Waters, whose reefs are regarded as having the best soft corals in Fiji, I was intrigued to discover if the reality lived up to the hype. The Bligh Waters, named after Lieutenant William Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame, refer to the channel between Fiji’s two largest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Vast amounts of water move through this channel,

Fantastic Adrian Stacey heads out to Fiji to see if the country deserves its title of the ‘soft coral capital of the world’, and at Volivoli Beach Resort, he finds his answer Photographs by Adrian Stacey and Volivoli Beach Resort

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bringing a wealth of nutrients up from the deep, sustaining a thriving ecosystem and rampant coral growth.

One of the best places to explore the Bligh Waters is from Volivoli Beach Resort, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Nadi airport. Located on a headland at the northern tip of Viti Levu and built with divers in mind, this sprawling family-run resort occupies a lush hill covered in wellmanicured tropical gardens. All of the 33 rooms and villas have spectacular ocean views, and four of the villas even boast a private pool. Plus, there is a first-class restaurant, a massive pool with a swim-up bar, and a beach bar and restaurant next to the dive centre. The dive centre itself is outstanding; for me, as a photographer, the highlight is a 14-person camera room complete with individual charging stations and air guns. The compressor room is spotless, and the dive centre is well laid out and well maintained.

Volivoli, or Ra Divers as the dive operation is known, have five boats in total, and there are nine different regions with a choice of over 80 dive sites. Closest to the resort are the Volivoli House Reefs; these shore dives directly in front of the dive centre are very convenient and offer excellent

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muck diving. Seahorses, nudibranchs, octopi, scorpionfish, sea pens and much more can be found here.

A short five- to ten-minute boat ride away is the small island of Nananu I Ra; this sheltered location is excellent for courses and beginner divers with its shallow reefs, gentle sloping walls and coral bommies covered in soft corals.

The island is also the location of the Papuan Explorer, one of two wrecks in the area. The other wreck, the MV Ovalau II, is located at Vatulaca Reef, also only a ten-minute boat ride from the resort. This reef is a maze of tunnels, swimthroughs, and passageways adorned with soft and hard corals. The reef is teeming with fish, and both grey and whitetip reef sharks are often spotted here. Cakau Kabola is a 20-minute journey by boat, and this relatively new area to Ra Divers is an excellent all-weather option. Great for drift dives with walls plastered with both soft and hard corals.

A little further away, about 25 minutes from Volivoli, is Malake Passage. The reef here is home to a resident pod of spinner dolphins.

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One of the most-iconic beverages from Fiji is referred to as Kava and not only is it a traditional drink but it is the country’s national drink.

The major ingredient in the making of Kava is the ground root of a plant that belongs to the pepper family.

Fiji’s reefs provide a riot of colour

The towering hard coral pinnacles and reef structure make this an excellent place for diving and snorkelling.

A few minutes away from Malake Passage is Charydbis Reef; this horseshoe-shaped reef has a topography of sloping soft coral walls, home to various reef fish, scorpionfish and lionfish. This is also a great place to see pelagics like eagle rays and sharks.

In the opposite direction, about a 45-to-50-minute boat ride from the resort, is the Vatu I Ra marine reserve, the largest reserve in Fiji. This marine reserve encompasses the Vatu I Ra Island, its surrounding barrier reefs and the deep channel that runs through them, the Vatu I Ra Passage. This

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marine protected zone is prone to strong currents, and its reefs are covered in soft corals and teeming with life.

Just outside the marine reserve is the Nukurauvula Passage. This reef is more sheltered and home to impressive coral formations and plenty of sharks.

Midway Reef is about halfway between the resort and the marine reserve; this area is excellent for its variety of marine life, pristine hard coral gardens, and superb sea fans.

We were visiting Fiji towards the end of the cyclone season. On our first day of diving, the skies were heavy with dark grey clouds that sat menacingly on the surrounding mountain tops, and strong southerly winds rendered most of the sites undiveable. Fortunately, the Nukurauvula Passage was sheltered enough to make diving possible, and although the 30-minute journey there and back was not the smoothest, the diving was terrific. The reef consists mainly of hard corals but a generous smattering of sea fans and soft corals. The first dive site consisted of several substantial pinnacles covered in corals and home to several anemones and resident clownfish. As we weaved among the pinnacles, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks were ever-present. Our second dive was along a wall which turned into a steep slope at about 25m. Again, the hard coral was in excellent condition, and more curious blacktip reef sharks joined us.

Our eagled-eyed dive guide even found a large stonefish perched on top of the reef.

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Vivid anthias swarm over the reef

Overhang shrouded in soft corals Everywhere is covered in marine growth

At the end of the dive was a wall covered in a luxurious carpet of yellow soft corals, which was simply spectacular. We had arrived at the ‘soft coral capital of the world’ The following day the skies cleared, and the wind dropped off, so we headed out to the Vatu I Ra marine park. The first day of diving had been excellent, and although there had been a reasonable amount of soft coral, there was not really enough to convince me that Fiji deserves the title of ‘soft coral capital of the world’. The Marine Park was about to change this opinion emphatically. At a dive site called Instant Replay, we descend onto a sloping reef littered with coral bommies. As we drifted along the site, each bommie was more extravagantly decorated in vivid soft corals, like an underwater version of the Rio Carnival; each bommie appeared to try and outdo the other with its outlandish display. However, all the stunning bommies were building up towards the breathtaking finale. At the end of the dive was a wall covered in a luxurious carpet of yellow soft corals, which was simply spectacular. We had arrived at the ‘soft coral capital of the world’.

The second dive at Mellow Yellow was equally impressive. This considerable coral pinnacle is covered in

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the jacket of yellow soft corals with a similarly impressive hat of hard corals at its summit. Like on the first dive, the reef pulsed with thousands of anthias, and where the current hit the reef, large schools of fusiliers avoided the attention of wahoo, sharks and trevallies. These reefs are best dived with some current. The fish are much more active, the predators are a lot more interested, and most importantly, the soft corals are out in all of their glory On another trip to the marine park, we explored two more stunning sites, Potluck and Purple Haze. Potluck was a patchwork of colour and bustling activity. As the name suggests, the soft corals that adorned the jagged walls of Purple Haze were predominately purple. As usual, the reef was alive with anthias and various reef fish, plus grey reef sharks, wahoo and jacks.

During our visit, we also explored Midway Reef. This is another of the many dive locations outside the marine park, and the hard corals here were magnificent. Heart Break Ridge was particularly impressive. This vast reef starts at

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around 10 meters and drops to approximately 25m. Towards the end of the reef are two large swim-throughs/caves which sprout a forest of sea fans. The top of the ridge is covered in hard corals and trevallies and wahoo constantly harried simmering wall of baitfish. At one end of the ridge, a small pinnacle conveniently rose to around 5m from the surface, offering an excellent place for a safety stop while still exploring the reef.

There is also plenty to do and see for non-divers or divers who want to explore the island and off-gas.

Paddleboards and kayaks are available, and the mangroves that fringe some of the resort are a great place to snorkel.

On one of our non-diving days I went on the dolphinwatching trip out to Malake Passage. Soon after arriving at the reef, the boat was surrounded by a large pod of spinner dolphins that subsequently frolicked with the boat for at least half an hour. Once they had tired of us, we went for a snorkel. The tops of the reef are only about 3m from the surface and covered in hard corals and anemones; we even saw a couple of whitetip reefs sharks down in the depths.

For an almost completely dry day, we visited the Nabalasere waterfall, which is the tallest in Fiji. After about an hour and a half drive, we arrived at a village nestled in a rainforest-covered mountain. After the custom of asking one of the village elders for permission to visit the waterfall, we set off on a 30-minute hike to our destination, joined by half the village. The Fijians are incredibly friendly and were genuinely interested in chatting to us for the entire trip; they

Divers will not know where to look

The dive staff were also fun, professional and passionate about diving, and due to the remote location, we were always the only boat on the dive site Volivoli Beach Resort

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Fiji’s territory is comprised of 332 islands. Apart from the large number of islands, Fiji also has at least 500 islets, with most owing their formation to volcanic activity which began in the approximate region of 150,000,000 years ago.

Every colour of the rainbow

Pristine hard corals

also insisted on carrying our bags, and even my youngest son when he claimed he could not walk any further. The waterfall itself is stunning, and after getting drenched under these mighty falls, we spent some time swimming in some of the nearby plunge pools. This was a great day out and an enjoyable cultural experience.

Our stay with Volivoli was exceptional. The fact that the resort is on the mainland and there is no need to catch connecting flight to another island is a real bonus.

In addition, the food was excellent, the resort staff were extremely friendly and could not do enough to help. The dive staff were also fun, professional and passionate about diving, and due to the remote location, we were always the only boat on the dive site.

The soft corals in Fiji and, in particular, the Bligh Waters are phenomenal, and it is easy to see why this is called the ‘soft coral capital of the world’, but what surprised me was the health of the reefs in general and not just the ones in the Marine Reserve. The hard corals at the dive sites we visited were just as impressive as the soft corals. Far from being a one-trick pony, the Bligh Waters offers a huge variety of diving on pristine reefs. With vastly differing topographies and marine animal encounters. Soft coral capital of the world, sure! But also, so much more! n

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Discover the world’s ‘soft coral capital’

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN A PADI DIVEMASTER AND A PADI INSTRUCTOR?

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re you thinking about transitioning from scuba diving being a hobby to making it a career? Are you trying to decide whether becoming a PADI Divemaster or PADI Instructor is the right role for you? If you are feeling the calling to become a PADI Professional, it’s important to understand the difference between working as a Divemaster and an Instructor. Both of these positions play an important part in the diving industry but in very different ways.

PADI Divemaster

A Divemaster is primarily a ‘dive leader’, who leads and is responsible for the safety of other certified divers. If you’ve ever taken an overseas trip where you’ve been allocated a dive guide, they are most likely a Divemaster. They know the dive sites like the back of their hand and they organize groups, logistics, and they manage any issues that might occur. They are responsible for the planning, dive briefings, rental gear allocation, boat co-ordination as well as the activities underwater.

PADI Divemasters are also able to assist PADI Instructors with courses, from the PADI Open Water Diver course through to continuing education courses. However, a Divemaster may not teach PADI core courses independently.

So, if you want to lead dives and assist Instructors, (but teaching is not your calling), the PADI Divemaster is the right choice for you.

In order to become a Divemaster you must be 18 years of age or older, fit to dive, and hold the following certifications: Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and have your current EFR Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and first aid). You must also log 40 dives before you can start the PADI Divemaster program and 60 logged dives before the course is complete.

The PADI Divemaster course will take your dive skills to the next level as well as learning about planning and coordinating trips, reviewing your rescue skills and learning how a dive operation works from the inside.

Open Water Scuba Instructor

A PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor is able to teach all PADI core courses from Open Water Diver up to PADI Divemaster level. The primary role of an Instructor is to teach, although in some areas, Instructors will also guide certified divers on dive trips.

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As a diving Instructor you have the ability to give someone the gift of becoming a scuba diver! You also help people to build confidence, overcome fears and experience an entirely new world. If you are a people-person and you like to teach, then this is the role for you.

To become a PADI Instructor you will first need to gain your PADI Divemaster certification. PADI Divemasters with at least 100 logged dives are able to enrol in a PADI IDC (Instructor Development Course). The IDC also includes the PADI Assistant Instructor course as well as the Instructor component. If you are short on time or finances, you are able to take the IDC in two steps by becoming an Assistant Instructor first and then an Instructor later.

During your PADI IDC you will learn how to conduct PADI courses in a safe and professional manner and you’ll build on the skill demonstrations you learnt in the PADI Divemaster course. You will also gain a better understanding of the diver educational and training programs offered by PADI. Upon successful completion of the IDC you’ll take a PADI IE (Instructor Examination) to confirm that you have understood and can carry out what you learned during the IDC. Have you decided which is the right career for you? Learn more about the PADI Divemaster and Open Water Scuba Instructor course at www.padi.com so you can start your scuba diving career! n

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Mustard’s MASTERCLASS Alex Mustard explains the importance of lenses and lighting when it comes to getting decent underwater photographs Photographs courtesy of Alex Mustard / www.amustard.com

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ontinuing the gear theme, I want to turn attention now to optics and strobes, which have always had far more of impact on the quality of underwater pictures than cameras and housings. I stress the point because photographers constantly get this wrong. Time and again new underwater photographers buy the most-expensive camera they can afford and then mistakenly try and skimp on lenses and lighting.

Underwater the biggest limitation on image quality is that we take photos through water and the more water (which is never as clear as air) we have to shoot through, the poorer our images. The right lenses, like wide angles and macro lenses, allow us to photograph big scenes and tiny details through as little water as possible, massively boosting image quality.

Compact cameras have zoom lenses, but most are neither wide enough nor close focusing enough. These cameras are really transformed by adding supplementary wide angle and close-up lenses, known as wet lenses, because they are fully waterproof and can be added and removed underwater. SLR and mirrorless cameras have interchangeable lenses (usually wide angle and macro), and can be used with some specialist wet lenses too (such as close up lenses used for supermacro photography). It is also worth mentioning that not all lenses are created equal and a quality optic will better resolve fine features and capture richer colours, so a little research is well worth the time.

Wide angle lenses usually cause the most consternation. For me the most-important underwater lens is the fisheye. These are the widest lenses available simply allowing us to shoot the biggest scenes through the least water. Fisheye lenses do create bendy images (known as barrel distortion), but in practice this is rarely noticeable with underwater subjects, and on the rare occasions it is, it can be corrected with the flick of a switch in processing software. A fisheye is also the perfect tool for closefocus wide angle, arguably the most-important type

of underwater photo (we’ll look at this technique in detail in a couple of month’s time). Fisheyes are great for scenery, divers, wrecks, fish schools and more, but for big animal shooting a wide angle zoom lenses is top. So most photographers end up owning both types of wide angle. In recent year, more serious photographers have gravitated towards watercorrected optics, like Nauticam WWL and WACP systems, as their wide angle zooms.

Which brings us to the second major impact on underwater image quality – that using a camera designed to work in air and shooting subjects in the water creates a host of optical problems. Fortunately, underwater equipment manufacturers have been tackling these for decades, and you don’t necessarily need to understand ‘virtual images’, ‘chromatic aberrations’ or ‘field curvature’, but you do need to aim your credit card at the right products for your system, which will include the correct spacer or extension ring behind your dome port, an appropriately sized dome port for your camera (full frame sensors require bigger domes) and even ports and lenses, like those mentioned above, that are specifically designed to work underwater.

As all divers know it gets bluer the deeper we go.

This is the other important effect of water on light - that water absorbs the different colours of light at different rates, with warm light disappearing first and blue light reaching deepest. This is the main reason we need to use artificial light underwater, because without it our pictures are not so colourful.

A common mistake is to think that powerful diving torches can be used instead of strobes. They cannot.

They are inferior in just about every photographic measure and although bright to our eyes, their power isn’t suited to cameras and they are only really useful in very dark places, such as caves, or on night dives. As such, serious underwater photographers should have two strobes, which allows us to create both natural, even illumination and a range of create lighting effects. If possible, buy a matched pair when

If you typically dive in dark places there is little need for big strobes

The wider the lens, the bigger the scene we can shoot from as close as possible

There is no perfect underwater strobe because conditions and the requirements of the shot vary, although some come far closer than others

you start, they will be much easier to balance than two totally different flashguns. There is no perfect underwater strobe because conditions and the requirements of the shot vary, although some come far closer than others. Most underwater photos are taken from very close range and this makes it critical to have sofwt light, especially for wide angle. Diffusers are very important, they spread and soften the light and help us achieve natural looking lighting, free from hotspots. Strobes produce white light, but different models are biased to warmer or cooler colours. In blue water warmer light is highly desirable and we can use warming diffusers to help.

Strobe power is an area of much confusion.

While it is easy to argue that if you have powerful strobes you can always turn them down, it often means dragging around bulkier gear than you need and big strobes can be hard to position when working close to subjects. If you typically dive deep or in dark temperate waters, there is little need for loads of power. The same is true if you are a macro specialist. However, if you like shooting big pelagic animals and schools of fish in bright tropical waters, then you will benefit from bigger, more pricey strobes. With this in mind, carefully consider the style of diving you will do and shop accordingly.

Whenever I ask a room of underwater photographers if they think light is critical in photography, all the hands shoot straight up. I hope that this article helps you appreciate that a reverence for light is also important when choosing our underwater camera gear. n

Accessory wet-lens have roles in both wide angle and macro

Two strobes give us soft, even lighting, even when our subjects are very close

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PREPARED AND AWARE

Preparedness is essential in diving - with the right plans, protocols and mindset, both above and below the water, you’ll be set to take on just about any challenge. With many of us having spent an unusually long time out of the water, it’s even more important to ensure we are prepared Photographs by Stephen Frink

Expect the expected… and the unexpected

The more you know about your upcoming dives, the better off you’ll be. Look at recent reports and forecasts about the site’s weather and sea state, and ask yourself: Are your current skills and fitness up to the task? Currents, temperature and visibility change daily, so it’s important to know what you should be prepared for. A change in one or more of these variables could have a significant impact on your experience of the dive.

Limit distractions

While multi-tasking can be an easy way to get tasks done quickly, it can come at the expense of doing things well.

Execution of certain tasks requires our full attention to ensure they get done properly. It’s also important to limit distractions and prioritise tasks based on their importance.

A great example would be avoiding assembling gear during a dive briefing. While it may be easy to zone out and organise your gear, give the dive operator your full attention and set up your gear later - there will be time.

Make a list

While they may sound like a nuisance, checklists not only ensure tasks are completed but also serve as a form of accountability. When completed before dives, checklists have been shown to reduce errors, improve performance and enhance safety - for both divers and dive operators.

Standard predive procedures include review of equipment, the dive plan and responses to emergency events. You’re likely familiar with the predive safety check memory-aid BWRAF, but you may not know SEABAG, another useful reminder of some important predive considerations.

BWRAF: BCD, weights, releases, air and final OK

SEABAG: Site survey (entry, exit, hazards, etc.), emergency (preparation, equipment, etc.), activity (planned dive), buoyancy, air and gear and go. Predive checks and on-site checks are important for reducing incidents and ensuring safe and fun dives.

Drill your skills

Are you ready to take action in the event of an emergency?

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As a diver, you understand the risks that exist, but knowing is just part of the battle. From implementing the right first aid skills to simply keeping calm, how you respond in an emergency is imperative. Make sure you practice your skills routinely and refresh your first aid, CPR, and oxygen administration skills every couple of years.

EAPs

Emergency action plans (EAPs) are essential risk mitigation tools used by dive operators and professionals - but they are useful for recreational divers, too. While there is no one-sizefits-all format for an EAP, a personal EAP should consist of details about how to handle both medical and non-medical events. Actions taken may vary depending on the event, the location, and the individual - some situations may warrant calling for help first, while others may involve immediate provision of first aid. The EAP should include emergency equipment such as first aid kits, oxygen units, means of communication (and along with them, information such as phone numbers of local hospitals).

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When completed before dives, checklists have been shown to reduce errors, improve performance and enhance safety - for both divers and dive operators An EAP should be realistic enough that you can actually follow it, and it should be able to be adapted based on your location and circumstances.

Use your voice

Your voice is a powerful tool in keeping you, your dive buddy and everyone in your group safe throughout the dive. If at any point you feel uncomfortable with or underprepared for the dive, call it off. While you may feel bad about cancelling the fun, there is empowerment to be found in sticking up for yourself.

Beyond the dive, if you see something concerning about your dive operator, the conditions, how your buddy assembles gear, or anything else, say something. Speak up about your concerns. Shedding light on a potential risk could prevent a bad outcome.

Keep learning

Knowledge is power, and it’s important to stay proficient and skilled. Whether you’re interested in pursuing an advanced

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certification or just want to keep the rust at bay, find a course through your training agency. And tune in to information about interesting topics, whether on scuba forums, in your favourite dive magazines or in webinars.

Worth the work

All these precautions and protocols may sound cumbersome, but it’s amazing how quickly they can become second nature. And when safety is squared away, enjoyment is optimised.

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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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beyond technical

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Janez Kranjc explains the allure – and the challenges - of ice diving when he heads to Austria and Serbia on a photoshoot Photographs by Janez Kranjc and Ivana Orlovic

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ce diving - short to pronounce, but extremely challenging. It requires a bit of adventurous spirit, a lot of knowledge, a desire to get out of your comfort zone - and a crumb of madness. However, isn’t it a fact that every good diving day starts with the sentence ‘WTF I’m doing here?’

At the start of 2022, the year was showing all the ‘charms’ of a real winter.

The outside temperature had been in a serious minus for days, the snow had been falling and falling, with short intervals of calm, but still cold, weather. The ideal conditions to embark on an ice-diving adventure.

Weissensee Lake, Austria

As soon as you get out of the Karavanke tunnel, you enter Austria from Slovenia. It seemed to us that after coming out of the tunnel we fell into a real winter. The heavy amount of snow on the other side of the mountain seemed like the perfect winter scenery. Lake Weissensee was the target of our journey - one of the best places for ice diving in this part of Europe.

The lake itself is of glacial origin, and is located in the province of Kärnten, 945 metres above sea level. The town of Techendorf is located on the shores of the lake, with only a few hundred inhabitants, most of whom live from tourism. The lake is 11.6 kilometres long and 0.9 kilometres at its widest part. In total, there are about 27 kilometres of coastline. The northern part of the lake is inhabited, while the southern part is a ‘Nature Park’, which is wild and untouched. It is in that part that the greatest depth of the lake is about 100m, depending on the water level. The icy period begins in late-December and usually lasts until the first days of March. It is interesting that in that period, topside sports activities on the ice are very frequent. However, that is also the case under the icy surface...

The main person controlling the ice is the ‘Ice Master’. He checks the condition of the ice sheet every day and directs activities on the lake. It is up to him to approve the opening of diving holes, but also to ban any activity if he estimates that the ice is in bad condition. However, when the ice covers the lake during the winter, it generally remains stable and solid until the end of the season.

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Right above us was a gondola from which two black holes could be seen. If I ever imagined a gateway to another world, this was pretty much in line with my fantasies

Some people really love ice diving!

Below the surface of the water, the chief is Ernest Turnschek, owner of the diving centre Yacht Diver, which specializes in diving under the ice. Divers from all over Europe come to dive under the ice plate at this place and enjoy ice diving. The whole endeavour of such dives is very well organized here, including opening holes, transporting equipment on ice and security systems or The Serbian water had access to remote parts of the lake. Sledges, an eerie orange tint quads and snowmobiles are available. That is why some specific events are being organized here, such as breaking records for freediving under ice, or days of underwater photography and the water was of the usual greenish colour. We had under ice. Ernest and his experienced team are those who great sunny weather, with an outside temperature of a few make all of that possible. Interestingly, back in 1987, some degrees Celsius below zero. Indeed, almost ideal conditions scenes from the James Bond movie The Living Daylights for diving. were filmed on the lake.

The ice is usually 20-30cm thick, which enables safe Ribnica Lake, Serbia movement on its surface. Holes are cut with chainsaws, About 1,000km away from Weissensee, in the Balkans, in which use bio-oil for lubrication. Austrians take care of Serbia, on the mountain of Zlatibor, there is Ribnica Lake. nature protection in extreme detail. We had the opportunity This mountain is extremely rich in water, so the lake is fed by to dive in different parts of this lake and saw flooded forests, water from mountain streams and serves as a large reservoir rocky mouths of mountain streams, but also shallow areas of drinking water. Therefore, special permits are required to overgrown with reeds. Visibility was always 10-15 metres, dive in it. We got them relatively quickly and found out that we were the first to dive it in the winter, when it is covered with ice. It is 2km long and is located at an altitude of 956m.

Ivana heads off on an ice dive The maximum depth is about 25m.

Around our dive days, meteorologists announced a cold wave, which was supposed to cover the Balkans and Serbia.

On Zlatibor, the scale on the thermometer has been in minus for days, which was in our favour. Those were some of the coldest days during the winter of 2022. During the night, the temperature dropped to -20 degrees C. This made us happy on the one hand, because we knew that the ice would be of good quality, and on the other hand, we were worried about the diving equipment that could freeze.

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Computers • O2 Cells • Gas Analysers Cables & Connectors • Rebreather Parts PathFinder Strobes • Sensors Tools • Solenoids Ice diving requires a team of divers and handlers

This made us happy on the one hand, because we knew that the ice would be of good quality, and on the other hand, we were worried about the diving equipment that could freeze On the first day of diving, we were greeted by an idyllic winter landscape of a lake surrounded by snow and ice, and Zlatibor in its full beauty. Across the lake is a tourist gondola, which climbs all the way to the ski peak Tornik. We agreed with the crew of the gondola intermediate station to clear the way through the forest that descends to the lake. With such an open driveway, our vehicles descended almost to the ice sheet without any major problems. We decided to open two holes, one circular and the other classically triangular. Soon, the sound of a chainsaw was heard across the snow-covered meadows of Zlatibor.

Our team consisted of experienced and trained divers, so the opening of the holes went smoothly. Expectations that the ice would be solid were soon confirmed. The thickness of the ice plate was 15-20cm, which was enough for safe movement. Right above us was a gondola from which two black holes could be seen. If I ever imagined a gateway to another world, this was pretty much in line with my fantasies.

We were divided into two teams, whose tasks were to gather basic information about the conditions in the water under the ice and take photos. The water temperature of 2 degrees C. We soon noticed that the water, although dark, was extremely clear. Then came a surprise, when we realized that the surface was almost orange.

Professional underwater model Ivana Orlovic has posed in various seas, oceans, lakes and rivers around the planet, where the water is usually bluish, green or sometimes completely transparent, as if it does not exist, but this was

Ivana exploring beneath the Austrian ice

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the first time she had dived in perfectly transparent, orangeyellow water – the nearest place she had encountered similar water of this colour was in Mexican cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula.

The colour of the lake water is influenced by the type of sediment at the bottom (on Ribnica Lake, the bottom is made of characteristic orange dust), the amount of nutrients coming from the surrounding forests (in this case, conifers) and the presence of algae. As you descend deeper, the light almost completely disappears, but the vis becomes better and the water usually colourless. In those few dives, larger specimens of perch were noticed, and if the stories of sports fishermen are to be believed, the lake is very rich in fish. n

The challenges of ice diving

Ice diving can create all sorts of issues, and it can change from day to day. Our first diving day was sunny and cold, with an outside temperature of -17 degrees C, while the second day was slightly warmer (-10 degrees C), but cloudy and moderately windy. This caused us big problems because everything started to freeze. Ropes and BCDs became stiff, and regulators began to freeze on dry land. However, with the help of a few little tricks of the trade - and upon entering the water - every-thing started to work correctly again.

Organizing such dives is not easy. It requires precise planning and preparation of equipment. When you add photo shooting in icy conditions, things get even more complicated. Many small things can go wrong and make it difficult, or even completely impossible, for us to realize our plans. That is why it is important to plan everything well, stick to the plan, but also be ready for changes and improvisations in the field, depending on the conditions. You also need a healthy dose of good luck with the weather! During these icy adventures, the dice came together and our photoshoot went according to plan.

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Diving the south Terry Smith ventures to the South Andaman Sea aboard The Phinisi for a voyage with a distinctly marine conservation feel

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Photographs by Terry Smith and Huw Penson

was invited along to experience The Phinisi Dive Liveaboard on a four-day itinerary to the South Andaman Sea. Also on board was Marc Philippe from Oceans for All, a marine conservation foundation that was conducting a leopard shark expedition. This is my report on an amazing dive trip with a marine conservation theme.

Getting to Thailand

This was my first overseas trip since the COVID pandemic, so I was unsure of what to expect. I would be travelling under the Test & Go Program, for fully vaccinated travellers. This meant I had to be fully vaccinated, pre-book accommodation for five days starting from arrival, pre-book two PCR tests for day one and day five, pre-book an airport transfer and have COVID insurance with $50,000USD hospital coverage.

This info was uploaded to the government site and I was issued a QR code. The submitting process was very quick, but I will mention that you need to have jpgs for all documents so printing and taking a photo is the best option.

Already to go I set off from Melbourne, and flew through Singapore with Jetstar airlines. It was a simple check-in and the flight was about half full. The transit in Singapore was quiet with not many shops and food areas open. Unfortunately, it will be a while before this hub returns to a full-capacity facility.

Arriving in Thailand

I was unsure about the arrival, we had all this paperwork and needed to have a PCR test upon landing as well, so I was expecting it to be a long process.

Fortunately, this was not the case.

Straight off the plane staff guided us to a seating area and walked through helping us to make sure we had the correct paperwork out, ready, for each step involved. From here we joined a line and at the counter, showed our vaccination certificate, our PCR test from our departure country and the QR code we had

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Thailand is a year-round diving destination, but the season oscillates from coast to coast. From May-Nov, the best diving is found on the west coast in the Andaman Sea, and from Dec-Apr, the best diving is found on the east coast in the Gulf of Thailand.

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Diver checking out the Kled Kaew Wreck.

Check out all the fish!

A beautiful yellow seahorse in Tonsai Bay

The average depth of the Andaman Sea is about 1,000m. The northern and eastern parts are shallower than 180m due to the silt deposited by the Irrawaddy River. This major river flows into the sea from the north through Burma.

been issued. From here through immigration, collect the luggage and then to the testing area. Again, the staff were very helpful and guided us through. The lady even pointed out that I didn’t have to do the second PCR test as the rules had just changed and suggested I apply for a refund (which I did the next day). She also gave out a RAT test (which I was to take on day five) with the PCR test. The PCR testers were quick and efficient.

All up from leaving the plane to taking the taxi to the hotel, just over one hour, a very quick and efficient process. Very impressed as it was less time than my check-in in Melbourne!

Thailand currently

I packed all my gear up and was ready for the transfer down to the boat. I had arranged a transfer with The Phinisi directly and they had a taxi waiting for me at the pre-arranged time, for the drive down to Chalong Pier, the departure point. The Pier can be busy but there is enough space for everyone, and you need to take a second taxi down the pier so make sure you get off at the very end.

In 2014 she left the Maldives and returned to Phuket and was renamed Cheng I Sao – a legendary fearless female Chinese pirate that roamed the South China Sea

I stayed in Karon Beach for several nights and had my airport PCR test results arrive early the next morning.

It was negative, so I was able to move freely around Phuket, which I spent sightseeing and walking around.

Unfortunately, the whole island of Phuket has been hit hard by the lack of tourists with shops closed. There are signs of revival, and some areas are experiencing quicker recovery than others, but it will take time.

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Departure day

The Phinisi

The Phinisi (pronounced pin-ee-see) officially known as ‘Cheng I Sao’, has had a varied and well-travelled career. Custom built for diving in 2007 in Indonesia, she started her dive cruises to the Similans and Myanmar, up until 2009. With the expansion of the WWDAS destinations, she was renamed the S/Y Siren, the first vessel that would become part of the Siren Fleet (now the Master Liveaboards).

She went to Komodo and other destinations up until 2011, then relocated to the Maldives and renamed the Maldives Siren. In 2014 she left the Maldives and returned to Phuket

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We were woken earlier at 6.30am with a briefing at 7am.

This was the standard for all days of diving, which worked well

Meeting the boat

I was met by the crew at the end of the Chalong Pier and ferried out on their tender to the vessel with my luggage.

The vessel is a striking sight in the bay, a three-masted, wooden vessel whereas others are steel and look in all states of repair.

Onboard I was introduced to the crew and met the owner Steve, who tends to be on board for all of his departures making sure everything is in order and running smoothly. I stowed my gear in my cabin, set up my dive equipment and relaxed waiting for the other passengers to arrive.

The passengers arrived within the allocated time from 6pm-7pm with everyone arriving and we were ready to set off. Our Cruise Director Steve Boots (not the owner) conducted a safety briefing with everyone, which included the requirement for everyone to get their life jackets from their cabins, bring them up to the main area and don them.

I like this process as not many vessels do it and if there was ever an issue having the lifejacket on correctly will save your life. The crew was introduced and a plan of how the trip would be run with timings and proposed dive sites over the next few days. Then it was dinner and time for a good kip.

Everyone was excited for the first day of diving!

Day plan

and was renamed Cheng I Sao – a legendary fearless female Chinese pirate that roamed the South China Sea. She returned to the diving fold becoming The Phinisi dive liveaboard, that she is today!

The vessel has quad, triple, twin and single cabins all on the one deck below. Each has its own ensuite, air-conditioning and plenty of storage. The beds are comfortable and the showers are quite roomy, which is great as I am six-foot-plus. The saloon has room to relax with dinners being served on the back deck with ample seating. The dive deck is located forward with tanks set up around the inside of the top deck facing out for easy access.

Upstairs there’s is a shaded area to rest & unwind. The Phinisi is a very spacious and comfortable boat.

Leopard sharks

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We were woken earlier at 6.30am with a briefing at 7am.

This was the standard for all days of diving, which worked well. We could have a coffee, semi wake up and have a small breakfast if wanted.

7.00am was the first dive briefing, then the dive straight afterwards. Back onboard for a 9am breakfast, chill out then 10.30am dive briefing for dive #2, dive time, then back on board for lunch at noon. We then had a bigger gap to relax with dive briefing #3 at 2.30pm with the dive, then back onboard for a snack. Relaxing until the last briefing time which was a sunset type of dive with a 5pm briefing, with the dive afterwards, and back on board for dinner

The coastal areas of the Andaman Sea have mangrove forests and seagrass meadows. The mangrove roots trap soil and sediment. They provide shelter and are a nursery for fish and small aquatic organisms.

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The tender heading out with (clockwise from far side) Ghislaine, Guy, Marc (from Oceans for All), Nam (tender driver), Dui (Dive Guide), and Alex Marc Philippe from Oceans for All with Anna conducting the sample collection process after a dive

are not many sightings as they were captured. In the PMBC (Phuket Marine Biological centre) in Phuket, they have a leopard shark that has had a biopsy taken from it. This DNA is used as a base for their research samples.

What we were asked to do as divers were to take a glass jar underwater (we would fill the jar on the surface with water to make it negatively buoyant) and then descend. At some point in the dive, we were asked to open the jar and disperse the water in it close to a sandy spot. The hope is that when brought back to the surface the water would have eDNA particles (defined as genetic material obtained directly from environmental samples such as soil, sediment, water, snow, air, etc. or leftovers from an organism such as hair, faeces, or carcasses), from a leopard shark. The water was run through a filter back on board after each dive and marked with the site. This filter was then saved and sent to a university lab back in Bangkok to be tested. This allows the research to state that at some point there was a leopard shark in the area. They are trying to find the areas which are commonly visited and hopefully find a nursing area. This information will lead to a shark breeding program in the future.

As a diver this was fun and no problem to undertake.

On the last evening, a presentation of Oceans for All was conducted which covered their foundation, their projects, and their aims. They have a great set of programs for the area of Phuket and are well worth getting behind. Visit their site at Oceans for All. n

scheduled at 7pm. Busy day on paper but the maximum dive time is 60 minutes, with no decompression diving, so it wasn’t stressed. The cruise director had matched diver skill level and if you’re a photographer matched you with other photographers, so it made for a leisurely dive. Each day the groups also swapped positions so for example you swapped from position one to position four. This system made it fair for each group to have a chance to be first in the water at each site. More chance to see the sharks! (Which the first group did see on day two!)

Oceans for All Foundation – leopard shark research

On day one we were also briefed by Marc from the Oceans for All Foundation on what the leopard shark research was all about and what we could do to help.

Oceans for All is a marine conservation foundation that focuses on restoring the balance of marine life through a variety of projects & community interactions. Based in Phuket they have projects which include the search for leopard sharks, the rejuvenation and replanting of seagrass in the waters around Phuket and education of local schools on their marine environment.

The research is based on the fact the leopard shark used to be a common sighting in the waters around Phuket. Not much was known about them other than when encountered by divers they appear quite docile sitting on sandy patches on the bottom. This is perhaps the cause why now there

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Group photo. Far back – Captain Kai, Lok (diving #1), Dui (Dive Guide), Tiger (host). Back Standing– Marc Phillipe (Oceans for All), Nok (diving #2), Terry Smith (Pelagic Dive Travel), Hek (chef), Ta (obscured – Housekeeping), Pop (Chef). Sitting – front – Peter, Ian, Alvaro, Kristine, Aleana, Daniel, Deborah, Ghislaine, Guy, Sitting – second row – Alex, Steve (cruise Director).

Very front on the deck - Nam

Sunset over the islands in the South Andaman Sea

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Come visit the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef with the award-winning crew of Passions of Paradise.

Snorkel in pristine waters, go for a dive, or relax with a drink and enjoy the sailing. The best memories on the reef, no filter required. www.passions.com.au +61 7 4041 1600 email: reservations@passions.com.au Departing from Cairns, Queensland

This stunning scenery also extends down under the water. Part of the fabled Coral Triangle, the reefs of Indonesia are spectacular, and the variety of marine life is staggering

Corals are actually animals, not plants!

They may seem like a plant because they don’t have any significant movement, but corals really are animals who are related to jellyfish.

As Indonesia reopens its borders to international tourists, Scuba Diver Australia and New Zealand Editor Adrian Stacey showcases what people have been missing out on these past two years Photographs by Adrian Stacey

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I

ndonesia is one of the top dive destinations in the world, offering everything from big animal encounters to tiny critters, stunning coral reefs and impressive wrecks. So, to celebrate the fact that the Indonesian government has recently flung open its doors to international travellers and lifted all quarantine requirements, we thought it would be a good idea to look at what divers from around the world have been missing out on over the past two years.

The destinations mentioned in this article represent some of the best-known dive locations around this vast country, plus some lesser-known gems. This is by no means an exhaustive list of Indonesian diving, but it does demonstrate the diversity and scope for adventure on offer. Before we look at specific dive areas, I think it is important to understand the geography of the country and what makes the diving so good.

Indonesia is vast - it stretches from the bottom tip of Thailand to the northern end of Queensland in Australia. This huge archipelago consists of over 17,000 islands and is the 14th largest country by landmass. With a population of over 270 million, Indonesia has a rich and interesting history and boasts incredible biodiversity from rainforest to savanna and, of course, coral reefs.

Many of the country’s birds and mammals are endemic, including the impressive Komodo dragon. Part of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, Indonesia is home to more volcanoes than any other country in the world and has been blessed with some spectacular scenery.

This stunning scenery also extends down under the water. Part of the fabled Coral Triangle, the reefs of Indonesia are spectacular, and the variety of marine life is staggering. Much of the bustling reef’s success is due to the geography of the country and the Indonesian throughflow (ITF).

The ITF, one of the most-significant movements of water on the planet, is an ocean current that flows from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. Vast amounts of water are flushed through the maze of islands at the eastern end of the country. These islands act like a giant sieve, filtering the nutrient-rich water from the Pacific.

Travelling around the Indonesian archipelago is not always very quick or easy. For instance, Komodo and Raja Ampat look relatively close, however, getting from one to the other involves two flights with a long stopover in either Jakarta or Makassar. If you are looking at diving multiple locations, it is wise to map out a route well in advance. An excellent website to help plan a trip is Rome to Rio, or speak with a good specialist dive travel agent. With Indonesia’s wealth of diving, it isn’t easy to know where to start. As Bali is perhaps the most well-known location in Indonesia and was the first to reopen, it makes sense to begin with this bustling tropical island.

Hosting over 25% of the world’s fish species, as well as over 72% of the worldwide coral species, Indonesia is often cited as the world’s epicenter of biodiversity with the greatest marine life variety ever recorded on Earth.

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Vibrant shoals of fish inhabit the reefs

Bali

Bali is perhaps better known as a party destination, especially among Australians. Still, this stunning island also has some great dive sites with outstanding big animal encounters and a world-class wreck. To the south of Bali are the Nusa Penida islands. This area is famous for manta rays and the elusive mola mola, and it is also well known for strong currents along the east coast in Amed, Padang Bai, Candidasa and Tulamben, which is home to the Liberty shipwreck. The Liberty has mainly collapsed now, but what is left is covered in coral and home to all manner of little critters, including the tiny pygmy seahorse. Amed is also great for muck diving, and the occasional mola mola has been known to cruise past. To the northwest coast of Bali, the quieter end of the island, is Menjangan Island, Permurtaran, Lovina and Gilimanuk. This area offers excellent wall diving, with great hard and soft coral coverage.

Indonesia is equally stunning above water

Komodo

This UNESCO-listed region is simply stunning - the savannalike landscape is patrolled by the largest living lizard on Earth, the Komodo dragon. Underwater the landscape, topography and animal encounters are even more spectacular. The Komodo National Park is renowned for its ripping currents and consists of three main areas, the North, the middle and the South. The North can be reached by day boats from the small town of Labuan Bajo on Flores. To get to the park’s central and southern reaches, you need to be on a liveaboard. In the North, famous dive sites like Castle Rock and Crystal Rock attract vast schools of fish, attracting predators of every description. The Cauldron, also known as the Shotgun and Batu Balong, are two other dives not to be missed. Manta Alley is one of the best places to dive with mantas, while the Tatawa and Siaba islands offer endless coral gardens. In the middle section of the park, there are some stunning dives around the island of Padar.

The spectacular walls of Pilaarsten and the coral-covered pinnacles of the Three Sisters are particularly good. World’s End is another great dive along coral-encrusted walls. Other highlights include the dive sites around the southern tip of

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Porcelain crab

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Barrel sponges on the reef

Komodo dragon

Hard corals provide a hiding place for smaller fish

Bali actually has five different wrecks around its island shores!

The world-famous USAT Liberty wreck is rated as one of the best wreck dives in the world and can be visited by almost anyone from beginners to avid scuba divers.

Still, this stunning island also has some great dive sites with outstanding big animal encounters and a world-class wreck. To the south of Bali are the Nusa Penida islands Rinca - this area is fantastic for macro life. The pick of the dive sites here has to be Cannibal Rock. There are also several dive sites on the West Coast of Komodo, which are also spectacular, but these are rarely visited.

Alor

Alor is not quite as well-known as some other Indonesian dive destinations, but this is an unspoilt gem.

Prone to strong currents, the area boasts untouched coral gardens and superb macro life, including the photographer’s favourite, nudibranchs and rhinopia. The strong currents also attract some pelagic species like thresher sharks and mola mola.

Banda Sea

You can freedive some wrecks

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Although the Banda Islands themselves do have a couple of dive shops and the diving around these remote islands is very good, this is most definitely liveaboard territory. A dive site called Nil Desperandum is hundreds of miles from the closest land, and in the right season, huge schools of hammerheads can be found around this stunning hard coral reef. Other highlights include Manuk and Gunung Api, both of these islands are famous for sea snakes. Scores of these curious but highly venomous creatures can be found on these pristine reefs.

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With over 17,508 islands and situated in the heart of the coral triangle, Indonesia is a diver’s paradise. From tiny pygmy seahorses and macro critters to magnificent manta rays and the mighty mola mola, there’s plenty to see.

Ambon

Striking array of soft coral growth Soft corals await the diver as they venture through an archway

Turtle on the reef

Ambon lies at the northern edge of the Banda Sea and is another of Indonesia’s extraordinary muck diving sites, home to rhinopia, wonderpus, seahorses, nudibranchs and the very photogenic psychedelic frogfish. Ambon is not just about critters, though, and besides excellent muck diving, there are beautiful soft corals and fantastic wall dives with overhangs, caves and caverns, plus plenty of fish.

Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is famous for having the greatest marine biodiversity on the planet. The reefs here are stunning, and the amount of marine life is staggering. Raja Ampat covers a vast area encompassing over 1,500 islands. Divers can choose to dive from a liveaboard or base themselves on land to explore a particular region. There are three main areas in Raja Ampat. The northern part includes islandlike Wayag, renowned for its stunning topside scenery.

Keawe also boasts spectacular dive sites like Black Rock, with its amazing soft coral gardens and Eagle Rock, which houses a manta cleaning station. The central zone includes the Dampier Straight and has some of the region’s most well-known dive sites. Manta Sandy, Cape Kri, Blue Magic and Melissa’s Garden, to name but a few. The diversity of marine life here is second to none. Huge schools of fish can be found at Cape Kri, mantas galore at Manta Sandy and spectacular hard coral gardens at Melissa’s Garden. To the south of the marine park is Misool. This region is famous for its coral coverage, both hard and soft corals vie for space, and it seems like every inch of rock is covered in multiple layers of coral growth. Plus, plenty of schooling fish, reef fish and sharks of varying descriptions.

Cenderawasih Bay

Cenderawasih Bay on the northern coast of West Papua is off the beaten track and as yet not as famous as its neighbours, Raja Ampat. Still, this destination is gaining a reputation for fantastic diving. This is primarily due to the whalesharks that congregate around the fishing platforms.

This considerable bay also has numerous World War Two wrecks, incredible corals and plenty of macro life.

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Triton Bay

Located on the southern coast of West Papua, this is another up-and-coming destination that is well off the beaten track. Described as the final frontier of diving in Indonesia, this bay offers some exceptional diving. Like its counterpart in the North, Triton Bay provides the opportunity to dive with whalesharks. The corals are pristine and plentiful, as is the marine life. Vast schools of fish, turtles, sharks, and many endemic species and macro critters call the bay home.

Vast hard corals await

Halmahera

Slightly Northwest of Raja Ampat, Halmahera sits directly in the path of the Indonesian through flow and, as a result, can boast biodiversity to rival Raja Ampat. The diving here is rich and varied, from drift dives along deep walls to caverns and swim thoughts. Like much of Indonesia, the corals are excellent, and with new dive sites being located all the time, this destination feels like expedition diving.

Sulawesi

Sulawesi is one of the largest islands in the Indonesia archipelago, comprising of four main peninsulas and has long been known for its excellent diving. Most diving is located at either the northern peninsula or down the southeastern peninsula. Although the other peninsula also offers some superb diving. In the North, there is the Lembeh Strait, a world-renowned muck diving destination boasting a wealth of wired and wonderful creatures. The Bunaken National Park has its dramatic coral-encrusted walls and stunning marine life, including frogfish, sharks, schooling fish, and more. While the islands of Gangga and Bangka offer a quieter alternative to Lembeh and Bunaken, strong currents have facilitated the rampant growth of soft corals and a diverse line-up of marine life from dugongs to pygmy seahorses. Diving at the southeastern peninsula is centred around the Wakatobi National Park. Here pristine reefs offer outstanding macro encounters on some of the most-diverse reefs on the planet.

Kalimantan

Perhaps because it can be a bit difficult to get to the Kalimantan region on the island of Borneo is not as wellknown as some of its neighbours, but it offers some outstanding diving. The Sangalaki island just off the east coast is a feeding ground for mantas, which gather there in large numbers. Other areas like Samana and Nabucco are excellent for critters, while Kakaban features drop-offs and pelagic action.

Manta ray

Frogfish

Palau Weh

This little-known dive destination is tucked away at the north tip of Indonesia, almost parallel with Thailand. Although it is not actually in the Coral Triangle, Palau Weh has some great diving. Popular with tech divers as there are some deep wrecks here, there is also plenty for recreation divers with nice coral and plenty of schooling fish and pelagic visitors.

Conclusion

Indonesia has been blessed with great diving; there are some stunning resorts and some genuinely spectacular liveaboard diving, including relocation cruises when the boats are moved from one location to another. It is fantastic that this diving wonderland is once again open for eager divers to explore. n Disclaimer: Although there is no quarantine restriction for Indonesia at the time of writing this article, some travel restrictions are in place. It is always best to check with your travel agent or on a reputable website for up-to-date information.

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DIVE INDONESIA WITH PINDITO

© Kerri Bingham

© Kerri Bingham

© Simon Mustoe

This year Pindito celebrates its 30th year making it one of the most sought-after dive liveaboards visiting Komodo, East Flores/Alor, Banda Sea, Kaimana, Raja Ampat, Halmahera and Maluka. A lifetime’s knowledge of conditions and no fixed itineraries means everyone is treated to calm and spectacular diving and snorkelling.

There are individually air-conditioned ensuite cabins for sixteen guests and an evening drink is complimentary, as is Nitrox. Pindito invites you to go with the flow and welcomes you on board in their fourth decade of adventures to the most beautiful places on Earth. © Kerri Bingham

For more information about diving Indonesia with Pindito, contact the team of experts at Diveplanit Travel. diveplanit.com phone: 1800 607 913 email: enquire@diveplanit.com

T

he great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is undeniably the most well-known of the ocean’s many predators. It has, you could say, ‘form’ and is widely considered as a ruthless man-eater which has taken the lives of many innocent swimmers, surfers and divers.

And, if you have anything more than a passing interest in these notorious creatures, you Great white sharks bear live young will almost certainly have heard of Rodney and give birth to between two and Fox… The man who miraculously endured a ten pups per litter, and perhaps as horrendous attack by a great white in 1963 many as 14. Researchers think the - to this day, nobody else in the world has gestation period is anywhere from survived such a ferocious attack!

12-22 months, which would only The probability though is that even if you allow for breeding to occur know about Rodney Fox and the attack, you approximately every won’t know about what he did after he recovered other year. from it, and how he became a staunch advocate for the protection of great whites. Together with building the first business that would take people to see them firsthand in the open water.

Over the years I read everything I could about Rodney Scuba Diver Senior Travel Editor – so much so, that I felt like I actually knew him! Then in November 2020, I got the chance to meet him when he Don Silcock chats with great white hosted a trip on board the new Rodney Fox expedition shark supremo Andrew Fox vessel to the Neptune Islands as part of his 80th birthday celebrations. Rodney was on the boat for four days and I Photographs by Don Silcock was able to sit and chat with him for many hours about his and Andrew Fox life and adventures, which was just a wonderful experience!

I also got to meet Rodney’s eldest son Andrew, who runs the whole operation after his dad retired back in 2000. You could say that Andrew is a hard read…

He’s a big guy with a commanding presence but does not say too much - however, when he does, it pays to listen.

He also does a nice line in rapier-like sarcasm, but beneath all that lurks a deeply knowledgeable and incredibly experienced expert on the great white shark.

Being Rodney Fox’s son...

Andrew is a really busy guy, but on a subsequent trip to the Neptunes he graciously agreed to sit and answer a series of questions I had put together – starting with ‘what was it like growing up in South Australia as the son of Rodney Fox?’ Andrew’s response was that he just felt really lucky, because as the eldest son, he was the first to go out with his dad on the great white expeditions. Those were very much the early days of being in the water with the sharks and there was much to learn. It was only as Andrew developed a sense of his own mortality in his 30s, that he realized what Rodney had gone through when he was attacked!

He reckons that his dad just dealt with it all, both at the

Over the years I read everything I could about Rodney – so much so, that I felt like I actually knew him!

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time and as he recovered, in classic ‘she’ll be right mate’ Australian fashion and never really internalised the full magnitude of what had actually happened!

Career choices!

Upon finishing high school Andrew enrolled for a degree in Environmental Science at Flinders University, which gave him the pretty unique combination of an academic foundation combined with unparalleled first-hand involvement with great whites.

For me personally, one of the highlights of a great white trip is the evening when Andrew does his ‘talk’. It’s usually on the second night and is a very low-key affair – no egos on display, in fact, you get the distinct impression that he would much prefer it if somebody else was doing the gig!

But once he gets going, his deep passion and knowledge

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In deep with

of the great white becomes apparent, and it is clear that Andrew is talking about his life’s work! There are no doubt academics and researchers who know much more about key aspects of Carcharodon carcharias, but with over 40 years of empirical experience with these animals in South Australia and an academic foundation of his own, listening to Andrew you quickly realise that before you is one of the world’s absolute experts.

The great white…

Having spent so much time with these animals I was intrigued how Andrew would actually describe them? His

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response was ‘more majestic than menace and still, to this day, so greatly misunderstood and holding on to their secrets’. He went on to explain that while great whites are completely unpredictable and potentially extremely dangerous, their behaviour is driven by an instinctive capability to survive. And, as an apex predator, they do what they need to do when they need to do it… but with the ingrained caution and situational awareness that successful predation has taught them. Much of that instinctive behaviour seems to be driven by how hungry they are - which is a function of when they last ate and what they ate. Based on a ground-breaking (for the time…) US research paper

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published in 1982, it was long believed that great whites can go for weeks before needing to feed. But a more recent paper by the University of Tasmania (UoT), indicates that they actually eat much more often. The difference between the two papers is that the first one used data from a tagged shark feeding on a dead fin whale, to calculate its metabolic rate and from that extrapolate how often it would need to eat.

The premise of the UoT research was that the great white in the 1982 paper had already found an abundant source of food with the dead whale and therefore would have a low metabolic rate as it worked at the ‘all you can eat’ buffet.

So (with the help of Andrew Fox) they tagged sharks at the Neptunes that were patrolling and actively hunting for seals. The result being that those sharks had a much higher metabolic rate and would therefore have to eat much more often. The Readers Digest version of it all is that great whites need to eat every day when they are feeding on open-water fish like silver seabream. Whereas, when they switch to fatrich mammals around the Neptune Islands, consuming a seal every two to three days is probably enough.

The bottom line being that the urge to eat and the availability of suitable food is the major driver of behaviour and great whites do need to eat quite often. How often is a function of the nutritional value of what they eat. Seals are highly nutritious, silver seabream less so but still adequate, while humans provide very little nutrition and are simply not on the shopping list!

The Rodney Fox

Jumbo’s body language and attitude made her intentions very clear and it was a sobering experience that reinforced his belief in the complete unpredictability of the great white…

Up close and personal on the ocean floor

Great white sharks are opportunistic predators, feeding from the ocean’s surface to the seafloor.

As great white sharks grow in size, so does the range of their prey.

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Great whites are a spectacular sight

Getting to know them

The business end of a great white

Andrew Fox at the Neptune Islands

Andrew has personally identified around 1,000 sharks mainly using their unique markings and personalities. The pigmentation markings on great whites are very stable and stay with them as they grow – which is how sharks like ‘Pi’ and ‘Heffalump’ were first spotted and named. Then there is the physical damage like the deep gouges on ‘Scarface’ or the deformity on ‘Imax’ and finally there is sheer physical size as with ‘Mrs Moo’…

The Neptune Islands are a very important location on the great white ‘super-highway’ - the migratory corridor along the southern coast of Australia. The waypoints along which are where the sharks know they can feed and the large seal colonies of the Neptunes provide a reliable source of highnutrition food. Some of those identified sharks appear there every year – such as Imax, who turns up like clockwork.

Whereas UFO, a six-metre giant, made a reappearance at North Neptune after a 12-year gap!

Such reappearances are a cause for celebration as Andrew observes how they have grown and are faring. But where they go remains an intriguing mystery as they must be feeding somewhere else. Compounding that mystery is analysis of tissue samples taken from various sharks, which indicate a fairly wide variety of food sources. Meaning they have alternative feeding sites that are not seal colonies - but exactly where those sites are, nobody knows!

Andrew was very confident that the rebuilt and renamed Rodney Fox gives him the platform needed to embark on extended expeditions The ethics of it all

For the vast majority of underwater photographers and probably most scuba divers, cage diving with great whites is on the ‘bucket list’. For me personally, it was something that equally scared but intrigued me and my first trip to Port Lincoln back in 2003 was almost an out-of-body experience.

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But whenever I talk to non-divers about great whites, they are usually incredulous that I am so keen about it all. And, occasionally, I will encounter somebody who vehemently believes that it is completely wrong to conduct these ‘interactions’! A common thread being that by encouraging potentially dangerous sharks to interact with humans we are changing their behaviour. And, in doing so, it greatly increases the chances of humans being attacked. So, as someone with probably more first-hand experience of those managed interactions than anybody else, I was very interested in Andrews’s opinion!

His main response was that great whites are very much an apex predator and able to do whatever they want, so very little that humans do, deliberately or inadvertently, has any impact on them at all. At the Neptune Islands for example, great whites are present all year round, but being present in the general area does not mean they will respond to the burley in the water and come to the boat.

Over the years the ‘attractants’ used to get the sharks to the boat have evolved from the original ‘witches’ cauldron’ of horse meat and other delicacies to the minced fish that is used now. Andrew pointed out that none of those attractants was significantly better and all of them are simply trying to get the sharks’ attention by stimulating their sensitivities.

Don Silcock

Scuba Diver’s Senior Travel Editor, in more normal times Don is based in Bali, but is currently hunkered down in Sydney rediscovering Australian diving… His website 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.indopacificimages.com Don Silcock and Rodney Fox

Adrenalin moments…

With almost 40 years of cage diving experience, I knew that Andrew must have had some high-adrenalin moments and I managed to get him to talk about a few of them.

Andrew said his most memorable moment was during a trip to the Neptunes to test electronic shark repellents and they had an unusually large number of sharks around the back of the boat. Underwater, in the ocean floor cage, a

A young Andrew Fox (holding cat)

Andrew Fox and his images being admired

total of 19 sharks were counted and photo-identified, with 15 known and four new. All within a very hectic 15-minute time period... Bear in mind that three sharks around the ocean floor cage at the same time is a big day, so 19 sharks seemed like a plague of locusts!

I was very curious if Andrew had ever been really scared, to which he related his experience with Jumbo - a five-metre formidable, bold and intimidating female great white.

When Jumbo appeared, Andrew went down to the ocean floor in the solo cage and soon after he got on the bottom she came barrelling in and knocked the cage over and appeared to be determined to attack Andrew - going about it in a determined, methodical and intimidating manner.

The solo cage is equipped with a main wire to the winch on the boat, a signal rope and an inflatable cylinder to get back to the surface, so Andrew said he was not overly concerned as he was safe in the cage and knew he could get back to the boat. But… Jumbo’s body language and attitude made her intentions very clear…

Where to from here?

Both my recent trips were on the new Rodney Fox vessel – the former Darwin-based pearling ship that was completely retrofitted to provide the expedition platform needed to move the business forward. Andrew was very confident that the rebuilt and renamed Rodney Fox gives him the platform needed to embark on extended expeditions. Top of the list is Pearson and the Investigator Islands – areas known for their biodiversity.

Then there is the wonderful, but largely explored, coastline of Kangaroo Island and a little further out timewise, is Tasmania, the far west coast of South Australia and across the Great Australian Bight to Western Australia… n

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Each issue, the Scuba Diver test team bring you the latest product and equipment releases from the dive industry. Cannot wait for the next edition? Keep up-to-date with all the latest gear news and reviews by heading over to the Scuba Diver YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/ScubaDiverMagazine

APEKS EXOTEC | SRP: AUD$1,400

FOURTH ELEMENT MASKS Fourth Element Navigator (SRP: AUD$139.90)

The Apeks Exotec BCD is a revolution in diving comfort, functionality and seductive engineering design. Created to fit like no other BCD and flow with the natural movement of the diver’s body, through the innovative BioReact articulation, and constructed with the usual exacting Apeks build quality, the Exotec is a paradigm of form and function.

The BioReact articulating waist system allows maximum comfort and freedom of movement, while GripTek fabric keeps the BCD is place both on the surface and underwater.

The bladder is constructed from super-tough Armoguard slick skin for increased abrasion resistance, faster drying and a reduced risk of bacterial growth due to the slick surface.

Anodised aluminium hardware is both strong and lightweight, and the G-hook chest strap and tank retainer allow for one-handed simple operation. The three-position height-adjustable backplate allows for optimum fit, and it has adjustable waist and shoulders. Two large pockets can be folded up flat when not in use to reduce drag.

The SureLock I Mechanical Weight Release System (patented) provides a safe, single-pull release. Inserting weight is as simple as insert and ‘click’. With SureLock, your weights are secure in the BC. Once engaged, the only way to release the weight is to pull on the handle.

There are four dump valves in all, one in each corner.

Three are proprietary flat valves, very streamlined and effective, while the dump valve on the upper left is the rapid exhaust valve found at the top of the Powerline inflator, which boasts one of the fastest inflation rates in the industry. www.apeksdiving.com

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The innovative Fourth Element Scout mask has been joined by two more masks. First up, the Navigator, which is a dual-lens mask with large, almost teardropshaped lenses, which offer wide peripheral vision all-round.

The soft silicone skirt ensures a good, comfortable fit, and it is available in classic and wide-fit, so you will be able to find one for you regardless of your face-shape!

The tempered glass lenses come in Clarity (designed to maximise the amount of transmitted light, without any tint from impurities in the glass, and thus the ideal lens for night divers and photographers), and Enhance (filtering ultraviolet and HEV (High Energy Visible) radiation, the Enhance lens is designed to protect the eye and enhance the visual experience). The Navigator comes with a moulded silicone strap, but you can retro-fit the elasticated Fourth Element mask strap (available separately).

Fourth Element Aquanaut (SRP: AUD$122.90)

The Aquanaut mask is an extremely compact, low-profile dual-lens mask, which makes for a great all-round dive mask, but is especially suited to freediving.

The mask has a soft silicone skirt, which sits comfortably on your face, and it comes with a moulded silicone strap (but like the Navigator, you can retrofit the elasticated strap).

The Aquanaut is available in black or white, and comes in black or white with a Clarity lens (in black or white), or in black with Contrast (When diving in temperate (green) waters, images seen through this lens show an increase in contrast, accentuating brighter and darker areas, increasing the perception of visual acuity).

Both masks come with the half-shell cushioned EVA mask case, which protects the lens during transport and storage, and can be tucked into a fin pocket thanks to its compact size. www.fourthelement.com

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FOLDING FINS | SRP: AUD$TBC Inspired by nature, biomimetical fins, that allow you to fold them and pack in your luggage. This innovation makes travelling with fins across the world, around Australia or even walking to your local dive site easier and more practical.

Folding Fins has been successfully funded on Kickstarter Campaign and in the near future will be introduced to the Australian market by their exclusive distributor UW Images, and an extensive dealer network.

Regular fins very often are bulky, heavy and hard to fit into luggage. To tackle these issues, Folding Fins were created. In the end, final parameters - which are result of biomimetics - help the user to reach the best diving or swimming performance with increased effectiveness and reduced strain on the muscles.

The Folding Fins also feature a unique foot pocket that can be adjusted in four points, therefore making sure that the fins have the perfect fit everytime! This allows divers to use a range of boots or dive socks with the same pair of fins.

A sleek design and easy to handle design, the Folding Fins are ready to use in few seconds, and folded they are three times smaller than unfolded.

Aiming to keep the fins environmentally friendly, they are constructed from recyclable plastics.

For those of you who prefer swimming, snorkelling or diving in any waters they will save space in your carry-on. They are a must-have for any adventure you are going on! www.uwimages.com.au

NOKTA PULSEDIVE 2-IN1 UNDERWATER METAL | SRP: AUD$289

Add a new angle to your diving adventures. Or help find that lost dive computer/engagement ring under the boat.

PulseDive is a very competitive and great product not only with its design, but also with its price point for the 2-in-1 set that comes in a fancy, water-resistant, hard-shell carrying case and other accessories including a security lanyard!

Why should you pay for a scuba detector and a pinpointer separately when they can get them both with the

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PulseDive! For underwater prospectors without access to scuba, this product pairs nicely with the BLU3 Nemo or Nomad compact dive systems, giving you the freedom to explore! It is waterproof to 60m, and comes with a built-in wireless module. There is an LED flashlight, and even a lost alarm if you happen to lose it!

The full Nokta Detector range is sold in Australia by underwater.com.au - now go and find some treasure!

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Each issue, the Scuba Diver test team bring you the latest product and equipment releases from the dive industry. Cannot wait for the next edition? Keep up-to-date with all the latest gear news and reviews by heading over to the Scuba Diver YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/ScubaDiverMagazine

SEALIFE SPORT DIVER HOUSING | SRP: AUD$489

Nigel Marsh: Underwater photography is extremely rewarding, but it can also be very frustrating. Wouldn’t it be great if underwater photography was as simply as using your smartphone? Well, it can be with the SeaLife Sportdiver smartphone housing. SeaLife is an American company formed in the early 1990s, with their goal being, as stated on their website – ‘to offer an easy and fun way to capture undersea wildlife and underwater memories in an easy, uncomplicated way’. And they have certainly achieved their goal with this smartphone housing.

When I first heard about this housing, I can honestly say I was a little dubious. I questioned who would want to risk losing their data and contacts if you had a flood and also how would a smartphone even work in a housing with its limited buttons? I soon discovered how SeaLife solved these problems when I was sent a Sport Diver smartphone housing by their Australian distributor Underwater.com to give it a test run. Straight out of the box I was very impressed with the simple and smart design of the housing.

It is rated to 40m, made of a tough polycarbonate and feels solid in the hand. And best of all, the one housing fits almost any make of smartphone.

The housing has only one O-ring, only four buttons to control the phone and a simply lever shutter release.

Opening it up, via the locking mechanism on the door latch, inside I found an adjustable cradle for the phone, and very importantly, a vacuum seal system. This vacuum seal, along with a moisture detector, keeps your phone safe from a potential flood. Issue one solved.

So how do you control the phone in the housing?

SeaLife solved this issue with an app, that is downloaded in seconds. Once downloaded, the app takes control of

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your phone, making sure it doesn’t shutdown while in the housing. It also tells you its time to load it into the housing and do the vacuum seal. Three pumps, and three minutes later, the housing was ready to be used, with a green LED indicating the housing was watertight. A blue LED also told me the housing and phone were connected via Bluetooth.

The housing was now ready to go, displaying four icons on the left (photo, video, settings and preview/playback) and five on the right (phone power, housing power, video mode, zoom and Bluetooth). These are controlled by the four buttons on the back of the housing – mode, up-arrow, downarrow and OK. Very simple.

I had a quick play and found the buttons easy to use and camera settings simple to navigate. In the settings I was very surprised by the amount of control the system gives you. You can simply use auto, but the app allows you to set shutter speed, ISO, exposure, white balance, photo

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resolution, video resolution and a few other functions. The shutter release works smoothly and is used for both photos and video. The only thing the Sport Diver app doesn’t allow you to use is the phone’s flash. This is actually a smart move

by SeaLife, as it forces you to use an external light source, meaning less chance of backscatter and better images.

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For my test dive I joined Scuba World for a double dive on HMAS Brisbane, off Mooloolaba, Queensland with the Sealife housing set-up with a small video light. Once underwater I quickly had the housing and smartphone running through its paces, snapping off images of stationary reef fish. With these subjects it performed well. It didn’t work quite as well with moving fish subjects, due to the slight shutter delay on the phone. But I still managed to get some acceptable images. I also found the zoom function worked smoothly and switching between photo and video mode was simple.

I avoided the auto settings and played with the shutter speed to control the light, and found it worked perfect with excellent exposure. The good thing with this set-up is the display shows you exactly what you will get, adjusting as you change the shutter speed, getting lighter or darker.

The main issue I found was due to the smartphone, not the housing, with the focusing a little out at times and not great on macro subjects. Downloading the images, I found around 20% were out of focus. I think this was more a case of me not giving it enough time to focus, and I am sure this would improve with practise.

I only found two minor issues with the housing. For an old diver like me the display was a little small and hard to read, and holding the housing I found my palm pushed the rear buttons by accident. Both these things are easily solved - by me getting a prescription mask, and with a handle on the right to hold the housing.

I got some great images on my test dive that surprised even me. I found the SeaLife Sport Diver smartphone housing easy to use and would recommend it to any diver looking for a simple and cost-effective underwater camera. www.underwater.com.au

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AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES

QUEENSLAND

DIVE EDEN

SHELLHARBOUR SCUBA & PHOTOGRAPHY

LADY ELLIOT ISLAND ECO RESORT

t: 04 1002 6990 e: diveeden@gmail.com Guided dives of the wrecks, vibrant wharves and shoreline in Eden, Merimbula and Tathra. Scuba and Freediving courses are available. www.diveeden.com.au

t: 02 4296 4266 e: info@shellharbourscuba.com.au a: 41 Addison Street, Shellharbour, NSW, 2529 Free guided shore diving at Bass Point reserve.

SDI/TDI scuba training. Dive photography & travel.

Retail Sales, hire & servicing. www.shellharbourscuba.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

DIVE IMPORTS AUSTRALIA t: (+61) 24 367 5512 e: info@diveimportsaustralia.com.au a: Shop 5/188 The Entrance Road Erina 2250 Central Coast NSW The Only PADI 5 STAR IDC Centre in Central Coast and Closest Dive Shop to dive ex HMAS Adelaide which located at Terrigal. www.diveimportsaustralia.com.au

EXPEDITION DIVE t: 1800 463 483 | e: info@expeditiondive.com.au a: Suite 683/41/464-480 Kent St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 PADI Courses • Guided Diving • Scuba Equipment.

Expedition Dive is a full-service scuba shop with access to the best dive sites around Sydney. www.expeditiondive.com.au

FEET FIRST DIVE 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

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

OCEAN HUT FISHING AND DIVE t: 02 4476 2278 e: darryl@oceanhut.net a: 23 Graham Street, Narooma, NSW, 2546 We are a PADI retail outlet for most diver requirements including hire and air fills. www.compleatanglernarooma.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

SCUBA WAREHOUSE t: 61 2 96891389 e: info@scubawarehouse.com.au a: 1/50 George Street, Clyde NSW 2142, Sydney We are a PADI 5-Star IDC centre that specialises in personal tuition courses and outfitting divers in all things scuba. www.scubawarehouse.com.au

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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

QUEENSLAND AQUA ADVENTURES PTY LTD t: 07 55917117 e: info@aquaadventures.com.au a: 95 Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215 Padi 5 Star Instructor Development Centre, oldest and most experienced operating dive company on the Gold Coast. www.aquaadventures.com.au

BLUE DIVE PORT DOUGLAS t: 0427 983 907 | e: info@bluedive.com.au a: Port Douglas – Please call 0427 983 907.

Superb private guided dives on the best Agincourt Reefs. Private multi-day dive charters. www.bluedive.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

KPT DIVING & MARINE SERVICES t: 07 4783 1519 e: info@yongaladive.com.au a: 36 Braby Street, Alva, QLD, 4807 We provide unique trips, including a beach launch & a fast, exhilarating ride to the dive site! www.yongaladive.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

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

SCUBA IQ t: +61 (0)404964878 e: info@scubaiq.com.au a: PO Box 588, Port Douglas, QLD 4877 PADI & TDI/SDI Dive operator. Courses for all levels – Guided Diving – Liveaboards to the Ribbon Reefs, Coral Sea + more. www.scubaiq.com.au

SCUBA WORLD t: 07 5444 8595 e: info@scubaworld.com.au a: 207 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba, 4557, QLD We create safe, comfortable, enthusiastic divers who always have a fun, personal and enjoyable experience at Scuba World. scubaworld.com.au

SUNREEF t: 07 5444 5656 e: info@sunreef.com.au a: 11-12/123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, QLD, 4557 World class dive sites & first class service. Dive the HMAS Brisbane Wreck, Stunning Flinders Reef or Swim With Whales! www.sunreef.com.au

TASMANIA 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

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA 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

SCUBA COURSES PTY LTD t: 0407 580 580 e: simon@scubacourses.com.au a: 1/83, Mount Barker Road, Stirling, SA 5152 PADI Dive Centre, Open Water through to Assistant Instructor courses, and specialties. Tank fills and shop. PADI MSDT, experienced instructors. www.scubacourses.com.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIA BATAVIA COAST DIVE & WATERSPORTS t: 08 99214229 e: info@bcda.com.au a: Batavia Coast Dive, 118 Northwest Coastal HWY, Geraldton, WA 6530 We are a PADI 5 Star dive centre and THE local experts when it comes to oceanic adventures. www.bataviacoastdive.com.au

OCTOPUS GARDEN DIVE CHARTERS t: 0438925011 e: kimroyce@gateway.net.au a: Casuarina Boat Harbour, Bunbury, WA, 6230 Wreck & reef diving (small groups, min 2/max 11). Photographers paradise. Hire gear available.

Prolific fish life. 10-18 metres. www.octopusgardendivecharters.com.au

SOUTHCOAST DIVING SUPPLIES t: 08 98417176 e: whale@divealbany.com.au a: 84b Serpentine Road, Albany, WA, 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

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VICTORIA EXTREME WATERSPORT t: 03 5982 3432 e: info@extremewatersport.com.au a: 621/1623 Point Nepean Rd, Capel Sound, VIC 3940 Full sales, equipment servicing, training, rental, and Air fill services available onsite. On the water of below it you can’t go past Extreme Watersport! www.extremewatersport.com.au

OCEANSUITS t: 03 9702 4993 e: sales@oceansuits.com.au a: Unit 3, 101 Wedgewood road, Hallam, Victoria, 3803 Australia’s foremost authority on wetsuits and drysuits. Manufacture custom wetsuits. Miraculous repairs service all brands, styles for over 30 years. www.oceansuits.com.au

OCEAN DIVERS t: 03 9579 2600 e: info@oceandivers.com.au a: 223a East Boundary Road, Bentleigh East Ocean Divers is a PADI Five Star Instructor Development Centre and a Scubapro Platinum Dealer. www.oceandivers.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

NEW ZEALAND 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

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

AUCKLAND 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

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

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

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS NEXT ISSUE! Contact Adrian on WWW.SCUBADIVERMAG.COM.AU +61 422 611 238 or email adrian@scubadivermag.com

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NEW ZEALAND 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

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

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

WAIKATO

SOUTHLAND

DIVE ZONE WHITIANGA

DESCEND NZ – MILFORD SOUND

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

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

TAURANGA

WELLINGTON

DIVE ZONE TAURANGA

DIVE WELLINGTON

t: 0064 7578 4050 e: info@divezonetauranga.co.nz a: 1213 Cameron Rd, Tauranga, New Zealand Join our friendly crew for a great day out exploring the dive sites of the Bay of Plenty, you will be well looked after onboard our comfortable Dive Boat Ruku Moana. www.divezonetauranga.co.nz

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

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Two new vessels add fire power to Reef Star Wars against new outbreak

© Rick Abom RRRC

T

he Great Barrier Reef’s crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) control program has mobilised two additional vessels to boost its existing coraldefending fleet in response to early warning signs of an outbreak developing in the northern Great Barrier Reef.

The two additional vessels – one directed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) and the other by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC) – were deployed for their maiden surveillance and control missions in March, and are active right now on the Reef.

This is the first time the COTS control program has had the field intelligence and resources to detect and respond so quickly to be on the front foot to suppress the southward spread of this new outbreak. Reef Authority Director of Reef Interventions Dr Roger Beeden says crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks threaten our Reef and the thousands of species of marine life that call it home.

“Over 1.1 million coral-eating starfish have been culled under the COTS control program since 2012,” Dr Beeden said.

“COTS are the world’s second largest starfish, known to grow up to a metre wide, and during an outbreak, the coraleating predators can have a devastating impact, stripping a reef of around 90% of its living coral.

“The COTS program has an existing fleet of five vessels and employs more than 100 trained divers who work to protect high value reefs but has rapidly mobilised an additional two vessels with each carrying out targeted surveillance and COTS culling through to October 2022.”

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said the Great Barrier Reef is an irreplaceable ecosystem, however outbreaks of coral-destroying Crown-

© Rick Abom RRRC

of-thorns starfish are a significant threat to its health.

“The COTS control program is throwing a lifeline to corals, protecting the health of the Reef and the breeding corals that are critical to supporting Reef resilience in the face of a changing climate,” Ms Marsden said.

“Through the COTS control program, we’re tackling one of the greatest threats to reef health by detecting and responding to outbreaks of these coral-eating predators much earlier and faster than ever before with our partners the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Reef and Rainforest Centre.”

Managing Director of the Reef & Rainforest Research Centre Sheriden Morris added, “This surge in control effort is an opportunity to actually constrain a new crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak and limit hard coral loss on the Reef from predation. “The more coral kept alive to spawn, builds the overall resilience of the Reef and is one of the most direct and effective actions we can take.”

The COTS control program is the largest coral protection program on the Great Barrier Reef. Since 2018-19, the program has been delivered as a partnership between the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Since 2018, the COTS control program has taken direct monitoring and culling action on more than 81,000 high risk hectares of the Great Barrier Reef, encompassing 270 highvalue reefs and removing over 320,000 coral-killing starfish.

Due to the program’s strategic approach, it’s estimated that more than eight times that area – 675,000 hectares – has been protected from this significant threat to Reef health. n

WWW.SCUBADIVERMAG.COM.AU © Rick Abom RRRC