Scuba Diver ANZ #34

KNOW THE LOCALS

WORK YOUR SUBJECT

WOLF ROCK’S SHARKS

JEAN-PIERRE NATHRASS MEETS THE FRIENDLY NATIVES IN RAJA AMPAT

MARTYN GUESS SHOWS HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF PHOTO DIVES

ADRIAN STACEY GETS UP CLOSE WITH GREY NURSE SHARKS

HAIRY HARRY JOHN MAGEE ENCOUNTERS A RARE FIND ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Here come the

SPIDERS MELBOURNE'S MEGA SPIDER CRAB AGGREGATIONS

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CONSERVATION

‣ THE MALDIVES ‣ WRECK HUNTER

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EDITOR’S NOTE GET READY TO CELEBRATE WORLD OCEAN DAY The onset of June means that we are almost halfway through the year, and while international travel is still very much on hold, the signs that borders will slowly reopen are promising. Australia and New Zealand now have a travel bubble in operation (or at least they did at the time of writing this editorial). There is hope that this will lead to other countries in the Pacific and Asia region also to establish travel bubbles, and international travel can slowly return to normal.

June also brings us World Ocean Day. On 8 June, we are all invited to celebrate the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean. The focus of this year’s event is to support the growing movement to protect 30 percent of our blue planet by 2030 (30x30). More on this on page 66 in Conservation Corner.

In more good news for the environment, the Australian government has recently announced plans to ban problematic plastic products. Lightweight plastic bags, straws, utensils and stirrers are among the list of products ministers want to eliminate by 2025. Singleuse plastics are a huge environmental issue, with large quantities of the material ending up in our oceans, polluting the water for humans and wildlife alike.

I would also like to take this opportunity to officially welcome talented photojournalist Don Silcock to the global Scuba Diver Team as our Senior Travel Editor. Don has been a significant contributor to all three of our magazine titles (ANZ, UK and USA/Canada) over this past year, and he has a regular Big Animals Blog on the ANZ website. Don’s passion for the ocean is evident, and he shares our commitment to provide high-quality images and articles to our readers.

Times are changing, and to keep the magazine free, we’re asking dive stores to cover their own postage costs. If you enjoy reading the magazine, think about helping out your centre with a small donation to help cover their costs.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Mark Evans Email: mark.evans@scubadivermag.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGER Matt Griffiths Email: matt@scubadivermag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTHEAST ASIA TEAM

Adrian Stacey Editor-at-Large (Australia and New Zealand) Tel: +61 422 611 238 Email: adrian@scubadivermag.com

Martyn Guess, Byron Conroy, Deborah Dickson-Smith, PT Hirshfield

Don Silcock Senior Travel Editor www.indopacificimages.com

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP

MAGAZINE

Ross Arnold Email: ross.arnold@scubadivermag.com

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Adrian Stacey, Editor-at-Large (Australia and New Zealand)

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

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KNOW THE LOCALS

WORK YOUR SUBJECT

WOLF ROCK’S SHARKS

JEAN-PIERRE NATHRASS MEETS THE FRIENDLY NATIVES IN RAJA AMPAT

MARTYN GUESS SHOWS HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF PHOTO DIVES

ADRIAN STACEY GETS UP CLOSE WITH GREY NURSE SHARKS

HAIRY HARRY JOHN MAGEE ENCOUNTERS A RARE FIND ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Here come the

SPIDERS MELBOURNE'S MEGA SPIDER CRAB AGGREGATIONS

+

CONSERVATION

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#34 | $1 DONATION

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: JOHN MAGEE

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REGULAR COLUMNS

FEATURES...

8 News

18 Australia

Citizen science opportunities on the Great Barrier Reef, international award for kids’ scuba programmes, the opening of the world’s largest scuba store, a record deep dive for Australia and New Zealand, a virtual first for PHIDEX 2021, and Volivoli Beach Resort at the forefront of vaccinations in Fiji.

16 Medical Q&A

The experts at Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific discuss rhinoplasty and how soon you can return to diving.

66 Conservation Corner

Conservation projects in and around Australia, New Zealand and SE Asia - this issue, you are urged to get ready for World Ocean Day on 8 June.

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First in a two-part article in which we asked Master Reef Guides to choose their top 12 dives on the Great Barrier Reef. Locations in part one include The Point, Nursery Bommie and Helm Deep Drift on Agincourt Reef, and Three Sisters and Club 10 on Millin Reef.

26 The Maldives

Byron Conroy soaks up the atmosphere on the five-star luxury You and Me by Cocoon resort in the Maldives, and finds it simply stunning both above and below the waterline.

30 Underwater Photography

Martyn Guess provides some insight into, and also tips on, working the subject in order to get the best out of the photographic opportunities we find underwater.

36 Indonesia

Jean-Pierre Nathrass showcases some of the marine life you can expect to see around Raja Ampat, and meets the friendly locals.

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CONTENTS

...CONTINUED

GEAR GUIDE

42 Wreck Hunter

58 What’s New

Underwater archaeology expert Mike Haigh continues his discussion on the use of metal detectors in underwater archaeology projects.

44 Australia

Adrian Stacey’s mini-roadtrip continues - after diving the HMAS Brisbane, he headed north to a site known for its shark inhabitants. The inimitable Wolf Rock.

48 Divers Alert Network Asia-Pacific

The DAN medical experts urge you to ‘know your neuro’ and the absolute need for a quick neurological exam in the case of incidents.

Scuba Diver Editor-in-Chief Mark Evans looks at new products hitting the dive market, including metal buckles from Mares, redesigned gloves from Fourth Element, the Ocean Reef Neptune III full-face mask, and the Scubapro MK19 EVO / G260 cold-water kit.

62 Test Extra

Adrian Stacey rates and reviews the new Copper version of the venerable Suunto D5 dive computer.

52 Australia

Every year, Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay is the location of the gigantic aggregations of moulting spider crabs, as PT Hirschfield explains.

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Each month, we bring together the latest industry news from the Asia-Pacific region, as well as all over our water planet. To find out the most up-to-date news and views, check out the website or follow us on our various social media (@scubadivermag) www.scubadivermag.com.au

REEF OPERATOR LAUNCHES CITIZEN SCIENCE TOUR

E

xperienced certified divers can join conservationists assessing reef health on the Great Barrier Reef with a new tour launched in Cairns by Passions of Paradise. Passions of Paradise Chief Executive Officer Scotty Garden said the locally-owned company’s research team had stepped up their reef nurturing and monitoring programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic while passengers numbers were low.

“With more people now travelling to visit the Great Barrier Reef, the Passions of Paradise Master Reef Guide will take small groups of up to eight people on the citizen science program each Friday,” he said.

“The activity is available only to experienced divers and involves surveying reef locations to monitor the health of corals and marine life.

“Participants will complete Eye on the Reef sightings network submissions and Rapid Monitoring Reports for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

“They will also monitor the coral planting undertaken through the Coral Nurture Program which is being supervised by the University of Technology Sydney.

“The experience is part of a full day tour to two outer Great Barrier Reef locations on board the luxury sailing catamaran Passions III and includes two dives.”

Passions of Paradise is one of five operators based in Cairns and Port Douglas participating in the Coral Nurture Programme with staff working alongside University of Technology Sydney researchers.

Mr Garden said Passions of Paradise crew had established six frames at Hastings Reef where they were growing new corals.

“Through the Coral Nurture Programme, divers find nearby coral fragments that have naturally broken off and attach them to the nursery to grow.

“Once the corals are large enough, we remove fragments

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EMPEROR PRICING MEANS NO HIDDEN EXTRAS

to attach back on to the reef using a coral clip, leaving enough coral fragments in the nursery to continue growing new corals.

“In the past 18 months, Passions of Paradise has planted more than 2,500 pieces of coral on Hastings Reef.”

The fully-inclusive Reef Tour and Eco Experience is Aus$399. For more information go to: passions.com.au

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05/01/2021 18:59

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CAIRNS DIVE SCHOOL WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR KIDS’ SCUBA PROGRAMMES

Local scuba diving company Divers Den has been recognised with an international award by the world’s largest dive training organisation.

The Outstanding Contribution to Youth Training award from PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) recognises Divers Den’s range of youth-focused courses, which are encouraging a new group of budding marine adventurers into the water. The award was presented by PADI Asia Pacific Territory Director Thomas Knedlik.

“We’re thrilled to present this award and commend the whole team at Divers Den for the way they quickly adapted their business following the reduction in international visitors,” said Knedlik.

Diver Den General Manager Sonjha Forbes said it was an exciting time for locals to visit the Great Barrier Reef, and the new youth programmes offered the community a new way to explore their backyard.

“We knew life was going to be very different when the borders closed, but the team were so passionate about developing these courses and we knew they would be a hit with local Cairns kids.”

The half-day Scuba Kids programme launched in August 2020 and became an immediate hit for hundreds of local children. Conducted in the heated pool at the Divers Den training centre, the programme lets children aged 8-11 experience the thrill of scuba diving with a professional instructor. The PADI SEAL Team course was launched in quick succession, offering a more advanced set of mini skills missions to complete, with a graduation trip to the Frankland Islands. Local 12-year-old Maya Schnell was one of the first to complete the Scuba Kids course said she was looking forward to continuing her scuba education.

“I loved the feeling of floating underwater and felt really safe. My dream is to become an instructor on the Great Barrier Reef and help others explore all the amazing things to see in the ocean.”

Her older brother Noah has recently completed his PADI Open Water certification.

Divers Den was also presented with PADI’s Outstanding Contribution to Ocean Health Award, in recognition of the company’s 2019 ocean clean-up programme.

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Adreno’s biggest ever dive megastore has arrived.

Located at 3-9 Rawlins St, Southport QLD 4215. Come check out the world’s largest range of dive gear, courses, events & more!

Scan the QR code to get directions to the store.

Shop online at scubadiving.com.au or visit our Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth Megastores.

RECORD DEEP DIVE FOR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Tim Macdonald (Australia) and Rob McCallum (New Zealand) completed a submersible dive to the bottom of the Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench, last month. The pair achieved a preliminary depth of 10,925m at the deepest point of the world’s ocean, setting a depth record for both nations as they became the deepest diving Australian and Kiwi ever.

The successful dive was announced from the DSSV Pressure Drop, the expedition’s 68-metre support ship currently over the Mariana Trench, located 360km SW of Guam.

The 12-hour dive was completed in the world’s only submersible certified for operations at any depth in any ocean—the DSV Limiting Factor. The submersible, a Triton 36,000/2 owned by Caladan Oceanic, is the world’s only private full-ocean-depth vehicle and is best known as having taken humans to the deepest point in each of the world’s five oceans during the world-record-breaking Five Deeps Expedition in 2019. The two-seat submersible is capable of withstanding pressures of up to 1,400 bar. “That’s akin to having 11,000 tonnes per square metre at full ocean depth.

The pressure on the hatch alone is equivalent to 2,200 tonnes or five fully laden 747s,” said pilot Tim Macdonald.

“We did spare a thought for Sir Ed (Hillary) as we descended through 8,850m (the equivalent height of Everest) and still had another couple of kilometres to go. It’s a very long way down and testament to the incredible engineering that has gone into this vehicle and to the team that support it,” said McCallum.

The dive’s primary purpose was to test acoustic navigation equipment that will be used as an aid to deep ocean research.

When operating at extreme depths, researchers need to rely on acoustic telemetry to navigate to know precisely where samples were collected. “It was a busy dive but we took the time to set a light-hearted world record - the world’s deepest ever vegemite sandwich, and Anzac biscuits, which is something only Australasian’s really understand,” said Macdonald.

The team is now headed to Australia to conduct science research deep in the Indian Ocean, a joint project with the Minderoo University of Western Australia Deep-sea centre sponsored by Andrew Forrest. www.eyos.com / www.caladanoceanic.com

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PHIDEX 2021 MAKES A SPLASH The challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic could not stop diving enthusiasts and industry experts from coming together in the first-ever alldigital Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), from 19-21 March via virtual conferencing. Over 2,000 diving enthusiasts from around the world attended this year’s iteration of the Philippines’ largest platform for the diving community, which was established in 2019. This year’s event, themed ‘Our Sea, Our Story’, brought everyone together to raise awareness and discuss solutions for the local diving industry’s recovery.

“With the gradual activation of dive travel and tourism in various parts of the country, an event such as this is even more crucial for the recovery of the dive industry,” said DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in her opening speech on the first day of the expo.

“As the Philippines is widely recognized by scientists as the centre of marine biodiversity, it is fitting that we lead the region in mounting an event that reflects our world-class diving.”

Various international leaders and experts in their respective fields spoke in 17 different panel discussions and talk sessions at the three-day expo, with around a hundred attendees watching each session. These include California Academy of Sciences Curator Dr Terry Gosliner, French-British underwater photographer Henley Spiers, Emmy Award-winning husband-and-wife documentary team Howard and Michele Hall, and German underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich, just to name a few.

Expo-goers also had the opportunity to score exclusive PHIDEX deals on diving equipment, accessories, and travel experiences from the 64 exhibitors, dealers, and partners present in the event’s virtual exhibition. Over 2,000 business and networking leads were generated by the Dive Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) meetings.

“With health and safety protocols in place to ensure the safe reopening of our destinations, we are taking this opportunity to pivot towards sustainable solutions,” Puyat stressed.

For more information and updates on PHIDEX and the Philippine dive industry, visit: www.phidex.asia

GOLD COAST WITNESSES WORLD’S BIGGEST DIVE STORE OPENING The largest scuba diving store in the world opened its doors on the Gold Coast this month, with a huge grand opening weekend drawing massive crowds eager to get a piece of the Aus$55,000 plus of giveaways! Adreno Ocean Outfitters has been servicing the scuba diving community for over 20 years, and has grown from humble beginnings into the world’s best dive store.

In 2015, hundreds of keen divers queued for the opening of their Sydney megastore, and again in Melbourne a year later.

Adreno added a fourth megastore in Perth in 2018, and has now celebrated the launch of its Gold Coast store with a huge grand opening weekend.

Over Aus$55,000 worth of freebies was given away across the weekend, including 500 free gift bags valued over $100, a Zeagle Envoy Regulator Set, and anyone who made a purchase went into the draw to win a five-day trip to the Great Barrier Reef worth Aus$2,500.

Divers had the chance to browse the largest range of scuba gear in the world while speaking with brand reps and experts.

With special guests, entertainment and much more, it was a suitably epic event to open a monster store!

Want to check it out yourself?

Adreno Ocean Outfitters, 3-9 Rawlins St, Southport, QLD

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VOLIVOLI BEACH RESORT LEADS THE WAY WITH VACCINATIONS The team at Volivoli Beach Resort and Ra Divers Fiji on the sensational Suncoast are well known as leaders in the dive tourism industry and have kept that momentum going with their proactive approach towards ensuring safe and responsible tourism opens as soon as possible.

As Fiji’s Premier Dive Resort directly responsible for thousands of international divers flocking to Fijian shores to experience diving Fiji’s # 1 Dive Region, the incredible Bligh Water, each year, the team understand the importance of acting responsibility. Opening the borders is one thing, however, opening them in both a safe and economical way is another, there is not one quick fix but many key steps everyone must take along the way.

Volivoli’s Simon Doughty said: “As proud ambassadors for tourism in Fiji and, of course, the safety and protection of the local community, it is our responsibility to proactively do whatever we can to not only help generate a reboot of the tourism industry and economy but at the same time play a responsible role in protecting the health and safety of the entire community.

“In close alliance with the Ministry of Health and the Rakiraki District Hospital, well over half our teams have received their first AstraZeneca vaccination. Logistically we have scheduled 20-team members per day over several days to receive their

first round of vaccines and play their part in being responsible for protecting our community.”

Volivoli Beach Resort has also achieved compliance for CareFiji and Safe Travels accreditations so each and every step is helping the economy and the health and safety of the broader community get back onto its feet.

AMAZING DISCOVERY ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF Underwater photographer John Magee had an amazing encounter recently on a day of diving with Passions of Paradise out of Cairns – with Harry the hairy ghost pipefish.

John explained: “As an underwater macro photographer here on the Great Barrier Reef, we are very lucky to have such amazing diving right in our back garden and so I take advantage of this every week.

“On this lucky day, I started as always, by heading directly under the boat to look for things hiding in the sand. After around ten minutes I came across and patch of red algae and seaweed drifting along the bottom but spotted something drifting the in other direction to the current. There it was. For the next 65 minutes I stayed with this elusive creature as it fed on things too small to even see, taking as many pictures as I could until I had to leave it to its algae.

“I haven’t seen a ghost pipefish in more than a year and a half and so two days later, when I was next out with Passions of Paradise and they went back to the same site, I had to go and check for ‘the Irish Setter’ pipefish again. Within five minutes I spotted it feeding and dancing across the sand, in an area that must be his home. Spotting him immediately meant that I got to spend a 70-minute dive just focusing on him, the star of the show. For a macro diver and photographer, this was like winning the lottery. Time was running out for me on this dive though, and just as he started heading towards a patch of coral where his mate may have been hiding, I had to surface. Guess where I will be looking first next time?”

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He continued: “After showing a friend the picture, she gave him the nickname ‘Hairy Harry’ and after putting his picture online, Hairy Harry became a bit of a rock star with over 34,000 likes just on one Facebook page!”

Camera and settings – Canon 5D mark IV with a Canon 100mm f2.8 L Macro Lens. Aquatica Underwater housing, Ikelike 160 strobe. 1/125, f16, ISO 400. To see more of John’s pictures, head to www.blueden.com.au

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Ask DAN DAN medical specialists and researchers answer your dive medicine questions

RHINOPLASTY AND DIVING

Q: I have a rhinoplasty surgery scheduled to repair a deviated septum. What can I expect for returning to diving after the procedure?

A: There are two types of rhinoplasty (commonly known as a nose job): cosmetic and reconstructive. Cosmetic rhinoplasty seeks to improve the nose’s appearance and is generally less invasive than reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive rhinoplasty restores the form and function of the nose and corrects traumatic nasal injuries. A reconstructive procedure also treats congenital nose defects and deformities and breathing problems from a deviated septum or other nasal abnormality.

The average healing time before returning to diving after cosmetic rhinoplasty is about two months and about three months for reconstructive rhinoplasty, provided there are no complications. Your surgeon can give you an exact date based on how well the surgery goes and how well you heal. Discuss with your surgeon issues such as equalising the middle ear and sinuses, whether Valsalva techniques are permitted and the impact of wearing a mask.

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Once your surgeon releases you to return to diving, start with several short, shallow dives in a controlled environment such as a pool to see if you have any problems equalising. Using scuba isn’t necessary; freediving is enough to determine if your ears or sinuses will give you any problems after the surgery. If the initial trial dives go well, further diving shouldn’t be an issue. Be prudent about your diving behaviour early in your return — don’t plan your first dive trip after surgery to a remote location or where you are unsure of access to good medical care.

Your equalisation technique may change depending on how well you’re able to equalise. If you prefer the Valsalva manoeuvre, consider using a different technique in the beginning to avoid pinching a nose that’s just been reconstructed. Many DAN members have reported decreased problems equalising after various types of sinus surgery.

If you have any difficulty equalising the first time back in the pool, your sinuses may not be ready to withstand the pressures associated with diving, so allow yourself additional healing time.

DANAP.org

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Queensland’s tropical north is the place many of us first discovered the Great Barrier Reef. From Cairns or Port Douglas, this is the closest jump-off point to the outer reef for a day trip or liveaboard expedition

THE TROPICAL NORTH’S

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Want to know the best spots to dive on the Great Barrier Reef? In this twopart feature, Deborah Dickson-Smith asked Master Reef Guides to choose their top 12 dives on this iconic dive location PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHELLE BARRY, LILY BUCHANAN AND ANDREW WATSON

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Q

ueensland’s tropical north is the place many of us first discovered the Great Barrier Reef.

From Cairns or Port Douglas, this is the closest jump-off point to the outer reef for a day trip or liveaboard expedition. From Norman and Saxon Reefs out from Cairns, to Agincourt Reef out of Port Douglas, and further north to the Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea. There are literally hundreds of dive sites to choose from, so how do you choose? We asked the experts, Master Reef Guides working in this region, which reefs offer the best diving, to put together a list of the Top 12 Dives on the Great Barrier Reef.

The reef is pristine and healthy

THE POINT. AGINCOURT REEF NO. 4

Master Reef Guide: Dr Glenn Burns (and Dive Instructor Haylie Bennett) Dive it with: Quicksilver and Silversonic ‘The Point’ is at the southern-most point of Agincourt 4, on a section of the Reef that sits on the very edge of the continental shelf around 35km offshore. It is separated from Agincourt 3 by a narrow channel. These two geographical features combine to create a spectacular site for lovers of pelagic action. Strong currents sweep plankton-rich waters from the surrounded deep sea into the channel attracting predators, with large schools of striped and yellow tail fusiliers patrolling the coral wall, and chasing them, larger predators such as big-eye trevally and barracuda.

Divers can find themselves inside a circling tornado of big-eye trevally and barracuda. Outside the lagoon, divers frequently sight larger pelagics, including grey reef sharks and the occasional bull shark, while inside the lagoon, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks.

The best way to dive The Point is a drift dive, dropping in on the outer wall just outside the channel, drifting swiftly around the Point itself into the channel, passing forests of enormous gorgonian fans along the way before being sucked into the lagoon, where you’ll likely meet Donut, the world’s friendliest, giant Maori wrasse. When conditions allow, you can also dive along the outer wall, where you can expect visibility between 30 metres to 50 metres as the reef wall drop down, in stages, 50m, 100m, and even deeper.

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Anemonefish on the reef

Seemingly endless table corals

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G R E AT B A R R I E R R E E F

D I V E IN T O A D V E N T U R E Embark on the ultimate adventure and explore the world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel over a kaleidoscope of colourful corals, or dive deeper to breathe in the reef in HD. Whether you opt for an action-packed pontoon adventure, or drift to the reef on a luxury catamaran, Cairns offers a myriad of diving and snorkelling adventures. Just visiting this incredible ecosystem and meeting its residents will leave you with a passion for wanting to protect it.

Join a Master Reef Guide for a rewarding, educational experience. As you listen to their stories, you may just become a reef custodian yourself.

D I S C OV E R G R E AT L E AV E G R E AT E R

YO U R U N D E R WAT E R A DV E N T U R E B E G I N S AT C A I R N S G R E AT B A R R I E R R E E F. C O M / A DV E N T U R E

NURSERY BOMMIE. AGINCOURT REEF NO. 2A

Master Reef Guide: Dr Glenn Burns (and Dive Instructor Haylie Bennett) Dive it with: Quicksilver and Silversonic, Nursery is a relatively shallow dive, starting at 25m depth at the base of the bommie itself which sits on a sloping reef wall. Drop in on the deeper side of the bommies and gradually circle your way to the shallows. The marine life changes as you ascend, passing reef sharks, large schools of drummer, the occasional reef shark and other pelagics in deeper water, and in the shallows, clouds of purple anthias. Divers often see pods of dolphins and in winter, minke whales are occasionally sighted.

As you follow the reef wall into shallower water, you’ll pass a huge garden of staghorn coral in shades of brown, purple, blue and green before ending your dive in ‘Fishbowl’, a bowl with a white sandy bottom, surrounded by staghorns, and brimming with pretty reef fish of all colours, including neon blue chromis, orange and purple anthias and damsels.

Dr Glenn Byrne explains: “One of the reasons I love this dive is that it’s so versatile, it has something for divers of all levels, from beginner to hardcore.”

Healthy brain coral front and centre

HELM DEEP DRIFT. AGINCOURT NO. 2

Master Reef Guide: Dr Glenn Burns (and Dive Instructor Haylie Bennett) Dive it with: Quicksilver and Silversonic, Helms Drift is channel between two Agincourt reefs, namely 2A and 2B, where strong currents carry you along the outer wall and suck you into the channel where you drift at an incredible pace until the current peters out inside the lagoon.

“On this drift dive, you fly,” according to Haylie.

And while you’re ‘flying’ you’ll pass turtles, grey reef sharks and barramundi cod, before you reach the gentler pace of the reef surrounding the mooring and the macro features to be found there, such as tiny pipefish and nudibranchs. Near the mooring you may also come across a couple of cheeky residents, Agro, a camouflage cod and Colin, a Malabar cod.

THREE SISTERS, MILLN REEF

Master Reef Guides: Russell Hosp and Kirsty Whitman Dive it with: Passions of Paradise, Pro Dive Cairns The Three Sisters are three enormous bommies that sit on the very edge of Milln Reef, where the current brings in large amounts of plankton, a food rich environment for schooling pelagics such as fusiliers, red bass, drummer, and larger marine life including turtles, reef sharks, several species of rays including large smooth rays and cowtail rays. The Sisters’ position at the edge of the reef assures excellent visibility, upwards of 20 metres, perfect for shark and ray spotting!

Start at the third sister and swim a figure eight pattern around the second and third sister before heading to Sister No. 1. Reef fish you’re likely to see along the way include fusiliers, damsels, purple and orange anthias, bright blue chromis, yellow spotted and diagonal banded sweetlips and parrotfish.

Potato cod

Shoal of yellow snapper

The Three Sisters are three enormous bommies that sit on the very edge of Milln Reef 22

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Hard and soft corals with sponges

Cairns: Twin Peaks, Saxon Reef Master Reef Guide: Michelle Barry Dive it with: Divers Den Saxon Reef is one of the best Great Barrier Reef dive and snorkel sites. Set between Norman and Hastings Reefs, there are calm lagoons ideal for snorkelling – as well as the famous Twin Peaks coral ‘mountains’ where a deeper scuba dive offers the chance to spot species like reef sharks, trevally, large cod, and moray eels.

CITY HALL, MOORE REEF Freediving over hard corals

Master Reef Guide: Pablo Cogollos Dive it with: Sunlover Reef Cruises Located about 200 metres from the Sunlover Pontoon, City Hall is a large pinnacle, festooned at depth with giant gorgonian fans and healthy, vibrant and diverse coral cover in the shallows. It is surrounded by at least 10 swim-throughs where you might find wide-eyed red cardinal fish, here and there clouds of glass fish and the odd coral trout darting in and out.

Turtles are almost guaranteed at this site, with 18 individual resident turtles identified: two hawksbill and 16 green sea turtles. As you circle and ascend the pinnacle, you’ll see lots of damsels fluttering about the thick outcrops of branching coral and huge schools of yellowtail fusiliers darting scaling the coral wall at high speed. n Massive sea fan

CLUB 10, MILLN REEF

Master Reef Guides: Russell Hosp and Kirsty Whitman Dive it with: Passions of Paradise, Pro Dive Cairns Good for snorkellers and divers, this shallow dive (so named for its deepest point: 10m), has vibrant coral cover and several species of anemones in one of the largest fields of anemones you’ll ever see. Just beneath the mooring there are large clusters of blue and brown staghorn corals, huge boulder corals, and on the sandy seafloor, garden eels sway in the mild current.

In the surrounding shallow coral gardens you’ll find a wide variety of reef life: damselfish, blue tangs (Dory), cuttlefish, butterflyfish, turtles and several species of sharks, including epaulette sharks, tawny nurse sharks and reef sharks.

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NORTH WEST SOLITARY ISLAND, MID-NORTH COAST, NSW Solitary Islands Marine Park is a place where the warm waters of the East Australian Current meet cooler waters from the south, bringing together tropical, sub-tropical and temperate marine life. Northwest Solitary Island is one of the closest islands to shore, a 15-minute boat ride from the Coffs Coast seaside hamlet of Mullaway. The dives here consist of rocky fingers and sandy gutters, with a large covering of vibrant hard and soft coral. On the island’s south east point, you’ll find large numbers of grey nurse sharks, large cod, jewfish and kingfish, the walls adorned with sea whips and gorgonian fans. And on the northwest side, over the summer months Manta Reef and Snorkellers’ Reef are transformed into a manta cleaning station. It’s common to see six or seven mantas on a single dive.

MANTA BOMMIE, NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND, QLD

Situated off North Stradbroke Island, Manta Bommie is a collection of rocky outcrops surrounded by a rugged rocky reef in depths from 3m to 15m. Reef manta rays gather at Manta Bommie in large numbers over the summer months, with researchers identifying it as the second-most-important manta gathering site in Australia after Lady Elliot Island. And they are not the only attraction – in fact, this site is a magnet for sharks and rays. In summer, you can also expect to see large aggregations of leopard sharks and wedge fish. In fact, studies by shark researchers have found that over 500 leopard sharks visit Manta Bommie each year, making it the world’s best dive site to see these wonderfully patterned sharks.

© Deb Dickson-Smith

WOLF ROCK, FRASER COAST, QLD

Wolf Rock is best known for its grey nurse sharks, but it’s the sheer diversity of marine life, that makes Wolf Rock a worldclass dive spot. The rock formation is also spectacular which makes the dive even more interesting, but it’s the consistency of the experience that makes Wolf Rock a stand-out. Several different species of sharks and rays are consistently seen here, including leopard, wobbegong, and guitar sharks, three species of turtles, eagle and manta rays, pelagic fish (such as barracuda, giant trevally, kingfish, mackerel and cobia), moray eels, nudibranchs, tropical and sub-tropical fish.

© Quicksilver

THE POINT, AGINCOURT 3, PORT DOUGLAS, QLD

The Point is at the northern-most tip of Agincourt 3, on a section of the Reef that sits on the very edge of the continental shelf around 35km offshore, separated from Agincourt 4 by a narrow channel. Strong currents sweep plankton-rich waters from the surrounded deep sea into the channel attracting predators, with large schools of striped and yellowtail fusiliers patrolling the coral wall, and chasing them, larger predators such as big-eye trevally and barracuda, reef sharks and the occasional bull shark.

Contact Diveplanit.com for more information and how to book these unique experiences.

Email: enquire@diveplanit.com Phone: 1800 607 913

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Byron Conroy and Lena Kavender soak up the atmosphere on the five-star luxury You and Me by Cocoon Maldives resort, and find it simply stunning both above and below the surface PHOTOGRAPHS BY BYRON CONROY

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s my partner and I board the 12-seat TransMaldivian propeller seaplane, the pilot hands us some earplugs while announcing with a smile that it might be a bit of a noisy ride. The propellers start spinning and we glide on the water away from the Male seaplane terminal. Once in the air, and with the much-appreciated earplugs in place, I look down towards the crystal-clear turquoise water below us. The flat surface is only interrupted by occasional sand banks and perfectly shaped islands surrounded by sand whiter than sugar. When spotting a pod of spinner dolphins, I can´t help but thinking this must be paradise on Earth.

The Republic of the Maldives consists of 26 atolls built up by close to 2,000 coral cays. The coral reefs and sand banks creating the Maldivian archipelago sits atop a submarine mountain ridge rising from the depths of the Indian Ocean.

Some 50 minutes later we arrive at the You and Me by Cocoon Maldives resort, and are greeted by General Manager Jay and his team. After a welcoming glass of chilled processo and island briefing, we check into a stunning over-water Manta villa, built in authentic Maldivian wooden-style. Being divers and ocean lovers, you can imagine the excitement when seeing the ladder from our balcony dropping right into the sea. Minutes later we grab our masks and fins and make a big leap into the 30-degree C warm Indian Ocean. To our delight, it turns out our closest neighbours are a school of powderblue tangs having their residence underneath our villa.

DIVING THE RAA ATOLL WITH EMPEROR DIVERS

A short boat ride later we arrive at The Pink Snapper. When descending into the clear blue water, I can immediately spot the bottom 30m-plus below us. We are met by a healthy current and decide to use our reef hooks to be able to stay at the spot with the most marine life action. A few minutes into the dive we are joined by a family of no less than 11 spotted eagle rays hovering above our heads. In front of us numerous reef sharks circled in the blue waters. After 30 minutes of shark and ray action, we let ourselves drift over the top of the reef catching up with huge schools of red snapper, blue-lined snapper and oriental sweetlips. What felt like minutes turns out to be an hour, and that´s our cue for safety stop and ascent.

After a surface interval of relaxation, sunbathing, tropical fruit eating and rehydration we´re ready to jump in for a second dive. This time at the local pride You and Me Giri.

Giri is the Maldivian word for shallow coral bommie in the local language Dhivehi. Caverns and overhangs covered in tiny glassfish together with schooling yellow snapper dominate this dive site. The Giri is covered in colourful soft coral and gorgonian seafans. Huge moray eels inhabit the overhangs. Outside of one of the caverns a group of sweetlips are hanging out, watching their human visitors from a safe distance.

At noon we are back on the You and Me island. While walking along the jetty towards our villa I spot a school of tiny baitfish swimming around in circles in the shallow

As keen divers, the main focus during our stay is to explore the underwater world of Raa Atoll. This is easily arranged thanks to the You and Me dive centre operated by Emperor Divers Maldives. Dive Managers Lana and Frank have promised to show us some of their personal favourite sites with a good chance of pelagic encounters, which could hopefully offer some good wide-angle photo opportunities.

The following morning we set out for an early two-tank dive trip of one of the resort’s Dhonis or traditional Maldivian dive boats.

We are joined by a German couple celebrating their 50th dive trip to the Maldives.

That, if anything, must be a sign the diving here is pretty special!

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Shoal of snapper on the reef

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The other couples joining us this evening are not divers and the excitement on their faces during their first encounter with a larger marine animal is a priceless sight

What a view from the infiniti pool

The water villas have direct access to the ocean

water next to the beach. Moments later we spot several juvenile blacktip reef sharks playing with the baitfish. Lunch suddenly feels less important and instead we grab our masks and jump in the water. These baby sharks are friendlier and less shy than expected. They let us get pretty close and we even manage to snap a few shots. Juvenile reef sharks typically spend their youth in extremely shallow waters inside lagoons. This is to protect themselves amongst larger grouper or other sharks, before moving out to the reef channels as they grow bigger.

island I have had the pleasure to experience. The white sand, the turquoise ocean and the romantic atmosphere makes me feel like I’m walking around in a ´tropical paradise´ postcard.

Being a five-star adult-only resort, it´s the perfect escape for honeymooners or friends looking for a stress-free holiday.

POSTCARD PARADISE

CORAL RESTORATION

Even though the diving and the marine life in Raa Atoll is phenomenal, this place has a lot more to offer. The Watersports Centre managed by Emperor Divers offers snorkelling excursions, sailing and jet ski rental to name but a few. It´s also possible to book private island romantic dinners, dolphin and sunset cruises on a private boat, visits to a local island and fishing trips. This makes it a great destination for divers and non-divers alike.

You and Me is possibly the most-relaxing and stunning Huge plume of soft corals

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The resort´s coral restoration project is a co-operation between the You and Me resort and the Maldivian Government and involves planting corals in the shallow water of the lagoon. The corals are then being monitored in order to record how, and at what rate, they are growing. This is done as part of a scientific coral restoration and coral research programme.

The Maldives is highly dependent on its coral reefs for tourism and fishing industries as well as the marine fauna.

Coral reefs play a fundamental role in food provision, shoreline protection and tourism revenue. As we all know, coral reefs all over our planet are struggling due to rising sea temperatures, hurricanes, pollution, etc. The Maldives in no exception, however, fortunately the Maldivian coral reefs have also shown great capacity for resilience in the past with coral recovery being among the best recorded in the Indian Ocean.

Despite being opened for less than a year, the You and Me has managed to provide us with a once-in-a-lifetime dream holiday. As it´s time for us to check out, I have already started to plan for our next visit to this fantastic island. n

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UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY

WORKING THE SUBJECT Following his last article on capturing subject behaviour in macro images, Martyn Guess provides some insight into, and also tips on, working the subject in order to get the best out of the photographic opportunities we find underwater PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARTYN GUESS

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ow many times have you got back on the boat or to shore after a dive when you have just experienced a really amazing photographic opportunity and have been unhappy with the images you came back with?

I used to find myself saying ‘if only I had taken the shot using a different technique or from a different position, or lit it better or in a different way…’ By then the moment and the opportunity has passed. You might be lucky enough to go and do the same dive again and find the same opportunity, but most often this this just doesn’t happen. Maybe the subject has moved on, the behaviour you were looking at has stopped, or the light is totally different and the experience of what you were looking at has become just a memory.

The best way to try and avoid these disappointments (once you have mastered the various ways you can shoot with your camera) is to really work the subject when great photographic opportunities arise. By this I mean to try different camera settings, different techniques and angles, different methods of lighting on the same subject or scene in order to try and record a series of different-looking images and make the absolute best image you can of what is in front of your lens. If you adopt this approach, your portfolio of images of the same or similar subjects or scenes will be more diverse, with many different-looking images. You can then pick out what worked best and is the most pleasing to you. Rather than sticking with the same angle of view, camera settings or lighting for example, you are mitigating the risk of ending up with images that all look similar.

You will also be minimising the chance that the images you took on the dive all display potentially similar creative issues, such as poor lighting, distracting backgrounds or poor composition. By taking a series of shots with different settings and techniques and moving your position, you will have hopefully made the best of the opportunity.

The way that I adopt this approach is to plan ahead of my dive what I want to try and achieve in the limited time

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Image 1 – Slow motion panned shot of a Grey Seal pup

that I will have underwater. Most of the time I will know what I intend to try and photograph. A shark or seal dive, a particular reef scene or I will have planned a particular time of day for different light, or a macro dive with specific subjects common in the area, etc. If you think beforehand about what you might see on your dive or what you want to look for, you will have the preparation time to be able to choose the best lens and lighting set up and maybe take the right equipment with you be it diopters to magnify or off camera strobe set ups, snoots, etc.

I also look avidly at other photographers work in books and magazines or on social media and if I like something in particular, I will think about how they captured their image, and this might then form part of my dive plan. I often write messages to myself which I stick to the back of my camera housing to remind myself when I am immersed underwater!

As an example of this approach - when I went to photograph some seals last summer, I had in mind capturing them as part of the underwater reef scene rather than

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Image 4 – Scenic shot – no strobes, with Seals in the distance

Image 2 – Slow speed 1/8 sec and front curtain sync

just close up (my portfolio of seal images seemed to be mainly close-ups of their delightful faces). I also wanted to experiment with some motion blur, slow speed images of the fast-moving pups as I hadn’t seen much of this technique with this particular subject (image 1). Also, as there was the opportunity to be very shallow at times during the dive, I planned to take some available light shots, which give a very natural colour to the images.

It is easy to forget the plan once you have a subject in front of you, hence the clear messages on my housing! As soon as the first seal arrived in front of me, I started taking standard settings images, as I am always keen to get a shot in the bag. After the first few minutes when the seal moved away, I had a chance to think about my plan for the dive. I set up my camera to a low speed of 1/8th sec, a relatively small aperture and a lower ISO and strobe power to compensate for the slow speed and the consequential amount of light that would be hitting the camera’s sensor. I set the flash to frontcurtain sync - to make sure the blurred movement streaks went backwards from the subject - and prepared to swing or pan the camera through the seals as they approached to try and capture their movement (see image 2).

After a spell of this and getting some reasonable results, I moved on and thought about another approach and I noticed that there were quite a few seals doing a fly by in the medium distance before coming in closer. The seals doing

Image 3 – Ambient light – no strobes

this were in shallower water, so I thought this would give me the opportunity to take some natural light images of the reef scene, with the seals as a focal point, but further away than I normally shoot them. I looked for a view that was reasonably photogenic and turned off my strobes and played around with my settings to get the best exposure of the reef scene lit only by available light. In this type of shot I set the camera for maximum depth of field with an aperture of around F16 and quite a fast speed to capture the moving seals. My ISO had to be adjusted up to around ISO800 to compensate even though I was quite shallow. I then simply waited and every few minutes a seal came into view. The camera shutter was set up for eight frames a second so that I could continuously shoot as the seals flew past (See image 3). When the seals moved in closer, I was able to continue with available light shooting without any strobe lighting to get some very natural colours lit by the strong surface sun light (see image 4).

After a while, the sunlight disappeared, and it became quite overcast so I resorted to close up shots of the seals using more traditional strobe lighting with the strobes positioned at 9 and 3 o’clock and relatively close to the housing as I intended to get close to the subject.

Image 5 – Blue Ribbon Eel, backlit with torch and slow speed and Snoot light on the front of the subject

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UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY Image 6 – Snoot lit with high speed and small aperture to create black background

Image 7 – Open aperture F7.1 to soften the background

When I got back to the boat and looked at the images I had captured, there was a wide range of different types of images.

I skipped through the close-up shots quickly as I have seen loads of these before and quickly homed in on the slow motion and wide-angle reef scenes and out of this dive two or three of the images have done well in competitions or have been published.

I had the same plan when last in Bali with a group of photographers. There is one site where there are common sightings of blue-ribbon eels and I have dived it many times – Batu Niti, close to the Seraya resort. As I knew what to expect on the dive, I decided to do just a blue-ribbon eel dive and told the guide that was my plan and I prepared myself mentally to what I was setting out to achieve. The idea being to try some different lighting techniques, snooting and backlighting as well as full-on face shots and open and then closed apertures to either blur the often-distracting background - the eels live among the debris of the sea bottom on the edge of the reef, or to darken the background to hide it (Image 5 shows the subject backlit with a torch while using a more open aperture and a snoot light at low camera speed which enabled the background to show). By varying the speed the background became darker with a higher speed (image 6). I also shot some images with an open aperture of around F7.1 which gave a nice bokeh background and softer subject (Image7). I then altered my position to get some full-on face shots combining this angle with either a small or open aperture to get different effects (see image 8).

The next time you dive with a camera, think before you go about what sort of shots you want to achieve and then during the dive really work the subjects or scenes you come across – it will be really worth the effort! n

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Image 8 – Open aperture to create an “arty” bokeh shot – full face

CHANGE THE WAY YOU DIVE FOREVER WITH MERIDIAN ADVENTURE DIVE Access to the most Dive Sites in Raja Ampat, Indonesia Best eco-conscious Dive Boats in the world Top of the range Aqualung Dive Equipment and Gear Fusion restaurant, Honest Food made to order Cleanest Barefoot Luxury hotel in the jungle Adventure Activities for all ages above and below the water On-Site Professional Dive Specialists Community Driven, eco-conscious, socially responsible hotel and diving facility At Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, the Raja Ampat you’ve dreamed of is waiting.

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Jean-Pierre Nathrass showcases some of the marine life you can expect to encounter on dives around Raja Ampat, and talks about the friendly local people PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADRIAN STACEY, JEAN-PIERRE NATHRASS AND MERIDIAN DIVE ADVENTURES

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AMPAT

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MORE THAN JUST BIG SCHOOLS OF FISH! 37

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aja Ampat is home to masses of marine species and over 70 percent of the world’s known coral species.

When diving in this incredible location, you are often surrounded by schools of fish of different shapes and sizes. At times it can be overwhelming, especially on dive sites like Blue Magic or Cape Kri, where the stronger currents and deep reef drop-offs attract schools of fish that seemingly just float in the currents off the reef.

While there are countless number of fish surrounding you, it might be intimidating to try and identify all. We have put together a guide on what and where to expect in this diving paradise. Most often when start your decent on a dive, you will be surrounded by fusilier. These small blue and yellow pelagic fish are commonly found in the shallower parts of the reef where they feed on plankton. On occasion you might also spot large groups of red-toothed triggerfish darting to the surface before their vivid blue shapes disappear into the deeper waters again. Often you can even spot their blue shapes and turbulent water from their movements from the surface. Like the fusilier, they mainly feed on plankton and krill close to the surface of the water.

Juvenile longfin batfish have also been seen in smaller groups close to the surface and often these curious groups of fish will follow a group of divers from the descent to their ascent. While Raja Ampat is an incredible destination for divers it is also possible with snorkellers to get a taste of these impressive schools of fish. The local jetties that are found near popular dive sites is home to the most impressive snorkelling imaginable. These sites are appropriate for even beginner snorkellers and the shallow reefs under the jetties are home to large schools of rabbitfish, batfish, butterflyfish and angelfish. While the shallow waters of Raja Ampat are home to many schools of fish, the deeper waters are also home to many interesting sightings.

In stronger currents, most often just off the reef slope or in canyons between reefs, dogtooth barracuda gather in large groups and seemingly just hover into the oncoming currents. These opportunistic hunters have found the currents bring easy prey to them. These groups of barracuda can be intimidating to when you spot their toothy grins, but make for incredible photographs.

Expect plenty of willing models!

Along with the barracuda that make the deeper waters their home, many game fish can be spotted in large groups. Giant trevally, yellowfin tuna, and snapper, just to name a few.

While these are truly incredible schools of fish to see, it is important for divers to keep safety in mind when they hope to see these gamefish. As a common rule of thumb, the stronger the currents in Raja Ampat are, the more fish life you are likely to see. While diving in these currents is not dangerous when diving with trained professionals, the rules of safe diving should always be followed. And safety should never be ignored for the sake of possible sightings.

Of the schools of fish that are found in Raja Ampat, the most interesting are the large schools of grouper and giant sweetlip that can be found in the deeper waters. Both species of fish grow to exceptionally large sizes with giant sweetlips reaching lengths of one metre and grouper have been known to grow much larger even.

Although not openly practiced anymore, many of these have their origin in witchcraft and the spirit world

Raja Ampat is characterised by colourful reefs

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Great tuition from beginner through to instructor training for family groups, small groups and one-to-one training. We are a PADI 5-Star IDC centre and offer 18 PADI Specialty course options on our Master Scuba Diver program.

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Interaction with the locals is always fun

Both species favour the deeper waters where they use rock and reef structures for protection from currents and apex predators that also patrol the reef system. It is an impressive sight to behold when you swim over a rock formation just to see a group of 20 giant sweetlips casually swimming below.

With the incredible marine diversity and dive sites that cater to all levels of divers, Raja Ampat is a must-visit destination for all.

THE PAPUAN PEOPLE OF RAJA AMPAT

When you mention Raja Ampat, the first thought that crosses your mind is of the incredible marine life and diving. What most fail to remember, is that the area is also home to the indigenous tribes and people of West Papua, an area that is believed to have been populated over 30,000 years ago by the Melanesians. This ethnic group can be traced back in both the populations of West Papua and that of Papua New Guinea.

While the modern-day tribes of Papua New Guinea are much more closely related to their Melanesian ancestors, the tribes of the Raja Ampat region have, over the years, been exposed to, and even integrated with, many other tribes from all over Indonesia and the surrounding areas, including Biak and Maluku. Over the years this has greatly influenced the evolution of this unique culture and people, who are commonly referred to as the Papuan people. A popular story among the Papuan people is that a skilled warrior of Raja Ampat helped the Sultan of Tidore conquer the Raja Ampat region, after which he was rewarded the Sultan’s daughter’s hand in marriage. They then had four children, who were named the four kings of the region, and this gave birth to the name of Raja Ampat, ‘the Four Kings’.

Most of the Papuan people come from families of migrating fishermen, with small tribes forming across the 1,500 islands in the region. While all come from the same general ancestry, each individual tribe has developed their own individual

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dialects, customs and habits, over time. As many as six distinct dialects have been identified among these tribes, while the Indonesian Bahasa language is used as a common language between them.

As with the rest of Indonesia, the two main religions in the area are Christianity and Islam, with the northern regions having a larger Christian population and the south favouring Islam. These two religious groups live in perfect harmony in the area, with a deep respect for each other. While modern religions are present because of outside influences over the years, Pristine reefs await...

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most of the Papuan people still hold fast to old beliefs and superstitions. Although not openly practiced anymore, many of these have their origin in witchcraft and the spirit world.

The Papuan people of Raja Ampat are known for their friendly and welcoming nature and will often greet visitors to the area with big smiles and generous natures. The children in the area will swarm around newcomers to speak, play, and make an appearance in photos. These families are of the ocean and their entire lives revolve around it. Kids are seen swimming in the waters surrounding their villages, or swinging from homemade swings high in the treetops, while the adults come and go. The men mainly take their homemade boats out for the day to fish, while the woman stay home and look after their household.

Their culture is one of family and caring, with the bonds running deep. It is common for families to live their entire lives in one village and house from one generation to the next, with the young looking the elderly. While in modern times, the children are more likely to attend modern schools they are still taught the traditional ways. From fishing to forestry, the Papuan people truly are at home in their environment.

They are also proud people with a rich history and culture.

They are lovers of the arts, and previous generations were as well. Many caves in the area are filled with drawings from long ago, while folktales are still passed on from generation to generation. Where you are most likely to see the love of arts is through their passion for telling stories through their song and dance, with traditional dances, and songs, taught from a young age. Children dress in traditional dress and war paint to perform these dances, the most famous of which tells the story of the Lau Lau (kangaroo) hunt.

One of the best experiences of all is to be surrounded by the unique cultural aspects of the Papuan people. From their distinct cuisine, heritage, and way of life, the people of Raja Ampat are genuine and friendly to all who visit their home and will go to great lengths to make all feel at home in this paradise. n

Natives in full ceremonial dress

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It is an impressive sight to behold when you swim over a rock formation just to see a group of 20 giant sweetlips casually swimming below

Diver enveloped by horse-eye jacks

MERIDIAN ADVENTURE DIVE

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The sweeping spine of Indonesia’s archipelago is an underwater treasure trove, and the Raja Ampat Islands are often- overlooked. Raja Ampat is one of Indonesia’s mostcaptivating diving grounds and is truly a paradise on earth. raja.meridianadventuredive.com

THE USE OF METAL DETECTORS IN DIVING ARCHAEOLOGY, PART TWO

By Mike Haigh, Project Director, Wreck Hunters

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o, what has been found using these instruments? We must here differentiate between the activities of what we would term ‘treasure hunters’ and archaeological investigation.

Of course, it is the discovery of treasure that © Aquascan / Mario Arina of Global Under water Explorers hits the headlines, such as the exploits of Greg Bounds off Key West, Florida, and the location and salvage of the 1715 Treasure Fleet by Brent Brisben. On the latter site, $4.5 million worth of gold coins were recovered on one day.

In terms of diving archaeology, metal detectors have had a positive contribution for longer than many would expect. In the case of the Kyrenia ship, dated to approximately 300BC, the lead sheathing of the vessel was located by a metal detector survey. Other electronic survey methods had missed this – which could have led to the destruction of this key find when the remains of the ship were recovered. This survey took place in 1970.

Moving closer to the present, in 2019 a team of Italian Navy Divers located a Roman wreck at 90m and using Aquascan AQ1B units recovered swords and other artefacts. The image shown in this article, courtesy of Aquascan and Mario Arina of Global Underwater Explorers, shows a diver It was by using a metal detector, on loan to the project, using an underwater metal detector on the deep-water site. that the team were able to locate metallic fragments of the Perhaps the best example of how metal detectors can vessel. So, what was then the oldest shipwreck in the world locate ancient wrecks comes from a site I came to know well, was rediscovered by using a tool more normally thought of by the Giglio Etruscan wreck. When Mensun Bound and Reg many as for use in finding sunken gold!

Valentine were searching for the site, some 20 years after Next time, we be looking at the use of photomosaics in its original discovery by Reg himself in 1961, no signs of a wreck site investigation. ‘shipwreck’ could be found. www.wreckhunters.co.uk

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WRECK HUNTERS SEASON ONE 2021 Barefoot luxury in the heart of Indonesia

Calling would-be undersea detectives!

A unique opportunity to take part in the beginning of a diving archaeology programme is opening up in the summer of 2021* on the Caribbean island of Utila.

The Wreck Hunters project is offering a onemonth, limited availability window for divers to be a part of the Season One team.

The focus this year is about getting to the heart of the story of a wreck called ‘The Oliver’, its rich history and the life of 18th Century mariners.

Learn the skills of undersea archaeology, from traditional to cutting edge techniques.

If you’re a relatively experienced diver with skills or experience in drawing (artistic or technical), surveying, photography or in construction work this could be just what you’re looking for (See website for full details).

Project Director Mike Haigh’s ideal candidates have a ‘good sense of humour’ and enjoy teamwork. Check out www.wreckhunters.co.uk Or Telephone: +44 0117 9596454

So if you think this project would help put a smile on your face, why not get in touch to find out more at

www.wreckhunters.co.uk

Bunaken National Marine Park

info@wreckhunters.co.uk *COVID restrictions may result in a change of operation dates.

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Shark-tacular

The sheer number of sharks on this dive was staggering, and as the visibility was probably only about ten metres, it is safe to assume there were plenty more lurking just out of sight WWW.SCUBADIVERMAG.COM.AU

Adrian Stacey’s mini-roadtrip continues – after diving the HMAS Brisbane, he headed north to a site known for its shark inhabitants PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADRIAN STACEY

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art two of my mini roadtrip took me to the idyllic town of Rainbow Beach, home of Wolf Rock. This dive site does not just have a cool name - it also has a fast-growing reputation as one of the best shark dives in Australia. It has been on my ‘to do’ list for a while now, and I was eager to see what all the fuss was about.

After two great dives on the HMAS Brisbane at the Sunshine Coast, we headed north up the Bruce highway. We made the turn off at Gympie, and shortly afterwards, the fairytale began. First, we drove through the never-ending forest of the great sandy national park.

Gnarled and knotted trees stretched for as far as the eye could see; the fact that this immense forest has sprung up out of what is essentially a massive sand dune gives it a slightly surreal quality. After driving through this impressive forest for what seemed like an eternity, we finally arrived at our destination, and with the sun beginning to set, we were told that the place to be was the lookout point known as the Carlo Sand Blow. I had been expecting a platform on top of the large hill, which afforded a pleasant view over the ocean and surrounding area. Perhaps a good place to watch a sunset.

However, as we made the ten-minute walk from the car park to our destination, it became clear that this was no ordinary lookout point.

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Dive boat ready for the off

Large crowds of people were also winding their way through the forest, and most of them were equipped with blankets, picnic rugs and, more importantly, coolers full of beer or wine. Once we arrived, the reason for the refreshments and additional luggage became clear. The Carlo Sand Blow is a vast sand dune perched at the top of a hill in the middle of dense woodlands with a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Then as the sun sets, tens of thousands of bats stream out of the gloomy forest filling the air with their high pitch screech. Next time I will make sure we come better prepared!

The next day we arrived at the unassuming base of Wolf Rock Dive Centre. Located in a light industrial area on the outskirts of town, this somewhat unusual location offers easy access to the river where the boat is launched. At the mouth of the river, a large number of 4x4 vehicles had assembled on the beach. They were waiting for the ferry to take them over to Frazer Island for an off-road adventure on the largest sand island in the world. Our adventure was also to take place a short boat ride away, and after a 30-minute journey over choppy seas, we arrived at our destination.

From the surface, the dive site looks somewhat uninspiring; however, beneath the lapping waves, it is an entirely different matter. On our first dive, we navigated through the maze of canyons and gutters that criss-cross the site, each gutter we swam into seeming to have more grey nurse sharks packed into it than the last. Branches of black coral sprouted sporadically from the rocks, small patches of hard and soft coral, plus the odd sea fan added a bit of colour and texture to the dive site. Moray eels poked out of crevasses, and we saw octopus, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, turtles and wobbegongs. A marble ray skimmed over the rocky ocean floor, and a large stingray rested in the bottom of a sandy gutter. As we spiralled around the dive site, gradually making our way to the surface, we encounter a couple of eagle rays and yet more grey nurse sharks lazily circling this rocky spire. At the summit of the pinnacle, we spent the safety stop among large schools of trevallies and jacks. The interesting topography and wealth

of marine creatures mean that even without the large animal encounters, this would still make a great dive site. The sharks just take it to the next level.

For the second dive, our guide wisely suggested that we spend most of our time circling the upper reaches of the pinnacles, as this seemed to be where the majority of the sharks were congregating. It proved to be a wise choice. Grey nurse sharks engulfed the dive site and as they can grow up to three-and-a-half metres in length, this was quite an impressive sight. Stacks of sharks piled on top of each other as they swam casually around the rock. This was a shark spectacular that I have rarely seen the likes of. The sheer number of sharks on this dive was staggering, and as the visibility was probably only about ten metres, it is safe to Grey nurse sharks...

...everywhere you look!

It is the consistency of this dive site to provide such encounters that make Wolf Rock so magical 46

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Diver with grey nurse shark

The reef is spectacular too

assume there were plenty more lurking just out of sight. We did also see some wobbegong sharks, a turtle plus a variety of reef and pelagic fish, but the undoubted stars of the show were the grey nurse sharks, and they were prolific.

It is believed that Wolf Rock was named after Archibald Wolfe, who was the cook onboard Captain Cook’s ship, the HMS Endeavour. Archibald was said to have first spotted the rocks poking out of the water, which are located 2km from Double Island Point.

Wolf Rock’s lonely location in the path of the East Australian current is perhaps one of the secrets to its success.

It is a beacon for wildlife. The currents that can make diving conditions, especially photography, challenging at times, bring microscopic nutrients from the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

These are a vital link in the food chain, attracting small fish and large flitter feeds alike. They, in turn, gain the unwanted attention of the bigger predators. As the only shelter from the open ocean, the rocky pinnacles offer sanctuary for weary ocean travellers. Mantas arrive here in the winter months (March – October) to visit one of the cleaning stations as they migrate to the Great Barrier Reef. Leopard sharks visit Wolf Rock through the summer months (November to March) on a similar migratory route to the mantas. Bull rays are found here year-round, but the summer months seem to attract them in much larger numbers. If that was not enough, from June to October, the annual humpback whale migration passes by.

In 2003, the Queensland government gave the area projected status, and fishing was banned. The main reason for this decision and the main reason for diving here is that it is considered the most-important habitat in Queensland for the endangered grey nurse sharks. The sharks are yearround residents, and the rocky topography, sandy gutters

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and towering pinnacles are ideal surroundings for the sharks who use the area for breeding and gestation. The fight for survival for these toothy creatures starts early with inuterus cannibalism resulting in only one or two embryos out of a batch of around 15 making it to birth. Almost hunted to extinction between the 1950s to 1970s, it is hoped that protected areas like Wolf Rock can see these fantastic animals make a comeback.

This picturesque part of the world has plenty to offer, it is only a two-and-a-half hour drive from Brisbane, and it offers beautiful landscape and stunning natural features like the Carlo Sand Blow. It is a stone’s throw from Frazer Island and provides a quiet alternative to Hervey Bay. It is somewhere you could sneak in a couple of cheeky dives on a family holiday, and it is a sensational dive destination in its own right. I could quite happily dive every day for a week or more and not get bored. For me, what makes Wolf Rock so special is the opportunity to see the impressive aggregation of grey nurse sharks and the chance of encountering any number of different ray species. James, Alex and Fiona took over the dive shop in 2017 and have been instrumental in raising the profile of this once-hidden gem. Its burgeoning reputation is well deserved, and I think it will only get stronger and stronger as word of this important dive site spreads. The diving here is magnificent, and while the visibility and sea conditions may be a little erratic, the big animal encounters are most certainly not. It is the consistency of this dive site to provide such encounters that make Wolf Rock so magical. n

WOLF ROCK DIVE CENTRE

Wolf Rock Dive Centre is the only dive centre at Rainbow Beach and the only dive centre with a permit to visit Wolf Rock. Keen to persevere this wildlife wonder, they take small groups out to the site and stagger the entries to ensure that everyone gets an excellent big animal encounter, and the grey nurse sharks are not unduly disturbed. They offer a range of PADI dive courses and the centre is run by the enthusiastic James and Fiona. The staff are professional and knowledgeable and are keen to make sure that a visit to Wolf Rock is action-packed and safe. wolfrockdive.com.au 47

DIVERS ALERT NETWORK: ASIA-PACIFIC Divers Alert Network, widely known as DAN, is an international non-profit medical and research organisation dedicated to the safety and health of divers.

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KNOW YOUR NEURO

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s the waves crashed over the reef ahead, the small dive boat anchored nearby careened at their mercy — despite being anchored in a relatively sheltered spot. No one’s ladder exits were pretty that day, but the third diver in the group really struggled to get back onboard. Once the Divemaster and captain assisted him onto the deck and helped him out of his gear, he was breathing hard and fiercely gripping the bench on which he sat.

In an attempt to comfort the diver, the Divemaster asked him if he needed some water. He clearly and coherently replied, “Yes, thanks.” When the Divemaster returned with his water, the man seemed suddenly unsure why the Divemaster was giving him water and when he began to try and speak, he was slurring his words.

At first the Divemaster was stumped by the diver’s condition, so he looped in the boat captain to try and gain more insight.

“Could this guy have DCS after a 30-minute dive to 7.5m? We came up so slowly… He seems disoriented. AGE maybe?”

“Presenting with symptoms immediately after a dive doesn’t necessarily mean this guy has a diving injury. Let’s do a neuro,” said the captain.

After conducting a quick neurological exam, the captain discovered that the diver was unable to lift his right arm and had persistent slurred speech. She called emergency services from the boat and arranged for an ambulance to meet them at the dock because she suspected he might be having a stroke. She noted the time of symptom onset and made haste back toward shore. Fifteen minutes later, the diver was transported by ambulance to the local emergency room for treatment. The attentiveness of the crew, quick action on part

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of the boat captain and their proximity to shore had saved this diver’s life, and all they had to do was act FAST. Face, Arms, Speech, Time – FAST is the mnemonic you use to recall how to properly conduct a neurological exam. Check for facial droop and inability to move or raise an arm, determine slurred, mumbled or nonsensical speech, and remember to note the time at which symptoms began. If you detect any of these symptoms, call emergency medical services immediately.

Using FAST to begin your neurological examination is an effective way to determine if a neurological injury is present — whether from a stroke, trauma or a diving injury. Quick and correct response to a neurological injury can make a life-ordeath difference; the faster a victim of AGE or stroke reaches advanced medical care, the greater their likelihood of avoiding a life-altering disability or further injury.

DAN’S 5 MINUTE NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION

Examination of an injured diver’s central nervous system soon after an accident may provide valuable information to the DAN Medic should you call a DAN Hotline for help or advice; as well as for the physician responsible for treatment. Download DAN’s Neuro Exam at DANAP.org/_pdf/neuro_test.pdf

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

At first the Divemaster was stumped by the diver’s condition, so he looped in the boat captain to try and gain more insight

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WOMEN’S DIVE DAY W

ith the overwhelming support of the dive community over the last six years, PADI Women’s Dive Day has unquestionably grown into a worldwide celebration that brings everyone together to foster a global community that encourages divers of all genders, ages, backgrounds and experience levels to safely and confidently seek adventure and save the ocean.

2021 will mark the seventh year of this historic celebration and, as the event has grown to be the largest single day of diving on the planet, PADI has expanded their efforts to mobilize the entire dive community to take action for the ocean!

Mark your calendars and invite your friends to join you in protecting the underwater world on 17 July 2021.

What began in 2015 as a way to encourage more female participation in the sport has evolved over the years, gaining traction across this industry with both males and females alike. Since it began, tens of thousands of new and experienced divers have taken part in more than 4,000 PADI Women’s Dive Day events in over 100 countries around the world.

Many places around the world are beginning to open for local business and even some limited travel, while other locations remain limited in activity. Whatever your situation, PADI Women’s Dive Day provides a unique opportunity to connect with divers in your community – whether it’s joining your local dive centre in the water with you or attending a virtual event. If PADI Women’s Dive Day 2020 has shown us anything, it is that there is a fantastic community of divers to connect with near and far and waters waiting for us to dive into when we can.

Visit padi.com/women or contact a PADI dive shop in your local area to find out how you can participate in PADI Women’s Dive Day 2021. n

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Many places around the world are beginning to open for local business and even some limited travel, while other locations remain limited in activity WWW.SCUBADIVERMAG.COM.AU

PADI WOMEN’S DIVE DAY 17 JULY 2021 Take part in the global celebration to help create balance between humanity and ocean.

Find an event

© PADI 2021

SPIDER CRABS of Melbourne Every year, Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay is the location of the gigantic aggregations of moulting spider crabs, as PT Hirschfield explains PHOTOGRAPHS BY PT HIRSCHFIELD, MATTHEW ROBERTS, MARCIA RIEDERER, BRYCE NICHOL AND JANE HEADLEY

Two of these in particular Blairgowrie Marina and Rye Pier, which is around 500 metres long - have attracted large annual aggregations of spider crabs for decades 52

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ong before garnering global attention through David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 2, the annual Australian great spider crab moulting aggregations in the shallows of Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay in winter were one of the marine world’s most-carefully guarded secrets.

Technically, they are Leptomithrax gaimardii, also known as the Australian giant spider crab. However, this layman’s misnomer conjures images of the enormous Japanese spider crabs, almost the size of a human. The great spider crab is closer to the size of a large human hand, not quite doubling in size after the crabs have moulted en masse in the shallow waters of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

The greatness of this natural phenomenon lies in the critical mass of crabs gathering in water 1m-5m depth at the most-vulnerable stage of their life cycle. A full moon in winter - when the water temperature has dropped below 15 degrees C - can trigger tens of thousands of these enigmatic crustaceans to moult from their old shells over a duration of one to two weeks (It’s an epic season for natural phenomenon on Australia’s southern coast, the appearance of the spider crabs coinciding with the giant cuttlefish mating aggregations in South Australia).

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Many crabs will become victims of their natural predators including massive smooth rays, sea birds, octopus and more - either as they emerge in their new soft-shell form, or in the days it takes their new shells to harden. Safety in numbers is essential for a critical mass to survive the moulting process, before those who survive their transformation return to the depths of the bay.

In-water observation of the annual moulting aggregations at iconic piers is a long-standing cultural tradition among the Australian and broader dive community. Despite Port Phillip Bay being 1,930 square km, avid shore divers frequently opt for the easy access of Mornington Peninsula’s five or six most-diveable piers. Two of these in particular - Blairgowrie Marina and Rye Pier, which is around 500 metres long - have attracted large annual aggregations of spider crabs for decades. Of course, the crabs can gather and moult anywhere in the bay, but the piers are where they are most accessible to nature loving humans, and in more recent years, extremely vulnerable to ‘fish in a barrel’ style harvesting.

For decades, reported sightings of growing numbers of the spider crabs ‘on the march’ - often starting around January - would spread through the dive community’s grapevine, prompting false promises that ‘the crabs are in!’ At this stage, most divers who drive decent distances at the hope of sighting the crabs are deeply disappointed. Within the space of a single dive, hundreds of crabs could be sighted at one part of the pier, only to have ’vanished’ in less than half an hour. When the crabs are ‘on the march’, spotting them without a drone or boat requires more than a good dose of ‘right place, right time’ luck. However, experienced crab trackers can recognise the purposeful movements of one or two crabs on the march, following a scratchy trail of pincer marks across the substrate through an intensifying cloud of silt to a constantly moving, ever-increasing mass.

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The annual spider crab While spider crab aggregations are moulting season is a major reported throughout the bay by those tourist drawcard with boats and jet skis, it is the moulting aggregations gathered at the piers that attract the most attention from divers, freedivers, underwater photographers and global camera crews. Locals and tourists also enjoy the spectacle of the crabs from the safety of the piers. The structure of the piers support diverse ecosystems which make abundant food sources available to the ravenous crabs. They eat anything and everything (including each other) in their endless marching circling of the piers between January and May. Small octopuses, sea stars, fish, juvenile cuttlefish and more are easy prey for the marauding hordes of crabs. Pylons are stripped bare of sponges and the substrate is denuded of weeds.

It is the full moon (in years gone by around Easter, but pushing out in more recent years to May and June) that seems to trigger to the mass moulting event. For close to a week, the marching of the crabs has slowed until a thick crustaceous blanket has covered the sandy substrate, the crabs now A freshly moulted spider stacking three, four and five high, sometimes forming a taller crab uses the ‘crab pyramid’ of a thousand crabs or more. This allows those safety of the pylons for its ready to moult early to do so with relative safety near the shell to harden bottom of the pile with some measure of protection from predators. Now, rumours of ‘crabs on the march’ become A freshly moulted spider crab is 50 percent larger reliable reports that ‘the crabs are in!’ Divers showing up now than an unmoulted crab to witness the spectacle are rarely disappointed. Many crabs are already moulting, but the full moon signals the Grand Event. Day and night divers are well rewarded.

It is easy to spot the crabs almost ready to moult, as their carapace moves forward and the new soft orange shell begins to bulge out at the back. Soon the crab will ‘plop and pop’ plopping itself onto the sand before ‘popping’ from its old shell, very slowly extracting its soft new limbs from the small brown carapace being discarded. The entire process can take between 12 minutes and an hour. The luckiest crabs will moult within the safety of the stacked pyramids. Yet as the numbers begin to thin out through successful moults and predation, lone crabs moult in extreme vulnerability on the sandy floor, often circled by stingrays that gorge themselves on the thick blanket of crabs and moulting pyramids. The new, soft-shelled crabs provide the rays with a major winter food source.

To mitigate this threat, some crabs climb high onto the pier pylons and the seawalls beneath the piers, moulting from unmoulted crabs bungee jumping from above as they jostle these elevated positions. This results in a steady stream of each other for position, while freshly moulted crabs tumble and fall in slow motion to the substrate below. There they sit as motionless and defenceless as newborns till their new Freediver gets up close and personal with limbs have hardened enough to support mobility. Many now some spider crabs climb back to the safety of the pylons and seawalls for the three or so days it takes their new shells to harden, before running the gauntlet past all remaining predators back to deeper waters for the next critical stages of their life cycle.

The accessibility of this phenomenon has for decades been a significant attraction for lovers of marine life, and this Australian species has never before been considered a desirable table species. But in the past two years, the moulting aggregations have started to become targeted by crab hunters keen to exploit their vulnerability.

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With trips running from Townsville and Magnetic Island, come experience the Great Barrier Reef, MOUA and world renowned SS Yongala wreck with Adrenalin Dive!

Get in touch today! (07) 4704 0600 | adrenalindive.com.au Follow us on social media!

They eat anything and everything (including each other) in their endless marching circling

Divers and members of the local and global community have been distressed to observe countless crabs being removed from the water in quantities greatly exceeding the 30 crabs per person per day previously permitted by fishing regulation.

Many eyewitness reports confirmed that legal bag limits were repeatedly exceeded. Many harvesting the crabs quickly caught their quotas, removed them from the pier, then repeated that process with no regard for the species during the most-vulnerable stage of its life cycle. Entire ‘moulting pyramids’ of crabs, ironically gathered at the piers for increased safety from natural predators, were rapidly removed from the water with little to no opportunity to moult. The thick carpet of discarded shells - evidence in previous years of a successful moulting season - were nowhere to be found.

Additionally, crab nets were scraped rigorously up pylons, dislodging encrusting sponge life and catching unintended marine animals such as protected seahorses and fiddler rays.

In response to broad local and global community pleas (commencing in 2019) for a No-Take Season to be introduced when the crabs are at their most vulnerable, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) issued a Fisheries Notice in January 2021, reducing the permitted daily per person catch limit to 15 spider crabs in order to ‘better balance the interests of the recreational fishing community and other stakeholders’.

However, advocates of a short no-take season (including over 36,000 petition signatories) argue that, based on VFA’s own research, this reduction would provide a break-even scenario at best on the crab harvesting of the previous two years.

Permitting and promoting the targeting of this species during its annual moulting aggregations would continue to cause community distress and disruption to the longstanding tradition of reverent celebration of this natural phenomenon. Worse still, the crab harvesting practices could have significant adverse impact on the critical mass and breeding population of the spider crabs within Port Phillip Bay, for which no population baseline has been scientifically determined. To date, little to no relevant research has been conducted to inform ongoing debate around the emerging harvesting of this species at the most vulnerable stage of

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A spider crab carries its chosen mate

One of dozens of crab pots used to target Melbourne’s iconic spider crabs

their moulting and mating behaviours.

The spider crab moulting aggregation season of 2021 predicted to fall around the full moon in either May, June or July - will be the first moulting season to which the revised bag limit for the moulting spider crabs applies. Following the intensive harvesting of spider crabs in 2019 and 2020, it was unusual but perhaps not surprising that by mid-April, few if any reports of spider crabs on the march in the shallows of the Mornington Peninsula have been reported by divers, as had typically been the case in previous years from as early as January. The long-term impacts of increased harvesting on the as-yet uncalculated biomass are yet to be determined.

It can only be hoped that the unique natural phenomenon of the annual spider crab moulting aggregations can continue to thrive and be celebrated for decades to come, without falling victim to the mixed blessing of accessibility. n

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What’s New

FOURTH ELEMENT GLOVES

Fourth Element have redesigned their glove range, providing improved fit, comfort and flex, and the addition of a hydrolock seal in their 5mm and above thickness gloves reduces water ingress and maximises thermal protection.

The seams are blind-stitched and fused to ensure they are watertight, and thermal linings further improve protection.

FOURTH ELEMENT 7MM HYDROLOCK MITT

Fourth Element’s warmest wet glove has been redesigned to enhance fit and dexterity. With three fingers of each hand in a single compartment, the hands remain warmer as a result, while the index finger and thumb are free for manual operations. The flexibility of the back of the glove is maximised, reducing fatigue during a dive. www.fourthelement.com

FOURTH ELEMENT 5MM KEVLAR HYDROLOCK GLOVES

Made from 90 percent neoprene and ten percent nylon, these gloves combing 5mm Kevlar reinforced fabric across the palm, fingertips and thumb with 5mm stretch neoprene across the back of the hands, producing a remarkably comfortable and durable glove. www.fourthelement.com

MARES METAL BUCKLES Mares have released a pair of special buckles, made to military standard, for 50mm webbing, straps and harnesses. With a range of uses, they can also replace weightbelt buckles, and are able to support around 500kg. The use of these special buckles means safe, quick and easy harness opening. This characteristic allows for not only simple, quick donning, but also notably increases safety, as it greatly facilitates removing the harness in a time of need thanks to two quick-release points. These two points are part of a safe system in which both must be pressed in order to release the buckle, thus preventing any unplanned opening.

The metal buckles are available in two models: - Black Aluminum (SRP: £44) - Stainless Steel 316 (SRP: £35) www.mares.com 58

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SCUBAPRO MK19 EVO/G260 COLD-WATER KIT The MK19 EVO was designed to be the ultimate first stage for cold water or contaminated diving conditions, and its design makes it substantially smaller and lighter than the original MK19. The air-balanced diaphragm delivers consistent and effortless airflow, regardless of depth, tank pressure, or breathing rate. An environmentally sealed system prevents water and pollutants from fouling the inner mechanism. Its dry chamber is equipped with a double spring, making it more compact and reliable.Two opposing high-pressure ports allow the first stage to be positioned either up or down, plus provide for an optimum hose/transmitter layout.

Swivel turret comes with four High-Flow LP ports plus one axial Super High-Flow LP port to maximise hose routing options. With its compact size, light weight, and superb breathing performance it continues the best Scubapro regulator tradition. It is the ideal first stage for recreational, technical, professional, and military divers.

The G260 is the optimal combination for the cold-water set, as it has numerous components made of seawater-resistant solid brass, which ensure excellent heat exchange and thus optimise the cold-water property. The air-balanced valve smoothes out the inhalation effort at varying depths and supply pressures, the super-flow hose features an oversized bore that allows more air to flow on each inhalation. The High-flow exhaust valve reduces exhalation for better overall breathing comfort. Its nylon fiberglass design features Scubapro’s biggest second stage casing and diaphragm for the ultimate in breathing sensitivity, regardless of position

in the water. A diver-adjustable inhalation effort knob finetunes air delivery to suit changing depths water conditions and personal tastes. A reversible hose attachment allows to easily adjust hose routing for tech diving configurations. All those components make the G260 a first choice for technical divers around the world. The Scubapro cold-water kit contains two MK19 EVO DIN 300 first stages, two G260 second stages, and two ND hoses (1 x 64cm and 1 x 210cm). www.scubapro.com

OCEAN REEF NEPTUNE III IDM Full-face mask specialists Ocean Reef have released the Neptune III, the third incarnation of their popular Neptune series. It extends field of vision considerably, removes impediment in lateral movement and features a double-coated visor certified as a system to new EN250 standards.

The new second stage is now fully and easily detachable (only level one service training required) for quick servicing and easy swapping. The SAV has a new design, better grasping surface and an internal valve. The mask will not fog when not connected to the cylinder, and water will not drip in if forgotten to open underwater. The Neptune III offers a new visor geometry and new orinasal pocket which is the most-anatomically designed on the market for minimal dead air space and internal volume – it is 13 percent less than the Neptune Space, and 24 percent less than competitor masks. The mask also offers a 20 percent wider field of vision than the Neptune Space, and far more WWW.SCUBADIVERMAG.COM.AU

than a conventional mask. The new design quick-release tabs increase the surface to grasp, and also include accessory one-hand removal handle to remove the IDM while carrying equipment in the other hand. The Neptune III comes standard with a Neptune III backpack, and is available in black and white, in two sizes – S/M, and L/XL. www.oceanreefgroup.com

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BEYOND TECHNICAL

www.narkedat90.com

SUUNTO D5 (SRP:AUS$849) Adrian Stacey: The Suunto D5 was first released in 2019 and was Suunto’s first foray into the dive computer/smartwatch arena. The design is undoubtedly sleek and elegant, and this is most definitely a computer that you could wear for day-to-day life. There is a range of colours, and the straps are interchangeable, so the look can be changed to suit the wearer’s mood with ease. Earlier this year, Suunto released the latest version of this computer, the very stylish D5 Copper, which comes with a black body and strap with a copper bezel.

Having a computer that looks great and can be worn anywhere is fantastic, but its primary function is as a dive computer, so this is where its performance should be judged.

After having tested the D5 on several occasions, I am pleased to say that this is a great device to use while underwater.

The first test it passed for me was the ease of use. I like to have an intuitive computer that does not require me to read a manual to do the basics, like set nitrox or change the time and date. I also like to have an easy-to-read display with large numbers, and again the D5 ticks this box. The easy-to-use compass is a welcome bonus.

One complaint that has been levelled at Suunto in the past has been the conservatism of the algorithm. As a past user of the Vyper, I can attest to the somewhat limiting bottom time the Vyper allowed for, especially on the second or third dive.

Suunto has spent a lot of time and money developing their own algorithm. They now use their proprietary Fused RGBM 2 model, allowing shorter ascent times on deep dives and repetitive dives. This fused model takes the conservatism of a recreational computer and blends it with the less-restrictive parameters of a tech computer.

This means that if you are an instructor teaching an open water course, the computer will automatically become more conservative. However, if you have set the device to use trimix, it will assume that you know what you are doing and will not penalise you for going one minute into deco, like the old Vyper used to. I also like the fact that you can manually set the computer to be more or less conservative, depending on your preference.

In keeping with today’s digital society, you can download an app for the D5. Once you have synced devices, all your dive information will automatically be sent to your phone.

From the app, you can add a GPS location of your dive, add comments, and even assign an image. You can overlay your dive data on the images and post this immediately to your social media platforms. This is a fantastic feature as it makes sharing your dive incredibly simple.

The app will display your standard details like depth time and temperature and will display a graph of your dive profile and list any alarms, like ascending to fast. This is a great teaching aid to an instructor who can easily show students what they are doing right or what they are doing wrong!

Like most dive computers these days, the D5 does not have a changeable battery and is powered up with a USB cable. This has its pros and cons. On the downside, you need to make sure that you keep your computer charged. However, the long battery life does help and gives you at least 12 hours when fully charged. On the plus side, you never need to send your device away to have the battery changed, or risk flooding it if you change the battery yourself.

CONCLUSION

The Suunto D5 is a stylish dive computer that can easily be worn as a smartwatch, and it comes very reasonably priced.

It is easy to use and has a well-thought-out simple display. It has excellent connectivity to social media, with an awesome app for collecting and sending dive data. Most importantly, the D5 is fantastic to dive with, it is reliable, robust, and safe to use without being too restrictive on bottom times, thanks to its new, improved algorithm. www.suunto.com

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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

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DESCEND NZ – MILFORD SOUND t: +64 (0)27 337 2363 e: info@descend.co.nz a: Deepwater Basin Milford Sound – bookings essential Dive in the majestic and unique Milford Sound where deepwater species such as black coral live in diveable depths. www.descend.co.nz

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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

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Get ready for World Ocean Day

W

orld Ocean Day is 8 June!

No matter if we live on the coast or far inland, we all need a healthy ocean to survive and thrive.

By protecting our ocean, we also protect our climate, and our future.

Each year, we work with the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council to develop a Conservation Action Focus to help unite the world in taking action on an issue of critical importance.

This year, World Ocean Day and its global network will support the growing movement to protect 30 percent of our blue planet by 2030 (30x30).

You can join together with the rest of the World Ocean Day community and the global movement to help achieve this ambitious and necessary goal! Help the growing movement for 30x30 right now by visiting the website: Organizations • Sign to support the 30x30 initiative as an organization!

• Share the petition link for individuals in your organization and network to sign as well!

Individuals • Sign now to support 30x30 as an individual! www.campaignfornature.org/petition

LOOKING TO GET MORE INVOLVED ON WORLD OCEAN DAY?

Check out the global event map on the website and join a celebration online or near you! This year activities, events, and celebrations will be held both virtually and in person, depending on the current situation with the pandemic. Also be sure to follow @worldoceanday on social media and join the countless people worldwide sharing love for our blue planet!

To stay involved the other 364 days a year, subscribe to the World Ocean Day email list via the website!

And remember... World Ocean Day is 8 June every year, but we can all help every day! No matter where we live, we all affect the ocean, and the ocean affects us. www.worldoceanday.org

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Puerto Galera Philippines

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