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Archive for the ‘Asia Pacific’ Category
Hey baby, what's your sign?
I recently started asking around for new blog ideas, and got an earful of weird dive experiences from my fellow recreational divers. It was an unusual accumulation of aquatic encounters that I just had to put together into a post.
Subway Cars – “Early in 2009 I dove the Atlantic City Reef to see the NYC subway cars that they put there the year before. It was really strange to see some of them sitting upright, looking like they were waiting to pull out of the station. Some sediment had built up on the seats, looking like somebody stuck more gum on them. I love diving wrecks, but I’ve never seen anything manmade look so bizarre underwater. At least boats were meant for the ocean!” -Rick T.
Divemaster Feeding a Moray from his Mouth – “I just got back from a trip to Moorea in French Polynesia, where I went on a shark feed dive. After most of the fish pieces had been fed to the sharks, one of the divemasters started feeding pieces of tuna to a moray eel who had stuck his head out of the nearby reef. Apparently unsatisfied with his hand-feeding technique, the divemaster took out his regulator, put a piece of tuna in his mouth, and then swam over to give the moray a mouth-to-mouth feeding experience. I guess he thought the move was funny or clever, but I just thought: What a dumbass!” -Tony A.
Wall of Jellyfish – “Diving Jellyfish Lake in Palau was definitely the strangest dive ever. Actually I was freediving because you can’t scuba in the lake. When I first got in the water I didn’t see anything. But then as I swam out into the middle of the lake where the sun was hitting the water, I ran into a wall of jellyfish so thick I couldn’t see through it. They were everywhere; it was like swimming in jell-o.” –Amanda B.
Squid Sex – “In Bonaire my dive group came across a pod of squid during one early morning dive. The squid kept circling each other and would occasionally flash different colors or make their skin look striped. Back onshore I asked our divemaster about it because I had never seen squid do that before. Usually they just hang out in a line and get spooked if you get too close. Turns out the behavior was “cephalopod mating rituals,” a.k.a. squid sex.” Michael R
Narwhals are one-of-a-kind sea creatures, with a long spiraling tusk that has earned them the nickname Unicorns of the Sea. For hundreds of years, sightings of these mammals have spawned tales of mermaids and sea monsters when sailors and explorers have encountered them. In reality, these aquatic beauties are related to bottlenose dolphins, belugas, harbor porpoises, and orcas. Their natural habitat is the Atlantic portion of the Arctic Ocean. They are also found in fewer numbers in the Greenland Sea, extending to the coast of Russia.
The narwhal is 13 to 16 feet in length and weighs between 2,200 and 3,500 pounds, living exclusively on a diet of fish and squid. They are often sighted swimming in groups of 15 to 20, but gatherings of hundreds or more have been reported. A notable quality of the Narwhal is its ability to perform incredibly deep dives for a marine mammal, going to at least 800 meters (2,400 feet) with many dives reaching 1,500 meters (4,500 feet).
Their diving skill aside, the most unique feature of the Narwhal is, of course, the tusk, which is actually one of its two upper teeth. After the first year of a male narwhal’s life, its left tooth grows outward, spirally. This long, single tooth projects from its upper jaw and can grow to be 7-10 feet long. Marine biologists disagree on the evolutionary purpose of the tusk, sighting mating appeal, a defensive weapon and a fish-sensing antenna as possible uses.
Usually humans spot narwhals on the ocean’s surface, but there is the possibility (albeit limited) of scuba diving with these amazing creatures. April is the only month where Arctic diving is realistically possible, as it’s the warmest month of the year there, when the raging cold reduces to a still-really-chilly dull roar. Of course you will need your dry suit as well as high-tech microfiber undergarments to keep you from turning into an ice cube in the approximately 28 degree water. And a cold-water regulator is a must, as your “regular” regulator will cease to function before you even get in the water.
Once you are ready, it’s time to find someone to take you there. Few people on this earth have the scuba know-how and the means to organize an undertaking like this on their own. A few companies offer expedition-like trips to the Arctic Circle and can, for a price, incorporate diving into the itinerary. Their role includes finding pods of narwhals and other whales to see, an important part of the equation when one is talking about 1000s of miles of open ocean where these animals live.
To date, few people, other than scientists, can say they have gone scuba diving with the Unicorn of the Sea. But increased availability of ice diving training, improved ice diving gear and an ever-growing body of knowledge about these creatures is improving the chance that you too can dive with these unusual aquatic wonders.
This is not a Great White, but he plays one on TV...
Upon arrival at the dive site, the captain anchored the boat while the divemaster jumped up on the boat’s bench seat and prepared to deliver his briefing. The divemaster was long and lean, with flowing hair bleached blond by the sun. He appeared confident, even cocky, an attitude fueled by the successful execution of hundreds of shark feeds without any noticeable loss of his body parts.
“Okay, who has done a shark feed before?” No one raised their hands. “Okay, so who has gone diving in Moorea before?” Again, no one raised their hands. We were a really impressive group. “So, has anyone actually done any scuba diving anywhere?”
“We just got certified in Bora Bora,” I said proudly, an admission met with congratulations from the other divers. The divemaster’s face fell.
“Okay, so we will keep this easy. Descend directly to the bottom. I will show you where to go. Do not move around. Do not gesture or hold your hands out towards the sharks. Do not make erratic movements.” Do not pass go. Do not collect $100. Do not feel bad about pushing the diver next to you towards the shark’s open mouth if it looks like it is going to attack.
As the other divers suited up, I peered over the side of the boat into the bottomless cobalt abyss. The sky had clouded up, causing the water to appear murky and foreboding. Off the back of the boat I noticed fins breaking the surface, lots of them.
“What are those?” I asked the divemaster.
“Reef sharks. Small ones,” he said. “They know they’re gonna get fed, so they’re waiting for us. They’ll leave when the big guys show up.”
This endeavor began to look less and less like a great idea. Clearly we were expected to jump into the water with the sharks swirling on the surface, like lobsters dropped into a boiling pot of water. I envisioned the sharks heating up some drawn butter in anticipation of our entry. We geared up, preparing to take the plunge. I lingered while putting on my scuba vest, cleaning my mask, and slipping on my fins in hopes of being the last diver to jump into the water. The shark “feeder,” one of the crew members, donned a suit made of heavy woven chain designed to protect him from shark bites. The chain mail suit covered him from head to toe in medieval scuba chic. He looked like a tropical Knight of the Round Table.
The moment divers entered the water, the surface sharks disappeared. I took a giant stride off the back of the boat and instantly felt more relaxed as I soaked up the warm, 80 degree water. As we descended the visibility improved and I realized the depth was only 35 feet. The sloped, rocky sea floor undulated with deep grooves like mini canyons extending out towards deeper water. The divemaster guided our group to a point at the shallower end of one of the grooves and gestured for us to stay put. Holding a stationary position would be difficult, however, because the significant waves at the surface created a surge of water down below. With each passing wave, we floated forward and back five feet. Despite our best efforts, we could not control it; the water moved each diver with a force that flailing arms and legs just couldn’t combat.
I heard the splash as the heavily-weighted shark feeder entered the water. As he sank to the bottom about 25 feet in front of us, I noticed he held a large bag full of fish bits for feeding. A tsunami of small fish engulfed him, greedily eyeing up his bag of food as he prepared for the feeding frenzy. Sir Fish Head took a chunk of snack out of his bag and placed it on the end of a long, pointed stick, which could double nicely as a jousting lance later in the day if needed. Appearing suddenly from the blue, as if by magic, was a small black-tip reef shark. It snatched the piece of fish then like a shot disappeared back into the blue. The surrounding small fish went crazy picking up the bits of fish flesh the shark left behind.
You put the lime in the coconut (unless the octopus is already in there)
Australian scientists have found what they are calling an “example of tool use” by octopi in the waters around North Sulawesi and Bali. The scientists filmed the veined octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, selecting broken coconut shells from the sea floor, carrying them under their bodies up to 65 feet, and then assembling two shells together to make a spherical hiding spot, though photos of the phenomenon make it look like the creature is wearing a tropical party hat.
Anyone that has ever watched an octopus while diving or even in an aquarium knows that these animals are smart and capable of quite intelligent actions. What seems to be setting these studious octopi apart from their brethren is the collection of the shell fragments for later use in another location; basically planning for the future. It’s the cephalopod equivalent of savings account for coconuts.
Vinnie the Venomous Fish
Great White sharks get all the press when it comes to discussion of the ocean’s deadliest killers. But, plenty of other things in the sea are just as mean and nasty, if not more so. A selection of some of my favorites:
Vinnie the Venomous Fish – Imagine being a lowly fish, armed only with the ability to school and a sense of sea humor. Now add a little venom to your arsenal, and suddenly you are a Big Bad Swimming Machine. Venomous fish like stonefish, lionfish and scorpion fish produce their own toxins then generously share it with the rest of the aquatic world via their already unpleasant spines. My favorite is the stonefish, who are at their deadliest when lying on the ocean bottom doing nothing at all except looking like…you guessed it…an ugly stone. All it takes is a passerby with a naked foot and a bad aim and bam, you get one unhappy tourist (and the fish is a little flatter for the experience as well.)
Octopussy – James Bond proved one could overcome their enemies by throwing a Blue Ringed Octopus on their face in this classic 1980’s spy movie. Theoretically I suppose this could work, though you are likely to get bitten in the process. Since it injects neuromuscular paralyzing venom that can kill a human in minutes, you won’t really get to enjoy your victory over the forces of evil for very long. Better to remove the bad guy’s shoes and point him in the direction of some stonefish instead.
They Freak Me Out On Land, Too – Sea snakes tend to favor the warm, fish-filled tropical waters that most scuba divers also like. Though shy unless provoked, a single snake produces enough poison to kill not only you, but the rest of the folks on your dive boat, too. Most are a normal snake size, but a few can grow to seven feet or more. I personally am sure that if I ran into a seven-foot sea snake while diving I would give up the sport right then and there.
Nomadic in nature and notoriously bubble-shy, Manta Rays are undoubtedly one of the most appreciated underwater sightings once you finally find one. There are, however, a few places in the world that can almost guarantee a manta sighting on any given dive.
Yap, Micronesia – This tiny Pacific island just north of the equator houses a resident colony of manta rays, a rare living situation for the animals. Check out Yap Diver’s blog that highlights pics from “Manta Fest” including one dive trip accompanied by a pod of Orcas. As a bonus, visitors to the island also get a unique top side cultural experience that frequently includes grass skirts, loincloths, and the use of huge wheels of stone money for barter.
Kona, Hawaii – This manta experience is decidedly more manmade, but no less exciting. Dive operators and hotels light up the waters off the Kona Coast at night, attracting swarms of plankton that, in turn, attract the manta rays. Divers and snorkelers alike hover in the water column, watching the giants glide and swoop as they feed. Check out Kona Honu Diver’s page for a cool video of what the dive actually looks like.
Atlanta, Georgia – On this trip you have a 100% chance of seeing not one manta, but two. If you buy tickets to the aquarium, that is. Whether you agree with the idea of aquariums or not, you have to admit that this place really has it all when it comes to sea life. The two mantas swim in a six million gallon exhibit next to four whale sharks, a handful of hammerheads, and a ton of other fish. Rumor has it that one of the rays likes to do flips out of the water at the surface, a rare treat for people on the Behind the Scenes tours.
Countless entries have been made on worldwide scuba blogs recounting the amazing tale of the Nomura’s Jellyfish invading Japanese fishing grounds as we speak. Though I find the animal fascinating, I loathe the thought of beating the proverbial “dead jellyfish” with yet another post regurgitating the obvious. Instead, I acknowledge the phenomenon with this simple haiku:
Aquatic wonder
Giant sumo jelly beasts
Beware, fatal sting
At some point in ancient history, a land dwelling snake looked at the ocean and thought…maybe I’ll take a dip. Now, sea snakes are widely distributed in the warm Indian and western Pacific Ocean, though some experts believe they may start migrating to Atlantic waters in the near future due to global warming. Singapore, Borneo, Australia and Mozambique have the highest number of species, which vary greatly in color and shape. Their scales distinguish them from eels that have no scales. Sea snakes can dump nitrogen through their skin while getting up to 20% of their oxygen through their skin. This means that no matter how fast they dive they never get the bends.
Everyone knows sea snakes are highly poisonous. If you are bitten, you need to get medical treatment and possibly antivenom quickly. Tell-tales signs that you are not doing well after a snake bite include a headache and thick feeling tongue, though this might just be a hangover you are experiencing. If you then lose the ability to move your legs, you can safely assume the problem is the bite and not the tequila.
Huge aggregations of sea snakes have been reported. For example, in 1932 millions of Astrotia stokesii, a type of sea snake, were reportedly seen from a steamer in the Strait of Malacca, off the coast of Malaysia, and formed a line of snakes 3 m (9.8 ft) wide and 100 km (62 mi) long. Scientists suggest that these large snake gatherings are related to reproduction, basically enormous snake orgies. Nice.
With Pirate attacks on the rise, CNN has thoughtfully produced an article outlining survival tactics in case you fall victim to this unthinkable and frightening situation. I offer a summary of their suggestions:
Steer clear of pirate hot spots – Certain waters are high-risk like those off the Somali coast, so ships are advised to avoid them. The planet is round, after all, so just plot a course in the opposite direction and you’ll eventually reach your destination.
Keep a good lookout – The article suggests that many ships don’t know they are under attack until the pirates board the boat. A good lookout is critical since there are so many good places for Pirates to hide in the open ocean.
Defensive maneuvers to take if Pirates attack:
Don’t slow down if fired upon – Despite most spy movie-gathered intelligence, your ship will not become invisible if it stops. So, do the natural thing and run like heck.
Consider short cycle zig-zags – Yes, you will make your crew seasick, but you’ll also create an amplified wake that will disrupt the pirates’ efforts. As an added benefit, instruct your crew to aim overboard if ill.
Use deafening horns – If you make really loud noises, the pirates might run away. Of course your crew may join them on the retreating boat just to get away from the painful sound, but hey, you’ll still have your boat!
Use barricades such as barbed wire – This is a useful tool to prevent people from boarding your boat uninvited. Please disregard this instruction, however, if you think you may need to leave your boat quickly such as if it is sinking or if someone is offering to separate your head from your shoulders. In these cases easy egress may be required.
Don’t make sudden movements around the Pirates – Spontaneously breaking out into Broadway show tunes is ill advised.
Transmit Mayday signals – This is useful so that the nearest Navy ship, usually several hours away, can get the first pick at the salvage that once was your boat.
Inform the Pirates that you are armed and prepared to defend yourself – Sticking your tongue at them and flipping them the bird may also help.
By now, most people have heard of the Ocean Garbage “Vortex,” a Texas-sized patch of North Pacific Ocean filled with floating plastic debris. This phenomenon is, of course, bad news for sea life and humans alike. Several great organizations are trying to fix the problem, like the Scripps Research Institute and Project Kaisei.
But a recent CNN article brought my attention to a lesser known, but still problematic, feature of the trash raft – its ability to transport invasive species across the oceans, devastating the ecosystems where they land. Think about the lionfish’s invasion of the Caribbean (and the devastation it is having on reef fish populations) and then multiply that exponentially based on the size and potential reach of the items in the vortex. Now that is a really dirty problem.