405_April_24

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digi tal APRIL 2024 | No 405

AUSTRALASIA

Dr Terry & Cathie Cummins Travel Blog part 2

Nigel Marsh & Helen Rose Norfolk Island

Mike Scotland’s Fish ID Course Leather Jackets Triggerfish

David Strike ‘Counter Strike’

Ken Hoppen Wolf Rock SPOTLIGHT John Magee

NudiNotes David Mullins Thuridilla Thrills

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Dive the majestic reefs of Kimbe Bay and the Bismarck Sea with us. Choose from a resort stay at WALINDI RESORT or a trip on one of the two liveaboards, MV FEBRINA and MV OCEANIA .... why not combine land based and liveaboard diving.

Contact our friendly reservations staff for a package to suit you. reservations@walindifebrina.com reservations@mvoceania.com

Image © Kyu Furumi

MV FeBrina has been operating from Walindi Resort since 1991. Image © David Doubilet Bismarck Sea, inc. New Britain & Kavieng

Walindi Plantation Resort celebrates 40 years of operation.

Our newest dive liveaboard operating out of Walindi Resort since 2019. Diving Bismarck Sea and Milne Bay

Diving Kimbe Bay Reefs

Image © Grant Thomas

Image © Grant Thomas

A boutique, traditional style live-aboard catering for 10-12 guests in 7 cabins, including large and small singles.

Tropical bungalows in rainforest gardens with waterfront and garden views.

MV Oceania is a 27 metre catamaran catering for up to

16 divers in 8 cabins. Modern comfort with two guest deck levels.

Image © Darek Sepiolo

Image © Franco Banfi

Image © Scott Johnson

WWW.WALINDIRESORT.COM

WWW.MVOCEANIA.COM | WWW.MVFEBRINA.COM

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. CLASSIC STYLE.

GALILEO 3 DIVE COMPUTER Sharp Color Display for Easy Readability

NEW

O ne of my favourite female songs is Belinda Carlisle’s “ Heaven is a place on Earth ”. She sings. “ In this world, we are just beginning to understand the miracle of living .” We are told that more than 90% of fish are gone! What we see when we dive is nothing compared to the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. It has happened in our lifetime. We can fix this! We humans can restore the Garden of Eden. “ Heaven on Earth ” can happen, once again. Saving the planet is so, so simple. All we have to do is help Mother Nature restore that balance. Yes, it will take a huge mind shift but it will have to be done. Plant a few trillion trees, the birds and the bees will come. Many extinctions will be prevented. Build a pond, frogs will find it. Compost everything organic and you will provide a home for millions of worms and the myriad of amazing creatures that live in soil ecosystems. Soil Scientists calculate composted soil can reduce Carbon Dioxide and store Carbon in the soil to a degree that can reduce Global warming by up to thirty per cent by 2050. Protect a reef, give it time to recover; the power of creation will take over and it will be repopulated in a few short years.* Komodo Marine Park is a prime example. When Jos Pet tried to have it protected thirty years ago, he was attacked with weapons, had boats vandalised, suffered attacks from gunshots and ferocious opposition, along with the standard corruption of officials. Today, Komodo is a jewel in the crown of Indonesia’s ocean and is a world class marine ecosystem. Some Sharks are just beginning to make a comeback after thirty years. * Like all ecosystems, full recovery with all top order carnivores can take a century or two to reach full maturity. Jos had to resort to having trained park rangers with bigger guns and the power to arrest illegal fishers and the support of officialdom. Always a challenge. Mankind, in the search for food, profit and adventure keeps taking from the sea and giving almost nothing back. This gives us a clue to one of the great errors of modern life. We took the wood, coal and oil and burnt it to make our lives better and to lift us out of poverty. We took the whales and fish for three centuries until there were almost none left. But we never repaid Mother Nature by replacing the forests or restocking the seas. So we have an unbalanced atmospheric, terrestrial and ocean biomes. We chopped most of the trees down and fouled the air. It is so easy to fix. We will need energy more than ever in the future and people have developed dozens of energy sources that they argue about. My concern is the way we are going, we will run out of power and that in the near future, we will be sitting in the dark with nine blankets on and a candle in the depths of winter because we cannot agree. The big error in the climate debate is right there under our noses. If every country in the world plants a few billion trees a year, it will go a long way to helping to balance the equation. Restore the oceans and continents and Mother Nature will find a way to rebuild the Garden of Eden. Paradise will rise from the ashes and humans can live in a wonderful garden full of life and beauty. The life force on Planet Earth has recovered from many mass extinctions and gone on to proliferate and restore the balance. Parts of the Great Barrier Reef have been regularly destroyed by cyclones equal to tens of thousands of nuclear bombs over many millennia. Life on the reef always rebounds and regenerates. The power of regeneration of the Great Barrier Reef is underestimated by many. Corals have an incredible ability to recover from disaster. Sadly, our politicians are letting us down. There is money in stripping the planet of life and it will continue until the last of the great lifeforms are gone… unless we stop the carnage. One solution is to pass legislation. Another is for the people to take back the power from the corporations and demand effective action to protect our precious marine life. It is time for humans to wake up and make an effort to save the planet. We do it by thinking globally, and acting locally. OUR COVER PHOTO Our stunning front cover photograph was taken by John

Dive Log Australasia is a voice for Mother Nature and King Neptune. We use educational informative articles to help more humans to learn to appreciate and value marine life. We focus on excellent U/W photos and celebrate the miracle of life that is everywhere. To that end, I have written articles about the amazing Leatherjackets and another about Triggerfish. Learn a few things about these extra-ordinary fish families. Nigel Marsh has written another great article in his expert capacity as a talented fish watcher, Nigel has a real case of pisciphilia! ( love of fish), just like myself. We are also blessed to have Bill Gladstone giving us great insights into how fish taste their world. He tells us to appreciate the incredible senses of Goatfish, Catfish and Damselfish. Every dive from now on, you can give these fish a second glance and appreciate the information gathering barbels and how they help the fish to survive. It is real magic right before your eyes! David Mullins teaches us about the wonderful bio-diversity of the Thuridilla, a genus of the Sap Sucking Ophistobranchs (different to Nudibranchs). Regular readers would know that I always admire David’s exceptional articles which are consistently high standard of research, just for you! Dive Log is happy to support Paul Watson. He is fighting the good fight to save whales and stop the senseless slaughter that has deprived all of us the ability to enjoy marine life. Sadly. Money versus whales has won for many centuries and it takes an ocean hero like Paul to take decisive action to save the whales and sharks. Ken Hoppen, one of our favourite adventure divers, take us to the magnificent diving of Wolf Rock near Fraser Island. This big animal dive features sharks, groper, rays and much more. Ken’s advice is to do this dive for diving memories that will last a lifetime. Our story teller, David ‘Counter’ Strike has sent a very entertaining article on Ears. His advice, “ I have this fear that if I subject my ears to too much abuse then I’ll never hear that offer to buy me a beer. ” I always read Des Williams ‘Diving History’. This issue is a beauty called “Diver or Urinator?” definitely worth a read! We feature Cairns U/W photographer John Magee in our Spotlight. John has many outstanding photos and we are absolutely delighted to showcase some of his goodies. Dr Sally Gregory brings us really inspiring stories about Women of Water that feature high achievers who have worked hard for many years to create a dream lifestyle for themselves. This issue features Nikita Retsas, who is living the dream at Sea World. Lynn Holroyd has sent in a report about the seventieth anniversary of Underwater Research Group of Queensland. Every diver should appreciate that our wonderful sport is built on the backs of past divers who trail blazed the way forward in the past and set up research programs and protected dive spots for us to enjoy. We have a great report from the World Shootout photo comp, book reviews, Shipwreck topics from Steve Reynolds from S.A. and more S.A. news from Heather Creech. Dive Log April 2024, is issue 405. It marks four years since Vikki and I took over from Barry Andrewartha. Lucky for me, Vikki, our excellent Graphic Designer, is as enthusiastic as I am in striving to produce a world class scuba diving magazine for your reading pleasure. Our mission is to celebrate marine life through education. Quality U/W photos and a high standard of journalism and production.

Magee. The furtive Red Spotted Blenny, Blenniella chrysospilos taken with the Macro lens on the Great Barrier Reef is a very difficult photo to capture.

Mike and Vikki

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CONTENTS

digital

N o. 405 NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE : Issue 406 JUNE 2024 Advert bookings 1st May Artwork due 10th May Editorial material : 1st May APRIL 2024 EDITOR Mike Scotland | mike@divelog.net.au Production Editor/Designer Vikki Ryan | divelog@divelog.net.au PUBLISHER Mike Scotland | mike@divelog.net.au ADVERTISING Mike Scotland | mike@divelog.net.au MENTOR Barry Andrewartha | divelog@divelog.com.au Tel: + 61 0415158168 mike@divelog.net.au www.divelog.net.au Editorial and photographic contribution guidelines: divelog@divelog.net.au The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers or its editors. REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS No part of the contents of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the publisher. All images are copyrighted by the authors and photographers.

Features

016 Wonderful Fishes of Norfolk Island

- Nigel Marsh & Helen Rose

0 22 Tasting their World - William (Bill) Gladstone 0 28 Whyalla Aggregation Starts Now 032 Travel Blog - Fantastic Fiji part 2 - Dr Terry & Cathie Cummins 039 Ambon, Indonesia - City of Muck - Nigel Marsh 046 Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf - Wolf Rock - Ken Hoppen 050 Dive 1800 Tasmania- Pink Tank - PT Hirschfield 058 SPOTLIGHT Photographer - John Magee 0 66 Scuba Diving Operational Risk Manag’t - Claudio Gino Ferreri 068 URGQ 70th Anniversary - Lynn Holroyd 070 MB Fish ID - Leather Jackets - Mike Scotland 078 MB Fish ID - Triggerfish - Mike Scotland 084 World Shootout 2023 098 Wildlife Book Release- Daniel Barker

Regulars

62 - In Deep - Simon Pridmore 64 - WOW - Nikita Retsas- Dr Sally Gregory 68 - ‘Marine Biology in the Wild’ 93 - Southern Waters - Steve Reynolds 94 - SDFSA - Heather Creech

07 - View from the Bridge - Mike Ball Exp. 10 - DAN News

12 - PNG Resort Listings 14 - MIDE Malaysia Expo 21 - DiveTalks Portugal

25 - Nudi Notes - David Mullins 53 - Counter Strike -David Strike 54 - Discovery of Fish - Pam & Wayne Osborne 55 - Dive 2000 - Kevin Deacon 56 - Historical Diving Society - Des Williams 60 - Diving Medicine - Simon Mitchell

95 - Shipwrecks - Steve Reynolds 98 - Paul Watson Foundation news 100 - Your Shot

102 - Boat Directory 104 - Parting Shot

DIVE LOG Australasia #405 - April ‘24 06

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View from the Bridge Trevor Jackson - Spoilsport Skipper www.mikeball.com/blog Great Barrier Reef on the March

PHOTOS FROM JANUARY/FEBRUARY

The High Seas

Captain Trevor Jackson

So I was reading on the internet, or watching one of those little 90-second videos on the internet, or both, about how we as a society are focusing on the negative, ALL of the time. How media, both social and mainstream, devotes its time to unveiling the antics of the worst of humanity. The 0.0001% of the entire race that does all the bad stuff… the crooks, the terrorists, the reality TV folk… and how we are tending to see ourselves as like them; as a race. And you know what? It’s kind of true. Life can get kind of doom and gloomy when you focus on things that aren’t good. We bitch constantly about the state of the country yet in reality the country is great (so is ‘America’ by the way Donald) and if we compare our lives to 75 percent of the world we are absolutely sitting pretty. So now there’s this push online to get folks to start pointing out the good in the world instead of just the bad. Instead of bitching about, say, airline delays, or how long your bank kept you on hold to India; brighten our day with cool stuff. Some good service you got; where to find the best cup of coffee in town (while refraining from posting a photo of it and your side dish of chips); something that made you smile. So now it’s my turn… a tiny rant about what is good in my current world… Let’s start with the view... looking out the window I can see the beach at Lizard Island and some folks climbing a sun-drenched hill. The job... obviously THE best in the world coz I’m the skipper of a big fat dive boat that goes places no one else does. My crew... also the best in the world and all very busy right now keeping the operation humming. The boat… large spacious, super clean – a genuine offshore weapon. The reef… fantastic, vibrant, full of energy and life. The future… interesting, just like a future should be. That is about all I can think of right now. Except one more thing… I know where you can get the best coffee in town… right outside my door and across the saloon, the best flat white on the high seas…

1st. Cathie Cummins

2nd. Aaron Smith

3rd. Linda Russell

Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reef! The Best Diving on the Dive with giant potato cod, explore deep walls, witness shark action at Osprey Reef.

New Special Expeditions! Check out our website for details.

Ribbon Reefs Suited to both Divers and Snorkelers.

www.mikeball.com T: +61 7 4053 0500 E: resv@mikeball.com #spoilsportlive #mikeballdive

In January glass out conditions Ribbon Reef No.10.

Fly Dive, perfect stopover point Lizard Island.

Check out availability of Expeditions on Spoilsport. www.mikeball.com/availability

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“ The reef systems here are some of the most pristine I have seen anywhere in my dive travels around the globe, and Wakatobi resort and liveaboard are second to none. The diversity of species here is brilliant if you love photography.” ~ Simon Bowen

Distraction, Discomfort and Disorientation: Avoid the three D’s

W hile diving is an enjoyable and relatively safe activity, divers should never forget that it involves using life-support equipment to venture into an environment that’s not conducive to human survival. This is why DAN recommends that divers always be mentally and physically prepared to dive and remain focused throughout their dives. Most dive accidents result from a series of small deviations from safe procedures, and in almost all cases, the accident could have been avoided at any point if a problem was noticed, its implications understood, and an appropriate response implemented. Distraction, discomfort, and disorientation are dangerous because they can impair focus and situational awareness. Distraction Task-loading (doing or managing too many things at once) is a common reason that a diver may become distracted. An example is attempting to hold a light and camera while navigating an overhead environment. It’s easy to focus on one task to the exclusion of others when that task is complicated or particularly demanding. Strong emotions can be significant enough to impact your ability to dive safely. If you’ve recently experienced grief or trauma, for example, take time to evaluate your well-being and emotional state as objectively as possible. If you have reason to believe that intrusive thoughts or overwhelming emotions might interfere with your ability to keep tabs on your depth, gas supply, and buddy, postpone your dive to a later day. Anxiety can lead to uncertainty about the nature and reality of threats as well as self-doubt about one’s capacity to handle situations. Physical symptoms of anxiety can vary widely, from damp palms and a quickened heartbeat to the crippling feelings of a full blown panic attack or phobic reaction. The ocean can be a major stressor for some people. As stress increases, a diver’s ability to recognise and respond properly diminishes. In a demanding situation it is critical that a diver be able to recognise and break out of the escalating cycle of stress before it reaches the level of panic. Be sure you have effectively managed any anxiety you’re experiencing before you proceed with a dive. Discomfort When divers call the DAN Medical Information Line with questions about diving with various health and medical conditions, DAN medical staff typically advise against diving if the caller is experiencing any pain or

discomfort. One reason for this is that pain could later be mistaken for a symptom of decompression sickness, complicating diagnosis after diving. But an even more important reason to avoid diving with pain or discomfort is that these symptoms can impair focus and awareness. An upset stomach is not uncommon in diving settings. Seasickness affects many divers, and travel-associated disruptions to diet and schedule can also lead to queasiness. While it may be reasonable for a diver with nausea to enter the water to see if they feel better on the surface, they should not descend unless their symptoms resolve. In fact, they should be supervised while on the surface. Many divers have heard that it’s possible to vomit through a regulator. While this is generally true, that doesn’t mean it’s a pleasant experience. Disorientation It should go without saying that diving and intoxication do not mix. While diving, there’s too much information to keep track of and too high a possibility of needing to make high-stakes judgement calls to risk being impaired. Remember you’re responsible for your buddy’s safety as well as your own. But recreational drugs aren’t the only things that can lead to mental fogginess or slower reaction time. Poor sleep, jet lag, and hangovers all have the potential to affect mental acuity. These are not uncommon among travelling divers, so be sure to consider how they might affect you, and postpone diving as necessary. Some prescription (and even over-the-counter) medications have side effects that could make diving less safe. Warnings against using a drug while operating heavy machinery, for example, might also apply to diving. For this reason, doctors trained in dive medicine recommend against diving when taking a new medication for the first time. For a prescription medication taken daily, 30 days is recommended to ensure the dosage is correct and to reveal any side effects the diver is likely to experience. At least one doctor should be aware of all medications an individual is taking. A diver should not dive if he experiences any side effects that could cause distraction or decreased awareness if they occur underwater. Keep in mind that any irritation, uncertainty, or trouble you’re experiencing on the surface is likely to become a bigger problem underwater, so stay out of the water until you’re confident your focus, awareness, judgement, and ability to manage additional stressors is back up to 100 percent. For more diving health and safety information visit World.DAN.org .

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PACIFIC OCEAN

• Diving is possible all year round with the optimal season typically from mid April to mid June, and mid September to mid December.

KAVIENG

NEW IRELAND

MANUS ISLAND

VANIMO

BISMARCK SEA

• Water temperature from 26º along the edge of the Coral Sea and up to 31ºC in the Bismarck Sea. • Visibility ranges from 50 to 150 ft • PNG has a hyperbaric chamber maintained to international standards • The use of permanent environmental moorings ensures minimal anchor damage to reefs. • Weekly flights to Port Moresby from Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Honiara, Nadi. Daily flights from Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney. • For the best dive and air package pre-book your complete tour with a recognised PNG dive travel specialist.

RABAUL

WEWAK

KIMBE BAY NEW BRITAIN

MADANG

TARI

HOSKINS

MT HAGEN

GOROKA

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND

LAE

SOLOMON SEA

GULF OF PAPUA

TUFI

PORT MORESBY

MILNE BAY

ALOTAU

www.walindiresort.com

www.lissenung.com “Instruction, gear rental, 8 rooms (6 with ensuite, 2 with semi ensuite), free WiFi, full resort facilities. A visit at Lissenung Island Resort is truly exclusive! info@lissenung.com

Instruction, gear rental, Nitrox, 12 bungalows, 8 plantation house rooms, all ensuites, internet, pool, full resort facilities, English. Voted the 'Best diving from a resort anywhere in the world', Walindi comprises fern-draped bungalows set in tropical rainforest gardens on the shores of Kimbe Bay.

resort@walindifebrina.com

MV OCEANIA LIVEABOARD www.mvoceania.com

www.mvfebrina.com

Gear Rental, Nitrox, 10-12 passengers, English MV FeBrina cruises from Walindi Resort, diving Kimbe Bay, Witu Islands, Fathers Reefs, Rabaul and New Hanover. febrina@walindifebrina.com

Gear Rental, Nitrox, 16 passengers, English

MV Oceania is the most recent liveaboard addition to Kimbe Bay. A 27 metre catamaran, Oceania began operation in 2019 with itineraries including Kimbe Bay, Witu Islands and Fathers Reefs as well as further afield at select times of year. reservations@mvoceania.com

Image credit David Doubilet

LOLOATA ISLAND RESORT www.loloataislandresort.com

NIUGINI DIVE ADVENTURES www.niuginidiveadventures.com

The only dive company established within ‘beautiful Madang’; the PADI certified facility, NDA is one of the most experienced dive operators in Papua New Guinea. NDA offers resort courses taught by our team of multi-lingual, PADI certified instructors and dive masters. The crystal clear waters surrounding Madang offer some of the world’s best diving experiences for divers to discover. Most

Luxury Island Resort with 68 rooms/villas, two restaurants and bar, a swimming pool, recreational beach, fully equipped dive shop, spa and conference centre. Importantly, it sits on the edge of the Papuan Barrier Reef and 29 dive sites around the island where experienced divers can explore its reefs, spectacular sea life and shipwrecks. There are also excellent snorkelling sites. Loloata’s PADI-certified dive and activities centre is opened now, so learning to dive is also now an option. t: +675 7108 8000 / 7914 3966 e : reservations@loloata.com

dive sites are only 5-10mins away! Underwater peaks climbing from 600m to 4m and sheltered lagoons where old wrecks, dating back to World War II, are waiting to be explored...Contact info: nda@madangresort.com

KARAWARI LODGE www.pngtours.com

TUFI RESORT www.tufiresort.com

AMBUA LODGE www.pngtours.com Fly across mainland Papua New Guinea to remote and magical Karawari Lodge. The lodge overlooks the Karawari River whose waters flow towards the Sepik River. Stilted villages line the edges of the waterways. Dugout canoes glide by. Lodge guides introduce guests to the complex and mysterious tribal culture. Conversations with villagers are fascinating. Photo opportunities abound. Explore mainland Papua New Guinea based from eco-friendly Ambua Lodge. The lodge is nestled in the highlands, overlooking the magnificent Tari Valley, home of the famous Huli Wigmen. Visit their traditional lands and learn about their fascinating culture. Follow walking trails through mid-montane forest, over traditional vine bridges and along clear mountain streams to secluded waterfalls. Watch for Birds of Paradise.

Discover Tufi in a boutique resort with 180 degree panoramic views over the sea and the only fjords in PNG. Experience diving in a secluded paradise with abundant sea life, coral reefs and wrecks. The warm crystal clear waters of Tufi are a divers paradise. Gear rental, water activities, village stays, cultural and land tours. 24 air conditioned ensuite guest rooms, pool, full resort facilities. reservations@tufiresort.com

service@pngtours.com

RONDON RIDGE www.pngtours.com

In the mountains of mainland Papua New Guinea, above the town of Mount Hagen, sits Rondon Ridge. Rising mists enhance the lodge’s panoramic views of the historic valley below. Orchids thrive here. Hours of walking trails offer opportunities to spot exotic birds, including Birds of Paradise. Lodge

guides share the history and traditions of the Melpa people. Rondon Ridge is conveniently accessible on scheduled flights between Port Moresby and Mount Hagen. service@pngtours.com

service@pngtours.com

TAWALI RESORT www.tawali.com

Instruction, gear rental, Nitrox, 22 ensuite rooms, Broadband, full resort facilities.Where it all started, discover the dive sites that place PNG into the world class map of scuba diving. Situated on a limestone bluff backed by densely rain

forested hills overlooking the clear and protected water of Milne Bay, Tawali offers travellers a unique location to dive, relax and enjoy the unspoiled wonders of this magnificent part of the world. reservations@tawali.com

Malaysia INTERNATIONAL Dive Expo (MIDE) 2024 T he 18th edition of the Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE) in 2024 promises to be an exciting event for divers, businesses, and water sports professionals worldwide. Scheduled from 7 - 9 June 2024 at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur this year's theme is "Embracing the Ocean’s Majesty".

MIDE has been a long-standing annual event since its establishment in 2006. Playing a crucial role in promoting, growing and strengthening the global dive community and relevant businesses, MIDE has gained worldwide recognition as a prominent event in the diving industry. The Expo has welcomed more than 250,000 attendees over the last 17 years.

The Expo serves as a comprehensive hub for all things related to the water world, covering equipment, courses, travel, conservation, education, boating/sailing, and other water sports. As such, MIDE 2024 provides an excellent opportunity to not only stay connected with key players in the industry, but also learn about the latest trends, products, and innovations in the underwater world. While visitors can connect with a diverse range of local and international brands, exhibitors will benefit from sales leads and increased brand awareness. The event truly caters to various aspects of the water world, providing a one-stop platform for exploration, education, and enjoyment. Dive talks and panel discussions on cave diving, women divers, underwater photography, freediving, watersports, youths involvement in conservation and diving and many more activities will be announce soon. Visitors can head to the website to register and purchase tickets. Interested parties for sponsorship and branding can contact the MIDE team via email at info@mide.com.my for more information. Regular updates about the event can be found on the official website www.mide.com.my and social media pages.

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Capturing Diversity through the 2024 Lens Beyond Ocean Photo Competition P hotographs are an incredibly powerful medium to showcase life in the ocean. As such, we invite you to wield your lenses as a tool to celebrate, educate and highlight the rich tapestry of our incredible underwater world. Let your photographs serve as windows into worlds unseen, bridges connecting disparate realities, and catalysts for dialogue and understanding. Prizes up for grab include dive travel, dive gear, and camera equipment. Winners will be selected according to these five categories: Macro, Wide-Angle, Compact Camera, 3 Minute Video, and Best of Malaysia by a Malaysian. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned photographer or videographer, we encourage you to share your talent with the dive community. Please register through the offcial website, www.lensbeyondocean.com The fnal submission date is May 7th, 2024. The competition also welcomes businesses and organisations interested in sponsoring prizes. In return, sponsors and their prizes will be promoted via MIDE's marketing channels, receiving international exposure. All of the winning images and videos will be displayed at the MIDE event on June 7th to 9th, 2024, at Level 1, Hall 2, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, and showcased online. For more information, head to www.lensbeyondocean.com or contact info@mide.com.my

GET READY to dive into the depths of creativity and showcase your talent in underwater photography. The Lens Beyond Ocean Competition is on the lookout for 5 exceptional photographers to gain wide exposure and recognition.

Submission deadline: 7th May 2024

REWARDING EXPERIENCE:

Incredible Dive Travel Prizes

International Exposure to an Exclusive Audience

Artwork Showcased in Print and Digital Albums

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE DISCOVERED!

SUBMIT YOUR WORKS OF ART HERE!

CATEGORIES TO COMPETE IN: Could you claim a title this year? Lens Beyond Ocean MIDE challenges photographers in these five categories:

BEST OF MALAYSIA BY A MALAYSIAN

COMPACT CAMERA

3-MINUTE VIDEO

WIDE ANGLE

MACRO

Will Your Photo Be One of the BEST PICTURES OF 2024? Don't Miss the Chance to Make a Splash! Dive into the competition and submit your entries here. May the lens be in your favour!

If you haven't registered yet, kindly visit www.lensbeyondocean.mide.com.my

Registration can be carried out until May 7, 2024. www.lensbeyondocean.com

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WONDERFUL FISHES OF NORFOLK ISLAND

:: article and images by N igel M ar Sh and h ele N r oS e www.nigelmars h p ho t o grap h y.c o m

R olling over the side of the boat we were astonished to find the visibility close to 40m. Below we could see an interesting terrain of rock and coral, numerous fishes, and something very special – eight Galapagos sharks. As we descended the sharks slowly patrolled around us and throughout the dive they cruised overhead. It was great to see these special sharks that are only seen at a few locations. However, they were not the only special and unique fishes we saw during our visit to Norfolk Island.

Norfolk Island is a remote rocky outcrop in the Pacific Ocean, located on an undersea ridge that runs from New Caledonia to New Zealand. While situated in a subtropical zone, the island has a fascinating mixture of tropic and temperate fishes, including many that are endemic and unique to the area. It was these wonderful fishes that drew us to book a week-long holiday to Norfolk Island in February.

An Australian External Territory, Norfolk Island is accessible on flights from Brisbane and Sydney. As a holiday destination it has a lot going for it; a pleasant climate, interesting land and seascapes, numerous seabirds and a fascinating colonial history, with many of the islanders descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers. The island’s economy is based on tourism, and we had a wonderful week exploring Norfolk Island above and below the water line.

S h ark feed at Kingst o n Jetty.

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Galapagos Shark

Before arriving on the island, we tried to book some boat dives with the only dive operation on the island – Norfolk Island Diving. However, Mitch Graham, the owner/operator of the business, works full time and only runs the dive operation part time, mostly on weekends. Also, the diving is very weather dependant, as there are only two jetties where the boat can be launched. So, booking ahead was not really an option. The weather when we arrived on the island was not ideal for diving, with strong easterly winds wiping out both jetties. We rang Mitch on arrival to book a few dives, and fortunately for us the weather was looking good for the weekend when Mitch mostly runs the boat. With several days before the weekend, we did the next best thing – a snorkel at Emily Bay and Slaughter Bay. Most of the coastline of Norfolk Island is rocky cliffs, however there are a few sheltered bays, with the best being Emily Bay and Slaughter Bay. These two elongated inter-connected bays are fringed by a rocky reef that keeps them safe for swimming and snorkelling under most sea conditions. The best time to snorkel in the bays is at low tide, when the reef stops any swell from stirring up the sand and the visibility is exceptional. We did our first snorkel at Emily Bay on the afternoon we arrived, and were instantly impressed with this lovely spot. This sheltered bay has pretty hard coral gardens and many sandy patches with seaweed, and plays host to a wide variety of marine life. While we saw many invertebrate species, including numerous sea hares, it was the unique fishes that most enthralled us. www.divelog.net.au

Launching the dive boat.

Lined Sea Hare.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #405 - April ‘24

Lord Howe Moray.

Within minutes of entering the water we encountered many fish species that are common at Norfolk Island, but are rarely seen at other destinations. These included surge wrasse, green wrasse, Norfolk cardinalfish, notchheaded marblefish, Norfolk chromis, painted morwong and yellowbanded wirrah. There were also many familiar fishes that are seen on the subtropical reefs of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, including species of mullet, butterflyfish, damsels, surgeonfish, unicornfish, goatfish, lizardfish and wrasse. Emily Bay is only 4m deep, so an easy snorkelling spot, and towards the end of this first exploration we found a species we had hoped to see – the Lord Howe

moray. This moray is mostly seen here and at Lord Howe Island, and is one that has eluded us for many years. We were delighted to find not one, but three, including one that was out in the open on the sand. Over the next few days, we snorkelled both Emily Bay and Slaughter Bay every chance we got, enjoying 20m visibility at times. We observed and photographed over twenty fish species we had never seen before, including blue drummer, masked moki (morwong), Norfolk Island blennies, knife wrasse, seagrass wrasse, a tropical conger eel and a convict snake eel. On these snorkels we also saw green turtles, a southern eagle ray, grey morays, stout morays, trevally, dart, flutemouthes, rockcods, scorpionfish and numerous banded snake eels.

Masked Moki or Morwong.

Doubleheader.

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Green Turtle

Splendid Hawkfish

One of the most impressive fish of these bays is the doubleheader. A member of the wrasse family, the doubleheader is occasionally found off northern New South Wales, but is only common at Norfolk and Lord Howe Island. The male gets a lump on the head and can grow to 90cm long. We saw males, females and juveniles that had a black and white colour pattern, completely different to the blue of the adults. As much as we enjoyed the snorkels, it was great to finally get out on the dive boat and strap on a tank. Boat

dives at Norfolk Island are a little different, as the dive boat is craned into the water from the jetty. Norfolk Island Diving operate an open boat that caters for small groups. Departing Kingston Jetty, it was a quick trip over to our dive sites at nearby Nepean Island. Here we dived Fish Bowl, a pretty rock and coral reef with numerous caves, ledges and overhangs to explore. This is the site where we were greeted by 40m visibility and eight Galapagos sharks. Exploring this site with a maximum depth of 18m, we saw schools of damsels,

Notchheaded Marblefish.

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return, they clean the fish at the jetty and throw the scraps to the sharks. When we were first told about this, we thought there might be a few small sharks and we could get in the water with them. But we were very wrong, as there must have been over twenty dusky whalers and Galapagos sharks, and they varied in size from 2m to 3m. It was quite a savage display and we decided to stay dry on the jetty. The next day we returned for another single dive at Nepean Island, this time doing a drift dive on the northern side of the island ending up at a site called The Crack. Here we saw a complete carpet of hard corals and lots of small reef fish. Unfortunately, no sharks on this side of the island, but in the shallows were numerous caves to explore. In these caves we saw yellowbanded wirrah, marblefish, bullseyes, morays, clown tobies and three more goldribbon cod. There were also black cod, scorpionfish, sea stars, nudibranchs and several green turtles. At the end of the dive we got to explore The Crack, which is a large bay with gutters and caves.

Here we saw a large doubleheader and numerous other wrasses, but the highlight was three splendid hawkfish, a rarely seen species that grows to 20cm long. While we only did two dives and over a

Striped Boarfish and Slipper Cray.

fusiliers, trevally, kingfish and numerous reef fishes. Other marine life included a blotched-fantail stingray, a slipper cray, a large nudibranch and several morays. Always on the lookout for new fishes we were impressed to find two striped boarfish under a ledge and a rare goldribbon cod, a type of soapfish, in another cave. Back at the jetty after the dive we witnessed a very unusual shark feed. When the fishing charter boats

dozen snorkels, we still had a wonderful week at Norfolk Island. We also bushwalked the national park, went bird watching, explored the ruins of the old prison and generally had a very relaxing time. However, the highlight for us was all the wonderful fishes of this unique island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

•

Convict Snake Eel.

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PORTUGAL 2024 INTERNATIONAL DIVING SHOW Lisbon from October 18 to 20

W hether you are a diving professional looking to expand your network, an enthusiast seeking to deepen your knowledge, or an industry leader wanting to stay updated on the latest trends, Diving Talks promises to be an event that will leave a lasting impact.

Picture this: Renowned speakers, interactive panel discussions, and hands-on workshops that will blow your mind! We're talking about everything from marine conservation to mind-blowing underwater photography and technical diving! Diving Talks 2024 is also your chance to make waves in the diving community and network. Rub shoulders with fellow diving fanatics, connect with industry pros, and maybe even find your diving soulmate. Who knows, you might end up teaming up for the most epic underwater adventure ever! We've also got interactive workshops and hands-on activities that will make your fins flip! You'll learn new skills, master techniques, and enhance your diving abilities and broaden your understanding of different diving topics. Plus, we've got tasty treats to fuel your diving spirit throughout the day. You won't go hungry, we promise!

Where its happening: We're hosting this event at the Cordoaria Nacional, a monumental testament to Lisbon’s rich maritime history. This building was initially designed to serve as a rope making facility for the Portuguese navy. But today it has transformed into a vibrant cultural hub in Lisbon. The Cordoaria Nacional not only preserves a crucial piece of Portugal’s maritime heritage but also serves as a beacon of cultural and artistic expression, welcoming visitors from around the globe to explore its rich history and contemporary significance. So mark your calendar for 18 to 20 October and get ready to make waves at Cordoaria Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal. This is your chance to level up your diving game, gain valuable insights, and have a blast! Feeling uncertain? Dive into the last edition's wrap-up video and experience the regret of missing out. However, this year presents a new opportunity to be part of it.

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Tasting their World I magine swimming in the ocean and tasting everything that touches you. A piece of jellyfish, that kelp frond you brush against, the arm of a curious octopus, your buddy’s hand. And imagine you have this ability not just in your mouth but over your entire body, and when you sense these different tastes simultaneously you know exactly where on your body you are tasting an object without having to see it. That’s how striped catfish experience their world. :: article and images by WILLIAM (BILL) GLADSTONE

For many fish, their sense of taste has expanded well beyond their mouth. A striped catfish has taste buds over its entire body and they map directly to a specific place in its brain so the catfish knows exactly where a particular taste is coming from. The advantages of this are obvious: the catfish is alert to the possibility of food anywhere in its immediate surroundings, not just in the vicinity of its mouth. Tasting something appealing near its tail, the catfish can immediately spin around and investigate it. The taste buds are most concentrated around a striped catfish’s head and especially in its barbels. Those eight whisker-like barbels encircling a catfish’s mouth are packed with up to 200 taste buds in every square millimetre of skin. As the catfish rubs its barbels over the seabed, or pushes its head into the sand, those barbels are tasting everything, sensitive to the chemicals coming from something that might be edible or distasteful.

While the catfish’s barbels are impressive, there’s another group of fishes whose barbels are even more powerful food detectors: goatfish. They specialize on prey living deep within sand, especially worms, crustaceans and molluscs, where vision is useless for finding food. Goatfish have only two barbels on their chin but they are packed with large taste buds (double the size of catfish taste buds) and they can deftly manipulate them in their search for food: they delicately rub them over sand, swirl them around to push sand aside, or use them like probes to search deep into sand. The barbels of striped catfish, on the other hand, lack muscles and so are more passive tasters. Each goatfish barbel has more than 250 taste buds per square millimetre and a total of around 33,000 taste buds. The taste buds of catfish, goatfish and humans have the same structure and work in the same way. But

Striped catfish ( Plotosus lineatus ) have taste buds over their entire body.

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Barbels with taste buds have evolved in many other fishes (such as this largetooth beardie, Lotella rhacina ) that are nocturnal or live in deep or turbid waters.

The barbels of this bluestriped goatfish ( Upeneichthys lineatus) can be manipulated to sweep, dig and probe sand for signs of food.

compared with goatfish, we humans are under-performers when it comes to tasting: our tongues have 2,000-8,000 taste buds (the total number varies a lot among individuals and declines with age) and an average of only 2 taste buds per square millimetre of tongue surface. Taste buds completely encircle a goatfish’s barbels and the taste buds at each level of a barbel are monitored by separate nerves that connect to a unique part of the taste centre in the goatfish’s brain. This means that a goatfish

can accurately determine the depth at which food is hidden in the sand, whether it’s to the left or right, or the inside or outside of a barbel. Once detected, all of this information empowers the goatfish to precisely target a food item with its mouth. Barbels with taste buds have evolved independently in many different groups of fishes and are most elaborate among fish that feed on sandy seabeds or live in dark or turbid waters. Sharks such as epaulette, blind and

Goatfish have solved the problem of finding food buried in sand: following a signal from the taste buds on its barbels that indicates the precise location, the goatfish buries its head to capture its prey.

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The whisker-like barbels surrounding the mouth of a striped catfish are packed with taste buds. Unlike goatfish, their barbels lack muscles and are floppy.

wobbegongs have barbels but none have taste buds: their barbels are used to feel objects or to house ampullae of Lorenzini, which are sensitive to the electrical fields generated by prey. A recent fascinating discovery has been the finding of taste buds on the leading edges of the fins of some tropical damselfishes. These small, active fishes are visual predators, feeding on plankton in bright, clear waters. It’s likely they use these taste buds to expand their sensory field, giving them the ability to detect plankton drifting by that they didn’t see.

Using taste buds localized on barbels or spread across the entire body are effective solutions to the problem of finding food in challenging environments. The recent discoveries about damselfishes remind us that we have a lot to learn about the ways that fishes sense their world in their daily quest to survive. Whenever I get frustrated by a school of goatfish stirring up the bottom and reducing the visibility I console myself with the fact that I’m watching a remarkable adaptation at work that is much more sensitive than my own very limited abilities. •

While looking impressive, the barbels near the tip of the snout and the lobes on the upper jaw of this spotted wobbegong ( Orectolobus maculatus ) lack taste buds. The taste buds of wobbegongs are located inside the mouth, throat and the gill supports.

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Sea Slug Eye Candies That Aren’t Nudibranchs THURIDILLA THRILLS

Thuridilla is a tropical and warm temperate genus of sea slug species belonging to the diverse sap-sucking order Sacoglossa. If you are looking for out-of-this-world colour contrasts and combinations to photograph, you need look no further to satisfy that appetite. The Plakobranchidae family of sea slugs holds the Thuridilla along with Elysia , Bosellia (lack parapodia) and Plakobranchus (broad and flattened body) genera. So the Thuridilla and Elysia Thuridilla sp. (sp. 08) An undescribed species of the colourful Thuridilla genus showing all the salient features including the flamboyant colours and patterning.

all mostly have a similar body form - long and narrow, lacking a shell, high in profile in relation to width and possessing flap-like parapodia (extensions of the foot) that extend along the body for most of its length and wrap up both sides to usually meet on the dorsal midline with sinuous margins. Without reference to the colours and their arrangement it would be impossible to separate species of Thuridilla based on external features so it is not surprising that colour patterns had been the basis of species differentiation. It is those parapodia Thuridilla vataae . The surface of the parapodia is raised with smooth coloured spots. The rhinophores are tipped with a contrasting colour.

Thuridilla sp. (cf. splendens ) This is also an undescribed species but has some similarities to the described Thuridilla splendens .

The diet of Thuridilla species is not well documented but are believed to feed on filamentous algae, as depicted here in this close up.

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Thuridilla carlsoni is one of the few in this genus of sea slugs that has a colouration that could be considered camouflage.

A peak inside the parapodia of Thuridilla carlsoni , a view that is not often afforded as the genus in general keeps them tightly closed.

of the Thuridilla that exhibit the stunning colours, especially along their margins, but it often extends forwards onto the head and out along the rhinophores. In this way the colourful Thuridilla , crawling around out in the open substrate, are different from the mostly cryptic Elysia species that are generally a uniform green colour, often of a dull hue and therefore camouflaged upon their host algae. The inside surface of Thuridilla parapodia, rarely visible, may also have quite interesting colouration. Although the hypothesis remains to be tested, it is thought that these bright colours and free movement out on the open

substrate of the Thuridilla might be evidence of aposematic (warning) colouration of noxious chemicals, within their tissues, as a defensive method, much like many of the colourful chromodorid nudibranchs (some of these chemicals are actually called thuridillins). In no way could they be described as camouflaged or cryptic. There are notable exceptions to this generalisation though. The parapodia of Thuridilla are essentially smooth although some do present with low smooth longitudinal ridges that in some specimens are broken up into spots that are raised and smooth. The auriculate rhinophores are long and smooth with a

Thuridilla bayeri is one of a group (the Thuridilla gracilis species-complex), of more than a dozen now recognised and putative species, that have very similar colouration.

Thuridilla sp. (sp. 10). A juvenile specimen of a putative species within the Thuridilla gracilis species-complex.

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