418 Dive Log Australasia JUNE 2026.pdf

JUNE 2026 | No 418 digi tal

AUSTRALASIA

www.divelog.net.au

A MARINE NATURALIST GOES TO LEMBEH by MIKE SCOTLAND FUVAHMULAH: FREEDIVING with TIGER SHARKS by Vadim Belakhov UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE CH 6 NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY by MIKE SCOTLAND

DIVING IN BEAUJOLAIS by MATHEW KEMPTON DAVID MULLINS NUDIBRANCH DEFENCES SNUFFLEUPAGUS by G Short & D Harasti

UNMISTAKABLY YOURS.

new C370 REGULATOR SYSTEM Discover the regulator that matches how you dive. Compact and travel-ready, with optional, diver-changeable color plate accessories that help you stand out. The redesigned C370 delivers personal style backed by the trusted performance divers expect from SCUBAPRO. Choose the system that’s unmistakably yours.

SCUBAPRO.COM

LEARN MORE:

2

Dive Log Australasia #418 June ’26

www.divelog.net.au

NEW C370 Color & White Regulators:

D iscover the regulator that matches how you dive. Compact and travel-ready, with optional, diver-changeable color frame plate accessories that help you stand out. The redesigned C370 delivers personal style backed by the trusted performance divers expect from SCUBAPRO. Choose the system that’s unmistakably yours. NEW - the redesigned C370 now features optional diver-changeable color frames, available in six colors, so you can personalize your regulator in seconds. The C370 features a redesigned second stage with optional diver - changeable color frames, allowing users to personalize their regulator while maintaining SCUBAPRO performance and reliability. The black C370 is sold with a standard graphite-colored frame, and the white C370 is sold with a standard white frame.

MK11 EVO / C370 The MK11 EVO/C370 is made for new divers, travel divers and avid recreational for a compact regulator system that delivers top performance and reliability. The balanced diaphragm MK11 EVO is more compact than its MK11 predecessor, with a forged brass body, thermal fins and protective plastic bumpers to ward off scratches. It features an innovative double spring layout that contributes to overall compactness while improving reliability. The two HP ports are set on a 15-degree angle for more comfortable hose routing, and the four LP ports are all high flow. The compact C370 is small but mighty when it comes to air delivery. Its convenient user controls include a diver adjustable inhalation effort knob, a coaxial dive/pre-dive lever and a large, easy to- activate purge button. Offered in standard graphite, additional color kits are sold separately in 6 popular colors. The MK11 EVO/C370 is a dependable, go-anywhere air delivery system that makes diving fun, wherever your travels take you. MK11 EVO/ C370 WHITE SCUBAPRO offers a special version of its MK11 EVO/C370 regulator system that features unique white components, including the bumper, saddle, cap, and DIN or INT wheel on the first stage, and a white casing, front cover and exhaust tee on the second stage. Each stage includes dark gray logos and accents. The newly designed face plate is impact-resistant and color customizable by the diver. Offered in standard white, additional color frames are sold separately in 6 popular colors.

C370 color frames are user-changeable and designed to be quick and easy to swap , enabling divers to personalize their gear or improve gear identification on the boat and underwater. C370 color frames are sold separately.

COLOR FRAME OPTION (1 COLOR FRAME) 14.99 US$ 9,99 € 8,59 £ 20 AU$ MK17 EVO 2 / C370

With the MK17 EVO 2/C370 you have a compact and lightweight regulator system ready to explore dive locales all over the world . The MK17 EVO 2 is more compact and lighter weight than its MK17 EVO predecessor and the MK19 EVO, thanks to its forged body, dry chamber with a twin spring layout for increased reliability and compactness. Small but powerful when it comes to air delivery, the C370 offers convenient user controls include a diver-adjustable inhalation effort knob, a coaxial dive/pre-dive lever and a large, easy-to-activate purge button. Offered in standard graphite, additional color frames are sold separately in 6 popular colors. The MK17 EVO2/C370 is the regulator system of choice for any dive bag and any recreational dive scenario.

What’s new about the C370 regulator? The C370 features a redesigned second stage with optional diver ‑ changeable color frames, allowing users to personalize their regulator while maintaining SCUBAPRO performance and reliability. The black C370 is sold with a standard graphite colored frame, and the white C370 is sold with a standard white frame. All other color frames are sold separately. You Tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVYTdXIkzdA

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

rest5ft

mv

LIVEABOARD MV FeBrina has been operating from Walindi Resort since 1991. Bismarck Sea, Including New Britain & Kavieng

Walindi Plantation Resort celebrates 40 years of operation. Diving Kimbe Bay Reefs

become the norm and at the same time to allow shark populations to increase. I suggest that fisheries do something to restore the balance such as create dozens of fish hatcheries to bolster the fish populations and also to create marine reserves to allow fish stocks to recover. It is unacceptable for hungry sharks to attack humans. It helps to understand some basic shark ecology, psychology and behaviour. Sharks live in a territory that has enough food to sustain its family. These resident sharks have fought off competition to have the right to own that reef. They will patrol and guard their home reef. To them, someone stealing their fish is a direct threat and they will defend their right to ownership of that reef. The fish you spear or catch on a line belongs to them; they claim ownership. They see you stealing their food, their livlihood so to speak. They will defend their territory same as we do. If you try to steal a Lion’s kill, watch out! I predict that, Great White shark attacks will increase over the next few years while this ecological unbalance is allowed to continue. Returning to the Power of Creation of Mother Nature. The ocean can recover from overfishing quickly, given a chance. Marine reserves will enable fish to breed, recover from over fishing and to build up their numbers. If we ever get to thirty per cent marine reserves, everyone will be thrilled. Fishers will catch far more and bigger fish and divers will see far more abundant seas filled with life, the way they should be. It is high time to give Mother Nature a helping hand. This issue of Dive Log Australasia is yet another blockbuster magazine filled with great reading. Make sure your share it your friends and your dive buddies so they can get the BUZZ. Dive Log is all about the celebration of Marine life, motivating people to dive with a sprinkling of education, great photography and creativity. In this issue, Dive Log continues its absolutely free series of articles on Underwater Photography. This issue is on U/W photography at Night. This comes with its own series of challenges and opens the door to so many extra-ordinary encounters and adventures. Best of all it is free and it has been written with the goal of striving for excellence and toward the lofty aim of becoming the best series on this most difficult of all types of photography. It is jam packed with hints and tips gleaned from decades of active photography as well as a cornucopia of excellent photos for you to enjoy and developp your skills. This issue has awesome articles on Nudibranchs by David Mullins: Des Williams’ great story about regulators made from Car Horns from backyard scuba manufacturers of the 1960’s. Vadim Belakhov has a great article on Freediving with Tiger Sharks, Mathew Kempton goes diving with giant Catfish in France; our Marine Naturalist goes to Lembeh to revisit Darwin and Wallace’s theory of Evolution. The feature on the SNUFFLEUPAGUS, the Hairy Ghost Pipe fish by G Short and D Harasti, who identified it as a new species is inspiring. There are is diving in Jervis Bay with Humpbacks with Woebegone Dive, Cone Shells, dive travel to Cocos Is and Wakatobi. What a whizz bang, doo dangling magazine, all using real H. I.; Human Intelligence, actually written by humans using imagination and creativity. No A.I. zombie machine talk was used in Dive Log. Humans beware, Sky Net is here and it wants more control as tech masters become trillionaires Try not to let the rise of the machines take over your mind; Remember your freedom to create is always available in Dive Log. Send in your best articles and photos to me and enjoy the thrill of getting published. Then head out on your next great adventure under the waves.

KINSHIP WITH ALL LIFE

The greatest gift of all is having the power of creation; the ability to create offspring. In my case, being a glad dad three times over. Every living thing can make babies. We share this privilege with plants and mushrooms. Grass creates pollen and eggs, seeds; worms produce male and female gametes. This undervalued gift from Mother Nature is all so marvellous. Many lifeforms use intensive reproduction as a survival mechanism to maintain the survival of their species. Snapper, Trevally crabs produce millions of eggs each year. Biologists estimate that there could be ten million lifeforms current inhabiting Earth. Palaeontologists estimate that since the dawn of creation, as many as four hundred million types of living species may have inhabited Earth. That, of course, means that about a mere 2 to 3 per cent are alive and 97% are extinct. This super abundance of life is nothing less than incredible. Marine lovers are luckier than most. We get to see so many marvellous miracles of super abundance of life every time we go diving. At the moment, massive schools of baitfish such as Yellowtail, proliferate in our local waters. Phalanxes of phytoplankton, zillions of zoological marvels float about in the water as plankton. Each one a miracle of creation appearing right before your eyes. It is true! There is magic all around for those who have eyes to see. This is what they mean when they say that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The Beatles song says it best… “because the sky is blue, it turns me on.” Sadly, the human race has put enormous pressure on Mother Nature. Over the last few centuries, we have seen mass extinctions, collapsing fisheries and oceans emptied of life. Those 19th century big game hunters never stopped to ask the question; ‘What right do we have to kill a whale or an Elephant?’ Hunters who had killed dozens of lions in Africa were held in high regard. Really?? Nowadays, many of us regard them as having committed criminal acts of violence and waste against Mother Nature. However, they did not know any better. The earliest days of scuba diving were all about getting an Army Surplus rebreather and a spear gun and then heading off to kill all of the big fish. Within a couple of years, all of the big marine life around were gone. Those early fish murderers were executing a gross act of vandalism against the ocean. What was left? a photo of a “brave superhero” with a silly grin next to dead fish twice their size hanging upside down on a weigh scale. They just killed the breeding stock. The end result is what we see when we go diving today. I see empty seas; sparse fish populations, many fish struggling to overcome wounds from human aggression and far too many lifeless barren dive sites that are desolate and lonesome. Humans have to wake up and quickly. The eight billion human predators have to reassess their exploitation of Mother Nature. It is way past time to give Mother Nature a helping hand, she needs it!. As always, a little bit of science can add clarity to the solution. Remember the very basic science of Food Webs. Trillions of plants feed billions of zooplankton and small fish. It takes millions of fish to feed thousands of sharks. Now, enter the human carnivore in huge numbers. Overfishing means that as shark populations increase, sharks have an increasingly difficult time finding food. That is because thousands more higher order predators, human fishers have entered the food web and compete directly with sharks for a finite resource. These two-legged predators are actually in direct competition for fish with sharks. Fishers have a right to fish. Yes! But they are stealing the livlihood of sharks. Fisheries management has allowed overfishing to OUR COVER PHOTO Pregnant Tiger Shark called ‘Havannah’ by Vadim Belakhov photographed while free diving from Fuvahmulah, in the Maldives

Happy diving. Mike

05

Divelogaustralasia #418 - JUNE ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

CONTENTS

JUNE 2026

digital

N o. 418 NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE : Issue 419 August 2026 Advert bookings 12th July Artwork due 15th July Editorial material : 11th July

016 WAKATOBI NIGHT DIVING by Mike Scotland 022 COCOS ISLAND DELIGHTS by Ken Hoppen 032 . CH 6 U/W photography NIGHT Mike Scotland. 046 SPOTLIGHT NIGHT DIVING SYDNEY 056 FREEDIVING TIGER SHARKS Vadim Belakhov 065 A MARINE NATURALIST GOES TO LEMBEH 085 DIVING IN BEAUJOLAIS by MATT KEMPTON 088 Conan the Barbarian Cone snail. Gordon Croft 091 MUSSEL FARMING JERVIS BAY. Rod Sleath 097 SNUFFLEUPAGUS by G Short & D Harasti 093 SUMMER SHOWDOWN by Paul Watson 0105 HUMPBACK HIGHWAY by Woebegone Dive Feature articles

EDITOR Mike Scotland mike@divelog.net.au Editor/Designer Mike Scotland divelog@divelog.net.au PUBLISHER mike@divelog.net.au ADVERTISING mike@divelog.net.au MENTOR Barry Andrewartha barryandrewartha@outlook.com

Mike’s Contact details: 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 shoeshine boy, publisher, or its editor. 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.

Regulars

63 DAN News Decompression sickness 81 Underwater Seascape by Kevin Deacon 82 In Deep Column- Simon Pridmore 81 Paul Watson Summer Showdown 95 Steve Sinclair’s 50 Great Dive challenge 96 Dive Boat Directory - 101 PARTING SHOTS 104 Malaysian International Dive Expo

07 - Mike Ball Expeditions 02 Woebegone Dive Jervis Bay 10 Australasian Diving Safety Foundation 12 PNG Resort Listings 18 Motor Scooter and Car Horn Regulators by Des Williams 19 NudiNotes Behaviour David Mullins 26 Whyalla Cuttlefest Vadim Belakhov 53 Spotlight Sydney at night

06

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 JUNE ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

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

PHOTOS FROM MARCH , APRIL .

The Minke Question Captain Trevor Jackson

For as long as you live, there are plenty of things we don’t understand about the universe. Physicists try to make a fist of it, but the bottom line is: no one really knows how it all works. The same is true of nature. Despite centuries of study, there is so much we simply don’t understand. How do geese find their way home after winter? How does the next generation of Monarch butterflies find the exact same tree to hibernate in winter? How do turtles find the same beach year after year? But the baffling question that pops up aboard Spoilsport this time every year is... how is it that these Dwarf Minke Whales know exactly when and where to show up, at the same spot and the same time, to give us such a fantastic insight into their lives? Yep, it’s that time of year again. For 6 weeks, starting as we go to press this month, the magnificent Dwarf Minkes will show up and give divers an experience that is unrivalled in the world. The Minkes make the DIVER the creature that is being observed. Here’s how it works. You come back from a dive on one of the fantastic Ribbon Reef pinnacles. From the stern of the vessel, a line is run out on the surface for divers to hold on to. You lay there in the water in your snorkelling gear and wait for a bit. In they come, tentative at first. Within a few passes, the distance they keep between themselves and you seems markedly reduced. They disappear again for a few moments and you think, ‘wow, that was cool, hope they come back’. You lay there for a second before being suddenly cast into shadow by another diver. You turn to see who it is and, hey presto, there’s an 8 metre Dwarf Minke Whale that has come right in to check YOU out. Literally an arm’s length away. The gentle giant spies you with his thoughtful dark eyes, pivots almost imperceptibly from side to side, swims away, then comes back even closer. You could reach out and touch him, but you don’t, not wanting to upset the pure tranquillity of this extraordinary experience. Every year, like clockwork during June and July, the Ribbon Reefs are blessed with these mighty creatures, and you could easily be blessed with several encounters like the one I’ve just described. Spoilsport is one of very few licensed offshore liveaboards in Australia that run specific Minke Interaction trips. Our itinerary is changed especially to give you the longest and closest interactions, and you could be doing it this winter! You won’t forget it for as long as you live.

1st. Jesse Coppel

2nd. Mike Horzewski

3rd. Mike Varndell

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

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

7

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 - JUNE‘26

www.divelog.net.au

“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

8

DIVE LOG Australasia #41 8 - J une ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

09

Dive Log Australasia #41 8 J une ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

Up to one third of diving deaths are due to heart conditions, mainly in divers aged 45 or more.

Many of these divers were unaware of any problem.

Diving includes many stresses on the heart, including: immersion itself, exertion, breathing restriction, and gas changes in the body, among others. PREVENTION: Have your heart health checked by a diving doctor at age 45, or earlier if unwell.

Photo by Dave Bryant

Don’t dive if feeling unwell.

10

DiveLogAustralasia #41 8 J une ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

The Australasian Diving Safety Foundation

The Australasian Diving Safety Foundation (ADSF) is an Australian-based Health Promotion Charity. The main aim of the Foundation is to reduce diving-related illnesses and deaths.

The ADSF supports its aims predominantly by undertaking research, providing education on diving safety, and offering grants for relevant research, diving safety promotions, dive medical training, oxygen equipment and AEDs. Funds have been allocated to support up to AUD$250,000 per year for appropriate research projects. In addition, the ADSF offers grants of up to AUD$25,000 to fund safety- related projects within the diving industry . Full details of these grants, as well as applications are available at http://adsf.org.au.

11

DIVE LOG Australasia #41 8 J une ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

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

DIVE KOKOPO & WATER ADVENTURES www.facebook.com/kokopodiveandwateradventures

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.

Instruction, gear rental, WW2 wrecks, wall dives, reef dives, muck dives, shark dives. Full resort facilities, land & marine tours, wifi, pool. At Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort with tropical bungalows in the heart of Kokopo-Rabaul with private beachfront. diving@kbb.com.pg

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 : gm@loloata.com

NIUGINI DIVE ADVENTURES www.niuginidiveadventures.com

TUFI RESORT www.tufiresort.com

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 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.

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 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

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

service@pngtours.com

AMBUA LODGE www.pngtours.com

RONDON RIDGE www.pngtours.com

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.

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

14

Dive Log Australasia #41 8 J une ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

The perfect present for divers and your library. An awesome inspiration U/W photographers These books have excellent photography and make a superb coffee table book or a world class study manuals for learning about Marine Biology.

The great age of exploration under the oceans Mike Scotland Marine Biology in the wild

GET YOUR COPY NOW

Mike says “I have invested a lot of energy into the book, having put my heart and soul into both the photos and the text. My main motivation is to celebrate the beauty of life and to marvel at the ingenuity of mother nature; the inventiveness and genius of the design of lifeforms. It is also to educate marine enthusiasts. To wonder and contemplate the beauty of nature is surely the greatest of all human experience. Everyone longs for adventure and exploration and close encounters with nature, a swim with a whale or a shark or a bright sea shell.”

To buy these magnificent books, email mike@divelog.net.au OR CALL 0415158168 Cost is $40 each plus $8 postage or $70 for both plus $10 P&P

15

Divelog Australasia #41 8 J une ' 2 6

www.divelog.net.au

WAKATOBI NIGHT DIVING ADVENTURE

Parrotfish taking refuge in the safety of a channel in the coral

The reef at Wakatobi is just a few minutes walk from my beachside hut. Once I had booked my night dive, My dive Guide, Omie, organised all of my gear to magically appear at the end of Wakatobi’s wharf. As always there are several dive assistants to carry you gear from the dive shop and down the wharf and then down the stairs to the dive platform or into the boat. Independent Aussies like me have to let them pitch in and do ‘stuff’ for you. It is part of the management policy to employ hundreds of locals so that some of you money goes into the community. Frankly, I think that this community outreach is a brilliant idea.

The end of the wharf is thirty metres from the House Reef drop off. A few minutes adjusting gear and checking buoyancy and we are off. There is a sandy channel that we pass until the drop off. We turn the corner and observe a large sea cave at nine metres. It is full of more than a dozen Ornate Crays coming out of their den to forage in the darkness. This is a great start to my dive. Dive planning here involves swimming left or right depending on the current and tide. As always, a safety boat is on watch to make sure that we return to the wharf and do not not succumb to any tidal current. Before long, I bumped

This cave was full of Ornate lobsters two minutes into the dive at nine metres depth.

16

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 June ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

Sea Snakes forage actively at night hunting exclusively by smell

into a large Green Turtle in the darkness. She was a whopper. The turtle was on a mission to find a safe refuge for the night. During this dive, I saw quite a few sleeping Parrot fish, at least four or five species. A small 70 cm Bump Headed Parrotfish was startled by my torchlight and slowly moved off into the darkness. The biggest challenge of night diving here is maintaining depth. The wall drops down vertically to 20 to 25 metres. It is so easy to venture too deep. I regularly checked my depth to maintain a maximum depth of ~15 m . Every now and again, you find yourself drifting down to 21 m or so. Omie had been given a time limit of 60 minutes for the dive but when I hit the 65 minutes mark, Omie let me know that it was not a problem so we surfaced at 73 minutes into a warm tropical evening. Then, it was time to ‘Getchyagearov’ as they say in Moscow, take a quick tub and head off to another gourmet dinner at the restaurant. I

Bright red Dardanus Hermit crab

This huge fat female Green Turtle looked like a fearsome ghost in the night lights

17

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 June ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

was absolutely confident that my waiters would deliver a triple serve of ice cream without me asking. They tease me by saying things like, ‘You must try the Mango’ or ‘Make sure you don’t miss out on the Hazelnut flavour. I still have no idea how Wakatobi can have world class ice cream in so many flavours that is in such a remote location. Night diving from the Live Aboard, Pelagian is an even better treat. During the 350 Nautical mile round trip, I had night dives most nights that also went for 70 plus minutes The highlight being the Mandarin Fish dive where you will see sixty to eighty Mandarin fish or more.

What a whopper of a Sponge Crab complete with its spongey fascinator

Sleeping Parrotfish

18

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 June ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

STAYIN ALIVE THE DEFENCES OF SEA SLUGS - Part 8 Reactive Defences

Reactive Defences Although nudibranchs and other sea slugs do not possess true eyes there are a number of sensory organs that enable them to detect predatory advances, some from at a distance and others closer to home. Upon detecting a perceived threat they are able to react in several ways that include some or many of the following depending on the species. These reactions/responses to perceived or real threats include: Avoidance response Startle response

Together with their passive defences the sea slugs can employ one or more of the above categories of response to enhance their chances of survival. Avoidance response Experiments have shown that, in the nudibranchs tested, those nudibranchs were able to detect the presence of specific predators “upstream” from their position and react by changing the direction of their travel. The rhinophores, or even the oral tentacles, in these instances have registered a chemical cue from the predator that the nudibranch has recognized and subsequently undertaken an avoidance response. Apart from just changing direction, some can burrow and a certain few are also able to “swim”, or at least release from or lift themselves above the substrate to take

Illumination response Retraction response Autotomy response Discharge response - Chemical discharge - Nematocyst discharge

Some examples of a swimming escape response: Left: Sagaminopteron ornatum takes flight up into the water column by flapping its parapodia. Right: Aplysia argus is one of the few sea hares with parapodia that are not substantially joined together along the midline enabling it to flap them in a synchronised manner for a controlled swimming action. DIVE LOG Australasia #418 June ‘26 19 www.divelog.net.au

advantage of any current thus putting a greater distance between the predator and themselves. This “swimming” method of avoidance is only possible by having become unencumbered by the loss of the shell. This response is also elicited through direct contact by the predator. The swimming may be somewhat efficient as in the eel-like lateral contractions of Bornella anguilla for example, the vigorous parapodial flapping of some of the gastropterids, such as Sagaminopteron ornatum , and some of the sea hares or just plain thrashing around without necessarily any real progress being achieved, such as exhibited by Plocamopherus ceylonicus . This latter method however, although inefficient, does serve to lift them off the substrate making them a moving rather than a static target and also temporarily away from the perceived threat, perhaps into any current or surge present.

Others are known to just simply release their attachment to the substrate and drift away in the current or surge of the water column. As well as swimming, sea hares are known to change movement method and increase speed by “galloping” as a form of locomotion avoidance behaviour. This also causes breaks in the continuity of the slime trail put down by the sea hare and may facilitate confusion in a slime-following predator. Some Aplysiidae species of Notarchus are known to use a very primitive form of jet propulsion. By filling the mantle cavity with water and then expelling the water out through a gap in the parapodial join by muscular contraction of those parapodia, to lift themselves, albeit clumsily, off the substrate and somersaulting away.

The sea hare Aplysia concava changes from its more sedate crawling method of locomotion into galloping mode for a more rapid escape. This method also lays a discontinuous slime trail to confuse a following predator. Follow the sequence clockwise from upper left.

20

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 June’26

www.divelog.net.au

Examples of deimatic or startle display: Left: The Spanish Dancer nudibranch Hexabranchus lacer unrolls it mantle margins to reveal startling bright contrasting colouration. This behaviour can be further escalated into a swimming response by dorso-ventral flexions. Right: Sakuraeolis nungunoides bristles its cerata as a startle response to some perceived antagonism. The sudden erection of the cerata with bright tips is both startling and increases its size suddenly. The action is not a bluff as the cerata tips contain cnidosacs with stinging cells obtained through their diet.

Startle response Direct contact or even the detection of a pressure wave causes some species to elicit a startle response. This is known as Deimatic Behaviour and involves a rapid startle display in an attempt to put the predator off further approach. Depending upon the anatomy of the sea slug this can take different forms. The Spanish Dancer nudibranchs of the Hexabranchus genus, on being aggravated, suddenly unfurl the lateral folds of the mantle to reveal a brilliant red and white colouration on the skirt, the display of which is enhanced by continuous rhythmic undulations. This display, as well as being startling and of warning colouration, is augmented with dorso-ventral contractions of the whole body producing a quite mesmerizing spectacle that doubles as a swimming avoidance response. Some Lobiger species belonging to the sap sucking Sacoglossa possess elongate parapodial extensions that may be suddenly unfurled and extended to reveal brightly colored patches and appearing to also double the animal’s size. Additionally, those extensions may be autotomized if sufficient distressed to distract a predator.

A number of aeolids will upon being disturbed straighten and bristle their cerata directing the tips towards the threat. The cerata of some have brightly colored tips such as the bright red or orange of Sakuraeolis nungunoides . The ceratal tips of many aeolids contain cnidosacs full of stinging cells. The operation of these will be discussed later. Next issue: More reaction defences

Lobiger viridis commences its deimatic display by splaying out laterally the tall parapodial appendages significantly increasing its size. This will be followed by unfurling the edges to reveal orange colouration.

21

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 June ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

O ne of the best diving destinations in Australia is also one of the least known. Cocos Keeling Is lands is an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, seven hours flight from Perth in W.A. Cocos Delights by Ken Hoppen www.kenhoppenphotography.com.au

Direction Island is a picture perfect spot for lunch, to explore, or to go for a snorkel. The ferry drops you off and picks you up twice a week.

It is an atoll of many small islands, and a few larger ones, two of which are inhabited. Home island has the largest population, but the airport and most of the tourist facilities are on West Island. All of the islands are low lying sand islands, with beautiful beaches and azure water, palm trees reaching out into the sky, simply idyllic. Direction Island is one of the most pristine, beautiful islands in the world, and is well worth the trip over to walk the island and snorkel with the many small blacktip reef sharks that patrol the beach there. And don’t forget to play one of the most unique golf courses in the world on West Island and keep an eye out for planes as you do! (The course crosses the

runway!) Though it is the diving here that keeps bringing us back. Dieter is the owner and operator of Cocos Dive and has been operating around these islands for well over twenty years. His wealth of knowledge of diving, the underwater topography of this area, and of its marine life, are irreplaceable. This was my third dive trip to these islands, so the routine of the pickup and loading onto the boat at the wharf are now familiar, as were the some of the dive sites we went to during the week we had here. Leaving the wharf just in time before the interisland ferry came in, our first day was spent

A regular sighting on the reef is the steephead parrotfish.

A striking yellowhead parrotfish are very distinctive with their rounded head.

22

Dive Log Australasia #418 April ’26

www.divelog.net.au

An encounter with a pod of ten dolphin was the highlight of the trip.

diving around Direction Island. Lane Cove was a nice cruisy dive that I hadn’t seen before. Within moments of entering the water the divers loitering on the surface were greeted by about ten bottlenose dolphin, which left for a few minutes before joining us on the bottom for a few curious passes before leaving us to our own devices. One of the dolphin has a curios white patch on the right rear side of her body, and we sighted her on the last trip when she and a couple of dozen friends joined us at Cabbage Patch. This is starting to become a more common experience at Cocos Keeling Islands. During our surface interval we went over to see if the manta cleaning station was living up to its name, and sure enough several mantas were patrolling back and forth Lemonpeel angelfish look like being a different species to their Christmas Island counterparts. The markings around the eye are certainly different.

waiting their turn. The bommie with the cleaner wrasse was some 12m below us, and duck diving after already having had a dive wasn’t an option, but we all had a great look at the commotion before returning to the boat for lunch. Dive days here are relaxed and not run to a tight time schedule. The lunch was laid out and you helped yourself to bread, meats, cheeses and salads to your own taste, and the cuppa soup is always a nice touch, even in these warm climates. The second dive of the day was at Cabbage Patch, but no dolphins this time, our luck had been used up. Cabbage Patch has the largest area of cabbage coral I’ve ever seen. This makes for great photography, both wide angle and macro, with patterns swirling and small fish adding colour

I found that I had rarely photographed red snapper, and wanted a shot or two.

23

Dive Log Australasia #418 April ’26

www.divelog.net.au

to the spectacle. During the next few days we dived perennial favourites like Ski Run, known for its sandy patches and rich coral and fish covered bommies. It is named after a sand ‘slide’ that starts at 20m and heads down into the depths, very much resembling the mountainside slopes it is named after. Where reef joins the sand I tend to find a lot of different stuff. Look out for convict shrimp gobies and their crustacean roommates, white-tip sharks sleeping on the sand, harlequin sweetlips, different species of trevally, clown triggerfish and the list goes on. Special mention on this trip must go to a dive site called Eden, which had a little bit of a current running. You could swim against it, but you had to work at it. We always had a few grey reef whalers floating around, whilst schools of fish darted over the reef here. A massive school of batfish came in to keep us company, swirling around and making patterns as they do. This is a spectacular dive site, and one to repeat. Cocos Keeling (and Christmas Island) are dive trips that I do regularly, and here’s a few tips for when you come: Bring some instant noodles, or something light in your bags just in case the supermarket has sold out of items you like. Upon getting to your accommodation, dump your stuff and head to the supermarket for supplies. Others on your flight will be doing the same thing, and it’s not that big. It also may shut early, so don’t muck around. Make sure you set aside a day for the motorised kayak tour around the southern islands of the atoll. A great day’s adventure! Check out the website for Cocos Islands Tourism (cocoskeelingisladn.com.au) and work out which restaurants are open on which nights. When you get there, take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and enjoy the relaxed pace of these islands. You’ll always want to come back. Check out my website at: kenhoppenphotography.com.au for future trips and more photos!

A Cocos pygmy angelfish is groomed by a tiny cleaner wrasse.

A juvenile coral pigfish, also known as an axilspot hogfish, darts around the corals.

A blue trevally patrols the sand at Ski Run.

A threespot wrasse gets attention from a cleaner wrasse.

24

Dive Log Australasia #418 April ’26

www.divelog.net.au

96

DIVE LOG Australasia #417 April ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

Cuttlefish Coast: South Australia’s Natural Wonder Where Giants Come to Mate Text & Images by Vadim Belakhov

I am a Melbourne-based freediver and underwater photographer. My images is taken on a single breath— captured during many dives throughout a session. On some days, I may do more than 80 dives in just four hours. Freediving allows me to move quietly and fluidly through the water, covering more ground and adapting to the constantly shifting activity in the waters around me. Each winter, the usually still waters off Stony Point, near Whyalla in South Australia, become the stage for one of the most remarkable marine events on the planet. Located about 25 km northeast of Whyalla, along the rugged Spencer Gulf coastline, Stony Point is widely regarded as one of the best places on Earth to witness this remarkable natural spectacle: the annual aggregation of Giant Cuttlefish ( Sepia apama ). What makes this location special is how easily it allows snorkellers and freedivers to become part of the scene. The action takes place just one to five metres below the surface, allowing you to float quietly and witness a vibrant world unfold beneath. No need for heavy gear—just a mask, fins, and a bit of patience. For photographers or curious observers, a gentle duck dive is all it takes to slip into the action and capture it up close, all on a one breath. Although the location may seem remote, Stony Point (https://maps.app.goo.gl/15CUEFZX4jhdRw359) is less than a 30-minute drive from the centre of Whyalla, making it an unexpectedly easy winter destination for those in search of a truly world-class wildlife experience. There’s no public transport, so driving is essential. From Whyalla, follow Lincoln Highway north for around 10 km, then turn right onto Inkerman Road (also known as Port Bonython Road). Continue for another 20 km until just before the Point Lowly lighthouse. A sharp right onto Cuttlefish Drive—easy to miss if you’re not watching for it— takes you down a short unsealed track. There are no entry fees or permits required to access the site, but you’ll need to come prepared. There are no shops or fuel nearby, so pack food, water, and everything you’ll need for the day. Stony Point has undergone a number of recent improvements that make the area significantly more

accommodating for visitors. The expanded parking area now caters to a range of vehicles, from small cars to large campervans, with a drop-off point conveniently placed near the shoreline for unloading equipment or passengers. Facilities have also been upgraded: visitors will find toilets, changing areas and a freshwater rinse station fed by storage tanks. A large, shaded shelter offers respite from the elements and serves as a staging area for gear or a spot for meals. Around the site, benches and interpretive signs enhance the experience, a coffee van and a communal fire pit add both warmth and convenience. Access to the water is straightforward. A 40-metre boardwalk leads across the rocky shore to the entry point. A chain handrail offers support over the more slippery sections. Though the walkway improves safety, you’ll still need to step over some uneven rocks—something to consider if you’re carrying fins or a camera setup. Between May and August, tens of thousands of Giant Cuttlefish make their way from the deeper areas of Spencer Gulf to a confined rocky reef zone. Here, they engage in a brief yet dramatic reproductive phase that marks the conclusion of their life cycle. The event transforms the shallow seabed into a dynamic, hue-shifting arena—an underwater spectacle that is as biologically In their own world - one male holds his ground while others hover, hoping for a chance

Spiralling struggle - two males grapple for the chance to reproduce

Moments that matter - a rare close-up of the cuttlefish’s brief mating bond

26

Dive Log Australasia #418 June ‘26

www.divelog.net.au

significant as it is visually breathtaking. No other place on Earth hosts such a dense, predictable aggregation of Giant Australian Cuttlefish in such accessible conditions. Stony Point is more than just a South Australian highlight—it’s a globally recognised natural event. The ease of access, combined with the reliability of the spectacle, draws marine scientists, filmmakers, and ocean enthusiasts from around the world to observe the phenomenon—often just metres from shore. Stony Point is widely considered one of the safest and most beginner-friendly snorkelling spots on this coastline. It’s tucked into False Bay, where the conditions are usually calm and the currents mild. Northerly (off shore) winds tend to bring the best surface condition. Visibility typically ranges between three to five metres in winter. The bottom gradually slopes away from shore, reaching depths of around seven metres some 100 metres out—but there’s rarely a reason to swim that far. Most of the action takes place within just a few metres off the shoreline. The rocky seabed in the shallows makes it easy to spot cuttlefish, whereas further out, increased seagrass and algae cover can obscure them, especially given their remarkable camouflage. Staying close to shore not only improves your chances of seeing them up close. As soon as you dip your head below the surface, you’re likely to find yourself surrounded by these spectacular creatures. The best viewing times are between 10 am and 3 pm, when the animals are most active. Even with gentle conditions, the water remains cold—usually between 14 and 17 °C—so a good-quality at least 5mm open cell wetsuit is essential. There are no lifeguards or rangers on site, so it’s important to snorkel with a buddy and follow standard safety precautions. For those properly prepared, Stony Point offers one of the most accessible and awe inspiring marine wildlife encounters in the country. What makes Stony Point the chosen breeding ground? The answer lies in the unique habitat. The upper Spencer Gulf is predominantly sand and mud, which offers few secure surfaces for eggs. In contrast, Stony Point features a shallow fringing reef spanning 10 km, made up of ledges, caves, and ancient sandstone slabs. These natural features create an underwater nursery, offering protection and anchoring points for egg-laying females. It has abundant, solid rocky surfaces, which is why the entire Spencer Gulf population converges here. The reef’s west-to-east orientation and strong currents help maintain water flow and oxygenation, while the Gulf’s cool waters—colder than surrounding seas due to its inverse estuary conditions— provide the perfect temperature for egg incubation. The migration begins as water temperatures dip below

17 °C—one of the key environmental triggers that signals the start of the breeding season. The first individuals arrive in mid to late May, and by early June, the spawning grounds are teeming with life. The timing ensures that fertilised eggs will develop through the coldest months of the year, which provides optimal conditions for their survival. By early June, thousands of cuttlefish converge en masse across the rocky inshore reefs surrounding Point Lowly, Fitzgerald Bay, False Bay, and Black Point. This area, now protected as the Cuttlefish Coast Sanctuary Zone and recognised on Australia’s National Heritage register, offers the ideal mix of habitat, depth, and structure for their complex reproductive rituals. Normally solitary creatures, these marine invertebrates transform the shallows into a dynamic stage for one of the most visually arresting displays in the animal kingdom. Males compete fiercely for mates, flashing through a kaleidoscope of shifting hues and textures, hoping to outshine their rivals and impress the females. It’s a hypnotic, high-stakes ballet of concealment, imitation, and ritual—all for the sake of reproduction and the continuation of the species. Though often mistaken for fish, Giant Cuttlefish are actually close kin to octopuses and squid. Their biology is fascinating: they possess three hearts, circulate copper based blue blood, and wield eight arms along with a pair of extendable feeding tentacles. Their W-shaped pupils allow simultaneous forward and backward vision and while they cannot perceive colour, they excel at producing it. Thanks to millions of specialised skin cells known as chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores, cuttlefish can rapidly shift their colour, texture, and even body shape. These abilities are vital for camouflage, signalling intentions, and above all, during courtship. Males perform dazzling displays of pulsing stripes and shifting colours to lure females and intimidate competitors. Their skin also features papillae—tiny muscular structures that can protrude or flatten to alter their appearance further. Males outnumber females by a significant margin, often as high as 8 to 1, resulting in fierce competition. Large males dominate, using vibrant hue displays and physical guarding to secure access to females. These confrontations can be brutal, leaving males with torn tentacles or visible scars. Scan the rocky seabed carefully and you may see a large male lying low against the substrate. He’s not idle—he’s vigilantly protecting a nearby female, possibly while she deposits eggs under a ledge. Rival males circle at a distance, waiting for any lapse in attention. The instant he shifts focus, one of them will make a quick attempt to dash in and claim a mating opportunity.

A male and female Giant Cuttlefish embrace in a delicate, head-to-head mating posture

Clash of the giants - an intense visual duel for dominance and a chance to mate

27

Dive Log Australasia #418 June ‘26

www.divelog.net.au