420 Dive Log Australasia OCTOBER 2026

The second great age of exploration. Many of us are intrigued by the unbelievable explorers of the nineteenth Century. David Livingstone did treks across Africa of six hundred days, almost losing his life several times. He did eventually die of Malaria and Dysentery, giving up his life in his attempt to free Africans from Slavery and bring them religion. Stanley was considered a greater explorer. Humboldt explored the jungles of South America. Why he is largely unknown is a mystery because he explored so much and was one of the most famous people of the 19th Century. Alfred Wallace spent fourteen years exploring the wilds of Indonesia and S. E Asia. Then, there were people like Marco Polo who brought back mysterious food items to Italy, which evolved into spaghetti. In the 21st Century, scuba divers are pioneers in the second great age of exploration.That is the exploration of the oceans underwater! Divers are exploring the remotest of the world’s oceans and discovering new species.

We divers are modern day explorers and adventurers. As such, we have made enormous contributions to scientific discovery and knowledge.Who knows how many more species of Pygmy Sea Horses are waiting to be discovered? The 21st Century is certainly the new age of exploration of the sea. Underwater photography is a huge part of the driving force behind this new Golden age of exploration and discovery of our magnificent Blue Planet. Supplementing teaching scuba diving When I earned my Underwater Instructor rating in 1982, I immediately used my underwater photos as a teaching aide. I developed my own Dangerous Marine Biology lectures as well as Marine life Identification and dive skills.These were far more useful than the text books. There are many great Dive Instructors who use U / W Photos to enhance their teaching.You probably had one that did just that!

Soft Coral garden and Miamira nudie from Botany Bay

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Dive Log Australasia #420 October ’26

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