Pulau Semakau 17 Aug 08 (Part 7 - Anemones)

We easily found this gigantic anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea)with a few anemone shrimps in it too! Anemone shrimps have a special protective layer that prevents them from getting stung by the anemone.
Below is a picture of an anemone when it is closed up, meaning that its tentacles are not exposed to the water.


This is an anemone from the Aliciidae family. It gives very painful stings, so we have to handle it carefully.

Pulau Semakau 17 Aug 08 (Part 8 - Others)

We also saw some fan worms! They are actually a type of segmented worm that has feathery structures on its head. They live in a flexible, leathery tube.

This is a Spiral Melongena (Pugilina cochlidium) laying eggs! This snail probably feeds on barnacles.

We were lucky enough to spot an octopus! Can you see it? Octopuses are masters of camouflage, able to change their skin colour according to their surroundings.

I am very impressed with the vast amount of marine life that can be found along the shoreline of Singapore. It is really a surprise to me! Let's do our part to preserve these natural wonders.

Ningaloo Reef June 08 - (Part 1- Snorkel with Whale Sharks)

My experience of a lifetime was to snorkel with whale sharks at the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. This is the only place that whale sharks congregate regularly at a certain time of the year, which is April-July.

Despite it looking massive, this whale shark is actually pretty small for one. It is only about 4.5m long!

We were extremely fortunate to see a female whale shark! The probability of them appearing is 1 in 10! Furthermore, it was actually opening its mouth wide and frantically feeding. The guide on the boat said that he had never seen this happening since 4 years ago, as whale sharks usually just glide along and eat the plankton along the way.

You can tell a female whale shark from a male one by looking at its tail. A female's tail is "torn" at the end.

The photos were taken by my dad! Enjoy!

Ninglaloo Reef June 08 (Part 2 - Snorkel at Mandu South)

Ningaloo Reef is a fringing coral reef located off the west coast of Australia, approximately 1200 km north of Perth. The reef is 280 km long and is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef positioned very close to a landmass.

It is known for its seasonal feeding concentrations of the whale shark, and the conservation debate surrounding its potential tourism development. In 1987 the reef and surrounding waters where designated as the Ningaloo Marine Park.

We stayed at an eco-camp during our trip to the Ningaloo Reef. It is located at Mandu South within the Cape Range National Park. The camp has a great snorkeling site just infront of it and that is very convenient for us! We could practically snorkel anytime :)

...the eco camp site

...view from our tent

...me coming out from the sea after snorkelling

We saw many corals during the trip, especially staghorn and tabletop corals. Aren't they pretty?



We also saw lots of fishes, turtles and even small sharks!!!

Maldives - March 07 (Part 1 - Introduction)

I went to the Maldives with my family in March 07.
Facts on Maldives:
- comprises of 1190 coral islands with fabulous reefs and a wealth of marine life
- a part of a massive underwater mountain range with stunning coral reefs on its edge
- is the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 m

The reefs and atolls provide shelter for many species of fish and other marine creatures. The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. Other islands, set at a distance and parallel to the reef, have their own protective fringe of reef. An opening in the surrounding coral barrier allows access to the calmer lagoon waters. The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean.

On April 22, 2008, the President of the Maldives pleaded for a cut in global greenhouse gas emissions, warning that rising sea levels could submerge the island nation of Maldives. Over the last century, sea levels have risen about 20 centimeters!

The following pictures posted are taken by me during snorkeling trips. Aren't they pretty? We need to do our part to protect the reefs and its ecosystem. What a waste it will be if these were to disappear from the earth!

Maldives - March 07 (Part 2 - Fabulous Reefs & Fishes)

Look what I saw when I was snorkelling! Different types of colourful and pretty fishes swimming and feeding around the reefs!

Maldives - March 07 (Part 3 - More Marine Life)

Me video-filming the fishes :)

Spotted a stingray!

A crab and lots of oysters on the reefs.

Maldives - March 07 (Part 4 - Moray Eel)

This Moray Eel was swimming very near to the shoreline. We were lucky and spotted it a couple of times during our stay.

Maldives - March 07 (Part 5 - Hermit Crabs)

Hermit crabs were plentiful at the Maldives. In the past, I liked to collect seashells, but now that I know that they are homes for hermit crabs, I stopped collecting them.