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If you have ever seen any promotional brochures about Thailand, you will have probably seen pictures of picturesque palm fringed beaches, glistening golden statues of Buddha, and smiling women selling wooden trinkets on a floating market. After all, Thailand is ‘The Land of Smiles’. Although the term ‘the land of smiles’ was originally a marketing ploy used by the Thai tourism board to attract more visitors, the name has now stuck and the country attracts millions of visitors each year to experience the kindness of the locals and the wealth of experiences Thailand has to offer.
Diving Blog
Read our latest articles about scuba diving, travel, ocean conservation, marine life and anything else related to our blue planet!
The Sardine Run. An African Ocean Safari
Something stirs in the part of the southern African continental shelf known as the Agulhas Bank, where the warm Indian Ocean and the cold Atlantic meet. With a myriad of theories circulating about what exactly stirs, from the ideal temperature spreading up the coast between May and June, to current and water speeds, whatever has awakened drives hundreds of thousands of the South African Pilchard (Sardinops sagax) to spawn and then make their way up the coast in shoals up to 7km long, 1.5 km wide and 30m deep. These shoals pass through the coastlines of the Eastern Cape, and Kwazulu Natal, and up into Mozambique, where they leave the shoreline and move into the Indian Ocean. This migration triggers a feeding frenzy up the coastline that mirrors to the wildebeest migration in its magnitude. And it is this feeding frenzy, with the predator interactions, that makes this a bucket list event for any ocean lover. Because of the temperature variations between the currents, shoals are driven inshore making the action accessible by boat or even just off the beach. Dive operators throughout the country scramble to put together tours and packages to make the most of the short time that the run occupies. Most of the operators will launch from the various beach towns on the coastline of Kwazulu Natal. Still, by far the most spectacular experience comes from the small, almost isolated outpost of Port St Johns on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape. This little town at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River exhibits some of the most spectacular landscapes in this part of Africa. Most of the lodges sit along the river, which means that boarding the RIB that will take you to sea for the day, is a lot more dignified, as they have small mooring jetties. Choosing an operator to work with, especially if you are overseas, can be complicated. Perusing the various tours on offer is very overwhelming, and very often people opt for joining a tour group rather than investigating options themselves. While this can be hassle-free, it may take a little away from the experience. As a responsible tourist, we want to try and enrich the areas we are visiting and support the local businesses as far as possible. That being said, the first search is to find an operator located where you plan to launch from. Despite what the internet tells you, in Port St Johns, there is only one. Offshore Africa, run by Rob and Debbie, offers year-round tours of the coastline for divers and photographers, from ocean dive trips to river cruises on the “Bobalong Barge”. Years of experience, their passion for the ocean, and particularly for this stretch of coastline, means that they pour their heart and soul into providing every single client with the best service. Debbie is informative and responsive and, because they work with most of the lodges in the area, their Sardine Run safari packages are incredibly flexible. Travelling for the Sardine Run, there are few things to consider. Port St Johns is a rural town, and the people will bend over backwards to help you and make you feel welcome. Still, there are no specialist shops, so if you have specific needs, you really should discuss it with the operator or lodge before leaving home to make sure that you bring everything that you need. The Sardine Run takes place in winter, and while the operator usually makes sure that you have a thick wetsuit, and an oilskin to put over yourself to protect yourself from the wind, don’t forget the winter woollies. Debbie and her team will meet you at whichever lodge you choose to go through your rental gear requirements, fill in the paperwork and check your certifications. Like all good dive operators, they need to make sure that you are safe to dive. The good news is, if diving is off the cards for you, you can still have a great experience snorkelling and watching from the boat. A typical day begins very early, most operators will collect you from the jetty at about 7 am, and you need to be breakfasted and dressed in your wetsuits and woollies before then. It isn’t fair to keep the skippers waiting so if timekeeping is an issue, get a thickskinned buddy to chase you. Space on the boat is limited, and things will probably get wet. Bear that in mind when packing a bag to take with you. You will are provided with a boat safety briefing while you are still on the river. The skipper’s job is to get you and the rest of your group safely through the waves to the flat ocean behind them. Your responsibility is to follow instructions, hold on tight, and enjoy the experience. Once the boat is through the breakers, you will be taken out to sea. The skipper keeps in contact with spotter planes and the other operators to make sure that you are taken to see as much of the action as possible. Hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks and even lunch are on board, so there is no need to go back to shore until the day is done. The variety of experiences take your breath away. Huge pods of dolphins surround the boat and follow for kilometres. Some come so close; you can almost reach out and touch them. The ocean silence was broken only by the hundreds of puffs as they clear their blowholes. Every so often a gigantic puff is heard and a whale breaches right in front of you, so close that you can feel the spray. If it is safe, you will be allowed to don your mask and snorkel and slip off the boat into the water, trying to slice the water and make no splash, and swim off to see the whale moving under the water, with dolphins darting all over the place. The action changes rapidly, and on the skipper’s direction you may need to don your dive gear quickly and after a synchronised backward roll, join the activity underwater. The sardines attempt to protect themselves by manoeuvering into whirling baitballs when attacked. Sharks, dolphins and other large predators dive in and out of the ball of fish, while the birds dive in from the top. It is heartstoppingly exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. You are reminded of how small you are in this vast expanse of water. A vigilant divemaster keeps a beady eye on you because, for most people, the movement is mesmerising. The boats head back to the river after about 8 hours, depending on the situation. After a hot shower, the evening can be spent either joining a sunset drink at the airstrip, a night out with your divemaster or operator staff, or simply having a quiet dinner at the lodge. Then it’s off to bed to prepare to do it all again the next day. Ah, life! Photo Credit(s): Chris Fallows via Biographic.com Offshore Africa Port St Johns
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An in-depth look into Cave Diving
Cave diving is a very unique diving discipline and indeed next level in many peoples books. If you have dived before and couldn’t care less about colourful fish and stunning corals, cave diving might be just for you. Time to prove the adventurous image your tinder profile paints of you by leaving your man cave and say hello to pitch dark waters! Unless of course, you suffer from claustrophobia or thalassophobia. That being said, cave diving can be stunning. Many cave systems contain water so clear, it looks like divers are flying through the air. Of course, to get there, you will likely have to squeeze yourself down narrow openings, which is half the fun! If you are jealous of Columbus or Neil Armstrong, this is your chance to redeem yourself and gain access to sights and places where perhaps no other human has ever been before. Can you think of any other sport that offers you this opportunity? Where can you Cave Dive? There are excellent cave diving spots all across the world where you can go cave diving and its potential locations are not limited to oceans with reefs or calm alpine lakes with high visibility. There are more underwater caves than meets the eye and new and exciting destinations are being discovered all across the world. Some of the most notable cave dives include: First Cathedral, Hawaii This cave diving site is known for its massive underwater tunnels and caverns. As you descend, you will find the “altar,” an area that features sunbeams that peek through from the surface. It is an ideal choice for those who fancy stunning visuals while cave diving, due to the tiny holes in the back of the caves that allow the sunlight to form a stained-glass window. Between the colourful corals and stunning seascapes inside the cave, divers are even likely to encounter turtles, lobsters, and sharks. Great Blue Hole, Belize An underwater limestone sinkhole that was formed thousands of years ago. It is the world’s largest natural formation of its kind and a popular destination for cave diving. The Great Blue Hole has a total of 11 colossal underwater caves with different depths and lengths. As you descend about 400ft, you will find massive stalactites, stunning corals, and oxygen-deficient caverns. The water is so clear that you can witness marine life, such as giant groupers, nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and other tropical fish. The best time to visit is from November to April, but you should consider planning your trip in March to avoid the tourist season. Kuredu Caves, Maldives With over 60 dive sites, Kuredu caves are a paradise for recreational cave divers. The caverns feature massive, craggy rock formations. These underwater caves are home to marine life, including leaf fish, balloon fish, green turtles, manta rays, moray eels, butterflyfish, angelfish, and ferocious barracudas. You may spot sting rays once you go deeper. This cave system offers ideal diving conditions year-round. Cenote Dose Ajos, Mexico Also known as two eyes cenote, this cavern is one of the most sophisticated underwater cave systems in the world. You will be impressed by the massive stalactites with some bats hanging upside down and fierce stalagmites creeping up from the bottom. The marine life includes freshwater shrimps and numerous species of tiny fish. The best time to visit is from October to December, and the peak tourist season starts from January to March. Where to Learn Cave Diving? If you want to learn cave diving, chances are you are a special kind of thrill seeker. Perhaps the sense of exploration you get is what truly excites you. Before you decide on where to learn cave diving you mustn’t confuse this with a cavern dive. A cavern dive takes place in the first part of a cave, where you can still see a light source behind you. As soon as you don’t see any more light, it becomes a cave dive. Much like other types of diving, cave diving is regulated. One must have a certain amount of logged dives before you can start training. In general, an advanced open water certification is required at the very least. While some of the skills can be completed in regular diving locations you should conduct your training at an actual cave-diving site to really get a feel for the sport. It may also inspire you to get to the next level. While there are many cave systems around the world the Mexican Cenotes in Yucatan are probably the most popular destination to learn cave diving. The following popular agencies offer cave diving courses and training: TDI, RAID, PADI, SSI. How is Cave Diving Dangerous? Cave diving is considered ‘technical diving‘ and should not be done by untrained divers. It has an unusual and unique set of risks, but like other extreme sports, such risks can be mitigated with the right training and exercise. Precaution, education, proper certified training and knowing one’s limits are vital to becoming a veteran cave diver who lives to grow a fluffy white beard. The most common dangers are obvious and only really happen to unqualified or amateur divers: Getting lost Running out of air Scuba gear malfunctions Becoming stuck or trapped However, there are other aspects of cave diving that outlines exactly how dangerous it is: Torches breaking on the ascent Reels breaking or being snagged/tangled Scuba masks damaged Navigational problems Overhead environment – emergency surfacing is not an option Poor visibility Cave Diving Hazards The hazards of cave diving may be evident to many people, yet there are still occasional accidents and even deaths, which can be attributed to the victims not fully understanding the risks of cave diving. Getting Lost: It is different than traditional diving, where you can swim back to the shore or the boat when you’re getting lost. In cave diving, getting lost can easily result in death. Loss of Visibility: Most caves are formed by a kind of erosion, and often, the eroded material ends on the cave floor. And that can affect your visibility to see your friends, your reserve gas supply, or losing orientation points to return to the cave entrance. Equipment Malfunction: Equipment malfunction can be very dangerous and could result in a diver running out of gas. So it’s crucial to check your equipment and know-how to deal with the most common malfunctions. Currents, Surge, and Surf: Some caves are complex and can carry strong currents, especially sea caves and coral caves. Currents, surge, and surf can push you further into the cave or make it more difficult to exit. Cave Diving Equipment Some of the most crucial pieces of a cave diving gear are: Drysuit: A drysuit is needed when diving in cold water. Get a drysuit with pockets to carry your safety equipment. Mask and Fins: Most cave divers prefer masks made of black silicon skirts; they’re lightweight and help your pupils to dilate. You also need robust and flat-bladed fins to reduce the potential for entanglement. Tanks: There will be two tanks held together by steel bands and connected by the manifold, that have two outlets and can be turned off or on in case of any problem. LED Lights: You will need LED primary lights and two back up lights of 1000+ lumen. Make sure to buy lights that are designed specifically for cave or technical diving. Timer: A timer is essential to calculate the number of decompression stops during ascending during the end of the dive according to the standard decompression table. Sharp Knife: A short and sharp knife should be attached to your harness to help you free yourself from entanglement in the guidelines or other equipment. Slate or Wet Notes: Wet notes are a better alternative for cave diving. Keep it in your pocket just in case you’re in trouble. Surface Marker Buoy: If you’re learning cave diving, technically, you need an SMB. It must be the type that can expand into the water using the exhaust from the regulator you have. Cave Diving Qualifications As a rule of thumb, you must have your Advanced Open Water course certificate or other courses where you become certified to dive to a recreational limit of 130 feet (40 m.) You have to be an experienced night diver and you will also need a Cavern certification or a similar that shows you have experience in an overhead environment. Search our list of dive schools and find the perfect dive centre to learn cave diving. Cave Diving Gear Setup Picking a specific cave dive set up is really dependent on personal preference and the size of the cave systems you want to explore. Different divers will recommend different styles (twinsets, side-mount diving, etc.) One should educate himself about the essential equipment first to devise about what makes a good set for a particular dive. It’s more than just attaching a snorkel to your dive mask. Your life may depend on it. The Sidemount Configuration: Allows for maximum adaptability, divers can secure and separate air tanks whilst underwater and this is crucial if you need to navigate through small spaces. Technical divers mainly use this configuration because of the flexibility it offers. Twinset Configuration: With a twinset configuration, this allows only for a standard setup. Considered unnecessary for side mount configurations and offers very limited flexibility. Cave Diving Deaths With all the hazards, it may not be as shocking to hear that 161 American cave divers have died during their expeditions in the past 30 years. However, 87 of those casualties were completely untrained cave divers. Many of them lost visibility due to silt and ran out of breathing gas. Even though the technology has improved significantly over these three decades the hazards remain unchanged. It is inherently dangerous, albeit a beautiful environment.
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The Top Sea Dragon Facts You Must Know!
A macro dream for many divers, the elusive and spectacular Sea Dragon is a must-see for many keen underwater photographers and Scuba enthusiasts. These unusual looking underwater critters have a very specific geographical location, making them a must-see for divers visiting Australian waters. What is a Sea Dragon? The Sea dragon is a small fish from the Syngnathidae family, closely related to pipefish and seahorses. As with its brother the Seahorse, the Sea dragons name comes from its mythical counterpart the ‘Dragon,’ and spotting a Sea dragon whilst scuba diving is certainly a magical experience. Their ornate appearance lives up to its namesake as they camouflage perfectly to their leafy or kelpy environments with their small, leaf-like fins and colourful bodies. Where are Sea Dragons found? There are 3 different species of Sea dragon and they are all found in Southern, South Eastern and Western Australia. The Weedy Seadragon is also known as the “Common Sea dragon” or “Phyllopteryx Taeniolatus”. It’s more intricate relative The Leafy sea dragon or Phycodurus eques and a very recent discovery, The Ruby Sea dragon, Phyllopteryx Dewysea. Sea dragons are specialists within their habitats; Weedy and Leafy sea dragons reside in kelpy reefs and seagrass meadows. Whilst Ruby Sea dragons live in sponges at much greater depths, their incredible camouflage keeps them protected from predators such as larger fish, crustaceans and sea anemones. Where to Dive with Weedy Sea Dragons? To find a weedy sea dragon, you will need to dive on either the southeastern or southern coast of Australia. The most common of the three species, these guys are native to Sydney and can be found in Botany Bay, which has the largest number recorded in one location. You can also find them an hour’s drive from Melbourne, off the Mornington Peninsula or in the beautiful Jervis Bay, New South Wales. Where to Dive with Leafy Sea Dragons? A rarer spot than the Weedy, Leafy seadragons are found off the coast of Fleurieu Peninsula near Adelaide at specific dive spots, such as Rapid Bay and The Bluff. They can also be found at multiple spots on the Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. Where to Find the Ruby Sea Dragon? You probably won’t! The third sea dragon species was only discovered in 2014 when a tissue clippings’ DNA didn’t match the existing species. This extremely rare and elusive species was filmed by an underwater remotely operated vehicle at depths over 50 metres in Western Australia. Far beyond the limits of recreational diving. When to see Sea Dragons? Sea dragons breed in the early months of the Australian Summer, from October through to January. This is the best time to dive with them as during the mating season you may be lucky enough to witness their wonderful courting dance. After reaching sexual maturity at one or two years of age, The sea dragons sway and present their beautiful colour and weedy appendages for their mate in an iconic ritual. At a certain moment, the Mother passes up to 250 bright pink eggs to the Father for him to carry on his tail and fertilize. They attach to a region on his tail called a brood patch, which supplies oxygen to the eggs. This display is a videographers dream but should be very sensitively observed as not to alter their natural behaviour. The Father then incubates the eggs for up to nine weeks, following this beautiful display it’s possible to see a solitary male Sea dragon swimming along with these jewels encrusted on his tail. Give him some space, only 20 of these newborn Sea dragons grow to full maturity as they are such fragile and tiny creatures. From hatching, the babies are completely independent. For the first 2-3 days after birth, they are sustained by their yolk sack and will then hunt tiny zooplankton and baby shrimp. What does a Sea Dragon eat? Sea dragons are toothless carnivores without stomachs, they eat almost constantly covering wide areas whilst searching for prey. They use their long pipe-like snouts to suck up larval fish, plankton and their favourite food, mysid shrimp. These shrimp feed off red algae that thrive in the shade of kelp forests. Interestingly, Sea Dragons themselves are rarely eaten by their natural predators due to their highly successful camouflage. The Ruby Seadragon’s red colouration masks its presence in the deep waters where red wavelengths of light cannot penetrate. As its body doesn’t reflect any light, it is virtually invisible to prey and predators. Like-wise the Leafy Seadragons appendages blend so seamlessly within the kelp forests it is often missed by larger fish. Sea Dragon Threats The Leafy Sea dragon is listed as ‘Near Threatened,’ by ‘ICUN Red List of Threatened Species’ whilst the Weedy Sea Dragon has been listed as ‘Least Concern’. Although there have been many organisations pushing for the status of both species to be reclassified due to recent surveys and reports showing dwindling numbers. Research carried out by the University of Technology Sydney shows that the Kelp forests that the Weedy Sea dragon depends on, has been thinning out in sites that they are commonly spotted in, particularly in South Sydney. This is due to industrialisation, water pollution and sedimentation. Similarly, the Leafy Sea dragons biggest threat is that to its habitat and both species are popular as illegal capture as pets. Seadragons are extremely sensitive to change in water depth, temperature and pressure meaning they seldom survive outside of their natural habitat. In fact, Melbourne Sea World Aquarium is one of only three aquariums in the world to breed Weedy Seadragons in captivity, with two breeding successes to date. How to Conserve the Seadragon Population! Vote for more marine protected areas! Boat anchoring and mooring can be detrimental to Seadragons natural habitats, stricter enforcement and zoned areas for mooring can help to conserve and protect their homes. Those within Australia can vote for governments with policies increasing the zoning of protected marine areas. Those out of Australia can sign petitions, and share information on social media. Pollution has a huge impact on natural marine habitats, your plastic consumption and what you throw down the sink has an important role in the general health of our oceans. Be mindful of cleaning products with abrasive chemicals, switch to natural remedies or phosphate-free soaps and detergents. Never pour fat and cooking oils down the sink, allocate a jar to collect your used fats and dispose of it as a solid waste when full. You can help conserve the Seadragons, by providing information about sightings. Scientists use this data to increase the general understanding of distribution, habitat requirements and management priorities for this lesser-known species. New South Wales based Underwater Research Group ‘URG,’ have adapted software to identify Seadragons by their ‘fingerprints,’ or markings found on the side of their bodies. You can e-mail your photographs or information about sightings to urgdiveclub.org.au, you may even have a Seadragon named after you! Photo Credits: Richard Wylie via National Geographic Indo Pacific Images Our Marine Species
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