Whale sharks are filter feeding sharks that grow to an impressive length of about 12.2 m (40 ft) and can weigh upto 13.6 tonnes. Only called a whale due to it’s massive stature, the whale shark is actually a fish and not a mammal and it holds the record for being the largest living fish on the planet.Whale sharks are believed to have originated about 60 million years ago and have an average life span of 70 years.

With white spot much like stars on the back of this massive yet magnificent fish, whale sharks are gentle and people friendly creatures unlike its other shark relatives. An absolute joy to dive or snorkel with they are quite an attraction to divers in dive destinations around the world. A fan of tropical and warm oceans encounter with these gentle giants are common in places around the world like the Philippines, Thailand, off the Seychelles, Christmas Island, South Africa, Mozambique, Belize, Honduras, Mexico and Western Australia. Many dive operators in these regions offer special whale shark diving tours during the seasons sightings are common. The chances of seeing a whale shark in around Phuket in Thailand is very high between February and May every year.

Swimming with a whale shark is an experience of a lifetime and a must do for any diver. So there next time you’re looking for an adventure holiday put diving with the largest fish on the planet on that list and make sure to check it off in this lifetime!

*Image Credits: photos by Marcel_Ekkel on flickr

Diving With Whale Sharks: An Experience Of A Lifetime was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

The Mimic Octopus gets its name by its strong ability to mimic or impersonate other sea creatures which serves as its primary method of defence. My contorting it’s arms and changing color, this unique master of disguise can mimic the physical likeness and movements of more than fifteen different species, including sea snakes, lionfish, flatfish, brittle stars, giant crabs, sea shells, stingrays, flounders, jellyfish, sea anemones, and mantis shrimp. By imitating a crab’s mate, the Octopus can lure other crabs and prey on them. It can also use its tentacles to imitate a poisonous fish eating anemone, or quickly imitate a poisonous lionfish which keeps other fish away.

The Mimic Octopus can be identified by their size and coloring. They grow up to 60 cm (2 feet) in length and its normal colouring consists of brown and white stripes or spots. The border between pale and dark brown areas is mottled, making it difficult to identify where the dark areas begin and pale areas end. This Octopus is usually found in shallow bays and reefs of Indonesia and Malaysia and very rarely in deeper waters where it is easy prey for sharks and other larger predators. Mimic Octopuses have been known to bury themselves in the sand of the sea bed which is unlike any other octopus.

The Wondurpus is strikingly similar to the Mimic Octopus and lives in the same waters, however has longer arms, and a more distinct and striking pattern. The Wunderpus has well-defined white spots on its mantle or head, and bars on the arms and body color is a reddish brown. The wonderpus does not mimic other creatures like the Mimic Octopus does, but flashes its bright colors when provoked warning other creates that it may be poisonous. It also and remains mostly hidden during the day time and hunts only at night unlike the Mimic which is diurnal. Not very much is known about the Wonderpus as the creature has been very unsuccessful in captivity  and usually dies within a few days of being caught. This species also is found in the shallower waters of coral reefs in the South Pacific and is often spotted by Scuba Divers or people snorkelling or wading through shallow reefs.

Both the Wonderpus and the Mimic Octopus are simply a delight to underwater photographers, both for the unique and dazzling colors and the various poses these creatures make.

photo courtesy Stephen Childs, Daniel Kwok & “Buzz”

The Mimic Octopus and the Wonderpus was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

In addition to its gruesome looks, the Stonefish is one of the most venomous fish known to man, and has sharp, venomous spines that contain enough poison to kill a man if accidentally stepped on. The Stonefish secrete powerful neurotoxins from the base of their dorsal fin spine, which is extremely lethal to human beings. What makes this fish even more dangerous is its stone or rock like appearance that allows it to camouflage itself perfectly with the surrounding reef. This has been the main cause for so many unsuspecting divers coming in contact with the sting of the Stonefish which is extremely painful and can cause tissue death, shock, and paralysis.

Stonefish are predatory and live on small fish and invertebrates, and are hunted in turn by larger fish such as rays and sharks. They often grow to a length of 30-40 cms  (12 -16 inches) long, and have 13 spines on their back that inject the toxin when pressure is placed on them.

The symptoms of a Stonefish sting can range from an intense throbbing pain, with redness, swelling numbness and tingling in the affected area, followed by severe reactions including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, seizures and paralysis. First aid treatment should be to immerse the wound for 30-90 minutes in as hot water as the victim can tolerate, to break down the protein in the venom, then scrub the affected area, attempting to remove any stings still present in the wound, and to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Scuba divers are therefore advised to be very cautious when diving near reefs and wrecks, and are always advised against touching any surface on a dive. In shallower reef waters, scuba divers and people snorkeling should always keep their fins on, or wear dive booties, to prevent stepping on a Stonefish accidentally while exiting and entering the water.

Strangely enough, several aquarium hobbyists keep Stonefish in their marine tanks where they are hugely popular, and in Hong Kong and some parts of Asia, this fish is sold in commercial markets to be consumed.

photo courtesy: prilfish, ~Sage~, walknboston

Stonefish was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

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5 Marine Life Questions Answered was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Belonging to the Ogcocephalidae family of fish, but closely related to the anglerfish, these are not to be confused with the more commonly found Batfish from the Ephippidae or Spadefish family, the ones that are disc shaped or spade shaped curious fish that follow scuba divers around. The Ogcocephalidae Batfish comprise of several different species of bottom dwelling fish, that are usually found across the deeper parts of the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

These fish are bottom-dwelling and are flatted often triangular shaped similar in appearance to rays.  The largest of the Batfish species can grow up to 20 inches in length, and they lure their prey into their mouths with the help of a lure attached to their heads. Batfish prey on bottom-dwelling invertebrates that it lures into its mouth while burred in the sand of the sea bed.

Batfish are very strange fish. They look like they could walk onto the land if they wanted to. Specially adapted for life on the bottom, In many species,  the pelvic and anal fins are relatively thick and stout for supporting the body off the substrate. These fish are capable of walking on the bottom using their large arm like pectoral and smaller pelvic fins. Batfish are not good swimmers.

There are several different kinds of bottom dwelling batfish, such as the Red-lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini), Rosy-lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus porrectus), Shortnose Batfish (Ogcocephalus nasutus), Brazilian Batfish (Ogcocephalus vespertilio) and the Roughback Batfish (Ogcocephalus parvu), all having slightly different  physical  characteristics and found in different waters.

photos from Scubaben & National Undersearch Research Program (NURP) Collection

Meet the Bizarre Bottom-dwelling Batfish was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

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Amazing Marine Animal Facts was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

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Weird & Wonderful Underwater Creatures Of The Sea was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Stonefish

Easily one of the most poisonous creatures in the Ocean, the stonefish is a master of disguise and can often be spotted covered in sand on the sea bed. Found in the coastal reefs along the indo-pacific regions, stonefish secrete powerful neurotoxins from the base of their dorsal fin spine, which is extremely lethal to human beings. Camouflaging itself perfectly with its surrounding reef, this creature has been the main cause for so many unsuspecting divers getting stung, which is extremely painful and can cause tissue death, shock, and paralysis.

Stingrays

Although not in the same league as stonefish, stingrays are something to look out for as you don’t want to step on them. They do posses stings, and while they generally do not attack aggressively and only if threatened, their primary reaction is to swim away. However, a defensive reaction causes it to whip up their stinger which is often the case when attacked by predators or stepped on. Even then, if stung by a stingray it is rarely fatal and if stung in the lower limb region will most likely just be a cut causing pain, swelling and muscle cramps from the venom, or even an infection unless it hits the upper body, a major artery or causes a very deep puncture.

Crocodile Fish

Aptly named for it’s resemblance to a crocodile, this unusual looking flathead species is closely related to scorpionfish and stonefish. Native to the western Pacific region including Philippines, Borneo, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Palau, and even Indonesia, the crocodilefish is a mottled brown or green and grey color, ideal to camouflaged with their habitat, on a sandy or rubble sea bed. Unlike actual crocodiles though, divers who come across a crocodile fish have little to worry about as the fish often remains very still, even if humans approach them.

Rosy-lipped Batfish

The rosy-lipped batfish is more amusing than anything, which is why it makes this list. Found near Cocos Island off the coast of Costa Rica, it’s very similar in look and behavior to the red-lipped batfish found around the Galapagos Islands. This unusual looking fish, looks like it’s trying to pull off the Marilyn Monroe look with the bright red lips and to top it off it’s quite amusing to see them “walk” on the ocean floor using their pectoral fins, as if they were modeling.

Monkfish/ Headfish

Known more for it’s presence on menus, monkfish are found in the northwest Atlantic region. They are a somewhat similar shape to the anglerfish, but completely unrelated. The creepy and ugly looking fish can grows to a length of more than 5 ft, although more commonly are seen around 3ft. The texture of the tail meat of this fish is sometimes compared to lobster tail and has been alluded to as the “poor man’s lobster”.

Photo credits: photos by prilfish, g-na, jeffk42, Kevin Eddy, Pachango, Eric Burgers, Vedia, reinketelaars, Frank Gloystein, asbjorn.hansen on flickr

Watch Your Step For These Bottom Dwelling Sea Creatures! was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

If your diving in the Indo-Pacific region, especially the coral reefs of Australia, Fiji, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, the Maldives and also in the Red Sea, you may want to keep an eye out for this feisty fish. The Titan triggerfish, or titantrigger as it’s also known, packs a mean bite and is more often the reason behind divers and snorkelers sporting teeth marks in their fins, skin, missing ears and the cause of many bruises. While only known to be aggressive and territorial during the reproduction season and when guarding it’s nest, the titan trigger fish has a notorious reputation that definitely increases a divers anxiety levels around it and mostly, it is well deserved. Almost anyone who has done a fair amount of scuba diving in these tropical regions will have had a run in or two with this species of triggerfish at some point or another.

So how can you tell when it’s best to stay away?
It’s when they are nesting (around April/May is some regions) that they get very feisty and will rigorously protect these nests, which is not to say they don’t get territorial even in non breeding seasons. However, for the most part it’s only to protect their nests and they are pretty docile otherwise. It’s also believed that they’re more aggressive in some places more than others, like Thailand and Egypt for example.

A prominent sign of trouble to come is when the fish rolls onto its side and with their independently rotating beady eyes, gives you the old evil eye just before they charge at you. Sometimes you will see its black fin tips raise in warning of the attack. And then with that little or no at all warning you can count on it to attack and it has the teeth to back it up!

The ‘Danger zone’
One useful thing to remember is that a triggerfish sees it’s territory (a.k.a the ‘Danger Zone’ you want to avoid being in), starting in a small area around its nest and rising to the surface in the shape of a cone. It’s nest is in the sand adjacent to or within coral. When a titan triggerfish attacks, it will charge at you continuously until you swim out of its territory.

So what do you do?
Your best plan of action if you see one is to swim away horizontally as the zone they’re protecting is an upward cone. Most divers make the mistake of swimming upwards to escape the wrath of the crazy fish that’s trying to chew their fins off, but to the triggerfish it appears that you are getting further from leaving their turf, and it will re-double it’s efforts to persuade you. Keep your eyes on the fish at all times as hard as it may be, as they are fast. They have also been observed to go for bright colors so if they come close try and get your dive fins or a hard object like an underwater camera or a dive slate or other Scuba gear between youand the titan, needless to say it’s better to have a hole in fins rather than your body!

If you’re lucky the titan trigger may won’t resort to biting but may ram into you to sort of escort you out of their nesting territory. But if you are an unfortunate victim of a triggerfish bite, it should not be treated lightly. Their bites can cause serious infection as they contain a natural poison called Ciguatoxin.

That said, it’s important to remember that Titan triggerfish are only defending what they believe are intruders in their territory, and as we are invading their world it’s not right to attack them back with dive knives or harm them in other ways. This will only make them even more weary of divers and attack them more as they are known to exhibit a level of intelligence that is unusual among fishes, and have the ability to learn from previous experiences.

*Image credits: photos by tom.demeyer and Boogies with Fish on flickr

When Titan Triggerfish Attack was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

What is Phytoplankton exactly?
While plankton expands to any drifting organisms and includes plants, animals, bacteria or archaea, Phytoplankton are the autotrophic algae that live near the surface. In other word they are the microscopic plant life free floating in water bodies across the world. Phytoplankton just like terrestrial plants, obtain energy through photosynthesis and hence require sunlight and other nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate, silicate, and calcium at various levels depending on the species. Under favorable conditions, a single diatom can reproduce 100 million offspring in a month, creating vast numbers of the species- for example- as many as a billion of them in a gallon of seawater. When conditions are right, phytoplankton populations can grow explosively, a phenomenon known as a bloom which can even be seen through satellite images covering hundreds of square kilometers. There are almost 20,000 species that make up this plant group known as Phytoplankton. Of them, the most abundant are the diatoms. Cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and coccolithophores are some of the other important groups.

The Role of Phytoplankton in Marine Ecology
Phytoplankton are the foundation of the oceanic food chain. As primary producers, marine animals of all sizes and shapes feed on the microscopic plants. From tiny zooplankton to multi-ton whales- some of the largest and longest living creatures on earth, are directly dependent on the plankton for sustenance. The smaller fish and life that feed on plankton are then eaten by bigger creatures and so on.

Unfortunately though, phytoplankton can cause mass fish deaths too as some species produce powerful biotoxins or harmful algal blooms. Humans that eat fish that have fed on such harmful plankton to can be affected too. Another way phytoplankton can have a huge impact on marine life is that dead plankton sinks to the bottom. The bacteria that decompose the phytoplankton can deplete the oxygen in the water, suffocating animal life and resulting in a dead zone.

The Role of Phytoplankton and Terrestrial Life
Although not as a direct food source, plankton play a huge part in the oxygen supply and even influencing the climate that we are so dependent on. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton consume carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. But not in small quantities like you would expect from such tiny little things. They actually absorb carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen on a scale equivalent to forests and other land plants. Even when they die some of the carbon is carried to the depths of the oceans. Through all this about 10 gigatonnes of carbon from the atmosphere is taken to the deep ocean each year. Which is a huge deal and which is why even small changes in the growth of phytoplankton can affect atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, which would feed back to global surface temperatures.

They are so prolific that each year 200 million tons of phytoplankton grow in the world’s oceans. For comparison, that’s 10 times the weight of the entire human population of our planet. But at the same time, their abundance must not be mistaken for them doing well. Since the 20th century, phytoplankton has declined by roughly 1% yearly, possibly linked to warming oceanic temperatures – as of 2010 this means a decline of 40% relative to 1950 which has a profound impact. Contributing to 50 percent of our oxygen supply, practically ALL life on Earth depends on these diminutive wanderers!

*Image Credits: pictures by NOAA & NASA obtained via wikipedia. Whale shark photo by KAZ2.0 on flickr

Phytoplankton: A Microscopic Organism With A Huge Impact was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World