March 2011 Archives

Some of our critter encounters from 2nd half of March 2011:

Porcelain Crab, Cowry, Scorpionfish, Zebra Crab, Fingered Dragonet, Wonderpus, Stonefish, Banded Pipefish, Banggai Cardinalfish, Sweetlips, Mandarin Fish,  Flamboyant Cuttlefish,  Squat Lobster, Blue ringed Octopus, Long Arm Octopus,Winged Pipefish, Juvenile Barramundi Grouper, Cleaner Shrimp, Razor fish, Giant Mantis Shrimp, Hairy Frogfish, Thorny Seahorse, Robust Ghost Pipefish, Mushroom Coral Shrimp, Flying Gurnard

Critter Focus: Banggai Cardinalfish



Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) are actually endemic to the Banggai Islands in Indonesia. They have found their way into the Lembeh Straits by aquarium fish traders introducing them in 2000. Since then they have flourished and they can be found living around Sea Urchins and Anemones.


This photo was taken by Lou using our rental Canon S95 camera, which you can hire from 'The Digital Centre', whilst diving at either of our dive centres at Kima Bajo or at Lembeh Cottages.

If you love marine life, then there is no better place to be during June 2012 than at Lembeh Cottages with Ned and Anna DeLoach, co-authors of the best selling series of marine identification field guides including Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific and Reef Creature Identification - Tropical Pacific, and the marine life column "Encounters" in Alert Diver magazine, and 'Critter Hunt' in Scuba Diving.

Plenty of diving, discovery and underwater fun, plus nightly presentations.  

The week's activities include:
    Reef fish and invertebrate identification and behavior
    Daily underwater fish and critter hunts for the area's most celebrated species

Underwater Photo/Video Workshop:
• How to capture winning marine wildlife portraits
• Tips on getting close to elusive subjects
• Framing your subject
• Waiting for the right moment

Special Nightly Presentations include:
• Cephalopod behavior: The outrageous antics of octopus, cuttlefish and squid
• Symbiosis and Camouflage: Hiding in plain sight
• The diverse reproductive behavior of reef fishes

To read about Ned and Anna's recent adventures www.marinelifeblog.com

We guarantee that after spending an energizing week of fun and learning with a group of like-minded friends, diving will never be the same!

Email info@eco-divers.com and be sure to book your place today!

Some of our critter encounters from 1^st half of March 2011:

Decorator Crab, Thorny Seahorse, Juvenile Barramundi Grouper, Black Ribbon Eel, Adult & baby Flying Gurnard, Sea Snake, Baby Spearing Mantis Shrimp, Two baby Cuttlefish, Dragon Sea Moth, Orangefin Batfish, Leaf Fish, Broadclub Cuttlefish, Electric Clam, Wonderpus, Cockatoo Waspfish, Banded Moray Eel free swimming, Cowfish,  Hermit Crab, Devilfish, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, Fingered Dragonet, Jawfish, Cowry

Critter Focus: Broadclub Cuttlefish

Broadclub Cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) are a large common species found in the Lembeh Straits that are experts in camouflage. They can change colour rapidly and are sometimes seen in the defensive posture as shown here.

This photo was taken by Lou using our rental Canon S95 camera, which you can hire from 'The Digital Centre', whilst diving at either of our dive centres at Kima Bajo or at Lembeh Cottages.

Here is an amazing shot of 2 Squid laying and tending their eggs that Barbara Jones took recently which takes the 'Photo of the week' prize this time. Long time fans of Eco Divers, Barb and her husband Alan are both fantastic photographers and we look forward to seeing them again very soon.

Some of our critter encounters from 2nd half of February 2011:

Electric Clam, Ribbon Eel, Hairy Frogfish, Carry Crab, Spiny Devilfish, Wonderpus, Juvenile Sweetlips, Dragonet, Banded Snake Eel, Cardinal Fish, Barramundi, Spider Crab, Hairy Filefish, Emperor Shrimp, Cuttlefish, Mantis Shrimp (see below), Halimeda Crab, Box Crab, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, Orang-utan Crab, Zebra Batfish, Squat Lobster, Cockatoo Flounder, Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Yellow Boxfish (filmed being eaten 3 times and finally spat out!), Banggai Cardinalfish, Mushroom Coral Shrimp just to name a few.

Critter Focus: Mantis Shrimp with eggs

 

Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) come in two varieties; smashers and spearers. Smashers have blunt limbs for breaking open shells to find food. Normally these are found hunting away from their burrow. Spearers have long folding limbs for grasping prey. Generally these spearers hunt from the entrance to their burrow. Here the Mantis Shrimp can be seen with its eggs.