Recently in Marine Life Category

Dr. Mark Erdmann & Dr. Gerry Allen, who were visiting us in Manado as Guest Lecturers for the free biology workshop “Fish Geek Week”, conducted a survey of fish species between 1st and 12th September.

This is the first time that a scientific fish survey has ever been done in North Sulawesi.

It was done over a week out of Minahasa Lagoon Resort Manado plus five informal days in Lembeh and it threw up some most absolutely amazing unexpected results.We always knew North Sulawesi had wonderful marine biodiversity, given that it sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, but... these results we definitely did NOT expect!

Gerry & Mark recorded 967 species from 329 genera and 84 families. That's without even surveying many habitats. They were nowhere near reaching a plateau, every day adding 25-40 new records to the list!

Gerry predicts that further surveys would show somewhere around 1020 species in total for North Sulawesi (Bunaken to Lembeh). To put these numbers in perspective, Komodo National Park has 750 species recorded to date, the Togian and Banggai islands have 819 species recorded to date, Berau in East Kalimantan (including Derawan and Sangalaki) has 875 species recorded to date, and Western Thailand has 775 species recorded to date.

Another very interesting point was the extremely high per-site diversity. In general any count of over 200 species on a single dive is considered a very high diversity site. Of the 9 sites surveyed, 6 were higher than 200 species and two of them broke 300 species (Tanjung Kelapa/Malcolm had 310 species and Satchiko's had 301 species)!

To put this in perspective, in over 40 years' of survey work around the Coral Triangle region, Gerry Allen has only documented three sites that have broken 300 species: Kayoa Island, Halmahera (303 species), Tanjung Papisoi in Kaimana, West Papua (330 species) and Cape Kri in Raja Ampat (374 species). So Tanjung Kelapa/Malcolm is now the 3rd richest fish site ever recorded, and Satchiko's the 5th.

For the full report, click here.

Fish Geek Week just took place at Minahasa Lagoon Resort in Manado, as part of the events planned to celebrate the resort’s 10th Anniversary.

Guests had been promised a wealth of new knowledge about North Sulawesi’s umpteen fish species, with talks by three leading authorities on marine biology and ecology: Dr. Mark Erdmann, Dr. Gerry Allen and Dr. Massimo Boyer. They were not disappointed. The famous scientists delivered wonderful nightly presentations on fish identification, biology, behaviour and much more, accompanied by stunningly colourful slide shows.

But what the guests were maybe surprised to find was that the week was not just informative; it was also great fun! This was due in no small part to the amazingly inclusive approach these three amazing Guest Lecturers brought to the event. Each presentation was delivered with unbridled enthusiasm. The passion Mark, Gerry & Massimo have for the magnificent underwater world clearly shone through and the attending guests couldn’t help but be inspired by this, to seek further understanding of the beautiful animals we all see on every dive but sometimes take for granted.

The week was rounded off with a treasure hunt dive on the last morning, followed by a closing party where guests won prizes such as a week’s stay at Minahasa Lagoon, six days of diving with Eco Divers, dive accessories, bath amenities and more.

Every guest attending also received a fantastic free gift - a book on the natural history of Bunaken National Park, by Arnaz Mehta. The Gala Dinner of local specialty dishes was the last chapter in what turned out to be a hugely enjoyable week. We’re immensely grateful to Mark, Gerry & Massimo for taking time to share their expert knowledge with us, our staff and customers.

We’re now thinking we might repeat Fish Geek Week in 2013. Who knows, if we do, maybe next time we’ll allow a few “Nudi Nerds” to join in the fun….

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There's still time to join this wonderful free biology week with Eco Divers Manado at Minahasa Lagoon Resort, Manado, with lectures by three of the top authorities in marine biology: Mark Erdmann, Gerry Allen & Massimo Boyer.

Each night free biology workshops will be given, whilst each morning before diving the lecturers will brief divers on the behaviour and habitat of various families of fish, so divers can then have fun that day trying to identify various species.

The lecturers will help to identify any strange fishes spotted and photographed.

Fish Geek Week also includes an underwater treasure hunt with great prizes and a Gala Dinner & Birthday Party Night.

Nightly Workshops

• An introduction to Manado & Bunaken
• An introduction to Coral Reef Fishes and their Identification
• Extreme Biodiversity: in search of Indonesia's marine biodiversity epicenter
• Biology and Conservation of the Indonesian Coelacanth Fish
• Advanced Coral Reef Fish Identification and Natural History
• Highlights of Reef Fish Observations during North Sulawesi Fish Geek Week

The package costs just EUR 1085 (USD 1381) per person and includes 7 nights’ accommodation in a double room, 6 days of diving (up to 3 day-dives per day), all meals, airport transfers, tax & service.

For full details, click here or send an email to info@eco-divers.com.

You still have time to secure your place on our biology workshop in June with Ned & Anna DeLoach.

The workshop is free when you book a 7-night dive package at Eco Divers Resort Lembeh. The package costs just EUR 1058 (US$ 1390) per person and includes 7 nights’ accommodation in a double room, 6 days of diving (up to 3 day-dives per day), all meals, airport transfers, tax & service.

Full details of the 2012 Lembeh Fish & Critter Hunt are available here: www.eco-divers.com/special-trips.php or just send a booking enquiry to info@eco-divers.com.

Minahasa Lagoon Resort is celebrating its 10th anniversary since inception and to mark the occasion there will be three very different Birthday Party Packages, each offering many free extra activities.

Book your holiday during one of our Party Weeks and come join in the fun! We’ve got three very different parties planned:

• Month of May - North Sulawesi's Nature & Culture
• 01-08 September - Fish Geek Week
• 24 November-01 December - Learn Underwater Photography Week

The first is throughout the month of May, when we’ll be celebrating North Sulawesi’s natural and culture heritage with a series of nature tours, local cultural dances and traditional Indonesian spa treatments.

01-08 September is Fish Geek Week: Guests will have the opportunity to join an educational week on North Sulawesi’s underwater riches, with nightly workshops by three of the world’s most illustrious names in marine biology: Massimo Boyer, Gerry Allen and Mark Erdmann.

24 November to 01 December is Learn Underwater Photography Week, with nightly workshops by world-renowned photo geniuses Takako Uno, Stephen Wong and Jason Isley.

All three events are completely free of charge when one books a minimum of 7 nights All Inclusive Dive Package at Minahasa Lagoon / Eco Divers Manado. There also promises to be many more free fun activities, competitions, prize-giving and a Birthday Dinner Party Night each week.

Click here for further details: http://www.eco-divers.com/special-trips.php

To make your enquiry, email Eco Divers on info@eco-divers.com

We’re delighted that interest in our free biology workshop with world-famous Ned & Anna DeLoach has been so much that the first two weeks are both almost fully-booked. Those people lucky enough to have a confirmed place on this “Critter Hunt” are in for a treat…

Great news: Ned & Anna have agreed to extend their workshop at Eco Divers Resort Lembeh into a third week, from 16 to 23 June!! This means that 14 more places are now available. But book now, as it’s first come, first served. There definitely won’t be a fourth week, so this is really is the last chance for anyone who wants to learn all about fish behaviour to join Ned & Anna at Eco Divers Resort Lembeh. See details here: http://www.eco-divers.com/special-trips.php or just send a booking enquiry to info@eco-divers.com.