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Share your thoughts, experiences or questions and participate in discussions over our favorite topic : SCUBA diving!

Scorpion fish identification: stonefish vs devil vs scorpionfish

by The Smiling Seahorse on February 08, 2021

How to differentiate stonefish from its more common cousins: the Bearded Scorpionfish and Devil Scorpionfish

This article is going to teach you how to differentiate the 3 most common species of Scorpionfish we encounter in the Andaman sea: Bearded Scorpionfish, Devil Scorpionfish and Stonefish.These three species are often mistaken because they are quite similar (indeed they belong to the same family), but below are some simple tips to tell them appart during your next dive trip.Let’s start with their similarities:- these members of the Scorpaenidae family live on to the ocean floor, often hiding among the coral reef and swim about as well as a chicken can fly...- They have large heads...

Best online ressource for Fish & Critters Identification

by The Smiling Seahorse on October 05, 2020

Ever met an underwater critter you've never seen before? It happens to me all the time when diving in Myanmar and I am so curious I have to learn more about these mysteries.

Of course when cruising Mergui Archipelago, internet isn't available so I am just looking at my favorite fish identifications books which we always keep onboard.But if the book fails me, I have more tools in my search quest to find the name and specifics of the marine life I find underwater.

My selection of online ressources to identify the reef species you meet underwater:

For fish Identification ...

HEllo

by Fzefezfe on May 02, 2017

Hello

Finding the Giant Squid

by Ksso on April 11, 2014

An absolutely must-see TED Talk by marine biologist Edith Widder explaingin how they managed to attract and make footage of the giant squid.

As Edith reminds us, we've only explored 5% of our oceans - there's still a lot to discover! Hidden in the abyss may be more wonders like the giant squid produced by hundreds of millions of years of evolution.

Collaborate with Mediterranean scientists

by M.LO on December 09, 2013

info>http://www.scoop.it/t/lifo/p/4012347278/2013/12/08/collaborate-with-scientists

Whale Fantasy in Tonga Island

by Ksso on September 27, 2013

Perfect video to get ready to dive before the weekend! 3 mermaids freediving with humpback whales in Tonga islands. The images are totally breathtaking - especially when whales and mermaids roll on the side together - in a common silent understanding.This video was taken by Alan Watts and dive operator was Dolphin Pacific Diving.

Thanks Benoit for the tip !

The Mantis Shrimp is making the buzz!

by Ksso on September 02, 2013

No one can remain untouched by the beauty of the Mantis Shrimp - with all the colors and the big eyes it's an awesome subject for underwater photographers, especially when bearing eggs. This little fellow can be found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean - if you're diving in that area make sure you'll look for it.

Despite the amazing colours and big intriguing eyes, it turns out the Mantis Shrimp is a terrible and very aggressive predator!The main feats of this species lies in two very different characteristics:

An incredible vision with extremely sophisticated eyes: each eye has 2 lobes enabling depth of vision on a per-eye basis, eyes are totally independent...

A few Transparent underwater species

by Ksso on February 22, 2013

As I was browsing weird underwater species, I realized there are quite a few that are weirder than others or at least that were showing a particular feature : being transparent.

I picked 3 very different weird ones, but I'm sure there are more ! (don't hesitate to leave your hints in comments I'd love to complete the list). I didn't mention the obvious jellyfishes - the very ones every diver has encountered (and tried to avoid most of the time) .

1. The Barreleye (Macropinna microstoma)

The Barreley lives in pretty deep places (~2,000m, 6,000ft) and has some incredible eyes able to rotate upwards to look through its transparent skull (actually fluid-filled) ...

Picture of a Giant Manta giving birth

by Ksso on February 08, 2013

Film Maker Martin Ureta is a really lucky diver. As he was in Maldives for a holiday he ended up taking the first ever picture of a giant oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris) giving birth! Mantas aren't mammals but their reproduction is very cingular as during copulation the male will fertilize the female's eggs which will be staying in the female's body for about 12 months. Eggs will hatch internally usually ending with giving birth to one pup.... which is wat the picture captured !

As you may know little is known about the life of those giant animals and their protection is of upmost importance as explained in depth on...