The Great Hammerheads of South Bimini... Like a fashion model up on the catwalk, great hammerheads sashay into your field of vision. And, if they were human, you would probably say they have just “made an entrance”. Their strange mallet-like head, robust body girth and tall sickle-shaped dorsal fin makes them well-nigh instantly recognizable. With most other sharks in the immediate area spot that too and give them a wide berth. The Great Hammerhead has a unique and distinguished presence in the water. Cautious but confident and seemingly in control of the environment. Their space… And as they approach, their distinctive head sweeps …
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Diving New Britain Island in PNG
Diving New Britain Island... Papua New Guinea’s “second island” sits right on the interface of some incredibly powerful forces of nature! Physically located along the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire. New Britain is a large crescent shaped island that is defined by the incredibly high mountain ranges that run down its spine. Together with its many volcanoes… So high are those mountains, they create separate and independent weather systems on the north and south coasts of the island. Making New Britain a remote, different and very interesting place that has some really great diving! Diving New Britain Island – The Benjamins… While Bob …
Cat Island Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
Cat Island Oceanic Whitetip Sharks... It seems almost unbelievable that as recently as the mid-1960’s the Oceanic Whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus, was widely considered to be one of the most abundant large animals in the world. And now, almost 60 years later, these sharks are on the IUCN Red List as "Vulnerable" globally. And "Critically Endangered" in the north and central western areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Largely because a diminutive, but incredibly resilient, former general seized control of the Middle Kingdom. Unleashing the economic reforms that have lifted hundreds of millions of people out of abject …
Diving New Guinea Island in PNG
Diving New Guinea Island... When the 16th century Portuguese and Spanish explorers first arrived in the far-eastern part of what was then called the Malay Archipelago. They had no way of knowing they had stumbled upon the second largest island in the world. Neither could they possibly know that the island is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. Occupying just 0.5% of the Earth's surface, but with almost 10% of its species ... And that is just on the land! What they did note though was the similarity between the indigenous people and those of the Guinea region of Africa. Which is how the island came to be called New …
Amazing Socorro Diving
Amazing Socorro Diving- a true “bucket list” adventure if ever there was one! This group of four islands is located in the Pacific Ocean, some 600 kms from the west coast of Mexico. And it offers some quite unique underwater experiences and is almost synonymous with giant oceanic manta ray encounters. Often referred to as the “Mexican Galapagos” these islands are so special that in July 2016 they were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then in November 2017 the government of Mexico created North America’s largest marine protected area. And made the whole area a national park with total bans on fishing, mining and tourism …
Underneath Edithburgh Jetty
Underneath Edithburgh Jetty... Located on the south-eastern tip of the Yorke Peninsula. The small town of Edithburgh is home to what is possibly the absolute best of all the many wonderful jetties of South Australia. Dived on a good day with optimal conditions, “Edith” as it is known locally in the SA dive community, is a stellar dive. One that ranks highly among the “must do” dives in Australia. Plus, if you can get there for a few days during the week, there is a good chance you will have the place (well underwater that is…) to yourself! Built in 1983 primarily to facilitate the export of locally produced salt around Australia and …
Diving in PNG – Intro and Overview
Diving in PNG... At the closest point of contact just 6km separates Australia from Papua New Guinea. And yet there is so much that is different between these two close neighbours! Australia is a first-world country with many things that are the admiration of the world. Such as generally excellent health, education and social systems, a robust and fully functional democracy together with an average life expectancy of 83 years. PNG on the other hand is very much a third-world country. Which has major issues with its health and education systems, an operating but troubled democracy and an average life expectancy of just 64 …
Rodney Fox – An Aussie Icon
Rodney Fox... I love reading and spend many “quiet time” hours studying my seemingly ever-expanding book collection. And I am particularly fond of autobiographies written by people who have found a way to do something incredible. Whether that be in politics, exploration, adventure or sport. The insight I get in to the author’s persona, ethics and integrity is always interesting and often truly inspiring! But… for all the biographies I have read. Only once did the author look over my shoulder and ask me what I reckoned about their book! So it was last November when Rodney Fox took the time to seek my opinion on his book “Sharks, the …
Big Animals in the Azores
Big Animals in the Azores... Like the tips of icebergs, the islands of the Azores are the peaks of a remarkable chain of underwater mountains. Which are so large, they rank among some of the highest in the world. They rise up from the Azores Platform, a huge area of nearly 6 million km2. Which in itself is just a small part of the incredible Mid Atlantic Ridge, that runs the complete length of the Atlantic Ocean. From the far north and the Arctic Ocean, to the deep south and the Southern Ocean. The Azores Platform is some 2000m below the ocean surface. But the Mid Atlantic Ridge is grounded on to the sea bed another 2000m below that. …