Porous Sea Rod (Pseudoplexaura porosa) These soft corals undergo mass spawning events about 5-6 days after each of the summer’s full moons. Both sexes (yes, they have a gender) eject gametes for about 30 minutes, allowing them to combine in the water column. Some studies have shown that their ability to reproduce is based on size, as only colonies larger than 50cm have been observed to participate in this synchronized lunar activity.

Porous Sea Rod (Pseudoplexaura porosa)

These soft corals undergo mass spawning events about 5-6 days after each of the summer’s full moons. Both sexes (yes, they have a gender) eject gametes for about 30 minutes, allowing them to combine in the water column. Some studies have shown that their ability to reproduce is based on size, as only colonies larger than 50cm have been observed to participate in this synchronized lunar activity.

  1. 7th November 2011
  2. Notes: 17
    3. #bermuda #cathedral reef #diving #sea rod #anthozoa #reproduction #coral
Cathedral Reef (Bermuda) A popular dive site for tourists, this reef is named for the huge underwater dome you can swim down into at around 45 feet. It consists of a series of breaker reefs that have created a group of connecting caves, overhangs, and canyons. They’re relatively easy to swim through - but disorienting if you’re not used to cave diving. The top of the Cathedral has several holes where shafts of light penetrate the darkness of the cave in beams of holiness.

Cathedral Reef (Bermuda)

A popular dive site for tourists, this reef is named for the huge underwater dome you can swim down into at around 45 feet. It consists of a series of breaker reefs that have created a group of connecting caves, overhangs, and canyons. They’re relatively easy to swim through - but disorienting if you’re not used to cave diving. The top of the Cathedral has several holes where shafts of light penetrate the darkness of the cave in beams of holiness.

  1. 23rd October 2011
  2. Notes: 41
    3. #scuba #cave #Cathedral Reef #Bermuda #silhouette #breaker reef #diving
When surveying a reef, getting towed can be a more effective way of covering a large area and conserving diver energy. The boater must pay special attention to currents and make sure to go slow enough for comprehensive data collection. If divers are towed at over 3 knots, they could have trouble holding onto equipment and their face masks or mouthpieces might fall off. (To get an idea of how fast 3 knots is, currents of 1 knot are considered the limit that a normal diver can successfully swim against.)

When surveying a reef, getting towed can be a more effective way of covering a large area and conserving diver energy. The boater must pay special attention to currents and make sure to go slow enough for comprehensive data collection. If divers are towed at over 3 knots, they could have trouble holding onto equipment and their face masks or mouthpieces might fall off. (To get an idea of how fast 3 knots is, currents of 1 knot are considered the limit that a normal diver can successfully swim against.)

  1. 10th October 2011
  2. Notes: 14
    3. #AAUS #NOAA #blue #coral reef #diving #science #survey
Because the Achilles Tang is so active, they’re usually found in surge zones around Pacific coral reefs. These are areas where incoming waves break over the shallow reef head, oxygenating the water and creating strong currents for fish to float back and forth in.

Because the Achilles Tang is so active, they’re usually found in surge zones around Pacific coral reefs. These are areas where incoming waves break over the shallow reef head, oxygenating the water and creating strong currents for fish to float back and forth in.

  1. 11th August 2011
  2. Notes: 20
    3. #Actinopterygii #Hawaii #fish #lips #tang #diving