I've never really given much consideration to what happens to my toilet waste after i pull the chain. At home of course its treated at dedicated plants and disposed of correctly - but what about when we stay on a beautiful tropical island or stilt resorts over the ocean, where does it go then ?

The truth is in some cases our sewage can be extremely detrimental to our environment, especially within small islands where government treatment plants are not available.

Take for example the situation on Sipadan Island, where ground water became polluted due to untreated wastewater, sewage seeped out to the sea and polluted the surrounding ocean.

Forward thinking Kapalai Dive Resort and Lankayan Island Resort in Sabah Borneo both use the Hydroponics system to treat all sewage and wastewater before it is discharged to the open sea.

The waste is pumped through several large containers containing plants and ozone which filter the bacteria and harmful microorganisms and purify the water. At the same time plants absorb their required nutrients and enrich the water with O2.

This responsible method of treatment not only produces clean water that can be re-used but also irrigates the resort plant nursery and so saves on water consumption.

The initial set up cost for such treatment systems is fairly expensive and every year they must be maintained - this is perhaps why other resorts are not adopting the same concept.

However with growing environmental awareness we as guests should support resorts that genuinely adhere to responsible sewage and waste disposal practices. They may be slightly more expensive than others in the area but in our opinion this is for good reason. Sadly we have witnessed how some budget resorts save money and its the environment that pays the ultimate price.

We will certainly be voting with our feet and support places that we feel make efforts to not only protect their surrounding environment but also not harm it.

To our knowledge the only two resorts to use this in Sabah are those mentioned above.

Featured in this months Australian Sport Diving Magazine is our Mating Mandarinfish article - Spawning Splendidus.

Images within the piece show how these beautifully stunning little creatures mate and how we as mere mortals can visit and photograph their delightful habits.

You can subscribe to the magazine online and/or read the article at http://www.divetheblue.net.

Why are the people of Japan burying their heads in the sand over their countries whaling practices?

Through travel we meet many Japanese people and from our experience they are kind hearted. Why then are they standing by or in some cases applauding their government's decision to send a fleet of whaling boats to sea today intent on slaying and processing more than 1,000 whales, 50 of which are the protected and threatened Humpback.

Whalers claim they are continuing a tradition however when the practice began in the 1700's it was only a few family owned businesses with handheld harpoons that went out to coastal waters and bought back small numbers of whales, not factory fleets going as far afield as the Antarctic pulling in more then 1,000 each a year.

Japan is trying to encourage the younger generation to eat whale meat from the 400 or so animals caught every year through so called "scientific research".

What consumers are not told is that the blubber of dead whales in some areas is so highly contaminated with organochlorines such as PCBs and pesticides that it would be classified as toxic waste! Organochlorines are known to damage development of children and affect reproduction.

It is suggested that most people of Japan are not interested in eating whale meat, if so surely in a so called democratic country if they spoke out against their governments whaling practices and refused to eat the meat the whalers and government would have no choice but listen and the rest of the world would think better of the country and its people.

The brave men and women of Greenpeace are following the fleet that departed today with the sole objective to stop as many whales as possible from being slaughtered.

Please visit their website and follow the expedition to the Southern Ocean.

Since our last post requesting information on a species of octopus found whilst diving in the Celebes Sea we have received a number of emails with possible sightings of this delightful critter.

Most we have been able to identify as different species such as the Poison Ocellate Octopus Octopus mototi, recently sent in by Roan Stoel.

However and image by Jeff Guzman appears to bear similarities.

Notice the blue false eye ring (ocellus) on the mantel and the appendage centered between the eyes.






Although many have a pair of false eye spots, to date we have been unable to find a species bearing the appendage.

I would imagine this animal is fairly abundant within this region but finding and documenting them it difficult due to their small size, shyness and particularly cryptic behavior.

At the very least we can confirm distribution to be North Borneo and neighboring parts of the Philippines !

If anyone has any further information to add please drop us a line.

For more images and information please visit our Marine Biology Octopus section.

Conservation efforts by the staff and management of Kapalai Dive Resort continue with the construction of artificial reef systems located in front of the dive station.

Adding to an already established collection of small wrecks the recently sunken boats and purpose built wooden constructions will in time become part of the natural environment providing shelter, protection and food for surrounding marine life.

With worldwide coral reefs in decline space comes at a premium.

An artificial reef system creates its own biomass where coral polyps develop and cover the steel and wooden debris, thus providing extra room for species to develop.






Wildlife concentrates on these reefs and in many cases enhances the development of rare species.

To name but a few Kapalia's artificial house reef is already home to Painted and Clown Frogfish, Harlequin Ghostpipefish, Giant Grouper, Butterfly and Angelfish, various members of the Scorpionfish family and the endangered Bumphead Parrotfish.

The resorts vision in creating this new habitat is, in our opinion to be commented.

Not only will it ease human pressure by divers on natural reefs in the area, it also provides another attraction should Sipadan be privatised or off limits to divers for an amount of time in the future.

Kapalai's House Reef is located a giant stride from the Dive Center

Please visit our Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort section for more information and images of the area. Should you wish to book a trip contact us and we'll put you directly in touch with the resort.

Kota Kinabalu once again played host to British Army Adventure Training this September.

Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue and Speciality Courses were completed throughout an eight day program in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, with an additional day White Water Rafting on the Padas River.

Thanks to Ben and Maria who, whilst on their Digital Photography Course mananged to snap some pictures of the group and a few underwater critters.

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park provides an ideal location for Team Building and Corporate Exercises such as this with year round diving in tropical coral reef waters just minutes from the city and overlooked by Mt Kinabalu.

It was our pleasure to organize and conduct the trip for the group and look forward to the next time !

Please visit our Dive Trip Photo Album to see a selection of images from the event.

For more information on tailored group and corporate events please contact us directly.

We're pleased to announce a trip to Lankayan Island Resort from 8th - 13th December 2007 (6 nights). Having never previously visited the resort we're looking forward to exploring above and below the island.

Reputed for its natural beauty and tranquility the resort is located in the Sulu Sea and accessed via speedboat from Sandakan in Sabah, Borneo.

The surrounding waters are Marine Protected Areas and offer the diver Macro and Wreck dive opportunities as well as passing seasonal Whalesharks.

The resort has adopted an eco tourism concept and has the same owner/ managers as Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort in the Celebes Sea, Borneo.

Should anyone wish to join the trip please drop us a line and we'll put you in touch with the resort to book your reservation.

Please visit our Dive Trip Photo Album to see a selection of images from previous trips to other locations.

Should you wish to visit Lankayan Island Resort independently please contact us and we'll provide you with a direct contact at the resort.

It would appear that the rare Marble Mouth Frogfish (Lophiocharon lithinostomus) is not so rare in the waters of North Borneo or at least within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, just off shore Kota Kinabalu City.

Since it was first described in 1908 by Jordon and Richardson internet searches reveal very few sightings or species information and even fewer images.

We have however found two creatures within the park throughout the last year and our recent discovery has not moved from its shallow reef home for a number of weeks.


Our images confirm its identity, note the long twig like Illicium (rod) with no actual lure on the tip and its typical lifeless appearance.

Should you wish to learn more about these wonderfully ugly creatures please visit our Marine Biology Frogfish section.

To read more about a previous encounter with the Marble Mouth see our Creature Features section within this blog or use this link.

Everyone had such a great trip at Kapalai last August we've decided a return trip is in order.

We'll be there 23rd to 31st October, should anyone wish to join us please drop us a line and we'll put you in touch with the resort to book your reservation.

Please visit our Dive Trip Photo Album to see a selection of images from our last trip, all images were taken during the 5 night stay.



Should you wish to visit Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort independently please contact us and we'll provide you with a direct contact at the resort.

Although we have always enjoyed the challenges of basic accommodation at the Kinabatangan River, new luxury rooms at Bilit Adventure Lodge are a real treat.

Twin, Triple and Double bedded rooms with air-con and hot showers have been built and provide a very comfortable stay at the lodge.

A visit to Sabah would not be complete without visiting this region which is acknowledged by experts to be the most varied and easily accessible river in all of Southeast Asia.


Bird lovers will find the bird watching incredible: all 8 of Borneo's hornbill species are seen regularly.

Please visit our Borneo Bird section to see just some of our images from the area

Throughout various trips we've been fortunate to see Proboscis Monkey, Langurs, Orang Utan, Saltwater Crocodiles, Pygmy Elephants and the list goes on and on.

Please see our Kinabatangan River section for more images and info.

Should you wish to visit the region we highly recommend Bilit Adventure Lodge, not only do they have new luxury accommodation rooms they also offer fan and dormitory options.

You can book direct with them by email or visit their Sepilok website at Sepilok Jungle Resort. another resort well worth a visit and owned by the same family.

A recent trip to Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort surpassed all expectations for divers and non divers alike.

Reminiscent of the Maldives but without the crowds the resort comprises of 40 luxury wooden stilt chalets built over a once vegetated island. There are no sand-flies or mosquitoes, no need for air conditioning, bathing water is shipped from the mainland and rubbish is disposed of correctly.

Service and luxury are words that come to mind when describing the resort, the dive team are super efficient i don't think i lifted a tank in the 5 days of being there.
Camera washing and storing facilities are excellent, dive guides and boatmen know their creatures and where to find them. The food is very good with ample variety.

The surrounding dive sites, some of which are a simple giant stride away from the dive station support a wealth of marine life - a macro divers paradise, with world famous Sipadan Island a 20 min speadboat ride away. For information on the dive sites surrounding the area please visit our Scuba Diving Kapalai, Sipadan and Mabul pages.

We are still buzzing from our trip, to the point that a return visit in October is currently being planned, if you'd like to be informed of dates with a view to joining us please contact us or re-visit this news page soon.

Please visit our Dive Trip Photo Album to see a selection of images from this trip, all images were taken during the 5 night stay.

Should you wish to visit Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort independently please contact us and we'll provide you with a direct contact at the resort.

For a stunning photograph of the Blue Ring Octopus swimming see next months Image Of The Month.

June saw Mamutik Island in Sabah Borneo playing host to 7 Flight, a component of the British Army Based in Brunei. PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue and Speciality Courses were conducted over two 4 day programs with an additional day White Water Rafting on the Padas River.

Parts of the programs were completed in Brunei leaving ample time for the groups to enjoy some of the wonderful diving that Kota Kinabalu has to offer, whilst at the same time perfect their in-water skills.



The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park provides an ideal location for Teambuilding and Corporate Exercises such as this with year round diving in tropical coral reef waters just minutes from the city and overlooked by Mt Kinabalu. It was our pleasure to organize and conduct the trip for the group and look forward to the next time !

Please visit our Dive Trip Photo Album to see a selection of images from the event.

For more information on tailored group and corporate events please contact us directly or view our dedicated website section Corporate Events, Team Building and Adventure Training.

We are currently upgrading our webservers and have experienced some emails going astray. If you have contacted us within the last few days and we have not replied, please resend your mail once we have posted that we are back to normal. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. If your enquiry is urgent please fill in the form on the Contact Us page, this will find its way to us.
Problems resolved on 5.07.07.

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Taking time out from their busy schedule, a group of UK Military personnel came to Mamutik Island for a few days of recreational diving with Downbelow.

It was our pleasure to introduce them to some of the marine life this region has to offer and a good time was had by all.

Many had never dived before and they were fortunate to meet the friendly Green Turtle, mentioned in a previous post.

Upon surfacing one of the guys proclaimed "thats my first underwater turtle" we returned "you're our first underwater Gurkha !"

The group have now returned to their posts in various corners of the world. We wish them all the best and hope they return to KK one day in the future.

For more information on diving in Kota Kinabalu please see Scuba Diving - Tunku Abdul Rahman Park or drop us an email.

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A common misconception of Mount Kinabalu is that a visit means conquering the summit which is simply not the case.

Mount Kinabalu is a comfortable 1-hour 40 minute drive from Kota Kinabalu and makes for a interesting day trip for anyone wishing to escape the city.

Today we decided to combine a day out with some exercise and climbed from the starting point of the summit ascent at Timpohon Gate (1,866m) to Layang Layang at 2,621 m.
Layang Layang is the farthest point along the summit trail climbers may ascend without a guide and summit permit charge. This makes the experience very affordable having to pay 15RM entrance to the park itself plus 10RM for the summit trail entrance( £3.70 in total).

The atmosphere on route is exhilarating with climbers descending having achieved their summit goal, full of encouragement for those beginning their two day ascent.

The 8-km round trip to Layang Layang takes around 3.5 hours so theres plenty of time to spend the rest of the day within the Kinabalu Park, visiting the botanical gardens and enjoying a nice meal in one of the restaurants, or for a cheaper option but superb cuisine - the cafe opposite the main entrance to the park.

For more information and images including accommodation reviews and advise on a summit ascent, please visit our Mount Kinabalu page.

In contrast to our previous Marine Turtle post we're pleased to report a positive turtle story.

Throughout the past month divers and snorkelers around Mamutik Island have been treated to several encounters with a friendly Green Turtle (Cheonia myda) that has been feeding on the fringing reefs of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

Green and Hawksbill turtles are seen throughout the year within the park but the environmental and hunting challenges they face have resulted in fewer sightings. As a result an encounter is fairly uncommon and always a treat.

For more information on Turtles please visit our Marine Biology Turtle link.

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We are currently upgrading our web servers and some pages will not be available form 22th - 25th May 2007.

We apologize for the interruption.

Please re-visit www.downbelowseaventures.com OR www.downbelow.co.uk soon.

Should you have an immediate enquiry please contact us.

COMPLETED 25.5.07.

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We have once again been treated to several sightings of Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) along the Kinabatangan River in Sabah Borneo, some in excess of 3m in length.

Crocodylus porosus is one of three or four species of Crocodilian living Borneo, it is also the largest growing up to 7m long.

Worldwide populations have greatly decreased throughout the last century due to habitat lose, urbanization, river development projects and extensively being hunted for their meat, skin and through fear. This trend however has reversed in Sabah within the last 10-15 years and along the lower Kinabatangan river numbers are increasing

This recovery is probably due to a number of factors, most influential was protection of the species in 1982 and establishment of the Sandakan Crocodile Farm in Eastern Sabah which fulfills the demand for the animals meat and skin

Saltwater Crocodiles are an awesome creature to see, especially in the wild in an area where they are abundant and thriving. For more images please visit our Borneo Reptiles photo collection.

When staying at Kinabatangan we reside off the beaten track at Bilit Adventure Lodge you can read more about their accommodation here.

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We will be at Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort in Sabah, Borneo from 6th - 11th August 2007.

Please visit our Dive Trips link for more information.

As always we're sure to have a fantastic time and welcome additional souls, so if you wish to join us please email us for more details.

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Nudibranchs ( meaning naked - gill and pronounced NUDI BRANKS) are Sea slugs belonging to the class Gastropoda and are always a popular creature for divers to look out for.

They have soft bodies and in many cases are extremely colourful ranging in size from microscopic to almost two feet long !

They can be found in all our oceans throughout the world at all depths with many remaining undescribed. For more information about the biology of Nudibranchs please visit our Marine Biology Sea Slug page.

When pointing out Nudi's during training dives for novices one of the most frequently asked questions is what do they eat ?? Sea slugs consume a wide variety of foods from Brozoans, Hydroids, Alge and even each other !!

The most common slugs encountered by divers are from the family Chromodoris they are mainly sponge feeders and represent some of the most colorful of all the families.

On a recent dive we captured some interesting, descriptive shots of H. kanga feeding on its favored sponge food, image above and right.

We thought this post might interest marine enthusiasts and help them better understand the way Nudi's eat.

As you can see in the first image, the mouth opening extends and it is literally hoovering up the living tissue of the sponge leaving only the white skeleton behind.

These animals use "chemical warfare" as means of defence. Storing toxins from the consumed food within their soft bodies. The toxins are either distasteful or poisonous to their predators. This form of protection has been so successful that many have evolved without a shell, unlike their land cousin the common snail.

Knowing the food source can help identify a species as coloration is often variable.

We have compiled a photographic Sea Slug Field Guide to assist divers in identifying their Nudibranch find, it is presented like a free book for all to use.

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This years Whale Shark season in Kota Kinabalu has passed with no credible sightings, which leads us to wonder why?

Every year from February to April the waters surrounding the north western coast of Borneo become cooler with temperatures dropping as low as 24 degrees at diving depths. At the same time, Krill begin to appear along with their predator the Whale Shark Rhincodon typus - the only representative of the Rhincodontidae family.

Although the Whale Shark is the largest fish in the ocean, migration patterns are still poorly understood and their absence this season could be attributed to a number of occurrences. For one, last years giant visitors were harassed and injured by locals and tourists, one young male was hit by a boat propeller.

Overfishing and ocean pollution is a rising and constant threat to all marine life within the food chain and will no doubt put pressure on already small numbers of Shark visitors to the region. Unknown to most, fish bombing continues in the surrounding waters of Sabah, although an illegal practice law enforcement appears to be weak in this area and we often hear bombs exploding whilst diving.

This years El Nino could also be a factor, studies at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville indicate that in strong El Nino years Krill numbers are lower, whereas during La Nina years krill abundance proved to be much higher. So perhaps the El Nino phenomenon somehow negatively affects the whale sharks’ food supply in certain areas, thus less or in our case none are seen.

At Ningaloo reef in Western Australia the Department of Fisheries and Calm have developed strict guidelines for human interaction with Whale Sharks. Perhaps in positive anticipation of them returning next year the local authorities of Sabah should introduce a similar enforcement. For more information on these guidelines please CLICK HERE.

For more information on Whale Sharks please visit our Marine Biology Sharks section.

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Making headlines this week in Kota Kinabalu are Marine Turtles - dead ones, illegally caught by poaching boats from China and Indonesia. This frustrating and sad news along with finding a dead Green Turtle, killed by a speed boat engine has inspired us to post a news item reminding readers of the dangers these adorable creatures face in our world today.

Marine Turtles have roamed our oceans for 185 million years with only one natural predator – the Tiger Shark. Amazingly they survived the mass extinction of dinosaurs to face and even greater threat - Man !

WWF’s Endangered Species list includes the Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Kemps Ridley, Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtle.

Sexual maturity comes late, most turtles will not mate until at least the age of 25 years old some much later, and a great number are killed before they reach this age reducing their numbers to the point of critical depletion.

They face numerous threats; their meat, eggs and oil are sought after for human consumption and seen as a delicacy in parts of Asia. Their shells, especially the Hawksbill is beautiful and used to make jewellery and household ornaments. Although they are a protected species in many waters as we've seen this week there is still great demand for their body parts to the point where poachers are willing to risk jail and hefty fines to bring back the catch.

Many become entangled in fishing nets, long line nets and drown.  Some are hit by speed boats as they surface for air.

Turtles accidentally swallow plastic bags, which block up their digestive system. Cigarette butts, which are toxic are often thrown into the ocean - even by Divers ! If a turtle swallows one of these they will more than likely die.

In recent years dead turtles have been found with grapefruit size tumors, the cause of which is uncertain but most likely a result of increased chemical pollutants in our oceans.


It’s a sad state of affairs, perhaps awareness and education can help save our Turtles and each of us can make a small difference.

So what can we do ?

Do not buy or support any outlet selling turtle products.

Take a rubbish net diving and collect any plastic bags you might find, ensuring that nothing is living in them before you ball them up. If you don't have a net just put them in your BCD pocket, just one bag can make a difference.

If you see anyone throw cigarette butts into any body of water, inform them of the consequence should a turtle or other marine creature swallow their butt. Usually when people are educated about the cigarettes toxicity, next time they finish their smoke they'll dispose of it differently.

If you're diving or snorkeling in an area known for turtles and the dive boat you're on is going too fast to avoid an ascending turtle, ask the driver to slow down and explain why.

If you visit a region and rubbish in ocean alarms you, say something, make your thoughts known to the tourist board.

When guests and tourists complain, this is the voice thats heard as this is where the money comes from.

For More Information on Marine Turtles please visit our Marine Biology Turtle page.

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On a recent trip to Kinabatangan we discovered a Tree Planting program organized by Bilit Adventure Lodge.

This entire area has suffered greatly from tree felling and forest clearing for the development of Palm Plantations which pose enormous challenges to the environment and wildlife living within it. Thankfully in 1999 the Government of Malaysia declared a 26,000 hectare region of the Kinabatangan their "Gift to the Earth".

With lodges and resorts now providing visitors the opportunity to see many endangered and fascinating creatures, tree planting is a way in which we can all give a little back, not only to the area but to the planet.

It is said that in a lifetime one human being requires 10 trees to absorb our carbon dioxide output.

Tree saplings are cultivated by the local Orang Sungei (River People) and for 10RM you can take part in this program and plant your own tree, a name board is provided so you can check on the tree's progress throughout future visits. Fruiting trees are a valuable food source to the wildlife in the region, encouraging more wildlife to the replanted area.




Click here for more information on the Kinabatangan River.

For information about the Tree Planting program please email Bilit Adventure Lodge.

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We're off to Layang Layang at the end of March. Economies of scale should result in an attractive cost for the trip, so if you're interested in coming along please contact us for more information. Those that are considering flying here from outside of Malaysia should check out Malaysia Airlines as they have some pretty good deals on flights this year due to the "Visit Malaysia 2007" promotion. You need to meet us here in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah then together we'll take a small plane over to the island which takes an hour.
The Island of Layang Layang is part of the Spratly Island and lies in the middle of the South China Sea, 300KM North West of Sabah in Borneo. Its just 50 acre's in size and the surrounding reefs plunge to 2,000m. Renowned for stunning wall dives, beautiful coral reef and an array of Pelagic Marine life including a resident school of Hammerhead Sharks. We're extremely excited about this trip and welcome our dive community friends to join us. As usual we'll be happy to conduct Photo Clinics for those interested in Underwater Photography.

For more information, please contact us.

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What was expected to be an average nudibranch sightseeing dive on Mid Reef turned into a particularly exciting encounter with a Marble Mouthed Frogfish (Lophiocharon lithinostomus).

Having visited the sites wreck at 19m we began our slow ascent combing the gently sloping reef searching for critters. Today's visibility was particularly poor averaging only 2-3m a common occurrence at this location. Richard's single bang of the tank indicated a special find, at first myself and Sanai both professional divers and experienced guides couldn't recognize what he was pointing at but the squeaks of joy soon came through the regulators as the find materialized !

Often with cryptic critters we would notice an eye before seeing the creature itself but its eye's appeared particularly lifeless and as a result they were barely recognizable, infact at first we thought it was dead.

We both knew at the time this small sized Froggy was special, Richard photographed him and even when the strobes fired the creature did not flinch, continuing to conceal its identity.

Identification of Frogfish is particularly tricky because many species have the ability to change colour to suit their environment and sizes vary within the same family. The most important
distinguishing factor is their Illicium (Rod) and the lure that sits on the tip. Notice that our individual has a long twig like Illicium with no actual lure on the tip, this provided vital clues to its identity and combined with location, size and habitat we are confident to say its a Marbled Mouthed Frogfish.
Distribution. North Borneo and neighboring areas of the Philippines, considered very rare
Habitat. Brackish waters
Location. Mid Reef, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, South China Sea, Sabah, Borneo
Depth. 10.8m
Frogfish Size. Max 6cm
Date. 23rd January 2007
Notes. Particularly lifeless, very cryptic

Click for more information on Frogfish or use our Marine Biology links to the right.

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Pygmy Elephants Crossing the Kinabatangan River

On a recent visit to the Kinabatangan with Bilit Adventure Lodge we were treated to a rare sighting of Elephants crossing the river. Nearing the end of our late afternoon river cruise, on route to our accommodation and already having seen a wealth of wildlife, our boatman sighted two Bornean Pygmy Elephants in the river. At first we thought perhaps they were taking an evening bath but soon realized a crossing was taking place. To our amazement we witnessed groups of around 20 at a time gather together on the bank, placing the juveniles at the centre of the herd then swim across the river. In total over 100 passed the bow of our small boat. Truly spectacular !

For more information on the region and Pygmy Elephants Of Borneo please visit our Kinabatagan page.

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