New scuba diving sites, reef & fishing net clean ups, lots of new divers, budding underwater photographers and an abundance of critters are just some of what’s been happening at Downbelows PADI 5 Star Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island over the past couple of weeks !!

Scuba diving with us at Downbelow is very exciting because we have some of the very best dive guides in the region. With many years of local knowledge and experience we know exactly where to look for the beautifully ugly creature critters of the reef !!!

This week causing much excitement has been the discovery of 2 - yes TWO juvenile painted frog fish on one of the reefs close to our dive centre. We hope that these shy and sensitive creatures will stay in the area for a long while.

We found a fishing net washed up on North Sulug, one of our favorite dive sites, the very next day Richard, a few members of staff and our Divemaster trainees spent almost the whole day cutting it away, fish were saved and the reef was left with only a little damage.

Lots of guests have enjoyed leisure diving to some of the best dive sites at TARP offshore to Usukan Bay WW2 Wrecks, The Rock and Mayne Rock.

The visibility has been great too this week, surface waters were a little low at times due to some heavy rain but still very enjoyable.

Should you wish to come and visit us at our island based dive & adventure center located on the beach with a resort like feel it is a fun place to spend the day, enjoying the tropical surroundings and chatting about all the wonderful creatures you will have spotted.  

For more information on scuba diving Gaya Island, TARP and Sabah’s West Coast please peruse our links to the left, starting with the Dive Trip section.

For more information on the marine creatures you are likely to see please peruse our Marine Biology Section of the website. All information and photography is the work of Richard and Joanne, Directors of Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.

TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

FIND US ON GOOGLE MAPS !

Ghostpipefish – a prize find in any location haven’t been this plentiful for long while and we believe the return of fantastical creatures to Kota Kinabalu’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) is pure conservation dividends.

Like many marine creature Ghostpipefish are seasonal and now is their peak season but its been years since they were in such abundance.

TARP has historically been shunned by divers thinking anywhere in Sabah other than Sipadan is boring.

However with marine life returning to the reefs and rare creature encounters frequent, Downbelow is convinced that conservation efforts are rejuvenating the park.

We see something wonderful on every dive - vibrant corals, unusual Nudibranches, Marble & Eagle Rays, Schools of Chevron Barracuda, Orang Utan Crabs, Pajama Cardinals; they’re all here within sight of the city.

Gaya Island & TARP have enjoyed increased protection from Sabah Parks and it’s the reduction of illegal fishing practices that’s a major contributor to the return of marine life.

To discover more about diving Borneo and to dive Gaya Island & TARP, please peruse our website.

For more information on the marine creatures you are likely to see please peruse our Marine Biology Section of the website. All information and photography is the work of Richard and Joanne, Directors of Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

FIND US ON GOOGLE MAPS !

Ornate or Harlequin Ghostpipefish - Solenostomus paradoxus

Closely related to the family Syngnathidae - Seahorses and Pipefish they are from same order and share the long tube like snout.

Easily identified and arguably the most elaborate of Syngnathiformes, the Ornate or Harlequin Ghostpipefish is a highly prized discovery among divers and underwater photographers and we have several pairs around Gaya Island and within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

The fins of the Ornate Ghostpipefish are well developed, large and as the name suggests ornately decorated.

Spending most of its time in a head down position, drifting or slowly swimming in gentle surge and currents. In our image to the left, photographed by Richard just a couple of minutes from our PADI 5 Star IDC Centre on Gaya Island, you can see a pair of Ghostpipefish cryptically nestled among the branches of a feather star.

Their coloration is variable and the female has much larger ventral fins to store her eggs. Males are generally smaller in size than females, who grow to approximately 10cm in length. If undisturbed they will remain in the same host fauna for many weeks allowing us to revisit and respectfully show our divers !!!

Gaya Island and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park - TARP offers some fabulous scuba diving possibilities, teeming with marine life it should not be missed by divers coming to Sabah.

For more information on scuba diving Gaya Island, TARP and Sabah’s West Coast please peruse our links to the left, starting with the Dive Trip section.

For more information on the marine creatures you are likely to see please peruse our Marine Biology Section of the website. All information and photography is the work of Richard and Joanne, Directors of Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Richard has been in Macro heaven recently armed with his 105mm lens he has been diving with Underwater Photography enthusiasts to photograph some of the little critters of the reef.

This beautiful Seahorse can be seen on one of Gaya Islands nearby reefs, shot full frame with a 105mm lens, we will no doubt print it and add it to the gallery of images at our Dive Shop & Travel Centre in KK City.

Check out our FACEBOOK and see “Super Macro Fun in the TAR Park by Richard Swann” - the images are stunning, so too is Richards Nudibranch Album.

You can learn the art of Underwater Photography with us at our PADI 5 Star Dive & Adventure Island on Gaya Island, we have the perfect location, facilities and critters. Our staff team led by Richard have a wealth of knowledge that goes beyond standard courses.

Richard has many many years of experience in Underwater Photography and is more than happy to share this with friends & guests of Downbelow.

Enjoy UNLIMITED scuba diving where you can spend as long as you like (bottom time and air permitting) underwater getting that perfect shot !!

PADI Underwater Digital Photography Speciality Courses are available as well as Photography Clinics and underwater camera rental.

Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.

We have discovered a wonderful colony of Pajama Cardinalfish just outside our island based PADI 5 Star Dive Centre on Gaya Island - Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

These spectacular but shy fish are quite rare in the park however we can occasionally find them in sheltered bays where they prefer the calmer protected waters.

They are particularly sensitive to pollution so it's a good sign of a healthy reef to find them in any numbers.

Richard got a few pix for you to enjoy and help you know what to look out for !

Request your Downbelow dive guide to show you them next time you are here with us ;-)

You can see more images on our FACEBOOK.

Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

This harmless & stunning Green Snake is frequently seen hunting nearby our Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

There is so much wildlife to be seen at our little piece of paradise on Gaya Island - surrounded by Tropical Ocean & Primary Rainforest - we love it !!

Referred to locally as the simple Green Snake - found among the island palm trees - this is one of the only snakes to have a horizontal pupil.

Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Downbelow company directors Richard and Joanne Swann's latest article - "Ultimate Critter" is featured in this months Australian Sport Diving Magazine.

The article takes a look at the what makes the highly prized Blue Ringed Octopus the ultimate of critters.

Packed with interesting facts and stunning photography the article makes for a great read !!!

Sport Diving Magazine is in stores now throughout Australasia. You can subscribe to the magazine online and/or read the low res pdf of the article at http://www.divetheblue.net.

The Blue Ring Octopus is seen with some what regularity in the region of Kapalai in the Celebes Sea,

We have also seen the odd individual in TAR Park in the South China Sea where are have our PADI 5 Star Dive Center on Gaya Island.

For more information on this interesting and venomous creature please visit our dedicated Octopus and Squid Marine Biology Section.

For Diving within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park please visit our Daily Dive Package section.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

We are often asked what kind of sharks can be seen in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu Sabah.

So we thought we would write a short post about the Sharks you might see whilst Scuba Diving with us on our local Dive Sites.

The BIG gun is the Whaleshark - Rhincodon typus.

Throughout March and April these beautiful creatures can be seen within the TAR Park when their migration paths bring them to our region.

Easily identified they are the largest fish in the ocean growing up to approx 18m in length.

Dots and lines pattern their huge bodies and they are generally seen here close to the surface waters.

A resident Shark species in the TAR Park is the Black Tip Reef Shark Carcharhinus melanopterus (image above left, photographed on a local dive site)

As its name suggests, the tips of the shark's pectoral fin and dorsal fin are black, with a white underside.

We often see very cute and harmless Juvenile Black Tip Reef Sharks in our bay at Gaya Island.

Another resident and fairly commonly encountered Shark is the Bamboo Shark / Brown Banded Cat Shark - Chiloscyllium punctatum. (Bamboo Sahrk: Image below)



To an in-experienced eye the the Bamboo Shark is often mistaken as a Juvenile Nurse Shark - Ginglymostoma cirratum. (Nurse Shark: Image below right)

However once you've encountered both Sharks and with a little bit of knowledge and experience the Bamboo Shark can be easily identified.

Both Sharks are nocturnal hunters. Nurse Sharks are a larger and bolder Shark, they can be seen resting on the seabed or beneath coral blocks but they do not need to hide away for protection particularly once they have reached maturity.

Whereas the much smaller and timid Bamboo Shark will hide deep in the coral reef during the day, seeking protection from larger predators.

The body of a Bamboo Shark is noticeably slender, especially when compared to the head whereas the Nurse Shark has a very chunky body, as wide if not wider than its head, (notice the head and body shape of the Nurse Shark on the plate below left).

A very quick and easy way to recognize a Bamboo Shark is to look at the gill slits - they are edged in white, differentiating them from the Nurse Shark.

A Juvenile Bamboo Shark has brown bands along the body, as the shark matures these lines fade to a solid grey.

Most often young Nurse Shark have tiny spots which usually fade to a solid dark / grey / brown solid colour as the Shark matures.

Nurse Sharks can grow to 4m in length and are not seen in the TAR Park, their known distribution is Western Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific, a closely related species lives in the Indian Ocean.

The Bamboo Shark grows to approx 1.2m and can be found throughout Indo - West Pacific.

Very occasionally we may see other species of Shark and by nature all are harmless to humans - unless provoked.

For More information on the biology of Sharks please see our dedicated website section: Sharks & Rays Marine Biology.

Should you wish to join us at our Island Dive Centre in TAR Park please contact us, we dive every single day and have superb access to the best dive sites. We also venture further afield (weather permitting) to dive locations along the West Coast Sabah.


Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Scuba Divers and Snorkelers with Downbelow were once again treated to sighting a Whaleshark just in front of Downbelows Beach House PADI 5 Star IDC Center on Gaya Island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.


After a fun filled day trip to our paradise island location scuba divers, snorkelers and trekkers had boarded our transfer boat for their return trip to Kota Kinabalu mainland - only 10 minutes away.

En-route our eagle eyed boat captain saw a huge school of Krill (image right) close to the surface. Whalesharks feed on the krill so he figured they might be close by.

Circling a couple of times, they then saw a fin and the Whaleshark itself. Pictured above are our guests rushing to the starboard side of the boat looking at the fish that was almost the size of the dive boat !!!

When the news spread that there was a Whaleshark in our bay the boat carrying our staff swiftly departed attempting to catch a glimpse - they were too late but instead they saw a Giant Manta Ray come to the surface !!!!!

Should you wish to join us for the Whale Shark season this year please contact us either by email, telephone or visit our Dive Shop and Travel Centre.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Whale Sharks have arrived on Gaya Island Kota Kinabalu Sabah !!

March to April is traditionally Whaleshark season in the surrounding waters of Kota Kinabalu and along the west coast Sabah.

At Downbelow we run daily dive packages, visiting their favorite feeding grounds around Gaya Island and within TARP in search of these beautiful creatures.

Yesterday to every ones delight our divers came across a huge school of Krill whilst on their 1st boat dive of the day.

Knowing that the Sharks would not be far away they began searching the shallow waters.

In total 3 of these enormous fish were spotted, 2 of the Whale Sharks were 4-6m in length with 1 of them around 12m long !!

What a spectacle !! The divers spent an hour with them cruising back and forth the bay.

In the excited frenzy they didn't manage to get a great picture and unfortunately Richard did not have his camera but thanks to Tan from Sarawak we do have a couple of images of the actual sharks.

Among our guests that day were two people on a 3 Day Dive Package, specifically to see the Whale Sharks and they have both written very some lovely comments for our guest-book.

"I herewith attached the whale shark pictures that I took on Friday the 13th March 2009. These are the only pictures that I have in my cam.
 
I really have a great times diving with your team! Only two words that I can describe your team, and that is  VERY GOOD!
 
That's all from me now and I hope I will manage to get the divers from Kuching to dive in KK for Whale Shark next year!
 
Thanks for everything! Warmest regards,
Tan (Sarawak)

Your centre have got yourself great staff with superb eyes sight.. I'm so glad I did see the whale shark... The excitment in me is like so so huge... Really enjoyed myself. Thank you so much...

Warmest Regards
Lirene

Should you wish to join us for the Whale Shark season this year please contact us either by email, telephone or visit our Dive Shop and Travel Centre.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Just one of our recent critter discoveries was this beautiful little Mimic Octopus, found on the sandy bottom in at 15m on one of our out lying dive sites close to our PADI 5 Star Dive Centre.

Richard was leading a couple of divers who had joined us for a multiple day dive package within TARP when they came across this master of disguise and camouflage.

Unlike many other Octopodidae the Mimic is active during the day foraging for crustaceans, often using the same resting burrow for days at a time the Mimic Octopus can sometimes be revisited.

This octopus gets its name from its ability to impersonate the appearance and behavior of other animals, particularly poisonous ones such as lionfish and banded seasnake.

For more information on Octopus and Squid please visit our field guide.

Our guests are often surprised to see such rare and fascinating marine life on dive sites within the national park. Please join us next time you are passing Kota Kinabalu, visit our paradise island based Dive and Adventure Centre on Gaya Island and Dive or Snorkel Downbelow to catch a glimse of some of our wonderful mairne life.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!

TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Yesterday, whilst on route to our island based dive centre at The Beach House Gaya Island, Divers and Snorkelers aboard our dive boat were treated to Dolphin sightings.

Every year around this time we tend to have dolphins in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, last year they stayed within the shallows of our beach area for some 30 minutes.

Yesterday the dolphins were full of the joys of January !!

They leaped and frolicked around our dive boat for 40 minutes !!

Fortunately we were conducting a PADI Digital Underwater Photography Course so cameras were on board.

One of our PADI Instructors Calvin took an incredible shot of one leaping out of the water in front of Kota Kinabalu City.

All images here were taken of the dolphins yesterday.

Dolphins are marine mammals, they breath air from the surface of the ocean.

Dolphins are social animals, living in pods (also called "schools") of up to a dozen individuals.

The Dolphins yesterday had joined pods because there were about 50 individuals, this usually happens in places with a high abundance of food.

Dolphin pods join temporarily, forming an aggregation called a superpod; some such groupings may exceed a thousand dolphins, such as we have seen around Sipadan.

The individuals communicate using a variety of clicks, whistles and other vocalizations.

Dolphins are a popular artistic motif, dating back ancient times and always a joy to see, hopefully this will not be the last we see of them. We are feeling that the Whalesharks will not be far behind !!!!



We offer a wide range of scuba diving trips in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park TARP, Pulau Tiga - Survivor Island, Usukan Bay WW2 Wrecks, Deluar Shoals, Tuaran Dive Sites and Mayne Rock.

Aboard our fast 37ft and 32ft Dive Boats there is not another operator on the West Coast of Sabah who can reach West Coast Dive sites faster - this means you spend less time on a dive boat and more time diving !!!

For more information on our West Coast Dive Trips please Contact Us.

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!

TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Downbelow PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in the TAR Park (TARP) was a buzz yesterday when the morning dive boat returned to the Beach House on Gaya Island with a group of very happy divers from Australia, UK, Denmark and Holland.

The excitement was over a Black Ribbon Eel that they discovered on a deep dive just a couple of minutes boat ride from our Island Dive Centre.

Our knowledge and experience tells us that these delightful little critters remain in the same area for some time, so revisiting this prize find should be possible.

Ribbon Eels (Rhinomuraena quaesita) are a rare find and quite secretive usually only showing their head and their distinctively large flared nostrils.

Should a diver get to close, they will hide away in their hole and probably stay hidden for a few minutes.

Black Ribbon Eels with a yellow dorsal fin are juveniles and sub adults.

To read more about Ribbon Eels please peruse our dedicated Marine Biology Section within our website.

Should you wish to Scuba Dive with us, please peruse our Daily Diving Package or PADI Courses Section.

Alternatively please call us on +6 )12 866 1935 or Email Us for a quick response.

Well ... we've had a very busy time of it of late and as a result our news and events page has been a little neglected !

Throughout the next few weeks we'll update this section with all our exciting news including pictures of our new Dive Station and Offices plus our recent Adventure Training Activities !!

Meanwhile, we must share the news of a rare sighting within the surrounding waters of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

Whilst conducting a Deep Dive as part of a PADI Advanced Course, having completed the required skills at 30m we began our assent along the sandy bottom towards the sloping reef.

The current was actually pretty strong but manageable, with all four divers finning fairly hard, when all of sudden a small movement on the rubble seabed caught my eye. Edging towards it for a closer look i recognised the unmistakable blue rings that decorate the body and legs of the Blue Ring Octopus Hapalochlaena sp. I beckoned over my students, they could see by my excitement that this little creature was of special interest. I pointed and screamed through my regulator, by now the current had picked up as we neared the reef slope and our bubbles were trailing horizontally in the water column. We all finned furiously to maintain our position to see the little critter, who just perched on a small piece of coral rubble, no doubt wondering what all the commotion was about !

Although Blue Ring Octopuses are seen with some what regularity in the region of Kapalai in the Celebes Sea, this is the first time any of us have encountered one within the TAR Park in the South China Sea. Some of our instructors have been working here for 10 + years with no sightings so i feel very privaliged and excitied to have come across such a highly prized and beautiful creature in my back yard !!

For more information on this interesting an venomous creature please visit our dedicated Octopus and Squid Marine Biology Section.

For Diving within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park please visit our Daily Dive Package section.

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.

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.

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.

Tags Turtles

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.

Tags Crocodiles

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.

Tags Nudibranchs

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.

Tags Sharks

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.

Tags Turtles

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.

Tags Frogfish

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.

Tags Elephants

Whilst on a Macro dive at Kapalai, Joanne's keen eye pays off with the discovery of a tiny Octopus. After studying our series of photographs we are still unable to identify the species. We believe it is related to the Blue Ring Octopus due to obvious similarities. We've been in contact with Marine Biologist friends in Australia and to our knowledge this is currently undescribed. If anyone has seen or knows anything about this delightful critter please contact us, we would welcome your input. For the purpose of a common name we've called it the Two Ring Octopus.

Location: Mandarin Valley, Kapalai, Celebes Sea, Sabah Borneo
Depth: 11m
Distinguishing Factors: Single blue ring either side of the Mantle (body), skin flaps above the eyes, extended frontal appendage in the centre of the eyes.
Size: 2cm including tentacles
Notes: Rings displayed much brighter when disturbed, most likely as a warning of a venomous bite.

Bryde's Whale In Kota Kinabalu

Jetting out by speedboat en- route to the islands of TARP we noticed a small gathering of local boats with many people in the water just offshore of Gaya Island.

Two friends from Sarawak were with us as we were conducting a Photo Clinic. Sadly the center of attention was a beached 21m Bryde's Whale, which soon became the the subject of a massive rescue effort by the diving community and government officials. That evening at high tide and after a very long day the creature was towed from the reef. Unfortunately it was found dead the following day at almost the same spot. Due to the fact we were focusing on the Photo Clinic with our friends Matthew and Lee, we were without our own cameras, however Lee kindly supplied us with these images.

Sad as it was that the creature died, it was an amazing experience to be in the water with such a magnificent animal.

Thanks to Foo Sze Lee for these images !

Tags Whales