Photo by Rantje Allen
Photo by William Tan
Photo by Rantje Allen
Photo by William Tan
Photo by Rantje Allen
Razorfish and shrimpfish swim in synchronized groups. Typically, they keep their noses down. They are a graceful sight for divers to enjoy. Distinctive behavior & appearance These fishes look like flattened razors. Their bodies are light in color with a dark body line. This line reaches from their long noses all the way to the… Continue Reading
Funnelweed, though found worldwide, lives in limited locations in Gorontalo. Divers certainly pass by without noticing. But scientists are researching it. Delicate scalloped algae Although funnelweed is a member of the brown algae family, its color here in Gorontalo is not brown. It grows in some sandy patches or substrate among other algae. Its color… Continue Reading
Duncanopsammia peltata or pagoda coral form immense colonies in Gorontalo’s healthy waters. Stunning Pagoda Coral Colonies One of Gorontalo’s ancient and stunning coral formations is pagoda coral. Giant plates form spirals, hence the common name denoting pagodas. The colonies featured in this video measure over four meters across. The video is courtesy of @jhonheriano of… Continue Reading
Dead nudibranch is rarely seen. But one of our sharp-eyed dive masters spotted one along an unnamed section of coral reef. A Black, Fleshy Mass Miguel’s Diving staff are always looking for marine life to show to our diving guests. They are skilled in spotting small critters, as well as pelagics that swim past divers… Continue Reading
Flower urchin looks like a lovely ball of trembling flowers. However, those flowers contain highly toxic venom. This sea urchin’s maximum diameter is about 15 centimeters. It lives in areas of sand and rubble along coral reefs. It also inhabits areas of sea grass. Beauty to Avoid Although commonly known as the Flower urchin, the… Continue Reading
Leopard sea cucumber is a beautiful creature of the ocean floor. However, divers should avoid touching its sensitive body. Spotted Beauty The Leopard sea cucumber lives in the eastern Indian and the western Pacific oceans. In the areas we dive in Gorontalo, it can only be found dependably at a single dive site. This sea… Continue Reading
Healthy coral growth is a notable characteristic of Gorontalo’s pristine reefs. Hard corals, known as scleractinians, dominate the marine environment here. Situated in the center of the Indo-Pacific’s Coral Triangle, Gorontalo displays highly diverse and dense corals. Diverse Acropora coral colonies One genus of Gorontalo’s hard corals is Acropora. Acropora coral colonies can form… Continue Reading
Reticulated puffer is a clumsy, clownish swimmer that delights divers who chance to see it. This puffer lives throughout the Indo-Pacific tropics A Distinctive Network of Lines The scientific name for this fish is Arothron reticularis, which is a fitting name. Reticulated means arranged like a net or marked like a network. Only the Reticulated… Continue Reading
