Archive for November, 2009

Beware! Sea Goblins!

By , 30 November, 2009, No Comment

Diving at the various sites around Koh Tao, occasionally I come face to face with my favorite if a bit bizarre fish: the Sea Goblin (Inimicus didactylus). Known by several other names (Spiny Devilfish, Demon Stinger), this fish is a member of the scorpionfish family (Scorpaenidae) though sometimes it is placed in the stonefish family (Synancejidae) It is a superbly camouflaged bottom dweller commonly found around Koh Tao, especially at Japanese Gardens, Twins, and Lighthouse.

Covered in protective sand the Sea Goblin makes his move

Covered in protective sand the Sea Goblin makes his move

Sea Goblins have elongate bodies without scales, with the exception of 13-15 buried in the lateral line. They are covered with skin glands that have the appearance of warts. They seem to range approximately between 130 mm to 200 mm in length. Being bottom dwellers, Sea Goblins display a number of benthic predatory specializations.

Like a Spanish Dancer leaving home for the first time, the goblin spreads its wings

Like a Spanish Dancer leaving home for the first time, the goblin spreads its wings

The species has a depressed head that is strongly concave on the dorsal side. The head is also covered with flaps of skin and raised ridges, and tentacles are present on the head, trunk, and fins. Its mouth points up almost vertically, and its eyes protrude visibly outwards. A raised knob at the end of its snout gives it the appearance of having an upturned nose. All these make it extremely easy for the fish to catch its prey.

With his raised knob, Bob found it easy to catch his prey

With his raised knob, Bob found it easy to catch his prey

The pectoral fins are large and their coloration is significant in identifying the different species of Inimicus. In I. didactylus, the underside of the pectoral fins bears broad dark bands (containing smaller, lighter spots) at the basal and distal ends. The lower 2 rays of its pectoral fins are free from the rest of the fin and used in “walking” along the bottom. I. didactylus is able to slowly crawl or drag itself along the seafloor. When not in motion, they spend most of their life buried in mud or concealed in coral reefs.

This Goblin wonders when the photographer will turn off the spotlight

This Goblin wonders when the photographer will turn off the spotlight

The Sea Goblin is mainly piscivorous. It lies partially buried in the seafloor with its eyes protruding above the substrate waiting to ambush smaller fishes. Its natural coloration allows it to blend in seamlessly with its environment, making it more difficult for its prey to visually spot it. If threatened, this species also flashes the undersides of its pectoral fins when disturbed as a warning signal. These, in addition to its natural camouflage, discourage other organisms from feeding on it.

Like some Lotus Bar visitors, nice from far, but far from nice.

Like some Lotus Bar visitors, nice from far, but far from nice.

The dorsal fin is composed of 15 to 17 venomous spines and 7 to 9 rays. Like other members of the scorpionfish family, I. didactylus possesses powerful venom that is stored in glands at the bases of its dorsal spines that can be injected upon contact. Because it is so well concealed, swimmers or divers may accidentally brush against it. It is also commonly caught by prawn trawlers. With a basic amount of care, observing these fish as they are slowly relocating from one hunting ground to the next can be an amazing experience. The key to finding them is landing in the sand, and remaining motionless for a few minutes. After the fish habituate to the diver’s presence, they will start moving about in slow, rhythmic motion usually matching the motion of the waves if in a shallow location.

With it's beady eye, the goblin inspires fear in passing fish

With it's beady eye, the goblin inspires fear in passing fish

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The silent witness: Sea Cucumbers

By , 30 November, 2009, No Comment

Holothurians, informally known as “sea cucumbers”, are the seemingly immobile “sausages” littering the sandy bottoms of our divesites. There are some 1,250 known species of sea cucumbers, which are closely related to sea stars, brittle stars, and sea urchins. They can be easy to ignore, but holothurians are a magnificent class of animals and when given a closer look will reveal spectacular sights.

A multitude of species of sea cucumbers, with elongated bodies and leathery skins, are found on the sea floor worldwide. Sea cucumbers can live between 5 and 10 years and generally are scavengers, feeding on debris in the benthic zone of the ocean. The diet of most cucumbers consists of plankton and decaying organic matter found in the sea water or in the bottom sand. Marbled sea cucumbers common to Koh Tao position themselves in currents and catch food that flows by with their open tentacles. Others sift through the bottom sediments using their tentacles. Sea cucumbers communicate with each other through sending hormone signals through the water which others pick up. A remarkable feature of these animals is the catch collagen that forms their body wall. This can be loosened and tightened at will, and if the animal wants to squeeze through a small gap, it can essentially liquefy its body and pour into the space. To keep itself safe in these crevices and cracks, the sea cucumber hooks up all its collagen fibres to make its body firm again. Sea cucumbers have hundreds of tiny suction-cup tube feet that they use to crawl across the sea floor.

Sea cucumbers obtain oxygen from water in a pair of respiratory organs that branch off the cloaca just inside the anus, so that they ‘breathe’ by drawing water in through the anus and then expelling it. A variety of fish, most commonly pearl fish, have evolved a symbiotic relationship with sea cucumbers in which the pearl fish will live in sea cucumber’s cloaca using it for protection from predation. Many bristled worms and some crabs have also specialized to use the cloacal space of sea cucumbers for protection by living inside the animal.

Some species of coral-reef sea cucumbers can defend themselves by expelling their sticky cuvierian tubules (enlargements of the respiratory organs that float freely in the colon) to entangle potential predators. When startled, these cucumbers may expel some of them through a tear in the wall of the cloaca in an autotomic process known as evisceration. Replacement tubules grow back in one-and-a-half to five weeks, depending on the species. The release of these tubules can also be accompanied by the discharge of a toxic chemical known as holothurin, which has similar properties to soap. This chemical can kill any animal in the vicinity and is one more way in which these sedentary animals can defend themselves.

Many holothurian species and genera are targeted for human consumption. The harvested product is also referred to as sea cucumber, or as trepang, bêche-de-mer, balate, or sea slug, though you shouldn’t expect to be able to purchase any of these dishes on Koh Tao.

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Your time at DJL

By , 26 November, 2009, No Comment

I asked a few of the old gang what they thought of their time at Davy Jones Locker,
here’s what they had to say…

Matt Matt Housiaux – Divemaster
I was looking at the beginning of this year (2009) to go and do a Divemaster course, something I have wanted to do since I was 18, unfortunately had to wait until I finished my apprenticeship to afford it!
I originally looked at Egypt (very expensive I found), luckily a friend mentioned a tiny Island named Koh Tao, in Thailand. How I am eternally grateful to her for telling me about it. No joke I had an absolutely amazing 2 & 1/2 months there.

I mean everyone got on really well, we all went out and partied together when it was time to be serious for diving everyone would be especially when you are sometimes trusting your life with them.
I met some awesome people and just had a great time. If your contemplating it and are not sure yet, do it, simple as that. Its one of the best things I have ever done, (especially coming face to face for the first time with a whale shark on the evening I left the island)
Try and get here for Songkram (Thai New Year), u won’t regret it!
Plus there is not just diving, I was boxing at the local Muay Thai camp which is also a very friendly place to be. I loved the local food, fresh and great tasting. The Thai people as long as you respect them are also incredibly welcoming.
PARADISE!

Tamlyn Tamlyn Allison – Divemaster
I was privileged to be able to go on a gap experience to explore Thailand for 5 weeks in early 2009. I spent the first 4 weeks exploring Thailand, meeting new people from all over the world and embracing as much of the Thai culture as I could. The last week of the GAP experience was spent on Koh Tao doing my open water at DJL which flew by, and I was off for more travelling through SE Asia. This is when I realised that I wasn’t finished with my time on Koh Tao. I decided that because I loved that last week of diving I’d go back to the lovely little island to do my advanced, rescue and dive master courses at DJL. I fell in love with the people, diving and island so much I ended up staying for over 3 months – what a life changing experience! The diving on Koh Tao is absolutely amazing, I met really cool people from all over the world and even managed to see a whale shark on one of my last dives, a dream come true.

The DJL team are incredibly professional and fun – especially all the crazy and wonderful instructors (Hanna, Alex, Si, Emil, Fred etc) and good ole Tim (never too happy about SA beating England in anything). I must admit that the team made my diving such an experience and the ‘after’ diving (at DJL bar) even more so. The island is alive with parties every night and snorkel tests, which regularly ended up going crazy – so trying to fit the diving into the partying is probably why it took 3 months to complete – but there was no rush!

I have to mention my fellow DMT’s (now all divemasters) who made the whole experience incredible. I made some truly awesome friends, with the best memories – Chris (my fellow crazy Saffer), Gav, Steven, Alison, Rachel, Ollie (of course), Ash, Alex and all the others that were there when I was there… I miss everyone so much, and I hope I get to see you soon or we get to meet up sometime! Maybe even back on Koh Tao – for a laucau (or few) or even another dress up dive…

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in diving, partying, meeting people or wants to experience a chilled, laid back lifestyle on an island or is interested in going to explore Thailand.

Gav Gavin Shaw – Divemaster
um, messed up sinus’s so not much diving done, lots of beer with scotland , ollie , christo . then old rachi, ali the tree climber, and tambo…rine. love the island miss it so much. hi to everyone else but cant be bothered to list all your names !! :) love you all.
love the snorkle tests, apart from mine !!
Big hello to Tim the cunning linguist and all the workers and of course jojo. Cant belive i never met a whale shark !!!!!!

Storey Micheal Storey – Divemaster
Me and two friends had been talking about doing a dive intership since we were at school, we eventually decided to go for it and started looking at different resorts.
One of the lads found ther DJL website and we all agred that was where we wanted to go. We weren’t disapointed!!
The instructors were fantastic and the gaffer was a rite laugh. I met so many great people and did so many amazing things that i will never forget for the rest of my life.
The diving is out of this world, indescribable. You’ve just got to see it for yourself.

And as for the island, well. Paradice on earth. From swimming with the black tip reef sharks in sharks bay, to the cliff jumping and free diving at liem thien. Koh taohas so much to offer on such a little island, its garenteed to amaze.

I plan to return to the island to do my instructor course april 2010 at DJL. To any one thinking about doing an internship or any dive courses, i say this…
JUST GO FOR IT!! You will not regret it! Escape the rat race and do something and see something that only a few of us get to expirience in this world.
Peace x

Alex Alex Quinn – Divemaster
DJL…AMAZING!!!
I loved every minute of my three months on Koh Tao and wish most days i was back there!!! Becoming a divemaster was something i’d always wanted to do, but i never imagined i would have so much fun doing it! I think my snorkle test was one of the funniest and best nights of my life, certainly something I will never forget!

The diving, the other DMTs (love to you all), the instructors, treehouse, Hong Thong, 7/11 toasties, DJL pool and bar, snorkle tests, whalesharks and not forgetting lotus bar!!!!

If your thinking about going to do your DMT, stop thinking, MAN UP and just do it!!!!

Colin Colin Campbell – Divemaster
My time at djl……Simply put the BEST THING IVE EVER DONE! Was a bit sceptical at first about travelling on my own, i kept thinking “what if im the only one there”…”what if i cant do my own thing” etc etc. Well, it turned out i was completely wrong to have such doubts! From the very first day on the island i was made welcome, shown to my awesome accommodation and introduced to all the other dmt’s (some of which have turned out to be really great mates) Every day was different and there was never a dull moment. The diving was great, the staff were great, the piss ups were LEGENDARY. If i could go back tomorrow and relive it all i would, so for those of you who are considering your dmt with djl take my advice and do it!!

Dan Dan Jones – Divemaster
I fancied a career break and wanted to travel but gain some qualifications at the same time. DJL is perfect for this!!! I travelled on my own and the staff provided perfect instructions to get to the island of Koh Tao. The accomodation is perfect and the food is second to none. All the instructors on the course have their own styles which will cater for everyone. It sounds cliche but I cannot stress enough how this experience will change you as a person. Some of the lads I met in Koh Tao were just out of school and taking a gap year. After finishing their Dive Master internship they developed so many skills which will credit them for life.

There are so many activities to keep you busy during the day (if your not diving!) Cliff diving, volleyball, tanning, you can even hire a jet ski and piss off the rival dive schools!!

DJL has fantastic facilities for diving, the boat is spacious and comfortable, the range of courses is endless. I seriously recommend the deep spec course with Simon. Hit a depth of 45m and was probably the highlight of my trip. Look out for the elusive growler fish, definately not to be missed.

My brother has just left school and is heading out to Koh Tao in March and I really encourage anyone else who is thinking of doing this to take the plunge!!!

mungo Mungo Finlayson – Divemaster & Videographer
When I first started traveling at the start of 2008 I had signed up to do a 10-week diving marine conservation project in Fiji. During my time on the project I fell in love with diving and the sea. After Fiji I moved onto Australia and got myself a job on a day boat with divemaster training as part of the job. After 4 months I left as I felt I wasn’t getting anywhere with the divemaster training and they were just using us and not giving us the training. I left with a record of doing just about my swims and a few exams over the 4-month period. After Australia I moved onto DJL Diving to complete my divemaster training, which I will never regret. From day one I felt the instructors were a lot more professional and got me going on the training straight away. The whole team at DJL were just a great laugh and all the other divemaster trainees. You will never get bored on koh toa as if your not diving or drinking your exploring the many other things the island has to offer. The only thing I have to say is if your in two minds about becoming a divemaster with DJL is sort your life out, MAN UP and get it done its something you will never forgot the amount of stories you come home with from things that happen on the island is amazing. I certainly have many I will not be forgetting in the near future. Just prepare yourself for the snorkel test!!-BINNED!

Blake Blake Smith – Rescue Diver
Well would have to say an eye opener what a great place great people great staff done things on that island i never thought i would do. i took on the dive master internship great course never made it to dive master as i got lazy lol but hay best 3 months of my life thanks guys and girls!

Thanks for your comments guys, we miss you all!

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Monsoon Diving

By , 24 November, 2009, No Comment

As we enter the Monsoon season, DJL continues to train divers from Open Water level through to Instructor and beyond. Don’t let the rain put you off, come to Koh Tao and learn to Dive with DJL Diving!

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DJL shop

By , 24 November, 2009, No Comment

Everyone who books a dive at DJL Diving through December and mentions the blog … will receive a free DJL water cooler!

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