Rhinopias....again!

The SWV 'fish watching guides' have done it again. Using keen eyes and years of experience Marlon Ornido aka Allan has found another special scorpion fish. We have some debate over the correct name, different books have conflicting names. The 1st found by Desmond we now believe to be the 'Paddle-flap' scorpionfish, the 2nd we believe is actually the 'Weedy' scorpionfish and we are still searching for a 'Lacey'!

Please correct us if we are wrong, your comments are always welcome on the Paradise-Log.

Photos by: Bobby

Reef Chequers!

On the 15th-17th of January 2008, WWF-Malaysia (Semporna Coral Reefs Project), conducted 'Reef Check' training for some of our local Divemasters. SWV were fortunate enough to have 2 of our guides attending.

Bobby Joanes and Richard Usah received the training, the team of trainers included our ex-divestaff, the beautiful Nina Ho. We are eagerly anticipating a full detailed report from Richard and Bobby.

We hope that this new knowledge will be shared with all of our dive crew and then we can share it with our all of you. It will surely be of benefit to our local marine environment.

For more information please visit: www.reefcheck.org or just come here and ask Bobby or Richard.

Wish List

Many divers come here with a 'wish list', the special marine life you would like us to find for you. Maybe something you have never seen before or maybe something you want to photograph. When you request HammerHeads or Schooling Manta Rays, we can only hope. But for those macro lovers, we will try our best to meet your requests. Mami san and Mikako san were 2 such divers. 

(Photos by: Ishida Mami)

Pair of Flamboyant Cuttlefish Metasepia pfefferi

White-lined Coralgoby Gobiodon spiolphthalmus

Hairy Squat Lobster Lauriea siagiani

Gold-spec Jawfish Opistognathus sp with eggs in mouth          

                                                                                                                                                           

Weedy Scorpion Fish found at Kapalai

Yes, it's true! The elusive Rhinopias frondosa was found today! By our SWV 'fish watching guide' Desmond. We hope it doesn't move too far so that we can share it with our other divers.

For many of us 'experienced' guides, this is the 1st time we have met this species. We will continue our research dives and hope to find even more wonderful creatures to share with all of you. 

                                   Photo by: Andy Chia (SCUBAZOO Images)

A most amazing and much looked-for species of scorpionfish, closely related to, but much rarer than the spectacular Lacy Scorpion Fish. Weedy Scorpionfish are usually pinkish or orangish, sporting broad, fan like pectoral fins and a characteristically upturned snout with leaf-like appendages on the lips and "eyebrows": all together, the grotesque head - which is disproportionately large in relation to the body - looks like that of a wild boar. The skin is very rough and covered with weed-like tassles, being periodically shed in one piece. Individuals are location-specific and will keep to the same small area for many years. (Ref: A diver's guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife, Andrea & Antonella Ferrari).