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Big sharks are so much fun.
The blood gets pumping, your breath catches, you watch it cruise
by (you cross your fingers) and you enjoy one of natures most
powerful predators
BIG Sharks
....Thresher sharks have been visiting PG for many
years now. Usually appearing in December they hang around
between 20 and 40 meters throughout the colder months, until the
sea starts to warm up in March. Their appearance usually
coincides with the arrival of large schools of tuna and mackerel
- so obviously they are following their food supply around the
Philippines.
Threshers hunt by using their powerful, large tails to
stun fish - then swooping back for the kill. They can grow as
large as 7m - our sharks are between and 3.5m and 4.5m long.
They are not considered dangerous to divers and are generally
very shy.
 Like
most shark they are being over-fished for sharks fins. They are
relatively easy to catch, often getting tangled in mackerel
fishermen's nets, or by hooking to the tail. If you are like us,
and love to see sharks, then boycott restaurants that sell
sharks fins and make your feelings known.
We have spotted them several times this month on
advanced nitrox dives at about 40m, as well as on Kilima steps
at 20m. If you are in the next few weeks - grab a nitrox tank,
head out early in the morning and we'll see if we can find them.
 One of the most beautiful critters in the sea is
the Harlequin Shrimp. Difficult to find and reclusive, it makes
for one of the most beautiful macro shots out there.
However, pretty as it may be, it is every bit a
ruthless predator as the thresher shark above. The Harequin
shrimp feeds, by catching a starfish and then keeping it alive
as it slowly eats from the tips of the arms, back to the center
of the body. Not a great way to die.
We now have some resident shrimp living at Sabang
point. Bering your macro lens and be prepared to get some great
photos !
 New
Books
Nudibranchs
of the World
This fantastic book sets a new benchmark for the identification
of Nudibranchs. Most of the species can be seen in Puerto Galera
It presents Nudibranchs that have been photographed by the
authors over a period of more than 30 years, along with numerous
pictures by contributing diving friends and scientists from
around the world.
With over 2500 color photos of Nudibranchs in their natural
environment, over 1180 species of Nudibranchs illustrated, it is
a large, hard bound book that should be on every serious divers
book shelf
Our price U$89 (on
Amazon $109)
Today the coral reefs the Puerto Galera area harbour
the greatest species diversity of all oceans. This is true not
only for fishes, but also for invertebrates, because the species
from the coral world radiated from the triangle of the
Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
This book focuses on the coastal fauna, which most
divers and snorkellers see first. With over 1,200 color photos,
this book is a dream for the divers and is very useful if taking
the Underwater Naturalist certification
Our Price U$65 (list
U$69).
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