Tabla de contenidos para 1/2024 - 129 en Scuba Diver/Asian Diver

HARP SEALS SPECIES NAME Pagophilus groenlandicus Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Carnivora Clade : Pinnipedia Family : Phocidae Genus : Pagophilus Species : P. groenlandicus Weight About 180 kg Length about 1.5 – 1.8 metres Lifespan More than 20 years Primary range Whelping patches…

BOWHEAD WHALES SPECIES NAME Balaena mysticetus Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Infraorder : Cetacea Family : Balaenidae Genus : Balaena Species : B. mysticetus Length Considered one of the largest whale species, they can grow up to 20 metres. On average, females are larger than males, and second only to the blue whale. Weight Up to 100 tonnes Lifespan Scientists estimate they can live to over 200 years Primary range FUN FACT Between the 17th and 19th centuries, bowheads were hunted for their oil, meat and baleen. They were also known as right whales, because they were the “right” whale to hunt for profit.…

BEARDED SEALS SPECIES NAME Erignathus barbatus Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Carnivora Family : Phocidae Genus : Erignathus Species : E. barbatus Length Up to 2.5 metres Weight 200 to 400 kg Females are larger Lifespan 25 to 30 years Primary range FUN FACT Bearded seals sleep vertically in the water with only their heads sticking out from the surface.…

ALL-OCEAN CETACEANS Well known for their scarred skin mottled with barnacles, these whales are probably the most sighted whales in the world, and so named because of the way they raise and bend their backs before a dive. In Antarctica, they feed exclusively on krill, but they will feed on fish in more temperate waters. During courtship, the males compose intricate songs to attract potential mates, and these melodies can be heard up to 30 kilometres away. They make one of the longest migrations of any mammal, swimming over 8,000 kilometres between feeding grounds in the polar regions to breeding grounds in the subtropics. Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Infraorder : Cetacea Family : Balaenopteridae Genus : Megaptera…

CUNNING HUNTERS, PLAYFUL PREDATORS Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family, which comes under the genus of toothed whales that include narwhals, belugas, sperm whales and porpoises. That makes the orca both a dolphin and a whale. They can be found in every ocean, so their extremely wide range and unpredictable movements make it hard to determine their exact numbers. Their speed, mouths full of sharp three-inch teeth, and huge brains make a lethal combination when they hunt in coordinated packs. Their techniques vary from region to region, depending on the food available. Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Infraorder : Cetacea Family : Delphinidae Genus : Orcinus Species : O. orca Conservation Status Ranges of Whales…

DRYSUITS FOR THERMAL PROTECTION AND BUOYANCY CONTROL Well-maintained drysuits hold air, where a diver can control its flow, adjust the level of thermal protection, and as a buoyancy control device (BCD). If being in a drysuit in cold water isn’t your usual practice, consider these five lessons for an interesting and challenging way to dive. LESSON 1: START SIMPLE Your gear should not limit your adventures underwater. Diving dry requires more work than diving with other types of exposure suits, and being able to comfortably solve problems while in your drysuit is a must. When you first start diving dry, begin in daylight at a dive site you know well, with an easy entry and adequate visibility, and ideally with an experienced cold-water diver. LESSON 2: PREPARE YOUR GEAR There…

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF ADEX Held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre between April 12 and 14, this year’s show celebrated 30 years of the Asia Dive Expo with highlights that included sustainable diving workshops; TekTalk Asia, featuring internationally-acclaimed tek divers; the Image/Book/Film Festival, with renowned underwater photographers, filmmakers and authors; locally- and globally-recognised ocean conservationists; the annual ADEX Voice of the Ocean competition live judging event, and the ADEX Underwater Performance Competition 2024, showcasing disciplines like underwater dance and mermaid routines. PREMIUM DIVE INDUSTRY PLATFORM With more than 150 exhibitors and 90 speakers, the three-day event united enthusiasts, industry leaders, and conservationists to explore innovative solutions for ocean-conscious practices, delivered engaging presentations, and moderated captivating discussions on a wide spectrum of subjects. With over 250 booths, the show…

The Arctic has one of the most unique marine ecosystems, influencing global weather patterns, and home to rare and endangered species. However, the climate is warming rapidly in the north polar region, much faster than anywhere else in the world. The rising temperatures are reshaping the ice, soils and wildlife in the Arctic. With the extent of the sea-ice cover and thickness decreasing, the darker ground surfaces that are exposed are absorbing more heat, which is in turn, leading to more snow melt. THE PERMAFROST IS THAWING Permafrost soils typically remain frozen all year round. Global warming has caused the permafrost to melt, and bacteria and viruses that have been lying dormant for thousands of years are being uncovered. Some of these ancient microbes are resistant to our antibiotics, or…

NARWHALS Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Infraorder : Cetacea Family : Monodontidae Genus : Monodon Species : M. monoceros SPECIES NAME Monodon monoceros Average size 4 metres Average Weight Up to 1,900kg Lifespan Up to 50 years Length Male narwhals can reach a length of 5 metres Winter distribution Summer distribution *Data sources: Blijeven, R. and Y. van Dijk (2011): Artic Cetacean Hotspots. Thesis for Van Hall Lorenstein University of Applied Sciences & WWF-Netherlands.…

BELUGA WHALES SPECIES NAME Delphinapterus leucas Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Infraorder : Cetacea Family : Monodontidae Genus : Delphinapterus Species : D. leucas Weight Up to 1,500 kg Length Males are up to 6 metres. Females are smaller. Lifespan 35 to 50 years Primary range FUN FACT NOC, a beluga raised by the United States Navy in 1977 became famous when researchers first recorded his human-like vocalisations. It was the first of its kind ever to be documented.…

Odobenus rosmarus WALRUSES SPECIES NAME Odobenus rosmarus Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Carnivora Clade : Pinnipedia Family : Odobenidae Genus : Odobenus Species : O. rosmarus Weight Up to 1,500 kg Lifespan Up to 40 years Length About 3.6 metres. Females are smaller. Pacific walrus Atlantic walrus FUN FACT Walruses have “air sacs” on their throats that they can inflate like a pillow to nap in the water when there is no ice or land nearby. The pouches can take up to 50 litres of air, and the walrus can snooze upright in the water, without fear of drowning.…

SINGING CETACEANS IN A FROZEN REALM Although whales don’t recognise oceanic boundaries, there are about eight species of whales usually seen around Antarctica. Highly intelligent creatures with complex social lives, these cetaceans migrate to the area to feed in the nutrient-rich waters during the summer months between December and March. Whales have a special larynx that allows them to “sing” underwater while holding their breaths. Their vocal chords vibrate at different frequencies against a fatty cushion at the back of their throats. Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Clade : Cetaceamorpha Infraorder : Cetacea…

LARGEST TOOTHED WHALE Named for the waxy substance called spermaceti found in their heads, these are the largest toothed whales and have the widest geographic range of any marine mammal species. The males, which are larger than the females, can weigh as much as 50 tonnes. They were the primary target of early whalers because the spermaceti was used in oil lamps, lubricants and candles. They are the only living cetacean with a single blowhole situated on the left side of their heads. They can dive to depths beyond 3,000 metres to hunt for giant squid, their staple food, apart from the occasional sharks, skate and deep-ocean-dwelling fish, holding their breaths for up to 90 minutes. Interestingly, only the males are spotted in Antarctica, migrating to warmer waters to breed.…

ELUSIVE AND SPEEDY These solitary and elusive baleen whales have a long, hooked dorsal fin, and are usually easy to spot as they tend to stay near the surface, skim-feeding for zooplankton, and diving and breathing at regular intervals. They are one of the fastest swimmers, clocking speeds of up to 50 km/h. These whales can be found in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but their movements are not well known. They can be found in one area for a time and not return for years or decades. It is also currently unknown where they breed. This is unusual for large whales, which generally have a predictable range. Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Infraorder : Cetacea Family…

SPACE MATTERS Why do people choose a dive resort over a liveaboard? I believe one of the most obvious reasons is space. No matter the size of the liveaboard, they all have the issue of limited space. This is not true with a resort. Many divers these days like the idea of stepping out of their rooms onto a white sand beach or sipping cocktails on their large balconies over the water bungalows watching the sun go down. CONNECTING WITH NATURE There is something quite special about walking through a resort in Raja Ampat, listening to a hundred species of birds calling out to each other, or watching the Indonesian cuscus slowly navigate its way through the tropical fauna. You do not have the same connection with Nature on a…

POLAR BEARS SPECIES NAME Ursus maritimus, which is Latin for “sea bear” Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Artiodactyla Infraorder : Carnivora Family : Ursidae Genus : Ursus Species : U. maritimus Lifespan In the wild, they can live up to 25 years. In captivity, they live into their forties. Height An adult male can reach over 3 metres when standing on its hind legs Weight Adult males can weigh up to 800 kg, and are twice the size of females, making them the largest bear species, and land carnivore, in the world Special Adaptations to Survive the Icy Environment Polar bears “sweat” DNA through their paws. When females are ready to mate, they leave scents in their footprints that…

RINGED SEALS SPECIES NAME Pusa hispida Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Carnivora Clade : Pinnipedia Family : Phocidae Genus : Pusa Species : P. hispida Weight Up to 75 kg Lifespan 25 to 30 years Length Males reach a length of 1.5 metres. Subspecies Pusa hispida hispida P. h. ochotensis P. h. botnica P. h. lagodensis P. h. saimensis FUN FACT They are the most populous of all seal species in the world, numbering somewhere around two million.…

PENGUINS THE WADDLING TUXEDOS There are no polar bears in Antarctica, but there are loads of penguins. Of the 17 species on Earth, eight reside on or around Antarctica. Our favourite flightless seabirds zoom and “fly” through the water effortlessly, an adaptation from flight feathers to waterproof ones when Antarctica broke away from the massive supercontinent Gondwana 50 million years ago. Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Aves Clade : Austrodyptornithes Order : Sphenisciformes Family : Spheniscidae Nine Penguin Species Found in Antarctica…

LONG-LIVED, CURIOUS AND PLAYFUL As one of the first species hunted by whalers, they were so named as the “right” whales to hunt for their thick blubber, rich oil content and meat. Their heavily-calloused heads are enormous, and make up about a quarter of their entire bodies. Researchers use these rough, white patches of skin that form around the head to identify each individual. They have two blowholes that make a distinctive V-shaped spray. They are acrobatic for such large and slow whales, and like to breach, use their flukes to sail with the wind, and wave their fins and flukes in the air, or slap the water with them. They feed on krill and small fish that they filter through their baleen plates, and can live up to 100…

SLEEK AND SOLITARY They may be one of the smallest cetaceans, but these little baleen whales are deep divers (over 100 metres) and can hold their breath for up to 25 minutes. Perfectly suited to their environment, they can glide and manoeuvre easily through the water with their streamlined bodies and long fins. Mainly solitary, they only come together in large groups where seabirds congregate, to socialise and join in the krill buffet. They make a bizarre “quacking” sound when they chat with each other, and their other vocalisations can be as loud as a jet plane taking off. Some choose not to migrate to warmer water in the winter months. These whales use their pointed snouts to create breathing holes in the pack ice. Scientific Classification Domain : Eukaryota…

Ceningan Divers is an award-winning, PADI 5-star dive resort situated on the pristine mangrove edge of Nusa Ceningan, an island within the Nusa Penida marine protected area in Bali, Indonesia. As the only dive centre on Nusa Ceningan, they take pride in their eco-friendly, one-stop-shop establishment. In addition to offering accommodation and basic diving courses, they also provide marine conservation education packages curated by their in-house marine biologist. Ceningan Divers is deeply committed to ocean conservation, supporting initiatives such as Green Fins and PADI AWARE, among others, to promote a clean and healthy ocean environment. Indonesia’s First “Zero-score” Green Fins Certified Member Ceningan Divers recently became the first zero-score Green Fins Certified Member in Indonesia. In the assessment, members are evaluated based on the Green Fins Code of Conduct for…