Categories
Surin Islands Thailand Diving Sites

Richelieu Rock – Top Diving Thailand Site

Whale Shark at Richelieu Rock, the best Diving Thailand Site
Whale Shark at Richelieu

Richelieu Rock – Some people um and ah about this saying may be and possibly but let’s cut this out and state categorically Richelieu Rock is the Best Dive Site in Thailand!

It is a rock that breaks the surface for about 12 hours a day, 18 kilometers from Surin Islands and about double that from the mainland and very close to the Burmese Border.

How was it found? – as with a lot of sites the fishermen knew about it long before divers did.

There are many stories as to how this site was named, some say it was named after Cardinal Richelieu as the northern side is covered in red soft corals making it look like a cardinals robe. Our favourite story is that it was named after a French catholic missionary who was in Thailand between the wars (obviously very successful as less that 1% of the population is Christian), his real reason for coming to Thailand was his love of snorkelling and fishing. Some of the locals told him about this good fishing spot, he came out in his boat, in the middle of the open ocean he suddenly hit something, jumping out to check the damage he was amazed at what he saw below. Many years later he was back in France and at a meeting of the French diving Federation he met a young man he thought would be interested – and that is why Jacques Cousteau came to Thailand and spent 3 weeks at Richelieu Rock. There are also stories that it was named after a Thai General. Whichever way it was the name was given to the site by Jacques Cousteau.

The dive site is a limestone horse shoe facing south which touches the sand at 30 metres on the outside and about 15 metres on the inside. Though this dive site is particularly famous for Whale Shark sightings that is but a tiny part of the story. Manta Rays, Guitar Sharks and Nurse Sharks are spotted here but almost every day you will she huge schoals of Pick Handleand Chevron Barracuda hovering around the ridge, Giant Morays hiding in the hard corals and Peacock Mantis Shrimp looking at you out of their holes but even this is just scratching the surface. The real beauty here is in the macro life which is just everywhere – Boxer Shrimp, Durban Dancing Shrimp (good for a manicure), Blue Line Cleaner Shrimps (teeth cleaning), Harlequin Shrimps (rare and beautiful), Tiger Tail Seahorse, Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Reef Top Pipefish, Bentstick Pipefish and Pineapple Fish. All this plus the standard reef fish – Trigger Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Angel Fish, Moorish Idols, Snappers Fussiliers, Admirals, Tuna and Trevallies. On top of the reef the rocks are covered with Anemones which in turn are full of Anemone Fish – there are Clown Fish, Clarks Anemone Fish, Skunk Anemone Fish and Tomato Blotch Anemone Fish.

Simply put you cannot do this dive site justice in one dive, an absolute minimum of two dives is required here.

Categories
Similan Islands Thailand Diving Sites

Koh Bon Island – Diving in Similan Thailand

Manta Ray while Diving Similan Thailand
Manta Ray in Similan Thailand

Scuba Diving in Similan Thailand – Koh Bon is an Island about one to one and half hours north east of the Similan Islands.

Koh Bon Pinnacle

The Pinnacle is a hundred or so metres of the North West Corner of the Island. Not dived by many boats as it is very much and advanced level dive. The top of the pinnacle is at about 18 metres sloping down steeply to 40 metres on the North and 35 metres on the south.

The pinnacle is covered is primarily yellow soft coral, though there is a certain amount of variegation happening. There is plenty of small reef life to watch here but you’re really here for the big stuff. Huge groups of Giant Trevallies circle the rock and you’re often joined by the resident pair of Napoleon Wrasse but the real trick is to hover close to the top of the pinnacle and wait – Manta Rays and Eagle Rays are regularly spotted here.

Koh Bon West Ridge

This site is a submerged ridge sloping down to about 35 metres going west from the northern end of Koh Bon Bay. The start point of the dive is decided by the current. Starting in the bay you go straight to a coral garden on the sloping wall (12 – 20 metres), many Mantis Shrimp can be found here also look out for nudibrachs on the wall. If you start on the north side you’re on a rubble slop(10 – 25 metres) with large coral bommies and massive hard coral beds at around 22metres. Look here for huge Lion Fish and Trigger Fish as well as big groups of Bat Fish.

Either way you will head onto the ridge, careful not to go too deep as this will eat into your dive time. At around 22 metres there are two large areas of bare rock which is a good place to settle down to watch. Around the end of the ridge you’ll often see Blue Fin and Giant Trevallies, Pick Handle and Chevron Barracuda and if you’re lucky Manta Ray cruising along the ridge.

Thailand Liveaboards Fleet

MV Giamani - A premier Thailand Liveaboard

MV Giamani

MV Giamani, owned and operated by Colona Liveaboards and a "Top Boat” in the  Thailand Liveaboards Fleet. 10 Divers Only, First Class Service, Experienced Dive Guides, Excellent food and Accommodation in En-suite CabinsNITROX available & Re-breather Divers (SCR & CCR) welcome.

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MV Deep Andaman Queen - A Thailand Liveaboard

MV Oktavia

MV Oktavia is a Thailand liveaboard where families are welcome to cruise, dive and simply enjoy the tropical and exotic island destinations. Swedish owned and operated MV Oktavia is a comfortable and affordable scuba diving boat. The diving staff and crew are friendly and helpful in making the cruise a most memorable one.

Read more...

MV Deep Andaman Queen - A Thailand Liveaboard

Deep Andaman Queen

Deep Andaman Queen is a well known Thailand liveaboard to cruise the Andaman Sea. A 28.5-meters long and 7-meters wide, twin-engine steel hull motor boat, with the highest safety standards on board. Andaman Queen Accommodates 21 divers in air conditioned en-suite cabins. Nitrox is available.

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The Junk - A Thailand Liveaboard

The Junk

The Junk  or also called June Hong Chian Lee. Spend your Similan Islands liveaboard diving holiday, discovering the most fantastic dive sites around Similan & Surin Islands, Thailand. You will have a great time a on board this authentic Thailand Liveaboard which is a real sailing Junk with a long history.

Read more...

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Similan Islands Thailand Diving Sites

Christmas Point – Dive Similan Islands

Christmas Tree - Dive Similan Islands at Christmas Point
Christmas Tree

Dive Similan Islands High light Christmas Point is certainly one of the most dramatic dive sites in the whole of the Similan Islands group. It is attached to island number 9, just west of the probably more famous North Point.

This dive site is completely submerged except for the top of a huge boulder breaking the surface, which then drops down to over 20 meters and beyond. Christmas Point is situated on the North West part of the island facing out into the Andaman Sea.

There are many huge boulders on this site creating fantastic and exciting swim through and the current here can be strong especially during strong tides, so it can also be a little testing for the novice diver.

The bottom is sandy, with very little coral growth, it is very similar to the dive sites on the west of the Similans, corals, and hard ones in particular, tend not to grow this side due to the huge granite boulders not a being great habitat for corals. There are some huge Gorgonian sea fans here and it is well worth a look around to see if there is any macro life on them.

The visibility can vary day to day, but on average, it will be around 20 meters. As you descend down, it soon becomes apparent how huge this site is and it is quite easy if you’re not careful, to easily exceed you’re maximum depth, the site drops down to 50 meters and beyond.

And it is this positioning that can attract the larger pelagic fish, as they come up from the deep; it is their first or last port of call before Koh Bon. Koh Bon is another excellent large pelagic viewing site, further north of the Similans.

Some of the pelagic fish you can see on Christmas point are the Great Barracuda; Giant Trevallies, Black Tip Reef Sharks and White Tips, plus Leopards Sharks too, also seen here are the massive Manta Rays, and on occasion, the elusive Whale shark.

But what makes this site so special is the variety of swim throughs created by the amazing granite boulders. If there is strong currents, the diver can hide among the swim through, in and out making tight turns along the way, it is such a fun site and is often overlooked by a lot of dive schools, so if you dive it as part of your live-aboard trip, it is likely that your group will be alone.

Other interesting critters to look out for on here are, Morays, we have seen Giant, Yellow Edged, White Eyed, Fimbriated and the most strangest of all, the Ribbon Eel. There are large schools of Bait fish and Glass fish here too, this Brings in the Blue Fin Trevallies and Yellow Mackerel’s, Dogtooth Tunas, Spanish Mackerels and Golden Trevallies rain down on these pour little fish regularly with extreme aggression.

Closer to the shallow part of the site, it is not uncommon to see Hawksbill Turtles, rooting around looking for a bite to eat. Also there is an abundance of smaller stuff Scorpion Fish lie in wait for their prey, as do their close cousins the Lionfish, watch were you put your hands. Nudibranchs, Sea Slugs, Cowrie Shells, Crabs, Spiny Lobsters lurking inside rock crevices, Blennies, Gobies, Fusiliers even Coral Banded Sea Snakes; but remember the big stuff won’t come and tap you on your shoulder to introduce themselves: look out into the blue too, you never know who might be just passing by.

Thailand Liveaboards Fleet

MV Giamani - A premier Thailand Liveaboard

MV Giamani

MV Giamani, owned and operated by Colona Liveaboards and a "Top Boat” in the  Thailand Liveaboards Fleet. 10 Divers Only, First Class Service, Experienced Dive Guides, Excellent food and Accommodation in En-suite CabinsNITROX available & Re-breather Divers (SCR & CCR) welcome.

Read more...

MV Deep Andaman Queen - A Thailand Liveaboard

MV Oktavia

MV Oktavia is a Thailand liveaboard where families are welcome to cruise, dive and simply enjoy the tropical and exotic island destinations. Swedish owned and operated MV Oktavia is a comfortable and affordable scuba diving boat. The diving staff and crew are friendly and helpful in making the cruise a most memorable one.

Read more...

MV Deep Andaman Queen - A Thailand Liveaboard

Deep Andaman Queen

Deep Andaman Queen is a well known Thailand liveaboard to cruise the Andaman Sea. A 28.5-meters long and 7-meters wide, twin-engine steel hull motor boat, with the highest safety standards on board. Andaman Queen Accommodates 21 divers in air conditioned en-suite cabins. Nitrox is available.

Read more...

The Junk - A Thailand Liveaboard

The Junk

The Junk  or also called June Hong Chian Lee. Spend your Similan Islands liveaboard diving holiday, discovering the most fantastic dive sites around Similan & Surin Islands, Thailand. You will have a great time a on board this authentic Thailand Liveaboard which is a real sailing Junk with a long history.

Read more...

Categories
Similan Islands Thailand Diving Sites

Breakfast Bend – Diving in Similan Islands

Angel Fish at Breakfast Bend while Diving in Similan Islands
Angel Fish at Breakfast Bend

Diving in Similan Islands – Breakfast Bend skirts the entire eastern side of Similan Island No. 9 (Koh Bangu) though the northern half of the dive site is often called Three Trees or Bat Fish Bend. This is another classic example of how the scuba dive sites were named in the early years of Similan Islands. It was first dived at breakfast time, it’s a bend around the side of the island, hey presto there’s the name.

The actual reef is made of of a sandy slope starting at about 10 metres of depth and going down to 25 metres covered in rocky outcrops and coral bommies. Large patches of Stag horn coral are broken up by patches of colourful soft coral – blue, yellow, pink and purple. At the southern end of the dive site, search the reef and look for Garden Eels and Stingrays on the sandy bottom.

At the northern end watch for the resident Turtles feeding on corals and sea grass. As well as the normal reef fish this site has schools of snapper, fussillier and the small Forster’s Barracuda

More Similan Diving Sites

 

Thailand Liveaboards Fleet

MV Giamani - A premier Thailand Liveaboard

MV Giamani

MV Giamani, owned and operated by Colona Liveaboards and a "Top Boat” in the  Thailand Liveaboards Fleet. 10 Divers Only, First Class Service, Experienced Dive Guides, Excellent food and Accommodation in En-suite CabinsNITROX available & Re-breather Divers (SCR & CCR) welcome.

Read more...

MV Deep Andaman Queen - A Thailand Liveaboard

MV Oktavia

MV Oktavia is a Thailand liveaboard where families are welcome to cruise, dive and simply enjoy the tropical and exotic island destinations. Swedish owned and operated MV Oktavia is a comfortable and affordable scuba diving boat. The diving staff and crew are friendly and helpful in making the cruise a most memorable one.

Read more...

MV Deep Andaman Queen - A Thailand Liveaboard

Deep Andaman Queen

Deep Andaman Queen is a well known Thailand liveaboard to cruise the Andaman Sea. A 28.5-meters long and 7-meters wide, twin-engine steel hull motor boat, with the highest safety standards on board. Andaman Queen Accommodates 21 divers in air conditioned en-suite cabins. Nitrox is available.

Read more...

The Junk - A Thailand Liveaboard

The Junk

The Junk  or also called June Hong Chian Lee. Spend your Similan Islands liveaboard diving holiday, discovering the most fantastic dive sites around Similan & Surin Islands, Thailand. You will have a great time a on board this authentic Thailand Liveaboard which is a real sailing Junk with a long history.

Read more...

Categories
MV Giamani

DRT Singapore 2017

DRT Singapore 2017 – Special Show Rates

MV Giamani (Oct to May)

Hin Daeng, Koh Haa & Phi Phi Island

2 day / 2 night incl. 7 dives

• Deluxe Cabin: S$ 898 Now S$ 800
• Master Cabin: S$ 1,020 Now S$ 910

Similan Island & South

6 day / 6 night incl. 21 dives

• Deluxe Cabin: S$ 2,694 Now S$ 2,300
• Master Cabin: S$ 3,061 Now S$ 2,610

Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock

4 day / 4 night incl. 14 dives

• Deluxe Cabin: S$ 1,796 Now S$ 1,610
• Master Cabin: S$ 2,041 Now S$ 1,830

Myanmar (Burma) Safari

6 day / 6 night incl. 18 dives

• Deluxe Cabin: S$ 2,939 Now S$ 2,640
• Master Cabin: S$ 3,306 Now S$ 2,970

MV Giamani – Summer Season
(May to August)

Phi Phi Islands

2 day / 2 night incl. 7 dives

Every TUE – WED

• Deluxe Cabin: S$ 714 Now S$ 610
• Master Cabin: S$ 796 Now S$ 680

Raya Noi & Phi Phi Island

2 day / 3 night incl. 8 dives

Every FRI – MON

• Deluxe Cabin: S$ 898 Now S$ 760
• Master Cabin: S$ 1,020 Now S$ 870

PHUKET DAY DIVING SPECIALS

May to October

DAY DIVING PACKAGE

Weekend Special – SAT & SUN

Raya Noi & Phi Phi Island

2 DAYS DIVING – 6 DIVES

S$ 285
——————————————–
EXTRA DAY – 3 DIVES
$ 125

DIVING & HOTEL PACKAGE

2 DAYS DIVING – 6 DIVES

3 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION

Phuket Airport Transfers

Starting from S$ 385
(Single Sup. S$ 99)

——————————————–

EXTRA DAY/NIGHT incl. 3 DIVES

$ 140

Categories
Marine Life

Lion Fish

Fire Fish Portrait - Similan IslandsThe Lion fish is without doubt one of the most striking looking fish on any reef, including the reefs in Thailand. As they glide gently about in shallow waters, you would think that butter would not melt in its mouth. At second glance however, underneath all those beautiful markings and symmetric fins lies one of the most aggressive predators pound for pound in the oceans today.

Lion fish do actually belong to the Scorpion fish family, and that name alone must tell you something about this fish. They have a distinctive look to them, their coloring is normally brown, white stripes though here in Thailand we have Black ones too, these specimens tend to be little smaller than the Common Lion fish.

You will find small protruding tentacles above their eyes and also underneath their mouths, the fins on the side of the body (pectoral fins) are long and wispy. They have 13 dorsal spines with other 10 or 11 lateral spines; they also have 3 anal spines.

The adult Lion fish can grow quite large, especially where there is an abundant food source, such as an old wreck -where juvenile fish are born and bred. In fact, any artificial reef or nursery will house some magnificent Lion fish specimens.

They much prefer the warmer tropical waters (Thailand’s Andaman Sea), in the Indian Pacific and Atlantic oceans; they tend to stay around reefs, which means they are shallow water dwellers, however, specimens have been found as deep as 300 meters down.

Lion fish are quite a popular aquarium fish until they grow so big that they tend to eat all the other fish in the tank. This behavior has led many fish being released back into the wild; and even in waters where they would not normally be found, such as the cooler waters around the United States.

Carmen with Lion Fish - Diving Similan IslandsThese fish have created a problem, as they have such a voracious appetite they tend to eat almost any smaller sized fish than itself. I have met many divers form the United States, many whom dive in the east coast waters and have complain about these fish growing very large and eating all the smaller fry. I guess this is what happens when man interferes in nature.

The spines of the Lion fish are extremely poisonous and will deliver a venomous sting to anything foolish or clumsy enough to tangle with it. The pain can be excruciating, it can cause extreme swelling, respiratory problems as well as paralysis, the young and aged are more at risk if stung.

Their venom is a combination of protein, a neuromuscular toxin and a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine all sounds very nasty and it is, just be careful out there, especially where you put your hands. If stung by a lion fish the patient must seek medical attention immediately. Warning these fish are dangerous, they can lay under ledges out of the sight of the diver.

Lion fish are normally a solitary creatures, however they can be found in small groups, these groups will usually consist of a large male and several females (a lion fish harem, if you like) that he will mate with. He is particularly aggressive of his territory and will protect his area.

The female lion fish, during mating, will release several thousands of eggs, maybe as many as 15000 at any one time, then the eggs will be fertilized by the male. The eggs will then float away on the ocean currents for a only a couple of days before the baby lion fish hatch. Once hatched, the young fry will stay close to the surface until they are large enough to defend themselves. Then they will swim down to join the nearest reef community.

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Dive Crew MV Giamani

Fabio – MV Giamani Dive Crew

Fabio - MV Giamani Thailand Liveaboard InstructorFabio – MV Giamani Dive Crew member first discovered the underwater world ­in the Red Sea, and the passion for Scuba Diving started.

He was living in Italy studying mechanical and spending his fre­e time doing sport an­d nature activities. After few years work­ing in the mechanical­ sector he decided to­ change his life and ­dedicate himself full­ time to his passions: Scuba Diving & t­ravel the world.

It started with 2 seasons as an internship to become Divemas­ter and then Instruct­or in Palinuro, Italy­, an area very famous for the­ wonderful underwate­r world and famous for Cave D­iving.

He spent 3 years teaching Scuba diving and guiding in Italy, Porto Fin­o Marin Park, Palinur­o Cape, Pantella Isla­nd and Sardinia.

After this experience he decided it’s time to leave ­the “developed World”­ to start his 3 years long adventure to­ the remote and wild ­Mafia Island in Tanzania. A place very famous for ­Whale sharks, Humpback Whale, Turtle nest ­and the huge Jant Gro­uper. From there he h­as travelled all the ­South East part of the African continent.

Fabio also spent a season in Maldives,­ into the wonderful ­Hanifaru Marin Park.

Falling in love for­ Thailand, at the mom­ent his favourite div­e sites are Richelieu­ Rock, considered one of the Top Ten Dive­ Site in the world. He also loves the dive sites K­oh Bon and Koh Tachai­ with the frequently ­spotting of the big b­oys such as Mantas and Wheal­esharks.

He has a passion for everything that has to do with nature, travel, ­exploring, and all th­e sports connected wi­th them: trekking, ro­ck climbing,  Snowboarding, bikin­g and downhill, sport­ Skate and freestyle,­ hokey, swimming, but­ first of all Scuba Diving.

His Motto … “Eve­ry dive is like pai­nt for the painter, i­t’s up to us make a m­aster piece from the f­rame.”

Fabio is a licensed Scuba Diving Instructor with PADI, PSS ­and CMAS, he speaks Italian &­ English and is eager to share his passion and experience wi­th the divers from al­l over the world.

Categories
Scuba Gear

Scuba Diving Wetsuits

Shorty Scuba Diving Wetsuits Scuba Diving Wetsuits – A diving wetsuit is what we wear when we go into the water and they can be used for water skiing, kayaking, surfing and all manner of water sports as well as while scuba diving- a wetsuit is thermal protection.

Scuba diving wetsuits are made from neoprene, and neoprene is rubber, rubber made with millions of tiny little bubbles in it the neoprene. The rubber is then usually covered in a fashionable material to look good.

The scuba diver’s wetsuit once submersed in water, traps the cold water between the layer of human skin and the neoprene, allowing for very little movement of the water -it is important for wetsuits to fit properly and not be loose.

A lose fitting wetsuit does not work at all. The water needs to be trapped by the body, once the water is held in place, the body works to warm up the water and it is the warm water trapped which helps reduces cooling of the body too rapidly whilst diving.

It is possible to buy titanium lined scuba diving wetsuits, the titanium is added in between the interior lining and the neoprene, or it can be woven into the threading of the suit. The titanium is said to reflect about a 5th of the heat lost back onto the diver’s body. These suits are more expensive, but definitely worth considering especially if you are diving in really cold places. Something we not need here in Thailand as the water temperatures are in a pleasant range.

Buying Your Scuba Diving Wetsuits

Long Scuba Diving WetsuitsOther than the pretty patterns of a wetsuit, the most singular important factor is the thickness. The thicker the wetsuit the warmer it is, however the thicker the wetsuit the more restrictive your movements are underwater.

Depending where in the world you are diving and under what conditions will and should determine the wetsuits thickness. Diving in waters over 26 degrees, you really need nothing more than a 3 mm shorty; in fact, where we dive in Thailand, many diving instructors where only board shorts and a simple rash vest for protection.

Scuba Wetsuits are also available in full length styles, with varying degrees of thickness, it would not be correct of me to tell you which suit to buy for the local waters you dive in. I suggest going down to the local dive equipment specialist and seeing what they recommend.

Scuba Wetsuits vary in size and you can buy scuba diving wetsuits with different thickness of neoprene on different parts of the suit. For example, you may buy one that has 3 mm arms and legs and a 5 mm core to it, and so on, there are many permutations.

When trying on a scuba wetsuit to check it fits properly is paramount. Scuba Wetsuits are notoriously tricky to get on and off quickly and the thicker the suit the harder it is. Check the wetsuit is not pulling on any areas of the body. Make sure the crutch is not too tight or loose. If the wetsuit is even a little too small, it will pull continuously on the stitching and eventually it will fall apart.

Scuba Wetsuit Care

As with all scuba gear, whether used in fresh or salt water it is important to clean all your gear thoroughly, wetsuits are no different. Whenever possible soak your wetsuit in fresh water for a god few minutes or so, this can help rid the wetsuit of any nasty elements, including any odors it may have picked up.

You can buy wetsuit cleaning detergents from any decent scuba diving equipment shop. These are recommended, you can even use baby shampoo, as it has no harsh chemicals in it. It is a good idea to wash your wetsuit from time to time when not diving due to inactivity.

Finally hang your wetsuit to dry on a strong hanger, you can also purchase special hangers form any dive gear outlet specialist. Best not to use any hangers made from metal, they may stain the inner material with rust. Once dried, store in a cool dry place ready for the next time to you go scuba diving.

Categories
Scuba Gear

Scuba Diving Knife

Scuba Diving KnifeScuba Diving Knife – The Scuba Diving Knife is rather a hot topic, with there being so many different types on the market, which one is right for you to choose.

Do you really need a scuba diving knife at all? One must really look at what kind of diving is it that they love to do.

I must be honest, after years of teaching Scuba Diving, I have never ever felt the necessity to un-holster my dive knife at all. Apart from when I see certain divers trample all over the corals, with their big floppy fins, smashing everything up in sight and oblivious to the damage they are causing. That’s another story and another article.

Apart from that not really, simple guiding in clear, warm seas, then there is probably not too much call for a dive knife. On the other hand though; if technical diving is your thing, like deep diving, on wrecks, caves and other stuff like that where a dive tool would come in handy; then yes is the answer.

If you are not sure if you need a dive knife then buy one anyway. At the end of the day, they do come in handy, if only for opening a beer after the dive.

Buying a Scuba Diving Knife

Once you have decided what scuba diving you like best, then the list for knives will shorten for you. Obviously you do not need a 30 cm knife if you are going to be teaching scuba in your local swimming pool at the weekends.

Size of the knife depends on what you are doing. Of course massive knifes not only look threatening, they are dangerous too, so please be careful; they can also look ridiculous.

A knife is a tool for helping you in case you or your buddy gets tangled up, or other similar reasons like that. Hopefully, you will never have to use it at all. Best to think what else you may need the dive knife for. If you purchase one with a very small blade, it is best to make sure it has a decent size handle on it, so you can hold it efficiently.

Another factor to consider is the shape of the scuba diving knife. The point of the dive blade can be blunt, in fact more times than not these is the blade blunt. This is a safer way to use a knife, as it cannot be accidentally insert into something soft like flesh, Bcd’s, wetsuits or hoses.

I would also recommend that the edge of the blade be serrated. A serrated edged knife will suffice for most recreational diving occurrences, these edges can cut through very tough materials and they also tend to stay sharp longer. It is possible to find diving knives with both serrated and sharp edges on them. This is of course is the best of both worlds, though you may pay more for one of these scuba knives.

Scuba Diving Knife Materials

Most dive knifes are made from stainless steel or titanium, most normal metals won’t last more than a few dives before they corrode into an orange rust.

Stainless steel knives usually come in 300 series or 400 series of alloys. The lower the number the more difficult it is to keep sharp.

All stainless steel knives will corrode eventually, some quicker than others. It is important to clean the knife when you have finished diving for the day.

Also another good idea is to cover the blade in a film of vaseline, oil or silicone.

If you are feeling flush, then go for a titanium knife they are the high end of the market scuba gear. Being rather more expensive than the stainless steel counterparts, they are also much lighter and won’t corrode so easily, as they contain no carbon so they don’t rust. The titanium blades also hold their sharpness for a long time so no need to sharpen them either.

Wearing the Scuba Knife

Attaching the knife to your leg like Cousteau and his friends did way back when, will only raise sniggers and fun poking at your attire. The best place for you knife is attached to your BCD directly. Not on the shoulder near the neck, not on the inflator hose as it is easy to again stab yourself. Many new Bcd s have an attachment area for your blade near the pocket, here it is safe out of the way and very easy to reach when you may need it.

Categories
Marine Life

Blue Spotted Stingray

Bluespotted Stingray swimming into the dark The Blue Spotted Stingray or Kuhl’s stingray as it is also called – depending on where you dive I guess- is a member of the stingray family and the stingray species is also a distant relative of the Shark family, as they both have a skeletons made from cartilage.

These fascinating fish can usually be found down on the sandy bottom just off the reef, so when diving near bottom, it is a good idea if you are so inclined, to venture a little way from the reef, and you might indeed find several lying waiting for their prey.

Being the opportunistic feeders that they are they can be quite difficult to spot. I usually look for a tail sticking out of the sand, as their tails have a black and white band around them, this does give them away, but you must look very closely indeed.

These rays, like I have previously mentioned love nothing more than to bury just underneath the sand. They are also found around rocky areas, as well as coral rubble, they also tend to be near old wrecks and are can be found at around 20-25m deep.

These rays typically feed on crabs, lobsters, small fish, mollusks, octopus and worms. Most reefs have an ample food supply to support quite a few of these rays. The Blue Spotted Stingray does not have teeth like many fish; it does have bony plates in its mouth, which it uses to crush its victims, after it has over powered them and pinned them to the bottom.

Blue spotted StingrayBlue Spotted Stingray have a long tails which half way down house two venomous spines. The tail is usually about twice the length of the body of the fish. The spines or barbs as they are really called are two different sizes, one being larger than the other.

This stingray has bright yellow eyes and they are positioned in such a way that they have an excellent field of view and can see from almost every direction possible. Like sharks, they have spiracles; these spiracles allow them to draw in oxygenated water and are located right behind the ray’s eyes.

If you were able to flip the ray over onto its back (not recommended) then you would see its mouth and gills. These particular rays tend to live alone, however not much is known about these fish after dark in the wild.

Blue spotted rays give birth to live young while they are inside the womb, the embryo is well nourished by the yolk and these eggs are retained by the female until they hatch. The blue spotted ray can produce around seven live young in every litter.

All Blue Spotted Stingray juveniles are born with the distinctive blue markings of its parents. When they are ready to mate the male ray will follow the female with his acutely sensitive nose close to her cloaca, he does this all the while waiting for a sign to tell him that she is now ready to mate.

The actual courtship (like many other rays and sharks) typically includes some sort of biting and grabbing of the main body of the fish. The teeth of the male are used to hold the female in place during copulation. The male fertilizes the female via internal fertilization through the use of their claspers, again as with all other members of this species. The gestation can be anywhere from 4 months to a year. It is recommended to give members of this classification a wide birth if you think that they maybe mating, they might not like to be disturbed.