POND Project: Palau/Sam`s Wall

Transcription

P.O.N.D. Project: Palau/Sam‘s Wall
About Palau
Palau is famous among divers for its biodiversity, intact shark population
(Palau was the first country to declare its waters a shark sanctuary in 2009),
heavy drift dives along steep walls and fascinating wrecks.
The dock at the dive base of Sam's Tours would not look like a prime dive
spot at first instance. Yet, there is a resident colony of mandarin fish who
come out of the debris each afternoon. There is also a variety of macro life
that Palau is usually not known for. The dock is in the focus of this P.O.N.D.
project.
Please note that the survey, conducted by 2 BOE+ German divers, does not
claim to be done on a scientific approach nor to have raised objective data,
as the total number of dives was too small and limited to a 2-week stay.
The goal was to showcase the variety of species living at this dive site and
which rhythm the inhabitants of this area follow during the day.
Several dives were conducted at different times of the day:
October 23, 2013 / 5 pm
October 27, 2013 / 9.40 am
October 27, 2013 / 11.45 am
October 27, 2013 / 3.50 pm
November 1, 2013 / 3 pm
Description of the dive site
The point of entry is right from the jetty of Sam‘s Tours (http://
www.samstours.com) in Malakal Harbour (GPS data points:
North 07 20.311', East 134 27.235'). The width of the wall is 47 metres.
The depth from the water surface to the first bottom contact was 1,8 metres.
Subject to the lunar cycle, which affects tides in Palau heavily, this can vary
tremendously of course.
The average depth of the dive is at 3 metres. If one goes further off the wall,
the dive can get as deep as 8 metres.
During the days where the dives were done, the air temperature was always
around 29°C and the water temperature at 30°C.
Key findings
• As expected, the variety of fish one can see during this dive, is enormous.
• The dock dive is a paradise for fans of butterflyfish
• Certain species are only visible during certain times of the day. For example:
• A black-and-white banded sea snake was present during the morning and
noon dives, but had disappeared in the late afternoon, when the natural
light disappears
• The resident colony of mandarin fish hide during the day in the debris and
only come out in the late afternoon (4 pm and later)
Species (excerpt, not complete list):
• A black-and-white banded sea snake was actively hunting.
• A large school of Sardines gathered under the jetty
• Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon Auriga)
• Saddle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)
• Lined Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus)
• Redfin Butterflyfisch (Chaetodon lunulatus)
• Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)
• Pacific Double-saddle Butterflyfish or False Furcula Butterflyfish (Chaetodon
ulietensis)
• Bristle-tail filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus)
• Network pipefish (Corythoichthys flavofasciatus)
• Blueback Damsel/juvenile (Pomacentrus simsiang)
• White damsel (Dischistodus perspicillatus)
• Harlequin sweetlips/juvenile (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)
• Razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus)
• Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus)
• Pale Monocle Bream (Scolopsis affinis)
Sam‘s Wall
Harbour Bay
Sam‘s Wall
Wall
47m
N
W
Land
E
S
The dive site
Black-and-white banded sea snake
School of sardines under the jetty
Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon Auriga)
Saddle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)
Lined Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus)
Redfin Butterflyfisch (Chaetodon lunulatus)
Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)
Pacific Double-saddle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis)
Bristle-tail filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus)
Network pipefish (Corythoichthys flavofasciatus)
Blueback Damsel/Pomacentrus simsiang
White damsel/Dischistodus perspicillatus
Harlequin sweetlips/juvenile (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)
Razorfish/Aeoliscus strigatus
MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidus
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Other species
Colourful
Corals
The BOE-team during the research
Credits
This project has been supported by
InnerSpace Explorers
www.is-expl.com
Reise-Inspirationen
www.reise-inspirationen.de
Sam‘s Tours Palau
[email protected]
www.samstours.com
TourismUnlimited
www.tourism-unlimited.com
Unique Dive Expedtions
c/o Sam‘s Tours Palau
Paul Collins & Richard Barnden
www.uniquedivexpeditions.com/
Camera equipment used
• Olympus OMD-5
• Olympus Housing
• Flash: Olympus ULF 2
• Olympus TG1
• Olympus Housing
• Flash: internal

POND Project: Palau/Sam`s Wall

Transcription

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