Tag: Megafauna

Which Turtle, and Where was VW – the Mega Grouper?  Part 5. Inaugural Megafauna Expedition, September 2024 

It is one of the best wreck dives in the world, arguably one of the top ten dive sites in the world – and yet we know so little about it.   Who did the last inventory of the megafauna at the Yongala?

From Jennifer Marohasy

By jennifer

It is one of the best wreck dives in the world, arguably one of the top ten dive sites in the world – and yet we know so little about it.   Who did the last inventory of the megafauna at the Yongala?

When I was there earlier this year, on May 6th, 2024, I got to swim with a rare stingray, a Megatrygon microps.   The largest stingray species in the world.  Apparently.

A few months later, on September 3rd, 2024, as part of the inaugural Megafauna Expedition, there were no M. microps. 

 I was hoping that at least one of the photographers on the expedition would find and photograph perhaps the largest fish at the Great Barrier Reef, nicknamed VW.

VW is the nickname for the largest of the resident Queensland Groupers reportedly at the Yongala, with the scientific name Epinephelus lanceolatus.  Reportedly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle car – that would make this fish four metres long.   Is that an exaggeration?   I’ve never seen VW.

How big is VW really – and exactly, and when is he at the Yongala?

 Fifteen of us got into the water the very first morning of the inaugural Megafauna Expedition.  But not a VW in sight.

Which begs the question for me: when is that fish reliably at the Yongala shipwreck?  Does VW move with the season, as well as the time of day?

One of our team photographs, Dave Baxter, photographed a very large Queensland Grouper, not VW.  I estimate the fish that he photographed to be 2.3 metres.

The Queensland Grouper photographed by Dave Baxter at the Yongala on 3rd September, 2024. This is one of a series of photographs by Dave of this mega fish.

More about this fish soon – hopefully with some information about other Queensland Groupers photographed by Dave.  Perhaps even some historical photographs taken by Dave of VW back 25 years.    Has VW really been around that long?  .There must have been a census of the fishes of the Yongala shipwreck.   When was that –  when was the last census?  I know that the Australian government undertakes an annual census of the penguins at Antartica.  And where is the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) on all of this, the census of the fishes of the Yongala?

Meanwhile, I am just wanting a turtle ID.

Rookie underwater photograph, Laura Boderke, trying out her rig for the first time on that first dive on the first morning at the Yongala – the very first morning of the inaugural Megafauna Expedition – Laura photographed, and also shot some video of her scuba buddy Sebastian Falk swimming with a turtle.   A large turtle, but which species?

https://vimeo.com/1010740677?share=copy

We just want a correct identification for the turtle.  I am no turtle expert, and neither is Laura.

I put Laura’s turtle photograph, a winning entry in the Megafauna Photographic Competition, up at iNaturalist.

Sebastian Falk as yardstick for the largest turtle photograph submitted in the Megafauna Photographic Competition.

The provisional ID at iNaturalist is:

“The scales on the head align more with a Hawksbill [than Green Sea turtle]. The prefrontal scales are a good indicator for distinguishing the two. [end quote]

Dave Baxter took some photographs of perhaps this same turtle – with his scuba buddy Kate Armstrong.

Photographs by Dave Baxter of Kate Armstrong with a turtle, also at the Yongala shipwreck on 3rd September, 2024.

Is this the same turtle, and which species is it anyway?

The feature image at the top of this post is of Seb Falk with Laura, about ready to jump in for the night dive at Wheeler Reef, the next day.

Previous scribbles from me about this dive site, including some politics:

Never have I heard anyone mention in the same breath the fishes of the Yongala historic shipwreck and its proximity to the ‘highest exposure levels’ of nutrients and sediments attributed to agricultural runoff.

In the most recent ‘Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report’ (2019) there is a focus on the Burdekin River, and how the coral reefs in this region to the south of Townsville are suffering terribly because of agricultural runoff with specific mention of Stanley and Darley Reef.   Even closer to the mouth of the Burdekin River, in fact in the direct path of river flood plumes, is the Yongala – regularly listed as one of the best dive sites in the world.

Read more here:

More Agriculture, Supersized Fish, Best Dive Site – The Yongala – Jennifer Marohasy

Megatrygon microps is the largest species of stingray in the world with a width of 2 metres and some.   But I felt calm in its presence, and I also wanted to get closer.

The four of us, Thomas, Jessica and Alyson, had jumped in some 15 minutes earlier off the MV SeaEsta for a second dive that morning, on Monday 6th May.    It can be difficult – diving the Yongala. There was a 2-metre swell forecast, but we jump into something less than that.   ‘A bit rollie,’ was how first mate Kerrie described it.

My objective was to just get in and get down the 18 metres to the wreck and hopefully make it the entire length – to swim the entire top of the wreck, the entire length of the Yongala without running out of air.   If I got to the other end with 120 bars, I would be happy.

We got there, to the stern and did an air check.  My three buddies and I, we each still had at least 120 bars.   Whoo hoo!   And the current would take us back to the bow, from where we would make our ascent.

I was feeling happy. Relaxed.  I could see a giant groper in the distance, purple soft corals and golden fish covered the top of the wreck.

Then it appeared.

It hovered and then swung around.  Moved away and then returned.   It swung its tail over my head, and I saw the barbs up close.

Read more here:

Swimming with a Rare Giant Sting Ray — Yongala, 6 May 2024 – Jennifer Marohasy

Diving the North Wall, Myrmidon Reef, Part 4. Inaugural Megafauna Expedition, September 2024

Before the Megafauna Expedition they had never dived together, now they were a team: our ‘North Wall’ team; tasked with bringing back information about a location that had perhaps never been scuba dived before.*

From Jennifer Marohasy

By jennifer

Diving the North Wall, Myrmidon Reef, Part 4. Inaugural Megafauna Expedition, September 2024 

September 17, 2024 By jennifer 1 Comment

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I am yet to dive the North Wall at Myrmidon.  As part of the team onboard the MV Sea Esta I was deck hand on Friday, 6th September 2024.  I was holding Laura Boderke’s underwater camera, as she waited.  Leaning backwards from a rail at the back of the boat, waiting for First Mate Robert to yell the instruction, ‘Go. Go. Go’.  As the Skipper cut the engine, I passed the camera across and Laura simultaneously fell backwards into the big swell – into the South Pacific Ocean, on the outside edge of Myrmidon Reef that is beyond the Great Barrier Reef proper.

Down. Down. Down they went – Laura, with her scuba buddy Sebastian Falk, and also, another and more experienced diver and photographer, Stuart Ireland, with his scuba buddy David Armstrong.  There were four of them, leaning backwards from the same platform at the stern of the boat, falling together, as one, backwards into the swell and then turning, together as one, before kicking down and disappearing from our sight – under the waves.

Before the Megafauna Expedition they had never dived together, now they were a team: our ‘North Wall’ team; tasked with bringing back information about a location that had perhaps never been scuba dived before.*

So much thanks to Stuart for all these photographs – so we can know something of what they saw underwater and how the North Wall at Myrmidon Reef is for this moment in time.

Stuart Ireland is a truly awesome underwater photographer and cinematographer.  And as greedy as a boy in a sweet shop with a mouth full of jelly snakes he has posted so many of these magnificent photographs across at his Facebook page, ‘tis here: https://www.facebook.com/stuireland

Meanwhile I would like to organise an exhibition of the best photographs from our four days at sea – from the inaugural Megafauna Expedition to the still magnificent Great Barrier Reef.   It was not all steep walls of little corals in soft colours.  There are the monster corals – the single colonies of the giant golden Porites spp. in the back lagoon at Myrmidon with some more than three metres across; and of course, the clams saved by the Royal Australian Navy thirty years ago and now all grown up; and I am yet to show a photograph or write a single line about the Yongala as a dive site – where five of the nine winning photographs in the expedition’s photographic competition were taken and 122 people perished more than 100 years ago.

And there will be a documentary.

Charter of the MV Sea Esta was made possible by Sydney-based philanthropist Simon Fenwick.  Special thanks to owner of Adrenalin Dive and skipper of the MV Sea Esta, Paul Crocombe.   Next time it will be Simon, Paul and me diving the North Wall.

Stuart captured in a photograph by Laura, blowing bubbles, as Dave and Seb safety stop.

* Sure the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) do their manta tows with someone on snorkel making a subjective judgement.   Considering their record of 75-100% coral cover for this location, from their most recent survey, they have seen these corals albeit from a distance.  But there are no photographs, and nothing that could be considered of historical value as a useful record of the corals at this location even for that moment in time.  Meanwhile the director of AIMS, Paul Hardisty, has just published a book about how he is going to ‘save the Great Barrier Reef’ that is in terminal decline.   It is a long book, yet there is only one underwater photograph of him.  He is on snorkel at John Brewer Reef and even here he confused cyclone damage with bleaching.   His disregard, and the disregard more generally by AIM, for the reality of how it is underwater and the existence of natural climate cycles, while taking so much money from the Australian tax payer needs interrogation.   It is a disgrace.

Largest of the Saved Clams, Part 3. Inaugural Megafauna Expedition, September 2024

In May 1992, and again in March and April 1993, the Royal Australian Navy, specifically HMAS Tarakan, was involved in the translocation of tens of thousands of clams as part of Operation CLAMSAVER. The clams were moved from a successful breeding program at Orpheus Island to various locations on the Great Barrier Reef, including to Grub Reef.

From Jennifer Marohasy

By jennifer 

In May 1992, and again in March and April 1993, the Royal Australian Navy, specifically HMAS Tarakan, was involved in the translocation of tens of thousands of clams as part of Operation CLAMSAVER.  The clams were moved from a successful breeding program at Orpheus Island to various locations on the Great Barrier Reef, including to Grub Reef.

I am grateful to Jon Daly for providing me some photographs from that time.

Daly wrote: “The guy in the top image is Paul Livermore …  photograph of Tarakans tank deck covered in plastic scallop shaped children’s paddling pools a continuous spray from the ship’s fire main …  I’m in the blue t-shirt. [end quotes].  And I have more notes from other conversation with Jon Daly, for another time.

There appears to have been little if any follow-up, to know the fate of the clams.

Considering the photographic evidence from Jon Daly, the clams were not much more than30cm in length when they were moved.    How big are they now?

As part of the inaugural Megafauna Expedition – with the charter of the MV Sea Esta funded by Sydney-based philanthropist Simon Fenwick – we set off for Grub Reef on Wednesday, 4th September.

The skipper, Paul Crocombe, did some careful research and reconnaissance in advance of the expedition and was able to find one of the translocation sites.

Despite the blustery conditions, strong surface current and the ever-present risk of colliding with a one of the many bombies, Paul got the MV Sea Esta safely into Grub Reef and the team close to one of the translocation sites.

Good job!

Underwater photographer Jenn Mayes with her scuba buddy Nadine Huth found and photographed the largest clam at 1.47 metres.  Congratulations!

And so, the winning photograph in the expedition’s photographic category ‘largest clam’ is by Jenn Mayes and shows Nadine Huth holding the metre long ruler across one of the clams saved by the Royal Australian Navy.

The same clam is shown in the feature photograph at the very top of this blog post.

To be clear, this is one of the clams saved by the Royal Australian Navy as part of operation CLAMSAVER.

There is so much more to tell, about that day at Grub Reef and how it unfolded, even a whale shark encounter for Dave Armstrong.

Rick Braley, who was involved in the original translocation effort, asked that we measure some clams, and that was not only done by the photographers with their yardsticks, but the underwater team also had a tape measure.  The mean length of the clams measured on the first dive with the tape measure was 1.11 metres (n=6), and on the second dive was 0.91 (n=8).

And Jenn Mayes found more than clams at Grub Reef, even a slipper lobster on the night dive, filmed by Stuart Ireland.

https://vimeo.com/1009167844?share=copy

UPDATE

Paul Livermore and others from the Navy who were involved in operation Clamsaver have been in touch following  my related  social media post.  And so, I have more historic photograph, for a future blog post.  Paul Livermore is so pleased to know that their baby clams are now all grown up.  The relevant Facebook post is pinned to the top of my official Facebook page, ’tis here: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferMarohasyOfficialPage/

Largest Coral Colony, Part 2. Inaugural Megafauna Expedition, September 2024  

How do we know that in the back lagoon at Myrmidon Reef there are some massive bolder corals – immovable, representing layer upon layer of calcium carbonate laid down year after year, back more than 300 years.

And so healthy; in various shades of green and blue and, also golden.

From Jennifer Marohasy

 By jennifer

How do we know that in the back lagoon at Myrmidon Reef there are some massive bolder corals – immovable, representing layer upon layer of calcium carbonate laid down year after year, back more than 300 years.

And so healthy; in various shades of green and blue and, also golden.

Their health and size are captured in the photographs from the inaugural Great Barrier Reef Megafauna Expedition.

We made it all the way to Myrmidon Reef on Friday 6th September and the three competition photographers – Dave Baxter, Jenn Mayes, and Laura Boderke – got measuring, with their yardsticks.

Dave Baxter photographing his scuba buddy Kate Armstrong beside a large Porites coral colony, at Myrmidon Reef, September 6, 2024
Laura Boderke photographing Seb Falk above a mega Porites in the Garden of Porites, Myrmidon Reef, September 6, 2024.

Each of the photographers entered more than one photograph in the first category: Largest Coral Colony.

I measured the height and width of the largest coral colonies from their submissions using ImageJ software and the reference within each photograph – their yardsticks.

Jenn Mayes and Laura Boderke both submitted coral colonies of the same equally large width: 3.6 metres!

Screenshot
Seb Falk above Laura’s submission, showing the ImageJ stats in centimetres.

Jenn Mayes coral colony, however, was significantly taller at 3.0 metres, while Laura Boderke’s coral was squatter at 2.2 metres.

The winning photograph in the category ‘Largest Coral Colony’ by Jenn Mayes with Nadine Huth above a giant Porites coral colony, Myrmidon Reef, September 6, 2024.

So, the winning photograph – the largest coral colony – is awarded to Jenn Mayes.  This coral was photographed on the first dive at Myrmidon at a depth of 8 metres.  The coral measures 3.6 metres wide and 3.0 metres tall.

Holding the 1 metres scale above the coral colony is her scuba buddy Nadine Huth.

Congratulations!

Jenn Mayes lives on Great Keppel Island. She is a Dive Master, Skipper and Photographer.
Nadine Huth was scuba buddy and measure for Jenn Mayes. Nadine is a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, lives in Townsville and is the Operations Manager at Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive.

Acknowledgements

Charter of the MV Sea Esta for the inaugural Megafauna Expedition was made possible by Sydney-based philanthropist Simon Fenwick.

Despite a challenging weather forecast Paul Crocombe skippering the MV Sea Esta got us all the way to Myrmidon Reef – with first mate, Robert Arthur also from Adrenalin Dive.

The photographs of the photographers and their buddies in action measuring – Jenn Mayes and Nadine Huth, Laura Boderke and Sebastian Falk, Dave Baxter and Kate Armstrong – were taken by Stuart Ireland, funded by the Institute of Public Affairs.    I was able to help organise this inaugural Megafauna Expedition thanks to the continued financial support of Perth-based philanthropist Bryant Macfie through the IPA.

The measure used by Nadine and Jenn, the one metre long-ruler, was made by John Abbot.

Our megafauna logo is the creation of Ewa Buczkowska.

Stuart Ireland on the bow of MV Sea Esta with Ewa and Kate, anchored not far from the Garden of Porites, Myrmidon Reef, September 6, 2024.
Dave Baxter photographing his scuba buddy Kate Armstrong in front of a mega Porites in the Garden of Porites, Myrmidon Reef, September 6, 2024.

Announcing the Five Megafauna Photographers

The Great Barrier Reef has become a global symbol of manmade climate change. Along with this has come a focus on corals, and a believe that they are mostly small, fragile and bleached. In fact, species of Porites are the foundation of most coral reefs. These corals are often very large (weighing as much as a small car), round, and naturally pale in colour.

Manta Ray swimming in Ocean Great Barrier Reef

From Jennifer Marohasy

By jennifer 

The Great Barrier Reef has become a global symbol of manmade climate change.  Along with this has come a focus on corals, and a believe that they are mostly small, fragile and bleached.  In fact, species of Porites are the foundation of most coral reefs. These corals are often very large (weighing as much as a small car), round, and naturally pale in colour.  They are an important habitat – a large solid substrate for creatures to attach to, burrow in, or find refuge amongst.

In celebration of these mega corals and the other megafauna at the Great Barrier Reef including the largest of the sharks and rays, Jennifer Marohasy is pleased to announce the five successful applications to the inaugural 2024 Great Barrier Reef Megafauna Expedition and Photographic Competition.  These five underwater photographers represent a mix of experience and ambition:

Dave Baxter – Award-winning photographer. Canon 5D3 Scubapix Nauticam sponsored. PADI Instructor. Based Melbourne. https://www.instagram.com/dave_underwater_/

Laura Boderke – Science communicator and film maker. Studying Marine Biology at James Cook University (JCU). Based Townsville.   https://lauraboderke.wixsite.com/my-site

Michael Cee – PADI Master Scuba Diver. Former soldier. Photographer whale watching boats and dive boats. Based Sunshine Coast (Queensland). https://www.instagram.com/michaelceephotography/

Daniel Hampton – Rescue Diver. President Uni. of South Hampton dive club, studying marine biology. Based Southampton, UK. https://www.instagram.com/danielobhampton

Jenn Mayes – Former professional underwater photographer Cayman Islands. PADI Dive Master. Skipper. Based Great Keppel Island. https://www.facebook.com/jwowglobetrotter

Dr Marohasy would also like to acknowledge the support of Simon Fenwick in funding the charter of the MV Sea Esta.

His interest in wildlife conservation began when he watched a documentary on logging in Indonesia – and the destruction of habitat for giant orangutans.  That was nearly thirty years ago.  Since, Simon Fenwick has become a successful funds manager and then sold out of his business to focus on philanthropy.  His first commitment has been to the orangutans of Indonesia through WWF.  https://wwf.org.au/partnerships/philanthropic-partnerships/

This year Simon is funding the inaugural underwater megafauna expedition to the Great Barrier Reef through ‘Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive’ – Townsville’s most experienced dive operator supported by Dive Queensland. https://adrenalindive.com.au

The photographic competition has four categories:

  1. Largest coral colony
  2. Largest clam
  3. Largest fish, that is not a ray or shark
  4. Largest ray or shark or whale.

In drawing attention to the Great Barrier Reef’s megafauna Simon hopes to contribute in some small way to its conservation.

Simon has a particular affinity with the Manta Rays – these are the largest rays (family Myliobatidae, subfamily Mobulinae) that can reach over 7 metres across.  That is mega!

There are two species of mantas: reef mantas (Mobula alfredi) and pelagic manta rays (Mobula birostris).

As part of the megafauna expedition, the photographers are hoping to dive with mantas at the famous Yonga wreck not far from the mouth of the Burdekin River and arguably one of the best ten dive sites in the world. https://vimeo.com/147689898

For more information Dr Jennifer Marohasy can be contacted on Mobile 61 41 887 3222

#megafaunaexpedition #whowins #underwaterphotography @greatbarrierreef #reefmegafauna #sizematters #thalassophile @adrenalindive @reeftoday @jennifermarohasy.com/megafauna

In Search of Mega Rays & Manta Rays

I was diving at Wreck Beach Reef, Great Keppel Island, last Friday and I managed to photograph a Blue Spotted Fan Ray (Taeniura lyenma) –a regular stingray in the family Dasyatidae except with blue spots!

The Amazing shot of Manta ray.

From Jennifer Marohasy

By jennifer 

I was diving at Wreck Beach Reef, Great Keppel Island, last Friday and I managed to photograph a Blue Spotted Fan Ray (Taeniura lyenma) –a regular stingray in the family Dasyatidae except with blue spots!

It was my dive buddy Kirsty who spotted it while peering under one of the large boulder corals (the Porites spp.) that are scattered around the perimeter of this reef.   There are usually painted sweetlips (Diagramma pictum) on guard, that move only when you swim right up to them.   I managed to get my camera and myself underneath one of the boulder corals and then inside what turned out to be a reasonable sized cavity.  It was quite an effort, for a very ordinary photograph of a common ray.

I am an amateur photographer.  It is a memory – and a research grade observation now lodged at iNaturalist.

Blue Spotted Fan Rays are magnificent creatures, but not megafauna.  They are small in the scheme of things, as far as rays go.

My amateur effort at photographing a Blue Spotted Fan Ray at Wreck Beach Reef last Friday.

I have photographed a mega ray, specifically a Smalleye stingray, scientific name Megatrygon microps.

That was at sunrise at the SS Yongala wreck dive site on May 6th this year.  It was the most magical encounter, as the Mega-trygon circled with three whiptail stingrays slipping and sliding on-top.   I have described how curious the stingray was in a blog post, CLICK HERE.     

My amateur photographs of the Smalleyed Ray at the SS Yongala wreck at sunrise on May 6th.

We are planning to dive the Yongala wreck – arguably one of the best ten dive sites in the world – as part of the Underwater Megafauna Photographic Competition and Expedition, departing Townsville Breakwater Marina on Monday 2nd September. This photographic competition has a category ‘largest ray, shark or whale’ and ‘largest fish that is not a ray or shark’.

There can be all of these at the Yongala!

I’ve received some fabulous applications from some talented underwater photographers.

Three of the five spots have already been awarded. I will be letting the final two successful megafauna photographers know next Tuesday – that will then make five departing on the MV Sea Esta for four days and five nights, potentially 14 dives in total, with the last two dives at the Yongala, weather permitting.

It’s not too late if you want to apply. But you need to get your application in before 5pm on Monday, July 29th.

Of course, the biggest rays are the Manta Rays (family Myliobatidae, subfamily Mobulinae) that can reach over 6 metres across. That is mega!

There are about 37 species in this family, with their eyes on the side of their head, which is not fattened. I’ve scuba dived with Manta Rays at Lady Elliott Island, and at Shark Alley off Stradbroke Island. I’m hoping that they will be at the Yongala for the Megafauna Expedition.

David Strain describes his experience with a Manta at the Yonga at the PADI blog:

As Manta Rays sat over the wreck in 15 metres of water facing into the strong current, gills open as an invitation to the resident cleaner wrasse before turning down current, gliding away then around to again take up position over the wreck.

At times they would pass so closely that the downdraft from their wings could be felt only inches from my face. On occasions the manta would position itself directly above as if enjoying the bubble massage from my regulator.

In 10 dives over 4 days I have experienced the changing moods, colours, light and amazing marine life of this truly awe inspiring place on earth.

The Yongala.

More information about the expedition and selection criteria for photographers, CLICK HERE.

There is something more interactive at my official Facebook page, especially if you click on the ‘megafauna expedition’ that is pinned as an event at the top, LINK HERE.

In Search of Bump Heads

The first time I saw a group of them I was far to the east of the Great Barrier Reef, beyond Australia’s continental shelf, 15 metres underwater at Bougainville Reef that rises as a platform in the northern Coral Sea.

From Jennifer Marohasy

By jennifer

The first time I saw a group of them I was far to the east of the Great Barrier Reef, beyond Australia’s continental shelf, 15 metres underwater at Bougainville Reef that rises as a platform in the northern Coral Sea.

They were like buffalo across an open plain: kicking up the dust – except it was sand. And eating the grass – except it was coral.  I am, of course, referring to the mega parrot fish, the bumpheads:  Bolbometopon muricatum.

Bougainville Reef, January 20, 2020. Photographed by Clint Hempsall.

A single bumphead will feed on about 5 tonnes of live coral in a year. They often hang around in groups of about 30, with that one cluster all up consuming more coral than the entire live export coral trade takes each year from the Great Barrier Reef (100 tonnes versus 150 tonnes).

In short, these fish have bellies full of coral – lots of coral.

We live in an age that tends to promote empathy for corals, so I am surprised there are not stories cancelling all the parrot fish.

Worldwide, there are some 130 species of corallivorous fishes (fishes that consume live coral) from 11 different families, with butterflyfishes (family Chaetodontidae) accounting for approximately half of all of these.

Three years after that expedition to Bougainville Reef, I spent three days on the liveaboard Reef Encounter just off-shore from Cairns.  One morning, as I waited in the water for the sunrise dive to begin, I saw a group of them, bumphead parrot fish, sleeping together in a particular formation under the boat.  I don’t have a photograph, I was initially confused at what I was seeing, and then I was so enamoured I couldn’t be bothered with my camera.

As part of the Underwater Megafauna Expedition & Photo Competition we are visiting Wheeler Reef, to the south east of Townsville, because bumpheads are known to pass along a northwest channel at that reef late in the afternoon.  Reliability so.

The plan is that the ‘megafauna photographers’ will be waiting – to photograph them.

There are three photographers coming, with two of these already signed-up!  There is more information at my Facebook page, where I have it listed as an event.

I love a beautifully composed underwater photograph with perfect lightening, but the winner(s) of each of the four categories in this competition will not only have a great photograph of the very largest, but they will also know its size, they will have some measure of what they have photographed.  Hopefully.  This is the inaugural competition and I am asking a lot of the photographers.

There are potentially places for two more underwater photographers.   All aboard the MV Sea Esta by 8pm on Monday September 2nd en route to Myrmidon Reef via Wheeler and also Grub Reef.  At Grub Reef we will be looking for the giant clams.

A photograph of a parrot fish taken by my daughter at Saxon Reef free-diving off Reef Encounter in April 2023. With the little, is it a cleaner wrasse, included in the top left hand corner of this photograph, does it potentially make it easier to put a measure to this fish?

*****

The feature image was taken by Tobi, in April 2021 at Saxon Reef.  How can we know the size of the largest of these bumpheads?