SCUBA News 298
(ISSN 1476-8011)
May 2025

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SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011)
Issue 298 - May 2025
https://www.scubatravel.co.uk
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I hope this issue brings you a fresh wave of underwater inspiration, from exploring Santorini's dive sites to discovering 10 less-travelled gems for the adventurous diver. Get expert insights with Nirupam Nigam's review of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, meet the striking Masked Butterflyfish and check out liveaboard deals that make diving more affordable.

What's New at SCUBA Travel?

Canon EOS R5 Mark II Review Renowned underwater photographer Nirupam Nigam reviews the new Canon underwater camera. Is it worth upgrading to this flagship camera? READ MORE...

Santorini Scuba Diving The site of one of the biggest volcano eruptions in human history - Santorini diving has impressive topography and many wrecks. Plus it is a lovely place to visit. LEARN MORE...

Off the Beaten Path: 10 Hidden Dive Destinations For Adventurous Travellers If you've ticked off the big names like the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef or the Maldives, you might be wondering where to dive next. If you have a good sense of adventure and love of the road less travelled, discover these 10 lesser-known dive spots. SEE WHERE...

Your Letters

Hello Scuba News!

Many thanks for the information you send us; it is greatly appreciated. The diving industry is very tough financially for many, and unfortunately we see bankruptcies, closures also here in Sweden. However, we maintain the positions within AUSI: reasonable prices, good training, and do not invest in mass- and fast training; here in our cold waters, it is almost always required, apart from hot summers, dry suits, double systems and solid training to cope with tough water conditions.

Thanks again for the information, and please mention that AUSI is also available in Europe in your scuba bulletin.

Best regards
Goran Hedengard
Regional Director AUSI Europe

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Thank you Goran. We are happy to do so. More about AUSI (Australian Underwater Scuba Instructors) is on our diving qualifications page and at ausi.com.au

Liveaboard Diving Offers: Dive for Less

A fantastic range of partner deals. With up to 50% off.

1. Raja Laut, Indonesia. A luxurious diving adventure for just 12 divers in Indonesia's beautiful waters, where you'll enjoy world-class dive sites, plus, if you wish, water-skiing and kayaking. Up to 20% off. ALSO, in October, there is even a chance to combine diving with an Indonesian Culture and Cuisine course run by renowned wild-cooking chef Tait Miller! Learn cooking techniques against the stunning backdrop of Raja Ampat



BOOK NOW

2. Horizon 3, Maldives. HALF PRICE. Explore the central or northern atolls of the Maldives, with up to 50% off.

   

   HALF PRICE

3. Galapagos Sky. SAVE 30%. Galapagos Sky is a small, luxury liveaboard. Dry season continues from July to December, fantastic time to dive with sharks.

   

   SAVE 30%

4. Resolute, Philippines, SAVE 31%. Exceptional value for money, the Resolute visits the renowned Tubbataha Reef, Apo Reef, Coron and Anilao.

   

   CHECK AVAILABILITY

5. Discovery I, Egypt, SAVE 30%. For up to 20 divers, so more intimate than many boats in the Red Sea. Runs both northern and southern itinaries.

   

   View Liveaboard Offer

See more liveaboard deals to some of the best diving in the world - Micronesia, Philippines, Galapagos, Indonesia, Cocos Islands...

Creature of the month is the delightful Masked Butterflyfish, Chaetodon semilarvatus

A beautiful golden yellow with a distinctive blue-grey eye patch, divers can easily spot and identify the masked butterflyfish in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The butterflyfish family, or Chaetodontidae, are small, colourful fishes with a continuous dorsal fin. At around 23 cm long, though, the masked butterfly fish is large for its family. Chaetodontidae is the Greek for bristle teeth and indeed they do have small, brush-like teeth. The specific part of the name, semilarvatus, means half masked in Latin.

Unusual behaviour

When preturbed the masked butterfly fish doesn't immediately flee but turns sideways showing one side of their body to the potential predator. As their eye is hidden by the mask, the hunter's normal primary target is concealed and the butterfly fish may zig zag back to safety. This behaviour makes photographing them somewhat easier than with many other fish.

Monogamous pair for life

Most species of butterfly fish patrol a home range. The Masked butterfly fish form a faithful pair that remains together for years, if not life.

The longest monitoring study of the butterflyfish, over seven years, revealed that they stayed together throughout that time. (They live for more than 10 years.) As butterflyfish have planktonic larvae without any broodcare, monogamy hasn't evolved in response looking after offspring as in many other vertebrate groups. It is probably territorial: a pair can protect their feeding territory more successfully than individuals.

Eats day and night (but mostly night)

The masked butterflyfish feeds on coral polyps by day and night. They seem to eat most during the night and late in the evening. Since coral tissue is poor in nutrients, the fish has to eat more often than carnivorous species.

A stand-out species

The masked butterflyfish is not only striking in appearance but also fascinating in behaviour. Its lifelong pairing, unique predator avoidance tactics, slow swimming and beauty make it a stand-out species on the reef.

References

Neudecker, S. (1989). Eye camouflage and false eyespots: chaetodontid responses to predators. In: Motta, P.J. (eds) The butterflyfishes: success on the coral reef. Developments in environmental biology of fishes, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht.

Nowicki JP, O'Connell LA, Cowman PF, Walker SPW, Coker DJ, Pratchett MS. Variation in social systems within Chaetodon butterflyfishes, with special reference to pair bonding. PLoS One. 2018 Apr 11;13(4):e0194465. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194465. PMID: 29641529; PMCID: PMC5894994.

Butterflyfishes of the Southern Red Sea. Zekeria. 2003

Diving news from around the World

Thailand bans inexperienced divers from taking underwater photos If you're neither an advanced-level diver, nor have at least 40 dives you're now banned from taking photos underwater in Thailand, in a bid to protect corals and marine animals from clumsy novice divers.

Whales protected in Uruguay's 1st protected ocean area The new Isla de Lobos MPA provides a safe haven for the Western Hemisphere's largest colonies of sea lions and fur seals, hundreds of species of corals, fish, turtles, and cetaceans, including the endangered Southern right whale.

Cruise ships and intensified tourism in Mexico threaten whale shark habitat In Baja California, mega cruise ships can now enter La Paz. Environmental organisations are urging the government to cancel the agreement which would mean 150,000 extra visitors, 60% of the population.

Paying fishers to release sharks accidentally caught in their nets can incentivise conservation action How one project in Indonesia introduced a pay-to-release scheme that encourages fishers to save shark and ray bycatch.

Loss of great white sharks triggers domino effect down food chain With the loss of the top predator, populations of its prey, such as fur seals and sevengill sharks, increased at first; the latter's food, though, small fish and smaller benthic sharks, declined.

Divers in the Sharklogger Network provide valuable insights into Cayman Islands sharks The citizen science scheme not only provided long-term data on Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks and hammerheads, but also enhanced public engagement and awareness in shark conservation efforts.

Red Algae Use Colours for Inter-Species Communication Blue growing tips contain a feeding repellent to alga-eating fish, and the colour warns the fish of this. As warm water fish swim north, the non-bluetipped algae may be more heavily predated.

Aqaba's Dive Operators Reduce Environmental Impact on Reefs Green Fins initiative in Jordan achieves 51% reduction in threats to Aqaba Marine Reserve

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Photo credits: Tim Nicholson, Jill Studholme, Tatiana Ivkovich, Rob Atherton/DepositPhotos, divebooker.com.

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CONTACTING THE EDITOR
Please send your letters or press releases to:
Jill Studholme
SCUBA News
The Cliff

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UK
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SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011)

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