The Banda Sea is a large, semi-circular body of water that lies northeast of Alor and runs up to the Seram Islands just south of Raja Ampat’s Misool. The western part of the Banda Sea is open to the Flores Sea. At the same time, the eastern border of the Banda Sea is fringed by an arching chain of islands, atolls, and numerous semi-active volcanoes, commonly referred to as the Forgotten Islands. It is this chain of volcanic islands that gives the Banda Sea one of its more popular monikers, The Ring of Fire. The Banda Sea is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting bodies of water in all of Indonesia. As you can see from the map, many different seas border the Banda Sea, like the Ceram Sea, Maluku, Flores, Timor, Arafuru, and the Aru Sea, all of which flow into the Banda Sea and deliver an abundance of nutrients that feed not only the corals but also the marine life, big and small. As a result, you can find more species of coral in the Banda Sea than you can see in Raja Ampat. Wakatobi, for example, in the western Banda Sea, has an estimated 750 coral species. Raja Ampat’s coral count is estimated at around 550. A quick teaser video from our last snorkel tour through the Banda Sea and Alor with the Mermaid II liveaboard Another aspect that makes the Banda Sea so special is its remarkable remoteness. Only a handful of tiny villages can be found on its islands, and with the exception of Wakatobi, which has had to build its own airstrip to comfortably and conveniently service its luxury resort, there aren’t any resorts in the area. The inaccessibility of the Banda Sea’s Islands has almost entirely spared the area from
The Banda Sea is a large, semi-circular body of water that lies northeast of Alor and runs up to the Seram Islands just south of Raja Ampat’s Misool. The western part of the Banda Sea is open to the Flores Sea. At the same time, the eastern border of the Banda Sea is fringed by
Between snorkeling with orca whales and mobula rays, Snorkel Venture's Operations Manager, Bernita Lewin, joins host Alex Lindbloom in Mexico's Baja Peninsula for a chat about the current trip they're on, while also diving deep into the best snorkeling gear for different destinations, and how to choose the most suitable snorkleing trip for you! The pair also gets talking about their favorite trips around the world, with a surprise call-in from Big Boss Ben! They then discuss the correct pronunciation of the word Equator.
Between snorkeling with orca whales and mobula rays, Snorkel Venture’s Operations Manager, Bernita Lewin, joins host Alex Lindbloom in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula for a chat about the current trip they’re on, while also diving deep into the best snorkeling gear for different destinations, and how to choose the most suitable snorkleing trip for you! The
As humans pour their intellect into machines and anxiously await the day artificial intelligence stands on the podium as the smartest being on Earth, we may be overlooking another contender: animal intelligence. In fact, research into animal cognition might shift your concern from AI induced job loss to a more immediate threat - world domination by octopus. Animal intelligence studies once took a very human centric approach. We judged a dolphin’s smarts by how well it could mimic our abilities, like counting to three. But of course a dolphin’s anatomy isn’t built to say “one, two, three,” it is built to produce clicks that let it echolocate objects with incredible precision. I’ve never met a human that can do that! Fortunately, animal intelligence research has come a long way. There is no longer one single test for “intelligence”. Instead, scientists focus on how well an animal solves problems within its own unique environment, a far more meaningful measure of what it means to be smart in the wild. The Cunning Octopus Octopuses could not live a more drastically different life to us humans. Yet, the way they approach problem solving and their incredible adaptability to their environment is undeniably intelligent. They are famously cheeky, using their nine brains to tackle life like no other. They are masters of disguise, going beyond simple camouflage, they can contort their bodies to convincingly mimic the shape and demeanor of other, more dangerous animals. Take the mimic octopus for example: it changes shape and colour to resemble unappetizing creatures like lionfish, sea snakes, flat fish or jellyfish. Like all great actors octopuses also use props from their surroundings to aid in their disguise. The veined octopus for example picks up two halves of a coconut shell and creeps along the seafloor, encased in the
As humans pour their intellect into machines and anxiously await the day artificial intelligence stands on the podium as the smartest being on Earth, we may be overlooking another contender: animal intelligence. In fact, research into animal cognition might shift your concern from AI induced job loss to a more immediate threat – world domination
Humpback whales are extraordinary. That much is undeniable. They never fail to leave you in jaw dropping awe, whether they are launching their 30 tonne bodies into the air like torpedoes or gliding beneath the surface with astonishing grace. But the history of humpbacks hasn’t always been a smooth one. Humpbacks were once hunted to near extinction, with only around 10,000 left by the early 1990s. However, thanks to an incredible global effort, the International Whaling Commission banned commercial humpback whaling in 1966 and things have been looking up ever since. Global humpback populations are now estimated to be over 100,000 whales and rising! To celebrate this conservation success story, here are some humpback fun facts. They sing love songs During mating season, male humpbacks sing to attract females. This is not your average “pick your favourite tune and belt it out” karaoke contest. It is a wonderful example of cultural transmission. Much like human trends, humpback songs evolve. Each breeding season introduces a new musical “hit,” shaped by the subtle changes males make during the preceding feeding season: tweaks in rhythm, phrases, or melodies. By the time they migrate to warmer mating waters, a fresh, complex song has been written. As they travel, males cross paths and learn the song from one another. The song is passed on from West to East, spanning thousands of miles across the ocean. One rendition can last up to hours at a time. In the Cook Islands, humpbacks have even been observed swimming into shallow reefs, positioning themselves vertically with their heads among the coral. The reef acts like a natural amphitheatre, amplifying their songs for miles. With any luck, making the nearby females swoon with admiration. What's up with all the splashing? Humpbacks are famous for their aqua aerobics. They slap their
Humpback whales are extraordinary. That much is undeniable. They never fail to leave you in jaw dropping awe, whether they are launching their 30 tonne bodies into the air like torpedoes or gliding beneath the surface with astonishing grace. But the history of humpbacks hasn’t always been a smooth one. Humpbacks were once hunted to
Tonga is a small Polynesian kingdom comprising of over 170 islands, situated in the South Pacific. Many of these islands remain uninhabited and covered in virgin rainforest, surrounded by white sandy beaches and coral reefs. The Kingdom of Tonga is internationally known for two main reasons- their rugby team and the migration of humpback whales which come annually to birth their young and court new mates from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic. The island where one generally goes to swim with humpback whales is Vana’u. Typically charters offer a day out at sea, but the law requires no more than 4 swimmers and one certified whale guide in the water at a time, to ensure responsible interactions with the cow and baby pairs. One can usually observe a variety of whale behaviors, from mother and calf interactions to the sometimes combative behavior of mature bulls. Humpback whales are the most acrobatic whale species, and will often perform spectacular displays of breaching, lob-tailing, fin-slapping and general water-splashing behavior. The sheltered waters of Vava’u offer a variety of snorkeling opportunities. The reefs around the area are also beautiful and largely untouched, in excellent condition, providing homes for many various fish, turtles and invertebrate species. We like to stay at Tongan Beach Resort, a small seafront simple yet comfortable resort.
Tonga is a small Polynesian kingdom comprising of over 170 islands, situated in the South Pacific. Many of these islands remain uninhabited and covered in virgin rainforest, surrounded by white sandy beaches and coral reefs. The Kingdom of Tonga is internationally known for two main reasons- their rugby team and the migration of humpback whales
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