Diving Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers

14th May 2006, Sunday

This is my first time diving in Singapore waters. I have read and seen so much about what our local reefs has to offer (especially through the Hantu Blog and "Living Treasures" on Channel News Asia). I was determined to give our local waters a try. So I got together Ziyang, Cynthia and Liyan to go for the experience.

We met at about 8.30 am outside Fong Seng where I 'dilly dally', had breakfast, packed lunch and then finally set off for West Coast Pier. Ziyang drove and we arrived at the pier 5 mins to 9am. We met Debby and Chay Hoon at the entrance. After some administration, we proceeded for security clearance and then onto our diveboat--- an old school bumboat! That's something really interesting.... I've never dive from a bumboat.... I guess Singapore is the only place in the south east asia region that u can actually dive from a bumboat.... Hmmm such strong local flavour!

The ride from West Coast Pier to P. Hantu was about 45mins and Debby made formal introduction and gave briefing en-route the island. I paired up with Liyan as dive buddies and Debby as our guide. David was taken under the wings of Debby. We were arranged to be the last team to entered the water. The 1st dive site was at Flabellina Garden, a fringing reef located on the western side of the island along the breakwaters. We entered the water and started the 1st dive at 1105hrs.

Here's a sneak preview of what I digitalized with my camera:

Common Name: Blue Serpent Pteraeolidia
Scientific Name: Pteraeolidia ianthina
Family: Facelinidae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

Serpent Pteraeolidia.. this species spot many different colour variations on their cerata.
Dive site: Flabellina Garden
Time: 1122hrs



Common Name:
Black-margined Glossodoris
Scientific Name:
Glossodoris atromarginata
Family: Chromodorididae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

Black-margined Glossodoris
Dive site: Flabellina Garden
Time: 1123hrs

Common Name:
Pustulose Phyllidiella
Scientific Name:
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Family: Phyllidiidae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

Pustulose Phyllidiella
Dive site: Flabellina Garden
Time: 1128hrs

Common Name: Copperband Butterflyfish
Scientific Name: Chelmon rostratus
Family: Chaetodontidae
Order: Perciformes
Class: Actinopterygii

A cruising pair foraging for worms and probing crevices for coral polyps with their long snouts.
Dive site: Flabellina Garden
Time: 1138 hrs

Common Name:
Unidentified Pseudoceros Flatworm
Scientific Name:
Pseudoceros sp.
Family: Pseudocerotidae
Order: Polycladida
Class: Turbellaria

Undescribed species of flatworm belonging to the family of Pseudoceros
Dive site: Flabellina Garden
Time: 1151hrs

Common Name: Serpent Pteraeolidia
Scientific Name: Pteraeolidia ianthina
Family: Facelinidae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

This beautiful white serpent was only about 1cm in length! Tiny baby...
Dive site: Flabellina Garden
Time: 1156hrs

The first dive ended at 1210hrs and we just climbed onto the boat and immediately feast upon our Nasi Lemak... yummy..... After Lunch, Debby gave a short briefing on the next dive at the Cigar Reef, a small patch reef just next to the Flabellina Garden. We commenced our dive at 1335hrs and followed the bouy line down to the reef.



Common Name:
Siboga Cuthona
Scientific Name:
Cuthona sibogae
Family: Tergipedidae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

This pair was seen mating on the hydroid, Sertularella quadridens. Siboga Cuthona feeds on hydroid Sertularella quadridens.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1347hrs

Common Name: Elegant Phyllidia
Scientific Name: Phyllidia elegans
Family: Phyllidiidae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

A number of colour variations depending on the region where they are found and what kind of sponges they feed on. Diurnally active.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1356hrs

Common Name:
Depiliktabub Pseudoceros
Scientific Name:
Pseudoceros depiliktabub
Family: Pseudocerotidae
Order: Polycladida
Class: Turbellaria

A fast-moving flatworm gliding along the seabed.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1403hrs

Common Name: Orange-spotted Gymnodoris
Scientific Name: Gymnodoris alba
Family: Gymnodorididae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

A tiny juvenile was found washed by currents. Brought into Liyan’s palms, this winny was only about 3mm. It was later put back onto the reef safely. Gymnodoris eats other Opistobranchs.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1408hrs


Common Name:
Bayer's Thuridilla
Scientific Name:
Thuridilla bayeri
Family: Plakobranchidae
Order: Sacoglossa
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

A class of Opisthobranchs that feed on algae, belonging to the order of Sacoglossa and not Nudibranchia.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1411hrs


Common Name:
Unidentified Reef Squid
Scientific Name:
?
Family: Loliginidae
Order: Teuthoidea
Class: Cephalopoda

An out of focussed shot that i only managed at an unknown reef squid zipping past me.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1426hrs

Common Name: Clown Anemone Shrimp
Scientific Name: Periclemenes brevicarpalis
Family: Palaemonidae
Order: Decapoda
Class: Malacostraca

Also known as the Bubble Commensal Shrimp, this species is extremely photogenic. There's a pair here in its Anemone host.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1429hrs



Common Name:
Blue Serpent Pteraeolidia
Scientific Name:
Pteraeolidia ianthina
Family: Facelinidae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

Another shot of the beautiful Blue Serpent.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1440hrs



Common Name:
Funeral Jorunna
Scientific Name:
Jorunna funebris
Family: Dorididae
Order: Nudibranchia
Subclass: Opisthobranchia

Another baby of 3mm size amongst coral sponges. Eats Euplacella sp. sponge.
Dive site: Cigar Reef
Time: 1442hrs




David disappeared halfway through the dive. I think Debby got her headache from all the repetitive ascends and descends so she ended her dive prematurely. Liyan and I continued on our own and surfaced at 1459hrs, which made this dive my record longest with an actual bottom time of 1hr 26mins! Overall, the dive experience with the Hantu Bloggers is excellent, considering the variety of macro subjects i came across. It is most intriguing to know that, Singapore hold such sanctuary that supports a large thriving population of marine life, despite our heavy sea traffic and low visilibity.
The thought of fascination that what more could be lurking out there, drives me to go back to explore. This is my virgin dive in Singapore but will definitely not be my last!

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