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TAKE A VIRTUAL DIVE IN
RAJA AMPAT
THE svii camera SYSTEM in raja ampat
Get up close with the SVII camera system in Raja Ampat, situated near the Northwest coast of Papua, Indonesia. The region consists of about 1,500 islands and is beautiful both above and below the surface. The wide distribution of small islands creates a strong gradient from clear water, open oceanic conditions to sheltered and turbid bays, surrounded by impressive krast limestone formations. Raja Ampat is considered the epicentre of the Coral Triangle given their coral reefs have a higher diversity of coral and reef fish species than anywhere else in the world. Captured January 2013 in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. © Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Aaron Spence
TAKE A VIRTUAL DIVE AT
LADY ELLIOT ISLAND
UP CLOSE with A SCHOol of big eye trevally
Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost coral cay of the UNESCO World Heritage designated Great Barrier Reef, is teeming with life underwater. Bigeye trevally, also called jacks, are frequently seen schooling. During the day they are stationary or slow-moving around the reef complexes, but at night, these aggregations dissolve, as the fish become more active, preparing for a night of hunting for their prey. Captured July 2013, Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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BELIZE
Spotted Eagle Ray in Belize
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere. The system illustrates a classic example of reef types through fringing, barrier and atoll, and its seven interconnected marine protected areas provide a haven for threatened species. Spotted eagle rays are considered near threatened on the IUCN Red List. These creatures are known at times to form aggregations, but most commonly they are seen alone, a sudden appearance providing delight for any expectant diver. Captured July 2013 on Half Moon, Lighthouse Reef, Belize.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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BONDI BEACH
DIVE oFF THE WORLD FAMOUS BEACH in AUSTRALIA
Situated on the tip of Ben Buckler Point at the world famous Bondi Beach, Australia, North Bondi is made of an intricate network of impressive rock formations with nooks and crannies full of wonderful invertebrates. Now part of Sydney Coast Hope Spot, it is one of the richest areas for marine life in the Sydney region with big schools of fish, giant cuttlefish and large rays often seen here. Captured February 2014, as part of a scientific collaboration with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
TAKE A VIRTUAL DIVE
RAJA AMPAT
visit the Epicentre of Coral Diversity
Raja Ampat is famous for its healthy and biodiverse coral reefs, and the picturesque coral garden at Keruo is a perfect example, with a kaleidoscope of colourful corals and bright reef fish darting around the reef. The zooxanthellae, the algae present in the tissues of corals, contain a pigment called chlorophyll which gives the coral not only food, but its green or brown colour. Corals have the ability to change their colour to extremes of blue, violet, pink, yellow and red to adapt to different light conditions and water temperature. Captured January 2013 in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. © Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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BELIZE
DESCEND INTO THE FAMOUS BLUE HOLE IN BELIZE
The world-famous Blue Hole is a near-perfect circular expanse of sapphire water nearly 300 metres wide, located within the UNESCO World Heritage designated Belize Barrier Reef System. It was created by geological forces over 10,000 years ago. Many get pulled to what lies in its depths but one can not overlook the beauty that can be found near the Blue Hole rim, where corals can attach and flourish. Captured July 2013 on Lighthouse Reef, Belize.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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AMERICAN SAMOA
CHECK OUT THE GIANT FALE BOMMIE
‘Fale Bommie’ is a huge Porites coral discovered by Fale Tuilagi in the ‘Valley of the Giants’ within the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Measuring in at 41 metres in circumference, and 7 metres high, this ancient giant is considered one of the largest corals on the planet. Given this type of coral grows very slowly, as little as 1 centimetre per year, ‘Fale Bommie’ is estimated to be more than 500 years old meaning she is one of the most ancient life forms on the planet! Captured December 2014, Valley of the Giants, American Samoa.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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NORMAN REEF, GBR
green turtle action on the great barrier reef
Norman Reef is only a few miles from the deep continental shelf of the UNESCO World Heritage designated Great Barrier Reef. One of the larger dive operators in the area has a pontoon and a submersible stationed permanently on the reef which can be visited by hundreds of people each day. The reef structure here is varied and interesting for both snorkelers and scuba divers, it's very healthy and home to a huge variety of marine life. Captured November 2012, Norman Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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GALAPAGOS
teeming with life
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978 and situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 kilometres from the South American continent, the 19 islands and surrounding marine reserve that make up the Galápagos Islands are referred to as a unique ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’. Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the waters here are a melting pot of marine species. More than 20% of the marine species in Galápagos are found nowhere else on earth which in itself given marine species tend to migrate and intermingle. Captured May 2013 on Champion East, Galápagos Islands.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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FLORIDA KEYS
VISIT THE REEF RESTORERS IN THE USA
Former commercial fisherman and tropical fish collector, Ken Nedimyer is one of today’s pioneers of coral reef restoration, harvesting and replanting corals in the hope of bringing endangered coral reefs back to life, and sharing his knowledge around the world. His work began here in 2003 in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Today there are coral nurseries in every coral reef region of the world. Captured August 2014, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, USA.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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LIZARD ISLAND
TAKE A DIVE ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Lizard Island is found in the far northern section of the UNESCO World Heritage designated Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The small island is home to a luxury resort and a world-class research station operated by the Australian Museum. The area is frequently badly affected by tropical cyclones and more recently, coral bleaching events but this virtual dive shows how healthy the reef looked back in 2014 before the 2016 mass coral bleaching episode hit then island’s coral reefs hard. Captured July 2014 in Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
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LIZARD ISLAND
THIRD GLOBAL CORAL BLEACHING EVENT
In 2016, the UNESCO World Heritage designated Great Barrier Reef suffered unprecedented mass coral bleaching as part of the Third Global Coral Bleaching Event. An estimated 30% of the Reef died as a consequence. Lizard Island in the far northern section was particularly hard hit. This image was captured during filming for the Emmy award-winning documentary film ‘Chasing Coral’. Captured March 2016 in Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
© Underwater Earth | XL Catlin Seaview Survey | Christophe Bailhache
Banner Image © Underwater Earth/XL Catlin Seaview Survey/Christophe Bailhache (Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef)