Tag Archives: dive resort gili islands

Facta about Stargazers

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Stargazers (Uranoscopidae)

Stargazers are named for their peculiar appearance with eyes positioned dorsally on the head, usually with protruding eyes that are directed upward. The body is moderately elongate and depressed anteriorly. The large head is almost entirely encased in sculptured bones and also flattened. The large, nearly vertical mouth is equipped with small teeth and there is a peculiar respiratory valve inside the lower jaw that functions as a lure for attracting fish prey. The lips are fringed with numerous papillae in most species. They are also numerous tiny cirri along the fleshy posterior margin of the operculum. The gill openings are very broad and equipped with dorsal, valve like openings, which aid respiration when partially buried. A stout cleithral spine situated just behind each dorsal gill opening. This spine is venomous in at least some species and serious injuries have been reported.

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Facts about Triggerfish

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Triggerfish (Balistidae)

Triggerfish are characterised by latterally compressed, rugby ball shape, leathery skin, and small mouth with powerful crushing jaws. Their common name is derived from the peculiar mechanism by which the first dorsal spine can be locked into an erect position by the second dorsal spine. If the pressure is exerted on the trigger like second spine, the first spine can be unlocked and depressed. This device is used to good advantage at night when the fish wedge into a coral crevice and locks itself in.

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Facts about Rabbitfish

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Rabbitfish (Siganidae)

Rabbitfish are common inhabitants of Indo Pacific reefs, like the waters around the Gili Islands.

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Facts about Blennies

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Blennies (Blenniidae)

Blennies occur worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas like around the Gili Islands with an estimated 350 species in about 50 genera.

They are elongate, laterally compressed fish and most are blunt headed, frequently possessing small tentacles, cirri, or a fleshy crest on the head. There is a single dorsal fin, although the fin may be deeply notched between the anterior spinous portion and posterior soft portion. The mouth is low on the head and not protractile. Jaw teeth are numerous, slender, and close set, either fixed or movable.

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Facts about Bigeyes

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Bigeyes (Priacanthidae)

Bigeyes are distinctive fish characterised by brilliant red colouration, small scales and large glassy eyes.

Additional features include a relatively deep, laterally compressed body, very oblique mouth with a strongly projecting lower jaw, small conical jaw teeth in narrow bands, very small scales that are rough to touch, a scaled head, ans a relatively large pelvic fins, which are joined to the abdomen by a membrane.

Although usually red, most species are capable of rapid colour changes, often assuming a heavily blotched, barred, or silvery pattern.

As their large eyes might suggest, they are nocturnally active, feeding on a variety of ocropus, crustaceans, and small fish.

During the day bigeyes are commonly seen sheltering close to the reef, usually in vicinity of caves or ledges.

Some species range into deep water, at least down to 400 meter.

They are commonly seen onb the reefs around the Gili Islands.

Facts about Cardinalfish

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strong>Cardinalfish (Apogonidae)

Cardinalfish are one of the largest families of Indo Pacific reef fish. An estimated 250 species are currently known, of which 150 species occur on or near reefs in the East Indian region, like the Gili Islands. It is also one of the most dymanic groups for new discoveries. Many new species have been described over the past few years and more can be expected.

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Facts about Anthias

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Anthias (Anthinae)

Anthias , much smaller than their grouper relatives, also play an important role in the reef community. Anthias in particular are very abundant in terms of number of individuals and often form huge mid water feeding aggregations, especially adjacent to steep outer reef drop-offs, like when yo are diving around the Gili Islands Halik Reef.

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Facts about Hawkfish

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Hawkfish (Cirrhitidae)

Hawkfish are small, colourful reef dwellers that occur in most tropical seas. They are largely sedentary, remaining motionless on the bottom for long periods, periodically swimming to a new vantage point. They feed chiefly on small fishes, but a`variety of crabs, shrimps and other small crustaceans are also consumed.

Hawksfish might best be described as grouper-like in shape with scorpionfish habits. They are characterised by the presence of thickened pectoral rays and one or more frilly treads near the tip of each dorsal spine. The stout pectoral rays are adapted for perching on the bottom or wedging amongst coral branches.

The family constains 32 species in 12 genera, the majority of which inhabit coral reefs of the Indo west and central Pacific region. During a dive around the Gili Islands you will find them.

New Years Eve At Gili Air, Indonesia

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Oceans 5 dive resort Gili Air organized New Years Eve a dinner for friends. Friends of all over the world were joining us; Spain, England, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Indonesia etc…

The dinner was a roasted chicken, specialty of one of our dearest friend Madjid. He prepared the last 2 days of 2012 this meal.

Oceans 5 likes to thank all the people who where there and our staff for an unforgettable night.

It was a long a messy night afterwards! 🙂

See you all next year!

Facts about the Giant Trevallie

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Description

All twenty-five species of trevally have elongated, compressed bodies and deeply forked caudal fins, with long, sickle shaped pectoral fins. The Giant Trevally (also known as the ulua, ronin jack and “GT”) is the most prized of the species by anglers and is identifiable by an ovoid patch of small scales located on the breast ahead of the ventral fins. Coloration for the Giant Trevally can range from silvery-white to almost jet-black.

The Giant Trevally uses its superior swimming abilities and power to hunt and smash baitfish. The Giant Treavally is known for stunning prey with its first strike and then circling back to engulf the wounded and/or disoriented baitfish. They will usually devour the prey quickly with one bite, as competition can be fierce from other members of the pack. As they grow, larger specimens move to deeper water and congregate over coral reefs and other underwater structure. Giant Trevally also venture onto flats, headlands and shallow water to hunt food. Giant Trevallies can be found along the reef edge and points where large pounding swells crash on the reef and rocks stirring up food and creating the ideal environment to hunt.

Pound for pound, these are among the hardest-fighting fish in the sea. The current record comes from a plug cast from shore in Japan. Fishing for trevally is best in hotspots like the Seychelles and the edge of the outside reef at Christmas Island, which is also a world-class bonefishing destination.

Average Length

23 inches – 5 feet

Average Weight

30 – 60 lbs

Habitat

The Giant Trevally ranges from estuaries to coral reefs. Juvenile fish are prevalent in estuaries and river systems.


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Range

Distribution is widespread. They’re found in the warm tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans as far south as New South Wales in Australia, east to the Hawaiian Islands, west to the eastern islands of Africa and north to Japan. You will find Giant trevallies on the dive sites around the Gili Islands. Specially Deep Turbo, Halik and Sharkpoint are famous for seeing the trevallies.
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