Tag Archives: indonesia

Diving during rainy season

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Dive resort Oceans 5 Gili Air and the island during rainy season
Oceans 5 caters fundivers and organises courses, including IDC’s (Instructor Development Courses), the whole year round.

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Wet season arrives roughly somewhere in November and ends start of May, with the occasional rain showers in the month after. Because of their geographic location, the Gili Islands enjoy a very comfortable micro climate. The rainclouds tend to pass over as they get drawn towards the big volcanoes on Lombok, which results in a maximum of 2h of rain on average a day.
During this time the islands turns into a lush, green place where wildlife flourishes. You hear the mating calls from our resident Tokeh Tokeh’s (big gecko’s) around sunset, baby monitor lizards playing around in swimming pools, butterflies dancing and our tropical birds feeding their newborns.

The water temperature in the ocean stays fairly constant (27-30), with a slight drop of visibility due to all the nutrients coming in when our currents shift occassionally. This brings a big behavioural change in our marine eco system. Plenty of food to go by for all the species we have around the Gili’s. You can see fry and fingerlings feeding in great numbers, which provides food for some bigger fish and the ball starts rolling. The result is divers enjoying eventful dives with a lot of action.
Our macrolife also has its share of all the riches this time of the year, which makes the islands perfect for photographers during rainy season.
And last but not least we have whalesharks, manta rays and devil rays passing by on occasion to feed on all the goodies. While there is never any guarantee to see them, rainy season is where you have the best chance of spotting them.

This time of the year brings changes, and these changes are welcome every year! Its amazing how a bit of water can change both the look of the island, and everything and everyone that lives on and around the islands.
Come and experience a green lush paradise where diving will stun you. Sign up for a course if you’re not a diver yet, book fundives with our amazing local guides who will take you on a tour in their underwater backyard or sign up for your IDC if you would like to teach people how to dive in places like Gili Air.

For more information visit our websites:
http://www.oceans5dive.com
http://www.indonesia-idc.com

 

Independence day Indonesia

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Today IDC Dive Resort Oceans 5 is totally covers in Red and White! It is independence day in Indonesia and Red and White are the colors of the flag!

Independence day Indonesia Gili Islands IDC dive resort

Independence day Indonesia Gili Islands IDC dive resort

When does Indonesia celebrate its Independence Day?

On August 17, 1945, Indonesia declared its independence from Netherlands. This declaration of independence was met with vehement opposition from the Dutch rulers, and was followed by four years of unrest and diplomatic meetings. Finally, in 1949, the Dutch officially recognized the independence ofIndonesia but it was not until 2005 that Dutch accepted August 17 1945, as Indonesia’s official date of independence.

Independence day Indonesia Gili Islands IDC dive resort

Independence day Indonesia Gili Islands IDC dive resort

How is the Indonesian Independence Day celebrated?

In Indonesia, Hari Merdeka or Independence Day is a day filled with festivities and celebrations. The preparations for Hari Merdeka begin well in advance. This tim of the year all of Indonesia seems to be draped in red and white, the colors of its flag.

In the run up to the celebrations, malls and the fences around the presidential building is adorned with red and white buntings. The city of Jakarta wears an air of festivity and the area between Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman is done up with unique decorations that reflect the spirit of independence. Neighborhood associations arrange kerja bakti or community service which includes cleaning the residential areas. The residents are also requested host flags for a set duration of time. Finally, on the eve of Independence Day, the President delivers addresses the nation.

These preparations culminate into the grand celebrations of the Independence Day that usually begins with flag hoisting ceremony in the presidential place. High school students chosen from across the country for their marching skills, put up a colorful show while the Indonesianflag hoisted. This is followed by parades and fun-filled activities for the public. These include as Krupuk (shrimp chips) eating, bike decorating, and cooking contests. One of the popular games played on this day is Panjat Pinang in which participants climb the greased trunk Areca palm tree.

Reef Clean Up Gili Islands

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Reef Clean up Gili Islands with IDC dive resort Oceans 5 Dive Gili Air Indonesia

Reef Clean up Gili Islands with IDC dive resort Oceans 5 Dive Gili Air Indonesia

Reef Clean Up Gili Islands

Last time our divemaster trainees and customers took a lot of rubbish out of the harbor, but there was more.

Oceans 5 descided to do another Beach and Reef Clean Up, so that the beautiful dive site in the front of the dive shop will not totally covered with plastic rubbish.

At 16.30 all the people came for the reef clean up Gili Islands at Oceans 5 dive resort. Instructor John looked after them and gave them a briefing about safety, what kind of rubbish to collect, the buddy team, and the depth and dive time.

After 1 hour the eco divers came out of the water, not with the same amount as last time but still 4 bags full.

Oceans 5 IDC dive resort is taking care of their environment and organizes every week reef and beach clean up. These clean up are for everyone, divers as non – divers. The clean up is totally free and Oceans 5 IDC dive resort provides everything you need for a clean up, gloves, bags, tanks and dive equipment.

For more information: http://www.oceans5dive.com or our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/oceans5.dive.resort.gili.islands

Beach and Reef Clean up Gili Islands

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Reef clean up Gili Islands with IDC dive resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Indonesia

Reef clean up Gili Islands with IDC dive resort Oceans 5 Gili Air Indonesia

Beach and Reef Clean Up Gili Islands

IDC Dive resort Oceans 5 dive Gili Air gili islandsorganizes a Beach and Reef Clean up. All Divemaster trainees and fun divers were joining the clean up. Oceans 5 dive resort cleaned up the front of the dive shop and Oceans 5 house reef.

The result was shocking 9 bags full of rubbish was fished out of the water and there is more rubbish to go. Oceans 5 dive resort organizes tomorrow another Beach and Reef Clean up.

Starting at 16.30, everyone can join, divers as non-divers.

For more information: http://www.oceans5dive.com or our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/oceans5.dive.resort.gili.islands

Can you tell us the age of a fish?

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One way to tell the age of a fish is by looking at its scales. They have growth rings just like trees. These are called circuli. Clusters of them are called annuli. Each annuli show one year.

Like the picture shows you, this fish is 10 years old.

circuli

Top 10 Most Endangered Fish: Number 1

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Bluefin Tuna

Perhaps the most iconic of endangered fish, the bluefin tuna occupies most of the northern Atlantic Ocean. One of the fastest fish in the sea, this species can grow to a length of 10 feet and weigh more than 1,400 pounds. This species’ reputation as a fighter has made it a popular catch among recreational fisherman. And at a going rate of up to $100,000 per fish, it’s highly prized by commercial fisherman as well. Bluefin tuna are heavily overfished, and most experts agree that without prompt intervention, the slow-growing, slow-maturing species will become extinct. International regulation is tricky, however, since the bluefin tuna is known to migrate thousands of miles across the ocean. And so far, efforts to control harvests have largely failed. Chosen by the WWF (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund) as the sixth most threatened species in the world, sea or land, the bluefin tuna is by all measures critically endangered.

Top 10 Most Endangered Fish: Number 2

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Maltese Ray

Historically, the Maltese ray populated the Mediterranean Sea in the coastal waters of Italy, Algeria, Malta and Tunisia. Today, its range is limited to the heavily-fished Strait of Sicily, a 90-mile-wide channel between Italy and Tunisia. Though little is known about this particular species, it likely displays characteristics similar to other rays: It grows slowly, matures late and produces few offspring. Commercial fishing vessels rarely target the Maltese ray. Rather, it is taken as bycatch in boats harvesting other species. Once they’re caught, these unwanted fish are thrown back into the water, dead or dying. The decreasing population of this species and the slow response by regional governments to save it earned the Maltese ray a critically endangered rating from the IUCN.

Top 10 Most Endangered Fish: Number 3

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Goliath Grouper

All species of grouper are endangered to some extent, but the Goliath Grouper is particularly threatened. Also known as the jewfish, it lives in the subtropical areas of the eastern Pacific (from Baja California to Peru) and the Atlantic (from North Carolina to Brazil). As the name suggests, it’s a very large fish, growing to 7 feet in length in its 40-year life span. Overfishing of the Goliath grouper is a result of two main issues. First, it reproduces for only a short period of time, resulting in relatively few offspring compared to other species. Second, juveniles often become accidental bycatch in other fishing operations. What fish remain are targeted during spawning by hook-and-line fishing boats. Out of concern for the Goliath grouper’s survival, the United States banned harvest of the species, and the IUCN rated them as critically endangered.

Top 10 Most Endangered Fish: Number 4

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European Eel

Found primarily in the North Atlantic and the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas, European eel face a unique set of survival challenges. They have a fascinating development cycle, which begins with their birth out at sea and continues in freshwater streams thousands of miles inland, where they can grow to a length of 4.5. When they reach sexual maturity, at anywhere from 6 to 30 years of age, they return to the sea to spawn. If their route to the sea is blocked, they return to freshwater and can live for 50 years. But if they make it back to salt water and reproduce, they die. Because of this unusual life cycle, any eel that is caught at sea is a juvenile that has not yet had a chance to spawn. This has resulted in catastrophic overfishing of the European eel, and a critically endangered rating from IUCN.

Top 10 Most Endangered Fish: Number 5

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Bocaccio Rockfish

Of the more than 70 species of rockfish living off the United States’ west coast, the bocaccio rockfish is one of the most endangered. While this 3-foot fish reaches reproductive age sooner than many overfished species — as early as four to five years — its larvae have a very low survival rate. Changes in ocean currents and temperature since the 1970s mean that large numbers of bocaccio larvae live to become juveniles only once every 20 years. In response to their dwindling numbers, the United States closed several fisheries along the West Coast in 2002. But even without trawling in these areas, scientists believe it could take 100 years for bocaccio populations to recover. With such significant challenges to recovery, the IUCN has listed the species as critically endangered.