Posts tagged reef

18
Jul 09

Japanese Zero

Deboyne Island, louisiade Archipalego, Papua New Guinea 10º43’69″S 152º23’70″E

On May 8, 1942 one A6M2 Zero piloted by PO2c Okura Shigeru from the 14th Shotai from the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku ditched at Deboyne islands. Japanese A6M2 Zero, the main fighter plane of the Imperial Japanese Navy,this Japanese fighter plane, once a master of the air in the South Pacific arena, now lies on the sandy bottom.  This is an example of the very last zero model ever manufactured.  Virtually intact, divers can sit in the cockpit and pilot themselves back into the past… I did it!

11
Jul 09

Panasia Island

Louisiade Archipelago, Papua New Guinea 11º08’10″S 152º20’84″E

PARADISE #9

Panasia is a spectacular island of uplifted coral reef making jagged limestone cliffs in the Louisiade Archipelago.
The Louisiade Archipelago is a string of ten larger volcanic islands frequently fringed by coral reefs, and 90 smaller coral islands located 200 km southeast of New Guinea, stretching over more than 160 km and spread over an ocean area of 26,000 km between the Solomon Sea to the north and the Coral Sea to the south.

Local elderly woman with a stick in a fishermen village at Panasia Island.

11
Jul 09

Catch of the day

Louisiade Archipalego, Papua New Guinea 11º08’80″S 152º41’64″E

PARADISE #8

“Pacific Natives may appear to some to be the most wretched people upon Earth, but in reality they are far more happier than we Europeans; being wholly unacquainted not only with the superfluous but the necessary Conveniences so much sought after in Europe, they are happier in not knowing them. They live in a Tranquillity which is not disturbed by the Inequality of Conditions. The Earth and Sea of their own accord furnishes them with all things necessary for life, they covet not Magnificent House, Household-stuff &c, they live in a warm and fine Climate and enjoy a very wholesome Air, so that they have very little need of Clothing and this they seem to be very sensible of, for many of whom we gave Cloth &c to, left it carelessly upon the Sea beach and in the Woods as a thing they had no manner of use for. In short they seem’d to set no Value upon anything of their own for any one article we could offer them; this in my opinion argues that they think themselves provided with all the necessary’s of life and that they have no superfluities.”

James Cook (October 27, 1728 – February 14, 1779) was a British explorer and navigator. He made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, in which its main shorelines were discovered.
Captain Cook’s Journal during his first voyage round the world made in H.M. Bark “Endeavour” 1768-71

Nothing’s changed since…

08
Jul 09

Papuan Canoe

Louisiade Archipelago, Papua New Guinea 11º15’56″S 153º12’35″E

PARADISE #7

In Papua New Guinea, a canoe is like a car; it provides transportation and more. Canoes are traditionally decorated with clan symbols and other emblems of power to insure speed and success. A canoe with a beautiful prow has status and power. Childrens on a outrigger canoe in the village of Hessessai Bay at PanaTinai (Panatinane) island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

27
Jun 09

Catamaran Aground

Prony Bay, New Caledonia 22°22'50"S 166°54'90"E

Oups!! Early in the morning a 60 feet catamaran Ginninderra run aground on a reef at Prony Bay situated in the South of New Caledonia, between the Havannah and Woodin canals, which separate it from Ile Ouen.

08
Jun 09

Galapagos Shark

Middleton Reef, Tasman Sea, Australia 29º25’24″S 159º03’35″E

The Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, found worldwide. This species favors clear reef environments around oceanic islands, where it is often the most abundant shark species. A large species that grows to 3.7 m (12 ft), the Galapagos reef shark has a typical fusiform “reef shark” shape and is very difficult to distinguish from the dusky shark (C. obscurus) and the grey reef shark (C. amblyrhynchos). An identifying character of this species is its tall first dorsal fin, which has a slightly rounded tip and originates over the rear tips of the pectoral fins.
Galapagos sharks are active predators often encountered in large groups. They feed mainly on bottom-dwelling bony fishes and cephalopods; larger individuals have a much more varied diet, consuming other sharks, marine iguanas, sea lions, and even garbage. As in other requiem sharks, reproduction is viviparous, with females bearing litters of 4–16 pups every 2–3 years. The juveniles tend to remain in shallow water to avoid predation by the adults. Galapagos sharks are bold and have behaved aggressively towards humans, and are thus regarded as dangerous. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed this species as Near Threatened, as it has a slow reproductive rate and there is heavy fishing pressure across its range.

07
Jun 09

Middleton Reef

Tasman Sea, Australia 29º26’52″S 159º05’01″E

Shipwrecks aground on Middleton Reef.
Middleton Reef is a coral reef in the Tasman Sea. It is separated by a deep oceanic pass some 45 km wide from nearby Elizabeth Reef, forming part of the Lord Howe Rise underwater plateau. Middleton Reef is around 220 km from Lord Howe Island and 555 km from the coast of New South Wales. In 1997 the Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Bill 1996 included Middelton Reef in Australia’s Coral Sea Islands Territory.This island is included also in Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs
Middleton Reef is a platform reef and is among the southernmost platform reefs in the world. However, despite its relatively high latitude, a wide variety of flora and fauna exists both on the island and in the surrounding waters. This is due to its location where tropical and temperate ocean currents converge.
Middleton reef is about 8.9 km long by 6.3 km wide and is usually submerged. However, at low tide most of the reef flat is exposed. At high tide only one cay on the reef is visible, at one metre above sea level. The cay is called The Sound and is 100 m by 70 m.
The reefs form the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve managed by the Government of Australia under the Natural Heritage Trust.
Surveys by the Australian Institute of Marine Science have highlighted healthy number of Black Cod Epinephelus daemelii which is now a threatened species in NSW waters. The survey in 2003 highlighted some 111 species of coral and at the same time identified 181 species of fish. The total number of recorded fish species on the reef is 311 across several surveys. High numbers of Galapagos sharks Carcharhinus galapagensis were observed at Elizabeth Reef.

07
Aug 08

Horn Island

Queensland, Australia 10º35’37″S 142º14’61″E

Horn Island is an island in the Torres Strait, in Queensland’s north between the Australian mainland and Papua New Guinea. At the 2006 census, Horn Island had a population of 585.
Church Influence: London Missionary Society up until 1915 when the Anglican Church assumed responsibility.
Horn Island is known as Nœrupai (colloquially Nurupai) to the Kaurareg (Islander) people and was given its English name by Matthew Flinders in 1802.

08
Oct 06

Great Barrier Reef

Queensland, Australia 14º48’45″S 145º1541’68″E

PARADISE #2

Ribbon Reef number 3