Photos/videos Philippine coral reef

[bram33]

Hi All,

A couple of years ago I've been to the Philippines for almost half a year to do my final thesis. A study about the human inmpacts on the remote Coral reefs of Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte, The Philippines. For this purpose I joined an NGO that surveys the reefs with volunteers to gather data for the local municipalities. With this data they advised on where best to create Marine Protected Areas. For these surveys we've been diving at least 2 times a day to count fish, corals, and invertabrates on of the most untouched reefs. And in are free time we basicly snorkeled for hours.

After spending this many hours on the reefs. You start to find out that there are a lot of differences between the aquarium and a natural reef. I soon started to notice why certain corals need a lot, and I mean a lot of light. And for instance would you keep a reeftank at 29 degrees celcius ? or more.. I have seen anemones and euphyllias hit with currents that we simply can't imagine, without having there flesh torn off.

I have said enough. This thread will be picture heavy.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

 

[hybridazn]

Pics! Pics! Pics! Haha

 

[bram33]

Surface view:

Acropora, depth 1,5-2,0 meters, temp almost constant 30 degrees celcius.

Anemone, depth 1,5-2,0 meters,

 

[bram33]

The same anemone, and lots and lots of porites.

Coral overview.

The occasional ´Premium´ Coral

 

[bram33]

Anemone, depth 0,2 - 1,0 meter, temp from 29 to 32 degrees.

Depth 1,5-2,0 meters

Depth <2,0 meters.

 

[bram33]

Some more anemones, only found in the shallows.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Some more anemones, only found in the shallows.

What are those spikey things to the lower left of the second to last anemone pic?

 

[bram33]

My best guess is Caulerpa Serrulata.

 

[bram33]

One of the few brightly colored montipora in the shallows.

Big Acropora

Some more porites

 

[Jizu Puentes]

My best guess is Caulerpa Serrulata.

Interesting. Never heard of that time before. Time for googling!

 

[cristata.reef]

What are those spikey things to the lower left of the second to last anemone pic?

My best guess is Caulerpa Serrulata.

Interesting. Never heard of that time before. Time for googling!

Turbinaria ornata, a type of brown macroalgae (we call em phaeophytes). Not the turbinaria that includes pagoda corals. These are common in a lot of central pacific and even Indo-Pacific reefs and can be as abundant as corals

 

[bram33]

Thanks! Never really paid attention to these but they are pretty neat.

 

[cristata.reef]

Thanks! Never really paid attention to these but they are pretty neat.

No problem! Love the pics btw. I ID marine life ranging from macroalgae to pelagic cnidarians and everything else that lives in the ocean as a hobby on iNaturalist. If you want you can make an account and upload your pics there. I know that several of our research grade observations get harvested by organizations like OBIS and GBIF for scientific research.

 

[bram33]

No problem! Love the pics btw. I ID marine life ranging from macroalgae to pelagic cnidarians and everything else that lives in the ocean as a hobby on iNaturalist. If you want you can make an account and upload your pics there. I know that several of our research grade observations get harvested by organizations like OBIS and GBIF for scientific research.

Thanks I have many more photos and videos so I definitely will keep posting these.

I will have a look at iNaturalist. Thanks for the reccomendation.

 

[bram33]

A place we called anemone city. You can see why.

From the shore this juvenile batfish looked axactly like a leaf. Swaying in the waves.

Anthias!

Chromis !

 

[Mark Gray]

Very cool, I have not been there in almost 3 years now. Nice pictures. I have a friend down there his aquarium is that warm all year.

 

[cristata.reef]

Thanks I have many more photos and videos so I definitely will keep posting these.

I will have a look at iNaturalist. Thanks for the reccomendation.

Yeah if you do make an account lmk, I'd love to help you get started and show you all the cool features that most people don't know about

 

[Mark Gray]

I want to see more pictures lol and Temp reading. It looks to me the reefs look pretty good. I got to go back

 

[Clownman727]

Those pictures are incredible. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Reefer1464]

I suddenly feel an urge to visit the Philippines....... Thanks for the pics!