Mass coral spawning is a rare natural spectacle that few have the privilege to witness. Hantu Blog volunteer, Min Hui Khoo, has been hard on the heels of this year’s mass coral spawning event.

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There are a few special times of the year, when the phases of the moon and tides align to trigger a global marine underwater phenomenon called mass coral spawning. I witnessed my first mass coral spawning in 2003. It was also at Pulau Satumu, also known as Raffles Lighthouse. We camped on the island in […]

Posted in Biology, Blog Log, Volunteers Comments Off on Waiting for a Coral Spawning

“Where was this?” were the first questions from members of the public that appeared in my message box after I posted the above video on social media. Followed by, “what were they doing here?” Seeing the five rays swim in formation along the seawall at Labrador Park didn’t so much as surprise me. Rather, it […]

Posted in Blog Log, News Comments Off on Eagle Rays in Singapore Seas

Veteran diver, Toh Chay Hoon, has completed more than 800 dives in Singapore waters! “I stopped logging after my 300th dive, and that was many many years ago!” But on special, albeit low visibility days, she still gets enthralled by something new or unexpected. Above: A cool cuttlefish remains still even as our diver Chay […]

Posted in Biology, Blog Log Comments Off on Hunters in murky waters

What makes Pulau Hantu special? “It is an island with dive sites situated right next to a very busy city such as Singapore,” shares diver Veronica Alcantara, who did her first dive in Singapore at Pulau Hantu. “On 19 May 2018,” she remembers exactly. “I have dived at Pulau Hantu 63 times since. I haven’t […]

Posted in Blog Log Comments Off on Favourite moments from 2019

She looked down and saw “so many fishes!” Singapore’s relentless nudibranch hunter (armed only with a camera and a pair of superhuman eyes) spent a weekend with the reefs of Pulau Hantu and saw many creatures, great and small! Some where “pretending” to be something they are not, many were hiding, and others sat right […]

Posted in Biology, Blog Log Comments Off on Cryptics, Mimics and Camouflage

Hearing about our volunteer, Nicholas Chew’s, experience of a coral spawning dive reminded me of Jane Goodall’s story about watching a hen lay an egg. Photos by Nicholas Chew.

Posted in Blog Log Comments Off on Great Expectations

Nudibranch enthusiast Toh Chay Hoon, has been diving and walking Singapore reefs for over a decade. The two ways of discovering our reef offer very different perspectives, and an opportunity to encounter different wildlife! Creatures that live in the intertidal zone (and that includes coral) have to be able to tolerate fresh water better than […]

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In ultraviolet or in darkness, corals have many amazing surprises to reveal when we find new ways to look at them. Hantu Blog volunteers gathered to visit our reefs on this particular weekend for the chance to observe one of natures wild and natural wonders – mass coral spawning. Observing this natural phenomenon demands tremendous […]

Posted in Blog Log Comments Off on Singapore Reefs In A New Light

Toh Chay Hoon is a veteran of Singapore waters, and is crazy about nudibranchs. She recently visited the fringing reefs of Pulau Hantu Besar (Big island), “Had two good dives on Sunday! Visibility was about 2m.” She exclaims enthusiastically. Above: Favorinus sp. on calcareous algae. All photos (C) Toh Chay Hoon, 2019.

Posted in Blog Log Comments Off on When a Gymnodoris loses its spots