Constable publishing in the United Kingdom has recently released a new hardback book titled Reefs Revealed, featuring images and text by marine biologist Alexander Mustard. 

Best known to FiNS Magazine readers for his Talking Megapixels column, Alex has painstakingly put together a beautiful collection of over 150 images spanning the coral reefs of the world, including photographs from the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Southeast Asian waters, and the Caribbean. Moreover, reflecting his background as a marine biologist, Alex’s incisive text explains the value of reefs and explores many of the intricate relationships to be found in this unique and precarious environment. 

Testament to the quality of the book is the fact that Reefs Revealed received the prestigious Prix Mondial Du Livre D’ Image Sous-Marine (World Prize for Underwater Photo Books) at the 2007 Festival Mondial de L’Image Sous-Marine in Antibes, France, following in the footsteps of FiNS Magazine contributors Tony Wu, Andrea and Antonella Ferrari, and Mirko Zanni. 

Reefs Revealed measures 310 x 245mm and is available through through Amazon and Amazon UK. Order a copy for yourself, and send one to a friend!

Check out this video of a very large, rare, six-gill shark (most sharks have five gills) taken by researchers in a submarine 1000 metres down in Hawaiian waters. Almost as interesting as the shark is the excited chatter of the researchers.

During a recent dive at Laha in Ambon Bay, divemaster Toby Fadirsyair and Maluku Divers’ owner Buck Randolph found this unusual fish. Toby, who has been diving the region for over 18 years, had previously only seen this fish once before, 15 years ago. The specimen pictured here is one of a pair and is about 10cm long.

Unable to identify the frogfish, Maluku Divers enlisted help from photographers Beth and Shaun Tierney, who were equally fascinated, but unable to ID the critter.

Maluku Divers has sent these images to fish experts around the world, and is seeking your help to identify this frogfish. If you’ve seen this fish before and/ or can help identify it, please contact Maluku Divers

Dive Rite’s popular LED light is getting a boost. The light now delivers 500 lumens of light (a 67% increase!) in the same package for the same price!

Dive Rite’s popular LED Dive Light delivers 500 lumens of illumination for over 12 hours on eight ordinary AA 1.5V alkaline batteries or AA 1.2V NiMH rechargeable batteries. The light’s design incorporates a unique LED system created especially for divers that delivers an outstanding combination of high light output and very long burn time.

With a brightness equal to 10W HID lights, the durable LEDs offer a 10,000-hour life and also resist breakage. The 6500° Kelvin color temperature provided by the LEDs is whiter than light emitted by HID bulbs. The LED light burns at full brightness for at least 12 hours, and then dims as battery voltage declines, yielding usable light for up to 30 hours.

For more information click here.

Falling somewhat outside the scope of normal dive gear is this new, award-winning concept vehicle dubbed the Volitan from Turkish design company DesignNobis.

Reminiscent more of an X-wing Fighter from the movie Star Wars than a normal boat, this concept craft (meaning it’s just a design, so you can’t actually buy one yet…drat!) is a set of blueprints for a lightweight, futuristic sailing vessel that incorporates solid sails, solar energy and wind power so you can be green and clean, yet oh-so-mean.

An onboard computer (what self-respecting spaceship sailing the seven seas doesn’t have a sophisticated onboard computer, preferably one that speaks to you in a sultry, yet intelligent voice?) controls the upper wings to ensure optimal generation of solar- and wind-derived power without compromising speed and cruising comfort.

The computer also stabilises the vehicle in up to 60-knot winds, so you don’t inadvertently end up doing one of those acrobatic Luke-esque manoeuvres that made R2D2 scream like a little girl droid.

The motors on the lower in-water wings also adjust to provide optimal performance and balance, meaning the vessel should be nimble enough to turn on a dime in order to zap unidentified incoming vessels. (No word yet on standard armament configuration, but we’d expect nothing less than precise high-energy particle beam weaponry.)

Now all we need is someone to come up with a scuba suit based on the chic Darth Vader look and an amphibious assault vehicle that resembles an Imperial Tie Fighter.

Who knew diving could be so much fun?

Photographs taken by FiNS Magazine reader Margaret Pang will be on display from 22 to 24 February at the atrium of the Paragon Shopping Centre in Singapore. Sponsored by the Belgian Embassy, Nikon Singapore, Paragon and Evershine Projects & Flora Deco, the event will feature over 60 prints taken by Margaret, and proceeds from the sale of images, postcards and Margaret’s book will be donated to the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped.

The opening ceremony will be at Read more…

FiNS Magazine Associate Editor Tony Wu has recently returned from an extended visit to Papua New Guinea, where he dived with Loloata Island Resort and MV Golden Dawn. Check out his trip report.