Simon’s Nature Reserve, Snorkeling Solomon Islands With Raiders Hotel

Simon’s Nature Reserve A hidden gem for snorkeling the Solomon Islands you won’t want to miss! Simon’s Nature Reserve is located in the sandfly passage Solomon Islands, north of Nggela Island and a one hour boat ride from the Raiders…

Simon’s Nature Reserve, One Man’s Quest To Preserve Coral Diversity

Simon’s Nature Reserve Nestled between two indistinct flagpoles within a remote Solomon Island passage is what we can only describe as one man’s quest to preserve coral diversity. A labor of love fifteen years in the making, Simon’s Nature Reserve is…

Update: Coral Restoration, Bangka Island Sulawesi Indonesia

Coral Restoration Bangka Island It’s been nearly six months since we started collaborating with Ocean Gardener and Murex Dive Resorts on a coral identification and restoration project in Bangka Island Sulawesi. And we’re happy to report that coral fragments are…

Protecting Our Elders – Hundred Year Old Pavona clavus Corals

Pavona clavus is a coral species which is well documented for its often colossal size. However, what is even more impressive is the age of these large coral colonies, with some reaching hundreds of years in age. When we think…

North Sulawesi Is Home To Some Of The Biggest Live Coral Colonies

North Sulawesi Coral Colonies We keep on going back and forward to North Sulawesi. Manado, Bunaken and Bangka,  enjoy a tremendous diversity of coral life. The more we go there, the more we learn about this place, and the more…

We Visited Bali’s Oldest Living Artificial Reef

 Bali’s Oldest Living Artificial Reef In a climate where coral reef habitats continue to decline, the Ocean Gardener Bali’s, artificial reef continues to thrive. With more than fifteen years of continuous growth, the Ocean Gardener Reef in Candidasa is Bali’s oldest…

The Indo Ban Is Still On, But Corals Are Growing Out Nicely

Bali Aquarium – Serangan Coral Farm The pictures speak for themselves. Left to grow for a nearly a year without even a trim, the Bali Aquarium coral farm racks are starting to get out of control! The overgrown racks are…

Learn To Spot Coral Diversity: Large Polyp Corals

Large Polyp Corals Large polyp corals are any hard coral species which have thick fleshy tissue and large corallites over a few centimeters wide. There are even some extra large species with polyps that can reach 10 even 30 centimeters…

Learn To Spot Coral Diversity: Small Polyp Corals

Small Polyp Corals Do you remember how to tell the difference between hard and soft corals? Remember it has to do with the number of tentacles… We explained that hard corals are based on a six fold symmetry meaning they…

Spot The Difference Between Hard Coral and Soft Coral

The Difference Between Hard and Soft Corals It may seem simple enough, one is soft and one is hard, but can you really spot the different between these two distinct groups of coral? The biggest difference, as the name implies,…