New Tubbataha Footage

[klausi]

I had the pleasure to participate in fish biology fieldwork again in Tubbataha reefs, between Palawan and the Visayas, this year; Our main intention was to survey the number of fish species and their abundance, and to get the data and photographs for an upcoming book about the fishes of Tubbataha. I also managed to get some footage on the side. I hope it’s interesting for the scubaboard readers:

The lagoons of the Tubbataha atolls are rarely dived:

It’s quite striking to me how much more fish behavior is on display in Tubbataha, when the fish are not stressed by human fishing:

The triggerfish of Tubbataha deserve their own video. I was especially thrilled to observe the nesting of the rarely seen (at least by me) oceanic triggerfish.

 

[ScubaBackpacker]

I had the pleasure to participate in fish biology fieldwork again in Tubbataha reefs, between Palawan and the Visayas, this year; Our main intention was to survey the number of fish species and their abundance, and to get the data and photographs for an upcoming book about the fishes of Tubbataha. I also managed to get some footage on the side. I hope it’s interesting for the scubaboard readers:

The lagoons of the Tubbataha atolls are rarely dived:

It’s quite striking to me how much more fish behavior is on display in Tubbataha, when the fish are not stressed by human fishing:

The triggerfish of Tubbataha deserve their own video. I was especially thrilled to observe the nesting of the rarely seen (at least by me) oceanic triggerfish.

Super interesting. Your narration adds a tremendous amount to understanding the ecosystem.. Thanks for posting.

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Thanks for that - I dived Tubbataha back in the 1990's when doing my PhD in the Philippines. How long have you been there and have local dive groups seen much change in the reefs or fish populations in recent years?

Oh, and triggerfish are just pure evil. They are the only fish I fear - nothing worse than being on a drift dive and realizing you are on a trajectory to go over their nest, and there's nothing you can do about it. All sharks are harmless pussycats compared to an annoyed triggerfish.