News
Nudibranchs and the fabulous Spanish Dancer (Hexabranchus sanguineus)
Every good Dive Master/photographer has a problem. They must look after their clients while still taking pictures. They have no time to vary the depth of focus, no time to change camera settings; their dive clients must always come first. Colin Ogden of Amoray Diving at Sodwana Bay solved the problem by shooting nudibranchs, and his study of these amazing creatures has become a passion. I spent a spellbinding evening with him learning about them.
Nudibranchs come in brilliant colours, with fabulous markings, and they can vary in size from 1mm to 600mm. They are primarily carnivores and will eat hydroids and other species of nudibranchs but most of them feed on sponges; all of which are animals. A few will eat algae or seaweed. They feed where food is available so they frequent areas where coral growth is limited; even the cold Northern European waters harbour these colourful sea slugs and nudibranch hunting has become a global passion.
Nudibranch means exposed gills. Hexabranchus, for example, has six sets of exposed gills. All but two nudibranchs are called by their Latin names. The scientific community frowns on them being given common names so the study of these creatures is not for the faint-hearted.
Most of them breath using the exposed bunches of gills on their backs, and their sensual organs are contained in a pair of rhinophores, on the front of their heads. These look like horns. All are hermaphrodite, with both male and female sex organs, which are always on the right hand side, below the neck. These can be expelled to accommodate a large meal, and then re-ingested. All of them are poisonous to fish, and a single nudibranch can kill an entire aquarium full of fish if it becomes stressed and lets off a toxin. This occasionally benefits the palatable flatworm. He sometimes mimics the shape and rhinophores of the poisonous nudibranch, escaping predators and protecting himself.
There is even a species that farms algae in its gills. It is long and thin and has many sets of gills or cerata which he uses to collect algae. You will sometimes find it spread out along the top of the reef on a sunny day, cerata exposed to catch the sun so the algae will grow faster.
The spectacular Spanish Dancer (Hexabranchus sanguineus) is one of the very few nudibranchs that goes by its common name. They grow up to 600mm long, so are clearly identifiable. “They are nocturnal animals in our waters, so we rarely spot them in Sodwana Bay. However, we found two on the point of mating on Seven Mile in broad daylight. They lined up neck to neck, and then they exchanged sperm, fertilising each other. After five or six days each lays a long egg ribbon in a continuous circle, and you can see these on the reef looking like soft rosettes.”
They are normally pink, reddish or orange. These ribbons are preyed upon by other nudibranchs of the Favourinus family and the survivors hatch into tiny nudibranchs that look nothing like their imposing parents.
Other species lay egg ribbons that hatch into tiny veligers, which are a larval stage, and they can float around in the ocean, following currents for months on end. When they sense that there is a food source, they will descend onto the reef and metamorphose into small nudibranchs. The study of these creatures is still in its infancy, although some were described as early as the 1700s, but they are fascinating creatures, and there are still many unnamed and quite rare species in our waters. Once you know what you are looking for, you can find them almost everywhere.
Words: Jill Holloway
Pictures and technical data: Colin Ogden, Amoray Diving
Copyright Ocean Spirit 2017 – www.osdiving.com
Dive Travel Curaçao is thrilled to announce the launch of the Curaçao Dive Vacation Guide – 2024 DEMA Special Edition, an expertly curated resource that unveils the unparalleled dive experiences and vacation possibilities awaiting you in Curaçao. Produced exclusively for the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Show 2024, this special edition guide is packed with exclusive insights, travel tips, and limited-time DEMA offers that make it easier than ever to explore Curaçao’s stunning underwater landscapes and vibrant culture.
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Curaçao offers a vibrant Caribbean culture rich in history, music, and culinary fusion. The guide reveals Curaçao’s hidden gems, including culinary hotspots, historical sites, and eco-tourism opportunities that will appeal to both divers and non-divers. Visitors can explore the island’s iconic architecture, savor a diverse range of dishes influenced by Caribbean, European, and South American flavors, and embark on land-based eco-adventures, such as hiking, cave exploration, and visiting national parks.
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Ho Ho Ho! Vobster Quay’s recording-breaking charity Santa diving event returns on Sunday 15th December 2024 for another round of festive fundraising frivolities. Run in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes, this ever-popular annual fundraising event aims to raise sack-loads of cash for these two very deserving charities.
Divers of all levels are invited to grab their Santa outfits – and as much festive cheer as they can muster – and head down to Vobster Quay near Mells, Somerset for a mass sponsored Santa dive in aid of charity. In previous years, the event has attracted divers from the far corners of the UK to join in the festive merriment for a final festive dive before the Christmas and New Year break. Back in 2015, the event smashed the world record for the most Santa divers with 188 divers taking to the waters donning their festive finery – a record that remains unbeaten to this day!
Vobster Santas isn’t just about setting records – it’s also about raising some serious cash for charity. Vobster Quay encourages all divers to get into the spirit of the season to raise much-needed funds for two very deserving charities – the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes.
Through individual sponsorship and online donations, divers can invite their friends, family and work colleagues to sponsor them to plunge into the balmy waters of Vobster Quay dressed in full festive finery. Since the very first Santa dive in 2007, the event has raised over £52,000 for charity. “It’s been over 17 years since the very first charity Santa dive took place at Vobster Quay and every year the event just keeps getting bigger and better” enthused Vobster Quay owner, Amy Stanton.
“Vobster Santas is a great way for divers to say a massive thank you to the both the RNLI and Help For Heroes – two very deserving charities close to our hearts. We’re immensely proud of all that Vobster Santas has achieved and hope that even more divers will join this year’s event on Sunday 15th December. I’m confident that we can make Vobster Santas 2024 the biggest yet!”.
Divers wishing to participate can get involved by simply registering their attendance at
www.vobster.com/event-vobstersantas.php.
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