The power of disguise - STONEFISH

The stonefish has many venomous spines on its back.

The sting causes excruciating pain and a great deal of swelling rapidly develops causing death to tissues. The severity of the symptoms depends on the depth of penetration and the number of spines penetrated. The symptoms of the venom are muscle weakness, temporary paralysis and shock, which may result in death if not treated.

Do not attempt to restrict the movement of the injected toxin.

Bathing or immersing the stung area in hot water may be effective in reducing the pain. transport the patient to the nearest medical centre. Hospitalisation for intravenous narcotic analgesia, local anaesthetic infiltration or regional block may be required.

Definitive management consists of administration of stonefish antivenin. Indications for antivenin include severe pain, systemic symptoms or signs of (weakness, paralysis) and injection of a large amount of venom.

Info extracted from http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/stonefish.htm

Blue Ring Octopus!

Image taken from http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2005-09-29-octopus-energy_x.htm

This creature has a beak that can penetrate a wet-suit, they are one little cute creature to definitely look at BUT Don't touch.

The bite might be painless, but this octopus injects a neuromuscular paralysing venom. The venom contains some maculotoxin, a poison more violent than any found on land animals. The nerve conduction is blocked and neuromuscular paralysis is followed by death. The victim might be saved if artificial respiration starts before marked cyanosis and hypotension develops. The blue-ringed octopus is the size of a golf ball but its poison is powerful enough to kill an adult human in minutes. There's no known antidote. The only treatment is hours of heart massage and artificial respiration until the poison has worked its way out of your system.

The venom contains tetrodotoxin, which blocks sodium channels and causes motor paralysis and occasionally respiratory failure. Though with fixed dilated pupils, the senses of the patients are often intact. The victims are aware but unable to respond.

Although the painless bite can kill an adult, injuries have only occurred when an octopus has been picked out of its pool and provoked or stepped on.

SYMPTOMS: Onset of nause, Hazy Vision. ( Within seconds you are blind.), Loss of sense of touch, speech and the ability to swallow, Within 3 minutes, paralysis sets in and your body goes into respiratory arrest.

The poison is not injected but is contained in the octopus's saliva, which comes from two glands each as big as its brain. Poison from the one is used on its main prey, crabs, and is relatively harmless to humans. Poison from the other gland serves as defense against predators. The blue-ringed octopus either secretes the poison in the vicinity of its prey, waits until it is immobile and then devours it, or it jumps out and envelops the prey in its 8 tentacles and bites it.

TREATMENT: Pressure-immobilization is a recommended first aid. Prolonged artificial respiration may also be required. May require supportive treatment including mechanical ventilation until the effects of the toxin disappear. There is no antivenin available in Australia.
Mouth to mouth resuscitation can keep the victim alive and the poison gradually wears off after 24 hrs, apparently leaving no side effects.

Info extracted from http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/blueringedoctopus.htm

Secret Shark Pits!

Was totally awed by the documentary "Secret Shark Pits" on the National Geographic Channel... Really great footages. Highly recommended. Great insights! Another heaven underwater!!!!! Kudos to the shark scientist, Ryan Johnson, and dive guide/naturalist, Hugues Vitry.

Those who've missed out on the documentary, just an appetizer (from YOUTUBE)!



After what happen to the first exposed shark pit, Hugues has decided not to disclose the locations of the other shark pits to prevent unethical human actions from disturbing the pits. Only know that they are around Mauritius and it's at places with very strong and treacherous currents. It's a underwater "washing machine".

Now I know... sharks love "foamy" ocean due to the high oxygen content! they need the O2 to rest and be lazy.... = their chill out corner! Haha... DO NOT DISTURB!

Let's protect our precious ocean world!

2010 dive log

my simple dive log 2010. Not much different from my previous except for background pic..... This year's theme is STINGRAY! next year resolution: to change the layout of my 2011 dive logs!

Upcoming Bali Dive Trip

Date: 11-15 September 2010
Venue: Bali, Indonesia
Dive Kakis: Gary
Dive Operator: TBC

Hopes: more divers to join us on this trip. See Mola-molas and manta rays again. Find more different species of nudis.

Finally the first quotation I get for the trip (from BaliScuba). Happy with both itinerary and cost.

Hi Chloe,

Thanks for your interest in Bali Scuba. We can recommend the following program;

Day 1; airport pick up, overnight Sanur
Day 2; two dives Menjangan, overnight Pemuteran area
Day 3; three dives Menjangan, overnight Sanur
Day 4; three dives Nusa Penida, overnight Sanur
Day 5; check out, airport drop

We an include one dive at Manta Point during the Nusa Penida trip, sea conditions permitting. In September the chances of seeing Mola-molas are high, depending on your luck of course :)

The price for this program is US$455 per person including;

- airport transfers, and all transfers hotels - dive sites & return
- tanks & weights & guide for EIGHT dives
- lunch & soft drinks on diving days
- free Nitrox 32% for two daily dives (if certified, not available for Menjangan dives)
- accommodation twin / double sharing with air-con, attached bathroom with hot water, breakfast for FOUR nights

If there is three divers in your group, the third diver can either triple share the room with the other two divers at the above price (using extra bed), or occupy his/her own room at additional US$75.

Subject to availability at time of booking the accommodation included in this package is;

Sanur: http://sindhumertha.com/guest-house.html
Pemuteran: http://www.anekahotels.com/aneka-bagus/index.html

To upgrade to any of these resort-class hotels add US$40/person/night (plus $10/person/night high season charges July 01 - Sept 15 and Dec 20 - Jan 05);

Sanur: http://www.segaravillage.com/ (Superior room)
Pemuteran: http://www.mimpi.com/mimpi-menjangan-resort.html (Patio Room)

Excluded;

- air tickets
- visa fees & airport taxes
- diving equipment
- alcohol
- dinners & any other meals / snacks
- soft drinks in the evenings
- lunch and soft drinks on non-diving days

Here are our equipment rental charges;

Complete Set (excludes computer, flashlights, camera) - US$20/day
BCD - US$ 5/day
Regulator - US$ 5/day
Wetsuit (3mm or 5mm) - US$ 5/day
Flashlights & batteries - US$ 5/dive
Booties & Fins - US$ 3/day
Mask & Snorkel - US$ 3/day
Computer - US$ 5/day
Underwater digital camera - US$35/day

With advance notice you can take a night dive when staying overnight in Pemuteran (if certified), as an additional dive for US$40 per person. Flashlights / batteries are excluded so bring your own or rent from us.

For your information we are a PADI Five Star Dive Centre, and we carry life jackets, boat-to-shore communication, emergency medical oxygen and first aid kits. All our guides are certified PADI Divemasters, and we always send enough guides based on the experience level of the divers and the diving conditions. All road transfers are by air-conditioned vehicle with Nusa Penida transfers by fast speedboat.

If you do want to make a booking please inform me;

- if you need Twin rooms (two single beds in one room) or Double rooms (one queen-sized bed in one room)
- name, approximate number of lifetime dives & approximate date of last dive of each diver
- your handphone contact number
- flight number & arrival time (if you already know it)
- if you require rental equipment
- if you are Nitrox certified
- if you have any dietary restrictions

Let me know if you want to make a booking, want to suggest any changes to this schedule, or have any other questions at all.

Regards, Mia Aristanti

NOTE: We often have problems sending & receiving emails to / from Bali.
For this reason, if you send any email and don't receive a reply within 48 hrs. please resend it.

BALI SCUBA (PADI Five Star 6522)
Jl.Danau Poso 40
Sanur, Bali 80228
Indonesia
Tel : +62 (0) 361 288610 or 271317
Fax: +62 (0)361 270862
Handphone (Booking s and enquiries): +62 (0) 81 353 260000
Handphone (logistics): +62 (0) 81 3381 39295
Yahoo! Messenger: baliscuba
www.baliscuba.com

Upcoming Lankayan Dive Trip

Date: 8-16 May 2010
Venue: Lankayan Island
Dive Kakis: Gary, Adeline, Deborah, Nicky, Lawrence, Cheryl, Yougang (new found friend) & Jeffrey.
Dive operator: The Submersibles

Counting down: 26 more days to be onboard the plane!

Hopes: to find the 10th diver! and have great fun during the trip!

Welcome message!

Finally decided to start a blog on diving! Hoping to share with everyone the beauty of the ocean. Come join us in diving. You will love it! Cheers....