PADI IDC Gili Islands, PADI Career Development Dive Resort

Porcupinefishes are on every dive site around the Gili Islands . You will find the for example when you are diving North Gili Air, on Hans reef. But is the Porcupinefish the same fish as a Puffer fish? Porcupinefishes are similar to puffer with regards to their ability to inflate by drawing water into the addomen. They have additional protection in the form of sharp spines on the head and body. These are either three rooted or non movable as seen in the burrfishes or two rooted and erectile in Diodon. In the genus Lophodiodon both types of spines are evident on the same individual. Typically the spines of Diodon lie flat against the body with their tips directed posteriously, but if theatened the body is expanded and the spines are erected approximately perpendicular to the body surface, forming an obvious deterrent to potential predators. Porcupinefishes and burrfishes further differ from puffers in having broader pectoral fins, in lacking a median suture on their dental plates a

A lot of times you see them around when you are diving Sharkpoint , Gili Trawangan or Bounty Wreck, Gili Meno. Its the Batfish. They are so common when and we see then so many times around the Gili Islands, but what do we know about them? Batfishes are recognisable on the basis of their distinctive shape, particulary juveniles, which have greatly elevated dorsal and anal fins. Other characteristics include a small, terminally located mouth, brush like jaw teeth (often with tricuspid lips), a continuous dorsal fin with 5-9 spines and 19-40 soft rays, anal fin with 3 spines and 17-29 rays, and typically a silvery adult colour pattern often with dark bars on the head and body. Members of the genus Platax are extremely tame and curious, often approaching divers at close range. Young fish are found close to the bottom, often around boat moorings, docks, jetties, and floating objects. Adults may form midwater feeding aggregation, frequently adjacent to steep outer reef slopes. The di

Diving around the Gili Islands gives you the oppurtunity to see unusual fish, like the Razor fish. You will find the in the harbor of Gili Air, in the front of Oceans 5 dive resort . These are small, unusually shaped fish that are related to pipefish and seahorses. They are characterised by an extremely thin or flattenend and nearly transparent body, which is encased in an integument of thin, sutured plates. The unusual appearance is further enhanced by their peculiar vertical orientation with the snout pointing downwards. However they are capable of rapid bursts of horizontal swimming when chased by a diver or preditor. Razor fish often occur in large synchronised groups, sometimes containing more than 50 individuals. The family is restricted to the tropical Indo Pacific region and contains two genera and four species, 3 of which occur in the East Indian region. The fish's diet consists of a variety of zoo-plankton and minute crustaceans. When in captivity, it is fed bait shr

Sea snakes are venomous reptiles that live most or all of their lives in the sea. They're so adapted to life in the ocean that few species can crawl on land. They swim like eels with their paddle-like tail and laterally compressed body. Like marine mammals, they lack gills and must come to the surface to breathe. Sea-snakes are cold-blooded reptiles, so they live mostly in warm tropical waters, like the Gili Islands . During the diving around the Gilis you will meet some Sea snakes. Sea snakes are fully adapted to breathe, feed, breed and grow in the sea. For air-breathing animals, sea-snakes are remarkable divers. Some species can dive to 100 metres or more, and remain submerged for up to 80 minutes. This may be partly due to the remarkable ability of some species to absorb part of the oxygen they need through their skins. Their nostrils have valves that close when they are under the water. Sea snakes inject venom with their bites to subdue and kill prey, which is then grabbe

Sharkpoint, West Gili Trawangan, Indonesia is one of the most exciting divesites around the Gili Islands . It takes 30 minutes by boat from Oceans 5 dive res ort to get there. The main attraction are the White Tip Reef Sharks. You will find them between the 20 and 30 meters in the sandy patches between the reefs, mostly sleeping. Description and Behavior Whitetip reef sharks, Trianodon obesus, are a slender species with a short, blunt snout. They are brown-gray on their dorsal (top) sides, white on their ventral (lower) sides. They have scattered dark gray spots along the sides of their bodies. The tips of their first dorsal fin and upper caudal (tail) fin lobe are brilliant white. The tip of their second dorsal fin and lower caudal fin lobe are also white in some animals. Spiracles usually present, teeth are tricuspidate (three-pronged, with a smaller secondary cusp on either side of the central blade) numbering 47-50 upper/44-46 lower jaw, in at least 2 functional rows. T

The moray eel is a large species of eel found in warm and temperate waters all around the world. They are also around the Gili Islands . Despite their snake-like appearance, moray eels (along with other eel species) are in fact fish and not reptiles. Moray eels are found in both deep and shallow waters in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although moray eels can be find in cooler waters occasionally, they tend to remain in the crevices deep in the ocean rather than venturing into shore. The largest populations of moray eels are found around tropical coral reefs where they are numerous different marine species found in large numbers. Specially when you are diving the dive sites around the Gili Islands named Halik, Hans and Bounty wreck you will see them. There are around 200 different species of moray eel than can range in size from just 10cm long to nearly 2 meters in length. Despite their varying size and colour all moray eels are fairly similar in appearance with an elongated bo

Today day 2 starts of the Padi instructor examination (IE) starts at Gili Air. Today it is only the confined water presentations. Oceans 5 candidates are making themselves ready for the final presentation. In a few hours we know more about the candidates. Hopefully we can tell you they all passed! For more information to become an instructor: http://www.indonesia-idc.com