Some years ago, I worked as a research intern on a whale-shark monitoring project in Mozambique. As part of our work, we conducted reef transects in order to count and record the number of fish species in a certain area as indicators of reef productivity. For the first time, I had to sit down and study fish-identification books, and for the first time, the myriad colorful species shoaling across the reef became known to me — no longer an indiscriminate legion of unidentified fish, but an ember parrotfish here, or a Moorish idol there. Being able to name the species that I saw on each dive became something of an obsession, one that I took great delight in; it was then that I realized that knowing what you’re seeing underwater can make all the difference on a dive. A dive is never wasted — instead of being disappointed that you didn’t see a turtle or a shark, you may be elated to have seen a rare species of nudibranch, for example.
Knowing What You’re Seeing Underwater
Since my time in Mozambique, I’ve found that the value of knowing what you’re seeing underwater extends beyond fish familiarity; it can also mean researching the history of a specific dive site. This applies particularly to wrecks. Finding out where a ship came from, when and how it sank, or if there were any rescue efforts can add exponentially to the experience of diving it. Many of the wrecks found along the eastern seaboard of the United States, for example, are tangible reminders of conflicts dating as far back as the American Civil War. The wars that created these wrecks shaped world history, and an awareness of that as we explore their remains makes for moving, memorable dive experiences. In some places, wrecks and other manmade structures were purpose-sunk to create artificial reefs, and learning why they were commissioned may give us a valuable insight into conservation issues of which we were previously unaware.
Researching a dive site’s history can make your dive more enjoyable, but it’s also important to find out what makes it special today. Often, a site that seems unremarkable at first can hide a myriad of subtle treasures; for example, many of Southeast Asia’s muck-diving sites offer poor visibility and an uninspiring substrate of coral rubble or silt. However, on closer inspection, they provide a habitat for some of the most fascinating marine species on the planet. Dives like these illustrate perfectly why the services of a local divemaster are often indispensable — while it’s almost impossible for visitors to find that perfectly camouflaged pygmy seahorse colony, guides with extensive experience in an area will be able to locate it every time. There may be some sites that offer the opportunity to see a specific species, but only at a certain time; for example, divers can see the famous thresher sharks of Malapascua off Monad Shoal in the Philippines, but only in the hours just after dawn. In places like these, local knowledge may be the difference between a spectacular dive and a disappointing one.
There are several easy ways to maximize your knowledge of a dive site, or of an area overall. Courses like the PADI Project AWARE Fish Identification Course teach the basics of fish ID, allowing you to accurately determine which family a specific species belongs to. Names of fish differ from one region to the next, and sometimes putting in the hours poring over fish ID books is the only way to master the minutiae of fish ID, but even a basic knowledge can improve your appreciation of the marine life you encounter. When it comes to wrecks, a simple Internet search can usually provide some information about a ship’s history — the depth of your research is up to you. One of the best ways to get the most out of your dive is to explore it with a reputable dive center, under the guidance of experienced and knowledgeable dive professionals. Even if you like to dive in your buddy pair without the supervision of a divemaster, an orientation dive is a good idea just to make sure that you don’t miss out on what a new area has to offer on subsequent unguided trips. However you choose to go about it, one thing is for certain — the more you chase after knowledge when it comes to diving, the more rewarding, memorable and fulfilling your time underwater will be.
