Naked at Chek Jawa again!

I'm back on the shore with the Naked Hermit Crabs and a wild bunch of families!

It was a hot clear day with lots of interesting sightings!

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 5

Deadly beauty! How do stingers work? What are the advantages of being a colonial animal?

Why do most hydroids look like feathery plants while byozoans look like encrusting layers? We learn more about these fascinating animals during the last day of the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 4

More mind-boggling hydroids are revealed by Emeritus Prof John S. Ryland on Day 4 of the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

In the jellyfish stage of this hydroid, the animal does not swim about freely, but 'walks' about on its 'legs'. It can capture small crustaceans! When I learn more about our invertebrates, it's like exploring an alien planet!

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 3

Today, we learn more about hydroids. As it's a public holiday, there is a large turnout of volunteers for the afternoon lectures and lab at St John's Island.

What are hydroids? How do we find them? We learn these and more about these quirky creatures on Day 3 of the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Mangrove and freshwater bryozoans on Singapore's northern shores

A large team explores Lim Chu Kang mangroves to find the intriguing amphibious bryozoans that Dr Dennis has told us about during the Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

We also stopped by Kranji Dam to find freshwater bryozoans. We had a great time with astonishing finds!

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 2

Today we learn more about the curious life style of bryozoans from Dr Dennis P. Gordon on Day 2 of the  Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Do bryozoans have sex? How do they do it? What do they eat? What would eat a bryozoan? And lots more!

Changi twice quickly is twice as rich!

I spent a glorious morning at Changi searching for bryozoans and hydroids for the workshop later that day. I zipped by two different shores during this one low tide, to try to get a good variety of these animals for the workshop.

Changi is simply amazing, and I got slightly distracted with other wonderful marine life that can be seen here.

Pulau Ubin: "What more could you want?"

"Orchard Road can be seen in any developed city, but this little island is a real gem" said Jamie Bennett from Australia.

The Ubin Experience begins as soon as you step
on the slow boat from Changi Point.

I was thrilled to receive an email from Jamie who was recently holidaying with his family in Singapore. He had the following to say about Pulau Ubin:

Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop Day 1

Bryozoans are amazing creatures! We learn this from Dr Dennis P. Gordon on Day 1 of the much anticipated Bryozoans and Hydroids Workshop.

Dr Serena Teo introduces Dr Dennis.

The workshop is organized by the Tropical Marine Science Institute and held at St John’s Island Marine Laboratory.

Jong Surprises

We enjoyed a glorious sunrise on our trip to Pulau Jong! And also came across some interesting animals.

It's the last of our recces to prepare for the Mega Marine Survey's  upcoming Southern Expedition in May.

Sharky Terumbu Semakau

Another predawn arrival on a submerged reef in high water! Knee-high water is perfect for sharks and rays which hunt smaller fish in the shallow water.

So we are careful as we land in the clear waters of Terumbu Semakau.