Category

Scuba Diving

MarinelifePADI CoursesScuba Diving

Introducing the new PADI Critters Specialty!

We are incredibly excited to launch our new PADI Critters of Dauin specialty course! The incredible diversity of critters along Dauin’s coast has long been a well-kept secret. But not anymore. As the cat slowly gets teased out of the bag, we are launching the PADI Critters Specialty, unique to Atmosphere! Are you a diver who loves cryptic and colourful critters and would like to know more about what makes them…
Kirsty Richards
8th September 2019
MarinelifeUnderwater Sightings

Finding Nemo(s) – the Anemonefish of Dauin

Among the shrimp, frogfish and octopus of Dauin’s coastline, you can find a plethora of anemonefish/clownfish (same, same). We don’t just have one, two, or three, but at least seven different species of this characterful and famous little fish! Found within the fleshy tentacles of 10 species of anemone, anemonefish spend their whole lives in the vicinity of their host. Their relationship is win-win (technical term = obligatory symbionts). In…
Kirsty Richards
29th August 2019
IDC

A one of a kind PADI IDC

In December 2018, I started to plan for my PADI IDC (Instructor Development Course). After living in Shanghai for 14 years, working in marketing & PR for 8 years and daydreaming of island diving life for 4 years, I knew it was time to change. And doing my IDC was how to start it. I asked a few dive instructor friends from Malaysia and Indonesia, and they all pointed to…
layla
10th July 2019
MarinelifeScuba Diving

The Humble Sea Cucumber

The humble sea cucumber is not a marine creature which gets a lot of love. Although, spend a few minutes reading up on them and you’ll discover they’re quite the creature with plenty of hidden secrets! Closely related to starfish within the group “Echinoderms”, sea cucumbers have diverged from the 5 fold symmetry of a starfish to a single, cucumber-like, body. With over 1,250 different species, sea cucumbers can be…
Kirsty Richards
20th May 2019
Whale shark in Oslob Philippines with AtmosphereExploreUnderwater Sightings

Swimming with whale sharks at Oslob: To go or not to go?

In my role as Atmosphere’s Marine Biologist, a common question I get asked is “the whale sharks at Oslob, should we go even though they feed them?” My previous work involved researching shark diving, shark behaviour and, as one of my favourite things to do is dive with sharks, I feel I’m in a fair position to delve into a conversation about this potentially contentious subject with our guests. There…
Kirsty Richards
25th March 2019