Tropical Adventures Scuba

False killer whales are large members of the dolphin family and a similarity to killer whales is the shape of their skull. The scientific name for false killer whales means “thick-tooth,” a nod to their pointed teeth and fierce, predatory behavior in the open seas.

Found in open waters throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, particularly surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, false killer whales are considered naturally rare, despite being high on the food chain. One of the most abundant populations of false killer whales can be found offshore from Hawaii and comprises roughly 1,550 individuals. Within these populations, false killer whales often break off into smaller, more stable groups of 15 to 25 individuals. Studies have shown that false killer whales form strong social bonds within the groups lasting several years. Together, false killer whales are cooperative hunters, foraging for squid and large fish, like tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo, and sharing the prey among each other.

False killer whales are identifiable by their rounded heads, small dorsal fin and dark gray bodies. They are most closely related to Risso’s dolphins and pilot whales, rather than killer whales as their name suggests. Playful and active, false killer whales are fast swimmers and can frequently be seen surfing the bow waves of vessels or poking out of the water. Like other dolphin species, they use echolocation to communicate and sense prey and their surroundings. False killer whales have a slow life history—females reach sexual maturity at about 10 years of age and may only have a calf every six or seven years. Calves are born just six feet in length, and will feed on the mother’s milk for up to two years.



📷: Doug Perrine
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Mr and Mrs!

Lots of lobsters were out there in Catalina last weekend.. enjoying some outdoor time before the season starts!










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Thornback ray💙

Closely related to sharks, rays also have a soft cartilage skeleton. Their grossly oversized pectoral fins give them their distinct diamond shape and act a bit like underwater wings. Thornback rays are found around all British coasts and feed mainly on crustaceans though they are not above taking any fish that swims a little too close! The thornback ray likes to bury itself in the sediment during the day and come out at dusk to hunt.

With a distinctive kite shaped body, the thornback ray can also be recognised by its blotchy brown or grey back and collection of 'thorns' on its back and tail. Some other ray species also have thorns but the thornback ray has the biggest.

Although their jaws are small they are extremely powerful, allowing them to crush through the shells of crabs and other crustaceans with ease.

Length: Up to 139cm Weight: Up to 18kg Average Lifespan: Can live for around 15 years



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The lion’s mane jellyfish is not only the largest jelly species in the world, but it also harbors a powerful sting that it uses to catch its prey. Most humans have little to fear from this ferocious jelly, but its poison is more than enough to scare away enemies, thus creating a safe space for both the jelly and other species that are lucky enough to be immune to the toxin.

The lion’s mane jellyfish cannot be missed in the open ocean where it prefers to float about. With tentacles up to 120 feet long, some individuals even rival in size the blue whale, the largest animal in the world. Most lion’s mane jellyfish live in the Arctic and North Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Washington where the waters are cool. Its ‘mane’ of long, hair-like tentacles hanging from the underside of its bell-shaped body is the inspiration behind the lion mane’s common name. The mouth is situated on the bell’s underside, surrounded by tentacles that are divided into eight clusters of up to 150 tentacles each. These tentacles are equipped with nematocysts containing poison that stun prey when they are enveloped. The top of the bell is usually dark yellow or red in color and thick in the center, but thins out towards the edges. The lion’s mane jellyfish also possess bioluminescent abilities, meaning it’s able to produce its own light and glow in the dark underwater.
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The piglet squid is a , an intelligent underwater that is joined by other well-known creatures such as , cuttlefish, and the chambered . The pigmented patterns on its body, also known as , are often used for , though its exact purpose for this creature needs to be confirmed.

When piglet are young, they live near the ocean's surface, only a couple hundred meters deep. As they mature, they descend to the depths of the ocean known as the twilight zone, or zone. This cold region of the ocean lies 200 to 1,000 meters (650 to 3,300 feet) deep and is dimly lit except for the occasional flashes.

This creature, however, was found to have wandered even deeper down into the darker depths of the zone, between 1,000 to 4,000 meters (3,280 to 13,000 feet). This region is sometimes referred to as the midnight zone for the lack of sunlight that penetrates this layer of the .
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“This dive in La Paz is one of my favorites. The young sea lions at the Los Islotes colony love to play with divers… and their fun fins. You can’t help but feel excited and happy when engaging with these water puppies!” - SCUBAPRO Brand Evangelist


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Monday morning mood 💤☕️ Rise and shine! It’s time to get the week started!

Sea otters spend eleven hours a day sleeping and resting (must be nice…). Before napping, they may wrap kelp around their bodies to anchor themselves, or they gather in “rafts” of other otters. They float on their backs and keep their flippers and paws out of the water to reduce heat loss.
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The Monitor Lizard is a large lizard belonging to the family Varanidae. There are 79 species of this reptile and they are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania. They have also been introduced to the Americas, where they are now considered an invasive species. It is thought that this family of lizards originated in Asia some 65 million years ago!

The Monitor Lizard is covered in scales that can range from green to tan, grey, or brown in color. They have large bodies, with long necks and powerful tails. Their limbs are well-developed and they have strong claws. Monitor lizards have long tongues that are forked, like that of snakes. Of the species that still exist today, the Komodo dragon is the largest and can reach over 10 feet (3 meters) in length. The smallest species measure just 7.9 inches (20cm).

Most monitor species are terrestrial and found on land but some species will live in trees or are semi-aquatic. Monitor lizards are very territorial and aggressive, lashing out with their tails when provoked. They will also inflate their throats and hiss loudly.

Some Monitor Lizards are active hunters, while others prefer to wait and ambush their prey. They are usually carnivorous, eating a wide range of prey including birds, fish, insects, small mammals, and eggs. Some species also eat fruits and other vegetation.

These lizards are mostly solitary but have been found to congregate in groups as large as 25 in areas where water is scarce.

They don’t have many natural predators but are hunted by humans for their skin and their meat. They are also caught to be sold in the pet trade. Habitat destruction is the main threat to these reptiles and some populations are more at risk than others, depending on their proximity to human settlements.
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