Second Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey

The second Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey: One of the objectives is to establish a biodiversity baseline of local key marine areas that may be impacted by future developments, such as land reclamation and coastal protection against sea-level rise.

To study the coral’s “cryptobiome”- cryptic life living inside a coral reef, 42 units have been anchored to the seafloor with stakes at Raffles Lighthouse, Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, St John’s and Kusu islands, Pulau Semakau, and two sites near Pulau Hantu. 

Volunteer divers invited to join the Mega Marine Survey

Volunteer to dive with the Mega Marine Survey of Singapore!

Photo by Toh Chay Hoon on facebook
during a Mega Marine Survey dive

Dives in Jan-Feb 2015 are now open! Registration closes on 14 Nov 2014.

Singapore's shores featured in Nature of a City

Chek Jawa and the Mega Marine Survey are featured in Nature of a City a Channel NewsAsia documentary.

Dr Shawn Lum of the Nature Society (Singapore) and Chek Jawa volunteer Choo Yi Feng speak about Chek Jawa (8:40 - 14:17)

Last day at the Southern Expedition

Today we wind down the Expedition spending the entire day washing and washing, packing and packing.

Here's a last look at the people and happenings at Base Camp before the Expedition shuts down.

Last field trips on Day 17 of the Southern Expedition

This is the last day for field trips. A bitter-sweet time when we all try to savour every moment at the Expedition.

Heng Pei Yan and I decide to hunt for shrimps at the lagoon next to the public jetty. It was a hot day, with the main city skyline and the greenery of Seringat-Kias on the horizon. There were also diving, dredging and mini-talks.

Curious Critters from the Deep on Day 16 of the Southern Expedition

This cutie came up from the Deep Dredge today! It's not a sea anemone. It may be an ascidian. We are still not sure!

Today, the Dredge hit nearly 200m! We also had day and night dives, and the usual frenzied hunting on St. John's and nearby islands.

Deep Dredge on Day 15 of the Southern Expedition

As Prof Peter and Meryl Theng head off for the dredge, I lament that so far, we have not had good photos or stories from the dredge. So I'm very grateful to Meryl who tweeted live from the dredge!

There were also day and night dives, a quick grab of humungous black sea urchins, and Kate and I checked out a lagoon at high tide. The Expedition was also being filmed.

Horrid things on Day 13 of the Southern Expedition

Hurray! The long missing Horrible elbow crab (Daldorfia horrida) has been found by Dr Lin Chiawei during the night dive today.

It is HUGE and indeed rather horrible. It is listed as 'Presumed Nationally Extinct' on the Singapore Red List, which probably means that it hasn't been seen here in 50 years. So it's great to know that it still exists in our waters!

Pea crab on Day 12 of the Southern Expedition

Today, we had our last intertidal trip for the Southern Expedition. Two teams surveyed Pulau Tekukor which is rarely visited and is not accessible to the public.

There were also dive surveys as well as a dredge. We found a lot of interesting critters as usual.

Exploring Base Camp on Day 11 at the Southern Expedition

Today, a few of us stayed closer to Base Camp and discovered all kinds of interesting critters!

The rest of the teams visited more exotic shores with equally interesting finds.

Humungous cuttlefish on Day 10 of the Southern Expedition

A gianormous cuttlefish that is bigger than Jiaxin's foot was the highlight of the day!

Photo by Jiaxin.

Of course, there were also many other interesting finds as three teams surveyed Big Sisters, Raffles Lighthouse and Cyerene Reef. As well as a dredge survey.

Reefy Day 9 at the Southern Expedition

Another predawn trip, this time to magical Raffles Lighthouse. On the horizon, Pulau Senang and the tiny Pulau Biola which lies in the restricted Life Firing Area.

Ominous dark clouds gathered as the team worked the rocky shore in the outgoing tide. But we had a great survey on this amazingly reefy shore.

1 Jun (Sat): The Wallace Lectures "Lace Corals and Moss Animals" by Dr Kevin J. Tilbrook

What are lace corals and moss animals? How many of these can we expect to find in Singapore?

Come for this special talk by Dr Kevin J. Tilbrook to find out more. Dr Kevin is a great speaker and is here for the Southern Expedition of the Mega Marine Survey.

Fun with VIPs on Day 8 of the Southern Expedition

A glorious sunrise over Cyrene Reef started what turned out to be a very busy day at the Southern Expedition.

Prof Daphne on Cyrene, an amazing reef
that lies in the middle of an industrial triangle.

VIPs descended upon Base Camp, accompanied by the media and other officials. It was a great opportunity to share more about the Expedition and our shores. We tried to find the best of Cyrene to show to these special visitors.

Why do we need to kill the animals? and Day 6.5 of the Southern Expedition

I spotted one seahorse and Ivan spotted three! But we don't collect them as we know what they are: Tiger-tailed seahorses (Hippocampus comes).

Here's also a little more about animal collection during the Survey, why and  how it is done. And how this helps us better protect our richest shores.

Terumbu Semakau on Day 5.5 of the Southern Expedition

We gather at 3.30am for our first official predawn trip of the Southern Expedition.

We had a great trip with lots of special finds as well as good representatives of our commonly encountered marine life.

Anemone hunt on Day 4.5 at the Southern Expedition

The super early low tides have started. Prof Daphne leads a predawn anemone hunt. Thanks to Yen-ling we had a comfy ride to Seringat-Kias on the buggy!

Predawn trips are confusing. The work for the day ends at sunrise. So Day 5 of the Expedition barely started when we already finished our field trip for the day!

Humungous critters and six-legged crab on Day 4 of the Southern Expedition

Humungous sea cucumbers were found during the day dive today! Thanks to Dr David and Dr Zeehan!

Also, I learnt more about a special six-legged crab that has been found for the first time in Singapore!

Shock from the Deep, with otter on Day 3 of the Southern Expedition

Electric rays! These cute little fishes were among the finds during the Deep Dredge today! They were last recorded in 1964 and are different from the spotty electric ray that we have seen in shallow water.

AND lots more interesting finds during the dive survey too.

Where none have gone before on Day 2 of the Southern Expedition

Today, the Dredge Team surveyed the seabed at 100m! The deepest in Singapore ever surveyed! (So far)

 What did we find in the Singapore Deeps?