Angling for corals

If you've been to Hantu's western fringe recently, you might be wondering what is up with all the unnatural structures that are now on the reef.



These structures called Angle Irons are part of a coral recruitment study being led by biologist Jani Thuaibah. She let me tag to document the implementation process on one condition - i had to help. I learnt, this day, marine biology is hardly as glamourous as NGC sometimes makes it out to look.



The iron pillars and terracota tiles were a crazy heavy load! Reef Friends volunteer Edmund Low and myself helped Jani transport the tiles throughout the reef flat, along two depths.



The tiles are fixed into the iron at angles of 0, 30, 60 and 90 degrees. Do not worry. The structures were only implemented at areas of coral rubble. No coral had to be or was removed for any reason.


Nature and its animals are always unduly accomodating. This damsel had already taken to defending this structure, established within its territory.

We love our damsels. We think they love us too. It's just that... sometimes, they express their affection in a way we find very hard to understand. They bring "love bite" to a whole new level... or whole new aggression...



During our work, we ran into other adorable creatures...


Fringe-eyed flathead, a common inhabitant in Hantu's deep and shallow.


Still finding its fins and learning how to swim... Juv. Sweetlips


Don't you think its got a bit of a dog-face?


Hypselodoris bullocki: Love is in the air.


Yellow-spot rabbitfish

Thanks to the good vis holding up. We managed some spactacular shots of the reef and all its glory.







There was also this very encouraging sight of several mushroom coral polyps sprouting out of a single dead mushroom coral polyp! How exciting is that?!



I learnt later that mushroom corals are capable of recruiting from the buds of a single polyp. Correct me if i'm using incorrect terminology here.