http://www.samwilsonphotography.co.uk/

Sam Wilson Photography, Zamboanga City (2026)

05/01/2025

🦈 Thresher sharks are some magnificent and peaceful sharks

Very few places in the world can guarantee a sighting, but Malapascua is one of them.

🪸 The reason they can be found so reliably is the underwater sea mounts that offer cleaning stations for the sharks. Corals on the sea mount provide a home for cleaner fish, which the sharks visit at night/early morning.

Sharks prefer these areas to more coastal reefs because they present the same benefits of shallow reef ecosystems for cleaner wrasse but with quick access to safer pelagic depths.

❗️ Conservation: Fishing can still be a large threat due to the sharks late maturity, but tourism can also pose a significant threat.

🤿 Unfortunately, you can often see divers accidentally destroying the corals by kicking or laying on them. Without corals, the cleaner fish will likely disappear and, with that, the sharks purpose for visiting these sites.

Dive shops should follow guidelines to maintain these sites and sustain their businesses as well as these fragile ecosystems.

Several dive shops in Malapascua have already joined green fins and are sustainably operating their activities.

Check out the Green Fins website to choose dive shops that are leading the way!

Thanks to Evolution Beach & Dive Resort for sustainably guiding us on our adventure this week

01/02/2023

This government has gone from clapping key workers to threatening them with the sack if they take lawful action for a pay rise. Instead of listening to the concerns of working people and negotiating fair deals, Rishi Sunak has decided to undermine the right to strike. As the cost-of-living crisis co...

26/10/2022

Flatworms in space

Night dives can be some of the most beautiful, alien-like dives you can experience.

And flatworms are among some of the most hypnotizing creatures you can see. Particularly when you're lucky enough to see them swimming.

They normally slide their way across the ocean floor, looking for smaller invertebrates to eat.

They also engage in "p***s fencing". Typically born as hemaphrodites, they fight with their genitalia, the first one to stab the other with their p***s empregnates the other flatworm. The "losing" flatworm then becomes the mother, while the "winning" flatoworm continues to fence his way across the sea.

This type of fertilization is called "hypodermic" insemination or, more appropriately, 'traumatic' insemination.

There's something you probably can't un-learn!

16/10/2022

Can you see where the fish ends and the reef begins?

It's good to learn for this guy, the Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis spp.)

They like to hide near algae covered surfaces, hence the development of the tassles or skin filaments. Using the same method as the military use to camouflage the body, these filaments break up the lines of their body, making them very difficult to see!

So you may have probably guessed it's an ambush predator. Mostly feeding on small fish and crustaceans.

But they are yet another reason for improving your buoyancy while diving and not touching the reef. Because not only are they hard to see, they are also one of the most venomous fish in the ocean!

And isn't it always the way that the dangerous ones are the hardest to see.

The species come in a wide variety of colors and textures depending on the environment. So wherever you are, always keep an eye open.

And never touch anything unless you're sure it's just a rock!

07/09/2021

Big-eye trevally or Big-eye jacks (Caranx secfasciatus) schooling and spawning at Apo Island.

In a moment of fantastic luck we dropped off our dive boat right into a school of roughly 400-500 trevally, who were so set on keeping the spot for their spawning they chose to simply swim around us as we fought the current to stay with them.

These large predatory fish feed primarily on squid, small fish and crustaceans.

They are currently listed as "Least Concern" according to the , however, their populations are recorded as decreasing.

Some of the males we saw were dark black, and after doing a bit of research it appears as though they turn this darker shade to signal they are ready for spawning. This was wonderful to see the Apo Island marine protected area providing a safe spawning site for such an important species here in the Philippines.

Thanks to for a great day boat diving!

🌊

20/04/2021

Satori Sunrise

Getting up ridiculously early can sometimes have its perks.

Fisherfolk all along the coast of negros are often out on the water as early as possible, making the most of the calm water to catch what they can.

I managed to catch the moment two small boats (bankas) crossed the glowing sunrise.

Fishing communities here are small scale, often conducting what is known as subsistence fishing (fishing to feed the family). Some might be sold, most will likely be used as food.

As with all ocean ecosystems, the fish here are reducing in number and size, largely due to the increased pressure of population growth.

There communities, however, do not have the privilage to simply stop eating fish and get another job.

Supporting environmental groups and ngos that provide alternative livelihoods, as well as supporting the establishment of effective MPAs is our best shot at saving not only marine ecosystems but also the people dependent on them.

06/04/2021

Christmas tree worm - Spirobranchus giganteus

These little critters are everywhere we look, and are often overlooked by divers but how could I not give them a chance to shine!

The two crowns (or Christmas trees), are used to filter out plants and animals from the water, which are then transported down to their mouth. They also act as lungs as they process oxygen!

The majority of the worm body is actually hidden under the surface. While some worms will dig this tunnel themselves, many of them actually select their ideal corals and simple wait for them to grow around their body!

Imagine sitting in someone else's land and just waiting for them to build their house around you, certainly a unique strategy!

🌊

05/04/2021

Tomato Anemonefish - Amphioprion frenatus

Playing with colour

While anemonefish are already pretty colourful there's no reason you can't make them pop even more!

Anemonefish are commonly seen defending their anemone homes from just about anything, even if they are bigger than them. Divers can attest to that as they often come face to face with them when they get too close.

This aggression plays a vital role in protecting the anemone as well as the nest of the fish.
Which is probably why in the anemone fish schools, the most aggressive female is at the top of the hierarchy.

So if you're diver, enjoy the up close attention you can get from these iconic fish. But remember not to harass or poke their anemone homes as this can cause stress and even damage to both the fish and the anemone.

02/04/2021

Bigfin Reef Squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana)

Yes, it's ANOTHER photo of a reef squid at night. But how could I not!

I'm really enjoying capturing marine creatures at night, it's definitely not as easy as the day time, but being able to highlight one animal in multiple ways and play with the lighting is a lot of fun.

OK enough about me, if anyone is reading this far they are looking for interesting facts so here are a few more.

Most people have probably heard that squid, like other cephalopods, use chromatophores in their skin to change colour.

But squid also have iridophores which produce the metallic reds and greens, and leucophores which reflect back ambient light.

If seen during the day they can be seen in large groups, sometimes as many as several hundred in one shoal. But during the night, when they are more actively hunting, you are likely to find them in smaller groups of 4-6.

While many believe (as I did until recently) that reef Squid were a viable sustainable fishing resource, recent evidence suggests that this species may become threatened in the future as it can be fished all year round, leading to an increase in demand.

Remember folks, the ocean has it's limits, so switching to more plant based alternatives will be the best way to help save these incredible creatures.

30/03/2021

Time for another unsolicited nudi(branch)!

Halgerda batangas, photographed in Negros Oriental.

You can see the gills floating around at the back of this nudibranch (bottom left of the photo) as I tried to catch him before he got away.

These nudibranch are an uncommon site, but are a wonderful find, with their strange cone like structures and vascular-like orange markings.

Due to the fact there are so many species of nudibranch, with a large number yet to be classified, the IUCN does not have an evaluation for this species.

But if you want to protect nudibranchs (and why wouldn't you), the best way is to help protect our coastal ecosystems with responsible tourism and sustainable living.

30/12/2020

Reef Squid by night!

The best thing about night dives is the interesting critters that pop up out of the blackness.

Like most other cephalopods, squid can alter their coloration to communicate. They use their two large arms (not tentacles!) to capture prey, then the other tentacles help manouver the prey into their beaks.

Personally I can't eat sea food after seeing the amount of by-catch and environmental destruction caused by large scale fishing fleets.

But, if you're still looking for a sustainable sea food while travelling or at home, squid are actually a good option!

The IUCN has reef Squid listed as least concern, and is continuing to monitor fisheries across the world.

Sam Wilson Photography

05/01/2025

01/02/2023

26/10/2022

16/10/2022

07/09/2021

20/04/2021

06/04/2021

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30/03/2021

30/12/2020

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