Perhaps one of the most bizarre fish that you may be lucky to see here on Koh Lanta is the Frogfish or otherwise known as the Anglerfish. Frogfish are found in most tropical waters and can grow up to 3 – 40 cms, depending on the species. Generally most Frogfish have no scales and are stocky and plump in appearance and have the ability to allow coral to grow on them to aid with camouflage.

Camouflage is very important for Frogfish and they have the amazing ability to change their colour according to their surroundings and coral. Change can occur and last for days or weeks depending on the environment. Once a frogfish has found a spot which they like they generally move very little from this area. However when they do need to move it is done in a galloping manner using their pectoral fins as legs. Alternatively they can also use a jet propulsion method by gulping in water and forcing it out through their gill openings.

This species of fish is very different to regular fish as they have lost the ability to swim using their pectoral fins. They have also lost the common dorsal fin in which they have evolved it as a kind of fishing rod. The evolved dorsal fin has now become an illicum or “rod” and an esca or “lure”. The lure usually resembles a small shrimp, fish or tubeworm which it dangles in front of its mouth to attract in unsuspecting fish. When the Frogfish strikes it is quicker than the eye can see and often enough, too quick for the unaware prey.

Frogfish can eat anything, including each other. They have been know to eat anything up to 80% of its body size, from shrimp to fish (including Stonefish and Lionfish) and they can expand their mouths and stomachs to accommodate larger prey! Generally females are larger than the males (up to 10 times in some species) which makes for some interesting reproduction issues. Post mating / fertilization of the eggs, the female is responsible for looking after the new batch keeping the eggs close by or on her body.

These unusual creatures show us how amazing evolution can be and seeing one for the first time can be exhilarating – another critter to cross of your check list! Often enough divers frequent many different locations around Asia just to dive with these unique fish and luckily enough we have a few on our dive sites, especially at Koh Haa.

Congrats to Matt, Alice and Simone, our Divemaster Trainees, for completing their Rescue Diver course! During the course they really began working well as a team and had to complete all the Rescue Scenarios not only from the boat, but also the beach. They were able to refine their newly acquired rescue skills through complex scenarios in challenging conditions.

Simone, from Brazil, had been traveling and diving around Southeast Asia when she began contemplating on whether to do her Divemaster course. In October she briefly visited Lanta and had a day out diving with Ocean Divers before moving on to Koh Lipe and Phuket. Simone returned in November having decided to complete the Divemaster Internship program with us over the next few months! She has so far proved a great addition to the team and never stops smiling and laughing!

Matt and Alice are a lovely couple originally from Estonia but more recently having lived and worked in London. They have been travelling around Thailand where they were first introduced to diving and immediately hooked! In November Matt and Alice joined us for some diving and we knew right away they had a serious passion and interest by the number of questions they asked the staff. It was not long before they had decided to start on they path to becoming a professional diver by completing the Divemaster course as well! It has been great being on the boat together as they are a huge help in every aspect of the dive trip!

Prior to the Rescue course all three DMTs have already completed their Advanced Open Water Diver and Emergency First Response courses with us as well as building up the number of dives needed to start the Divemaster course. Simone and Matt have also completed their Enriched Air / Nitrox Specialty course.

Now Simone, Alice and Matt are ready to start the most challenging part of their training with us to becoming pros! All the Instructors and Divemasters here at Ocean Divers are looking forward to the next few weeks as we will be working very closely with the DMTs to teach, train and guide them to becoming PADI Divemasters!