Creature Features
We at Travel The World all have our own favourite marine creatures and we know you have too! For some, diving with sharks and huge schools of fish is the ultimate; others long to dive with manta rays; underwater photographers go on macro diving trips to seek out seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish and other incredible macro wonders.
Whatever your dream underwater encounter, one thing is certain: a little prior knowledge can improve your enjoyment of a scuba diving trip immensely. Travel The World is the best online resource for fascinating information on your favourite marine creatures and where you can dive with them.
Why do hammerheads swim the way they do? Why do the chromatophores on a cuttlefish pulsate? What is the result of parrotfish crunching through coral? Which marine creature’s mouth inspired the movie character ‘Alien’? Which is the heaviest bony fish in the ocean? Which is the smallest ‘great whale’ in the ocean? Which fish has the fastest ‘gape and suck’ action to swallow prey? Find out this and more. Knowledge is power!
So browse our selection of creature features below. From whale sharks to wobbegongs, manta rays to mandarinfish, sea lions to seahorses, read all about the stars of our underwater world.
Diving with Sunfish – the Mighty Mola Mola
There are not too many dive sites in the world that can boast the presence of the magnificent Mola Mola, but those that do are rightfully proud of the fact. Diving with sunfish will provide you with an unforgettable memory - the odd looking flat disc lolling near the...
Diving with Moray Eels – a Foray into the World of Morays
You are finning along a reef with fish swimming all around you when suddenly something makes you stop on your tracks. You see a sight that at once captivates you and implores you to fix your gaze on a head protruding from a hole, seemingly glaring out and opening and...
Diving with Tiger Sharks: the Fearsome Garbage Collector
Tiger sharks are among the most sought after, and feared of, sharks. Known for their striking stripes, impressive size, and curious nature, tiger sharks are one of the ocean's most iconic apex predators. The impressive sight of a muscular, striped shark coming into...
Diving with Napoleon Wrasse: Ocean’s Most Curious Fish
Diving with Napoleon wrasse in the Philippines. Photo courtesy: Robert Yin An exquisitely patterned fish, the giant yet gentle Napoleon wrasse is a favourite fish to encounter for divers in many regions of the world. This is because, in areas where they are still not...
Diving with Mimic Octopus – Is it a Snake or a Flounder?!
Diving with mimic octopus in Indonesia There are many creatures in the sea that scuba divers long to have encounters with and one’s own personal list can change with experience. Once sharks, turtles, manta rays and other obvious marine wonders have been...
Diving with Lionfish: a Devil Firefish or a Turkeyfish?
A lionfish at Lankayan Island, Malaysia One of the most photogenic fish you are likely to come across when scuba diving is the lionfish; a fish as beautiful as it is dangerous. Often found lurking in quiet areas of a reef or a wreck, the firefish has a very...
Diving with Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
Mysterious Denizens of the Deep Diving with hammerheads at Darwin Island. Photo courtesy: Master Liveaboards Diving with sharks is a popular pursuit but not all shark dives are the same. One of the most awe-inspiring sights has to be diving with the hammerhead shark....
Diving with Mandarinfish
The Most Colourful and Charming Fish in the Sea A male mandarinfish in Indonesia. Photo courtesy: Adelaar Dusk is the moment when one of the most fascinating events in the marine world occurs; the mating of mandarinfish. And sitting on a chair watching the sun set is...
Diving with Leopard Sharks: Can a Shark Change its Spots?
A leopard or zebra shark in Thailand. Photo Courtesy: Lia Barret The leopard shark is a fantastic animal to encounter on a dive. Its grace and beauty in motion provides an exhilarating experience. They are docile sharks that you can admire and photograph safely in...