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 Dwarf Minke Whales: Acrobats of the Sea
Diving with dwarf minke whales in Australia. Photo Courtesy: Mike Ball As a recreational diver you don't often get the chance to dive with whales, but this little known small species ought to be on the top of every divers 'wish list'. Their inquisitive nature and...
Diving with Clown Triggerfish: Prettiest Fish in the Sea?
Clown triggerfish, beautiful patterns. Photo Courtesy: Aggressor Fleet One of the most colourful fish to encounter when diving, clown triggerfish make for an excellent photo opportunity. Unfortunately they are quite camera shy and are exceptionally good at turning...
Diving with Dolphins – Man’s Best Ocean-Dwelling Friend
Thought to be among some of the most intelligent animals on the planet, dolphins' playful, inquisitive nature have made them popular with divers and a fascination for all humans for as long as we have known of their existence. In fact, many cultures consider the...
Diving with Cuttlefish – the Wisdom of a Cephalopod
It is normally a case of love at first sight. There you are gently gliding over the reef when you see before you a blob that is hovering atop the corals. As you get closer you begin to distinguish the rhythmic wafting of its frills, its pulsating skin and intelligent...
Diving with Titan Triggerfish – Terrible ‘Old Evil-eye’
You have probably seen them before and not doubt been warned of the dangers they pose when protecting their young but how much do you know about trigger fish? Find out more about this common reef inhabitant and understand why it has torn off a few ears over the years...
Diving with Seahorses – a Diver’s Best Friend
A seahorse examines a diver`s watch Seahorses are mesmerising and magical marine creatures. It’s like they materialised from a young child’s dream with their horse like head, a tail akin to a monkey, eyes that move independently of each other and skin colour that...
Diving with Nudibranchs – It’s Only a Slug, Right?
To those who have never dived, the idea of a small slug-like, bottom-dweller might seem like a boring prospect. However for divers, the picture is rather different. These little, riotously-coloured creatures bejewel the ocean floor, catching the eye like glinting...
Diving with Manta Rays: Graceful Gliders
We have done some of the world's best manta dives and know that the joy of diving with these creatures is difficult to overstate. They capture divers' imaginations since they move so gracefully and majestically through the water - whether frolicking in the surf, or...
Diving with Great White Sharks: Misunderstood Terrors of the Ocean
No creature on earth evokes the same response in people as the great white shark: fear, reverence and awe. Our perception of this misunderstood species has been tainted by their media portrayal as monsters. The film Jaws, although it inspired many to learn about the...