Great Barrier Reef

[Billabong Karen]

Has anyone been watching this? I thought it was fabulous - stunning photography, especially of the coral polyps... Made me want to get my fins and mask out immediately!!!

[Alan Livsey]

Yes, i watched last Sunday's, very interesting too. I would feel a bit vulnerable swimming amongst all those sharks, snakes, and coral eating parrot fish. But i'm glad somebody else does it!
On again tonight 8pm - book your seat.

[Billabong Karen]

Like almost all other wildlife Alan, they leave you alone if you leave them alone... Sea snakes and sharks are surprisingly shy, and the parrot fish, though ugly-looking, are harmless... Amazingly, it is the most unlikely things that are dangerous - for instance cone shells (they showed them) are DEADLY, and cause more diver deaths than any other wildlife (I think).

The mantra is: Look, but dont touch anything.

Oh yes - and keep breathing.

[Alan Livsey]

Well i never knew cone shells were deadly. What makes them so dangerous? are they poisonous?
What about those gigantic salt water crocs, i bet they could eat a few cone shells!

[Alan Livsey]

I have just discovered they are indeed poisonous, and use a hypodermic barb like tooth to capture prey such as molluscs, and fish.

[Billabong Karen]

Divers are sometimes injured and there have been fatalities when they pick up a cone shell, thinking it is empty. The mollusc, in self defence, uses its barb to inject venom, which causes all kinds of nasty reactions up to and including death! When I was learning to dive we were always told NEVER to pick anything up or indeed touch anything... The coral itself is fragile and can easily be damaged by fin tips or dangling equipment.

[Malkie]

I wonder if they'll mention the Irukandji jellyfish in the series. I was surprised to hear about cone shells being so dangerous but, as with most dangerous sea creatures, you can at least see them and hopefully avoid them. Irukandji are tiny, incredibly venomous, and potentially lethal. There's no way at all I'd swim in Australia's waters!

[Alan Livsey]

They did feature Box jellyfish in the last episode, just as dodgy! Still, i suppose all this underwater wildlife is why people dive in the first place, it would be a bit boring if there was nothing to see. And it must be a good money spinner for Australia's economy too.

[Billabong Karen]

Well, I was dead keen to go out to Australia on a diving trip, but I must admit I am starting to think carefully about it...

But generally speaking the jellyfish shouldnt be too much of a problem. Divers (should) always wear protective clothing, wetsuits or similar, and gloves if they are going to be handling anything.

Aaargh, want to go diving again! And last night on South Today there was a section about diving on the South Coast, and how the coast guard service is being reduced... I've never dived in the UK, but am very keen to. It's just the cold that's putting me off...

[Alan Livsey]

Australia seems a bit far to go for a diving trip, not to mention the cost.
Although UK dive sites might not have spectacular underwater wildlife, they must be a lot cheaper. The cold and nil visibility all adds to the fun!!
There are a couple of artificial reefs in Whitsand bay, Cornwall, the James Eagen Lane and HMS Scylla, sunk in 2004. Only a 40 minute boat ride from Plymouth, busiest in summer.
Have a look at dive site directory - scuba diving information and diving reviews on dive sites and countries all over the world including the Caribbean, Canary islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Malta, New Zealand, USA, Australia the UK and the Red Sea.
I've heard on the local news that HMS Ark Royal is being considered as a new artificial reef for Torbay, that'll be worth a dive!