Collated from our Newsletters into one Section. To provide an easier access to what matters most: NATURE!
Marine Biology Maldives | 2025 July: Nurse shark – Yeah, It’s still a shark!
Hi! I’m Muhammad Cesar Briliandi. I am in charge of Marine Biology at Sub Oceanic Maldives, Le Meridien Maldives. Today, let’s talk about the ocean’s most relaxed superstar.
Welcome to Marine Biology Maldives! Picture this: you’re floating in the warm, perfect waters of the Maldives when suddenly, a group of chunky, whiskered creatures glides by beneath you like underwater puppies. These are nurse sharks, called “Nidhan miyaru” by locals and they’re the Maldives’ chillest residents. With their flat heads and permanent sleepy-face vibes, they often lounge around in big cuddle piles on the seafloor, looking like they’ve hit the snooze button on life.
But don’t be fooled. Once the sun dips and the party fish go to bed, nurse sharks clock in. They’re night-shift hunters, using their weirdly cute “face whiskers” (okay, barbels) to sniff out snacks hiding in the sand. When they find something tasty, like a crab or squid, they slurp it up with a powerful vacuum, like suck. Imagine a slow, quiet shark that only wants shellfish.
For ocean lovers visiting the Maldives, seeing nurse sharks up close is like bumping into a celebrity, only one that couldn’t care less you’re there. Dive centers like Sub Oceanic offer trips where you can swim with these gentle sharks in shallow waters. They usually ignore humans completely, but hey, give them space. No one likes being disturbed mid-nap.
Thanks to conservation efforts and growing respect for marine life, nurse sharks continue to thrive in these turquoise waters. So next time you’re in the Maldives, keep an eye out, you just might meet the ocean’s most relaxed Superstar!
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Author: Muhammad Cesar Briliandi | Topic: Marine Biology Maldives – Nurse Sharks
Marine Biology Maldives | 2025 June: Nemo “the Clownfish”
Everyone knows the story of Finding Nemo
A brave little clownfish, his anxious dad Marlin, and their epic ocean adventure. But what if we told you the real story of clownfish is even “stranger” than fiction?
In the underwater world of coral reefs, clownfish have a surprising superpower: they can change their sex. All clownfish are born male, but if the female in their group dies, the dominant male doesn’t just grieve. He becomes her.
Yes, you read that right! In real life, after Nemo’s mom Coral died, Marlin wouldn’t just raise Nemo solo, but he would have turned into a female. Then the next biggest male (Nemo!) would eventually become her mate. It’s nature’s way of making sure clownfish always have a breeding pair to keep the family going.
Ladies first – not with Nemo!
This process is called protandry, male first, female later. It’s triggered by social hierarchy. The largest fish is always the female, the second largest her mate, and the rest are backup males waiting their turn. When the queen is gone, the social ladder shifts, and hormones flip the switch.
While Pixar gave us a heartwarming tale, the true biology of clownfish is a dramatic mix of love, loss, and transformation. It’s not just a fish tale, it’s a science story that shows just how amazing ocean life really is!
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Author: Muhammad Cesar Briliandi | Topic: Marine Biology Maldives – Clownfish
Marine Biology Maldives | 2025 May: What is the difference between Guitar Shark and Guitar Ray?
Ever spotted a creature that looks part shark and part ray?
That might’ve been the Giant Shovelnose Ray, also known as the guitarfish – a name that fits its unique, guitar-shaped body!
Though sometimes called a shovelnose shark or guitar shark, it’s actually not a shark at all. This fascinating ray belongs to the same family as guitarfishes and wedgefishes and is most easily recognized by its flat body, wide triangular snout, and sandy-brown coloring with a pale underside.
The Giant Shovelnose Ray is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific—from Thailand and Papua New Guinea to the northern coasts of Australia and, of course, the Maldives. Here in the crystal-clear waters of the archipelago, juveniles can often be seen near the shore, in lagoons, and around mangroves. Adults live deeper, along reef slopes and underwater drop-offs, where divers with Sub Oceanic may occasionally encounter them.
What do Guitarfish Eat?
These bottom-dwellers love crustaceans like prawns and crabs – just one more reason they’re important to the ocean ecosystem.
How do Guitarfish Reproduce?
They’re ovoviviparous, which means their babies develop inside the mother and are born fully formed – around 40 cm long at birth!
Sadly, the Giant Shovelnose Ray is Critically Endangered. Overfishing and habitat loss are major threats, and they’re now protected under CITES to help control trade and support recovery. At Sub Oceanic Maldives, we’re all about raising awareness and protecting our underwater neighbors.
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Author: Muhammad Cesar Briliandi | Topic: Marine Biology Maldives – Guitar Rays, Guitar Shark & Guitar Fish
Marine Biology Maldives | 2025 April: Seagrass & Coral – A Powerful Ocean Partnership
When we think of ocean conservation, coral reefs often steal the spotlight. But did you know seagrass plays a crucial role in keeping coral reefs healthy?
These two ecosystems work together in ways that many people overlook! Seagrass Protects Coral – Acting as a natural filter, seagrass improves water quality by absorbing excess nutrients and reducing sediment, keeping the ocean clear for corals to thrive.
How Corals shelter Seagrass?
Coral reefs break waves, creating calm waters that allow seagrass to grow undisturbed. Their shade also prevents seagrass from overheating.
Together, these marine allies provide homes for countless marine species, protect coastlines, and even help fight climate change by capturing carbon.
As a matter of Fact, protecting seagrass and coral means preserving the future of our oceans!
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Author: Muhammad Cesar Briliandi | Topic: Marine Biology Maldives – Corals & Seagrass
Marine Biology Maldives | 2025 March: Welcome in the year of the SNAKE (EEL)
While Sea Snakes posses some of the strongest poison in nature, Snake Eels do not have any poison or any other real asset for their protection. However, they know a fantastic trick called Mimicry. By “dressing” like Sea Snakes, predators stay away.
Snake Eel vs Sea Snake: And the winner is…. MIMICRY
The dictionary describes Mimicry as “the action or art of imitating someone or something, typically in order to entertain or ridicule”. Snake Eels in the Maldives having the most ridicules behavior of all. Despite no existence of Sea Snakes in the Maldives, local Snake Eels still imitate them. The most funny thing is that it still works:-)
Quite often we have shocked guest around our Dive Centers who just encountered a Sea Snake. The correct answer to give in the next 12 month will be: Welcome to the year of the Snake Eel!
In areas where both species occur it is pretty simple to differentiate them. While Snake Eel posses “Nose Hair” Sea Snakes don’t. For more information about Snake Eels, Sea Snakes and Sea Snake Cucumbers please visit our free Maldives Fish Guide.
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Author: Florian Gansl | Topic: Marine Biology Maldives – Snake Eel vs. Sea Snake
2025 February: Relationships of Cooperation, Exploitation, and Competition
The marine world is home to a variety of symbiotic relationships where organisms live in close association with one another. These relationships can be categorized into four main types:
1. Commensalism: one organism benefits from the relationship while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
with its striking red and white striped body, resembles a holiday candy cane. The sweet-sounding crustacean has a symbiotic relationship with a goby – they depend on each other for survival. The shrimp helps dig and maintain a burrow, while the goby alerts the nearly-blind shrimp to any nearby dangers. Their bright, festive appearance adds a touch of holiday cheer to the reefs they inhabit.
2.Parasitism: one organism benefits at the expense of the other.
A well-known example of this is the relationship between certain fish and parasitic isopods. The isopod enters the fish’s body through its gills and attaches itself to the fish’s tongue. Over time, the isopod feeds on the fish’s tongue and eventually replaces the fish’s tongue with its own body, essentially becoming the fish’s “new tongue.” The isopod gains nourishment from the fish, but the fish suffers from the loss of its tongue, which impairs its ability to feed properly making this a parasitic interaction.
3. Mutualism: when both organisms in a relationship benefit.
One of the best-known examples of mutualism in the marine world is the partnership between clownfish and sea anemones. The clownfish finds shelter within the stinging tentacles of the anemone, which provides protection from predators. In return, the clownfish cleans the anemone by eating parasites and debris, while its movements help circulate water around the anemone, aiding its respiration. This mutually beneficial relationship helps both species thrive.
4. Competition: when organisms vie for the same resources, such as food, territory, or mates.
In the ocean, many species of fish and invertebrates compete for access to limited food sources. For example, different species of reef fish may compete for the same corals or algae, using aggressive behaviors or territoriality to secure their share. This competition can influence feeding patterns, reproductive success, and the distribution of species across marine ecosystems.
The ocean is a dynamic ecosystem where organisms form symbiotic relationships like commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism, shaping their survival and the marine environment. Competition for resources drives adaptation, creating a complex web of life beneath the waves.
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Author: Emma Keen
2025 January: Q & A with our Marine Biologist Emma Keen
Why do dolphins swim close to boats?
Dolphins often swim close to boats out of curiosity and playfulness, as they are naturally inquisitive creatures. They may ride the bow waves created by the boat, which allows them to conserve energy while swimming, and their proximity can be a social behavior, as they enjoy interacting with humans.
Will the sharks bite?
Sharks generally do not pose a threat to humans, and bites are relatively rare. Most species of sharks are not aggressive and tend to avoid human interaction; However, they may bite if they feel threatened or if they mistake a person for their natural prey. It’s essential to practice caution in areas where sharks are present, and to avoid disturbing a sharks natural behaviour.
Are stingrays dangerous?
Stingrays can be dangerous if provoked, primarily due to their venomous spines located on their tails, which they use for defense. While they are usually docile and pose little threat to humans, accidental steps on them while wading in shallow waters can lead to painful stings, making it important to be cautious, and try to shuffle your feet if walking in a sandy bottom area if the visibility isn’t great!
What do turtles eat?
Turtles have diverse diets that vary by species; some are herbivores, feeding on seagrasses and algae, sponges and anemones, while others are carnivores, eating crustaceans, and fish. Omnivorous turtles, and most species of turtles as juveniles will eat a mix of both plant and animal matter, depending on their habitat and availability of food sources, until they become more fussy as adults! All species turtles love to eat jellyfish as their favourite snack!
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Author: Aliona Shavel
