Kakaban Island, Berau | East borneo - Indonesia
Kakaban Island is home to Jellyfish Lake. Only 25 minute boat ride from Sangalaki Island, dip into the 5-square-kilometer lake and swim (and even touch) the stingless jellyfish! This unique species can only be found in two places in the world. In Palau Islands, the Philippines. And here, in Kakaban Island! Snorkeling with jellyfish that do not have stings presents an experience of a lifetime!
Kakaban is also renowned for its rugged deep walls that live up pretty much to any expectation. Pelagics such as manta rays, barracudas, tunas, jacks, trevallies, and various species of sharks are residents here. Also enjoy the reef life that assembles along the walls. Hanging soft coral tiers, fans and whips, as well as colorful reef fish!
source: www.derawanarchipelago.com
DERAWAN ISLAND, Kalimantan Indonesia
The Derawan Islands are in the province of East Kalimantan in Indonesia. They include Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua, Panjang, and Samama Island and submerged Reefs and Islets. They are located in the Sulawesi Sea, on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan (2°17’N - 118°13’E).
Glowing deep-sea discoveries
Scientists have discovered a further two species of colourful deep-sea dwelling worms. This image shows the bright yellow kidneys and purple mouth of the transparent “shining bomber” (Swima fulgida), discovered off the coast of California, US. The findings are published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Swima worms can measure up to 3cm (1.2 inches) long and use fan-like bristles to swim through the water at depths of more than 2,700 metres. They are also bioluminescent: producing light in the gloomy depths of the ocean through a chemical reaction in their bodies.
Researchers collected specimens of the worms to study them in a lab. Under blue light, they were able to identify the bioluminescent structures of the worms. In this light the chemicals responsible for bioluminescence show up as bright, fluorescent green.
The worms are named bombers for the tiny “bombs” they can release to distract predators - visible here as two green capsules on the left side of the “green bomber’s” head. When startled the worm can drop the glowing decoys and swim away from the threat.
The other new species, the “orange bomber” (Swima tawitawiensis) was discovered off the Philippines by an international research group led by Larry Madin of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Unlike the species found off the US west coast, it has orange instead of green blood.
Source: BBC
