We did more then just work on motors!

28 Aug We did more then just work on motors!

The following post was written by our Marine Biologist/Chef/Deckhand Laura Murray

Starr has been lucky enough to visit some beautiful and vibrant reefs during our time in Fiji, a few of which are considered to be top in the world, including Rainbow Reef and Astrolabe Reef. We have swam with manta rays, turtles, sharks and just about every reef fish you could dream of. All whilst snorkeling over beautiful, healthy and diverse coral. It would be an impossible task to try and name all of the species of marine organisms we have encountered but below we have selected a few of our favourite pictures and videos taken over the last few months by Don, Sonja and me..

On this outer reef section you can see a wide variety of coral. There were mainly hard corals along this area and a few soft corals hidden between them. This is good to see, especially on an outer reef where a lot of wave action occurs as hard corals are ‘reef builders’ and provide a strong structure and the foundations needed to withstand the weather and allow the other living organisms here to survive and thrive. This picture in particular has many plate and branching coral species with a variety of colour thanks to the different algae living within them.

Another example of a very healthy reef with a huge variety and number of coral species nestled together. If this image could produce a sound you would hear the constant noises – clicks/scratches/cracklings/grunts that come with a bustling reef. The presence of the many fish don’t just add to the beauty but are yet another good example of this reef system flourishing as adamant food and shelter must be available for these guys to want to stay and hang out.

Below are pictures of some individual coral and fish species we came across…

An Anemonefish staying close to it’s protective home. Anemonefish live in groups with one female and multiple males, with the female being the largest of the bunch and the one in charge. They usually average around 3-5 inches in size depending on the species but will protect themselves and their home as if they were much much bigger.

A laminar coral. This species is able to grow delicate plates and layers to build its colony up and requires amble sunlight to land of those plates for maximum growth. Due to the more fragile nature of this coral they are more often found in areas of low wave action, such as a sheltered inner lagoon where this one was spotted.

Closer view of the laminar coral. The impressiveness of the structure of this species only increasing upon closer inspection with countless layers and folds within a single colony.

A wee hermit crab peaking out of its’ cozy home. These guys are constantly upgrading their houses as they grow in size, starting off with a shed and working their way up to a mansion. Often hermit crabs will form a line in order of size and queue for shells as individuals move out of one shell and into the larger one ahead in the queue.

Finger Coral. These tightly bunched corals are all part of the genus that includes branching/plate/stag/elkhorn/table which are all good reef builders. These corals all grow horizontally in order to maximize the amount of sunlight that they can be exposed to. As you can see in this blog even in one region this species can appear with various colour variations.

Maxima Clam – a species of giant clam found across coral reefs. Despite being related to the true giant clams that can grow to lengths of 4.5 feet, this species usually stops at a ‘mere’ 12 inches. Like coral, they obtain their colours from the algae living within them and are a good telltale of how healthy a reef is as clams constantly filter the water around them and are very sensitive to unnatural changes in the environment – so if they are thriving it usually means the reef around them is too.

Giant boring clam – another species of giant clam but this one is not at all boring and is named due to its ability to secrete acid in order to dissolve and ultimately penetrate or ‘bore’ into the coral substrate. This provides it with a very safe and secure place to call home and will continue to grow within the coral, not the end of the world for the coral as these guys only grow to around 6 inches.

Orange longnose filefish. These beautiful bright fish are heavily reliant on coral reefs as their diet consists mainly of coral polyps (individual corals). Often found as a pair, close to the reef, hanging out with its chosen buddy.

A Porite/Massive coral. These stony corals are crucial for creating strong reef structures and are extremely resilient colonys. Despite their slow growth at a rate of 1cm per year, they can live to over 100 years so are a great addition to any coral reef.

Staghorn coral. Another example of a reef builder coral. This colony and species in-particular is beautifully naturally purple, with lighter tips due to growth where algae has not yet settled.

Blue-green chromis. A species of damselfish, growing to a maximum size of 10cm (4 inches). They may have a small individual size but schooling together in large numbers like this make them less at risk to their larger predators. Hanging out near coral with many hiding spaces is another clever way for them to have an easy escape if a predator does appear.

A Cauliflower coral. This is a hard stony coral species that can appear in various colours depending on the algae present within them. They are very resilient to weather and usually inhabit more exposed areas.

A short video of some of the wonderful snorkeling we have experienced during our time in Fiji. The amazing reef manta rays that are 3-4 metres wide (10-13 feet) but move through the water with extreme grace. You can see in action the territorial nature of the anemonefish popping out from their house to attempt to scare us and the camera away. Another favourite of ours featured in this video are the bright blue-yellow fusiliers that swim along the reef in their schools, often mixing with other fish and fusilier species.

Meet Laura Murray, our incredible Irish in-house marine biologist, graduate of  Newcastle University, Northeast England. She has been part of the Starr family for nearly a month and a half now. What started as a casual search for some extra hands turned into one of the best decisions we could’ve made. Laura first came aboard from the remote island of Lakeba in the Lau Group, known for its tricky, current-riddled entrance. Rather than risk the passage with Starr, we decided to pick her up with the tender. After battling waves and getting absolutely drenched, I remember thinking, Well, she better be worth this!

And worth it she absolutely is. Over the past few weeks, we’ve come to appreciate Laura not only for her wealth of marine biology knowledge but also for her fantastic attitude and vibrant sense of humor. An experienced dive instructor, she’s brought her passion for the ocean to Starr in ways that make every day a lovely experience

But it’s not just her scientific expertise that makes her so special. Laura has a knack for cooking up incredible meals that could make any seasoned chef jealous. From the moment she joined, we’ve been treated to her delicious dishes, and it didn’t take long for us to consider her one of the family. Now our stomachs and hearts are already dreading the fact that we have to say goodbye to our esteemed crew member. She’s taken a job as a dive instructor in Timor – Leste, we hope this wont be the last we see of her aboard Starr.

Don

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