Experience a new dimension in diving so new and exclusive that more people have seen Earth from space than have seen corals in this totally new light! Fish suddely speak and coral communicate through fluoresecence.

Did you know a human has just three colour channels and binocular vision, whereas a mantis shrimp has twelve and trinocular vision!?...

Not only does Wakatobi have the most pristine reefs on the planet - and perhaps the only reefs on earth which are actually thriving, getting healthier, richer and more diverse each year - but now you can discover something so different and magical, that you will never see marine creatures the same way again. Taking you back to premier ocean discovery, we call it " FLUO-Diving".

Not to be confused with phosphorescence, or bio-luminescence, Fluorescence is the absorption of one wavelength of light (or colour) and the re-emission of another, totally different wavelength of light (or colour). A fluorescent object under white light reveals its true colour. But under near UV light, it absorbs the blue and re-emits a fluorescent colour, transforming the blue into a brightly glowing, totally different colour.

Thus, underwater, marine animals that fluoresce have the ability to convert one colour into an entirely different colour!

Dr. Charles Mazel Ph.D & leading Fluorescence Research Scientist & inventor of fluotechnology: "The odds of you going in the water and finding something, seeing some animal fluorescing, that no-one else in the entire history of the universe has ever seen is probably over ninety percent! Anywhere in the world. Simply because so few people have done this"...

The true reason for fluorescence in corals remains unclear today, but the reason for fluorescence in more complex creatures is completely obscure. The subject of fluorescence extends all boundaries in understanding and even now remains as controversial in the science community as it is fascinating.

Wakatobi Resident Filmmakers

In what has been labeled 'the underwater series of the decade' and 'a pioneering breakthrough in underwater communication' internationally acclaimed cinematographers Liquid Motion Film recently brought the phenomenal imagery of underwater fluorescence to giant screens around the world for the very first time.

Working alongside the worlds leading Marine Research Scientists to unravel the mysteries of underwater communication, a 4 year journey of documentation and research culminated in international press, highest accolades, global recognition, over 35 major Awards and a revolutionary series which fast became a National Geographic Television exclusive.

Asking "Why are marine animals such incredible colours?", and conclusively proving that "colour is the prime cryptic language of the fish", Liquid Motions' Guy & Anita explored marine animals visual systems, unraveled crypsis and camouflage, deciphered how fish
change colour and pattern to express emotion and mood and, in a world premiere, for the first time ever, documented the integral role that fluorescence plays in marine animals daily lives. From Green Blennies becoming pink, to the exhilarating first ever 600m deep fluorescent shark, their vivid, electrifying images of marine animals changing the very course of nature enraptured viewers - yet only heightened
the ultimate questions of how they do this, and why.

Wakatobi Back to Premier Ocean Discovery

Last year, in a quest to live beside the worlds most pristine reef, with the planet's most stunning house-reef just footsteps from their door, Guy & Anita relocated to Wakatobi - and brought the special technology, know-how, cutting-edge equipment and this mesmerizing discovery with them.

New and exclusive to Wakatobi, join the pioneers and be the first to discover something no-one else has ever seen! Witness extraordinary behaviour, brand new science and mind-blowing phenomena the worlds leading Research Scientists are still striving to understand! Experience the magic of underwater fluorescence - "the inconceivable ability of marine animals to change one colour, into another"!

New creatures are being discovered every dive, every day. New discoveries are made, yet with each answer comes more questions. In an environment dominated by blue, bright colours are quickly absorbed in just a few feet, But fluorescence is a way to maintain bright colours.

One of the worlds leading Research Scientists, Professor Justin Marshall, Neurobiologist, Zoologist, Doctor of Philosophy, Marine Biologist and the worlds leader in colour vision, visual behaviour, colour change, colour signals and more, theorizes: "For the fish, for the animals on the reef, being colourful is about really wanting to say something. They're using fluorescence as part of their colour communication channel. It's a way of being even more colourful than colourful" ...

During a recent NOAA Deep Scope Expedition, Prof. MIKHAIL V. MATZ PH.D , Research Scientist at the Integrative Biology Section of the University of Texas was around 1820' depth in a sub and, for the first time ever, came across a fluorescent shark. Why a shark at such depth would be using the subs lights to fluoresce is a total mystery to science, but perhaps since this shark's known to ascend up to 60 meters, where light IS available, we can theorize that his fluorescence may help him communicate and find some mates.

Comments from Wakatobi founder, Lorenz Mäder

"Having seen the UW fluorescence movies of Anita and Guy, I was of course burning to see this exciting new effect with my own eyes.

Taking my teenage daughter along for a thrilling lesson in physics made it even more fun; with the yellow filter over the mask and the eerie blue dive light in hand we started right off the beach.

Gliding over the reef top, hidden animals in screaming bright fluorescent colours were suddenly easy to spot - we felt like 007 with a secret weapon:-). The familiar house reef wowed us with glowing organisms such as soft corals, hard corals, fish, snails and others. I noted that some corals were glowing, while others of the same species were not; some hard corals would even show different patterns in individual corals of the same species! One really cool discovery was that the Pygmy seahorses show fluorescence and easily stood out on the fans! There is much more to explore and no explanations yet for these phenomena.

We spent a fun filled hour and marveled in awe the new discoveries - truly a new visual dimension in diving!"

Fluo-Diving Video Clips

Lizardfish Some Lizardfish fluoresce, some don't. Or perhaps they all can, but only when they need to communicate something we simply cannot comprehend. Liquid Motion Film speculates the fluorescent rim around the eye may have something to do with sun protection - but then again, it may not.	Banded Coral Shrimp In daylight this tiny Banded Coral Shrimps mandibles are invisible. At night, if we excite her using our special lights, she uses fluorescence to transform her mandibles from clear/white, to a bright fluorescing yellow glow - which Scientists believe may help her capture the tiny copepods and prey.	Corals Why would two identical corals, side by side, behave in completely different ways? Using our special lights, one fluoresces back a bright lime green colour, the other fluoresces bright pink.. or yellow... or doesn't fluoresce at all!	Fireworms Observe how the muted colors of the fireworm are transformed in to something exquisite in Fluo-Diving. Its colors change as it transforms from juvenile to adult.

A VIP personal experience

The Wakatobi fluo-diving experience is a part of our VIP personal services package

What it includes:

• The experience begins with a presentation about fluorescence (what it means, what is happening, how we see this etc).
• You will see a film and/or media show explaining more.
• This is followed by a thorough briefing about the unique dive you are about to do, the equipment and how and what you may discover.
• Then, using your own personal near-UV underwater lights and special visor and filters, you will be taken on a private guided (60 min) dive.

Fluo-diving is for experienced divers with perfect buoyancy and ample night diving experience only. It is beautiful, stunning, the reef is just glowing... but since vision is more limited than on a normal night dive, to ensure we protect our pristine coral reefs, management reserves the right to refuse or insist on further experience, for fluo-diving.

"We were fortunate to be amongst the first to experience the privilege of "blue light" diving and would recommend it to anyone with excellent buoyancy who wants to "see" beyond the ordinary in the water. Seeing an octopus hunt within close range unfettered by our presence was truly a unique thrill. We have been on dozens of night dives, but none compare to the incredible world unveiled by the magic of fluo diving. I will be purchasing filters for my camera gear to expand my repertoire to this new horizon of night diving."
Steve Kraus - May 2010.

We have limited gear and limited availability for this experience. There will not be numerous people in the water at once. This will be a private, VIP experience - (First come, first served) - 1:1 or 1:2 ratio maximum. Pre-booking for this experience is required to guarantee a spot during your Wakatobi holiday.

Want to experience Fluo-diving?

Book a trip to Wakatobi now to see for yourself this amazing new aspect to diving!.
To receive more information on a trip with Fluo-diving, fill out our trip inquiry form and select Fluo-Diving from the VIP services Options box.

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