Marina East shore is alive!

Just off the city centre and Marina Barrage is an area that has been reclaimed twice. Once was due to land reclamation of Marina East and the other was due to the construction of Marina Coastal Expressway.

So what exactly is left after all these construction? Can marine life be found when the tide goes out?

Special ghost crab at Sentosa

On 29 Oct, 2015, we visited Tanjong Rimau, Sentosa. It's been two years since I last explored this shore. The waters off Rimau has always been surprisingly clear despite its proximity to mainland. This allowed me to take several lovely underwater shots. We ended the trip with a sighting of the rare Smooth-eyed ghost crab (Ocypode cordimanus). My first time seeing it!

Surprises from Berlayar Creek

My first visit to the shores of Berlayar Creek was in 2010 and it was just a so-so trip. Not very diverse and is rather bare.

What brought me back here after 5 years would be Ria's recent find of the Galloping sea star on this shore. I was keen to see if I can also spot this elusive sea star on this hazy evening.

Pasir Ris shore on a hazy evening

On 30 Sep 2015, we had a look at Pasir Ris shore despite the haze condition. The seagrasses were doing well and there was an explosion of swimming anemones. Two special finds for the trip include a tiny tripod fish and also a new flatworm that looks like the silt flatworm.

Seringat-Kias over 2 years with star surprise

This is a long overdue post of our trip to Seringat-Kias last month (Aug 2015) and also last year (Nov 2014) with lovely surprise of Knobbly sea stars (Protoreaster nodosus).

The seagrasses are doing well on the reclaimed shores of Seringat-Kias when we visited last month. To top it up, there were several Knobbly sea stars! :D

Seagrass critters of Cyrene Reef

We are back at Cyrene Reef, one of our most favourite shores in Singapore!

Cyrene Reef is ringed by petrochemical plants on Jurong Island and Pulau Bukom. It is also right next to the container terminals on  Pasir Panjang. Cyrene Reef has one of the best seagrass meadows in Singapore and its seagrasses are home to lots of marine life!

Baby shark at Big Sister's Island

What a lovely surprise to stumble upon a baby Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium sp.), possibly the White-spotted Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) on our predawn survey at Big Sister's Island this morning! Yes we do have sharks in Singapore!

Here's a close-up underwater shot of the cute shark with white blotches on its black body. These sharks are nocturnal and will hunt for fish at night. Generally, sharks will not harm humans if they are left alone. As top predators, they play an important role in the health and balance of the marine ecosystem.