| Ringing in good tidings for the new | | | | mating. Monogamy is unusual in all |
| year, a newly immigrated resident to | | | | animals but particularly among fish. The |
| Krabi was spotted by one of our | | | | longer a couple of seahorses stick |
| instructors on New Year's Day. At 4-cm | | | | together, the better they are at |
| long, he appears pregnant. Yes, "he" was | | | | producing babies. It is the males of |
| pregnant as the male in this species are | | | | seahorses that carry their eggs in a |
| the ones to get pregnant and productive! | | | | pouch on his belly, after the eggs have |
| Krabi, south of Thailand, is the gateway | | | | been deposited there by the female. The |
| to the famous Andaman Sea where scuba | | | | eggs are fertilised in the pouch and |
| divers and snorkellors from all over the | | | | incubated between 10 days to 4 weeks |
| world convene as winter approaches in | | | | before they hatch. At hatching, the male |
| the western world. Famous for its | | | | gives birth to fully developed but tiny |
| incredible waters, great visibility and | | | | little seahorses. The natural lifespan |
| huge variety of dive terrain, Krabi is a | | | | of seahorses is not known, but believed |
| must-stop for all nature and water | | | | to be from one year for small species to |
| lovers on vacation in Asia. operates the | | | | five years for the larger species. |
| premier scuba-diving and eco-tourism | | | | Highly elusive and difficult to spot in |
| center in the heart of Aonang, the | | | | moving water, finding a seahorse is |
| sea-side town of Krabi. Here, you can | | | | every diver's dream come true. |
| launch off to the amazing Similans, | | | | So, you can imagine our absolute |
| Richelieu Rock, Phi Phi islands, Phuket | | | | euphoria when we spotted the little |
| and Lanta. And lets not forget the | | | | yellow Tiger-Tail. Being creatures of |
| relatively unexplored local Krabi waters | | | | habit, once settled into a location, |
| where the caves and caverns provide a | | | | they tend not to move too much. Hence, |
| great underwater adventure. And here is | | | | we can find it again and would love to |
| where we found our Tiger-Tailed Seahorse | | | | show it to you. |
| on New Year's Day! | | | | Come dive with and let us take you out |
| Seahorses are amazing creatures. The | | | | to the amazing underwater world of |
| seahorse is one of four families in the | | | | Krabi, Phi Phi, Phuket and Lanta. Or |
| syngnathiform family which also includes | | | | join one of our liveaboards for the |
| pipefish, flag-tail pipefish and | | | | Similans Islands. We run fun dive trips |
| seadragons. They swim in an upright | | | | daily. Our group of international |
| position with their tails down and their | | | | instructors are available to conduct all |
| heads up using their dorsal to move | | | | scuba-diving courses in English, Italia, |
| forward and pectoral fins for steering | | | | Spanish, German, French, Japanese and |
| control. Also unique for their | | | | Chinese. Centrally located at the Sea of |
| prehensile tail (able to twist & | | | | Love Plaza (opposite McDonalds) in heart |
| grasp),tube-like mouth (with no teeth), | | | | of Aonang, Krabi in Thailand, come visit |
| and small gill openings. Seahorses (like | | | | us if you are planning a trip to Krabi. |
| chameleons) can even move their two eyes | | | | Or email us for more information Also |
| independently of each other. Ranging in | | | | check out our website where you will |
| size from the tiny 10mm to 35cm, the | | | | find lots more in store about our |
| largest is the Pacific Seahorse. | | | | adventures. |
| Seahorses eat small crustaceans which | | | | This article was contributed by one of |
| they catch by staying still and lying in | | | | the staff members at the premier dive |
| wait till their prey comes near, and | | | | centre at Krabi Thailand. At our dive |
| they snap them up. Then their tube-like | | | | centre, all our instructors, guides and |
| mouth creates a vacuum that sucks the | | | | crew faithfully follow diving safety |
| prey in and they swallow their food | | | | standards. We also conduct all levels of |
| whole. | | | | dive courses and have the philosophy of |
| Sea horses are unusual in a couple of | | | | small-groups for instruction, to ensure |
| ways. One is that they are monogamous | | | | our customers are given our full |
| and have long courtship periods when | | | | attention. |