Fluo snorkelling at Wakatobi Dive Resort

One night, while at the wonderful Wakatobi Dive Resort, a group of us tried the thrilling sport of fluo-snorkelling. 

At 5pm we gathered at the resort's library to learn how to use the ultraviolet (UV) lights and yellow filtered masks.

Fluorescence is caused when UV causes the reef to emit or reflect other wavelengths. During the day, the sun's radiation (and at night, sunlight reflected off the moon) is absorbed by corals. The corals then emit remaining colours very faintly. It's too soft to be visible, but it's presumed that this faint glow enables a whole world of camouflage. Glowing also helps animals like corals to attract plankton.

By snorkelling with blue lights, we could replicate what this might look like, although the colours are artificially bright. Many zooanthids glow and so too, do some creatures, including moray eels and lizardfish. Truly, it was like being in the movie Avatar!

For more information on fluo snorkelling and more at Wakatobi, visit wakatobi.com