So, what is Fluorodiving?

Don’t be confused with phosphorescence, or bioluminescence. 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 a white light reveals its true colour, but put the same subject under a UV light or a blue light similar to a UV light and it absorbs the blue and re-emits a fluorescent colour. This transforms the blue into a totally different brightly glowing colour.

Marine animals that fluoresce have the ability to convert one colour into a completely different colour. These can be the most amazing vibrant colours from fluoro green, yellow, orange and even pink or red. The colour that you will see all depends on the specific protein that the organism produces. Scientists are still learning about this function and the evolutionary nature of organisms that fluoresce.

What this means for the diver is that by using special filters you can witness this amazing colour change yourself. You will need blue filters for your lights and a yellow mask filter that slips on over your mask. If taking photos you will need a lens filter as well. Leading lighting companies are producing kits that include the mask filter, light and a light filter. Your lens filter will be something you purchase separately. These specially-designed filters precisely match the animals’ fluorescence wavelength and increases the intensity of the colours emitted by the animal. It is suitable for night divers, resorts, science institutions, ecological monitoring groups and specialty photographers.

When you turn on your blue light and flip on your yellow fluoro mask filter – everything goes black and you will only see the fluorescent subjects. Good buoyancy is required and a probe will help you get around the dive site.

Even today, the true purpose of this pheromone remains unclear, but it seems the more complex the creature is the more it becomes completely obscure. This remains controversial in the science community but fascinating for divers.

Witness the beauty of underwater fluorescence on your next night dive with a fluorodiving yellow barrier filter for masks. They fit over most standard dive, scuba and snorkelling masks, and are shaped to accommodate your nose pockets. This filter must be used in conjunction with a dark blue or UV light, which stimulates fluorophores in the proteins of certain coral, fish and other organisms – exciting them into emitting a fluorescent glow. The filter blocks the excitation light and allows you to see this fluorescence, which is invisible to the naked eye. It also increases the intensity of the colours emitted by the sea life.

On your next night dive try out fluorodiving – you will get hooked on the changes, colours and a totally new way of looking at marine animals. For the photographer, you’ll get some amazing images that you won’t believe could be taken.

Sea Tech NZ Ltd has kits, filters and masks available. Visit www.seatech.co.nz