Seabed Surveys (January 2013)

Singapore's seabed is NOT dead and lifeless! Here's some of the amazing marine life found during the surveys of the bottom of our seas in January conducted by the Mega Marine Survey.

Photos by Rene Ong.

Thanks to Rene Ong, we get a glimpse of some of the animals found and the volunteers that make the survey possible.


Wow, a special sea star that looks like a Bordered sea star (Craspidaster hesperus) and a pink sand dollar (Peronella lesueuri).

Photos by Rene Ong.

There were tiny snails and strange spiky crabs.

Photos by Rene Ong.

Colourful sea fans which are homes to all kinds of small animals that cling onto the branches. Brittle stars are among the most abundant creatures on our shores and some of them can be very colourful.

Photos by Rene Ong.

Bright red feather star, pretty spotted Miliaris cowrie (Cypraea miliaris), brittle star and crab.

Photos by Rene Ong.

More sea fans with their 'tenants' and a pretty little red crab.

Photos by Rene Ong.

A little cephalopod (is it a bobtail squid?) and more brittle stars!

Photos by Rene Ong.

Delicate jelly things and tiny clam and is that a moon snail?

Photos by Rene Ong.

Little snail, a little Winged oyster (Family Pteriidae) that grows on sea fans. And an anemone that settles on sea fans.

Photos by Rene Ong.

Colourful worms and cute little crab.

Photos by Rene Ong.

These animals were found following dredge surveys. Here's more about what goes on at sea during a dredge survey. There's lots more work when the boat comes back from the dredge. Lots of patient volunteers are needed to painstakingly sort through the dredged materials. Here's some of the volunteers at work on 11 Jan.

Photos by Rene Ong.

Here's some of the volunteers who came on 14 Jan.

Photos by Rene Ong.

More volunteers hard at work on 24 Jan.

Photos by Rene Ong.

Check out all the photos shared by Rene (11 Jan and 14 Jan and 24 Jan) also on the Mega Marine Survey facebook page. Thanks Rene!

Anyone can help in these discoveries. Come volunteer with the Mega Marine Survey to learn more about our shores!

To join the Survey, register your interest in this form and you'll be invited to join the mailing list to receive updates on the Survey and sign up for Survey activities.

Also check out the FAQs for more about the Survey.