Big Bryozoan on Day 11 of the Southern Expedition

The biggest achievement of the day (and perhaps the week) was getting everyone at the Expedition together for a group photo! (as Ivan Kwan noted in his tweet). Herding cats is probably easier.

Earlier on, the Expedition was dispersed over four locations and also did a deep dredge. With lots of interesting finds as usual.

Five new Fast and Furious Ferrari shrimps at the Southern Expedition

Dr Shane Ahyong shares great news about the first discovery of five species of mantis shrimps from Singapore waters at the Southern Expedition! One of them, a coral reef mantis shrimp is probably new to science.

Photo by Dr Arthur Anker

What are mantis shrimps? And why are they the Ferraris of the Sea? Here's more about these intriguing creatures, shared by Dr Shane Ahyong of the Australian Museum.

Humungous cuttlefish on Day 10 of the Southern Expedition

A gianormous cuttlefish that is bigger than Jiaxin's foot was the highlight of the day!

Photo by Jiaxin.

Of course, there were also many other interesting finds as three teams surveyed Big Sisters, Raffles Lighthouse and Cyerene Reef. As well as a dredge survey.

Reefy Day 9 at the Southern Expedition

Another predawn trip, this time to magical Raffles Lighthouse. On the horizon, Pulau Senang and the tiny Pulau Biola which lies in the restricted Life Firing Area.

Ominous dark clouds gathered as the team worked the rocky shore in the outgoing tide. But we had a great survey on this amazingly reefy shore.

1 Jun (Sat): The Wallace Lectures "Lace Corals and Moss Animals" by Dr Kevin J. Tilbrook

What are lace corals and moss animals? How many of these can we expect to find in Singapore?

Come for this special talk by Dr Kevin J. Tilbrook to find out more. Dr Kevin is a great speaker and is here for the Southern Expedition of the Mega Marine Survey.

VIPs visit on Day 8 of the Southern Expedition

Minister Tan Chuan-Jin visits the Expedition today! We are thrilled. Here he is peering over Dr Joelle Lai's shoulder as she checks a Fan clam for commensals.

We are delighted to have so many enthusiastic VIPs, sponsors, media and friends to share our latest survey finds.

Starry Day 7 at the Southern Expedition

There are lots of Knobbly sea stars at Beting Bemban Besar! Another team at Terumbu Bemban finds lots of octopuses. While yet another team at Big Sisters finds more intertidal feather stars.

A frenzy of predawn trips with lots of interesting finds!

Sponge explosion on Day 6 of the Southern Expedition

Huge sea fans and large sponges were collected today. Wow! Singapore has astonishing marine life and we wouldn't know it if we didn't go out and look.

 Well before dawn, the intertidal team had already completed the Expedition's first morning trip with lots of interesting finds.

Nudilicious on Day 5 of the Southern Expedition

Nudibranchs galore! That's what I heard when I rejoined the Expedition in the evening.

My day ended well before sunrise, as I joined Prof Daphne in her anemone hunt at Seringat Kias.

The Singapore Spider Crab -- found only in Singapore!

Rarely seen, with few specimens known to science, this special crab is only found in Singapore. Not seen for 100 years, the Southern Expedition has found another specimen of this elusive creature in Singapore waters!

Photo by Prof Peter Ng.

Prof Peter Ng says "Not only do we now report the crab after a century hiatus – we also here document its splendid colours for the first time – white, red, brown, pink and purple!" Here's more about this intriguing creature, shared by Prof Peter Ng.

Humungous critters and six-legged crab on Day 4 of the Southern Expedition

Humungous sea cucumbers were found during the day dive today! Thanks to Dr David and Dr Zeehan!

Also, I learnt more about a special six-legged crab that has been found for the first time in Singapore!

Shock from the Deep, with otter on Day 3 of the Southern Expedition

Electric rays! These cute little fishes were among the finds during the Deep Dredge today! They were last recorded in 1964 and are different from the spotty electric ray that we have seen in shallow water.

AND lots more interesting finds during the dive survey too.

Where none have gone before on Day 2 of the Southern Expedition

Today, the Dredge Team surveyed the seabed at 100m! The deepest in Singapore ever surveyed! (So far)

 What did we find in the Singapore Deeps?

New donut nudi on Day 1 of the Southern Expedition

The Southern Expedition explodes on St John's Island with a boatload of humungous gear!

Fortunately, there's lots of enthusiastic folks to get everything sorted out.

Preparing for the Southern Expedition

It's still days before the Southern Expedition starts and we are already finding cool marine critters!

Prof Peter Ng (in blue) tells us about this special crab that so far has only been found in Singapore. Dr Bertrand Richer de Forges conducted trial dredges with all kinds of interesting finds. And there's lots more that is being done to prepare for the Expedition! 

Reflections of My time with Marine Life (Northern Expedition)

The enthusiastic students from River Valley High School were a bright spot at the Northern Expedition of the Mega Marine Survey last year. Their questions and curiosity made the work more interesting and enjoyable for all.

Prof Daphne Fautin, world authority on sea anemones
sharing about these animals with the students.

Thaddea Chua shares their story in this article in My Green Space Issue 17 an NParks magazine.