giving coral reefs a future

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Corals mostly feed at night to complement the nutrition that they get by their tiny algal symbionts. At night, the tentacles surrounding their mouths are fully expanded, a hungry net to filter plankton and other particulate matter out of the water column. When exposed to an ultraviolet light source, corals glow in the dark, providing a beautiful and mystical spectacle for those who are lucky enough to witness. Vanessa compiled The Glowing Corals of the Dark during several night dives at Koh Tao, Thailand.

“After sunset, we took the boat to our dive site and jumped in the water when it was dark”, remembers Vanessa. “We had nearly perfect condition for diving: calm seas, few currents, and we enjoyed the warm waters of Koh Tao in around 15m depth.” Nevertheless, doing an UV-night dive is a challenge even for well experienced divers, especially when filming. Only equipped with a blue light torch, the solely thing visible in the reef are glowing corals. Threatening stonefish and nasty sea urchins spines lurk unseen in the pitch-black sea.

For Vanessa The Glowing Corals of the Dark represents a milestone, not only in her profession as a movie maker―now dedicated to the world below the surface (see reef patrol and u-tube collection)―but also in her personal life. “This movie means everything to me, as it opened a whole new world, not only under water. Having been a witness to such beauty, raised my intention to support coral conservation with my creative work still more.”

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photo credits b/w:  Elisabeth Lauwerys at www.oceansbelow.net
equipment used: Sony Cx560, Amphibico HD Wave Housing, UV-Filter & Visor, 2xINTOVA - TL
Super Nova "SuperBlue Torch"