Asian Diver and Scuba Diver No. 3/2016 Volume 142 | Page 10

A summary of what’s been brewing beneath (and above) the surface lately

WHAT BUBBLED

SHARKS HAVE PERSONALITIES
Researchers from Macquarie University in Australia have published findings in the Journal of Fish Biology that prove that sharks
have distinct personalities. The study found that different sharks have consistent and distinct responses to various stimuli
and stressors. Sharks now join the growing list of more than 200 species whose members have been found to have individual
characters. Far from being mindless machines, these ancient predators are once again shown to be complex creatures.

8

FRIENDLY UNDERWATER
PHOTOGRAPHERS? YES –
IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE!
The Lembeh Gulen Critter Shootout
2016 certainly generated a social
media buzz over the last month with
over 200,000 divers checking out the
Facebook page daily. Not only were
some amazing images generated
under the guidance of Keri Wilk
and Tobias Friedrich but this was a
competition that broke geographical
borders as well as social ones.

Shootouts are so often a jostle
for the best image opportunity but
in this case it was all about getting
your team to the number one slot
before individual points came into
account. As a result, the competitive
spirit was replaced by team spirit and
photographers joined forces to put
together the strongest portfolio they
could for their resort. Participants got
together, lending equipment, sharing
tips, sacrificing their own images for
the greater good in the final lineups,
and making every effort to support the

less-experienced members of the group.
Hats off to the teams and the organisers
for showing us just how loved-up an
underwater photography event can be!
To view some of the incredible
images that were submitted for the final
vote visit the Lembeh Gulen Shootout
Facebook page. Winning images will
also be revealed in the next issue of
Scuba Diver AUSTRALASIA!