I was surprised when our boat anchored and dispatched us on the south western Gili islands as they were obviously not a tourist destination.
I jumped
into the waves off the salt worn boat being careful not to bump my head (which
mum did numerous times), on to the remote isolated Gili Nanggu. Taking in my
surroundings, Mum and I were then only ones, well the only tourists there. We
practically had the whole island to ourselves!
CORAL REEFS
Coral reefs need lots of sun, warm sea temperatures, shallow waters
and few nutrients in the ocean water. The gilis around Lombok certainly
have sun and warm seas.
Coral polyps
have a symbiotic relationship with
zooxanthellae (tiny plant like organisms) which live in the cells of polyps
where they can get sunlight. The zooxanthellae use the light for photosynthesis
and produce food. The coral gets the food and the zooxanthellae gets sunlight
and protection. This is what a symbiotic relationship means when both benefit.
It’s a bit like Mum and me this trip – I get to see a spectacular coral reef
underworld and Mum gets to enjoy spending time with me, we both benefit ! haha!
If the water is too deep or is clouded with
nutrients (like pollution) the sunlight wouldn’t reach the coral and
zooxanthellae wouldn’t be able to perform photosynthesis and the coral die.
Fringing reefs develop when coral polyps
attach themselves to the hard surfaces at the edge of the island. Over
thousands and thousands of years the colony grows and forms a fringing reef. A lagoon happens between the
island the reef.
Enough of fringing reefs, back to the fish
& coral we saw today.
Mum & I had sand breaks between
snorkeling, which means sitting on the sand. Mum then did a walk on the
shoreline because I wanted to take some photos of her!
“Fish are friends, not food” (remember the Shark to Nemo?), but the
tender fresh flesh that just flaked off from the just caught lunch .. well I soon forgot that mantra!
Lunch on another tiny island, cooked by locals.
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