Blogs
Open Ocean: a not for profit NGO marine field station in the Red Sea
Providing services for universities, researchers, interns, schools, divers, volunteers and conservationists
Open Ocean was established in 2010 to provide a not for profit NGO field station in the Red Sea for academic facilities and divers in general. Founder Hans Lange could not have dreamt how well received his vision would be.
Things truly took off in 2012 when Hans joined forces with Pharaoh Dive Club and Roots Red Sea to establish a totally self-contained field station near El Quseir at their remote coastal desert outpost surrounded by a phenomenal array of marine habitats and an abundant natural resource to study.
The academic interest in the Research and Education opportunities coupled with the simplified logistics of being a complete package proved a great move for Open Ocean and the academic facilities that have been drawn to the field station.
At El Quseir the focus was on Volunteering with residential programmes providing opportunities to get involved in many aspects of life in rural Egypt, in various fields such as Environmental Conservation, Citizen Science Projects, and Local Community Interactive Relationships.
Open Ocean has welcomed numerous volunteers to the programme from all walks of life and all demographics.
Volunteers are very much hands on with whatever activity is running, including:
Environmental Conservation
Organising beach and reef clean ups; sorting of and collating data on the collected debris; appropriate recycling and disposal of the collections.
Community projects such as maintenance and refurbishment of local schools.
Providing conservation education sessions with practical events for the local children and environment groups.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
Citizen Science Projects
There are various ongoing Citizen Science Projects running at Open Ocean and every visitor is encouraged to get involved during their stay. Volunteers take a variety of roles within these projects, collecting data directly through surveys or indirectly collating other participants’ data at the end of the day. If suitably qualified, they can also get involved with establishing and running their own projects.
There are various opportunities to get involved such as Turtle Watch or the Shark Trust‘s survey which are simply reporting your sightings from your dives through to full project developments such as Fern’s Reef and the Sea Grass Survey.
Fern’s Reef
In August 2016, Open Ocean established a virgin artificial reef with sterile substrate to monitor and research the colonisation of the new structure. The lead on the project was Fern and the resultant reef is known as Fern’s Reef.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
The structure required bringing in from the shore 500 pieces of fossilised coral bed, formed into a random shaped metre high barrier in a depth of 8 metres with a sand bed and a relatively good tidal flow.
On completion a photo telemetry image was produced to establish a 3D base model record. After just a short period of time, signs of emerging life were noted and after just 6 months there were numerous corals taking a foothold with numerous fish inhabiting different areas of the structure.
This is an ongoing subject of observation and study, one that every visitor takes great interest in as it is now a thriving young live reef. Those with a more scientific outlook also note the distinct changes in topology around the reef, generated by the tidal flow and sand substrate movements. The Open Ocean team are on hand to provide a guided view of the everchanging project.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
Sea Grass Survey
The latest Citizen Science Project has been established by Open Ocean: a Sea Grass Survey. The team noticed that a patch of sea grass had begun to form a small meadow in the bay, which raise several questions for research and study. Why has it appeared? How has it seeded itself? What species of grass and algae are there? What aquatic life will make use of the new habitat? And so much more.
Two volunteers were assigned the task to establish the sea grass project; Gerald Taylor and his 13-year-old son, Finlay. Both had the prerequisite diving skills – Finlay in fact, despite his age, came to Roots with 100dives already under his belt.
A month-long exercise at Roots would give Finlay, who has an exceptionally keen interest in the underwater world, real life experience living and working in a foreign country, and an understanding of marine biology project work. Coupled with the project, Finlay worked with the marine biologists at Open Ocean carrying out fish and coral ID and measuring / monitoring techniques.
The initial objective of the project was to measure the perimeter / extremities of the sea grass within the bay and to gain an understanding of its shape, distribution and density.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
Together Gerald and Finlay formulated by which they were measure the perimeter of the sea grass. They then undertook land-based measuring techniques using 50 meter transects and quadrats, with the full knowledge that stretching a tape underwater to a distance of nearly 50 meters would have its own complications. Armed with their method, Gerald and Finlay set out to map and record the area taking a fixed point location to set the datum.
If you would like to follow the process that they adopted and see how the project developed, you can read Gerald’s summary here.
Meanwhile, alongside the volunteering activities, the grassroots Research and Education activities at Open Ocean have a very impressive, ever growing academic client list with numerous top facilities making regular visitors for both field courses and research projects.
That’s due to Open Ocean’s aim to satisfy researchers’ needs and requirements by providing and ideally located field station with modern research facilities as well as advice and support in administrative and organisational matters.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
The Open Ocean Field Station offers direct access to the Red Sea at both the house reef, Abu Sauatir, and nearby dozens of reef sites, along with other local habitats of interest including mangroves, sea grass meadows and fossil reefs.
Find out more about what is available at Open Ocean Field Station with a short presentation here.
Research Opportunities
It’s not just the field study groups that frequent the field station; it’s an ideal location for individual study and research projects. here are a few examples of unique studies.
Micro Plastics
Lucy Deans took up a six month placement with Open Ocean in 2016 during which time she completed an amazing amount of conservation work with the assistance from the volunteers and staff. In addition to her paper on microplastics in the sea bed, she endlessly battled with debris from land and sea, collecting, sorting and collating data for her own and other projects.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
Camera Drops
The vast majority of study of the oceans is coastal exploration of the shallow depths from the surface to 20m. Over the past few years the Glasgow University students having been completing summer project work and have been completing camera drops extending this study from 60m to 100m. It’s another example of the range of opportunities that are available from the Open Ocean Field Station.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
National Geographic Octopus Study
In 2019, the Open Ocean Field Station provided Eduardo Sampaio the perfect Red Sea for his continued National Geographic funded research on cephalopod behaviour, cognition and neuroscience. His team spent 10 weeks on location recording the incredible behavioural repertoire, camouflage capabilities and complex cognition. View Eduardo’s publication.
Survey and Marine ID Courses
In recent years there has been a steep increase in school participation at Open Ocean generally taking advantage of the Open Ocean Survey and Marine ID Courses giving the students insight into the spectacular aquatic environment. The courses can be conducted for snorkellers or divers.
There is a range of Open Ocean Marine ID Courses for all ages and levels, whether it is young children beginning their voyage of discovery or experienced marine enthusiasts.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
If you are looking for a new expedition base for your school with an educational background, view our Open Ocean Prospectus for schools here.
Meet the Team
The engine room of Open Ocean are the enthusiastic dedicated team who simply love to talk about the wonders of the marine environment, particularly the Red Sea at El Quseir.
Resident Marine Biologist marc leads the team at the station, ably supported by our Intern Tierra, who provides great support.
Alongside is Sammie who takes care of the volunteering activities and is liaison with the local community. Currently Sammie is working with Rose who is out volunteering while developing her diving skills and certifications. Rose has completed her RAID Rescue and is and is about to start the RAID Divemaster.
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
They’re not alone though; our consultant Marine Biologist, Dr Deb with her 12 years of field courses at El Quseir, provides vastly experienced guidance and support.
If you are interested in coming out to be a part of the Open Ocean team, here is what just a couple of volunteers have to say:
Contact Open Ocean at info@openoceanproject.org
It’s time to catch up with 12-year-old Mia DaPonte, New England’s youngest ever female PADI Master Scuba Diver, in her latest blog for Scubaverse!
It’s still a little too cold to get in the water here in New England. I wish I had a drysuit! To get my ocean fix, I asked my mom to take me and my friends to the Biomes Marine Biology Center.
What is Biomes? It’s a rescue center near my house that’s home to all kinds of ocean animals—and they’re all local! It’s truly awesome to experience. There are so many cool creatures there, like skates, sharks, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, tropical fish, lobsters, seahorses, octopuses, and even some reptiles that were given up by their owners.
Darwin the turtle is always fun to watch. He’s huge and has his own home, but he also gets to wander around the place on his own when he feels like it!
They have lots of touch tanks. I got to touch sharks, turtles, and even hold a horseshoe crab! (There’s a little lip on the side of their shell where you can hold them—but don’t do this without permission! Their gills always need to stay in the water.) I also touched stingrays! They felt slimy but rough at the same time.
One of my favorite things to do is see the octopus and watch it play with the toys in its tank. I always check to see if any seahorses are pregnant and look for the babies when they’re born. The babies are kept in their own tank at first to stay safe, and then moved when they’re big enough.
We got lucky this time—there was a baby skate in a mermaid’s purse that was ready to hatch any day! It was in a special tank with a light. When you press the button, the light turns on so you can see the baby skate moving around inside the purse!
As our visit was ending, the owner, Mark, sat down with us and told us how he started Biomes. When he was 14 years old, he began rescuing sea animals. His love for the ocean started when he was young—just like mine! As he got older, he started a traveling business, bringing animals to classrooms and doing shows. Eventually, he turned it into something bigger, and now Biomes is a huge center full of rescued animals.
He told us that most of the fish and animals are rescued from fishing boats or the cold waters of New England—places where tropical fish wouldn’t survive the winter. They try to rescue babies whenever they can, so they have a better chance of adapting. Darwin the turtle actually hatched in Mark’s hand!
My mom gets a pass to Biomes every year because I love going there so much. There are always new animals to see and feedings to watch. One time, I even got to feed the octopus!
If you ever come to Rhode Island, you have to check out Biomes!
Main Image: Bart Heines
Picture yourself floating in the open ocean at night, far from the familiar reefs and sandy slopes. Beneath you, the water seems endless, with no visible bottom, and all around, the deep holds mysteries that most divers never get to see. This is blackwater diving—an exciting, otherworldly experience that reveals the hidden creatures of the ocean’s depths.
Photo: Jürgen Lorösch
At Siladen Resort & Spa, located in the heart of Bunaken Marine Park, our blackwater dives offer a rare opportunity to witness marine life that ascends from the deep during the night, all while being guided by experienced instructors. But before we dive in, let’s take a closer look at the fascinating history behind this unique type of dive.
Photo: Galice Hoarau
A Brief History of Blackwater Diving
The concept of blackwater diving first emerged in Hawaii in the late 1990s, where adventurous divers sought a new way to observe marine life that typically stays far below the surface during the day. The idea was simple yet daring: dive over deep, open water at night, suspend lights from the surface, and see what creatures would rise from the depths.
Photo: Leo
What they discovered was remarkable. From larval stages of fish and invertebrates to rarely seen jelly-like creatures, blackwater diving quickly became a favorite among divers eager to explore the ocean’s mysterious nighttime migrations. The original goal was to observe the vertical migration—the largest animal migration on the planet, where millions of creatures travel from the deep toward the surface under the cover of darkness to feed.
Photo: Brandi Mueller
What Makes Blackwater Diving So Unique?
Blackwater diving is unlike any other night dive. Instead of staying close to the reef, you’re diving in the open ocean over very deep water. Lights suspended from the surface attract marine life from the depths, giving divers a chance to witness creatures in their larval stages. These tiny, often transparent organisms offer a glimpse into the earliest stages of marine life—juvenile fish, squid, shrimp, and other species that look completely different from their adult forms.
Photo: Bart Heines
The sensation of floating over seemingly infinite water, with nothing but your dive light illuminating the creatures drawn to the surface, is both exhilarating and humbling. Each dive feels like an exploration of the unknown, with new and strange creatures appearing each time.
Photo: Galice Hoarau
A Different Kind of Thrill
One of the biggest draws of blackwater diving is the thrill of discovery. Because you’re diving in such deep water, you never know exactly what you’ll see. There’s a sense of mystery and excitement that comes with each dive. Every moment feels like a potential encounter with something new—perhaps a larval octopus, a juvenile fish species, or delicate plankton moving through the dark water.
The experience of blackwater diving is both meditative and exciting. You’re floating in the open ocean, focused entirely on the small creatures illuminated by your light. It’s a chance to witness the ocean’s deep-water ecosystem in action, all while suspended in what feels like the vast unknown.
Photo: Jürgen Lorösch
For the Adventurous Photographer
If you’re into macro photography, blackwater dives offer a chance to capture rare and tiny creatures in ways you won’t find on any other dive. The creatures drawn to the lights are often small, fast-moving, and incredibly unique. Photographing them requires patience, focus, and an eye for detail, but the rewards are worth it. You’ll come away with images of marine life few people ever get to see.
Photo: Brandi Mueller
Not Quite Ready for the Deep? Try Bonfire Diving First
While blackwater diving is an incredible experience, we understand that diving over very deep water at night might feel a bit daunting, especially for those who are new to night dives. If you’re curious but not quite ready for blackwater diving, we recommend trying bonfire diving first.
Photo: Leo
Bonfire dives are conducted closer to the reef, with lights set up near the ocean floor to attract marine life from the surrounding area. These dives are less intimidating but still offer an up-close look at nocturnal creatures, including larvae, squid, and shrimp, all drawn toward the light. It’s a perfect way to get comfortable with night diving while enjoying the incredible diversity of marine life after dark.
Photo: Bart Heines
Why Try Blackwater Diving at Siladen Resort & Spa?
- Expert Guides: Our team is experienced in blackwater diving and passionate about sharing the wonders of the ocean’s deep-water migrations. You’ll be in safe hands as you venture into the unknown.
- Private, Small Groups: We keep our blackwater diving trips intimate, with a maximum of 4 guests per trip. Each dive is privately guided, ensuring a personal and focused experience tailored to your comfort level and curiosity.
- Unforgettable Encounters: With each dive, you’ll see creatures that most divers never encounter. Whether it’s juvenile fish, larval cephalopods, or tiny plankton, every blackwater dive brings new surprises.
- A Safe and Controlled Environment: While blackwater diving may seem daunting, it’s conducted with the highest safety standards. Our team ensures you’re comfortable with the equipment, the dive environment, and the procedures so that you can enjoy the thrill without worry.
Photo: Jürgen Lorösch
Ready to Dive into the Unknown?
If you’re looking for a diving adventure that pushes the boundaries of exploration, blackwater diving at Siladen Resort & Spa is an experience you won’t forget. Whether you’re fascinated by the idea of seeing life from the deep or just eager for a new underwater challenge, blackwater diving offers an unforgettable look into the ocean’s hidden worlds.
Photo: Brandi Mueller
For those looking to ease into night diving, start with our bonfire dives—a thrilling and accessible way to explore the nocturnal ocean before venturing into the deep waters of a blackwater dive.
Photo: Leo
For more information, please contact us at reservations@siladen.com.
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