Coral Reef Pictures

Lobophyllia

Characteristics

Colonies usually consist of a few corallites but may become large and hemispherical. Corallites are large, phaceloid and mostly monocentric. Septa have tall sharp teeth. Polyps are thick and fleshy, with a rough surface. Colour: Blue-grey, sometimes with pale valley floors or septo-costae. All corallites of the

same colony have the same colour. Similar species: Lobophyllia hemprichii, which has smaller, less fleshy polyps. Lobophyllia flabelliformis has corallites of similar size and fleshy appearance, but these are always flabello-meandroid.

Family:	Mussidae
Genus:	Lobophyllia
Habitat:	Most Reefs
Distribution:	Widespread
Abundance:	Uncommon

Source Reference:

Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Yabe and Sugiyama’s original description/specimens. Identification guide: Nishihira and Veron (1995).

Scuba diving computers take the stress out of diving

by Deb Anderson

Today, scuba diving computers do everything from calculating, and audibly prompting decompression stops to monitoring oxygen consumption in real-time. This really takes the stress out of scuba diving.

A computer calculates your no decompression time based on the total time you spend at particular depths, whereas a dive table can only calculate your no deco time based on maximum depth. Therefore, diving computers generally give you more bottom time while keeping you just as safe, as if you pre-planned your dive from

tables.

Everyone who uses scuba diving computers appreciates not having to fuss with dive tables and they also appreciate the computers help in maximizing your bottom time by taking advantage of multilevel dive calculations.

Scuba diving computers can decrease the risk of decompression sickness because they account for difficult manual calculations which result from yo-yo dives, multiple dives, quick ascents, varied physical effort and water temperatures.

Why not look for diving computers that can even download their data to a PC for later review?