Shutterstock/Joseph Daniel DohertyAll nudibranchs are sea slugs, but not all sea slugs are nudibranchs. Here, a tiny sea slug known as the Shaun the Sheep nudibranch (Costasiella kuroshimae) crawls on algae. This species uses photosynthesis to convert chloroplasts from the plants it eats into energy.
Indonesia is home to hundreds of species of nudibranchs and sea slugs, including many that scientists have not formally identified. It’s also the birthplace of the PADI Indonesian Sea Slugs and Nudibranchs Awareness Distinctive Specialty course.
“Searching for nudibranchs can feel like a real-life treasure hunt,” says Joana Viviani, a marine conservationist and the creator of the course. “The most bizarre ones are often in seemingly unremarkable places, such as sandy slopes or rubble fields.”
Viviani was a dive guide at AquaMarine Diving – Bali when the operation’s director, Annabel Thomas, encouraged her to create a course that would be both meaningful and educational. Guests were fascinated by the tiny, colorful creatures and eager to learn more, “but there was very little structured information we could offer them,” Viviani says.
She called upon AquaMarine’s in-house marine biologist and two senior dive guides, Aan Dwi Zainul Khosiin and Syainal “Inal” Hamid, to help develop the course.
The team used both scientific research and the dive guides’ expertise to create a training program that improves divers’ underwater observation skills and offers intriguing insights into the extraordinary lives of nudibranchs. Course development team member Khosiin eventually became the primary instructor.
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The PADI Indonesian Sea Slugs and Nudibranchs Awareness Distinctive Specialty course is designed for hardcore nudi nerds, people without a scientific background and everyone in between. Training begins in the classroom, where students receive an overview of sea slug biology. Next, students use photos and videos to learn nudibranch and sea slug species identification.
Certified divers can practice searching for and identifying nudibranchs and sea slugs underwater at locations where these critters are commonly found. Beginner divers can work on their buoyancy and observation skills, while experienced divers will be challenged to slow down and look closely. But anyone—even nondivers—may enroll in the specialty.
“Students have told us the course sparked their curiosity about the lives and behaviors of nudibranchs, beyond simply admiring their bright colors and striking patterns,” Khosiin says.
During the course, divers may spot a Shaun the Sheep nudibranch, which is smaller than a fingernail and resembles the famous cartoon character. They may also encounter the Spanish dancer, one of the largest and most flamboyant nudibranchs. This remarkable creature can be up to 23 inches long and undulates through the water like a flamenco dancer. Or they could find a new species altogether—several nudibranchs have been discovered in Bali within the past 10 years.
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Ultimately, the Indonesian Sea Slugs and Nudibranchs Awareness course is about more than just finding tiny animals in their natural habitats. “It’s about slowing down, paying attention and connecting more intimately with the marine environment that makes diving in Indonesia so extraordinary,” Viviani says.
“One diver told me, ‘It’s like the ocean opened up a whole new layer for me. Now, I can’t help but scan every rock for tiny treasures,’” Khosiin adds.
“For experienced divers, the course can help change their perspective and gain an appreciation for the small wonders of the ocean that are often overlooked,” Viviani says. “Many seasoned divers have told us this course helped them fall in love with diving all over again.”
When to Go
The course is offered year-round, but a greater variety of species can be observed just after the wet season ends in March, as visibility tends to improve and currents are generally calm.
For more information or to book the course, visit aquamarinediving.com.
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