Register for the event here.
The richness and diversity of Oman's marine life contrast with the arid landscapes that cover most of the country. The southwest monsoon or Khareef, as it is known locally, is one of the world's most powerful weather systems and transforms the seemingly barren terrain of Dhofar into a lush and verdant land of plenty for wildlife and plants. More rain falls here in the summer than in the whole of Arabia combined in a year.
What is less well known are the massive effects the Khareef has on southern Oman's underwater world. Every summer powerful winds and currents combine to draw vast volumes of cold water up from the depths bringing with them enormous quantities of nutrients that support an abundance of marine life. This creates a unique ecosystem where tropical and temperate species live side by side.
The diversity of Oman's marine life is spectacular. Coral communities brimming with life and colour are home to over 1,600 species of fish, nearly 200 species of corals and seasonal appearances by the whale shark, the world's largest fish while four out of the seven species of sea turtles find nesting sanctuary in Oman. The ‘macro’ world of crustaceans and nudibranchs, meanwhile, is no less plentiful.
Our talk will use underwater images taken over seven years and we will explain why Oman’s seas are so special.
About the Speakers
Paul Flandinette is an award-winning film maker, professional underwater photographer, author and artist. His film making career has included productions for some of the world's leading companies and government organisations as well as a number of broadcast documentaries.
He is passionate about the underwater world and has dived extensively in the in the Far East, Red Sea, Caribbean and the UK.
He has been living in Oman since 2013 and has spent the last seven years photographing Oman's underwater world.
Michel Claereboudt is Professor of Marine Ecology at the Department of Marine Sciences and Fisheries at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat. He is an internationally recognised authority on corals and echinoderms and continues to research the ecology and biology of corals and other reef invertebrates.
Michel has been living in Oman since 1997 where he has made thousands of dives and has an intimate knowledge of Oman's underwater world that few can equal. He is also an underwater photographer.
Secret Seas - Discover Oman's unique underwater world - The Book
Co-authored by Paul Flandinette and Michel Claereboudt has been in the making for over 7 years and is a real labour of love. It is the first ever large format photographic book to feature Oman's underwater world.
Click here if you would like more information about purchasing a copy of the book.
This event is only bookable by active members
This event is now fully booked
Modal body text goes here.