August 2010
While the weather is still doing its daily thing, the sun shines, the water temperature is around 25 degrees (although I would have preferred it a little cooler in winter for the wellbeing of the coral in summer), the days out on the reef are just so relaxing this time of the year. I had to think of a giant clam, a kind of gracious animal with a beautiful coloured mantle, opening up their shells for the sun, closing for anything that blocks the light. It is a fascinating animal.
They truly make a home on the reef, once they attach to the reef, it will be stuck there for the rest of its life. A giant clam can grow over 1 meter long, become really heavy (200kg +) and grow older then 70 years. They are the biggest bivalve mollusc ever on the planet.
They provide a home, sunlight and protect algae that live in the clam's tissue. The clam in return consumes the proteins produced by these visitors. That is nature's law.
The muscle that opens and closes the two shells is (hopefully was) considered a delicacy, the mantle a culinary delight, the shells went through a phase of 'essential interior decoration accessory' resulting in the Giant Clam ending up on the "vulnerable" list.
It is a real shame, when hovering above these creatures while diving or snorkelling, there is nothing to do but watch, be amazed and happy to have been able to see one of nature's finest examples.
