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Jon Lapeyra Martin

@jonlape

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Marine Science | Freediving | Tec-Diving
Instructor:
@molchanovsfreediving
@ssi_international
📍Basque, in the UAE

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Khor Fakkan waters, in the UAE, host a surprisingly high diversity of nudibranchs. These shell-less marine gastropods are small, often difficult to see, and remarkably varied in colour, form, and ecology. Their diversity is a good reminder that reef biodiversity is not only about the large and iconic species, but also about the many small organisms that contribute to ecosystem complexity. For obvious reasons, they are the dream of underwater photographers!

#Nudibranch #KhorFakkan #Sharjah #UAE #UnderwaterPhotography taken in Khor Fakkan, UAE by @jonlape

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10 days ago

New TOP 1 wreck on the planet for me. 🇦🇺⚓️ SS Yongala absolutely lived up to the hype.

Giant potato cods, bull sharks, nurse sharks, sea snakes, cowtail rays, giant snappers, friendly Napoleon wrasse… and life everywhere you looked.

Some dives just remind you why the ocean never gets old.

@yongala_dive
@marelux_uae_and_ksa
@mareluxco
@diving_seasons
@diving.seasons

#SSYongala #Australia #Shipwreck #ScubaDiving Ocean BullShark MarineLife UnderwaterPhotography taken in Ss Yongala Dive Wreck by @jonlape

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2 months ago

Juvenile green turtles are finding a sanctuary in the waters of Khor Fakkan.

At @smsrc.ae , research is underway to better understand how these turtles use our coastline — where they feed, how long they stay, where they move, and what makes these habitats important to them. The more we know about these young turtles and the habitats they depend on, the better we can turn science into effective conservation action.

Great to share some of this work in the field. Thanks for the visit, @fahimaq and @scuba_people !

#SeaTurtles #GreenTurtle #KhorFakkan #SMSRC #MarineScience taken in Khor Fakkan, UAE by @jonlape

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21 days ago

Farewell, Atlantic.

My playground, my therapy and reset button.

Leaving these waters behind for now… and in a couple of days, landing on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Different ocean. Same pull!

#atlanticocean #OceanLife #OceanLover #blueminds taken in Reserva de la biosfera de Urdaibai by @jonlape

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2 months ago

A great way to kick off the freediving season, and even better to be back in the water with these ones.

#Lanzarote #CanaryIslands #AtlanticOcean #freediving #freediver taken in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote by @jonlape

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2 months ago

🌊 A fish’s-eye view of marine science in action! 🐟 🐠

This is our @countingfishes stereo baited remote underwater video system (BRUVS) with a 360° camera attached, deployed in the waters of the Al Qalqali Marine Reserve in Khorfakkan, UAE 🇦🇪

This reserve was established by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah in November 2025, and over the past year our team from @smsrc.ae @ukhorfakkan and @uniofexeter led by @owenexeter have this week completed the first benchmark survey of fish communities across the reserve - deploying 168 BRUVS across four seasons.

These surveys provide a vital benchmark against which future changes can be measured, helping us understand how marine life responds as the reserve matures and protection takes effect.

Unlike traditional survey methods, BRUVS allow us to observe marine life non-destructively, capturing natural behaviour while also enabling accurate measurements of fish size and abundance.

This is just the beginning. The data collected today will help reveal how one of the UAE’s newest marine protected areas changes over the years to come.

🎥 Keep watching to see the underwater world through our eyes. 🐠 🐟

#BRUVS #MarineProtectedArea #AlQalqali #Khorfakkan #UAE taken in Khorfakkan by @jonlape

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3 months ago

Sharks, healthy corals and abundant reef life across the Great Barrier Reef. A powerful reminder of what functioning reef ecosystems look like.

@marelux_uae_and_ksa @mareluxco
@sonyalpha
@diving_seasons
@prodivecairns
#greatbarriereef #australia #marinebiology #conservation #sharks by @jonlape

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3 months ago

On her playground.
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@max_knopf_ 🙌🏽
@prodivecairns
#nurseshark #greatbarrierreef #sharks #australia taken in Flynn Reef by @jonlape

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3 months ago

🌊 World Ocean Day 🌊

Today we celebrate the incredible ecosystems that lie beneath the surface and the importance of protecting them for future generations.

These images were captured during a recent dive in Khorfakkan with the support of Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, documenting the rich marine life that calls UAE waters home. From vibrant reef communities to the diverse species that inhabit them, every encounter is a reminder of why our oceans deserve our attention and care.

A huge thank you to SMSRC for their collaboration and commitment to marine research and conservation.

The ocean connects us all. Protect it. Respect it. Explore it.

#WorldOceanDay #OceanDay #MarineConservation #UnderwaterFilmmaking #Khorfakkan taken in khorfakkan by @jonlape

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4 months ago

Exploring the ocean from every angle. 🌊

Meet Dr. Jon Lapeyra, a marine researcher at the Sharjah Marine Sciences Research Center and the University of Khorfakkan.

Combining scientific diving, underwater exploration, and advanced ROV technology, Dr. Jon studies marine ecosystems and helps uncover the secrets of khorfakkan sea. His work contributes to understanding and protecting the region’s rich marine biodiversity for future generations.

#smsrc #marineresearch #oceanscience #scientificdiving #rov #universityofkhorfakkan #oceanexploration by @jonlape

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4 months ago

Coral gardens of the Daymaniyat Islands. Oman’s underwater world did not dissapoint us.

@ismini_sari
@nickdevro
@skinny_dee

Diving with: @molamola_diving_center
@marelux_uae_and_ksa
@mareluxco
@sonyalpha
#Daymaniyat #Oman #CoralReefs #MarineLife #UnderwaterPhotography taken in Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve by @jonlape

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4 months ago

@sealegacy
#60SecondsForTheSea taken in Khor Fakkan, UAE by @jonlape

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5 months ago