HAMMERHEADS
in
KOMODO!
Liveaboard trip 30/6 – 09/7 2008
Bali - Komodo
INDONESIA
Mermaid I
Dolphins, Eagle Rays, Rhinopias, Pygmy Seahorses, Manta Rays, Hammerhead Sharks – on this trip we just had it all!
The critter lovers onboard got a head start the first day, with a pair of ”Solar-powered Nudibranchs” (Long-cirri phyllodesmium). These rare (and big!) nudibranchs keep soft corals alive inside their bodies, thus alowing the photo-synthesis to continue, producing food for the slug. Clever (and weird, if you ask me...).
We stayed the whole next day at Sangeang volcano. Beautiful underwater scenarios, and plenty of interesting stuff; Blue Ribbon Eels, Leaf Scorpionfish, unusual Nudibranchs and Pygmy Seahorses.
Continuing into the Komodo National Park itself, we had great shark action at Takat Toko (a.k.a. Castle Rock), with 10-15 Grey Reefs and Whitetip Sharks patrolling in front of us. The first (as it turned out, there were more to come...) Manta Ray also made an apearance in the afternoon, at Lighthouse Reef.
Next morning we had an early start, to go for a walk in search of the (in)famous Komodo Dragon. Cockatoos, deer, wild boar and, yes indeed, two of the beasts!
The following two days were spent in Horseshoe Bay, Rinja Island. This place is absolutely full of life! Apart from hard-to-find Coleman Shrimps, Zebra Crabs, and a Magnificent Ceratosoma (that’s a beautiful nudi, folks...) we came across the Holy Grail for photographers – the Rhinopias! An unlikely pair of them, one stunning, purple Lacy Scorpionfish hanging out with a cream coloured Paddle-flap. Unreal!
In South Komodo, apart from around 25 Manta Rays, there was a three meter Hammerhead Shark, slowly passing by, out in the blue. Impressive animal! We also had Eagle Rays, Grey Reef Sharks and Dolphins in this rugged part of Komodo.
More Dolphins, this time at Gili Lawalaut. Just at the end of the dive, a group of six animals approaced us!
Having seen so many things, we were all quite exhausted, and spent hours relaxing, having a nice glass of red wine and showing each other all the photos, as we cruised into the sunset, heading back to Bali.
PJ Widestrand
Video-Pro
Mermaid I
Liveaboard trips to Thailand, Burma, Bali - Komodo and Andaman Islands.
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