A COURAGEOUS BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS!

Liveaboard trip 26/7 – 4/8/09

Bali - Komodo Safari
INDONESIA

Mermaid I

We were watching this lovely little juvenile Blue-ringed Octopus, as it was happily trotting about in the seagrass, when disaster stroke, literally – a Giant Spearing Mantis Shrimp took it, and descended down its hole. You could hear a chorus of ”oh-nos” through our regulators! But to our surprise, and great relieve, the young fellow soon reappeared, leaving behind a not very happy Mantis. Quite dead, as a matter of fact… The Blue-ringed Octopus, one of the most poisonous marine creatures, is not to be messed with. Even if it’s just a centimeter and a half!

All the action this trip wasn’t at macro level, though. At Crystal Rock, we were enjoying huge schools of fish. Suddenly, they all scattered, as a Bottlenose Dolphin shot down from the surface, and caught a Surgeonfish right in front of us. Pretty wild!

At Rinca Island, with the famous Cannibal Rock, we had a good selection of Frogfish; from tiny, juvenile Painted ones, up to several massive Giants. Zebra Crabs, Pygmy Seahorses, Rhinopias, Longnose Hawkfish and heaps of Nudibranchs made these dives appreciated, and for the photographers very productive.

As always in Komodo, the nightdives were really good. Indian Walkmans, Stargazers, a ball of Catfish, Spanish Dancers and juvenile Batfish were only some of our finds.

Yet again, we were blessed with great Manta action, especially in South Komodo. For some of the guests, these were their first Mantas, and, obviously, they were quite excited (the divers, that is – not sure about the rays…). Then again, who wouldn’t be? It’s hard to argue against four-meter animals passing right over you, just a few inches away!

PJ Widestrand

Tourleader and Video-Pro
Mermaid I

Liveaboard trips to Thailand, Burma, Bali - Komodo and Andaman Islands.