DRAGONS ON THE BEACH!

Liveaboard trip 4 – 11/10/09

Bali - Komodo Safari
INDONESIA

Mermaid I

No sunchairs, no icecream vendors, no parasailing touts. Just us, and four of the legendary Komodo Dragons! Beeing up to 3,5 meters of length, these impressive reptiles come down in the mornings to check out what the night might have brought up on the beach.

Diving in the Rinja area is special as well, having world famous Cannibal Rock, Yellow Wall of Texas and Torpedo Alley just waiting to be explored. Marine life on these sites has to be seen to be believed – soft corals, feather stars and sponges in all possible colour combinations, schooling fish galore, an explosion of small critters, like Pygmy Seahorses, Nudibranchs, Orangutan Crabs and juvenile Batfish, and even a chance to see a rare Rhinopias! The list goes on…

No Komodo Safari would be complete without seeing some big rays. In the northern part of the park, we encountered not only the majestic Manta Rays, but also Eagle Rays, Porcupine Rays and a couple of huge Fantail Rays.

As always, shark lovers got a handful, with great action at both Crystal and Castle Rock. We watched Grey Reef Sharks and Whitetips, as they swam back and forth in the currents.

We finished this trip off with an amazing dive at Sumbawa Island. Thorny Seahorses, Velvetfish, three species of Ghost Pipefish, beautiful Nudibranchs, miniscule Diamond Filefish, Spearing Mantis Shrimps, Harlequin Crabs and last, but not least, the elusive Wonderpus!!

PJ Widestrand

Tourleader and Video-Pro
Mermaid I

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