CRITTER PARADE in KOMODO!

Liveaboard trip 14/09 2008 – 23/09 2008

Bali - Komodo
INDONESIA

Mermaid I

Yes, we saw the Dolphins, the Grey Reef Sharks and the Mantas, but what made this trip stand out, was all the other stuff. Already the first day, we had a Blue-ringed Octopus, an unreal, solar-powered Nudibranch, two different kinds of Pygmy Seahorses as well as Robust Ghost Pipefish, Blue and Black Ribbon Eels, , Mushroom Coral Pipefish and Spanish Dancers. Now, that’s not a bad start, huh?

Next day was spent at Sangeang Volcano. After swimming around in the bubbles, created by the still active volcano, it was time to focus on what other things there might be. Loads and loads of Nudibranchs, as it turned out, including rare Swallowtail Chelinoduras, Purple-edged Ceratosomas, Flabellinas, several members of the Philinopsis family and the endemic Neon Thuridilla. Further along the reef we found Leaf Scorpionfish, more Pygmies, two Clown Snake Eels and one Demon Stinger, with a face not even its mother could possibly find cute. (Having said that, compared with the Stargazers we saw at the nightdive, maybe it wasn’t so bad after all...).

Going into the Komodo National Park itself, the most immidiate difference is the amount of fish. Big schools of Surgeonfisn, Jackfish, Sweetlips, Snappers and Unicornfish almost made us forget to look out into the blue, where plenty of Whitetip Reef Sharks and several adult Grey Reefs were patrolling. As usual in the northern part of the park, the Dolphins appeared, but this time they put up quite a show: joining the sharks and Giant Trevallies hunting, checking us divers out or just playing around at the surface.

At Cannibal Rock, apart from Zebra Crabs, Nudibranchs and the other usual suspects, we also saw three Giant Frogfish and a huge Green Turtle. Nightdives here in Horseshoe Bay are really special, and we always find unusual, and quite frankly, weird things.

We logged Torpedo Rays, Porcupine Rays, Bamboo Sharks, all kinds of Nudibranchs, Ghost Pipefish, Skeleton Shrimps, an undescribed, bright orange Octopus and the strange Upside-down Jellyfish.

Leaving Komodo, we got another chance to dive with the Manta Rays, this time at Gili Banta.

PJ Widestrand

Video-Pro
Mermaid I

Live-aboard trips to Thailand, Myanmar, Bali - Komodo and the Andaman Islands.