Komodo Trip coming up in August 2013

This August from the 6th tp the 17th of August I will be leading Underwater Tribe’s trip to Komodo on board of the Damai 2, which one of the boat and service in the region .

The Beautiful MSY DAMAI 2

Frogfish in W Reef, near PADAR

During this trip will have a great itinerary starting from the island of the Gods, Bali and will end in Labuan Bajo, the gateway of the Komodo National Park.
Such an itinerary will give us plenty of opportunity for both macro and big marine life. One of the first stop will be Bima Bay , where we will be able to dive a divesite with huge concentration and diversity of critters. Yes, we will be able to see Nudibranchs of different colors and kind, Ghost pipefish, Giant and small frogfish, octopuses of many kinds, including Mimici and Wonderpus as well as Coleman Shrimps and Zebra crabs, just to mention a few. In Moyo Island we will try to find some interesting decorated Dartfish. So far I have scored 100% with this subject which should be at around 25m depth.

Manta Rays in cleaning Station in Komodo National Park

The Decorated Darthfish

At Sangean Volcano, we will try to find pigmy seahorses, nudis and keep an eye into the blue for sights of Sharks and Rays. When we will arrive at Gili Banta we will dive a very nice coral reef as well as one of the best Night Dive of the Trip with very good chances of seeing Stargazers. Then will be the time to dedicate ourselves to big Marine Life. We will be in the Gili Lawat Region and will try to hit the water with the best conditions to dive Castle Rock and Cristal Rock, where will be able to see tons of fusiliers hunted by Giant Trevally. In August Castle Rock has got a very nice visibility which should make us able to admire the beautiful Grey Reef Sharks. Golden Passage and Shotgun will be a nice drift dive and who knows , we might will find something special like last year when a beautiful black Manta swam right by us. Talking about Manta Rays we will try both Mawuan and Kerang Makassar where in this time of the year we should have good chances to find them. Before leaving the Gili Lawa region I will be totally up for a hike to the top of the hill, for those that would like to have a stunning view of the bay and the surrounding islands.

The view from the top of the mountain of Gili Lawa

An other interesting hike will be by the island of Padar where will be able to access a deserted white beach and go across to the other side where a beautiful scenery will be waiting for us. Padar island will be also home to a fantastic Night Dive.
Hopefully conditions will be favorable to access the deep south and finger crossed the water will be not too cold ( it will be probably 22.C 🙂 )

On the last day we will set our foot on land and go for a nice dragon walk into the Savana of Komodo Island.

The Mighty Komodo Dragon

A white Belly Eagle from Komodo

All the itinerary mentioned above it is just some of the many opportunity that we will have in Komodo National Park. As you know, nature and the weather cannot be controlled , however, with our knowledge of the islands in Komodo National Park, we will have great chances to have a wonderful trip together.

At the Moment we do have still availability for 3 people, for more information contacted me directly at info@underwatertribe.com and visit our website at http://www.underwatertribe.com/damai_august_2013.html

The Trip of life time is waiting for you!

March 2013 in Sulawesi

I have been quite lucky to have to spend good part of last month in North Sulawesi.

View of the harbor with the mount Klabat in the background

Every time I go back to the Land of the Smily People it feels like going back home. The reason why I went back to North Sulawesi this time was because I had an assignment as local expert dive leader on a beautiful yacht.

The route we have worked out with the Captain of the Yacht was: 2 Days in Bunaken, 2 Days in Bangka and 4 days in Lembeh Strait.

As it was almost a year for me, without visiting North Sulawesi, I have taken the chance to go to Lembeh Strait a week in advanced and visit my friends Simon, Zee and Bella at NAD LEMBEH RESORT so that in the same time could brush up my knowledge of the Strait, before I had to be on the Yacht.

one of the dive guides of NAD is enjoying th eview on the way to the dive site

NAD LEMBEH is a very nice and cozy resort aiming at satisfying the eager of Underwater Photographer. Even if at first glance the place looks quite laid back, I must say that the service it is top notch with nice and clean rooms and top-end dive guides able to spot so many of the intriguing critters that the Strait has got to offer. The food is good and the internet works pretty well considering that we are in a “remote” island of Indonesia.

A Purple Frogfish from the Lembeh Strait

At the end Simon and Zee had to go last minute to England, so I could not meet them until my assignment on the Yacht was finished, but in the main time while I was having a great time diving the Strait with NAD and photographing some of the most amazing marine life that the world had to offer.

I have also got to meet some very nice people that were sharing my same diving and photo passion.

Once I have arrived on the Yacht , I could tell from the beginning that I was going to have an awesome time with great people. The crew was very friendly and we got well along from the beginning . I have spent the first couple of days diving some local site near Kima Bajo Bay as the boat was moored there. I knew the place very well as I have been managing Eco Divers Dive Center which was in Kima Bajo Resort since 2008 until the end of 2011.

Two yellow Gobies live inside a bottle. One of them Yawning

A Vivid Green Frogfish from Jahir 1, Lembeh Strait

The reef of Kily was excellent, with all the soft coral blooming and feeding and at Budo I could find some of the tinniest seahorses ( hippocampus pontohi ). During the first couple of days I was taking diving the crew, that when not a work could have some real good fun enjoying watching the great variety and bizarre marine life found in Indonesian waters.

Once the guests arrived we went to have a first check dive at Kily on the main land and then proceeded the next couple of days diving the great walls of Bunaken Island , Siladen and Mantehage Island.

These three islands are part of the Bunaken Marine Park. The coral life is excellent, the water is once and warm 28-29 C. ( 82-3 F.) and the sight of reef sharks is not uncommon.

When we arrived in Bangka, the weather and the conditions were just great. Until then we could not really tell that we were on the tail end of the rainy season.

At Sahaong we had a couple of great dives enjoying the most beautiful soft coral that North Sulawesi has got to offer. At Batu mandi dive point we had some very nice nudibranchs and other interesting small critters, not to mention a crinoid full of ladybugs. Until that moment I have seen ladybugs only in Komodo National Park. I cannot hide that I was very surprised and happy to see them in the Bangka Region.

Lembeh Strait has been just great! We had frogfish, ghost pipefish, octopuses, flamboyant cuttlefish, pygmy seahorses, Harlequin and Tiger Shrimp.

The Strait was really delivering, as usual, some top macro marine life!

Last but not least we had a nice walk to the Tangkoko National Park, which is located at just 20 min by really fast speed boat and could see the smallest primate on earth the Tarsius Spectrum.

Once the guests left the yacht I have spent few more days on board enjoying diving with most of the crew, that after a nice 10 days of hard work could relax and get the chance to see what the Lembeh Strait had to offer while diving.

When the time for me to get off the boat had arrived, I went to spend a couple of days back at NAD where, in the main time Simon, Zee and their daughter Bella had returned from England.

I enjoyed a nice evening chatting with Simon and then I caught my plane to return home in Bali.

A Pair of Harlequin Shrimps

Right now as I am writing, my good friends Mike ( my business partner at Underwater Tribe ) and Matt ( amazing photo journalist and underwater photographer based in Bali ) are in Nad getting ready to present the best UW Photo Workshop that will be held between the 15th and the 20th of April at Nad Lembeh Resort. I am sure they are having a great time as I did during the month of March.

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as well as visiting our website to keep up to date with our trips and events. http://www.underwatertribe.com