Lembeh Strait - Pygmy Seahorse, Wonderpus and Lionfish

Lembeh Strait thought me that small is beautiful ... And thought me that VISIBILITY is hardly important in diving, BUOYANCY is king!

My first 2 dive days at Bastianos Resort in Lembeh Strait ... 22nd and 23rd October

Critter Hunt
Max Depth = 28.3m
Juvenille Barramundi (mmmmmh...) and Mantis Shrimp on my first dive, sweeeeeet!

Nudi Falls
Max Depth = 20.4m
Pygmy Seahorse (TINY!) hanging on to a red sea-fan, beautiful nudibranches, and lots of Bangai Cardinal Fish too!

Jahir
Max Depth = 16.7m (NIGHT DIVE)
Jeff and myself ended up losing ourselves from the group, went to surface, and flashed our lights about until the boat came to pick us up .. Quite the experience. At least I got to see a Wonderpus.

Mawali Wreck (1943 WWII Japanese Cargo Ship)
Max Depth = 30.1m
My first ever WRECK DIVE, and got to penetrate the cavernous Cargo Hold. An amazing experience, and I can't wait for my NEXT wreck dive now! A school of large terra Batfish greeted us at the other end of the ship, near the propeller. Cool!

Hairball No. 1
Max Depth = 18.5m
Dragonets, Blennys, Sweetlips, Stonefish, Scorpionfish, and lots of puffers ... and the special Hairy Frogfish!

Police Pier
Max Depth = 19.2m
Flying Gurnards are very interesting, also saw an Unicorn fish ... in this strong CURRENT DIVE.

Makawide 1
Max Depth = 14.3m
Large Giant Frogfish (over 20cm) sat on a sponge, as well as Cleaner Shrimp ... on yet another NIGHT DIVE.

Lembeh Strait - Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Mandarin fish, Flying Gunnars, Crabs, Shrimps, Octopus .. phew!

Some wait years to see a Flamboyant Cuttlefish ... I managed this on my 33rd dive, what a treat! And to top it all off ... we had the pleasure of seeing (possibly) close to a 100 Mandarin Fish dart in and out of Staghorn Coral on a sunset/night dive, breath-taking!

My dives from 24th - 25th October ...

Aw Shucks
Max Depth = 23m
Bottom Time = 54 minutes
Devilfish and Lizardfish were cool!

Teluk Kembahu 3
Max Depth = 21m
One very large Frogfish at the bottom of the tow-line

Pantai Periggi
Max Depth = 18.5m
The elusive ... FLAMBOYANT CUTTLEFISH. Wow!

Jahir
Max Depth = 14m (NIGHT DIVE)
Buddied Uncle Jeff, and saw his favourite COCKATOO WASPFISH.

Nudi Retreat
Max Depth = 24m
We were greeted by an 'ELECTRIC CLAM' with visible 'zzzzap... zzzap' at the end of the dive!

Teluk Kembahu 2
Max Depth = 20.7m
Murex Tribulus could have been the last thing I saw ... if not for my buddy, Endee, whom I had to A.A.S. with (aka Share Air!)

Jahir 2
Max Depth = 17.6m
Black-phase FROG FISH which was rather aggressive, opening his huge mouth and bouncing his way towards Simon & myself!

Murex Housereef
Max Depth = 13.7m
Sunset dive, to the stag-horn coral formation here which was swarming with gorgeous MANDARIN FISH.

Lembeh Strait - Rhinophias, Hairy Frog-fish and more!

The Mecca of Muck Diving ... Lembeh Strait in Sulawesi

My dive logs from 26th - 27th October ...

Angel's Window
Max Depth = 30.7m
Dived through a cave!

Hairball No. 2
Max Depth = 19.2m
Bottom Time = 1 hour!
Spotted a black Hairy Frogfish ... Kewl!

Aer Parang
Max Depth = 22.2m
Highlight of the entire trip ... The Rhinophias Aphanes (Lacey Scorpionfish)

Nudi Retreat
Max Depth = 21m (NIGHT DIVE with strong current)
Wow ... a Pygmy Seahorse!

Batu Kapal
Max Depth = 26.8m
Strong DRIFT DIVE... Superman!

Teluk Kembahu 3
Max Depth = 19.8m
Another GIANT FROG-FISH on my last dive at Lembeh ... be back in ... 2008?