Eight shades of grey

Though we couldn’t really see fifty, encountering a pack of eight big Grey Reef Sharks was quite an experience. Coming right up to us to check us out,   they didn’t seem scared at all (rather the opposite as a matter of fact!). After circling us a couple of times, they disappeared back into the depths, leaving us to enjoy the swarms of fish – Batfish, Snappers, Surgeonfish and Bluefin Trevallies.

On the other side of the scale we got lucky as well. Juvenile Barramundi Cods, Coleman Shrimps, Giant Frogfish, Not-So-Giant Frogfish and a good selection of rare Nudibranchs. Though I suspect the Seahorses got most of the attention. We found three different species (Wing-spined, Common and Thorny) plus two flavours of Pygmies (Denise and Bargibanti).

Rounding off with a whole bunch of Manta Rays, this was a very rewarding trip indeed!

[Posted as Tourleader and Video-Pro on the Mermaid 1.]
 

Oh, my!

Yup, that was the collective reaction when, completely unexpected and literally out of the blue, a mighty Mola-Mola showed up at a cleaning station in south Komodo!! We just couldn’t believe our eyes when this shy ceature moved in to get cleaned by the hundreds of Butterflyfish normally catering for the Mantas.

Blessed with beautifully clear water throughout the trip, we enjoyed diving with massive schools of fish, lots of Sharks, several Eagle Rays and found enough rare critters to have the photographers constantly running out of memory cards!   Oh, and then there was the issue with naughty sponges at one divesite.

Descending on a seamount, it looked like it was on fire (!) with smoke everywhere! Turned out to be the big pink barrel sponges having a synchronized spawning session, all at the same time. Amazing, and quite a rare sighting! We almost missed the pack of 10 young Grey Reef Sharks chasing the Eagle Rays away!

[Posted as Tourleader and Video-Pro on the Mermaid 1.]

Sharks in space

OK, maybe not literally, but it certainly looked like it when one of our guests was filming the shark action at a seamount in the Komodo National Park. The place was full of Whitetips and Grey Reefs, as well as dense schools of Trevallies, Surgeonfish and Batfish. 

We also spent quality time with Giant (and not-so-giant) Frogfish, a Coconut Octopus, tons of Nudibranchs and a beautiful pair of Harlequin Shrimps.

Everybody onboard was hoping to see Manta Rays, and we got really lucky – more than 20 of these amazing rays were playing in the currents. A wonderful experience indeed!

[Posted as Tourleader and Video-Pro on the Mermaid  1.]

Mantas anyone?

A great trip, with stunning visibility and loads of fish! We enjoyed good shark action at the seamounts, dense schools of fish at the walls and a virtual parade of critters at the nightdives. 

Oh, and the Mantas of course… Working their wing muscles in the current, getting fixed at the cleaning stations or just simply fooling around as they, on occasion, do – we had it all! These amazing creatures put on a fabulous show for us!

Through in a bunch of Komodo Dragons, lovely weather and delicious BBQs in the evenings, and life couldn’t be much better!

  [Posted as Tourleader and Video-Pro on the Mermaid  1.]

One hairy fish!

Mr Personality on this trip was no doubt the Hairy Frogfish we found in the Komodo National Park. Walking around, fishing and yawning – all the stunts you could hope for. Photographers went crazy!

We also had unforgettable dives with over 40 (yes folks, that’s forty!) giant Manta Rays getting cleaned, feeding or working their wing muscles in the current

Oh, and then we had the sharks – 35 Whitetips and Grey Reef Sharks patrolling one of the seamounts. Probably the most sharks we’ve ever seen in this place!

[Posted as Tourleader and Video-Pro on the Mermaid  1.]