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Indonesia part 2: 2018
Flores:
We’ve been diving for over 20 years, and have visited some incredible dive sites, but diving in Komodo National Park is definitely near the top of the list! We first came here in 2017, and then decided to come back in 2018, and stay for 7 weeks and just dive! We dived with Neren, who we dived with last year. They are good people who are passionate about diving and the environment in Komodo National Park. They’re lots of fun to dive with, and above all, safety is very important to them! (by the way, we are happy to have paid the regular commercial rate – discounts are sometimes available for dive packages).
The North:
There are three main dive sites in “the north” of Komodo NP: Castle Rock, Crystal Rock and the Cauldron, with the infamous Shotgun pass. Castle Rock is a submerged pinnacle, while Crystal Rock next door has the pinnacle showing just above the water, particularly at low tide. Both are subject to strong currents, and are suitable for advanced divers. The Cauldron just south of Crystal Rock has a large bowl area, and then a narrow passage between two rocks, which is also shallower. This is known as the Shotgun, and is where the currents are often squeezed into hurricane strengths! One day I’ll get some good video of hooking on in the Shotgun pass!
The Cauldron:
A juvenile manta ray came to join us on a dive in the Cauldron.
Crystal Rock:
Hooking on in the currents, a bit of upside down diving (!) and a jellyfish joined us at the safety stop!
Castle Rock:
This shows the beginning of the dive at Castle Rock, hooking on and checking out the action in the strong current. You can see the strength of the current in the wobbly video, and some of the wobbly fish too! Then the end, in the calm of the beautiful coral gardens.
This video shows the currents surging over the top of Castle Rock, from below. This is at the end of the dive, during the safety stop at 5 metres.
Makassar Reef/Manta Point:
As you can guess by the name, this is another known manta cleaning station. We often have close encounters, this one was special:
And then THIS happened at Manta Point:
Sebayur Kecil:
Wae Nilu:
Part of our group went hiking on Rinca Island to see the famous Komodo Dragons, and we went diving at the Wae Nilu site. We were so excited to find these 2 males and 1 female broadclub cuttlefish mating!
Batu Bolong:
Always a spectacular dive site with huge amounts of fish. On this dive, we entered through a narrow crevice, to go down the wall. There were schools of fusiliers and surgeonfish, with giant trevallies hunting around them. We saw turtles, and some very active reef sharks, including a couple chasing a large green moray out of its hole!
Mawan:
A known manta ray cleaning station. For the safety of the mantas, we don’t jump in right above the cleaning station! We start off near the reef, drift over, enjoying whatever the reef has to offer, and then, if we’re lucky, there’ll be mantas at the cleaning station!
Siaba Besar:
A beautiful dive site, with both a coral garden, and a large sandy expanse where you can find interesting things like Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Leaf Scorpionfish, Pipefish, seahorses, schools of fish fry… and then our divemaster Nacho from Neren, found a beautiful Blue Orange Dragonet (Dactylopus Kuiteri).
And finally, we were so excited to see the rare Flamboyant Cuttlefish!
Siaba Kecil:
The smaller island next to Siaba Besar is Siaba Kecil. Another of my favourite dive sites!
Tatawa Besar:
A beautiful dive site in the centre of Komodo NP. Current can vary. On this dive, the current was not strong, and this unusually large school of Lined Butterflyfish entertained us. Butterflyfish are usually seen singly or in pairs (sometimes in threes), and to see such a large school was unusual.
Anenomefish are always some of my favourites:
Highlights of just one day’s diving:
Watch this beautiful cuttlefish change colour and texture. Even though I was there, s/he felt comfortable enough to hunt – check the 42 second mark!
Indonesia part 1: 2017
In April 2017, we came to Indonesia. We started our travels in Bali, visiting Ubud, Sidemen, Amed, Munduk and Sanur, before heading off to Flores. After diving outside Maumere, then driving across the island of Flores, we did some extraordinary diving in Labuan Bajo, where we also saw Komodo Dragons! Followed by Yogyakarta, Borobodur, and the jungle in Sumatra! Keep checking back, there’ll be more videos added as we continue through Indonesia.
Sumatra:
Bukit Lawang:
We spent a few days at the Bukit Lawang Hill Resort. We had an incredible time seeing some of the snakes that Bobi rescues, and also trekking in the jungle to see the orang utans. We finished the jungle trek with a fun river float!
Java:
Borobodur:
Visiting Buddhist monks at Borobodur:
Buddhist Temple of Borobodur:
Ramayana Performance at Prambanan Temple:
Spectacular performance of the Ramayana story, in mesmerising Javanese dance!
Prambanan temple complex, Yogyakarta:
The largest Hindu temple complex in the world.
Bali:
Munduk:
Delicious lunch with a view, at Warung Classic:
Semarapura Festival:
Pura Ulun Danau Bratan:
Sidemen:
A quiet peaceful valley with several villages, many rice terraces, lots of temples.
Ubud:
Our first stop in Bali.
Tirta Empul Temple:
Tegallalang Rice Terraces:
Monkey Forest:
always fun, and also peaceful. Just don’t make eye contact with the monkeys!
On our first evening, we went to a fantastic local dance performance at the Ubud Palace. Simply marvellous. Check out the amazingly skilled micro-movements of the dancers!
Ubud Palace:
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