Whale Sharks benign-benign

In other places in the world, meeting with the whale sharks there are seasons. In Thailand, for example, a great chance to see whale sharks at Richelieu Rock and Hin Daeng is between February and May. So even in Donsol, Philippines. At Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, the whale shark season takes place between March and July. But not so the case with the whale sharks in Nabire, West Papua. The whale shark kept hanging around the charts all year round fishing. Especially when the moon, when the concentration of plankton is high-high, this is a golden opportunity to be able to see these giant animals in large numbers. It is said that the tail could be seen up to a dozen in one place.

The long road
So when invited to Nabire, without thinking twice, I immediately said yes. Towards Nabire of Jakarta is the epic story in itself. Indeed there are many flight options from Jakarta to several major cities in West Papua. Without wishing to scare, a friend said that he had up to five times to change planes when Nabire few weeks earlier. Due to time constraints, I chose the route Jakarta - Biak via Makassar which are connected with Biak - Nabire with a small plane with a capacity of 12 people.
This was the shortest route is not without obstacles. When the weather is good, certainly after landing on Biak in the early morning to fly to Nabire before noon, so that before the evening had arrived in Nabire. Although flight Biak - Nabire only takes 70 minutes, but when the bad weather, the plane was forced to wait until the weather improved for safety reasons. Since the weather is never predictable, then allocate the time somewhat flexible to travel to this region. Including if necessary overnight stop off in town.

by scubedrive

THE MIRACLE OF NOT unexplored

This is the exciting stories experienced underwater explorers in places that had never imagined before

Exploration of art because it's like someone should be smart managing expectations, risks, planning and preparing to accept the reality, as bitter as anything. Preparation could be weeks, could wait for hours, and if lucky, the long-awaited moment unfortunately lasted only an instant. But all this does not make the explorers deterrent. On the contrary, each managed to explore new places, there is always a desire to immediately plan a trip to another place which is not less challenging.

Water gods
Often found in the Yucatan Peninsula, the cave contains a pool of fresh water formed by the rocks that are constantly exposed to abrasion. Over millions of years, the caves are filled with water with visibility in the water peak at 70 meters. This is the place impiah photographing underwater photographer's dream. I was lucky when he received an assignment by Scuba Diver Australasia to do an article about the mysterious caves in the Yucatan.

by scubedrive

DESTINATION MALAYSIA: SABAH 101 SITE buried

Among diver, Sipadan and Mabul though is favorite destination in the world, but not many people heard about diving in Sabah. That is why Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism Board in collaboration with Borneo Divers lately heavily promoting Unexpressed 101 sites in Sabah, which proved to have many new dive sites that have not teresksplor in the Celebes Sea. On a recent visit to Sabah, I explore the coral reef in Semporna. Although I have a short time and can not be tasted all existing sites, but what I see when it is astounding.

I was introduced to the largest marine park in Sabah named Sakaran National Park is located not far from mainland Semporna. Covering an area of ​​350 square kilometers, this area is the largest concentration of coral reefs in Malaysia. Also known as Semporna Islands Park, the park consists of eight islands, namely Bohey Dulang, Bodgaya, Tetagan, Sebangkat, Selakan, Maiga, Sibuan and Mantabuan. Some islands are uninhabited, while the rest is sometimes inhabited by tribes that settled Bajo. National Park under the management of Sabah, from blast fishing is prohibited, the public educated about ways to catch fish that are environmentally friendly and that's just the way they are allowed to fish in these waters.

Although the program is still new, I am sure with time and the sharp eye of an experienced dive guide, then a variety of dive sites in Sabah will be more popular, and it is not possible new sites will be as famous as Mabul and Kapalai. Cluster of coral reefs surrounding the islands is not only widespread, but also the diversity of marine life amazing. Call it the reef fish, hard and soft corals, gorgonians, mollusks, enchinoderm, and anemone.

by scubedrive

DESTINATION: Fascinated Lucipara

Hearing the name Lucipara, the reaction may be obtained is the first wrinkles on the forehead. People who have heard his name can still be counted on the fingers. Its remote location makes archipelago consisting of seven tiny islands is almost unheard of. Though the place is wall to save coral reefs filled with colorful, especially the barrel sponges the size is very impressive.

Remote and Awful
Lucipara archipelago is about 200 kilometers south of Ambon, which is between the island of Ambon and Banda Islands. Often referred to by the citizens of Ambon as the Seven Islands, four among the seven islands are located close together. Three other islands within about 20 kilometers from the four islands that are adjacent to the fishermen often as Turtle Island. That said, the islands became a nest of green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Green turtles are often passed on the north and south islands. But unfortunately, the population is now negligible due to be hunted and taken their eggs on a large scale for decades.

by scubedrive

DESTINATION: Entering the Twilight Zone

As a photography enthusiast, I came to Ambon goal is to hunt and enjoy the natural beauty of the photograph the sea. On this trip I specialize concentration on macro photos underwater, especially the object seen in the muck dive. I always like Ambon and each time was always nodding in agreement every mind that an expert ichthyology (the branch of zoology that specializes in fish) from the Netherlands Peter Bleaker've found 783 species of fish in the Bay of Ambon in 1863. This fact alone automatically makes Ambon as an outstanding diving destination. Compare with the throughout Thailand which only has less than 700 fish species.

Laha charm
Ten minutes from Pattimura airport in Ambon city, I arrived at a village called Laha which is located just inside the Bay of Ambon. Located on the northern island of Ambon, Laha area stretched along three kilometers of coral reef slope that starts from a depth of two meters and filled with rubble, featherstar, fire and sea urchin Squirt in the bottom of black sand. This is where the eyes should be observant, keen to see a variety of unique critter is hiding. Slope area and will change a bit flat at a depth of 12 meters before falling steeply into the watery depths of the Bay of Ambon cloudy.

by scube drive

DESTINATION: Tasting Maldives

Maldives consists of 26 atolls that when viewed from the air looks like a tangle of pearls floating in the Indian Ocean. This atoll is a protector of some 2,000 inhabited islands that 200 among the population. Approximately 99% of the territory consists of water and only 300 square kilometers above the surface of the water. This is what makes the Maldives as a great place for divers.

Although Marco Polo dubbed the Maldives as the "Flower of the Indian Ocean", but the Italian explorer certainly have not seen the beauty of the Maldives from a height. Boarded a seaplane, I had the opportunity to watch the decorated face of Maldives deserted beaches of white sand, green palm trees that bend before the wind, and green-blue waters are framed atoll. Held my breath to see it.

Maldives underwater nature makes me no less amazed. More than 1,000 species of fish and 200 species of coral here. Current carrying divers explore the stretch of coral adorned with colorful Anthias around hard and soft corals, while a large group of neon fusiliers and snappers bluestripe patrolling the amazing synchronization with the movement.

by scuba drive