bunaken2

BUNAKEN 2007

Welcome

KEITH'S DIVING HOLIDAYS,

In spite of my comments about the length of the flights on my previous trip I booked to go to Bunaken again this year and because I enjoyed it so much last time my first port of call was the Froggies web-site. However I came across Two Fish Divers on the east of the island and two weeks there was £230 cheaper, including four days at Lembeh. As Froggies could not match this price I took a chance booked with them instead and did not regret it.

The place was surprisingly calm and well organised considering that Nigel and Tina the owners were expecting a baby at any moment. Before I left Two Fish Divers became Three Fish Divers.While Tina was in hospital the place was run entirely by the staff and they did a splendid job, especially the lovely Rifka who had patiently answered all my e-mailed questions.

Although I had booked a budget room I was very comfortable, the food was excellent and the service second to none. On the penultimate day at Lembeh we had an almighty thunderstorm and of course I had to go to the loo at 1.30 in the morning, in the rain as the loo at Lembeh was outside. When I came out there was a raised umbrella awaiting me - at 1.30 in the morning!!

The diving was very relaxed and my guides, Risko at Bunaken and Opo at Lembeh, were very knowledgeable and experienced and helpful as was Neil, a dive master working his ticket. I managed twenty seven dives in all and although my photography was not up to much as I kept forgetting to check the white balance the following piccies are not too bad.

Views of the site.

View from the dining room

The gardens

The budget rooms

The relaxing area

View towards Manado

The dining room

The kit area

I love sponges.

--- and I find Feather stars very beautiful.

Sea Squirts fascinate me.

The guides have eyes like hawks - although the bargibanti Sea Horse was in its usual place on its gorgonian the little yellow pontii, less than 1/2" high, was not and had never been seen before where we found it.

And their close relatives the pipefish. We saw many of these and many Ghost Pipefish but I only managed this one acceptable picture.

I was able to get close to some Garden Eels again.

Sand dwelling Cerianthid anemones.

A beautiful Sea Whip

A pair of commensal Porcelain Crabs

Sea Cucumber

The Frogfish - so ugly they are beautiful.

If you look carefully you can see his lure extending diagonally upwards from just above his mouth.

Mantis shrimps.

Octopus in coconut shell.

Sea Stars

Shrimp

Hawksbill Turtle

I always take a break for de-gassing half way through my holiday and this time I walked the four kilometres to the local village along the unmade road at the back of the site. A very pleasant walk, if a little hot, and on the way back I had the company of one of the locals. There were several defunct dive outfits along the way and it was good to see the little church I had spotted so often from the sea. Strangely there was a decorated stone archway into the village--from the beach.

Sea Slugs and Nudibranchs.

I was so excited to see my first Spanish Dancer.

Another first for me was this pair of Nudibranchs mating.

Firefish

Mimic Filefish

Ribbon Eel

MapPuffer

Twotone Dartfish

Spotted Snake Eel

Flying Gurnard

Perch eating Flying Gurnard

I was stalking this Flying Gurnard to get a better picture when the Perch suddenly appeared and ate it.

Black Spotted Puffer

Crocodile Fish

Catfish

Striped Catfish

Red Emperor

Stargazer Snake Eel.

This was the first eel I had seen leave its burrow and I was astounded at its length and speed.

I did a dive at a site called Mandarin which was mainly at night but which started at dusk. The object was to watch the mating dance of some Mandarin fish at dusk and it was highly successful. After a 20 minute wait when we saw four pairs we witnessed three successful matings and felt quite the voyeurs.

We also saw a cooperatve octopus, a small squid, some decorater and hermit crabs and a beautiful Basket Star.