Well I’m into the final week of my PADI Divemaster internship. The assessment activities are over, but there is always time to learn more about diving. For the last couple of days I have been following some of the dive guides around on dives. The eye that these guys have for tiny critters is amazing!
Yesterday’s dives were a little different for Bunaken – yes, muck diving does exist here too! The range of critters is good although a little different to some of those seen in Lembeh. The dives started with an ornate ghost pipe fish and continued with lots of shrimps. First some cleaner shrimp then peacock tail anemone shrimp. It’s fun finding them looking in the anemone with the ever present anemone fish. They are quite funny as they often try to defend their anemone which can mean that they come out and sometimes hit you on the mask as you are studying the anemone!
The peacock tail anemone shrimp are beautiful little things with transparent bodies and blue pincers. Most of them are only a centimeter or so long. It’s certainly been great to use my improved buoyancy control skills to look for these lovely little critters.
It’s also amazing to see the range of different anemone fish here, from the orange ‘Nemo-like’ ones to the very pale pink ones and deep blood red ones as well.
Other things we found included a pair of sea moths, ribbon eel and a playful mantis shrimp. I was very proud to find a shy, well camouflaged radial file fish hiding in some soft coral! Definitely not the eagle eyes of the local guides, but a nice feeling of accomplishment.
