(Map of today: Resort=red, Dives=Yellow, Stops=Green)
Every time I think I have seen the best of the best of Raja Ampat, the ocean throws something even better at me. We did our third consecutive day trip today, but this time we stayed a little closer to Pef. We left at the usual time of 8:15 and headed back to the Manta ray spot, and this time there were two mantas there frequenting the cleaning stations. They were both all black, and fairly large. Again I waited for 40 minutes and they never came over head, but I got a semi decent distance shot. Apparently after Leon and I returned to the boat they got bold and came close, so I was a little angry, but I will be back for another reshoot.
(Manta from afar)
After the mantas we went to another beach on Mansuar, this one with an abandoned fishermen's shack and had a coffee break. The spot itself was not too terribly remarkable, but still nice. We left a after a short break of espresso, biscuits, and fruit and set course for an amazing spot called Otdima. We hopped into the water and headed for a deep bommie with lots of sweet lip snappers under it, the others spent quite a bit of time under it shooting, but it didn't do much for me, so Leon and I took a few shots and went exploring the rest of the reef.
(Sweet Lip Snappers under a Bommie)
Our first stop after the sweet lips was a bommie with tons of glass fish under it. It was amazing, so many little fish in one area, but that was not the highlight of this bommie for me. I was shooting through a little window in the bommie which made for some cool views, but I finally got a shot of a Red Hind, a red fish with blue Fins and spots, which I have been trying to shoot, but continuously have failed, until today. After I got the shot Leon and I headed further along the reef progressively heading into the shallows.
(Window and Glass Fish)
(Red Hine Running Away from me)
Near the end of the reef, where it almost meets the surface I came across something very cool. I looked down and I saw a turtle shell sticking out of a reef and thrashing around. At first I had no clue what it was doing, but moments later the head of a Hawksbill Turtle emerged from the hole. At closer glance he had something in his mouth, maybe a sponge, and was having a good old feast. It amazed me how nonchalant he was about my presence as he continued to chomp down his meal. I immediately summoned Leon to come and film, but he looked at me and ignored, as I continued to wave him down he came over and started filming.
(Hawksbill Turtle Getting Food from The Reef)
(Eating His Catch)
(Open Mouth)
After finishing his meal, the turtle came over and checked me out, he came so close to me that he bumped into my camera dome. After checking me out lazily he wafted over to Leon and did the same. This guy made an amazing subject, very calm and compliant, an underwater photographers dream. Once satisfied with his inspection with us, he slowly turned, all the while maintaining his lethargic a pace and calmly swam away with the two of us following.
(Checking Me Out)
(Still Looking)
(Swimming Away Calmly)
Once we had gotten what we needed of the magnificent Hawksbill, Leon and I proceeded along the reef to the shallow broken coral in the surge. It was absolutely teaming with little fish. We looked around a bit, took some shots, and went to the surface. I was beaming with joy over the very friendly turtle, so much so that I forgot about missing out on the manta rays flying over the others. We left Otdima, and headed off to an island to have lunch.
(The Shallows Of Otdima
On the way to our lunch spot, we came across a small island with sand bars out of the water around it, literally giving access to the underside of the island. We made a decision on the fly to stop here instead for lunch. It was beautiful, and the overhangs from the island gave a great shady spot for lunch time. Leon grabbed one of the cameras out of it's housing and took some photos of lunch, and our little spot.
(Lunch Spot)
(Eating Under The Island)
(Beautiful Place)
We hung around on our sand bar for about an hour before heading out to Lalosi for our last dive. On the way we came across a squadron of 10-15 manta rays feeding at the surface. We all quickly grabbed our masks and fins and hopped into the water to take so e shots. There was a bit of a current, and the mantas were moving quickly, so I didn't really get any shots with all of them, but I got one at the surface with another far off in the background. Even though I didn't get any shots that did the scene justice, I Wass still mesmerised by these gentle giants just cursing at the surface. It was awesome!
(One Of The Mantas At the Surface)
Once the mantas lost us we got out and headed for Lalosi. We jumped into the water and the current was pumping. We headed down deep to where the enormous number of fish were congregating and looked around. Leon and I came across a wobbegong shark, but unlike most, this one was not keen on being a model. I took q picture of him and he swam away, we followed since he was riding down current. Leon got some amazing footage of it as it caught three fish along it's way.
(Impatient Wobbegong)
Eventually the shark settled down on another bit of reef, and to our surprise it was face to face with another wobbegong. It was amazing, the one the we had followed there had been resting on the sand, and had a light tone to it, but the one was resting on the dark bit of coral had a much darker tone to it. After a few moments the darker wobbegong got fed up and began to swimming as well, so we followed him.
(Both Resting On The Rocks)
(The Darker One Begins To Swim)
For the first time I took a shot of one with a different point of view. As we both sailed in the current I literally put my camera down to his back and took a shot from his tail to his head. When he settled again I tried to get another shot, this time of his face, and Leon was dooming him from the other side, but the wobbegong had another idea. He quickly swung around making both Leon and I jump and abruptly he shot away from us. We continued up the reef to the spot where I lost my dive light last week, and came across a massive Green Sea Turtle. I was too far away to get a shot, but Leon got some cool footage. At this we ended the dive, without my light, but hey it was still a great dive.
(New Perspective)
Another great day here in Raja Ampat is drawing to a close, and I am very satisfied with my work for the day. We are taking tomorrow morning off and sleeping, but the afternoon may still be dive filled, but it is reliant on the weather. I hope all is well with my readers, stay tuned for a new post tomorrow, but I am off to dinner now.
(Sea fan and Fish)
(Little Fish Hiding in Stag Horn Coral)
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