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Published: June 25th 2017
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Diving into the Deep Unknown Blackness
Ah, but that lovely blast of colour illuminated is what awaits below the surface. Seems nothing is ever as it first appears. Beauty. A few short years ago, if someone had told me I'd be dropping into a black ocean armed with only a flashlight for illumination, I'd have said "Not likely"! But then again, that is pretty much what I said only days before jumping off a cliff to go paragliding in the Himalayas three years ago. My proclamations are obviously not trustworthy, as I definitely jumped off those cliffs in Nepal - not once, but twice - and I completed two night dives earlier this week on our second trip to the Bunaken Marine Park in Northern Sulawesi this year.
I am not sure what I was expecting - I think I was hoping mostly not to be too terrified - but I know that I was not expecting the world of spectacular colour that I discovered. Given that I have not night dived anywhere else in the world - yet - I certainly cannot say how this compares. But I already know that the 200 metre deep, pristine coral reef wall that surrounds Bunaken Island has the most stunning, abundant, lush, diverse soft and hard coral formations I have ever seen anywhere. And at night, amazingly, the colors are even
No, This is Not a Plant
Contrary to what your eyes and senses may want you to believe, this is definitely not a plant, but an animal species that totally looks like a scruffy plant until you tickle it gently to wake it up. and then it dances for you. more vibrant than in the daylight - bright yellows, fiery reds, brilliant turquoise blues, regal purples, vibrant greens. Simply breathtaking!
Of course, the marine night life scene is also different, as all those schools of fish and turtles are taking their night rest somewhere in deeper waters. The night creatures are far more bizarre, out of this world; like the lime green squid that danced by us, or the crab that disguises itself as a piece of coral which it carries on its back, so is only noticed as anything other than coral when the moving, which it only does at night. We saw a couple of these, and their wardrobe is as diverse as the coral around them. But one of the more flashy swimmers was the elegant feathered swimming star fish - definitely the prima ballerina of the night's performance. I did not get a photo, but a dive master I had the pleasure of diving with last year beautifully captured one on video and posted it on you tube. Thank you Els. Very definitely worth checking out. https://9gag.com/gag/aLMWDpv Quite mesmerizing as well were the clusters of brown coral like tree branches, shaped a bit like a
Underwater Colorburst
Find the unhappy coral crab :) bouquet of reindeer antlers, illuminated by dozens of tiny glowing and twinkling red lights - the eyes actually - of the red and white candy striped little lobsters moving around amidst the coral. Magical.
Needless to say, after sixty minutes of non stop fascination, I could not stop ranting on and on about the stellar experience to Stan when I returned, so he joined me for a second night dive 24 hours later. He too was more than a little delighted, saying he would definitely do that again.
I have now completed over fifty dives, Stan not far behind, and the more I dive, the more I love the sport, even though some - as my son was quick to point out - say it is the laziest sport in the world. That is, once you get a handle on how to not succumb to the many ways it can kill you if you are not patient and attentive to detail. For me, it really feels less like a sport than a meditation. Underwater yoga, if you like. Being entirely in the moment, with the breath, immersed in a stunningly beautiful environment. What is not to love?
Giant Scalloped Clam
Apologies for the poor photo quality, which nowhere near captures the essence of this discovery. Thank you Willeke and Jerry, owners of The Happy Gecko Resort, and your excellent staff for taking such good care of us, and to Jimmy, our excellent dive master guide, for providing us with such comfortable and rewarding diving experiences. Thank you as well Jerry for our jam sessions together and introducing me to some excellent Indonesian artists. Terima kasih banyak. Sampai jumpa tahun depan.
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Susan
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Almost makes me want to combat claustrophobia and take lessons!