Posts Tagged North Sulawesi

Cool Critter

Fri, Feb 26th, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 2 Comments

I came across this Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) yesterday:

Ambon scorpionfish

They’re fairly common in Lembeh and other places in Indonesia…if you actually manage to find them of course (given their excellent camouflage).

Oddly enough though, I’ve haven’t actually come across this type of fish in Ambon, despite the fish’s common name…sort of a head-scratching “hmmmm” kind of thing.

Anyway, finding critters like this is what muck diving is all about. Making them look cool is what muck photography is all about.

Incidentally, I’ll be heading to Ambon in November, where I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for this fish!

Banggai Bonanza

Thu, Feb 25th, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 13 Comments

Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) are pretty fish, abundant in the Lembeh Strait.

Banggai Cardinalfish

Although there are many of them here now, this wasn’t always the case.

These cardinalfish are named for their original home, Banggai Island. Somehow, a few ended up here (and other places in Indonesia), and they’ve proliferated. In fact, over the years, I’ve watched as they’ve become ever more plentiful…to the point that they now seem to overwhelm other fish in certain places and habitats.

On the one hand, I’m happy to photograph them, as they’re beautiful fish, but artificial introduction of fauna (and flora for that matter) by people into new places is generally not a good thing.

Meeting Mike

Wed, Feb 24th, 2010  |   Funny Stuff, People, Places, Adventures 11 Comments

There are some really strange things in Lembeh. Take Mike for example.

Mike Veitch

Mike is the manager at NAD-Lembeh Dive Resort. He’s been kind enough to invite me over to NAD several times, but I’ve never actually made it over there until tonight (actually, I’ve totally been avoiding him, on the advice of mutual acquaintances).

Mike is from Canada. As if that weren’t sufficient reason to give him wide berth, Mike has been alone for a long time, stuck on a small island in Indonesia.

He is, let’s say, desperate for companionship.

…which is why I was quite happy that Hergen (who is the manager at Lembeh Resort) was also present for the evening.

Hergen is cuter than I am (at least in Mike’s eyes), so he bore the brunt of Mike’s misguided affections.

Mike and Hergen

Not long after I took this photo, Hergen wisely rushed back to his wife at Lembeh Resort, and I fled returned to Kasawari Lembeh Resort, leaving Mike…once again…frustrated and alone.

Note to Mike: This is what you get for inviting me over!

Strange Shrimp

Wed, Feb 24th, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 28 Comments

Does anyone have insight into what’s going on with this shrimp?

shrimp

The first thing I thought was: “Eggs”, but upon reflection, I realised that every shrimp egg I’ve ever seen has been round, not oblong.

Also, the oblong things seem to be sticking out from the shrimp’s head as well as its abdominal area…again, not something generally associated with eggs.

But I’m at a loss as to what the oblong things might be if they’re not eggs.

Help?

shrimp

More Nudibranchs

Tue, Feb 23rd, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 14 Comments

While I’m on the topic of nudibranchs, here are a few more from the past day or so.

Hypselodoris infucata:
Hypselodoris infucata

Gymnodoris rubropapulosa (Just received a note letting me know that this nudibranch is known as Gymnodoris impudica now. Thanks Jeff!):
Gymnodoris rubropapulosa

Hypselodoris zephyra:
Hypselodoris zephyra

Like how I wield Latin names as if I know what I’m talking about? (I’m sure someone who’s actually knowledgeable will correct me if I’ve mis-identified again!)

Strawberry Shortcake with Cappuccino

Tue, Feb 23rd, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 10 Comments

Sometimes, it’s necessary to resort to the most descriptive means possible to explain to fellow divers what you’ve seen.

With a couple of nudibranchs yesterday, the best I could come up with was strawberry shortcake…

pink nudibranch

…with cappuccino:

nudibranch

Yes, I was hungry at the time.

More Mantis Mania

Mon, Feb 22nd, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 2 Comments

After my last post, I received a few emails suggesting Lysiosquilla maculata as a possible ID.

It’s difficult to assess the animal’s size from the photos I put up, but the mystery mantis was much smaller than Lysiosquilla maculata tends to be.

Based on the emails and comments I received, the consensus for the mystery mantis ID is Lysiosquilla tredecimdentata.

I just realised, however, that I have a photo of a Lysiosquilla maculata from yesterday…just for you mantis shrimp lovers out there:

Correction: I received a note letting me know I mis-identified this mantis shrimp. It looks to be Lysiosquillina lisa, so the photo below is Lysiosquillina lisa in a burrow. Thank you Perezoso!

mantis shrimp in burrow

Mystery Mantis

Sun, Feb 21st, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 10 Comments

Critters are just so cool.

My guide Nonsix stumbled across this mantis shrimp early on during our afternoon dive. I have no clue what kind of mantis shrimp it is (can anyone help?), but how much more alien can a critter look?

I started with a few profile shots to make sure I had some photos of the entire animal for ID purposes:

mantis shrimp profile

Then I did my usual head-scratching to consider how I could express the “coolness” of this cryptic crustacean. Here’s what I came up with…a head-on shot of the animal crouched back on its haunches just before it set its many pairs of legs into motion to zip off at high speed:

mantis shrimp

Good Morning

Sun, Feb 21st, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 4 Comments

It’s bright and early Sunday morning, and it’s time to head out for my second day of diving.

It always takes me a day or two to get accustomed to the excess nitrogen in my system, so this sums up how I feel right now:

yawning frogfish

Off to search for more critters…(insert big stretch and yawn).

Happy Cuttlefish

Sat, Feb 20th, 2010  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 2 Comments

Here’s one of the highlights from my first day of diving in the Lembeh Strait…an image of a very happy flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi).

The cuttlefish is happy because it just snagged a fish for breakfast. Look hard and you can see the smile (on the cuttlefish, not the fish).

flamboyant cuttlefish

Off Again

Tue, Feb 16th, 2010  |   Places, Adventures 2 Comments

It seems like only last week that I got back from my last trip (oh wait…it was only last week).

Getting unpacked and re-organised has been a logistical nightmare. With only a few days to get everything done, I need everyone else I deal with to be efficient…but alas, the world doesn’t work that way…so I’m certain that a significant proportion of my “to do” list will end up being a “to do when I get back” list (as well as others that are fated to be on my ever-growing “never actually got done” list).

I’m not complaining though, as I’m heading to one of my favourite dive destinations…the Lembeh Strait. I’ll be taking part in The Night Safari, organised by my friends David and Sanah at Scubacam.

cuttlefish at night

In case it’s not obvious from the name of the trip/ event, we’ll be diving mostly at night. We’ll be staying at Kasawari Lembeh Resort, and the entire resort is switching over to a night schedule. Hopefully, many of the critters of Lembeh will be kind enough to do the same and keep us entertained with amazing sights through the wee hours of each evening.

Diving through the night will pose some challenges. First, since we’re doing three dives a night, we’ll have to adjust time zones…so to speak…and be active through the night and rest during the day.

Second, we need lots of light, so I’m packing a few torches as backup (as if my equipment weren’t heavy enough already).

And finally, even though we’ll be in the tropics, I have no doubt that it’ll be chilly in between dives…so if you’re one of the somewhat deranged lucky people joining this adventure, make sure to bring warm clothes!

I’m also excited because I’ll have a chance to hook up with many friends and acquaintances at various times before and after The Night Safari, including a couple of friends from Thailand, Nagamatsu-san from Aquaforum in Japan, Aey and Mean from FiNS Magazine, Eric from Wetpixel, Edward and Jacqueline of Nauticam, and Ryan from Reef Photo.

It’s going to be an action-packed, eventful few weeks!

Mimic Octopus

Mon, Nov 16th, 2009  |   Marine Life, Places, Adventures 18 Comments

Unlike the past couple of days, I didn’t see any dramatic hunting or eating behaviour today, but I did have a chance to spend some quality time with a very active mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus).

mimic octopus

In case you’re not familiar with them, these talented octopuses are known for their ability to mimic other animals, perhaps as a means of camouflage or self-defence. In any case, they have an incredible repertoire, and are a perennial favourite among divers visiting Lembeh.

mimic octopus

If you visit Lembeh and are fortunate enough to see one of these incredible cephalopods, please keep in mind that they are bottom dwellers…meaning that they most likely don’t enjoy being thrown into the water column, where they’re out of their element and vulnerable to predators.

Think of it this way: If some strange being came down to earth, picked you up, and repeatedly threw you into the air to take pictures of you…I doubt you’d be too happy about it.