Dive Shots: Indonesia, Borneo, Philippines

[Patwa]

I went on a diving trip last Nov/Dec to the Philippines, Malaysian Borneo and Flores, Indonesia. This was my first dive trip since learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef back in 2008. I was a bit unsure if I would remember all the training, but after my first dive everything fell into place.

I completed 27 dives over the span of 3 weeks.....even went a step higher on the PADI diving ladder and got my advanced open water certification.....woot!

I dove every possible reef scenario...from wall dives surrounded by a schools of millions of sardines (Philippines) to an eerie cave dive on Sipadan (Borneo) all the way to dives with massive Manta Rays in very strong current (Flores). I had planned this trip for quite a while...it was good to finally get out there and do the things I had planned to do for so long.

...and one thing I now know for sure: I love diving!


ok, let's get this show on the road... ...enjoy



The first set is from a dive buddy on my dives with the Mantas in Komodo National Park, Flores, Indo...he's a professional underwater photographer......he kindly gave me some of his shots after my own dive camera failed (and the subsequent rental - just my luck eh?). Shots were taken on his sweet Nikon D2x (this is a professional-level DSLR.....the underwater rig alone was maybe 10-15lbs!!)

 

[Patwa]

...i've got hundreds of shots to post and not enough time....so bear with me, this might take a while

Zach

 

[Medicoles]

nice photos! I'm jealous

 

[Patwa]

Black Forest, Balicasag Island (Bohol, Philippines)

green turtle with two pretty huge remora on his back

Moorish Idols

Black Coral...I saw this coral during all of my dives on Balicasag.....they're also found in much larger colonies at deeper depths of 30-40m (why this site is call 'Black Forest')

a. ocellaris happy as ever in his house

 

[Patwa]

school of snapper

crinoids/feather stars

Pink Skunk clown

 

[justjosh]

Awesome pics! That green basket star is awesome! I've swam with a manta before and it is a rush.

 

[Patwa]

We did two separate dives with the mantas....the first dive was INSANE! it was like we jumped into a passing armada of mantas! we saw at least 30-40 mantas on that first dive (our dive master commented he had never seen that many before in a single dive)...some of them got up close, and some just kept on moving/eating

The second dive was more intimate...we saw maybe 6 to 8 in total, with most of them just hanging around cleaning stations and not really doing much beyond loops and circles....incredible animals.....i was in awe.

If you want to see Mantas, head to Komodo National Park....there's more there than you can shake a stick at!

Zach

 

[Capt_Cully]

Someday.....before I die......

 

[Patwa]

more shots of the mantas...taken by our dive master

we were in about 8-10m of water

feeding...check out the size of the mouth!

 

[Patwa]

tomato clowns....these guys were all over the reef

 

[Patwa]

pink clowns

 

[Patwa]

nudibranch (nembrota kubaryana)

 

[streetjudge79]

Gorgeous photos, thanks for sharing!

 

[PauChi]

Last picture posted ... one of the coral looks almost like a Blue Monti? Very nice Zach!!

Paul

 

[XSharkboyX]

Nice! Im pretty jealous! My dream is to dive some of the reefs over there!

 

[Patwa]

thanks!

here's more

porites coral and blue christmas tree worms

 

[Patwa]

nudibranch (phyllidia varicosa)

chalice coral (echinophyllia sp.)

tunicate on black coral

take a REAL close look!

purple pygmy seahorse (h. bargibanti?) on purple gorgonian

banded sea snake....loved following this guy around!

 

[Swim]

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed it.

 

[XSharkboyX]

You are a brave fellow! I dont know if i could follow a banded sea snake around! LOL

 

[ousnakebyte]

Those are great! Love the pygmy horse - awesome. And, the sea snake.... sweet.

You've also inspired me to start uploading my photos to photobucket.

Cheers
Mike