• Photo by Rantje Allen

  • Photo by William Tan

  • Photo by Rantje Allen

  • Photo by William Tan

  • Photo by Rantje Allen

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Monthly Archives: November 2004

Aerial Views of the Togian (Togean) Islands

Travelers flying into Gorontalo?s new Jalaluddin Airport from Makassar (Ujung Pandang) to the south have a chance to see the Togian (Togean) Islands from the air. Those sitting on the aircraft?s port (left) side (seat A) can see these jungle-covered gems on the plane?s approach to Gorontalo.

Within a few minutes of take off from Gorontalo bound for Makassar, travelers quickly pass over the steep coastal mountains and cross the equator. Those sitting on the starboard (right) side of the aircraft (seat F) should be able to see the Togian (Togean) Islands, depending on cloud cover. If the weather is clear, even more distant Una-Una is visible. Togian Island?s notorious Colo volcano blew Una-Una apart in July 1983.

During dive season in Gorontalo (November to April), Miguel?s Diving can arrange for double location diving for those who want to dive both sides of the equator, Gorontalo and the Togian (Togean) Islands.

Guest Comments

16 Nov 2004

Dear Miguel’s Diving,

I just wanted to write and tell you what a wonderful time I had diving with you in Gorontalo. I have been diving off 3 continents/7 different countries and I have never had as much fun as I did diving in Gorontalo with your crew. The 6 sites I had a chance to dive were spectacular. You guys have it all – beautiful corals, anemones, sponges, rays, eels, shrimps, nudibranchs, and to top it off, “tons” of fish. Even the boat rides out to the sites were fun, since you have calm water and dolphins and flying fish to entertain you on the way.

Your crew was great! The local staff was helpful and polite and your American dive master, Rantje, was the best dive master I’ve been diving with in my 10 years of diving. Diving with Rantje is like having your own private marine biologist along on the trip.

Earlier this year I had contemplated giving up diving after being terribly seasick on yet another dive trip that required long boat rides on choppy seas. I’m glad I didn’t quit. You should advertise your calm seas and target divers who are sick of being seasick!

I enjoyed Gorontalo itself. It was easy to get around and I loved the little horse carriages.

Sincerely,
Anna from the USA

Attached are some photos I took on the trip.

70 New Fish Discoveries in Indonesian Waters

Indonesia�s position as the nation with the most biologically diverse waters on earth increased with the announcement of 70 recently discovered fish unknown to science. A month long expedition jointly conducted byIndonesian and Japanese researchers of deep water fishes off the coasts of Sumatra and Java turned up an astonishing number of undescribed fish species. These fish were captured at depths of 400 to 1,100 meters. The Department of Fisheries will be evaluating the commercial viability of fish catches in the areas studied. Two fish species among those caught are believed to have aphrodisiac properties.

The waters of Tomini Bay off Gorontalo are much deeper, dropping to under 4,000 meters. Occasionally, local fishermen will catch some strange deep-water creature like the Armored Gurnard in the photo and contact Miguel�s Diving staff for information. We suspect this particular fish only has aphrodisiac qualities to its own kind.

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