December 2005 - Sulawesi Diving with Miguel's Diving in Gorontalo, Indonesia's hidden paradise

Monthly Archives: December 2005

Squadron of Mantas

Posted on December 25, 2005 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Guests diving in Gorontalo on Christmas Eve day enjoyed quite a show. On the first dive we watched asquadron of eight pygmy mantas, probably Shortfin devil rays (Mobula kuhlii), which are common here. On the same dive a Black-tip reef shark and large Nap.olean wrasse made appearances. Two other Napo.lean wrasse came up from the deep to check out divers on the second dive. But the main attraction was the cuttlefish. A large and very pregnant female was inserting eggs into coral while a large male waited. However, he had to keep chasing off a small male that seemed determined to get in on the action.

Sharp-tailed Sunfish in Gorontalo

Posted on December 5, 2005 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Several days ago another sunfish showed up in the river mouth where Miguel’s Diving ties the dive boat. About this time last year a similar one appeared. Both fish were caught by hook at night during the dark moon. We sent a cutting of the first one to an international Mola mola researcher. DNA testing identified it as Masturus lanceolatus, the Sharp-tailed Sunfish, which is less common that the usual Oceanic Sunfish or Mola mola. As its name implies, the one found in Gorontalo has a small sharp tail, whereas the regular Mola mola has none at all.