Our Blog - Sulawesi Diving with Miguel's Diving in Gorontalo, Indonesia's hidden paradise

Photo by Rantje Allen
Photo by William Tan
Photo by Rantje Allen
Photo by William Tan
Photo by Rantje Allen

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Blacksaddle filefish mimics a toxic toby

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Blacksaddle fishfish is a cute, tropical fish found occasionally throughout Gorontalo’s coral reefs. However, its saddle patterning closely resembles a toxic pufferfish.

Batesian Mimicry

A natural phenomenon where a harmless species mimics a harmful one is Batesian Mimicry. It gets its name from Henry Bates. He was a nineteen century English naturalist. He first detected this phenomenon among species of butterflies from the Amazon.

In Batesian mimicry, a mimic species will resemble a model species. In doing so, the mimic gains protection. So, predators mistake the harmless species for the harmful one.

Blacksaddle filefish and Blacksaddle toby

The scientific name of this filefish is Paraluteres prionurus. The toxic toby it resembles is Canthigaster valentine. Its skin and certain internal parts are toxic if swallowed. Tobies are small pufferfish species.

At a casual glance, both species appear identical! However, divers can carefully observe distinctions. Most noticeable are the differing dorsal fins. The dorsal fin of a Blacksaddle filefish will be long, extending all the way to the tail base. However, the Blacksaddle toby has a tiny dorsal fin near the tail.

Naturally, filefish have a dorsal spine located behind the eyes that tobies lack. Sometimes, a filefish will flick its spine upwards. More often, the spine tucks unseen onto the fish’s head. Only male Blacksaddle tobies have beautiful blue lines streaming behind their eyes. However, a male Blacksaddle filefish has four yellowish spines projecting from his tail base. These resemble a small brush.

Where to find Paraluteres prionurus

The Blacksaddle filefish live near the surface to a depth of 25 meters. Its maximum length is 11 centimeters. However, most are about half that size or smaller. This fish is scattered throughout Indo-Pacific waters. It prefers clear lagoons and coral reefs that face the ocean. Although adults are usually in pairs, they often swim with Blacksaddle tobies. This behavior gives extra protection to the mimic filefish.

For your chance to see a Blacksaddle filefish or toby, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

Indonesia Reopens to Foreign Tourists 2022

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Indonesia reopens to foreign tourists as of April 2022. Divers from 43 nations can now enter Indonesia without quarantine and purchase a visa on arrival.

Arrival Requirements in Light of the Pandemic

International divers must be fully vaccinated at least fourteen days prior to boarding their flight to Indonesia. Typically, full vaccination means two doses. Also, they must show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours from their departure location. In addition, they must show proof of medical insurance. This must cover at least USD25,000 in COVID-19 related medical treatments. Each diver must install Indonesia’s Peduli Lindungi app on their smart phone.

Indonesia Reopens with Visa On Arrival

All divers must have a passport with more than six months validity to secure any type of visa.

Divers from 43 countries can now enter Indonesia and purchase a Visa On Arrival (VOA). Those from other nations must organize a B211A visa.

indonesia reopens to 43 countries — 2022 List of VOA countries

All ASEAN country are on the VOA list. Other Asian countries are Japan, the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, and Taiwan. From the Americas, the countries are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the USA. European countries are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. Arabic countries are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, and the UAE. Countries with Indian Ocean waters are India, the Seychelles, and South Africa. Australia and New Zealand complete the list, as Indonesia reopens.

The current Visa On Arrival validity is for thirty days. Divers purchase their VOA at a counter prior to Immigration control. The VOA costs IDR 500,000. Payments can be made using MasterCard or VISA. This visa can be extended for an additional thirty days with a second payment at immigration offices. This VOA is currently available at eight airports. These are located in Jakarta (CGK), Surabaya (SUB), and Yogyakarta (YIA) on Java. Plus Makassar (UPG) and Manado (MDC) on Sulawesi. Medan (KNO) on Sumatra and Denpasar (DPS) on Bali. In addition, Indonesia reopens with VOA at eight sea ports and four land crossings.

Upon Arrival

As Indonesia reopens, divers need to anticipate several steps upon arrival. Be ready to show your Peduli Lindungi account on your phone to an officer. You will also scan the code provided in the PL app. Show your negative PCR test. Then someone with take your temperature. If it is 37.5 C or higher, a quarantine officer will give you a check-up. This includes a rapid antigen test. Let’s hope your temperature is normal!

Before proceeding to Immigration, purchase your Visa On Arrival. After you retrieve your luggage, show a customs agent your PL app. Indonesia now provides an Electronic Custom Declaration form to be completed prior to arrival.

After those steps, you can proceed to your connecting flight to Gorontalo (GTO). Upon arrival here, the government may give you a free antigen test while you wait for your luggage.

As always with entry requirements, please check for current information. The information in this blog is correct to the best of our knowledge as of April, 2022. For diving in Gorontalo, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

Echinaster callosus delights divers with bands of color

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Echinaster callosus, or the Banded bubble starfish, delights any diver who spies it. Its colorful bands of bubbles distinguishes it from all other sea stars.

A Distinctive Appearance

As with other sea star species, Echinaster callosus has five arms. Its central disc is small and its arms cylindrical. However, its upper surface is covered with warts or bubbles that protrude. Their color varies from yellow to pink to purple. Also, the bubbly warts near the center begin to form bubbly bands of white closer to the arm tips.

Moreover, each arm tip has an eyespot for sensing, as well as a cluster of suckers.

Its maximum diameter is about 25 centimeters. This lovely starfish is found throughout tropical Indo-Pacific waters, although it is not commonly seen anywhere.

Despite its distinctive appearance, this starfish easily blends into Gorontalo’s coral rich marine environments. Divers should look between five and thirty meters to find it.

As with other sea stars, the mouth of this species is underneath its central disc. Small hairs move food to its mouth. Scientists say the Banded bubble sea star eats small invertebrates that it finds on surfaces or the sea floor.

The Surprising Feel of Echinaster callosus

Like most sea stars, Echinaster callosus is safe to touch. A diver who carefully touches a Banded bubble star will immediately sense the soft bubbles and bands. However, that diver will also feel rows of sharp spines among the bubbles.

These spines are pedicellariae. On the Banded bubble star, they are tiny and retractable. They are yellow green in color. A pedicellaria is basically a jaw with muscles and sensory organs. It is shaped like a tiny wrench or claw at the end of a spine. Scientists have not done much study of the function of pedicellariae.

Predators and Reproduction

Both Giant triton shells (Charonia tritonis) and Harlequin shrimps (Hymenocerta picta) feed on Banded bubble stars. In fact, the sea star in the detailed photo only had three of its five arms. The other two had been eaten!

Like other sea stars

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, Echinaster callosus can regenerate from a single arm. However, this starfish also reproduces sexually. Embryos hatch into larvae and float with other planktonic sea life. As they mature, they grow five distinctive arms and settle to the sea floor.

For your chance to see a Banded bubble star in Gorontalo, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

Sculptured Slipper lobster in Gorontalo

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Sculptured Slipper lobster live in the coral rich reefs of Gorontalo, Indonesia’s hidden paradise. However, divers rarely see this crustacean because it is nocturnal.

The Sculptured Slipper lobster at a Glance

The Sculptured Slipper lobster has a distinctive appearance. Its body is flat like slipper. Also, it appears to have two mittens that it holds in front of its eyes. Its body is mottled with various patches of yellow, brown, and black. Many short hairs and tubercles cover its body, and the lower edges of its body appear to have short teeth. These teeth appear banded in yellow, orange, and lavender. In addition to two distinct eyes, it has a pair of short antennae that it can raise or lower between its mittens.

Although it can scurry on its six legs, its fastest movement is swimming backwards. To do that, it uses the muscles in its tail.

The usual length for a Sculptured Slipper lobster is between ten and fifteen centimeters. Males can grow up to twenty centimeters.

They are typically active at night and found above 20 meters in depth. Although in other places in the world, they frequent sandy bottoms with mixed coral and rocks, in Gorontalo we have only spotted them in coral rich areas.

As a bottom dweller, its preferred meal consists of molluscs, shrimps, crabs, and even urchins.

Names and Locations

The scientific name for Sculptured Slipper lobster is Parribacus antarcticus. It is the dominant species. There are five other species of the Parribacus genus. Although the scientist Lund named it antarcticus in 1793, this slipper lobster does not live in Antarctica!

In Indonesia

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, it is called by various names, depending on location. These include udang laut lebar, miyu uhut, ketam gonosso, udang pasir laut, and uhut. Gorontalo people call it hele paupau.

Although English speakers commonly call it a slipper lobster, it is not actually a lobster. It lacks claws and only has a pair in pinchers, which are slightly smaller than its legs. Its meat is only found in its tail.

Parribacus antarcticus lives in separate populations in warm oceans worldwide. One is off the east coast of Africa, including Madagascar. In the central Indian Ocean, Sri Langka is its home. Its largest range is the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Polynesia. The Hawaiian islands also host the Sculptured Slipper lobster. Lastly, it lives in the southern Carribean from Florida to Brazil.

For your chance to see a slipper lobster in Gorontalo, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

Bodianus dictynna thrives in Gorontalo

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Bodianus dictynna is commonly found in Gorontalo’s coral rich reefs. This species was scientifically described in 2006. Since it is only found in the Pacific Ocean, the common name is Pacific Diana hogfish.

One Goddess, Two Species

For decades, divers and fish enthusiasts thought that there was only a single species of Diana hogfish. However, based on Dr. Martin F. Gomon’s extensive research, populations were separated in 2006. The Diana hogfish in the Indian Ocean remain Bodianus diana, whereas the newly named Bodianus dictynna lives in the Pacific Ocean. Both are very similar in appearance. So, the best way to recognize the species is simply by location.

Both Latin word diana and dictynna refer to the Roman goddess Diana. She was the moon goddess and famous huntress. The genus name Bodianus comes from a Portuguese word that means modesty. As a result of Gomon’s research, scientists now recognize 45 species of Bodianus. These are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans.

Bodianus dictynna in Gorontalo

The Pacific Diana hogfish lives in warm

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, tropical waters. It lives as far north and south as Japan and Australia. Its eastern boundary is Tonga. No one knows yet how the recent volcanic explosion there will affect fish life. For unknown reasons, this hogfish species is rare in the central Pacific plate.

As to habitat, Bodianus dictynna prefers coral reefs. Juveniles frequent black corals and gorgonians. The juveniles also like the ceilings of underwater caverns. So, Gorontalo’s Jinn Caves dive site is a great place to search for this fish.

Divers should note that juveniles have a color pattern distinct from adults. Juveniles have a maroon and white maze pattern with distinctive black spots. These spots are on both ventral and dorsal fins as well as on the tail’s end. A terminal phase male sports a large black spot on the end of his dorsal fin. Also, he will have a black spot on mid anal and pelvic fins.

Adults eat molluscs and crustaceans. Juveniles eat parasites off the skin of other fish. Adults mate in pairs.

For your chance to see a Pacific Diana hogfish in Gorontalo, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

Entoprocta on solitary tunicates in Gorontalo

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Entroprocta is a division of extremely small aquatic animals that mostly live in colonies. Their body shapes look like tasseled tulips on long stalks. Miguel’s Diving staff often find them.

A Speckled, White Halo

Entoprocta colony on a tunicate — Entoprocta colony on a yellow tunicate

In Gorontalo, Miguel’s Diving staff see colonies of Entoprocta growing on the surface of certain solidary tunicates. Tunicates are actually animals, as well. We do not know which genus or species we most common here. These colonies look like a transparent forest sprouting from the tunicates surface. Individual entoprocts appear to have a dark spot. Sharp focus with a good lens is required to see the colony and its individuals.

Not a Flower, but an Animal

Entoprocta is a phylum of animals. All but two of 150 species are found in the world’s oceans. The other two live in fresh water. As adults, they cannot relocate, so they are sessile. An individual measures between 0.1 and 7 millimeters tall. An adult appears to be a tall stalk with a tulip on top. The top is ringed with solid tentacles. Moving their microscopic hairs or cilia creates a current that draws plankton into their mouths.

Both the mouth and anus lie inside this tentacle-ringed tulip. In fact, the name Entoprocta means inside anus.

Scientists call these critters zooids because they are not fully independent animals. In many ways they resemble bryozoans. However, anatomy and feeding are different.

Stalks of colonial Entoprocta rise from a shared foundation. This can be a plate or a network of tubes, which are called stolon. Solitary entoprocts are firmly anchored with a muscular foot. They will exhibit a nodding motion. Remarkably, some solitary species can move by creeping or by doing somersaults.

Entoprocta sketch from Wikimedia Commons

Reproduction of Entoprocta species

Both colonical and solitary entoprocts can reproduce sexually or by cloning. Depending on the species, unfertilized eggs are released into the water column. Other species have a pouch where the eggs mature then hatch. Some species even have an organ like a placenta to nourish the developing young.

Upon hatching

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, the larvae swim until they attach to a suitable surface. There, they will change into the adult form as described above. Moreover, the larvae will move its gut from pointing down to facing up. In this way, both mouth and anus face upwards. That is the most distinctive characteristic of Entoprocta.

All species can reproduce by budding. New zooids form from the network of stolon. Or, they can grow from a stalk. These will be clones of the parent. In this way, large colonies can form. Perhaps that is what we commonly see in Gorontalo.

As for entoprocts in Gorontalo, only Miguel’s Diving staff know about this marine animal. For your chance to see a colony of them, please make your dive reservations with us.

Green turtle pays a visit to Gorontalo reefs

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Green turtle is a species only occasionally seen along Gorontalo’s dense coral reefs. Adult green turtles are strictly vegetarian and so live near sea grass flats. Those seen at Gorontalo dive sites are migrating between sea grass areas in western Gorontalo to those in North Sulawesi Province. Divers will usually see Hawksbill turtles here.

Green Turtle Identification

green turtle on reef — The beautiful shell pattern of Green turtle

Both Green and Hawksbill turtles have similar appearances. However, certain features help identify both species. Green turtles have a single pair of large scales between their eyes. These are called prefrontal scales. Hawksbills have two pairs of small scales. Also, a hawksbill turtle has a distinctive hook on its beak, whereas a green turtle will have a rounded beak. Green turtles have smooth shells with smooth edges, whereas a hawksbill’s shell edges will be clearly serrated, especially towards the tail. Lastly, an adult Green turtle has a single claw on each front flipper, whereas a Hawksbill turtle will have two. Oftentimes, the shell of a green turtle will be highly polished with visible patterning.

Worldwide, Green turtles can grow up to a meter and a half in length. Also, they can weigh up to 400 kilograms. Those found in Indonesia are usually no longer than one meter.

Although baby green turtles eat a variety of things, adults shift to a plant diet. That means they eat mainly sea grass and marine algae. The common name green turtle comes from the fact that the fat found under this turtle’s shell is distinctively green in color. Scientists suspect the color is a result of the vegetarian diet. Also, this turtle’s scientific name is Chelonia mydas.

Moreover, should a diver notice the tail of a Green turtle, that turtle will be male. Only a male’s tail is long enough to protrude from under its shell.

Breathing in Sea Turtles

Divers know that sea turtles spend most of their lives underwater. However, they must breathe oxygen from the air. While traveling to dive sites in Gorontalo, guests might notice when a turtle’s head breaks the surface. One breath is enough to exhale stale air and replace it with fresh air. A green turtle will dive for about four to five minutes. Then it will surface for a couple of seconds to catch a breath. Divers should never interfere with sea turtles while trying to breathe. Sea turtles will sleep in a safe place. During sleep, respiration slows considerably.

Nesting Sea Turtles

turtle on the reef — Pausing on a Gorontalo reef

A female sea turtle will reach forty to sixty years in age before laying her first eggs. Breeding females will lay eggs every two years. They will lay these every two to three weeks. They lay 50 to 150 eggs each time.

The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings. Research on green turtles find that higher temperatures produce males, whereas lower temperatures produce females. Scientists worry that rising ocean temperatures from climate change will result in too few female green turtles.

A female sea turtle will crawl onto a sandy beach at night. Then she will dig a hole to lay eggs and recover them. Scientists believe they return to the beach of their birth to lay eggs.

Baby turtles will hatch about two months of incubation. They will usually hatch about the same time. Then they crawl as quickly as possible to the sea. Many predators from birds to large fish eat baby sea turtles. The chances of surviving to adulthood are very small. Humans still collect eggs and hunt sea turtles. This is illegal in Indonesia.

Although land turtles can pull head and flippers inside the shell

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, sea turtles cannot.

For your chance to see a green turtle in Gorontalo, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

Covid vaccination complete for Miguel’s Diving staff

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Covid vaccination is complete for all Miguel’s Diving staff. Our local dive masters completed both doses of Sinovac by mid-2021.

Ministry of Health Covid Vaccination Program

Covid vaccination for staff — Our staff display proof of vaccination

Organization for the covid vaccination program in Gorontalo was very professional. Health care workers registered residents according to national identity card. Results were sent to each person’s cell phone. This also provided proof of vaccination. After the first dosage, a reminder for the second dosage arrived to the registered cell phone number. After the second dosage, the Ministry of Health provided a vaccination certificate. This certificate can be printed as a card.

Covid vaccination helps protect the individual dive master from severe covid-19. It also provides confidence to our guests that our staff is protected to the extent possible.

Entry Requirements for Travelers

In order to enter Gorontalo, travelers must show a negative COVID-19 test result. This is in effect for arrivals by air, land, or sea at the time this blog was written. Also required is proof of covid vaccination. As a result, Miguel’s Diving does not ask to see a guest’s health records.

Olele vaccination program — Vaccination at Olele Village

Since entry requirements from the Indonesian government frequently change, please check before leaving home. The information could have changed since we published this blog post. Garuda Indonesia provides a good summary of these requirements.

Additional Safety Measures

We at Miguel’s Diving take additional measures to lower the risk of transmitting the Covid-19 virus among guests and to our staff. In addition to new normal precautions

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, we have special protocols designed for our divers.

In general, health officials encourage handwashing with soap & water for at least 20 seconds. When social distancing of 1.5 meters is not possible, we encourage people to wear a health mask. Also, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. And please cough away from others and into the elbow.

We encourage divers to bring only necessary personal items on board. We are asked to check body temperature prior to leaving the dock. Also, please clean the dive mask with baby shampoo or cleaner rather than spit. Divers should clear sinuses in the ocean away from others and maintain social distancing when waiting to ascend the ladder.

In addition, Miguel’s Diving soaks each regulator and mask set for a minute in 22ml Clorox/L water. We provide a disposable health mask if guests forget to bring. After each trip, staff clean and disinfect our vehicle. In these ways, we follow protocol advised by PADI and DAN.

Guests of Miguel’s Diving can feel confident that we are doing our utmost to provide a healthy dive experience. So, please make dive reservations with us.

Jungle trekking in Gorontalo leads to hot spring caves

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Jungle trekking in Gorontalo is a great addition to a diving holiday. Any easy-to-access half day trip leads through primary jungle to caves formed by hot springs.

Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park

Gorontalo and North Sulawesi provinces contain a significant national park. Its new name is Bogani Nani Wartabone. Previously, its name was Dumoga Bone National Park. Nani Wartabone was a native Gorontalo freedom fighter. He led the successful resistance against the Imperial Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Visitors to the Gorontalo side of this park can visit a house museum dedicated to him.

The park comprises over 2,800 square kilometers. According to conservationists, this national park is the most important conservation area on Sulawesi. The park provides refuge for many of Sulawesi’s endemic species. A Maleo hatchery is located a couple hours’ hike into the park.

Caves and Hot Springs

Jungle trekking into Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park gives visitors access to two small caves. Seepage from underground hot springs formed both caves. These caves are in their natural state with no human development.

Sauna cave Gorontalo — Ceiling of the Sauna Cave

One tiny cave is called the Sauna cave. Only the slim and agile trekker can climb into it. Inside it indeed feels like a sauna, complete with steam and dripping hot water. Flow stones and dramatic stalactites grow from its ceiling. High on a cliff is the Fairy cave. Locals call it Goa Bidadari. Access to this cave requires scrambling up a steep and barren slope where mineral waters leach over the surface. Only fit and agile trekkers should attempt the brief ascent. They do so at their own risk without any recommendation from Miguel’s Diving. These caves are located in the Hungayono area.

Jungle Trekking to Waterfalls and the one River

Jungle trekking in the national park can lead to two waterfalls. One falls dropping one hundred meters is accessed via Lombongo Hot Springs. Another falls formed during the COVID-19 pandemic after an earthquake. This waterfall is in the Hungayono area near to the Maleo hatchery. Its waters descend into the Bone River, which flows through the national park. These two falls cannot be accessed on the same trip. So, those seeking jungle trekking to a waterfall must choose. Be warned that scalding hot, underground water pours into the Bone River.

Wildlife Sightings

Trekkers should be on the lookout for various wildlife. Officially, the national park has identified 125 bird species, 24 mammals, 23 amphibians and reptiles. Moreover, tree species number 289. Often, trekkers can see or hear the endemic Gorontalo macque (Macaca nigrescens). This is actually a different species from the Sulawesi macaque (Macaca nigra) found in North Sulawesi’s Tangkoko Reserve. Neither of these primates are monkeys because they lack tails.

Mostly likely, trekkers will glimpse endemic kingfishers. The Green-backed kingfisher (Actenoides monachus) sports a brilliant blue head and orange beak. They live only in north and central Sulawesi. Additionally, lucky visitors can see the Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx fallax), which is distinctly red and found only on Sulawesi.

Other Sulawesi endemic birds include the Grey-sided flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum) with its brilliant red breast or the Sulawesi scops owl (Otus manadensis). Watch for green parrots with red heads. These are endemic Sulawesi hanging parrots (Loriculus stigmatus). Other endemics include hornbills, woodpeckers, rails, goshawks, pigeons, other parrots.

If you would like a jungle trek on a free day or after a short diving day, please let us know when you make dive reservations.

Cuvier’s beaked whales dive deep off Gorontalo

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Cuvier’s beaked whales often swim past locals fishing for Yellowfin tuna. Known for their diving ability, this medium-sized whale loves Gorontalo’s four-kilometer-deep waters.

A Pair of Cuvier’s Beaked Whales Caught on Video

Video of Cuvier’s beaked whales by Miguel’s Diving staff

Since Miguel’s Diving staff are all local fishermen, they will often take their small outrigger canoes into the deep ocean. There, they will handline Yellowfin tuna. One day, Boka noticed two Cuvier’s beaked whales swimming far offshore. He captured their passing using his cell phone. Local fishermen in Gorontalo are familiar with many cetacean species, including this one. The very small dorsal fin is one clue. Another is their brownish coloration.

These whales usually swim in small pods of two to seven individuals. However, males can be solitary. As seen in the video, the body and head emerge from the water while swimming. However, they do little breaching. Before taking a deep dive to feed, they will arch their backs.

A Living Fossil Gets a Name

French naturalist Georges Cuvier was analyzing a skull fragment for his research. He mistakenly concluded that it was a fossil from an extinct species. That was in 1823. However, several decades after his death, other researchers discovered the skull belonged to a living whale. Moreover, it lives worldwide in temperate, tropical, and subtropical oceans. That is where the Cuvier’s beaked whale gets its name. Its scientific name is Ziphius cavirostris.

Cuvier’s beaked whales — Sketch of Cuvier’s Beaked Whale by NOAA Fisheries

The body color of this whale varies from dark gray to rusty brown. Individual whales can have very different appearances. As the whale ages, its head grows whiter. This is more pronounced in males. Moreover, adult males possess two large, cylindrical teeth. These protrude from the lower jaw. As observable in the video, these whales keep their distance from boats and humans. For anyone lucky enough to see a Cuvier’s beaked whale close up

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, most noticeable will be the smiling appearance of its jaw. Also, many scars will be visible. Bites from cookie-cutter sharks, lampreys, and deep-squid are the cause of this scarring.

Deep Dive Record Holders

Cuvier’s beaked whales are famous deep divers. For that reason, they normally inhabit waters deeper than one kilometer. The ocean depths of Tomini Bay along Gorontalo’s southern coastline plunge more than four times that depth. These whales dive deep for squid. They will also eat fish and crustaceans. Hunting at such extreme depths requires the use of echolocation to find squid to eat.

The Cuvier’s beaked whale is the deepest diving mammal in the world. Its deepest recorded depth for diving is around three kilometers. In order to dive that deeply, this whale must have incredible breath-holding ability.

In fact, in a 2020 study from Duke University USA analyzed around 3,700 deep dives by Cuvier’s beaked whales. The research team placed satellite tags on 23 whales. The study lasted five years. The median time spent diving for food lasted about one hour. After that, the whale surfaced to breathe. However, one male shattered old records with two extreme dives. One dive lasted almost three hours. His longest dive lasted three hours and forty-two minutes.

Cuvier’s beaked whales can live up to sixty years. An adult whale measures between five and seven meters in length.

For your chance to watch passing cetaceans from our dive boat, please make your dive reservations with us.