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

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Author Archives: Miguel's Diving

Cuttlefish color changes

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Cuttlefish are masters at changing the colors and patterns they display.

Changing Colors

Cuttlefish are close relatives of octopus and squid. These are all cephalopods and have the ability to quickly change color. A cuttlefish can display a completely different pattern in less than a second.

Three different kinds of specialized skin cells work together to produce these changes. Every wave of color across the body of a cuttlefish is produced by thousands of tiny skin cells working together under the control of a remarkably sophisticated nervous system.

Three Layers of Skin Cells

The outer skin of a cuttlefish contains three kinds of specialized cells. Each has a different function.

The first are called chromatophores. These are tiny sacs filled with colored pigment. The pigments are yellow, red, brown, and black. Small muscles surround each chromatophore. When the muscles contract, the pigment sac expands and becomes visible. When the muscles relax, the pigment shrinks almost out of sight. Thousands of chromatophores work together to create changing patterns across the body.

Beneath the chromatophores are iridophores. These cells contain no pigment. Instead, they reflect light using microscopic structures inside the skin. Iridophores can produce brilliant blues, greens, and metallic colors that seem to shimmer as the animal moves.

The deepest layer contains leucophores. These cells scatter light. They reflect the colors of the surrounding environment and help the cuttlefish blend naturally with different backgrounds.

Together, these three kinds of skin cells allow a cuttlefish to produce an astonishing variety of colors and patterns.

More Than Camouflage

Camouflage is one reason cuttlefish change color. This helps them avoid predators. Concealing their presence also helps when hunting. As you watch our video, notice when the cuttlefish blends in with the surrounding hard corals.

Communication is another reason for changing color. A male may display bold stripes or contrasting patterns while courting a female. Bright displays can also warn rival males to stay away.

Changing Texture

A cuttlefish does more than change color. It can also change the texture of its skin.

Small muscular bumps, called papillae, can be raised or lowered. Smooth skin can quickly become rough. The animal may resemble a piece of coral, a rock, or a patch of algae. Combined with changing colors, this makes the camouflage even more effective.

Cuttlefish in Gorontalo

Several species of cuttlefish occur in Indonesian waters. Divers in Gorontalo will most likely see the Broadclub Cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus). They rest on coral reefs, sandy bottoms, or areas of rubble. They often remain unnoticed until they move or begin changing color.

Watching a cuttlefish display its changing patterns is one of the most fascinating encounters a diver can experience. For your chance to see a cuttlefish in Gorontalo, please contact us for your dive trip booking.

Tergiposacca longicerata discovered in Gorontalo

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Tergiposacca longicerata is a newly described species of nudibranch, named in 2016. It is unusual in body composition and lays distinctive clusters of eggs.

Distinctive Appearance

This tiny aeolid nudibranch usually measures only a few millimeters in length. But some measure up to 15 mm. Its most distinctive feature is finger-like projections on its back. These are called cerata. On Tergiposacca longicerata, they are very long, thin, and cylindrical. They start behind the head and reach almost to the tail. Their shape is like match sticks.

A Long-cerata nudibranch with white egg clusters

Also unusual is its red-orange-colored jaw, which is visible through its transparent body. This nudibranch can exhibit some body coloration. The light coloration can be orange, yellow, gray, or burgundy. This color comes from internal organs visible through the transparent body.

Note the yellowish internal organs near the head in the photographs from Gorontalo. Also notice that the brownish cerata appear enveloped in whitish, translucent skin. This is distinctive of Tergiposacca longicerata.

The Naming of Tergiposacca longicerata

In 2016, Kristen Cella and colleagues published a major phylogenetic study. Its title was A Radical Solution: The Phylogeny of the Nudibranch Family Fionidae. They used DNA analysis to determine that the rare and tiny nudibranch in question was distinctly different both in body and DNA from other aeolid nudibranchs. Because of the long cerata, they named it Tergiposacca longicerata.

Besides the unusual cerata and reddish jaws, this nudibranch also lays distinctive egg masses. These look like bunches of white grapes and are called saccate. This characteristic made its way into the new genus name.

Note in the photograph from Gorontalo the white egg clusters in the background. On this day of discovery, our dive master found about a dozen of this nudibranch species. They were close together and laying eggs.

Three Tergiposacca longicerata nudibranchs

Stealer of Stings

The tips of the cerata contain cnidosacs that store nematocysts from stinging hydroids. This nudibranch eats a mixed diet that includes hydroids.

However, the stinging parts are not digested. Instead, they are transported internally to the tips of the cerata into tiny sacs. If something molests this nudibranch, those stinging cells are released in defense.

First Sighting in Gorontalo

In the original research paper, scientists cited discoveries of Tergiposacca longicerata in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and southern Japan. Records expanded to Singapore, Indonesia, and the Marshall Islands.

Typically, this newly named nudibranch is found in shallow water, about two to five meters in depth. Those from Gorontalo were about twelve meters in depth. Although found at the site that we dive each week, we had never before seen this unusual nudibranch in Gorontalo.

For your chance to see unusual marine life in Gorontalo, please contact us for your dive trip booking.

Longhorn cowfish knocks

Posted on May 29, 2026 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

The Longhorn Cowfish is one of the strangest looking reef fish in the Indo-Pacific. Its unique swimming technique makes the fish look like it is hovering.

All in the Name

Its scientific name is Lactoria cornuta. Lactoria means “milkcow” and cornutus means “horned.” The long horns on the head give this fish its common and scientific names. Another pair of shorter horns points backward near the tail. Combined with its box-like body, the fish looks almost unreal.

Longhorn Cowfish are found across the tropical Indo-Pacific. They live on coral reefs, sandy slopes, lagoons, and sheltered bays. Juveniles are often seen in shallow protected areas. Adults are usually solitary and move slowly over the reef while searching for food along the ocean floor. It can grow to a maximum length of 50 centimeters.

Fused bony plates cover its body like armor. This armor protects the fish from predators. The horns also make it difficult for larger fish to swallow them. A broken horn will grow back over time.

The color can vary from bright yellow to olive or tan. Many individuals have white or blue spots across the body. Juveniles are often brighter than adults. Some large adults become darker and the long head horns may appear shorter with age.

A Fish that Hovers

Despite the rigid body, the fish is surprisingly graceful underwater. It moves by fluttering its small fins while the body stays almost motionless. Scientists call this style of swimming ostraciiform. So, the Longhorn Cowfish appears to hover. Notice in our video how the fish moves its dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins to remain motionless in midwater.

It often hovers slowly over sand while blowing jets of water through its mouth when searching for food. The fish searches for worms, tiny crustaceans, and other hidden prey.

Sounds of the Longhorn Cowfish

The Longhorn Cowfish makes distinctive sounds underwater. It contracts special muscles connected to its swim bladder to make noises. When disturbed or handled, the fish can make knocking, clicking, grunting, or humming noises. Scientists discovered that the fish produces at least two different sound types. One is a short click with stronger volume. The other is a softer humming sound that can continue for long periods.

The knocking sound is surprisingly loud underwater. In our video, listen for the knocking sounds when the photographer approaches. The sound can resemble someone tapping lightly on wood or knocking inside a hollow container. Research suggests the fish can hear these low-frequency sounds produced by other cowfish.

Like many boxfish, the Longhorn Cowfish also has a dangerous defense mechanism. When severely stressed, it can release a toxic substance called ostracitoxin from its skin. This toxin can kill nearby fish in confined water such as aquariums.

Although awkward looking at first glance, the Longhorn Cowfish is a favorite subject for underwater photographers and divers. Its unusual shape, shy personality, and slow hovering movement make it unforgettable. Hearing the sharp knocking sounds underwater only adds to the experience.

For your chance to see and hear a Longhorn cowfish in Gorontalo, please contact us for your dive trip booking.

Twinspot Cardinalfish find shelter

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Twinspot Cardinalfish find shelter during daylight hours. They hover in small groups among dense hard corals.

Identifying the Twinspot Cardinalfish

The Twinspot Cardinalfish gets its scientific name from two dark spots on its body. That name is Taeniamia biguttata. One spot is behind the head. The second spot is on the mid-tail base. The fish seems to darken or lighten its tail spot. Also, this cardinalfish has a dark bar below the eye. This dark bar distinguishes this species from others at times when the second spot on the tail is diffuse. These features help separate it from similar species.

As with many cardinalfish, the Twinspot’s body is pale and slightly transparent. Rows of narrow orange bars decorate it. And tiny dashes of bright yellow mark the mouth and eyes. Most remarkable in the Twinspot Cardinalfish found in Gorontalo are the electric blue markings on its eyes. This striking feature does not appear in other photographs of Taeniamia biguttata. Fishes of Gorontalo often appear more colorful than the same species found elsewhere.

Sheltering in Gorontalo’s hard corals

Schools of Twinspot Cardinalfish typically shelter among dense branching corals during the day. Only careful divers will notice them. Usually, they hover in place. They will only move when approached. Often, they will move as a school. Notice this behavior in our video.

Still photographs taken of these Twinspot Cardinalfish were carefully animated using AI. Notice which individual fish display the tail spot and which do not. Several other cardinalfish of different species have joined these schools.

Behavior & Feeding

Cardinalfish species rely on the group for safety. By staying close together, they reduce the chance of being eaten by predators. Their pale color also helps them blend into the background.

If disturbed, the group will move deeper into cover. They do not swim fast over long distances. Instead, they depend on hiding.

Twinspot Cardinalfish are active at night. In darkness, they leave their shelter to feed on plankton in the water. The eyes are large, which helps the fish see in low light. Most individuals are only a few centimeters long.

This species is found across the Indo-Pacific from Indonesia’s Sumatra to Japan. It prefers protected reef areas, especially places with overhangs or branching coral. Groups can be small or quite dense.

If you would like one of our dive masters to point out cardinalfish, please let him know. For bookings, please contact us.

Bigfin reef squid mating dance

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Bigfin Reef Squid are a fascinating sight for divers in Gorontalo. Often, small groups of these squid hover in open water above the reef slope.

Mating Dance Captured on Video

During courtship, their bodies shimmer with changing colors and patterns. Only the luckiest of divers witness this remarkable mating dance of flashing colors and synchronized movement. Ted Foon, one of our guests, captured several minutes of this rarely witnessed behavior. We share highlights in our YouTube video.

Identifying Bigfin Reef Squid

The squid in this video is the Bigfin Reef Squid. Its scientific name is Sepioteuthis lessoniana. Its large oval fins make it easy to recognize. They run almost the entire length of the mantle. These fins give the squid a shape that resembles a cuttlefish. The body is semi-transparent. But it can flash brilliant stripes or waves of color. Scientists believe that these color changes help squid communicate during courtship and competition.

Bigfin Reef Squid typically grow to about 30 centimeters in length. They are common throughout the Indo-Pacific. Often in small groups, these squid gather in shallow water near coral reefs, seagrass beds, or mooring lines. During mating displays, males may guard a female while rival males attempt to approach. The rapid changes of color and pattern are part of this visual communication. However, in our video, no other males were present.

Conservation & Natural Observation

Reef squid are important predators in coral reef ecosystems. They feed on small fish, shrimp, and other crustaceans. In turn, they are prey for larger fish, dolphins, and other marine animals.

Encounters with Bigfin Reef Squid are most memorable when divers remain patient and respectful. When divers maintain a distance and move calmly, the squid can continue their graceful courtship displays. These moments reveal the remarkable intelligence and beauty of reef cephalopods in their natural environment.

Squid are highly intelligent and show awareness of divers. If a diver spots a group of them, the squid will retreat by swimming backwards until they disappear from sight.

For your chance to see squid hovering over Gorontalo reefs, make your dive booking directly with us.

Hawksbill sea turtle observed naturally

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Hawksbill sea turtles are a common sight for divers in Gorontalo. In our video, one sea turtle feeds under coral, scratches beneath its flipper, and swims to the surface to breathe. Because the divers stayed calm and kept their distance, the turtle acted naturally. It did not flee or show stress. Respectful diving allows turtles to behave as they would without humans nearby.

Responsible Diver Behavior

Good diver etiquette is key. Divers must maintain good buoyancy, avoid sudden movements, and never block a turtle’s path to the surface. Also, divers must never surround a turtle, lest it fear being attached. Moreover, chasing or touching a turtle can stress it and disrupt normal behaviors like feeding or breathing. Patience and calm observation let divers see authentic marine life in action. In our video, the turtle ignored the divers because they followed these guidelines.

When photographing a sea turtle, approach only as close as the turtle allows. In our video, our dive master used a long selfie stick. Also, we used a zoom feature when editing to get super close-up shots.

Identifying the Hawksbill Sea Turtle

The sea turtle in this video is a Hawksbill. Its scientific name is Eretmochelys imbricata. It has a hooked beak and two pairs of small scales between its eyes. These four scales are clearly visible when the turtle looks directly into the camera. The overlapping shell plates give the rear edge a jagged look. Each front flipper has two visible claws. Hawksbills in the Indo-Pacific grow to about one meter long and take decades to reach maturity.

Hawksbills feed mainly on sponges but also eat tunicates, soft corals, jellyfish, crabs, squid, and small fish. In the video, the turtle searched carefully under coral for food. Its slow, deliberate movements show it was comfortable and undisturbed by divers.

Conservation Status

Eretmochelys imbricata is critically endangered. It is illegal to harm, capture, or trade Hawksbill sea turtles or their shells. Plastic pollution is a major threat because turtles may mistake bags for jellyfish. Observing turtles responsibly helps them conserve energy and continue natural behaviors.

Hawksbill encounters are best when patience and respect guide the dive. When divers follow proper etiquette, turtles can feed and move freely without disturbance. To see a Hawksbill sea turtle behaving naturally on Gorontalo reefs, make your dive booking directly with us.

Grand Side-Gilled Slug Takes a Day Trip

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

As large as a dinner plate, the Grand side-gilled slug delights divers during night dives. But during the last day of 2025, one crawled across the bottom in daylight.

A Nocturnal, Giant Sea Slug

Most divers are familiar with nudibranchs. They have feathery gills exposed on the top of their bodies. Side-gilled sea slugs are different. Their large, plume-like gills hide between the mantle and the foot. They are usually tucked along the right side of the body. This unique arrangement gives the group its common name.

Grand side-gilled sea slugs live primarily on shallow sand and rubble bottoms. They are almost exclusively nocturnal. This behavior makes them ideal targets for sightings during night dives. After dark, they crawl across the sea floor, actively hunting tunicates, anemones, and other invertebrates. With strong jaws and a wide mouth, this species can even consume sleeping fish.

Like other members of this group, the Grand side-gilled slug has a pair of rolled rhinophores. These detect chemical cues and water movement, helping to locate prey in the absence of light. When threatened, it can secrete sulfuric acid as a chemical defense. As a result, most predators avoid this giant slug.

The Grand Side-Gilled Slug

The Grand side-gilled slug is the most commonly seen species of its kind in Gorontalo. It can grow to an astonishing 21 centimeters. It may be the largest sea slug divers are likely to encounter. Its scientific name is Pleurobranchus grandis.

Its coloration varies widely. However, the species usually displays three dark bands that contrast sharply with the rest of its body. When moving, the slug can arch its mantle, forming a raised spout toward the rear. This structure helps channel water and waste away from the body as it travels across the seabed.

Despite its size, P. grandis moves deliberately and calmly. Notice its subtle movements in our video.

Surprising Sighting in Gorontalo

Imagine our surprise and delight at finding a Grand side-gilled slug crawling in broad daylight. Fortunately, one of our dive masters had an underwater camera ready to capture this moment. Given that the date was December 31^st, we speculated that it was on its way to a New Year’s Eve party.

For your chance to make an unexpected encounter in Gorontalo, make a booking with us.

Blue Whale sighting goes viral

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Blue whale sightings are extremely rare. They are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth. So, imagine our awe when a blue whale surfaced and breached in the waters off Gorontalo.

Deep Seas of Gorontalo

The deep offshore waters of Gorontalo create ideal conditions for pelagic encounters. Ocean depths along Gorontalo’s southern coastline plunge to four kilometers. These are the waters of Tomini Bay that separate Gorontalo and Central Sulawesi provinces. Encounters with large pelagic animals are common. However, sightings of a blue whale are extraordinarily rare.

On this remarkable day, the ocean revealed something unforgettable. A massive blue whale surfaced within 100 meters of shore. It exhaled powerful blows upon breaching. Then it descended into the calm, blue waters. Its immense size was unmistakable. Villagers for several kilometers along this coastline saw this whale as it passed.

Drone Footage Goes Viral

Fortunately, a friend from shore launched his drone. This allowed documentation of the encounter from above. The aerial perspective shows the true scale of the blue whale. The video captures both the breaching behavior and the iconic blow, offering a rare glimpse into the life of this gentle giant.

You can view the drone video on our Facebook page and Instagram (@gtomiguelsdiving). The video has captivated viewers from around the world. It has over 17,000 views on our social media accounts.

Blue Whale, Ocean Giant

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) can reach lengths of over 30 meters. It can weigh more than 150 tons. Despite its enormous size, it feeds almost exclusively on plankton. The heart alone can weigh as much as a small motorcycle.

Blue whales are migratory and typically found in deep offshore waters. Our sighting nearshore in Gorontalo is especially significant. Miguel’s Diving staff sighted another blue whale near the same location about 20 years ago. Although their populations are slowly recovering, they remain endangered. Every encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ocean conservation.

Gorontalo: More Than Just Diving

This blue whale sighting highlights Gorontalo’s extraordinary marine diversity. While the region is best known for pristine coral reefs, rare critters, and world-class diving, encounters like this show that Gorontalo also plays a role in the lives of the ocean’s largest inhabitants.

Moments like these remind us why we explore, protect, and share the stories of the sea. For your chance to make memories in Gorontalo, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

QRIS now available at Miguel’s Diving

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

QRIS is now available for our divers. Guests can enjoy faster and easier payments using Indonesia’s national QR-code standard.

QRIS, Indonesia’s Payment System

QRIS stands for Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard. It is a national payment system regulated by Bank Indonesia. With QRIS, guests can make cashless payments by scanning a single QR code using their preferred Indonesian digital wallet or banking app. All major apps in Indonesia support QRIS, including OVO, Dana, GoPay, ShopeePay, and mobile banking from BCA and other banks.

QRIS has grown rapidly across Indonesia in recent years. Bank Indonesia reports that QRIS transaction volume jumped over 175% year-on-year. This reflects how widely locals and travelers now use this cashless option. The value of QRIS payments has also increased sharply. They reached more than Rp 300 trillion nationwide as of 2025. At the same time, the number of people using QRIS has expanded to over 50 million users. More than 30 million merchants across the country now accepting it. This strong national adoption is one reason Miguel’s Diving has added QRIS to our list of guest-friendly payment choices.

For our diving guests, this means there is no need to carry extra cash. Simply open your digital wallet, scan the QR code, and confirm the payment. The process is instant and secure.

A Convenient Option for Travelers

QRIS is especially helpful for domestic divers who already use digital wallets. For international guests, VISA and MasterCard remain available for larger payments. Many foreigners also prefer making a local rupiah transfer using Wise or BCA. Adding QRIS gives guests another fast and modern way to settle their dive arrangements.

QRIS offers two types of QR codes. Small shops often use a static code, while larger businesses use a dynamic code for each transaction. Miguel’s Diving uses a static code that best suits diving services, so guests can expect smooth and reliable payment processing.

Safe & Standardized

Because QRIS follows a national standard, the QR code at our dive center works across all supported apps. Each transaction is encrypted and must be confirmed inside the user’s own payment application. Even if the code is printed on a sign, it holds no personal information. This makes the system both simple and safe to use.

QRIS also reflects Indonesia’s move toward modern, cashless transactions. It is widely used throughout the country —from cafés and supermarkets to small shops and tourist services. By bringing QRIS into our dive center, we hope to make check-in and check-out more convenient for everyone.

Guest-Friendly Payment Choices

Guests of Miguel’s Diving now have four easy ways to make payments:

QRIS for instant cashless transactions
Cash rupiah for those who prefer traditional payment
Rupiah transfer using Wise or BCA
VISA / MasterCard for international card payments

This wide range of options lets divers choose the method that works best for them.

We hope this new QRIS option makes your time in Gorontalo even smoother. Whether you come for coral walls, marine life, or Salvador Dali sponges, we want every part of your visit—including payments—to be easy and enjoyable. To join one of our dive trips, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

Winged Pipefish juvenile emerges from hiding

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Miguel's Diving • 0 Comments

Winged Pipefish are rarely seen. So, imagine our surprise to find a juvenile, complete with its distinctive wings!

Coming a Coral Wall

Miguel’s Diving staff work diligently to discover the hidden secrets of Gorontalo’s coral-rich dive sites. The dense hard coral environment provides many places for rare marine life to hide. This makes them hard to find.

Yet one day, staff discovered a juvenile Winged Pipefish. It was hiding among clumps of Halimeda coralline algae. This green algae has flat, round discs. As they age and die, the green surface peels away, leaving a brilliant white skeleton. After being crushed by waves, it becomes white sand. Underwater, the contrast between dark green and bright white makes a perfect place for pipefish to hide.

Unfortunately, no macro photographers were on board on the day of discovery. So, the crew returned to the site the following day to make some photos and this video. Gorontalo’s direct sunlight made shooting quite a challenge since the Winged Pipefish floated out of dark corners to over-lit sand and algae patches.

Distinctives of Winged Pipefish

Its scientific name is Halicampus macrorhynchus because of its long nose. Other common names include Ornate or Whiskered Pipefish.

One main distinctive is fleshy growths on its body. Notice the eight to ten pairs of skin flaps along the body. As the pipefish matures, these begin to disappear. Also, its long nose and face have these growths. In fact, these growths can make the face hard to see. The body color varies greatly but usually shows white spots along its back.

Like other pipefish and seahorses, the Winged Pipefish male will brood eggs in a ventral pouch. Divers report seeing this species in Bali, Sulawesi, and Raja Ampat.

For your chance to make memories in Gorontalo, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.