Photo by Rantje Allen
Photo by William Tan
Photo by Rantje Allen
Photo by William Tan
Photo by Rantje Allen
Today’s wreck diving was postponed a bit for another pelagic encounter, this time tuna. As divers were getting ready to enter the water, sudden splashes disturbed the still surface of the ocean. Towards the new moon, minnows start massing for migration up the Bone River where Miguel’s Diving has its docks. These minnows in turn… Continue Reading
Among all the wonderful creatures sighted this week while diving the hidden paradise of Gorontalo was a Snake blenny (Xiphasia setifer). Growing up to 50 cm in length this unusual blenny looks more like an eel. Miguel’s Diving staff found this one lying on a shallow sandy bottom during a rest stop. Check out additional photos… Continue Reading
A rare wind off the deep ocean brought unusual marine life right to the edge of Gorontalo’s reefs this week. During one surface interval between dives, guests watched inch-long baby barracudas, various swimming crabs and immature filefish. On a floating clump of Sargassum weed was an unusual nudibranch whose gills imitated the shape of weed bulbs.… Continue Reading
Miguel’s Diving staff have discovered a striking new species of fantail goby. Named after the Japanese emperor in 2005 by Allen & Randall, the Akihito goby (Exyrias akihito) sports a dorsal fin with three majestic fin rays and a row of double brown spots on its side. Unlike the other three species of fantail gobies, it is found… Continue Reading
This morning Miguel’s Diving staff took a much need break from above ground activities that keep us busy during off season. Even though we left the dock prior to 7 a.m. before the winds start, the swells in the river mouth were 1.5 meters and one wave entered the boat, making rinsing the boat easy… Continue Reading
Divers from Malaysia and Jakarta had some unusual if brief opportunities to shoot video and take photos this week. Two rarely seen dottybacks made brief appearances for divers to see: the endemic Togean dottyback and the undescribed Goldcap dottyback, both of whom are quite shy. Taking their photo takes great patience and a bit of luck. As… Continue Reading
During the last several days, not only has another Whale shark delighted divers but a rarely seen Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata) made an appearance. Distinguishing features include the white color of its lower lip proceeding down towards the chin, white scarring especially around the head and a rounded head without a beak. This one was about… Continue Reading
The whale shark that passed divers this morning off Gorontalo’s Swirling Steps dive site measured an impressive 8 meters. By the various sizes of these pelagics seen over the last few days, Miguel’s Diving staff have determined that there are at least three in the area at this time
A resident pod of about 20 Risso’s dolphins entertained divers this week during a surface interval between dives. Taking advantage of the bright sunlight to sun on the surface, some of the dolphins also slowly raised then lowered their tails vertically in the water. Sunlight reflected off the white foreheads of these large dolphins, which can reach… Continue Reading
A happy group of dive buddies just returned home to Singapore from five days of diving in Gorontalo. Alvin has posted some of his photos, which are available by clinking this link. Despite Gorontalo’s reputation as a macro paradise, he found the wide angle opportunities bountiful including the many unique Salvador Dali sponges available only here. But his face-on… Continue Reading
