Still here ... can't think of any reason to leave. I feel like i'm being lazy, and i guess i am :) I am meeting a lot of new fun people, they come, and go, and i'm still here. Great diving, great accommodations, great people, and close to 'town' .
Diving continues to be exciting, always something new to see.
This is Romel, who has been my Guide and Eyes; the person responsible for what i am able to photograph, and most importantly ... my life !
I'll point out here that the diving we do is not from a boat, as is the case at a lot of places. The sea-beaches right out front and all along the coast are reserved as Marine Sanctuaries, so no fishing. Which means we can walk right into the water and start our dive. The beach right out front of Aivy Maes is protected from the waves and is generally calm. But along the coast, it is not the case. It is challenging when there are huge waves coming in, and there are rocks and boulders underwater that you cannot see. Because Romel is such a considerate young man, (and i am old... he calls me 'Grandmother') .... he carries all my gear, down the beach sometimes a couple football fields, to where we want to enter the water. Then he helps me into the water, through the waves, over the rocks, and holds everything: my gear, my camera and usually me, ... while i flounder being bashed by the waves, putting on my mask, then my fins, then helps me into my gear. This is what it looks like ... definitely challenging ... and LOTS of extra work for him. You'll notice that HE is still in the water, and i am on dry land filming !
So, now you have a better idea of what goes into actually getting into the water. I am very grateful for him. When i was here before, there was another young man, Gien, that always did the same. It is their culture to have great respect for their 'elders'. I specifically asked for a 'native' Guide, also because they grew up in these waters and know where 'stuff' is.
So, i begin.
I'll start off with the Flamboyant CuttleFish. Everyone wants to see them, so a group of us set out on one dive with that goal. Just to remind you ... there is a HUGE ocean floor out there, and we are looking for something specific ... what are the chances? Thankfully, one of the divers, Adam, spotted it, and the people and cameras came running/swimming. They are only about 3" long, and don't move very fast, so I knew there was no chance of them getting away before everyone got their opportunity. These guys are so cute and interesting to watch, most agree we could just stay there and continue to watch them the rest of the dive. I have so many photos, it's hard to pick just a few.
I'll start off with some perspective. That is my gloved finger.
When a light is on them, they are very colorful. They walk.... using the 'leg' shown here.
They also hop... and glide ... they do not swim like fish ... I caught this one mid-air ...
They eat by very quickly sticking their 'tongue' out ...lightening fast. Check out the guy at the top
Below is my latest video on them ... watch closely at the very beginning to see the feeding action. You'll also notice that if a light is not shining on them, they appear dull.
It's a long sad story which I haven't mentioned. The last time i was diving before Covid, i decided i need to buy a 'proper' external light for my camera, ...like the big kids have. I bought one in 2020 when i returned, and was able to find the unopened box, 3 years alter, charge the light, and learn how to use it before i left. I was SO excited. This will make a HUGE difference in my photos. After I arrived, and before my first dive, i got everything set up. Long-story-short ... the light does not work :( So, i have to rely on someone else's light or ask someone to hold a their light in order for me to get color from any distance. Close up photos are ok; but anything further than 1 foot away will be dark. I was obviously depressed, almost in tears ... but i've moved on. Something to look forward to next year :) You can also watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ilVD3lndv7c
ok, i think we've covered Flamboyant CuttleFish, but i doubt for the last time. You'll have to bear more photos in the future ... i hope.
But before we leave, there is another CuttleFish, a BroadClub CuttleFish .... interesting as well, but not so much sought after. I've shown the BroadClub before, but they can appear so different.
Not the same one, just a few minutes later. They can look so different.
Something totally difffent, this is a type of Anemone, which reminds me of FireWorks !
I love Ornate Ghost PipeFish .... it's unusual to see 2 of them ... but here are 3 .... like a family photo .... i actually have no idea if they are a family ... but one is definitely smaller. The ones in my last post were yellow, orange .. this green yellow is nice too.
and this composition ... amazing!
I've already introduced you to Shaun the Sheep ... the green and white one. This is a Gold Shaun.
Red Letter Day ... I found this one myself. It was a brown blob, about the size of a walnut ... and it moved ! You won't hurt my feelings if you can't tell what it really looks like. Honestly, I couldn't really tell either until it showed me it's 'Monarch Butterfly' fins.
This video is more helpful ... he was wiggling his way into the sand when i left.
I've shared photos of the Flounder before, but have never really gotten a good look at his eyes. They move independently of each other, and they stick way up like telescopes.
This is a little Blenny that loves to hide in his home, but is very curious ... and grumpy ..
Unlike the Goby, who also takes refuge in it's home ... but this one is smiling at me.
Pretty Feather Dusters that were being shapened by the strong current.
On the same dive I found another treasure. A 4" Mantis Shrimp, i think it's a Pink Eared Mantis Shrimp (b/c of the pink ears...duh). I only spotted him because he 'attacked' me .... Mantis shrimp are able to club prey with the force of a bullet, or spike them with their sharp claws, this was a 'stabber' They are so beautiful !
Each eye operates independently and has ‘trinocular vision’, which means it can gauge depth and distance on its own by focusing on objects with three separate regions. You can see the eyes moving in the video.
After several dives in Dauin, I still had not seen a juvenile FrogFish. Romel did not disappoint when I made my request.
I even have a video of his clumsy little self going so painfully slow! He was only about the size of my little fingernail.
Another clumsy fish ... a Leaf Fish ...
I am posting a lot of videos, but it gives you a much better idea of the critters. I wanted so badly to help this one along.
LionFish are so pretty. They are an out-of-control invasive species in America and down through Central America. They are everywhere and threatening the marine life balance. Here in the Philippines, they are native, and you don't see many. So people get excited when they see one. So, when in Rome ...
How about a turtle ! I am so focused on seeing the tiny things, that when Romel pointed up a grassy slope ... i saw nothing; he pointed a 3rd time .... There were 2 of them, and they were GrandDads, giant turtles. I know everyone loves to see a turtle.
This tiny fish was on the same 'leaf' as Shaun the Sheep lives. And, i saw him myself while looking for Shaun.
I was so excited when Romel showed me this Orangutan Crab, crawling across the sand. I've seen them before, but they've always been hiding in a Bubble Anemone, and they've always been 'orange'. I have a hard time to make out what is what, they are so fuzzy.... like a Orangutan. You can see his eyes and little claws out front.
Here is a video of how painfully slow they move. It's not easy being an Orangutan Crab. At the end of the video, he throws his arms in the air, ... Hallelujah !
This alien creature was creepy. It keep slowly rising out of it's tube home, i assume to gather food from the sea.
Some pretty Coral and the fish that call it home.
I struggled and was surprised to see this photo, since it was living in between some 'stringy' coral that the camera insisted on focusing on. It's so very distinctive, and yet i can't identify it.
This is a Peacock RazorFish, that kind of floats as it swims, very graceful... and then very quickly changes direction.
It was floating peacefully, then quickly flicked it's tail and almost ran into me.
I'll finish this post with a Long Horn Cow Fish ... they are SO cute ... and they are easily seen. I've named this video .... "Are you Still Followin' Me? "
I've posted a lot of videos on this Blog, because i think they show much more than a photo can. If you have an opinion, let me know if you enjoy the videos and if they are helpful ... or not so much.
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