Some of my time at the Manila airport was spent with Cebu Pacific, trying to get a refund for a ticket. I experienced a very ornery 'little girl' that was very defensive from the beginning. After denying my request, I showed her my ticket to Bali, asked if I could check in yet, (9hrs early). She looked at the computer and flatly said, "you don't have a flight today'. I about had a stroke. I argued, and she told me to go 'over there' and show it to me on the computer. Frazzeled, I walked 'over there'. I found it on the computer, went back and showed her. She said, 'oh ok', with no embarrassment. I looked at her, and asked if she didn't want to apologize to me. She just stared. I said, you need to say, 'I'm sorry I made a mistake and scared you'. She said, 'Sorry'. I will definitely send a comment to CebuPacific. I wish I would have made note of her name. I have been to that Info Center several times, and they have always been very helpful. I might add; they have always been males before.
They are doing a LOT of remodeling (I couldn't find my way around). And opening new restaurants. I had a great lunch/dinner, with a REAL lettuce salad! I never see that when I travel. I imagine it's difficult to grow lettuce in such a warm climate. Again, I do not stay at 'high end resorts' where they probably have salads :) 8pm finally came and we boarded quickly. I had seat 1A, which I paid extra for. No First or Business Class on this 4.5hr flight. I was warm with my new blanket.
And Bless Pena's Heart, he was there at Midnight to pick me up, after a 4hr drive to get there, and now another 4hrs to get to Tulamben. He did mention that he does not take taxi requests at this time of night normally. But he does it special for me because, he says I am the 'Mother' that he never really had. I also let Matahari know that I would be arriving around 4:30am. My room was ready. They had the air on full-blast, 16C, about 60F. All I wanted was a nice warm bed to fall into. But no problem falling asleep, and woke up at 1pm ! Note: it is only 65miles, but it is mountainous, lots of curves, only 1 lane in each direction, lots of traffic, and many big trucks going slow in front of you... scary to pass !
I had contacted Delon, 'My Guy' ... Guide and Eyes and asked him if he was available and would please be 'My Guy'. He said 'yes', and was ready to dive the next day. He said that is has been pretty 'quiet'... meaning, there hasn't been a lot of see underwater. Hummm, not something I wanted to hear! But he would do his best, which I know is pretty damn good, and on par with my other 'guys'. I might also mention that it has been raining, almost every evening/night, but mostly clear during the day. And that pattern continued. Diving here in Tulamben is 'walk in', no one has boats (except the fishermen). That means it's a little strange getting to the Dive Site. We go by truck, and then walk to the beach. There are local women, young and old, that are there to carry all the equipment, off the truck and down to the beach, and back on the truck again. They wrap a towel on their head, and carry the tanks that way. Why don't I take a photo?
The sea was a bit unsettling and wavy, but not too bad. All the rocks hidden under the water make entry difficult, like some places in Dauin. But Delon is very good at helping me get ready and in the water, again, like in Dauin. "My Guys' are the greatest! Just as soon as we got down, Delon showed me my first Nudi, a Tree Lined Mexichromis in Blue
We saw several crabs and shrimps which I've shown you before, except this Pederson Cleaner Shrimp. It is so transparent you can see through it.
Then TWO of my favorites, the Purple-Line Unidentia-Unidentia sandramillenae 9mm, Unindentia?, that's a strange name, sounds like 'unidentified'.
The Guides like to show you TWO, I guess because you don't usually see 2 at the same time.
But for me, it's usually frustrating... almost impossible to get both of them in focus. But you have to try because they are watching.
Next was a very tiny one, that was the same color as the coral it was on, which makes it difficult to photograph. This is a new one for me, and I think I've got it right with a Trapania, but not sure if the next part is 'palmula? or 'euryeia'? I will submit it to the guru. Confirmed... palmula !
The next little ones shows you just how difficult it is for a Goniobranchus to get through the 'jungle' of algae along the way.
Next up were a family of Skeleton Shrimp, because they look like skeletons. They are always constantly moving, sometimes fighting with each other. And sometimes saying 'WTF'
They are in several colors, today we saw some pink ones too,...not sure if I've ever seen pink before... I could spend the entire dive watching them, the are so comical. I've tried to get a video, but not so far.
We also saw this White Facelinid, although I just saw somewhere that they changed that name too.
We usually do 2 dives while we are out. At the end of the first dive, the waves were getting pretty rough, and we thought about calling it quits. But, we decided to go for it. That was a mistake, it wasn't too bad getting in, but the surge from the waves above made it no fun to try to hold still and get a photograph. But these next few are the results.
I know I've shown this Goniobranchus kuniei before, but they are so beautiful and striking.
Another new one for me, a Taringa halgerda, I think. A very cool one !
Again, doubles ...Ringed Favorinus Favorinus tsuruganus, 30 mm. One is in focus, and you can see the 'eye', (that's important).
I knew this one, it used to be called Okenia, but now it changed to Okenia Bermudella brunneomaculata
It rained again that night, and the next day the ocean was really 'angry'. We did not go out, even the Fishermen did not go out. This is the wall of the restaurant. Pay attention to where you want to sit ! Not a good day for water activities. I worked on my photos and Blog.
The next day wasn't much better, but we decided to go for it. And to a different Dive Site, that maybe wouldn't have such big waves. The waves were big, but hey, I have strong legs!
I have this one labeled as a Blue-Cheek Trinchesia--Trinchesia sp., which means it hasn't been identified yet, but someone gave it a cute name.
A diving buddy of mine is also here, and he sent me a message saying he saw the Banana Nudi Shaun at Melasti Dive Site. Since supposedly 'no one' had seen it yet, this was a big deal. So, yes, this was a VERY successful day. Delon found TWO of them. He was so excited, and other divers were gathering around to take photos. But since Delon found it, I got first chance...with my little TG6 camera ! The photos looked really good when I took them, but back on the computer, I was disappointed. I also felt like I had let Delon down. But he posted it on his 'Story', so he was happy.
This was interesting. Delon showed me this Discodoris boholiensis, and you can see a little bit of the Eggs on the right side.
So I was taking a photo, when it just when flying off to the left, with the Egg String just trailing it.
And then landed upside down.
It turned itself over and went on it's way... job done, I guess?
We also saw an Ornate Ghost PipeFish, these are so pretty and colorful. They just float freely around their host plant, Crinoids, aka Feather Stars, that looks just like them.
I saw my first one of these in Siquijor, and had a difficult time identifying it because it was all rolled up in a ball. Now, I can see what it really looks like. It is a Halimeda Elysia pusilla.
Then we saw a Greenish Trinchesia--Trinchesia sp. 8mm. Again unidentified, but at least it has 'Greenish'. I would have given it a better name. Those colors are Amazing !
I thought this was the same as the one that deserted it's eggs, but it is a Starry - Carminodoris estrelyado.
This is a Ceratosome tenue, I think. I spent a lot of time researching this one, because the next day, we saw 2 more. And I don't think they are the same. I've seen a Ceratosome before and they are strange looking. They are large, with a big 'body', and then a large 'tail' (those are not technical terms).
I saw this colorful part on the cerata and I thought it was another Nudi getting a ride. I motioned for Delon and put up 2 fingers,... he shook his head no. But I thought it was a strange part of the body. I still don't understand the body parts of these Nudis !
I found the Peacock Mantis Shrimp on my own. It wasn't interested in coming out of it's home.
Since were successful in getting in and out of the water yesteday, we tried again the next day. We're getting to be pros at this wave thing. And saw this Tenellia puti
And these darling little Goniobranchus albonares. Finally two, and in focus !
This is a Favorinus mirabilis, and they are the 'Egg Eaters', and I've also heard that they may even eat an entire Nudi. This one couldn't have been happier, surrounded by breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Then he found the Spiny Tiger Shrimp, another unseen lately. They are very tiny and move a lot.
This was a very good day too. Delon showed me this beauty, that I had no trouble seeing. It was hanging and feeding on the Octocoral. It was big and bold, 3/4". A Phyllodesmium iriomotense
I took so many photos, and they are so beautiful.
So I am having the time of my life taking photos of something so beautiful that I can actually SEE, and it wasn't moving away from me. And I hear/see Delon excitedly motioning me to come there. I almost ignored him, I mean what could be more important than what I was doing. HA, it was a Blue Ring Octopus, which no one was seeing lately. Delon did it again !
It moved around a bit, and I tried a video, but gave up. I don't have my camera nor light set up for video. And actually, it wasn't moving, so I went back to still photos.
It hung out with us quite a while !
So very special !
Next was a Mosaic Trapania miltabrancha. I saw several of these together in Camiguin, my first dive spot. They were in an impossible spot and I hoped that I would have the opportunity to see them again. Today was the day !
And, there were 2 of them !
We saw another Ringed Favorinus, they are so distinctive, and hard to miss. Such bright colors, and those big black rhinopores.
The next day would make 3 days in a row of me diving. The waves were still big, so I decided to take a day off. The next day would be my last day of diving, before leaving for my next adventure. And the next day the waves were still big, but we decided to only do ONE dive for the day... even if the first dive was fantastic. The first thing we saw was an Orangutan Crab, which I've shown you before, but this one you can actually see it's eyes.
Then this very bright blue Gloomy Tambja morosa. WoW, what color, there is some turquoise and some dark red in there too.
And then another Ceratosome. I was going to ignore it since we saw one already, but I thought this one was different. But, I'm giving up. Let's just say Ceratosome.
And then he showed me a very very tiny one that looked similiar. Maybe a baby Ceratosoma, ID pending from the guru. I posted several days ago, but got 'declined'... trying again. Confirmed: Ceratosoma trilobatum
Then this really cool one, a Red-Margin Thuridilla-Thurdilla indopacifica. At least I think, I'm asking for help from the Guru. It's like it was velvet orange with purple margins. Yes, this is a butt view, but the texture ! Confirmed: Thuridilla indopacifica
OH, and THIS one. Definitely a new one for me. The Starry Hallaxa-Hallaxa iju, 10mm, very tiny, but awesome!
Yes, kind of a blob, but so cool. I have no idea where it's eyes are. And the beautiful 'flowers' it is on.
And then there were MORE Spiny Tiger Shrimp ... TWO of them. One was very small, I'll call him David.
And the other quite large, Goliath. I thought Goliath looked like a 'hairy' Spiny Tiger Shrimp, and of course there is no such thing. Delon told me that it was old and covered in algae. As I look at the photos, he was right. Those young eyes!
I do not know if it was a mating ritual, or fighting for dominance, but it was so very entertaining. I love supplying the dialog :)
'I've got the high ground, come on Big Guy'
'Yikes! He's bigger than I thought'
The Battle - 'Ouch !'
The Retreat
I also have 2 videos of the Spiny Tiger Shrimp confrontation. If I had Sharla here, I'm sure she could put them together,....with music.
'Hey Get Away From Me' ...here, or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lScc8J7ex48
And, 'Yeah, Take That!'...here, or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7XIyeTwwob8
That was a fun dive !
After that, we finished with a tiny FrogFish. I have not seen many FrogFishy this entire trip, so I was happy. Usually the little ones look 'sweet', this one looked 'grumpy'.
The next day I spent re-packing my bags. I am on my way to Padang Bai for 3 days of diving. I've never been there before, but have wanted to check it out. Then I want to go to Gili Air to relax, with no diving. I don't want to drag everything for a week. So I want to leave most things and my big bag here at Matahari. And take a bag for diving, that I can leave in Padang Bai, when I go to Gili. So it took a lot of 'brain power' to make the decisions of what to take and what to leave, and in which bag for when.
Follow me there on my next Blog.
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