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Here we are at the start of our penultimate dive day. Another flat calm sea with little or no wind, just the way we like it.

This will also be our last night dive day as tomorrow we bring the whole dive program forward so that we can be out of the water in time for our no-fly time to expire, two dives back to back at 8.00 and another two at 14.00, that usually does it.

.. And because I know you want to know, breakfast was omlete on toast for Jo whilst I went with two eggs sunny side up with spicy sausage, all washed down with fresh watermelon juice.

A light shower of rain just passed through and Jo’s wetsuit that she hung out overnight is, well, wet!

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, What a great mornings diving!

Dive #53

Daryl Laut

Once again, the casino wreck has much to entertain us with. A painted frog fish at the start of the dive, some very nicely positioned nudi’s and a dragon shrimp, 30.3m, 70 minutes, such fun!

I even found the painted frog fish again towards the end of the dive, or did it find me?

After a short island hop we spend the surface interval at Sombrero which is the location for the second dive.

Dive #54

Sombrero (Batok)

This is a reef which is some way off the nearby island, the visibility, clarity and colours are mind blowing.

So much to see, so many fish, schooling red toothed trigger fish, schooling snapper, feather stars of all colours and what seems like mile after mile of pristine colourful reef. Simply awesome!

All too soon we’re back on the surface and heading back to base.

Lunch today is B.L.T. for Jo and Pancit Canton with vegetables for me, yum!

… and now we have to order dinner…

Scorchio again today so we take a quick wallow in the pool before the mornings crop of photos is checked then before long it’s time to get back under the sea.

Dive #55

Viverie.

This starts with a flat white sand seabed before a slope descends down into the abyss. The highlights of this dive being a microscopic sea pen shrimp and a hairy shrimp, awesome tiny stuff!

Back on board we return to base for a swift hot drink and then out again for the dusk/night dive

Dive #56

Secret Bay

There were a couple of cold spots on the last dive so I finally succumb and put on my wetsuit!!

We saw all the regular stuff but the highlights of this dive were most probably the two large frog fish on a coral outcrop at about 22.5m. One was regular plain sandy orange in colour but the other was a monster painted frog fish in amazing colours, never seen anything like it. Oh, and the pair of ornate ghost pipe fish and Jo saw another hairy shrimp

After a short boat ride back around the corner we have a quick rinse, prinks and then our dinner of deep fried shrimp and Teriyaki chicken with rice. Only one evening meal after this one. We must choose wisely!

Side note: All the time I have been eating Kiri Na Tanigui thinking that it was Tuna Ceviche – it turns out that the fish is actually Blue Marlin!!!

Additional note: Online checkin for our flights home is now available, how very disappointing….

Every time I blog, I seem to start by saying what a beautiful day…

What a beautiful day!

No wind and the odd cloud.

Breakfast at 6:30, camera stuff and out on the dive boat at 7:30.

Us with Nannie. Daryl and Diane, and Mike and Daneen with Romnick.

Dive #49

Manit Corner

One of our favourite dive sites, even though we think it is even better at night!

The topography of this site is amazing. We find lots of critters to photograph.

Harlequin shrimp

Big fat slugs

Sexy time nembrothas

Pink scorpionfish

We move to twin Rocks for our surface interval. Much too much engineering talk for my taste. Yawn!!

Dive #50

Twin Rocks

Started off lovely. Just us and Nannie.

As the current picked up so did the number of divers in the water.

Diver soup!

We did see lots of things.

Shrimp cleaning a Moray’s teeth

Three large pink and yellow slugs together.

Pink flabelinas

Large bugs inside blue sea squirts.

Back to the resort by 11:30.

Something we haven’t mentioned is that a lady here had an accident a couple of days ago. On her way back to her room in the evening she tripped and broke both her ankles. Unable to weight bare at all, she has been confined in her room, unable even to get herself to the loo. She has just been stretchered from her room onto a boat. We assume an ambulance will be meeting her around the corner and she will be flying business class so that she can lay down for the flight. Looks like an operation once she gets back to Germany.

Lunch, a BLT and blue marlin ceviche (turns out not tuna after all).

Had a nap for an hour before heading out for more diving.

Dive #51

El Pinoy

It was a chilly 27°.

Wetsuit next time.

Mainly rubbly area.

We saw a huge yellow frogfish, shrimps and nudis.

The surface interval was passed by getting into my wetsuit, drinking coffee and eating Oreos.

Dive #52

Saim Sim

Sandy barren slope

We saw lots

Four octopus, one of which was eating

Two large cuttlefish, one of which was also eating

Bobtail squid

Tiny orange frog fish

Five seahorses

We chatted at the bar for a while before having dinner and an interesting conversation about American gun laws with Mike and Daneen. Really nice people.

Asleep before 9:30!

Another flat sea welcomes us on dive day 12 of our adventure.

A departure this morning, corned beef hash and fried eggs, which turned out just right, followed by fresh pinapple and mango, that should keep things going!

The sun is creeping over the hills behind us, another scorchio day!

Dive #45

Red Rock

Before the dive we brief our guide, shrimps on whip coral and aphids (ladybugs) hiding inside blue sea squirts. Nani did not disappoint! Add to that a couple of monster frog fish and a handful of Nudi’s on this awesome site and that pretty much summed it up. Awesome dive on awesome site, excellent.

Back on board we spend the surface interval munching on lollies from AUS and giant M&Ms from the USA. That along with the bountious banter between all represented nations all conspired against me remembering to change my flash batteries. Bugger!

Never mind, I’ll make it last the second dive!

Dive #46

Bubbles Point

The extremely bright sunshine bought a new perspective to this otherwise gloomy and foreboding dive site as we explored new areas and discovered new things, new nudi’s, more shrimps and more ladybugs.

Yet another superb dive on this fabulous site with lots seen and many pictures taken.

We arrive back at the resort despite having two long dives (well, we did get away early and neither dillied nor dallied along the way).

A quick hose down and it’s time for lunch.

.. Which consisted of B. L. T. And Shanghai Rolls, all very lovely and then D&D hand this monster fish bought out (which they had purchased from someone who got it from someone else!!) so I helped them out with that a little.

Back to the room to review the mornings catch. I know I sound a bit like a stuck record but they really were two most excellent dives this morning. Our guide Nani found everything we asked him to, we’ll have to ask harder, perhaps for the elusive pygmy whale shark!!

After a dip in the pool (scorchio again) we head out for the first dive of the afternoon.

Dive #47

Mainit West

Zero current, which is nice. A turtle greeted us on this dive and seemed unmoved by our presence. We continue our way down through coral outcrops on a coarse sand slope.

Things we saw included (but were not limited to) : nudi’s various, porcelain crabs, Christmas Tree Worms, blue ribbon eels and a barrel sponge crab.

Back on dry land for a hot drink before we head out for the mandarin fish dive, there’s the kiss of death right there, let’s sgee what shows up then!

Dive #48

Mandarin dive!

It’s took around 20 minutes to get to the spot where the mandarins hide out. We dropped in and made our way over to an area that was liberally convered in stag corals, this is where they like to hide. We sit and wait…

After a while we start to see some activity and not long after that, coupling action ensued. They are not as big, plentiful or as highly active as the ones seen in Lembeh but they were there, doing what mandarin fish do at dusk!

After about 7 minutes of action it all came to an end, the manarin fish went off for a cigarette and we went back to the boat and headed home again. The sea was mirror flat, the air warm and the display of light from the various waterside establishments quite splendid.

We arrived back on shore, had a quick hose down then meet at the bar for a swift one before dinner which was a sumptuous feast of minced pork and potato, chicken with noodles and vegetable chop suey. Ask very lovely. This was supplemented by a plate of salt and pepper squid that D&D had over ordered!

After all this excitement, we head off to process the cameras then back to the room where Jo works hard to seperate the wheat from the chaff of today’s pictures (I seem to generate a lot of chaff) then we pass out and recharge for the next day.

During the had the loudest clap of thunder woke us up! It also poured and poured with rain.

On the night dive last night, I was taking a picture of a very beautiful slug when I felt something tapping my arm. I was a little surprised to see a huge basket star coming towards both me and the slug, chasing the tiny animals that were attracted but my torch light.  I moved further away from the basket star attracting the stuff in the water and therefore the basket star away from the slug. The basket star actually went straight over the slug which sat tight and retracted its rhinophores and gills. Once it passed rhinophores and gills came back out and photography began again. It was a really interesting thing to witness.

Breakfast with Darryl and Diane this morning discussing crystal meth and how easy it is to get it in the UK. They assure us that it is easy!

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

It also turns out that the Australians invented the lobster!!

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Dive #41

Kirby’s Rock

We went straight out to the outer pinnacle for a tour before heading back into the wall.

This is a really impressive dive site. Not my favourite as well diving is not my favourite type of dive.

An hour of one upmanship was had during the surface interval. Lots of sweeties on the boat now that our Aussie friends are here

Dive #42

Olympic Point

Lovely dive, down to a rubbly area at about 20 metres.

We saw tiger shrimp and harlequin shrimp.

Also, other shrimps and slugs

An eel out hunting with a trevally.

Lunch was BLT and vegetable noodles.

We had an hour’s nap before the next dive.

Meeting at three, so we of course we are ready early. Daryl and Diane don’t dive in the afternoons so it was just us, with Nanny, and Mike and Daneen, with Romnick.

On the boat, reversing away from the beach… Then the boat doesn’t go into forward!

Oh!

We drift along a bit and Nannie and Jake punt us into the shore. Wendal, captain of another boat, comes to the rescue. He picks us up and takes us to the first of the afternoon’s dive sites.

Dive#43

Arthur’s Rock

A bit of current at the top, so it is decided to dive it as a drift.

We didn’t look at too much for the first 10 minutes but then the current started to subside.

Kept in the same direction and after Arthur’s Wall we ascended and were collected by the boat.

Huge turtle

Big fat slugs

Xmas tree worms

Orangutan crab

After an hour of coffee and more biscuits we get back in the water

Dive #44

Heidi’s Point

Sandy slope

I spotted a tiger shrimp!!!!!

It was happy where it was so it didn’t keep trying to run away.

Also saw…

crabs in sea pens

Coconut octopus

Frogfish

Another good day diving.

Richard chose dinner, of Tuna sisig, fried rice and a lumpia each.

A later night tonight. I think I made it all the way to 9.20pm.

Another new phase of our adventure begins today as Darral and Dianne arrived from Adelaide last night and will be joining us on the boat until we leave.

Another flat day with the promise of sunshine (I say promise because as I write this, the sun is rising on the other side of the Peninsula and we are currently in shade, just give it a while…)

Dianne was pleased to report that she had only bought 2kg of ‘sweeties’ for the boat, well, that should keep us going for a bit!

Today’s breakfast (for those keeping an interest!) was scrambled eggs and cooked sliced ham, and very nice it says too.

Dive #37

Agahuta

Another dive on this slope of coal outcrops descending to a flat seabed of sand and more corals, lots of nudi action including a nice Flabelina towards the end of the dive.

Back on the boat it’s lolly time courtesy of D&D. We spend the surface interval talking to them and two other divers that were diving previously with Romnick, they are Mike and Daniel (spelling) from Denver, Colorado.

The boat moves to Minilog for the next dive.

Dive #38

Minilog

Another dive on this site where there is much do see including one of those giant nudi’s that look like a generous portion of pink broccoli!

Back to base for a lunch of B.L.T. and vegetable curry, yum!

After another dip in the pool (scorchio again today) and some photo work it’s time to head out for the afternoon dive.

Dive #39

Apols Point

This is one of the most colourful dive sites you could ever imagine with featherstars of all imaginable colours (and some unimaginable) are on plentiful display. We hung around for some nudi action for a while when from nowhere, a huge current fish shows up. We make our way (with the current!) to a more secluded part of the reef where our guide Nanni finds a tiger shrimp (one of our current favourite targets). Jo is first in but the tiger shrimp is having none of it, it won’t sit still and continously gallops towards Jo so Nanni had to carefully scoop it up and re position it  continuously.

By the time I get to have a go, the thing is set on escaping so our time together is short.

Thankfully we both managed to grab a decent shot before Nanni returned it to it’s lair.

We head back to land for a quick hor drink before it’s time to head back out for the dusk/night dive.

Dive #40

Mainit School night dive

This is a lovely site featuring coral outcrops on a slope which leads down to a sandy bottom. Plenty of opportunity to spend time with the subjects and really work on getting a good result.

There is plenty to see including Coleman shrimps riding on sea urchins and nudi’s galore, an excellent and super enjoyable dive.

We head back to base for a quick rinse, drink at the bar and dinner which tonight consisted of baby back ribs, fries and Coleslaw. Very nice of was too.

We also chatted with an American couple who met in Las Vegas as partners in an annual ballroom dancing competition. Met in Las Vegas? Sounds familiar!

We head back to the room, Jo sorts out the keepers from today’s crop and then we both pass out and recharge for the next days water based fun.

We still have 5 diving days left, that’s 20 dives, I feel like we are going to need a holiday to get over this adventure!

Another beautiful day. Flat sea and blue skies. Fabulous.

Richard was up at 4.50 and I was woken by Richard at six with a drink and biscuits.

After breakfast of scrambled eggs we got ready for diving.

Dive #33

Saim Sim

Sandy slope

Two octopus

One was a minic octopus and the other was bigger in a large shell.

Lots and lots of sea pens and various accompanying seahorses and shrimps

The surface interval was spent reaching Japanese strawberry chocolate for those that could. Our Japanese buddies finish diving today and so brought treats on the boat.

Dive #34

Heidi’s Point

Another sandy slope further along the coast

Many frogfish on this dive.

A huge mantis shrimp

Shaun the sheep slugs

Shrimps

Flabelina

We are back at the dive resort at about 11.30.

Just right for sorting ourselves out, an early lunch and a swim.

BLT and tuna ceviche for lunch.

No nap today but a swim in the pool and picture work.

Dive #35

Koala

This is the site we go to if the current fish is on the prowl.

Beautiful coral slope down to sand.

Lots to see, nicely positioned slugs and a little bit of current

Quick surface interval

Dive #36

Twin Rocks

We went in between the rocks and the block. It wasn’t until we got to about 20 metres that the current picked up. We went up to the shallows to spend the rest of the dive out of the current. Shortest dive at 50 minutes.

We spoke to Brenda from the large American group for a while at the bar.

We went to dinner and, shock horror, someone was on our table!!! We had to use a different one!!

Absolutely knacked.

Darryl and Diane are arriving at 10pm. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and Richard went to meet them on his own. Obviously, with captain, crew and staff

Another flat calm morning with a little cloud cover which seems to be moving away. Not that it matters much as we are here to be under the sea!

On that point, we do 4 dives a day, most are between 70 and 80 minutes long so we spend at least 5 hours underwater each day. Which is of course what it’s all about!

Trying to eat less at breakfast but today they bought out the bacon so it was scrambled egg on toast with a small mountain of bacon plus fresh watermelon juice to keep things tropical!

Though I failed to witness the event, at the start of breakfast, a very colourful Kingfisher flew in to the restaurant and then out again!

New guests arrived last night, a team of Americans who had just been on a live aboard from the Siren fleet. We met them at the bar, a very friendly bunch.

Just the four of us on the boat again this morning, and probably just two of us for the night dive, all very lovely.

A quick visit to the camera room to change batteries and check everything. It’s so much easier doing this above water!

Today is the middle diving Day of our trip, this mornings dives being the last two of the first half. Pay attention now, this might be in the exam!

Dive #29

Daryl Laut

Another dive on the ‘Casino Wreck’ which, with my macro lens fitted (I have no other lens) means hunting for nudi’s which were plentiful. In the mean time, Jo hunts for Christmas tree worms in the superstructure of the wreck.

At the start of this dive there were loud rumblings for around 7 seconds, this turned out to be quite a powerful earthquake nearby 🌋

Back on dry boat we head over to ‘Olympic’ for the surface interval, coffee, oreos and banana.

Now we sit in the sun, off gassing whilst waiting for the hour to pass.

Dive #30

Olympic Point

Well, despite early disappoinment (I forgot to change a battery) the dive was spectacular with awesome stuff seen including Coleman shrimp, tiger shrimp, a spectacular monster nudi and psycadelic nudi which just posed for us.

Back on dry land for lunch of B.L.T. And Pancit Canton with vegetables, a perfect end to the first half of our adventure.

Lunch now completed, this evening’s dinner ordered, time for a quick bit of camera service and then a dip in the pool.

Dive #31

Coconut Point

What an awesome dive to start part 2 of our adventure. After dropping in on a seemingly barran wasteland, we see many things including Picachu nudi’s (orange and grey) Shaun the Sheep slugs (green and blue/yellow) a yellow seahorse and two cuttlefish. Much time was spent with Shawn perfecting our technique. We are fortunate to be able to spend as much time with the critters as gas will allow!

In other news, it seems the Americans think we are a cute couple, I did offer to let them take us along on their dive tour, no takers yet…

Dive #32

Bubbles Point Night Dive

Another excellent night dive on this ‘eerie’ site which can be dark at the best of times, at night it’s a whole new level of ‘eerie’.

Several nudi’s and some flabellinas kept us busy.

Back to base for showers, prinks and dinner!

Didn’t sleep so well last night, so everything seems so much harder this morning. A little cloudy first thing but the water is mirror flat.

First breakfast on our own following the departure of Nina and Anne. So we changed it up and had scrambled eggs. We know how to make things eggsiting!

Richard had some camera stuff to do this morning due to an unexpected colour of LEDs on his snoot strobe. The exact reason that we always have a spare.

Dive #25

Manit School

Too much current at Red Rock so back round to Manit School. I had camera issues, spent a lot of time trying to sort it out. Once back on the surface I worked out it was my mask was smeared!! Nothing wrong with the camera. Phew!!

Not done much good for my headache so a trip to Jo’s pharmacy for me

During the surface interval we were watching the rain in the distance. We kind of expected it to get to us.

Dive #26

Heidi’s Point

Barren sandy slope

One of those dives that you think that there won’t be much to see apart from the six frogfish, a tiny cuttlefish, beautiful crab on a sea pen and a travelling Shaun the sheep slug, which we rescued and put back on it’s leaf.

Good dive.

Back at the resort, it is now lunchtime. Richard had carbonara. Guess what I had…

Had a nap!

Dive #27

Sun View

There is so much to see on this dive site.

Yellow pygmy seahorse

Pink pygmy seahorse

Big fat orange and black pyjama slug

Many nudis and a flabelina

Our surface interval was spent watching the new large group of Americans. Not sure if they are joining the Americans that are already here. The group totals twelve now. Lots of organising going on.

Dive #28

Manit corner

Just us with Nannie, as is normally the case on the night dive.

It was the search for the harlequin shrimp which, of course, Nannie found.

Also black and white shrimp in black and white featherstar, many nudis too.

We did an alternate air source ascent at the end of the dive. In the dark? Interesting!

At the bar now…

A very delicious tea of baby back ribs, fries and coleslaw followed by camera stuff, picture stuff and sleep.

Today is the start of a new phase of our trip in as much as we have to say goodbye to  Nina and Anne who are going home and our Hawain friends Fred and Julie who are moving on to a new destination.

Will it be just us on the boat? Well, I suspect not as they’re are a couple of new names on the dive planning board, fresh meat perhaps, let’s see what transpires.

Today, in the tropics we have a gentle rain though the sky is full of broken cloud so it may not last all day, even if it does, we are here to get wet, so get wet we shall! Bonus here in as much as the rain is warm!

We meet our new boat buddies who are from Japan and speak only slightly more English than we do Japanese, so chat is thin on the ground!

Dive #21

Dari Laut

This is the Casino wreck but we spend most of the time hunting for nudi’s etc.

On the way down we pass a painted frog fish then during the dive it’s nudi’s, Christmas Tree Worms, a spotty nudi and a psycadelic nudi (they are super small!)

Back on board for the surface interval we head over to Olympic Point where Oreos and coffee are served as we watch several crabs float by that are hitchhiking on driftwood!

As the time for the next dive approached it was announced that there was too much current so we moved to nearby Minilog.

Dive #22

Minilog

More nudi action including the giant one that looks like a healthy portion of pink  broccoli. Other sightings included various shrimps and more Christmas tree worms.

After the dive we head back to base for a light lunch of B. L.T. With fries and Tuna Ceviche which today had extra red chillies, I’m still recovering!

This was followed by a quick dip in the pool, we were they only folk there though I noticed that they had put out several towels on the sun loungers, obviously to dry I thought, how thoughtful, especially as I was without one. After our dip I use one of the aforementioned on order to dry myself, I put it back in place to dry off again ready for the next user.

I believe that there are other europeans at the resort, possibly from Germany…

This made me chuckle, just before lunch, in the post dive shower area, one of the Spanish team let out an almighty sneaze, much to the amazement and delight of the rest of his party. Various cheers were heard from all around then, after the briefest of pauses I hear ‘Anybody Hurt’! Well, it made me laugh!

Time for the afternoon dive and we had out to Mainit Corner – very close the resort, this is a dive on the peninsular where where is lots to see – though today the visibility was challenging – still some silt kicked up by winds the day before and it is drifting down that part of the coast – still plenty to see and some interesting diver interactions ….

After the dive it’s hot drink and biscuit time before we head out for the dusk/night dive – just Jo and I.

At this point it’s tipping it down with rain and the sea is absolutely flat. We make our way to ‘Twin Rocks’ – so called as there are to massive rocks that almost break the surface, possibly around 12-15m high. We roll in and the sea is positively hot! Well, at least in comparison with how we were feeling sat in the rain! A quick instrument check revealed that it was the same 29 degrees that it had been all week.

Perfect vis with lots to see – Jo bagged a pygmy Seahorse whilst I managed to capture some shrimps that had made their home on whip corals.

We also found a mahoosive turtle and a large crab which made those on the T’Pot look quite tiny!

During the dive there was a lightning storm which illuminated the entire site from time to time – another awesome dive.

Back on dry land it seemed that we were the only people nightdiving, their loss!

Dinner was Pork Kebabs, Chop Suey Vegetables and Fried Rice – then back to the room to look at the days pictures then pass out, recharge and get ready to do it all again!

After the thunderstorm yesterday, we woke to a beautiful day. Flat water and some wispy clouds. Rain is expected later.

Today is our last day diving with Nina and Anne, and Fred and Julie. Nina and Anne are returning home and Fred and Julie are going on to Hong Kong to visit family.

It’s be a great first part of our holiday.

Omelette for breakfast with watermelon juice.

First dive was across to the other island, Coconut Point followed by Apol’s Point.

Dive #17

Coconut Point

Sandy slope

Saw no coconuts! Did see lots of other stuff though.

Different coloured Pikachu slugs

Green Shaun the sheep slug and the much rarer blue and yellow Shaun the sheep slug

Small yellow seahorse

Or surface interval was spent discussing the difference between the NHS and the American health care system with Fred and Julie, our new friends from Hawaii, although originally from South Korea and China respectively.

Dive #18

Apol’s Point

This is a very beautiful reef, covered in brightly coloured featherstars.

Lovely dive with huge thermalclines and shimmering water.

Bit of current at the end, so waited until the ladder was clear before ascending.

Lunch was BLT, of course , and spag bol.

We had a nap after lunch, set the alarm for 2.30pm. We were both very surprised when it went off

Dive #19

Saim Sim

We went around the corner, it was rather choppy on top with an on shore wind which took the viz down to about 3-4 metres.

Favorite things from the dive were a tiny hairy frogfish which was last than 2cm long and a tiger shrimp.

We had a coffee with Nina on our surface interval. Nina and Anne leave tomorrow and will be much missed.

Dive #20

Bubbles!

Best dive of the day. We love this site! Such a good night dive.

We went out to the pinnacle, basically stayed in the top. Got to about 20 metres.

We saw many flabelinas, beautiful risbecia. Lots of photos were taken.

We had a drink at the bar. The Spanish had the ice cold Red Horse! Richard had much disappointment.

Dinner was Pork Binagogang (less pork more fish sauce than last time) Shanghai pork rolls and vegetable noodles. Nice.

Then camera stuff, picture stuff and asleep just after nine! Party, party, party – that’s us.