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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.

After a bit of an Anglo American breakfast of bacon buttie then pancakes with maple syrup and more bacon, we head off for the first dive of the day which ends up being ‘Bubbles’.

.. Though we might rename it to Flabelina Point as that’s where we were headed, right for the spot where there was much Flabelina ‘action’ of you catch my drift!!

Whilst Jo is enjoying am extended stay with them, I take a tour to the end of the point and back and they are still ‘at it’!!!

Am excellent dive on one of our favourite sites.

We spend the surface interval munching on oreos, drinking coffee and discussing the property prices in Hawaii!

Then we are back in the water at the nearby ‘Secret Bay’ (Shhhhh, tell no-one) where Shaun The Sheep nudi’s were the order of the day.  A very enjoyable 85 minutes with much photo action including a monster nudi that strolled through the site whilst we were there, you know, like they do!

A very short run around the point back to base where, after the briefest of hosedowns we head off for a light lunch of Spaghetti Carbonara for me and B.L.T with fries for Jo.

At the end of each meal we have to place our order for the next. So, for our tea tonight, we expect to be mostly having Tuna Sisig, vegitable Chop Suey and fried rice. Let’s see how that ends up being!

Just had an awesome dip on the pool, it’s scorchio in the blazing sun. We have to walk almost 10 metres to the pool, a bit of a hike, but worth it.

Before long we head out sir the afternoon dive which on this day takes us to ‘Arthur’s wall’, a gentle bimble amongst coral outcrops until we arrive at the wall propper where all manner of Nudi’s await us.

Not to mention a spectacular wall with huge coral outcrops, festoon with life.

Back at the surface the boat picks us up, and then it starts to rain, and it rained and rained. The journey back was spent huddled under towels though by the time we get back, order has been restored and calmness has returned.

We just have time for a hot drink (coffee for Jo, I’m drinking their hot chocolate which I think they call ‘Milo’) and it’s time to head out for the last dive of the day which today is at El Pinoy.

After about 5 minutes boat ride we arrive. Their are storms in the area so every 10 seconds or so their is an incredible lightning display which gets better as it gets darker.

We drop in and before long we find plenty to point the cameras at.

On a technical point, Jo is using twin Inon strobes whilst I am using a single Backscatter Mini Flash Mk2 with optical snoot attachment. So, even though we end up shooting the same subjects, the results are always very different (If you want to know more then take our advanced underwater photogography lighting course).

After the dive we head back to base for a quick rinse then prinks which on this occasion consisted of the ubiquitous Red Horse for me whilst Jo went all out and consumed a cocktail which consisted of Calamansi (small lime like fruit) ground into a generous helping (4 spoons) of brown sugar which then had some ice added and a double measure of Jeagermister added, yum!

Dinner consisted of Tuna Sisig, vegitable Chop Suey and fried rice which was a great combination and then we return to our room to collapse once more… And by collapsing, what I really mean if that Jo goes through the days catch, weeding out the dross whilst I update the blog, though in reality, I collapse!

Hot tip, when you show your pictures, ONLY show the good ones, people think I’m so much better than I really am but behind each picture that I show, there are dozens of  deleted images!

Another beautiful day! Even less wind than yesterday!! Sunshine and blue skies.

Normal start to the day – breakfast, camera stuff and diving

Across to the other island for Bethlehem followed by Agahuta.

Dive #9

Bethlehem

Down a slope to a rubble area where we spent the majority of the dive at about 20 metres.

No current and excellent visibility.

Saw all sorts of slugs.

We moved to Agahuta for our surface interval. The sun was so warm and the water was so flat. Stunning. Coffee, Oreos and good conversation with our dive buddies Nina, Anne, Fred and Julie. Lots of laughter.

Dive #10

Agahuta

This is a coral slope to the sandy bottom at about 20 metres

We both said what a lovely relaxed dive it was and that’s saying something as most of the dives here are relaxing.

Some very nicely positioned slugs

The water on the trip back was like a mill pond.

Picture to follow.

After lunch of BLT and fries for me and Richard’s taken on fish and chips, tuna ceviche with fries, we had a quick dip in the pool followed by a nap.

Dive #11

Sun View

Fabulous dive.

Started with a yellow pygmy seahorse and followed by numerous photo opportunities.

As Patsy would say “absolutely fabulous darhhhling”?

After an hour interval we dived again. Very calm here.

Dive #12

Manit Corner

One of our favorites. Just us and Nanny.

This is a rocky peninsula, covered in life.

We saw two of the tiniest of squid, less than a centimetre long, a very beautiful purple mottled tiny octopus. Also, some chunky slugs and finally an amazing harlequin shrimp.

I was trying to use a red light on this dive for focusing but my camera didn’t like it. Any shots I got were by luck rather than judgment!

Cocktail before dinner – Pina Colada

Ordered too much food for dinner! Pork sisig, sweet and sour chicken, fried rice and two lumpia.

A bit of picture work followed by some much needed sleep.

Yesterday was calm, today is less windy!

After breakfast we prep the cameras and we head out acoss the bay to Kirbys Rock. This is a pinnacle and wall down to about 23m then a slope to a second pinnacle which is festoon with the hello sea cucumbers.

Making it when more special was the fact that it was Jo’s 1700th dive. Several nudi’s were spotted on the way, zero current, monster visibility and still 29 degrees, lovely.

We head around the corner for the next dive which is Kirbys Point layag layag which is coral outcrops, a sandy slope and then the occasional outcrop. Nudi’s, eels and other sealife is lined up ready to entertain us.

Back on dry land for a light lunch of chicken chop suey for me, BLT and fries for Jo then a dip in the pool, it’s got properly hot today with blistering sunshine making the pool even more inviting.

After the briefest of rests we head out to ‘Bubbles’, this is the dive site with a thin layer of rock covering lava, I kid you not, touch the rock and it burns!

Many nudi’s and flabellinas spotted, one of our favourite dive sites.

Back ashore for a hot beverage before we set out for the dusk dive which tonight is at Siam Sim.

… And on that dive we saw:

Seahorses, crab porn. Frog fish, bobtail squid and two different kinds of Picachu nudies.

Then its back on board for the swift trip back to base, quick showers, prinks and tonights dinner of shanghai rolls, chicken chop suey and pork binagoongang.

We collapse in our room once more to recharge ready for tomorrows great adventure!

Up at six. Slept for eight hours, although awake a couple of times in the night.

As a consequence of our complete mess up of camera equipment last holiday we had a proper run though before coming out. So, the setting up of the cameras has been relatively straightforward.

After an early lunch we headed off to  Olympic Point for first dive.

Dive #1

Olympic Point

Rocky outcrops on Sandy slope

A very lovely gentle dive

We saw Coleman shrimp on fire urchins, tiger crab on fire urchins and tiger shrimp.

We motor over to Minilog for our surface interval. On the boat we get to know our boat buddies. Obviously, we have Nina and Ann, and also Fred and Julie from Hawaii. Very lovely chatting about photography and lighting.

Dive #2

Minilog

A slope covered in coral. We saw an orange dragon shrimp in an orange coral, an electric clam and many nudist and Christmas tree worms.

Ann didn’t join us due to a fin strap failure. Unfortunately, the spare strap on the boat didn’t fit her fin.

Lunch was, of course, a BLT and fries for me and Tuna ceviche with ginger, chilli and onion.

I had a little nap before the next dive and Richard lent Julie his spare snoot flash.

Dive #3

Manit School

Large coral boulders with lots to see

Crab, shrimps and fish on whip coral.

Lovely dive, the temperature so far today has been 29°in the water.

Short break back at the dive centre to drop off Nina, Greg and Julie as they aren’t doing the final dive. Jennalyn found me some Oreos to go with my coffee, some for now and plenty for later.

Back on the boat and round to Heidi’s Corner for a dusk dive.

Dive #4

Heidi’s corner

Muck dive on a sandy slope.

Lots to see in the barren landscape including Tiger shrimp, frogfish in a variety of size and colours and two coconut octopus, one of which was tiny at about 4-5mm.

After a shower it was cocktail and red horse time, shortly followed by a spot of dinner, pork Adobo, noodle with vegetables and fried rice.

Both shattered so an early night it is,!