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Beautiful Rock – an amazing new dive site in Mommon, Indonesia

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As group leaders specializing in Indonesia and the Bird’s Head Seascape, Maurine and I are always looking for new itineraries and ways to improve our standard trip routes.  For a number of years we have led an itinerary that starts in Sorong (Raja Ampat) and ends, or round-trips, in Kaimana (Triton Bay).  This journey, however, involves a long, 210 mile, passage between the southern part of Raja (SE Misool) and Triton.  Divers, myself included, never want to spend time motoring when they could be diving, so a stop in the Pisang Islands and another near Mommon (halfway between Pisang and Triton) is usually the itinerary we choose.  There is an outstanding site in Pisang, plus a couple of others that are good, so this stopover is usually a hit for the long transit day.  But until my most recent trip aboard the MV Pindito, the Mommon stopover was, well…other than a visit to the picturesque waterfall…a diving bust!

cMy colleagues at Conservation International suggested that I check out the small islands outside the bay, just west of Mommon peninsula.  There are a few islets in the area, so we thought we’d give at least one of them a try, offering an exploratory dive instead of a visit to the waterfall.  I have done a LOT of exploratory diving (we specialize in developing new itineraries), but frankly most exploratory dives aren’t very productive, and we try to avoid doing many when we have guests onboard.  Now and then, however, we get lucky and uncover a real jewel.

Late last October our group dropped in on Mommon’s outer islands. We chose the southwest corner (ocean side) of the third islet in the four-islet chain.  The reef was average at best, comprised mostly of stormed-dwarfed, low profile hard corals.  I knew this was no prize, but as we swam east, around the southern tip of the islet and headed back north along the east side into the channel between the islet and Mommon peninsula (the mainland), we began to see a few large, soft-coral covered bommies.  The reef was definitely more interesting here.  As we continued north along the east or channel side of the islet, we encountered a giant grouper, then spotted an even giant-er one. The site was hot and becoming even hotter as we swam by a series really big soft coral-covered boulders.  Draped with glassfish and sweepers, these boulders were nothing short of amazing.

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IN P RA_110407_0789-686x1024Besides this vibrant reef scene, we also spotted plenty of small stuff to keep the critter fans happy.  A reef octopus sitting on a hard coral with a pair of robust ghost pipefish at its base was a delight, as were several nudibranch species.  Zillions of skeleton shrimp colonized a single sea fan, and, while the fan’s polyps were retracted, from a distance the shrimp appeared to be extended polyps in feeding mode.

Everyone agreed there was no need for further exploration that day. We, happily, decided to dive the same site again before motoring to Triton Bay.  This area begs for more exploration, but for now Mommon has at least one “must stop” dive! The Pindito staff called it simply Batu Cantik (Beautiful Rock)!

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GPS: S 03 56.492  E 132 48.229

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Burt Jones and his wife Maurine Shimlock have dived extensively in Indonesia and throughout the Bird’s Head. To view more of their work visit their website, Secret Sea Visions.

Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock are award-winning marine life photographers whose assignments have taken them around the world to portray diverse subjects including the world’s longest underwater cave in Mexico and nesting sea snakes in Borneo. Their photographs have been published internationally, and Secret Sea, a collection of their photographs, was honored with the Benjamin Franklin award as the best book printed world-wide. Burt and Maurine’s lively and informative teaching style and their “Stop Taking Pictures and Start Creating Images” seminar, which they present on their Secret Sea Visions “Scuba Safaris”, have helped hundreds of marine life photographers improve their technique. Burt and Maurine are renowned “critter spotters” and their images often reveal habits and habitats of creatures many people never see for themselves. In June 2008 they began working with Conservation International as consultants on sustainable marine tourism. Burt and Maurine’s long-term project is to explore, photograph, and to produce guidebooks and website content for the remote and uncharted dive sites around Raja Ampat and the rest of the Bird’s Head Seascape in West Papua. Their guidebook, Diving Indonesia’s Raja Ampat, was released in late 2009. A revised and expanded sequel, Diving Indonesia’s Bird’s Head Seascape, was published in late 2011. The Bird’s Head Seascape website, www.birdsheadseascape.com, launched in June, 2014. To learn more about Burt and Maurine, their images and scuba safari programs visit their website, www.secretseavisions.com.

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Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

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Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.

Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.

Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:

  • 12 April
  • 5 July,
  • 20 September
  • 29 November

Partnership with Casita Palma

If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.

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SOMABAY: Scubaverse Trip Review (Watch Video)

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In a video created exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman visits SOMABAY in the Egyptian Red Sea to experience the diving on offer there.

Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.

Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit  www.thebreakers-somabay.com.

Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.

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Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

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