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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.

Gear News

The DYNAMICNORD SE series of neoprene wetsuits in a beautiful camouflage blue

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A head-to-toe camouflage look that focuses on style and comfort

Designed to provide an unforgettable diving experience, the DYNAMICNORD SE series wetsuits offer everything you need. They feature a unique camouflage design and protect you while offering optimum freedom of movement and keeping you warm.

Sometimes, divers just want a special look. In this case, the camouflage wetsuits from DYNAMICNORD are the perfect choice. Made from extremely robust, abrasion-resistant limestone neoprene, the SE-C wetsuits are built to last. Nevertheless, the neoprene is also soft and stretchy to offer all divers a high degree of comfort.

The SE series suits are optimally sealed thanks to their back zipper with flap and their design allows you to easily close and open them by yourself. They also have reinforced shoulders and knees to protect high-wear areas and extend the life of your neoprene suit.

The SE camouflage series suits are available in neoprene thicknesses of 3 and 5mm.

To complete the camouflage look, DYNAMICNORD also offers matching essentials, such as the MC-15 two-lens mask and SC-10 snorkel. They both feature a blue camouflage design, as well as the AF-70 freediving fins, which are available in a matching shade of blue. A head-to-toe camouflage look that focuses on style and comfort.

The SE series suits in camouflage look are now available from DYNAMICNORD retailers and in the online shop.

SE-31-C/SE-32-C: 3mm Men/Women – recommended retail price: £183

SE-51-C/SE-52-C: 3mm Men/Women – recommended retail price: £238

Size Men: S-3XL incl. ML

Size Women: S-2XL

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Gear News

Divers in the U.S.A. to get a free octopus with selected regulator purchases

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free octopus

Mares in the U.S.A. has announced an exclusive limited-time offer designed to keep divers safe and well-equipped underwater this summer dive season.

From June 15 through August 1, 2025, customers who purchase select Mares regulators will receive a free octopus—no extra costs, just added value.

Whether you’re upgrading your setup or gearing up for your next dive adventure, this promotion is the perfect opportunity to get premium Mares performance at a reduced cost.

Eligible regulators include:

  • ATLAS 62X
  • EPIC ADJ 82X
  • ATLAS ADJ 62X TBP
  • SXS 62X
  • DUAL 15X
  • ULTRA ADJ 82X
  • DUAL ADJ 62X
  • DUAL ADJ 62X – 75th Anniversary Edition

Choose from one of the following octos—free with your eligible regulator purchase:

  • DUAL
  • DUAL ADJ
  • LOOP
  • SXS
  • ULTRA
  • ULTRA ADJ

This promotion is available only at participating Mares dealers and while supplies last. It is not valid for purchases made through Mares.com.

Don’t spend another summer with outdated gear. Visit your nearest Mares dive center and take advantage of this incredible offer today!

To find a participating dealer near you, click here – https://www.mares.com/en_US/partner-locator.

About Mares

Founded in 1949 by Ludovico Mares in Rapallo, Italy, Mares is a worldwide leader in manufacturing innovative, high-performance scuba diving, snorkeling, and freediving equipment. From recreational divers to advanced technical enthusiasts, Mares is dedicated to enhancing the underwater experience through cutting-edge technology, comfort, and safety. Mares is a member of the HEAD Sports Group.

Find out more about Mares products at www.mares.com.

 

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