Maris Rock and Silica Reef in Puerto Princesa, Philippines

Dive #: 260
Date: 22.12.2015
Place: Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Maris Rock
Depth: 21,6m Average: 11,5m
Dive time: 56min
Visibility: 8-10m
Sea temperature: +30C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: Only shorts + sleeveles  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stinger

Dive Center: Dive Puerto Princesa
Price: 3300PHP/64€/2 Dives

I was one and half week holiday in Palawan and of cource I had to go also diving. Our first dive spot was Maris Rock where I have dived many times also before. Here is something what we saw on the dive.

Mantis shrimp.

Crocodile fish on the bottom.

Porcupine fish.

Different kind of nudibranches are very common in Puerto Princesa area. You will see those in practice on every dive.

Fan coral.

Trigger fish tried to be angry to me, but only tried and swam away. 

Close up of the coral surface.

Dive #: 261
Date: 22.12.2015
Place: Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Silica Reef
Depth: 20,4m Average: 12,5m
Dive time: 66min
Visibility: 10-12m
Sea temperature: +30C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: Only shorts + sleeveles  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stinger

Our second dive was Silica Reef, which is on the front of Pristine Beach. On the reef you can see lot of different kind of soft coral and small reef fishes.

Nudibranch.

Curious small fish, but what is it?

Feather coral.

Small worms on the coral.

Small puffer tries to hide.

Corals.

Some kind of clam.

This colorful fish is common on the reefs, but what is it?

Big eye.

Giant puffer hiding.

Feather coral.

Big nudibranch.

Straiped pipe fish.

I have dived in Puerto Princesa area something 70+ dives and we didin´t see anything special for me on the dives. Anyway it was great have two relax dives.

Regards,

Mika

Crossing and Maris Rock in Puerto Princesa, Philippines

Dive #: 254
Date: 14.2.2015
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Crossing
Depth: 31,7m Average: 18,5m
Dive time: 52min
Visibility: 20-35m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: Only shorts and sleeveless  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center

I had two dives with my friend Tommi and our dive quide/instructor Dani in Puerto Princesa area. Our first dive spot was Crossing.

In the beginning we saw big nudibranch.

Scorpion fish is master to be invisible. Can you see it?

Nemos.

Three nudibranchs.

This kind of ray I have never seen before. It´s honeycomb whiptail ray. The visibility in that point was not so good and I also could not go near enough the ray, so I had to crop the photo quite much.

I tried to take photo one turtle, which was quite far. Guys showed me that there is another just on the front to me.

Same turtle.

Then it was time to safety stop. Dani in the sun.

Dive #: 255
Date: 14.2.2015
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Maris Rock
Depth: 21m Average: 11,8m
Dive time: 66min
Visibility: 10-20m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: Only shorts and sleeveless  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Our second dive spot was Maris Rock. I had dived in that place many, many times. Maris is anyway always full of surprises. 

Small lion fish.

Sea cucumber.

Blue-spotted stingray hiding under the sand. Only tail and another eye are visible. 

Jaw fish at home. 

Same fish closer.

I like mantis shrimps. Those are so cool looking creatures.

Mantis closer.

Crocodile fishes are not so common in Puerto Princesa area. 

Very small nudibranch. Or is it even nudibranch?

End of the dive we saw still one turtle. 

It was great diving day. I don´t even remember when I have seen turtle last time in Puerto Princesa area and now we saw three turtles. Also honeycomb whiptail ray was cool to see first time. 

Regards from Manila,

Mika

Pulau Mabul in Borneo, Malaysia

Old Story. Marine life in East Borneo is something amazing. The area has several world class dive spots. Tropical island Pulau Mabul is one of the places. Easiest way to go to the area is first fly for intance from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau. Next step from Tawau airport is to go to Semporna. Last step by boat to Pulau Mabul island. There are many kind of accommodation available on the island. Cheapest are diving communes and best are luxury resorts. Island itself is beautiful and relax place to stay.
I was two nights on the island and I had a three diving days in May 2010. Diving in Mabul is superb. Lots of interesting species. Here is something what I saw there during three diving days.

Cowfish.
Turtles.
Snowflake moray.
Lionfishes.
Batfishes.
Bluespotted stingray.
Banded seasnake.
Different kind of frogfishes. Bigger frogfish in the picture is DM Nick.
Pink scorpion leaf fish.
Mantis shrimp.
Eye of the crocodile fish.
Old bottles.
There is also one very special place. It's the oil rig which is now dive center. There are rooms, restaurant, etc. Place name is Seaventures.
Playground is under the Seaventures.
Couple of spotted eagle rays.
Jacks in tornado.
Jack above me.
There is also wreck.
Turtle diving with me in Mabul.

This is only something what you can see in Mabul. It's really worth to visit!!

Cheers,

Mika