Maris Rock, Puerto Princesa

Dive #: 207
Date: 17.4.2011
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Maris Rock
Depth: 23,1m Average depth: 14,6m

Dive time: 54min
Visibility: 10-15m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5Kg

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center

Today I did one dive trip to Maris Rock here in Puerto Princesa, Philippines. Some photos from the day.

In the beginging of the dive we saw cuttlefish. This one was quite small.

Jawfish in the hole had an eggs in the mouth again.

This looks like cactus.

DM Dani in the safety stop.

Relax dive and no current. There was also mantis shrimp, clown triggerfish, titan triggerfish, bluetooth triggerfish, big fan corals, etc.

Pete's Reef and Crossing, Puerto Princesa

Today I had a two dives here in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. First dive spot was Pete's Reef and second Crossing.

Dive #: 205
Date: 12.4.2011
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Pete's Reef
Depth: 23m Average depth: 18,3m

Dive time: 50min
Visibility: 25m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5Kg

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center
Price: 3300PHP/55€ (2 dives)

Almost immediately we saw a big group of barracudas.
Diver with barracudas.
In the end of the dive we saw one whitetip reefshark.
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Dive #: 206
Date: 12.4.2011
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Crossing
Depth: 20,7m Average depth: 15,8m

Dive time: 50min
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5Kg

In Crossing we saw a lot of reef fishes. Different kind clownfishes were many places.
There was very much red tooth triggerfishes.
Here is harlekin triggerfish.
Group of small striped catfishes.
Both dives were very easy and relax dives, 'cos this time no current at all.

Snorkeling with whale sharks and pilot whales in Puerto Princesa

Philippines have two well known places where world biggest fish, whale sharks, are very common and where people can snorkeling with them. Places are Donsol and Leyte. There is anyway also third place which many people don't know yet. It's Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

I was last year 2010 about 5 months in Palawan and most of the time in Puerto Princesa. During that time I did three whale sharks trip. First trip was in April, next in July and last one in September. Whale shark season in Puerto Princesa is from April to October.

Trips start near city center from Bay Walk. First by banca boat about one hour from Puerto Princesa Bay to open sea. In practise place is on the front of Honda Bay. Then starts the real whale shark searching. Usually smaller fishes show where the whale sharks are. Fishes start to jump in the surface on the large area. When you see jumping fishes many time whale shark fin appears to the surface also. Then boat goes little bit closer and when we see whale shark is everybody jumps to the water and starts swim toward whale shark. Here is small video clip from that moment.

Sometimes it's possible to go very close to whale sharks. Touching is anyway not allowed. Few times whale sharks have swum against me and I had to rise my hands up to protect myself from the massive tail. Close, but no touching.

Whale shark and snorkeler.

This is usually the angle how people see whale shark under water.

On the last trip in September happened something very special. In the beginning of the boat trip, Toto, who run the trips, said I got just a information from the fisherman there is a group of about 30 short-finned pilot whales in the area. After 30min boat ride we found the whales.

Toto said I have seen pilot whales here many times during the years but I have never been in the water with them. Then he added but now I have my under water camera first time. Toto went to water and staying all the time near the boat. Some whales had also small ones and we didn't know anything how they react for people. Can they be protective and aggressive or what? After Toto I went also water to watch whales under water. Because of safety we didn't go close and stayed all the time near the boat. Here three pilot whales diving.

After pilot whales we saw also big group of dolphins. Those are anyway so fast and we didn't go to water.

That was amazing day and I will never forget it!

Mika

Putul and Maris Rock, Puerto Princesa

Diving day at Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. First was Putul and second Maris Rock. So same places like last week.

Dive #: 203
Date: 1.4.2011
Place: Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Putul
Depth: 25m Average depth: 17,3m

Dive time: 52min
Visibility: 20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5Kg

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center
Price: 3300PHP/55€ (2 dives)

Some places we saw lots of red teeth triggefish.

Also lionfish is very common here.

There was also school of fish, nudibranches, etc.

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Dive #: 204
Date: 1.4.2011
Place: Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Maris Rock
Depth: 24,7m Average depth: 16,4m

Dive time: 52min
Visibility: 10m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5Kg

Jawfishes were in their hole in sandy bottom. This time they didn't have anymore eggs in their mouths like last week.

Do you know how small bygmi seahorse really is? Just compare it to my thumb.

Big pufferfish.

Different kind of nudibranches are very common in Maris Rock.

I like Maris Rock. There you can see always something interesting.

Putul and Maris Rock, Puerto Princesa

Today I had two dives here in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. First was Putul and second Maris Rock.

Dive #: 201
Date: 23.3.2011
Place: Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Putul
Depth: 27m
Visibility: 20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5Kg

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center
Price: 3300PHP/55€ (2 dives)

Immediately when we descended to the bottom we saw a big stonefish. Not so easy to see.

Here are quite many different spieces of nudibranches.

Another.

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Dive #: 202
Date: 23.3.2011
Place: Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Maris Rock
Depth: 24,4m Average depth: 15,8m
Visibility: 10m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5Kg

Visibility was not so good today at Maris Rock, but we saw there few interesting things. Jawfish with eggs in the mouth.

Pygmi seahorse.

Nudibranch.

Leaf scorpionfish.

First I didn't see well what DM Dani is trying to catch on the bottom. It was big horseshoe crab!

Then he put it back to sandy bottom. Strange creature. Living fossil.I have seen horseshoe crab only ones before and it was also here in Puerto Princesa. Now it was first time when I saw it under water.

Batu Bolong and Manta Point, Komodo

Third diving day at Komodo area. First one was Batu Bolong and second Manta Point again.

Dive #: 199
Date: 16.3.2011
Place: Indonesia, Komodo, Batu Bolong
Depth: 26,8m Average depth: 14,9m
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: long 3mm Weight: 6Kg

Dive Center: Dive Komodo
Price: 30€/dive

Here is very rich marine life like seems to be everywhere in Komodo area. Scorpionfish.
Whitetip in the bottom. I went very cafefully closer, closer, closer and finally I was next to "her". I have never seen before whitetips have "holes" in the skin.
Napoleon.
In the end of the dive there was lot of anthies.
We saw there also turtle, fusiliers, moray eels, giant trevallies, nudibranch, etc. etc.
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Dive #: 200
Date: 16.3.2011
Place: Indonesia, Komodo, Manta Point
Depth: 15,2m Average depth: 10,3m
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: long 3mm Weight: 6Kg

If Manta Point was amazing on the first time it was also on this time. Manta Point is very near of Batu Bolong. After first dive we came immidiately to Manta Point area. What we saw there was something out of this world. About ten mantas swimming in the surface in the line in the same time. In one place there was a very tight group of four mantas swimming like in the diamond formation. There was still about 30min before next dive so everybody went snorkeling. This photo I took when snorkeling.
Breafing for the dive.
First 20min was quite boring and we just drifting with the strong current. Then the funny part started again.
This manta was totally black. Stealth.
Two mantas together.
I'm near manta and just taking photo. Big thanks to Petri Kolmonen about this photo!
Great dive again! There are several Manta Points in the world, but this one is The Real Thing!!! Last dive was my 200th dive.

Regards,
Mika

Crystal Rock and Castle Rock, Komodo

Today I had a two divesin Komodo, Indonesia. First one was Crystal Rock and second Castle Rock.

Dive #: 197
Date: 15.3.2011
Place: Indonesia, Komodo, Crystal Rock
Depth: 28,3m Average depth: 15,2m
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: long 3mm Weight: 6Kg

Dive Center: Dive Komodo
Price: 30€/dive

Crystal Rock has very rich marina life. Turtle on the reef.
Big school of fusiliers.
Lobster on the top of the reef. Usually lobsters escape, but this one was just in one place.
There are big school of fish, whitetips, blacktips.
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Dive #: 198
Date: 15.3.2011
Place: Indonesia, Komodo, Castle Rock
Depth: 25,9m Average depth: 14,6m
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +27C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: long 3mm Weight: 6Kg

Here was also very much different kind of fishes like on the Crystal Rock. Also big one.
Nudibranches.
Whitetip reefsharks patroling.
Both dives were very good one. There was so much fishes everywhere.

Amazing Manta Point, Komodo

Today I had a first dives here in Komodo, Indonesia. First one was Manta Point and second Siaba Kecil.

Dive #: 195
Place: Indonesia, Komodo, Manta Point
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment 
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air)
Wetsuit: long 3mm
Weight: 6Kg

Dive Center: Dive Komodo

Price: 30€

I heard amazing stories about Manta Point before I came here. Diving at Manta Point was even better than the stories. On the dive we saw more than 10 mantas. Ones we saw three mantas on the same time together. There it comes...

Closer.

Up.

On the same dive we saw also few turtle.

I really recommend Manta Point. One of the best dive ever. We saw there even before the dive few mantas just on the surface. It was good start for the dive.

Regards,
Mika