The Governor's Day Off

On October 26th Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhammad took the morning off to go diving. Miguel’s Diving showed him two dive sites new to him, Honeycomb and Sentinels. He was extremely pleased with the vibrant coral, gigantic sponges, and myriad of fishes. He particularly liked the herd of Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) at the first dive site and the up-side-down swimming Coral shrimpfish (Aeoliscus strigatus) at the top of one coral pillar sentinel. Visibility along the Honeycomb wall was 30 meters. Currents were variable and conflicting, as is typical at this submerged point. Sudden, cool upwellings at both sites are typical of the new moon. Water temperatures were 28 C and 29 C respectively. I was pleased to add the Squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) to the species list for the Sentinels dive site. Visibility was about 25 meters for the second dive. The local new species, the Orange-back wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis), showed up in two schools. Also, a couple juvenile Yellow-spot slingjaw wrasse were around, a species soon to be named.

When are you planning to come diving in Gorontalo?