Spectacular Visibility

While checking out the boat and engine for season opening in Gorontalo, we went to the Shadowlands dive site. Schools of Shipjack tuna (Katsuwonis pelamis) were surface feeding. Visibility and sunlight were incredible. The needle?s eye, a submerged point at a depth of 35 meters, was clearly visible from the surface. Visibility during the dive was a spectacular 40 meters. Several lionfish were out hunting under the overhang at the wall?s corner, where we usually start diving. I counted seven lionfish during the dive. Swirls of minnows filled the first cave. A couple of anemones hosted clownfish and numerous purple commensal shrimps, one clearing carrying eggs. Tropicals swam up and down the sun-streaked walls. A school of trevally wiggled past, far below. I was suddenly startled by a large green mantis shrimp (Gonodactylus sp.) sitting in full view on a small knob on the vertical wall at 20 meters. He quickly backed into a hole but kept his eyes on the hovering human. During the dive, I added three new fish species to the list for this dive site: the White-lined combtooth blenny (Escenius pictus), the large and uncommon Scribbled snapper (Lutjanus rivulatus), and Talbot?s demoiselle (Chrysiptera talboti). This wonderful hour-long dive only covered half the dive site. On the way back we recovered the shell of a Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius). Diving in Sulawesi is never better than this!

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?

Presidential visit

Miguel’s Diving felt honored to be invited by Fadel Muhammad, Governor of Gorontalo Province, to display underwater photographs aboard the Indonesian navy vessel Tanjung Dalpere when President Megawati Soekarnoputri visited on October 11th.

Several months ago Paola Bearzi had eleven amazing photographs printed from the slide originals that she and her husband Massimo took in Gorontalo earlier this year. These beautiful prints were arranged in two large glass frames with subtitles in English, Latin, and Indonesian. Both were displayed on the naval warship when the president, her husband, three governors, and several cabinet ministers, as well as other government officials and the press, came aboard. Ceremonies were held in Tomini Bay off several of the Togian (Togean) Islands in Central Sulawesi Province. The President inaugurated several government programs related to fisheries and coastal development. One new program is a vessel monitoring system to insure that large fishing vessels in fact have permits and are operating according to Indonesian law.

The digital photo of Megawati and her husband disembarking from the naval ship to return to Gorontalo is courtesy of Michel DeJean of Collecte Localisation Satellites. Merci beaucoup, mon ami!

One of the frames of underwater photos is on display at the branch office for Miguel’s Diving in Gorontalo City. The other will be displayed at Jalaluddin Airport in Gorontalo.

Salvador Dali sponge identified

The strikingly beautiful sponge we here at Miguel’s Diving call the “Salvador Dali” sponge is Petrosia lignosa. Samples from two sponges were sent to Nicole J. de Voogd of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Zoological Museum, University of Amsterdam. After looking at the maze of spicules under a microscope, she was able to identify it. Nicole says that the genus name Petrosia actually means “stony hard.” When compared with other sponges, all Petrosid sponges are hard and rock-like. So far, this sponge is known only from vertical walls in Indonesia. Friends say that this sponge does not occur in Bunaken (North Sulawesi). Nicole, however, disputes this. We at Miguel's Diving suspect this means that it is not present in the most common Bunaken dive sites. Its presence in most current dive sites in the Togian (Togean) Islands remains uncertain. But it is often seen here in Gorontalo on walls in Tomini Bay. This unforgettable sponge was first described in 1925 from the Togians.

The extensive vertical walls of Gorontalo host many fine examples. The samples Nicole saw were taken from the Traffic Jam dive site. Both sponges live at 20 meters on a wall exposed to the open ocean. The smaller sponge is shaped like a squashed vase, measures about 40 cm tall, and has light colored skin. The other one forms a long tube or funnel and is almost one meter long with dark skin. Advanced divers can see a huge one at about 40 m at the Jinn Caves dive site. Sponge samples were taken in such a way as not to be noticed by passing divers.

Divers in Gorontalo can be sure to see this surrealistically carved sponge. Thanks, Nicole, for your help. And our prayers for the safe delivery of your baby!

Wet suits now available

Miguel’s Diving is pleased to announce that Deep See shorty wet suits are now available for rent. Sea temperatures here in Gorontalo typically range from 28 – 30 C (80 – 86 F). This is much warmer than diving in other areas of North Sulawesi. However, guests who went diving here last season suggested that 3 mm wet suits would keep body temperatures comfortable toward the end of the dive. So, we have added new wet suits in sizes XS, S, M, L and XL.

Gorontalo - Togian Islands Dive Packages

We at Miguel?s Diving are pleased to announce joint dive packages with Black Marlin Diving of Kadidiri in the Togian (Togean) Islands. This will allow divers to enjoy two prime diving locations in Tomini Bay.

For example, our Diver?s Dream package includes:
Gorontalo portion
airport pick-up in Gorontalo
10 boat dives in Gorontalo with equipment and wetsuit
simple early lunch on Day 1 in Gorontalo
4N in A/C room at Hotel Melati and breakfast
excluding meals in Gorontalo, except simple lunch on Day 1
Togian portion
10 boat dives & 2 night dives with equipment and wetsuit
4N lodging and 3 meals per day
lunch on Day 10
airport drop-off in Gorontalo
excluding air tickets to and from Gorontalo

This 11-day package costs just $885 per person double occupancy including tax. This promotional price is only valid for this dive season (November 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004).

Other dive packages are available as well, including Transit Diving (4 boat dives and overnight in Gorontalo on your way to the Togians) and Just Get Me Wet (2 boat dives on the day you wait for the evening ferry to the Togians).

Contact us for further details and reservations!