Canoe Diving

Back in the old days, Sulawesi diving was only accessible to the intrepid diver. This typically meant using whatever transportation was available, including small outrigger canoes favored by local fisherman. Only a few meters long, the boat is stabilized by ?wings? on either side. Together with a couple local lads paddling, divers could be taken to a pristine site. This week an ex-pat businessman got to experience this traditional way of Sulawesi diving. Because winds are still too strong to take out the large boat, Miguel?s Diving arranged for outrigger canoes (one per diver) to carry us to a prime dive site in the confines of a sheltered bay. A small motor powers each canoe, making for easy pick-up after the dives and a quick ride back to the beach.

So how was entering and exiting the water from a tiny canoe? ?A piece of cake,? according to our guest. He found the site amazing, particularly the dense schools of deep blue Red-tooth triggers (Odonus niger). After seeing Gorontalo?s new species of commensal shrimps, he remarked, ?How do you find these things?? When diving season resumes in November with the shift in the winds, we will be back to our regular dive boat. Although diving by canoe is no longer common in Sulawesi, diving by kayak is popular in some places in the Caribbean, like the British Virgin Islands. Divers in Bali typically use a larger outrigger canoe.