Surface at Sunset

Gorontalo's diving Governor Fadel couldn't wait any longer. After months of bad weather (off season) and toward the end of the fasting month, he insisted on filling an empty late afternoon spot on his busy agenda with a quick dive. Swirling Steps dive site is only about 15 minutes from the governor’s official residence. This underwater point hits the long shore current in a couple of places. This is where schools of fish feed in the current. Today was no exception, even at slack tide. Twice we were buzzed by schools of dogtooth tuna. The governor spotted a turtle swimming above us. On the drive along the shoreline, our dive master saw another one when it surfaced to breathe. In the waning light, various species of huge sea cucumbers lumbered across the sand flats. After our dive, we surfaced right before sunset.

Oh, It Is So Wonderful!

That is marine researcher Leyla Knittwise's reaction after only a single dive in Olele Bay, Gorontalo. Leyla along with the rest of the Wallacea Expedition Indonesia II team recorded 136 coral species and 160 species of fish during a single dive in mid-August. She said that Olele has notably higher marine biodiversity when compared to other locations surveyed during this expedition, including areas in western Gorontalo.

Coral researcher Dr. Jamaluddin Jompa from Makassar, Sulawesi's Hasanuddin University said, "Try to imagine the relative narrow coral reef here having such an abundant variety of coral and marine life!" Expedition coordinator Syafyuddin Yusuf said that Olele stands out from other diving locations in Indonesia. He particularly noted the unique ocean topography of Olele, including caves and huge crevasses, a certain draw for world class divers seeking to enjoy natural beauty below the sea. (Since all Miguel's Diving staff was out of the area at the time, the Wallacea team missed the towering coral pinnacles that make Olele famous to those who have been diving with us.)

The Wallacea team was impressed with how easily large Napol.ean wrasse were to find. They credit efforts by Olele villagers in protecting this fish and their narrow reef. Butterflyfishes are considered a key indicator of reef health. The number of butterfly species found and their abundance puts the health of Olele above coral reefs found in other parts of Sulawesi, including Bunaken Island, Takabonerate Atoll, Togian Islands, and Spermonde Archipelago.

This web post came from an article in Gorontalo Post 16 August 2005.

Ready for the Season

Miguel's diving staff is ready for the 2006 – 2007 diving season. Our custom-built dive boat has been refitted and repainted with a few improvements. Dive tanks have been inspected, some hydro tested, and filled with fresh, cleaned air. Today we tested the boat engine and made a couple of dives to check out conditions.

Seas are incredibly calm but a bit churned up because of the change of season coinciding with the full moon. Plankton and baby jellyfish clouded the upper couple meters of water. All this should settle down during the coming week.

Dives at Shadowlands and Little Barrier Reef dive sites proved quite enjoyable. We had a hard time deciding which was more fun: searching for yet another nudibranch specie or flying through dizzying schools of fusiliers and unicornfish. Fish stocks look very healthy after months of weather too rough for much fishing.

Highlights included being shadowed by a large Napol.ean wrasse, several times venturing within two meters of us. A charged current dive off Little Barrier Reef pushed us past two large (old) green sea turtles. Our dive master found a rare puffer playing hide-and-seek in a huge Salvador Dali Sponge. We only find a Lantern toby (Canthigaster epilampra) every other year.
Everything looks set for a great diving season. Next time out we will even remember to bring the ladder!

Oasis in Gorontalo

Miguel's Diving is pleased to announce that the first phase of our new Gorontalo Oasis Hotel will be ready for divers beginning in early December 2005. We have planned the facilities around the needs and suggestions of divers in Gorontalo from past dive seasons.

Rooms have:

• Air-conditioning or fan-only


• Spring bed (double or two twins)


• Western-style toilet


• Hot water


• Cable TV


• Minibar


• High-speed internet connection

Our swimming pool will not be built until 2006. But the spectacular blue of Gorontalo's southern ocean will be open.

See you soon!