Facebook for Baby Nemo

Returning guest Jovin from Singapore has posted some amazing pictures of her latest diving adventure in what she calls Sulawesi's best-kept secret for diving, that is Gorontalo. Photos include a sequence of shots of developing anemonefish eggs taken over the course of seven days. Newly-laid golden eggs mature until the embryo eyes are visible. In the last shot, is that one baby Nemo escaping from its egg casing? Congratulations Jovin on such astonishing work! Click here for the link.

Trip Report: Belajardiving.com

For those who read Indonesian, there is a complete report on diving, transport and other activities from a happy group of divers from belajardiving.com. This marks the group's first trip to this part of Sulawesi where diving is world class. Even if you don't know Indonesia, the accompanying photos are very good, including an awesome shot of a 2-meter long Salvador Dali sponge that looks like a shark, albeit with surreal, bronze skin. Click this link.

World Ocean Conference

For those divers who did not stop by the Gorontalo booth at the recent World Ocean Conference in Manado, North Sulawesi, you can still read about the marine conservation area spearheaded by Miguel's Diving staff. When arriving at North Sulawesi's airport in Manado, a free copy of the WOC edition of What's Happening magazine is available. Inside is an article entitled "Giant Guardians," which details the diving available at the Olele Village marine conservation area. These are usually in the area of immigration or baggage claim.

Book Recommendation: Diving Southeast Asia (Footprint)

Just released this year is the fabulous full color Footprint guide to diving southeast Asia. Among its 304 pages is a section on diving Sulawesi including a new diving hot spot: Gorontalo! Congratulations to Beth & Shaun Tierney on this fine achievement.

Sulawesi Diving with a Hook

Reasons for avid divers to come to Sulawesi abound. And Gorontalo is one big reason. Today's diving featured millions of Bennett's tobies (Canthigaster bennetti), a small puffer that is typically seen in pairs in other parts of the world. However, in Gorontalo this fish has seasonal population explosions. Millions and millions of them form wiggling carpets over rubble areas of the reef crest or swim along the wall in thick clouds, reducing the sunlight to whatever is below. Those diving in Gorontalo over the last few days have shot dramatic video of this unusual phenomenon that has only been reported in another area of Sulawesi's huge Tomini Bay, the remote volcanic island of Una-una. Miguel's Diving staff believe this is spawning activity. Soon, most of the fish will begin to die and populations will return to normal.

Unlike other diving locations in Sulawesi, Gorontalo is not known for fast currents. However, Gorontalo has a variety of marine environments and Miguel's Diving is starting to explore a submerged point previously passed by. Today in 25-meter visibility, intrepid divers ventured along the long wall toward the point. Unusual for Gorontalo, the wall lacks the dense covering of coral and instead is dusted with white sand. Below a broad sandy shelf sprinkled with turban corals juts perpendicularly from the wall before falling into darkness. With the current starting to pick up and safety stop complete, other divers surfaced. However, in the face of a ripping current Miguel's Diving dive master stayed down and worked his way between boulders and bommies at the 6-meter deep reef flat. Pulling himself to the edge of the wall, he was greeted by a gathering of nine Napo.lean wrasse, schools of large unicornfish, meter-long rainbow runners, a fast school of small tuna, clouds of Redtooth triggers and a school of Bluefin trevally heading toward the point but having to negotiate a way around all those over-sized Napole.ans. All of these passed within a few meters of his face and that was the fish action visible only from clinging to the reef flat! Hanging off the wall would require a hook. Once again diving in Gorontalo measures up to the expectation of Sulawesi's world-class diving.

Seeing Spots

Over the last several days there have been four sightings of whale sharks in Gorontalo. The first was on Lunar New Year when our dive master spotted a fin sinking into the calm blue waters on the way to a dive sight. All the guests from Jakarta's ODY Dive saw the six-meter long cetacean and several of them joined it in the water. At one point it turned around to take a good look at the strange yellow-finned creature persistently following it, coming within inches of our dive master. The next night a pair of them competed with local fishermen for the night's squid catch. Then earlier today divers spotted a whale shark swimming right over them along the coral wall. So far, all memories have been in sharper focus than the photos taken by our surprised guests.

End of Season

The dry stiff winds from the east that now dominate the waters of Tomini Bay mark the end of diving season in Gorontalo. Happy and intrepid guests from Ody Dive in Jakarta managed to get in three days of diving over the May 1st long weekend. This past weekend gal pals Mira and Lita from the same dive school took advantage of another holiday and helped us end a great season. Miguel's Diving staff managed to work around the weather issues to provide satisfying dives. Their final day found them swimming with a family of Napo.lean wrasse and a spectacular encounter with mating cuttlefish. Winds will begin shifting back in October. The next diving season officially begins in November. See you then!

Diving the Sulawesi Sea

During off-season this year when contrary winds make diving impractical along Gorontalo's southern coastline, Miguel's Diving has been assisting the provincial government in surveying various islands along Gorontalo's north coast. These are found in the Sulawesi Sea, which stretches from Borneo to the Philippines. Diving here has been quite different from that in Tomini Bay where we usually dive. Gone are the new and endemic species we have found at our southern dive sites. Shallow sandy bottoms predominate with numerous sea fans only rarely sited in the south. Because of the more open substrate, nudibranchs have been easy to find and in great variety. Among the rocks of Raja Island Miguel's Diving staff saw something we had never seen before: a Twinspot blenny (Escenius bimaculatus). And for good reason: it is not found in Tomini Bay but makes its home almost exclusively in the Sulawesi Sea. Diving in Gorontalo's northern islands will not be available any time soon because of infrastructure and distance. Raja Island, a jungle nature reserve and turtle nesting ground, takes over two hours by land and another hour by outrigger canoe to reach.

Treasure House

Diving in Gorontalo is indeed an adventure as divers found this week. In addition to our regular list of marine marvels, we managed to find and photograph too many ghost pipefish to remember and two pairs of exceptional Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis). Even the extremely rare and tiny Teddy bear crab made a mercurial appearance before somersaulting off its rock. With the depth of focus so small, the slight surge made the cute creature in the viewfinder impossible to photograph. This week proved once again that Gorontalo is a treasure house for diving in Sulawesi.

Off Season Diving in Gorontalo, Sulawesi

With the exception of world famous Bunaken Marine Park, most other scuba diving locations around Sulawesi have distinct seasons. This includes diving in Sulawesi's Gorontalo Province. Fortunate weather during this last week of May has allowed advance scouts from a scuba diving club to enjoy the waters here in Gorontalo. Even our more weather-affected sites were available this week. For the most part we have enjoyed spectacular 25 - 30 meter visibility. Highlights of the final dive of the month include a school of 10 Yellowfin tuna, multiple schools of Shipjack tuna, a large school of Purse-eyed scad, countless schools of Yellow-dash, Banana, and Lunar fusiliers, a Green Turtle, a Napo.lean wrasse, Gold-spec jawfish, Mappa puffer, three huge Bumphead parrotfish playing follow-the-leader with us, and a school of Bottlenose dolphin frolicking overhead.

Business Trip to Gorontalo Made Better

Most Sulawesi diving locations are too remote to allow someone on a business trip to get in a quick dive or two prior to meetings - or afterwards. However, in Gorontalo our dive sites are so close to town that business people can make their trips here better by scuba diving, too. Miguel's Diving offers flexible scheduling to allow this. Even though May is considered off-season, we have been able to give business visitors a glimpse of what Gorontalo has to offer. With only one day to dive, travelers this month have enjoyed 25-meter visibility and seen some of our new or endemic species. If you are planning to be in Gorontalo anyway, contact us at Miguel's Diving to see what is possible.

Newest Endemic: Blue belly blenny

Miguel's Diving is pleased to announcement another confirmed endemic species in our area. The Blue belly blenny (Escenius caeruliventris) was only described scientifically by Springer and Allen in 2004 after it was first discovered in Tomini Bay, Sulawesi, where Miguel's Diving operates. Only this past dive season have we noticed this cute little fish, finding it in three widely separated dive sites. Several of our guests have been able to photograph it. Easily recognized by its dark blue belly, this blenny also has double white lines on its eyes. Please click the thumbnail to see a larger picture. Surely you can take a better photo. Ready to come to Gorontalo and try?

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.

Sulawesi Diving on Both Sides of the Equator

In cooperation with Black Marlin Dive of the Togian (Togean) Islands, Miguel’s Diving is pleased to offer diving on both sides of the equator in Sulawesi’s huge Tomini Bay. Those diving the Togian (Togean) Islands can dive fringing reefs, a barrier reef, and atolls south of equator. On its north side Gorontalo offers some of everything: dramatic walls, shallow coral gardens, multiple pinnacles, muck diving, and a couple of wrecks as well. This special promotional price is valid from November 2004 to April 2005. Ready to kiss King Neptune’s belly?

Diver’s Dream Package*
Saturday:
Airport pickup in Gorontalo & check into Hotel Melati
Sunday – Wednesday:
8 boat dives with Miguel’s Diving, including tanks, weights, bottled water, and transport
4 nights & 1 extended day @ Hotel Melati (air-conditioned room & breakfast only)
Wednesday:
Evening boat to Kadidiri Island, including transport to port, boat ticket, and small cabin
Thursday – Sunday :
7 boat dives & 2 night dives with Black Marlin Dive Resort, including tanks, weights, and dive equipment
4 nights in a beach bungalow with western bathroom and three meals a day
Monday:
1 morning dive, breakfast & lunch
Afternoon boat back to Gorontalo, including transport to port, boat ticket, and small cabin
Tuesday:
Morning arrival in Gorontalo
Transport from port to town and/or airport
Promotional rate: USD$787 twin share including tax
Single supplement: USD$55

*Although this diving package is built around existing flight & boat schedules, Miguel’s Diving is not responsible for changes in these schedules.

Gorontalo Exclusive: White Foxtail Colonial Tunicates

Gorontalo is close to Sulawesi diving hot spots of Bunaken Marine Park, Lembeh, and the Togian (Togean) Islands. However, we are often finding things unknown to those familiar with diving in these adjacent locations. One striking example is what Phuket?s dive guru calls White foxtails after a recent visit. These are colonial tunicates whose translucent white members grow from a central basal stalk. These foxtails are found in Gorontalo hanging from sheltered overhangs and deep pinnacles where they are protected from the current. Some colonies are almost a meter in length.

Tunicates are marine animals that have an incurrent and an excurrent siphon for pulling in food and releasing waste. Tunicates are also called ascidians or sea squirts. Most of our marine biologist buddies had never seen these until diving here. You are only likely to see these beautiful foxtails by diving in Gorontalo, Sulawesi?s newest location for finding unusual marine life.