Page 65 - Underwater Photography (January-February 2020)

Olympus E-EPL5, Olympus 8mm, dual DS 161 strobes, f 11.0, 1/60, ISO 200 Nikon D7200, Ikelite housing, Tokina 10-17, 10mm, dual DS 161 strobes, f11.0,
1/125, ISO 200

Indo-Siren, was the ideal live-aboard, emphasis on ‘no solo’ diving and shapes and colors. Kri , Blue magic species of reef fish. The famous
with spacious cabins, excellent the details of the diving site. During and Tapokren jetty are dive sites at ichthyologist, Dr. Gerald Allen, also
cooking and perfect assistance of the our 9 days itinerary in which most the western edge of Dampier Strait in the author of the excellent fish guide
super friendly Indonesian crew in divers were able to log 30 dives, we the northern section of Raja Ampat. of the Indo-Pacific ocean, claimed to
accompanying each dive, checking followed the north to south and back Here vibrant schools of fish thrive in have counted over 280 fish species
our cylinder pressure and nitrox to north, route. This went from Sorong the strong currents of the strait south on a single dive! With its abundance
level and helping us getting in and to the northern island of Batanta, of GAM island. The crew did a pretty of fusiliers, jacks, napoleon wrasse,
out the three dinghies. We had then south to Daram and Pelee south good job of timing our dives so we bumphead parrotfish, tuna, batfish,
our own drawers, enough electrical of Misool, and back north again never saw divers from other boats several trevally species, sweetlips,
charging stations, free beers and free to the Dayang, Pianemo, Kri and underwater. snappers, and rainbow runners it’s
gear rental. Everyone had their own Blue Magic sites, south of Waigeo. The underwater world of Raja no wonder the Raja Ampat area is
numbered station, and plenty of room Batanta is kown for its “muck diving” Ampat contains an amazing number reputed to have the greatest diversity
to suit up. Briefings by our Anglo- where critter seekers have a chance of stony corals (Sceleractinia) and of marine life on earth. Occasional
American dive supervisor Tristan to spot the blue ring octopus, pygmy huge gorgonian fans covered with sightings included mobula rays,
were short but adequate with a general seahorse, and nudibranchs of all crinoids, and more than 1,700 turtles and a couple of sharks that

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