Owning one of the widest spectrums of marine biodiversity in the world, it's hard to believe that one does not see much on any one dive there. It is also one of the best places to observe animals in their natural environment. Divers should value the opportunity to observe the behaviour of even 1 animal on a dive for as long as it allows us to.
These are the animals which accompanied us during our dives there..
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Pelagics off and around the walls of Montehage, Manado Tua and Bunaken: Eagle Rays, Black tips, Dogtooth Tunas, Spanish Mackerels, Schools of HorseEye & Giant Trevallies, Chevron and Great Barracudas, and a Dugong swimming up the wall at 14m....oh and did we mention DUGONG!! Apparently they have taken to diving deeper there as well, and for a chubby animal it can sure haul some major a**! If you want a second-hand example, we have a couple of divemasters who do good impressions.
On the surface, Common and Bottlenose Dolphins, Black Marlins.
Critter encounters include Yellow Rhinopias, Robust Ghostpipefish, Pygmy Seahorses, Jawfish, Kuda Hippocampus, Leafy Scorpiofish, Cockatoo Waspfish, Flying Gurnards, Demon Stingers, Squatlobsters...hey we could go on and on but best if you experience it for yourself!
Some of our mistakes(even though we tried not to commit them) you can learn from:
1. Be Patient. Good things come to good people so dont keep swimming aimlessly if you dont see anything. Remember most animals move as well! It would be like a carousel, everything moving around in circles but never meeting. Once you do meet an animal, like..did we mention Dugong..don't freak out, don't aim your camera too quickly and don't blow big bubbles (guilty on all 3 counts)
2. Be Mindful. Dolphins, like women,are one of the most misunderstood mammals.(we're kidding..not really). Always looking friendly may not always mean that they want to play! Always keep a safe distance from a pod of dolphins, observe if there are young in the pod as adults may then be defensive, keep the noise level of the boat engine constant, if you enter the water(don't), do it quietly without splashing and keep the boat close to you!! Lastly, smile when they eyeball you!
3. Be Safe. It's easy when we are overwhelmed with nature to forget that we have limits underwater. Never let it leave your mind to check your dive computer or depth/time devices to stay within recreational diving limits. Negligence is a common reason for accidents. And btw, don't even get used to overstaying your limits and simply following deco time your computer gives you..remember it is an Emergency Decompression not a planned one if it does happen and it is best to stay off diving for 24hrs after. Using air on continuous repetitive dives leaves you loaded with nitrogen in no time so really, do what you learnt during your Open Water Diver course..drink lots of water, limit your alcohol and tobacco intake and stay out of the sun!
* Be a passive observer, remember we are all visitors under the sea. You wouldn't like it if someone came into your home lifted you off the sofa, chased you round the living room, jiggled you around then dropped you off at your neighbours house, either.
Every dive site or location should be selected objectively to enjoy the experience fully and expectations must be managed.
Our next Manado adventure will be in October 2004 and we hope to plan for 1-2 days out at sea to find the larger mammals and a dawn dive for the Great Hammerheads. Email us scuba@seahounds.com if you want to share the experience.
Beaver
PADI 99087
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