Recently in Bunaken Category

The Bunaken Marine Park is home of quite few families of Dolphins. As a matter of fact the species living here are Bottlenose , Spinners and common dolphins. Sometimes even pilot whales appear within the boundaries of the marine park. It is quite difficult but not impossible to see them while diving or snorkeling but very easy to spot them while boat riding to the diving sites. In the video you can watch by clicking on it, I was lucky to see this group of bottlenose dolphins passing by while diving underwater. Great Experience :-).

On October 10, Barb Jones from California completed her 2,000 logged dive while diving with Eco Divers's dive guide Adi at dive site Fukui in Bunaken Marine Park.  Barb together with her husband Dr. Alan  are our very good friends helping us with dive shows, PR and visiting us every year.

"All team is always very happy to meet you, and once again Jim, Cary, Kim, Miho and I would like to thank you both for the fantastic job and help you are giving us". 

Barb is a PADI Divemaster with dive experience in the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean's.

I have been in Manado for more than 4 years now.........4 years?!wow the time pass so quickly.

Once again this morning when I wake up the sun is high in the blue sky, very hard to have bad or moody start in your day when it is like this.

Since I have been here I have never had such a good season, it has been so dry since june or maybe even may. I wonder how long it will last.....

Well, my dearest beloved holiday maker, enjoy this time of sunshine, calm sea and bird singing. 

Here is the King of the pigmy seahorses. This picture was taken on the reef of Siladen Island at just 15 min by boat from our resort.

As you can sea his belly is quite big, that signifies that his pregnant. Yes, for those that they do not know yet, is the male that actually carries the eggs of the female in his pocket. They are marsupial, like the kangaroos.

Pigmy seahorses (hippocampus bargibanti) are quite common in the Bunaken marine park.

Scientist says that the "pimples" growing on their body are actually corals of the same kind of the sea fan where they live in. WOW!! 

Found it!!! We were looking for this "pigmy" seahorse . In my opinion it is the smallest with its 4-5mm. Oh yeah, our divemasters can find even such a small critter with its perfect camouflage. Look at its color and the surrounding seafan, perfect match.

Well done Yannis, to have found it and share with all of us.

This is very rare and it has the small "pimples" like the Bargibanti .Well, well is it a Denise or a new species ? these are the dilemmas that I have to face here in Sulawesi. Anybody has any idea? 

For those that have not yet seen a pigmy seahorse of any kind , they are probably thinking that I am crazy ;-) he he hehe ;-)  

Our voyage into the discovery of the critters of Bunaken brings you to the attention of this little tiny seahorse called Pontohi (Ponto's hippocampus). Ponto is one of the dive guide working in the Bunaken Marine Park, the first spotting this little beautiful seahorse.

To find this little critter you need to have an eagle eye, lots of concentration and know where he likes to live.

I am very proud to say that when you will be diving with us we can guarantee you to see it, as long as your eyes can focus on a little cm moving on a colorful background.  

Bunaken island is well known for its dramatic deep walls and the pristine coral growth.......but, did you know how many special resident critters you can see in the Bunaken Marine Park? 

I have decided to come out with the title "Critters of Bunaken" to let know, the many people that have not yet dived in the Marine Park, how cool for macro is the place where I live. So many times it happened to me to hear sentences such as: Well, I did not know that you had so many critters in this place....... That is right!......... We have plenty to show you and this is what all my dive team is train for......spotting the unspottable.

Therefore, when you will be diving with us the formula will be: Look around and enjoy the thousand of coral fish swimming up and down the wall, look into the blue to see if a Turtle, Napoleon wrasse or reef Shark is passing by and let your divemaster do what he does best by spotting all the little tiny creatures such us the boxer crab in the picture above.

If you are a photographer make sure you do not forget your macro lens when you come to dive the Marine Park.

Bunaken big or small you can have it all.