Archive for May, 2010
Why Dive Paradise so special?? – Final!!
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Paradise 1 is in front of SWV Dive center jetty just about 50 meter from dock to front and wide about 150 meter coverage!! Was the only House Reef that has sandy bottom and Seagrass bed!! Difference marine life can seen here compare to Corals Reef slope – Paradise 2. To make this house reef more fun for divers during self dive, artificial reef such as coconut leaves, chopped coconut trunks, used rubber types, bottles, broken fishing nets, broken floating buoy and broken cement blocks was created. All material above mention is less in cost and friendly to marine environment!! In the early year when SWVR set up that need to create more House Reefs for in case of peak seasons to prevent Divers JAM at the resort!! But now after 16 years, Mabul Island had 15 Dive Operators and others operator from outside come visited this dive site and it’s really everyday Divers & Snorkelers Jam here especially in afternoon hour.
Why name under PARADISE?? Good question!! Well!! It was 16 years ago when we were ex-staff of SWVR to name the House Reef!! It was really given us hard time to name this site and we could easily name SWV House Reef, Green grass home, Seagrass garden, even Golf course!! Heeheehee….. Sandy floor or ground, Check dive point, Corals garden and blah blah blah!! Why not use under the name of fish??!! We have at that time full of marine life!! Such as Anemone point, Pipefish garden, Lion Point, Eel Kingdom, Sweetlips, Frog Fish, Mandarin, Cardinal point and even best was Cleaning Station!! All the name mention above BUT in the end we come out with the name of “PARADISE”!!
It is a very good site for study on marine life behavior on Sandy, Seagrass bed and Coral reefs. This Paradise was home to juvenile fishes glowing ground, cleaning station, lay eggs or mating ground, fighting and last hunting ground. This site was also good for practicing skill on shooting underwater camera and video. The depth was not too deep and it can be DEEP but for dive more long times that to stay well in shallow depth. Please monitor DIVE COMPUTER frequently even dive stay shallow depth and longer time to avoid DECO STOP. Here below pictures showing the behavior of Board Cuttlefishes lays eggs on the Coconut Tree trunk. The pictures show how Marine Life stay in the trunk tree was so great that turtles resting, Butterflyfishes feeding on eggs and how other marine life protect their territory. That is why make PARADISE so special for DIVER especially Underwater Photographer and Videographer!!
Why Dive Paradise so special?!!
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Recently went stay at Sipadan Water Village Resort, Mabul Island and dive only at PARADISE. The weather was cloudy and rain. It is a raining season fall in the month of May and annual event celebration of Sabah Fest. Sabah Fest is a musical presentation that is held annually in conjunction with the Ka’amantan Festival to showcase the many ethnic races and their traditional customs through dance, drama, music, and fashion. This year’s theme, “The Legend of Arung Salamiah” is based on a folklore originating from Semporna that is passed down orally from one generation to the next. It tells the story of one man’s journey across Sabah in search of his true love. The performers will come from the respective ethic tribes and areas of Semporna, Tawau, Kinabatangan, Papar and Bongawan. The main performances include the Panansang, a healing ritual practiced by the Bajau Kubang community of Semporna and Ansuwali, a war-like ritual dance of the Serudung Murut people. The Sabah Fest and Harvest Festival fall on each year at the whole month of May in State level of each district. For more information please log in to www.sabahtourism.com This colourful events that not to be miss by the locals and tourists.
Even was a raining season but was not much effected to the diving activity in the Islands off Semporna. Here below pictures taken dive in Paradise where easy to encounter with the Marine Life. Why was so special here?? Found out on next blog!!
Teaching in Mabul!!!
Friday, May 14th, 2010
Recently went in to Mabul Island for teaching Chinese Open Water course. Early was stay at Backpacker Lodge for few days and after stay in to SWV Resort another few days. In SWV can’t believe that was staying in air conditioning chalet. It’s is really help to cool down after under the long hours SUN and have a good sleep too!! Sorry that forget to bring in underwater camera and took only on surface shoot!! Weather was raining, cloudy & windy but got sunny day too!! Underwater visibility was good and slightly cold too!! Highlight for this week was watching the cuttlefishes and school of squids laying eggs at same time!! “What a miss!!”
Tabawan Eco Dive Lodge!!
Friday, May 7th, 2010
“We at Tabawan Eco Dive Lodge want to help you discover the unturned treasures of Tabawan Island. We are committed to running our lodge with minimal environmental impact to help preserve this paradise we have found, and we share the dedication of the pearl farmers as stewards of the island.” said ANG, Director of Tabawan Eco Dive. For more Tabawan Eco Dive (TED) please login to www.tabawanecodive.com
Sulawesi Sea Safari was requested to do research on the Island and recently found a dive site of TURTLES STATION!! Tabawan Island still await for more to explore and discover like in Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Semporna. You will be honour that a new dive site might under your name. Below are the pictures taken on 1st May 2010. Why wait?? Come let’s together go SEA Safari!!
Best of shot???
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
Below all pictures were recently taken dive in Tun Sakaran Marine Park. If you think wasn’t the best shot then came and dive with us!!! We will point out and you do your BEST!!!
Green Turtle!!
Bluespotted Grouper!!!
Juvenile Brown Coral Blenny!!
Jeweled Blenny!!
Starry Puffer!!
Giant Hypselodoris!!
Spiny Devilfish!!
Face to face with the Rayed Shrimpgoby!!
White-lined Coralgoby!!
Twinspot Blenny on the Boxing ring?!
“What are you looking at??” said the Spotted Shrimpgoby!!
Ambonian Shrimp!!
Male Masui Shrimpgoby!!
Tozeuma sp. Shrimp??
Mimic Octopus!!
Flamboyant Cuttlefish walk like an Elephant!!
Flamboyant Cuttlefish!!
Hunting skill of Flamboyant Cuttlefish!!
Pair of Yellow Shrimpgoby!!
Close up with Leopard Flounder!!
“HELLO” said the Red-Margin Shrimpgoby!!
“What’s up??” said the Ventral-Barred Shrimpgoby!!
Shrimp cleaning inside Moray’s mouth “Say Ahhh”!!
Spotted Moray!!
Banded Coral Shrimp!!
Pair of Black Shrimpgoby!!
Spot-tail Frogfish!!