by Kat Ramage | Jun 7, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Menjangan Island
A Hawksbill turtle resting in the sand at Eel Garden
It was a glorious day at Menjangan for both snorkelers and divers. Emma from London, who was completing her Advanced Open Water course, said these were her best two dives ever.
While taking in the dramatic walls at Eel Garden and Underwater Cave, we saw both bigger critters (giant frogfish, eels and some even saw a shark), and Abdul was busy pointing out tiny creatures like orangutan crabs and pygmy seahorses.
An amazing day was had by all. Come to NW Bali and join the pirates at Sea Rovers for your own ocean adventure!
2 of the 3 frogfish that were sitting on a big sponge
A shy zebra eel on the wall at Underwater Cave
Dive guide Abdul showing Emma a tiny orangutan crab
One of our snorkeling guests enjoying the reef
by Kat Ramage | Jun 4, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Mucky Pirates Bay
The photo wench found lots of cooperative subjects on another long shore dive at Mucky Pirates Bay. Thanks to the pirates at Sea Rovers for providing shore support.
Here’s lookin at you kid
This is a juvenile angelfish who will look completely different when it grows up
This little bannerfish was busy trying to nibble at the jellyfish
These little puffers are so cute
One of the smaller false clownfish in the anemone under the pier
by Kat Ramage | Jun 3, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Mucky Pirates Bay
Meet the sand shrimpgoby
One of the joys of diving for me is learning about and trying to photograph behavior. Today’s photos are not really portfolio-worthy, but they show the interesting relationship between the sand shrimpgoby and the shrimp they share a home with.
These two creatures are symbiotic (meaning their interaction benefits both of them). The gobies stand guard while the shrimp plays “housekeeper” to their burrow, continually digging and cleaning out the sand. The Gobies will signal when predators are near. When I got too close, they both dashed back into the hole. The fish came back out first, followed by the shrimp a few moments later, then the housecleaning continued.
Here’s you can see the shrimp doing some housecleaning while the goby is on lookout
Another shot of the pair–all of the floating sand was brought out by the shrimp
Here’s a closeup of the goby’s face–looks like he has a mouth full of sand so I guess he shares in the cleaning chores
by Kat Ramage | Jun 1, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Mucky Pirates Bay
Brethren David wanted to check out the amazing shore dive at Mucky Pirates Bay here in Pemuteran, so we enlisted dive guide Edy to find some unusual macro subjects for our cameras. We were definitely not disappointed.
David–be sure to send us some of YOUR photos to post on the website!
This fangblenny found a home in a discarded piece of PVC pipe
This shy moray eel wouldn’t venture out of his hole
I tried to move in for a close-up of the eye, but he dashed back into his hole in a cloud of sand
This juvenile lionfish was TINY–thanks to Edy for finding this little gem
Lots of pipefish on this dive
by Kat Ramage | May 31, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Menjangan Island
First shot of the dive–(decent composition, good exposure) sometimes I surprise myself
Dive guide Edy was tasked today with finding interesting subjects for 2 underwater photographers (Dave from London, and the photo wench) at Menjangan. Our first dive was at Box Reef, and the current was strong–both Dave & I tucked in our cameras and drifted along. Eventually, the current lessened and strobes started firing. I took the opportunity to frame both of them against the lovely wall for a couple of portrait shots.
Here’s Edy working on his modeling skills.
Here’s brethren Dave posing for the camera
After a surface interval including drinks and lunch, our second dive was at Mangrove. This was a much more relaxed dive with little current, great visibility and lots to see. I spent much of the dive trying to get a shot of a lone bumphead parrotfish who would have nothing to do with me–camera-shy I guess. So, after fighting with a subject that’s so uncooperative, it’s always nice to find a lovely anemone filled with false clownfish–always a crowd-pleaser and a great way to end a 73-minute dive.
There was lots of activity at this purple anemone.
by Kat Ramage | May 29, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Mucky Pirates Bay
The resident photo wench did another long shore dive today (138 minutes) at Mucky Pirates Bay with the helpful support pirate crew from Sea Rovers. Although not as productive as yesterday photo-wise (no trusty guide to find critters), I thought I’d post the top 3 shots. Enjoy!
Surprisingly, this little guy let me get close enough for the +10 diopter
Another patient little fish that let me get quite close
A peek under the mantle of a Chromodoris nudibranch
