by Kat Ramage | Sep 19, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Mucky Pirates Bay
If you want maximum bottom time, a shore dive is the way to go. No set schedule to follow, little to no current to worry about, easy to navigate and nearly impossible to get lost. My friend Linda was visiting from Texas, and we got to talking about what our longest dive was. Both of us had several dives that went longer than 2 hours, but we decided to challenge ourselves to make it to 3 hours.
To accomplish this, we needed to stay relatively shallow and not do too much swimming. Mucky Pirates Bay here in Pemuteran is perfect. You can spend an entire dive exploring under the pier. There are also nearby mooring bases and piles of debris that have their own little ecosystems—a macro photographer’s dream.
After helping us in the water with our gear & cameras, we told the Sea Rovers shore support crew not to expect us back for at least 2.5 hours (I don’t think they completely believed us, but they smiled and waved us on our way). It was low tide and there was limited visibility, so it was a good thing we didn’t plan to venture too far from shore. Because of the particles in the water, the dive wasn’t particularly fruitful photographically. We saw several morays, pipefish, lionfish, and the usual cleaner shrimp and anemone crabs. But here is my favorite shot of the day
Here’s the proof – 30 feet (10 metres) for 180 minutes
So, if you love long slow dives with lots of interesting critters, be sure to check out Mucky Pirates Bay with the Pirates of Sea Rovers. Maybe you too can log your longest dive ever and beat my record.
The starry moray is one of my favorite eels because of the bright yellow eyes
While shooting the shrimp, the moray suddenly stuck out his head
One of several lionfish under the pier
One of many pipefish we saw
Look for these in anemones if the clownfish will let you get close enough
by Kat Ramage | Aug 8, 2017 | Kat Ramage Photos, Mucky Pirates Bay
During a recent dive in Mucky Pirates Bay, I came across an upside-down jellyfish lying in the sand. I wasn’t sure whether it was alive or dead, so I gently prodded it with my muck stick. Imagine my surprise when it started running across the sand! What I didn’t realize was that there was a decorator crab underneath who had adorned this jellyfish like a hat to protect itself from predators. I found another one on a subsequent dive, so this must be fairly common. It’s clear what benefit the crab gets from this relationship…not sure if the jellyfish is too happy about the arrangement.Save
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by Kat Ramage | Jul 30, 2017 | Mucky Pirates Bay, Try Dive
Helen, with daughters Zoe and Aline, did an Intro Dive with instructor Wayan. Check out their exciting experience.
by Kat Ramage | Jul 13, 2017 | Mucky Pirates Bay, Try Dive
Captain Paul introduced scuba diving to Julien and Sarah in Mucky Pirates Bay. From the photos, it looks like they had sunny skies and great visibility.
If you have always snorkeled and are interested in trying diving, contact the Pirates at Sea Rovers
by Kat Ramage | Jul 4, 2017 | Mucky Pirates Bay, Night dives
Panoramic view of Mucky Pirates Bay at sunset
Night dives at Mucky Pirates Bay with the Pirates of Sea Rovers are awesome! We often see frogfish, octopus, sometimes seahorses and other unique night time critters. When you book a dive package of 3 days or more, you will get a free night or shore dive.
Walter from Malaysia went out with dive guide Edi to shoot the creatures of the night here on our house reef. Hopefully Walter will send in some of his photos for us to share.
Walter getting ready to put on his tank
Edi defogging his mask as Walter waits excitedly to get in and start shooting
Walter and camera are ready to shoot some critters
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
