TRAVELS WITH TAM

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What it is like diving the Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef

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I hope you all had a lovely Labor Day Weekend readers in the U S of A!

Today, I continue my journey on the Spirit of Freedom on the Great Barrier Reef! Our dive spots were the Ribbon Reefs at the far northern edge of the Great Barrier Reef, stretching for 50 miles along the continental shelf! These are famous dive sites for any level diver. The best time to dive this area is during the dry season, May to November. October through May is known as “the wet”. Water temps were around 78 degrees Farenheit, very comfortable yet still refreshing. During June/July you may see Dwarf Minke Whales! But that is for another post! For now, enjoy these awesome creatures from the Ribbon Reefs.

Check flights to Australia right now!

 

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
Islands and sea mounts dot the ocean

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving

 

 

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
Beautiful Spade Fish
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
A beautiful Giant Moray Eel
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
A teeny tiny little Pipefish!

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
These pufferfish were huge, and the sea cucumbers crazy looking!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
Beautiful Surgeonfish
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
Hanging out on the anchor line
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
Gorgeous Parrotfish
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
A gorgeous skunk anemonefish…they are my favorites among the anemonefish

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
How I love anemone!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
Feather stars! They look like a fire burning.
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
Triggers can be a little aggressive if they are laying eggs!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
another huge, bizarre sea cucumber!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
I’m not sure what kind of eel this is, but she is a beauty!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
These nudibranchs are so small, and so abundant!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
This nudi is a real beauty! check out her head on the left!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
I just love these little things!
great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving
shoals and shoals!

great barrier reef, ribbon reefs, scuba diving

 

 

 

And

 

Diving Komodo: Angel Reef and Satonda

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I have to confess that the first dive in Komodo was unbelievable! It was like turning a sugar lover loose in a candy store. There was so much to see!

The Arenui is LUX. At 6:30 a.m. we were awakened, and everyone met in the dining room for “first breakfast”. First breakfast is continental…coffee, fruit, yogurt. Then, first dive of the day, followed by Second Breakfast which was anything you wanted: pancakes, french toast, eggs, baked beans on toast (for the Brits and Aussies), noodles…as I said, anything you want! And of course, by the time we came up from the first dive, our cabin was clean and sparkling.

Our first stop was Moyo Island and Angel Reef. I have to say that Angel Reef was heavenly, indeed! My first Komodo dive…and how gorgeous it was!

Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
A Red Spinecheek Anenome fish with its baby
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
The contrast of the deep red and ethereal color of the anemone was spellbinding.

Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
In case you haven’t noticed, I love seastars.
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
Gorgeous sea star
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
This is a Pin Cushion Sea Star
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
A Giant Moray
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
Soft Corals and brittle stars.
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
Cool clam or oyster…not completely sure!

After Angel Reef and Second Breakfast (I felt like a Hobbit!) our second dive site was Satonda. I saw Pygmy Sea Horses for the first time! I was too excited to focus on them with my camera, but still! Pygmy sea horses!

Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
I know the photos are crystal clear and focused, but I was so excited to find these Pygmy Seahorses!
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
Can you find all 4?
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
They were so tiny…smaller than my pinky nail!
Angel Reef, Satonda, scuba, Arenui
Adorable. This was my only sighting, and I regret the photos are no better than this, but I was shaking with excitement to see these creatures!

Of course, there was much more to see!

Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
A Giant Clam!
Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
These feather stars look like they are on FIRE!
Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
A cute little baby boxfish…barely has a face! They are so cute.
Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
Aren’t these worms cool?
Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
Darling Hawksbill Turtle
Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
A nudibranch! I just love these tiny creatures! I think they are a sea slug.

 

Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
Lionfish Portrait by Andrea Marshall.

After finishing dive two, lunch is served! After lunch, dive 3. After dive 3, snacks! If a night dive is on the schedule, you do the night dive and then have dinner. The crew of the Arenui anticipate every thing you want. They really are amazing. If you want to dive Indonesia, do go on the Arenui! It is an incredible experience.

Komodo, scuba, diving, Arenui
The crew is so thoughtful! Their service is impeccable.

I will be back with scenes from Day 2!

 

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