Mike's Point dive in fantastic Raja Ampat, Indonesia
23.03.2020
Giant moray eel; Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, extending 3,181 mi from east to west and 1,094 mi from north to south
I had never seen a feather duster floating in the water before; these fan worms only move if displaced so I hope this one was able to find a new home
Juvenile whitespotted wrasse; sadly, this attractive fish is often sold in the aquarium trade but is difficult to get to eat and usually dies from starvation
Pink and black sea cucumber; about twenty tube feet in a ring around the mouth are modified into feeding tentacles; this species is dried and eaten in Indonesia and China
Mike's Point, named for Max Emmer's son, is one of the iconic dive sites in Raja Ampat; located in the Dampier Strait, off the island of Kerupiar, it required careful planning due to fierce currents
Orange banded coralfish; this species is in the butterflyfish family and eats mainly sponges while growing to about 8 inches long
Oriental and ribbon sweetlips; in some areas, you're happy to see one of these but in Raja Ampat there were always large schools; when solitary, they will hide under ledges and inside crevices
The area around Mike's Point was bombed during WW2 as Kerupier Island, surrounded by strong currents, was mistaken for a Japanese warship; underwater the marine life is prolific with superb hard coral and a gorgonian fan garden
Three spot angelfish; this species lives in a harem composed of two to seven females for a single male; it's a territorial fish and eats mainly sponges and tunicates
Posted by VagabondCowboy 04:53
