Bali Diving Day 1-3

In order to survive in this huge community underwater world, other than camouflage, hide & seek, commensalism seem one of the most commonly adaptation.

This goby is working hand in hand with snapping shrimp. Snapping shrimp good in burrow but with poor eyesight. By having goby take on the duty of watch tower, is a win-win for both the goby and the shrimp. The shrimp has poor eyesight, but is good at constructing and maintaining a burrow. The goby on the other hand has good vision, but not good at creating burrows. By pairing up, both offer valuable protection on the reef.

A Nardoa novaecaledoniae sea star sitting at the bottom of the coral reef.

One of the most photographed critters by divers non other than sea slugs that come in all colour and shape known as nudibranch such as this Goniobranchus geminus

Goniobranchus leopardus

Hypselodoris tryoni in trailing position.

Hypselodoris apolegma that with very bright colour.

Bali Diving Day 1-2

Is always excited to be surrounded by all the colourful fishes of all kinds.

Is a huge community down under the sea...

No aquarium tank can compare with the real coral reef

One the character in the movie Nemo, named Gill - a Moorish idol.

A huge and very beautiful Emperor angelfish.

A lone Yellow trumpet fish.

In coral reef, many creatures are depending on each other by way of commensalism such as these  anemone fish and anemone that they call home as their protection.

These damsel fish use corals as their protection.

Brittle stars attaching themselves to coral for protection too.

Ornate pipefish use camouflage to make themselves invisible by blending with their surrounding. 

Whip goby use seek and hide tactic around whip coral. A very fruitful dive, I must say...

Bali Dive Trip Day 1

Finally, I will be jumping into the sea in this very beautiful island of Bali to blow bubbles again after so long.

This is where we will have our entry, through pebbles shore.

Once we enter the water, it was a totally different world. I miss this feeling for a long long time...

Welcome to underwater gym... bicycleswas used to create this artificial reef.

Looking at the coral that grow on this cement mixer, it must have been here for sometimes.

This coral grow on the rope that attached to the cement mixer.

Another interesting site that we visit is this ship wreck. It was sunk in 2012 to create another artificial reef in this area. It has seen attracted many marine creature to call it their home.

One of the statue in the wreck.

Preparing to enter and explore this home to many marine creatures.

As with most of the dive site in this region, there is this fish that fear and avoid by most divers - Titan Trigger fish. They can cause real injuries if you accidentally intruded their territories especially during their breeding season. They can easily bite of a chunk of coral with just one bite and imagine a bite on your finger or toe...

Long Awaited Bali Trip

The last time I came here for my diving trip was almost a decade ago! Is good to be back and much has changed since then.

A huge Giant Subahu statue was at the Arrival Hall to welcome visitors to this beautiful island paradise.

Our resort is over the North-East of Bali and will definitely travel through Tista and we stop for a quick photo session with everybody take out their mobile phone.

This is one of the nice view of Bali with paddy field on the hill slope.

My resort is about 10km further north of the popular dive spot of Tulamben beach. Is a very quiet and relax resort.

Tomorrow this corner will be full of our wet suits.

The tank is all ready for our diving starting tomorrow.

You will never missed this Frangipani flowers in Bali. They are planted almost by every family here in Bali.

2 locals having a nice time fishing just outside our resort.

This is not my birding trip but when I saw this Great Bill Heron, I can only capture it with my mobile phone.

Such a beautiful sea shore!

This will be our diving entry point tomorrow morning.

Took this shot after the sun set and during the Nautical Twilight. Isn't it beautiful?

When the night falls, this big gecko took over our outdoor toilet. Waiting for insects that attracted by the light.

Surprise Find at Khao Phanom Bencha National Park

After witnessing the unnecessary demise of the squirrel, just as we are about to leave for airport. Come this big surprise - Brown Wood Owl!

 I have a good glimpse before she go back hiding again in the thick forest.

Other than the owl, we saw several bulbul on this fruiting tree.

Khao Phanom Bencha National Park

Before heading to airport catching flight back to Singapore, I have enough time just for one more quick stop. 

We pay a visit to Khao Phanom Bencha National Park.

The layout of the national park at the entrance.

This is probably the result of online translation... bottle has became BOTTOM.

There's a house cat in the national park. The weird behavior caught my attention. The cat try to hide something from me and look at the 'guilty' face...

When I pretend to turn my head away, the cat quickly grab something and try to get out of my sight.

OMG... is a squirrel.

I don't think the cat kill this squirrel for food but the nature instinct of predator to hunt.

Why would the staff want to keep cat in the national park...