The octopus at Oil Slick Leap

At "Oil Slick Leap" there is an octopus just below the ladder. Several sightings the last days made us eager to have a look ourselves, and for sure it was there as "promised". Octopus hunt at night, and this time it was resting squeezed in between rocks. All we could see was arms and body exactly matching the colours of the surrounding rocks. A master of disguise!

Just a few meters away was a huge barracuda, and as barracudas tend to do this one looked us deeply in the eyes, without moving as much as an inch! "Take right or left, above or under me please, - this is my spot!" A little behind with blogging now, - pictures from three more dives will eventually appear - a night dive at "Ol Blue" with lots of critters, and two boat dives at Klein yesterday - where a turtle said HI! Now, a day-trip to Washington Slagbai National Park - above water this time.

Jumping in at Oil SlickFlamingo tongueOctopusOctopus eyeSpotted Drum juvenileBarracuda

New site: No way home....

Yesterday we went north, as far north you can go before entering Washington Slagbai Nat. Park. Intending to dive "Nukove" we had to abort that mission due to surfs breaking to high. Luckily we went to the end of the road, where there's a fishing hut and found a nice calm entry. Just after manouvering through an opening in the reef we swam right on top of a huge loggerhead turtle, resting in the shallow water. It did not seem to mind us at all, and gazed at us lazely as we wer allowed to study it from all angles. Two more times during the dive we saw this turtle, first swimming and then taking another nap again. The coral up here was pristine, nice reef with plenty of schooling fish, - different species together. Lots of Black Durgeons, Creole wrasse and Blue tang. Also saw a free swimming green moray eel, tarpon and rainbow parrot fish. Enjoyed this site so much we stayed for lunch at the beach and did the dive again in the afternoon. Only thing, - a bit difficult to find the way back through the reef.... hence our name for this site....
Loggerhead turtle

Huge brain Coral

Tarpon

Rainbow Parrot fish

Blue Chromis

Night dive Klein Bonaire

Just a few pictures from yesterdays night dive at Klein Bonaire. Headed out to Klein in the afternoon on the boat, had one divestop at "Munk's Haven", then the sunset and then night dive at "Knife". First dive with new dive light, - the whole reef was flooded with 1200 lumen....! What a light! Lots of litte critters, some larger - a huge lobster peeking out from under a rock, fish sleeping and a spotted moray eel taking a walk. And: beautiful colours come out really nice during the night! Now up north to Washington Slagbai for day trip and a couple of dives :)
Sleeping parrot fish

Spotted moray eel

Lobster

Lion fish

A large lobster, resident of Angel City

A lazy day in the hammock...

- preparing for a couple of boat dives in the afternoon/night. Yesterday we had two great dives, "Angel City" and "Tori's Reef".
"Angel City" is our favourite spot on this island and never disappoints. Plenty of fish and beatiful coral formations, a lively underwater community - this time we had the pleasure of meeting a big lobster taking a walk, a tarpon checking us out and lots and lots of beautiful coral. What was not so pleasant was to discover that a few dangerous immigrants had settled on the reef. The lion fish is more and more common to see, - this is not a native to the area but rather being introduced to the Caribbean by thoughtless people. Having no predators in the area its multiplying fiercly and on this one dive we saw 4 specimens! Being a predator the lionfish prey on other fish in the area, and may have a detrimental effect on the reefsystem.They're now trying to control this by spearfishing, but it will be a hard battle.. the lionfish seems to instinctive know when someone has bad intentions for it... The reef is such a delicate system, and one foreign species like this will alter the balance.

"Tori's reef" was abundant with life in all shapes and colours, a truly beautiful dive! Looking out for rays as they are known to pass by here, we didn't see them this time either... next time hopefully they will show up...The internetspeed is quite good right now, so there will be quite a few pictures today, and maybe a video later....

Finally in Divers Paradise!

We're now in Bonaire, arrived Saturday afternoon after running for every flight... First in Amsterdam, due to stormy weather our flight from Oslo landed 15 minutes before next take-off to Curaceao....Just made it, and to our big suprise: so did our luggage!! Next flight Curacao-Bonaire same thing, - just made it after juggling through some queues... This flight, a 10 seater (incl. pilot and co-pilot, and a fat lady in the back...) propellar plane, gave us a "different" experience arriving Bonaire this time as "locals", - the pilot explaining: "here's the safety-chart, there's a life-west under your seat and there's the emergency handle...." -and take-off! Anyway, - we made it safely across, and here we are in divers paradise again! Didn't take us long to get in the water, yesterday two dives, "Front Porch" and "Ol'Blue". Today our favourite site "Angel City" and "Tori's reef". Starting out with some pictures from yesterday while working on todays pictures in the hammock... It's great to be back seeing Esther, Menno, Erica, Bully and Usco again, - and not the least our great diving buddies Ty and Kelly!

Scubadooby on the move again!

The Scubadooby-creature is about to wake up again. After almost a year hibernating in extreme temperatures up north there are signs of activity... Last weekend it was spotted at "Dykkersport" tending to it's vital breathing apparatus, checking that everything is working properly and the health status is ok. The one half (not sure if it's the "better half"... ??) also this year will be equipped with it's very own "lungs"(new regulator) and "brain" (diving computer). After some discussion during a dive last year..., a compass will also be part of the security ("immune system"). A new light for night conditions and illuminating those small creatures catching them on film, is also an essensial part of the "sense organs" this year. All in all, - the Scubadooby is getting ready to move south and start taking in vital "nutrition" enabling it to survive yet another year. All old and new friends are invited to join and follow us south :) More will follow.....