Thursday 1 November 2012

Honeycomb morays, lobsters and an octopus


Honeycomb Morays, Gymnothorax favagineus & Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus 
Wednesday 31st October

Our first dive was at Furana North where we saw plenty of moray eels, and finally 3 eels in one hole.
Hassan's dive briefing
Abdulla or Adel photographing me and soft coral
Bill and soft coral
Christmas Tree Worm, Spirobranchus giganteus
Featherstar on Whip coral
Yellowmargin Moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus
Gorgonian sea fan
Honeycomb Moray, Gymnothorax favagineus
Honeycomb Morays, Gymnothorax favagineus & Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus 
Slender Sweeper, Parapriacanthus ransonneti
Whitetip Reef Sharks, Triaenodon obesus
Yellow-dimpled Sponge, Hippospongia metachromia
luxury yachts moored near Bandos Resort
The second dive was at the Bandos Lobster Caves and we counted 10 lobsters in one cave. Later we had a wonderful octopus encounter when the octopus changed, colour, pattern and shape and swam to several different holes.

Bill
Christmas Tree Worm, Spirobranchus giganteus
Christmas Tree Worm, Spirobranchus giganteus
Reef scene

Fan coral
Featherstar
Featherstar
Gary
Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus
Noble Featherstar, Comanthina nobilis
Octopus cyanea



It changes colour and texture frequently to blend in with its background






Where did that white stripe come from?



Oriental Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus vittatus
Oyster covered by sponge
Oyster covered by sponge
Painted Rock Lobsters, Panurilus versicolor

Painted Rock Lobsters, Panurilus versicolor
Pin-cushion Sea Star, Culcita schmideliana
Red-toothed Triggerfish, Odonus niger
Regal Angelfish, Pygoplites diacanthus
Spotfin Lionfish, Pterois antennata
Spotfin Lionfish, Pterois antennata

The afternoon dive was at Dhiru Neru, formerly called Coral Gardens. The dive ended with a turtle sighting.

Bluefin Jack, Caranx melampygus
Cock's Comb Oyster, Lopha cristagalli
Common Lionfish, Pterois volitans
Giant Moray, Gymnothorax javanicus
Gold-striped Emperor, Gnathodentex aureolineatus
Granulated Sea Star, Choriaster granulatus
Guilding's Sea Star, Linckia guildingi
Hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata
Featherstar on Penguin Wing Oyster, Pteria Penguin 
Reef Lizardfish, Synodus variegatus
Sea Cucumber, Synaptula species
Sea fan
Suzanne's Flatworm, Pseudoceros suzzanae
Variable Thorny Oyster, Spondylus varians
We had heavy rain again this morning, but finally we had sun again this afternoon and a real sunset. Dinner was served in a Halloween setting and locals did a mask dance, I guess the kids enjoyed it.

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