Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park 3rd- 13th September 2016

Indo Aggressor Captain’s Log 3-13 September 2016

 

CREW:

Captain: Kasim

Cruise Director: Rob

Chef: Gusti

Head Steward: Polos

Dive Guides: Rob, Rama, Tarzan

 

GUESTS:

Megan, Christie, Rene, Bernard, Gary, Jennifer, Tamara, Elizabeth, Winnie, John, Kathleen, Ron, Jill, Nancy

 

Temp: Air: 30 Water: 28

 

DIVE SITES:

Sunday: GLD Bay, Lighthouse Reef

Monday: Sebayor, Maun

Tuesday: West Point, K2

Wednesday: Batumoncho, Big Nose

Thursday: Lighthouse Reef, Shotgun

Friday: Siaba (North), Siaba (South)

Saturday: Tatawa Besaar, Wainilu

Sunday: rinja, Kaba

Monday: Kelor, Bidadari

Saturday 3rd September

Today is arrival day and with great excitement we welcomed 14 guests from the USA. We have a wonderful group of snorkelers onboard and due to late arrivals we missed out on getting into the water. However we enjoyed a fascinating lecture about Komodo from Ron the group leader. After which we had dinner and then rested in anticipation for tomorrows activities.

Sunday 4th September

We began our day with a hike on GLD for some whilst others enjoyed a tender ride around the island. We then enjoyed our second breakfast before a snorkel around the bay of GLD. Highlights included barracuda, nudibranchs amazing corals and many many reef fish.

During lunch we moved the boat around to GLL and enjoyed an afternoon snorkel at Lighthouse Reef. Highlights included great corals and plenty of common marine fish.

In the afternoon we explored the island of GLL enjoying a hike around the island where we found a large beehive.

We then headed back to GLD our mooring point for the evening.

Monday 5th September

We began our day at Sebayor Island starting off with either an early morning snorkel or a boat ride around the island. After second breakfast all guests enjoyed a snorkel around Sebayor Island. Highlights included a variety of morays, leaf scorpion fish, ribbon eels and a host of assorted reef fish.

During lunch we began moving in Current City and an island called Maun. All guests enjoyed a snorkel with highlights being 3 large mantas.

We then had a land excursion onto Maun Island after which we headed back to our mooring at GLD.

Tuesday 6th September

In the early hours we headed west to Banta Island. We began our day with a boat trip around the island spotting local bird life after which we snorkeled West Point. Highlights were mantas, Spanish dancers, cowrie’s and spectacular corals

We then moved into the Bay of Banta Island and after lunch enjoyed a snorkel on a site known as K2. Highlights included many assorted reed fish and some wonderful soft corals.

In the late afternoon we explored the island of Banta.

Wednesday 7th September

Last night we moved to Batumoncho an area on the west side of Komodo Island. We began the day with the option of an early morning snorkel or the opportunity to explore the Island. The early morning snorkelers got lucky with mantas.

After breakfast we all snorkeled at Batumoncho and were rewarded with 2 large broadclub cuttlefish putting on a display as well as crystal clear water and superb corals.

After lunch we snorkeled Big Nose a great wall with highlights being 3 spotted eagle rays, 2 white tip reef sharks and hawksbill turtles.

We then had an excursion on Komodo Island and enjoyed a fantastic view of Sangeang Volcano and the setting sun.

We then had a night snorkel highlights included

Thursday 8th September

Overnight we moved back into the Komodo National Park to GLL. In the morning some guests explored GLL whilst others enjoyed a snorkel at Lighthouse Reef. Highlights included a black tip reef shark and a manta.

After breakfast we all snorkeled Shotgun. Highlights included amazing corals clear water as well as giant trevally, titon triggerfish, white tip reef sharks as well as a large variety of marine fish.

After lunch we snorkeled Shotgun again but on the other side. Highlights included a bamboo shark, hawksbill turtles and a wide variety of other marine fish common to the area.

We then moved into GLD Bay and guests enjoyed a visit to the Island.

Friday 9th September

In the early hours we moved into Current City and an island known as Siaba. Some guests enjoyed an early morning snorkel whilst others visited the island.

After breakfast we all enjoyed a snorkel at Siaba. Highlights included a large variety of marine fish and spectacular corals.

After lunch we had our third snorkel this time on the north of Siaba Kecil. Some of the more adventurous snorkellors drifted down the eastern side of the island. Highlights included many hawksbill turtles, large schools of red snapper and giant trevally, puffer fish and white tip reef sharks.

In the late afternoon guests enjoyed a visit to Siaba Kecil and enjoyed some bird watching and photography.

Saturday 10th September

We began our morning back at Current City on an island called Tatawa Besaar. Before breakfast some guest visited the island whilst others opted for an early morning snorkel. After breakfast we all enjoyed a snorkel at Tatawa Besaar. Highlights included dolphins, white tip reef sharks, hawksbill and green turtles.

We then moved to an island on the north of Rinja called Wainilu. A great muck diving site highlights included thorny seahorses, scorpionfish, nudibranches and cuttlefish.

In the late afternoon guests visited the Island of Wainilu after which we had a night snorkel. Highlights included dwarf cuttlefish. Nudis, dog faced sea snakes and spiny devilfish.

Sunday 11th September

We began our day with a visit to Rinja Island and an opportunity to get up close and personal with Komodo Dragons. We also saw monkeys, Timor Deer and a variety of bird life during a hike around the Island.

We then moved to Kaba Island where we spent the day snorkeling and visiting the island. At sunset we watched the flying foxes leaving their home in search of food.

Monday 12th September

We began our day snorkeling and visiting the Island of Kelor. After which we hoisted the sails and sailed to Bidadari Island where once again we enjoyed a snorkel and and a visit to the Island. We ended the day with a farewell cocktail party and a festive dinner to celebrate a wonderful cruise on the Indo Aggressor.

THE END

 

Observing nature in Komodo, Indonesia

Bird watching

Sunset at pink beach

A languid stroll on the Pink beach

Snorkelling team