Have been missing for 3 months - main job is to supervise and navigate the building of Blue Dragon liveaboard and find out Komodo dive sites

so it finally reach the completion and will do its first cruise on 24th October 2008 (trip 23rd - 28th October)! Good luck to me!

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342)

Finally, we started our very own liveaboard in Komodo National Park, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia! The boat construction started 20th June and estimated to start cruising on end of October or November; and will mainly explore the fantastic and rich dive sites of Komodo National Park and West Flores, Indonesia.

Click on the images to see the layout, it’s called Blue Dragon:

Boat specification: Lenght. 25m, weight. 6m, 3 attached bathroom a/c cabins, 3 common bathroom a/c cabins, capacity. 12 pax, cruising speed. 8 knots, Radar, Deep Sounder, Compass, radio, life jacket, life boat, dive facility, 2 small boats.

Click on Komodo trip review; Komodo site information

I just came back from the construction site visit and took some images at the very beginning and the most current development (13th July 2008)

The boat is a modified Southern Sulawesi well known Buginese Phinisi Schooner. It sailed from the production place to Madagascar more than 1500 years ago. The special thing about this type of boat construction is the strong, handmade external hull skeleton (frame) that can with stand all type of condition. The main construction material is Iron and Teak wood, class 1 - quality and durability is guaranteed.

Well, can’t wait to dive with it 3 months later and will start to introduce it to everybody on end of August 2008.

For trip booking or charter information, please contact us.

Gan Sien Ban (PADI dive instructor#465342)

Ya, I should upload those Komodo photos before this… mainly because I haven’t got the chance to meet zoe to claim some nice nudibranch images - OK, not too much excuses…

Layang-Layang, it’s the blue that captured me (they keep on say it’s turquoise). The best thing that happened is the lake-flat water and clear sky (most of the time), as the group before me met the Philippines typhoon and hardly dive outside the lagoon - well, it’s open sea out there, anything can happen.

Yes, you need luck to have great dive in Layang-Layang. According to the logbook at the dive centr, the possibility of hammerhead schooling sighting is 1 boat per week (around 50 boats out), and normally morning dive at Gorgonian Forest or Wrasse Strip - our luck came on the last day, 2nd last dive - when Marko joint us (he saw schooling hammerhead, 2 manta rays, schooling devil ray and thresher shark, in 4 dives when we’re there, and we don’t want to know what else he saw after we left…) - there were 60+ (Pietr said 100+, I’m too near to the schooling, lost count) moving from The Point to us in Gorgonian Forest.

Some said it’s the mating aggregation, but I think they just come out for a morning jog. Each of them is about 3+metre long, and swimming slow - should mating behave so? I heard shark mate violently

How I’ll describe Layang-Layang? As I wrote, blue (that captured me, turquoise is nice, but the blue is the main role). Forget about the macro (unless you are doing night dive), set your objective right - into the blue, look for blue shadow, if you are not lucky, you’ve dive Layang-Layang; if you are lucky, everything is guaranteed - as the resort dive manager said. Oh ya… do take good care of your dive time depth while you are in the blue, and always have a buddy with you to look at in case you lost your sight focus (he/she may be the ONLY thing in the blue) that can cause dizziness.

Thanks pluto and Chia for supplying images - I think I really need to buy my own underwater camera already…

Gan Sien Ban (PADI dive instructor#465342)

As I’m still in Bali, therefore I’ll just do a simple summary about the trip(s), continue from last Komodo post: I will not write too much about the facility and dive master, as they are not performing as they promised (or at least we expect) - since I may change both items anyway. The 2nd trip, which we were forced to report ourself to the Komodo National Park headquarter in the middle of the 2nd day diving, was frustrating. Below is the encounters, which we may expect to search on the coming trips, hopefully with much more additional experiences and marine life.

Many of the common fish certainly not listed here, as well as unique coral and crabs, reef lobster, spiny lobster… The rest of the thing such as photos will be pasted later when I’m back to KL… and if I’m free… sorry ya?

Gan Sien Ban (PADI dive instructor#465342)

Bubbles is were we started our dive career. We planned to develop it into a dive/nature education centre, but we wonder if we’ve done enough to achieve that - or had diverted our direction by reality or survival… I’ll describe Bubbles by - the resort, the dive centre and the dive -

It’s situated in an isolated beach of Tanjung Tukas, with 700m beach and surrounded by island tropical rain forest. With the optimum capacity of 50 pax (max to 80pax), it’s a very suitable place for family, any educational/training programme, (dive) courses - and a true hideaway from busy life (of course, if that’s what you are looking for). It has simple accommodation, good food, but best natural and comfortable environment. It has 3 types of rooms- A-frame (a/c with hot water), family (a/c with hot water) and fan room (no hot water).

The restaurant prepare local, Chinese, some Thai and western cooking. You may let the cook to make his best choice for you by taking the packaged food, or ala cart.

We’ve make 2 forest trails for those who want to see what is surrounding Bubbles - one short and simple specially for night trekking and the other one is more challenging with island rain forest view. Do follow the marking tape as sign to follow while exploring the trail - always prepare food, drink, compass and bring along handphone in case you wonder around to go back to the resort (anyway, best pay our guide). You can see leaf monkey, flying lemur, squirrel, white bellied eagle, imperial dove, giant millipede, big trees with wide buttresses… and certainly good exercise.

Next will be the dive centre - Pei See Hwang, Ronnie Ng, Eric Ng are all very experienced dive instructors - all of them have been staying on the island for > 8 years, you may interview them if they love to stay there, or trapped there :). For us, safety first, under all circumstances. Safety inclusive of dive equipment, dive site selection, dive leading/guiding, site and environment (sea or weather) consideration, emergency plan and procedure… The other advantage Bubbles has is - the passion, knowledge and experience about marine life - Talk to them and you’ll know.

I drew some of the dive sites for Bubbles 3 years ago, may give you some clue about the dive there (Perhentian Island Dive Site). Diving is leisure, easy, with mild-moderate current, 5m - 20m visibility, with water temperature of 28 - 30C. It has almost the same underwater topography and marine life like other island in east coast Peninsular Malaysia, except for the 4 ship wrecks, and the newly discovered muck diving, although you need to be more experienced to dive these areas. In the very recent dive I made there (06th April 2008), we even discover the Indo-Pacific Blue Ringed Octopus, spider crab, snake eel, many sea horse and unique nudibranch such as bornella, malibe, arminid…

We still haven’t open up these new site to many divers as it’s fragile. Diver with poor buoyancy control which may kick up sands or landing on the creature may destroy the habitat - dangerous for the diver too (note: blue ringed octopus is one of the most poisonous creature on earth - together with stonefish, krait…). Bubbles is conducting various experiential programmes, and small events to enhance the awareness of public (or at least people who have been there) about the environment we are staying.

Issue about turtle - there are many turtles coming to Bubbles beach to ‘try’ to lay egg - if there is no disturbance. We can’t conduct the ‘turtle laying egg’ tour cause we don’t think the animal is comfortable to lay egg with spot light shining on the private part or eyes… not that we want to humanize the animal :). Then poacher - local culture conflict with eco-tourism is again another conflict we have on taking care of the animal. Things actually getting better with the help of volunteer, but much awareness programme needed to be conducted, cause ‘public’ is the key to conservation. Well, at least do what we can. To those who supported Bubbles and believe the same as us thank you.

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342)

Earth Day is to celebrate the existing of Earth that support our life. We could choose to live on it taking for granted that’s what suppose to be, or we can understand it more and try to work closely with it for the better sustainability -

[to read the information about our planet earth, click onto the image]

On the normal snorkeling or diving package, we will insert some of the ‘get to know Earth’ activities. Well - have to do it at weekend, therefore the date is 25 - 27 Apr 2008 - for package information, do contact us.

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342

I’m currently looking for many trainees - those who love Nature, who willing to learn more and can stand traveling here and there, or to stay on traffic-free island; fresh graduate or undergraduate who applying for internship training; Those who are good in mass communication and sale, result oriented…

It’s actually difficult to look for people who really want to be doing this as a career - it’s not common, the build up is slow, the income is very direct result oriented, too much travel or too far from the conveniences, work during holiday and rest during working day… but what about those who has stayed in this line for years? what’s the drive…

- the Nature ,outdoor and art

- the interest

- meeting people

- extraordinary role and experiences

etc… if you ask me whether can make good $$$ or not, that depends on how good individual is in creating the networking and sale power loh - just like any other career / profession, what different is, there is not yet a big international agency in Malaysia that able to provide platform for the business (which may be good or bad thing).

Therefore if anyone interested to join us, do contact me

oh ya, we need an account clerk too.

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342)

(continue from last post) OK… got the name, it’s actually an Arminid (one of the 4 distinguishable categories of nudibranch - Arminids, Dorids, Dendronotids and Aeolids), Ornate Dermatobranchus - normally found on sandy bottom, feed on soft coral, hydroid.

There were 2 when we spotted them. Size to 8cm (about, things enlarged underwater). Photo taken by Larry, one of the ‘holidaying’ dive master on board.

The last time we saw a Dermatobranchus gonatophora in Rechellieu, think Similan area have some good variety of Arminid - (I don’t know, only once a while we concentrate in slug, most of the time we talk about wheter there are big animals sighted… in this area; but not in indonesia, where macro is a must)

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342)

As we’ll be visiting Komodo National Park, Indonesia many times in 2008, I wish to write down some simple fact about the sea in the area.

For other fact such as the history, the dragon story, anyone can just visit its Park webpage and UNESCO Heritage Site webpage.

Below is the map of the national park. It’s situated in between 2 oceans, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. It’s in the area where 2 big continents collided (the new (America) and old world (Asia) - visit Wallacea to understand more) many many years ago. Then it’s also in the area where the Throughflow (ocean major current) passing. The Nusa Tenggara topography formed a lot of isolated sea while the sea level fell, and reunite while the sea level rise again - all these made up Komodo a very unique ecology for living thing, and difficulty of diving.

Unique + difficulty 1)

There is a consistent sea level different between Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean (8 - 15 inches); well, water will flow from higher to lower level - both sides of Komodo are deep Ocean - any fluctuation in the deep sea will bring in the area deep sea water; plus it’s on the way where the Throughflow is - conclusion, many smaller fish were isolated by the strong current and developed it own unique species; Komodo dragon are restricted to the area only; and we’ll have to be prepared to dive this area. In the last visit on September 2007, we didn’t faced too much difficulty during the dive, as most of the time the experienced dive master planned for a drift - but the drift is fast. Therefore diver do NEED to prepare signaling tube, reef hook (not to hook on the reef, just the rock to climb, especially when encounter with down current) or glove, secondary torch while doing night dive - just in case if got drifted. A pair of good fins is a must - do refer to equipment on last post - not big, thick and expensive you should be looking for! Read this page, it gives good explanation about current in Komodo

Unique + difficulty 2

Both sides of Komodo are very near to the deep ocean (especially Southern). The oceanic deep sea water is cold and rich of nutrient (the tiny tiny krill, plankton…). When we dive in Komodo, it’s a normal 28 - 30 C tropical water - but certain area (especially the south), you may encounter a 23 - 25 C water, to the extreme case, 18 C, and from 30 m to 3 m visibility in the area. It’s cold, but it’s also the same water that provide the animal underwater all sort of food that shape its feeding behavior. If you are well prepared, it shouldn’t be any problem - 90% of heat lost from your head and connecting join (such as your arm pit, spines) - hood certainly helps, glove and diving socks or booties will be great (but not to misuse it on damaging coral!!! Sometimes I don’t even know should I advise on using those items…). For photographer, do prepare more effective ‘water sucker’ (I mean silica gel or the thirsty hippo thing), or else the foggy lens will cost you no images.

Unique + difficulty 3

June -Octobr is dry southwest monsoon (vegetation turns brown), December - March is wet northwest monsoon (vegetation turns green)- but it only refers to rainfall… although the travel books wrote southwest monsoon is time to dive the north, while northwest monsoon to dive the south (opposite, we want to run away from trade wind!), but the last September we dive both north and south… and the experienced dive master told me - year round diving, depending on your luck - but there are so many island to hide and dive - well, the difficulty is to answer the diver customer’s question actually… “where they will be diving?” - the 2 trade winds bring strong surface current and rotate the sea water, which bring more deep sea water shallow.

Therefore I would say, get prepared, and Komodo is a place of wonder. Don’t restrict your self in ‘which famous dive site’, cause weather and sea condition (or whatever safety reason) sometimes leave no choice to us, and we may ended up an amazing encounter - 20+ mantas last visit, unexpectedly.

Will write more when I read more - endemic nudibranch, residences of fire urchin, gentle giant, beautiful coral garden, the drift… enjoy your dive.

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342)

Ha ha… manta back again! Last day, final dive - it only happened with in minute (Nin, my DM actually had saw it when we are at the surface… but no body believe it. Sorry Nin!), but it’s only feet away from the group (although some diver is taking the white tipped shark and leopard shark photos - yup! All three big animals in the same spot. One of the 3 white tipped reef shark has scar on body, and they are not swimming away - mating?

Then a new nudibranch for us found in Tachai (well, not saying I know and I saw many species already. Please give me a bit time to find out the name, ok?), the maldivian pikachu nudibranch still at the same spot in Deep Six. The sea was calm and the weather was very hot - underwater visibility is good (ranged from 15 - 20m) and cleared from hydroid.

The one thing that’s strange is - it’s almost full moon around the date we dive, but there are hardly any strong current. Tidal current was caused mainly by the moon, and full moon normally will affect the sea surface condition and current, but not in this trip. May be other factor that counterpart the current and wave, I don’t know, think need more knowledgeable people to tell (certainly not me, I’m shallow, and dive shallow)

We were happy this trip - we certainly appreciate more and lower down our ‘ideal’ expectation after we lost or we missed something before; taken thing for granted is in human nature, since we cannot get rid of it, then just live with it - we missed, we lost, we regret, if we are lucky, we meet again, life goes on.

For me, Similan Liveaboard season 2007/2008 ended - see you again next season.

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342)